US1537509A - Figure toy - Google Patents

Description

A. -W. TUPPER May 12, 1925.

FIGURE TOY Filed April 28. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WNVENTOR.

w W T T A Maj 12, 1925.

A. W. TUPPER rmuna rev Filed A ru. 2Q, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 12, 1925.

ARTHUR if. TUPPEE,

OF REVEB'DALE, IvIARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF ,TO

DWIGHT B. GALT, OF RIVERDALE, MARYLAND.

FIGURE TOY.

,Applilcation filed April 28, 1321.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ARTHUR W. TUPPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Riverdale, in the county of Prince Georges and State of ldaryland, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Figure Toys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to toys, particularly to figure toys, an object of the invention being to provide means of an improved and simplified nature for causing the figure of the device to simulate life-like movements, and further to assumegrotesque attitudes and to pass through peculiar and novel movements or gyrations during operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of such character that a suitable amount of initial movement applied to the figure will cause the latter to move a comparatively long time, the sp led at which the figure moves determining to great extent the nature of the gyrations through which the latter passes.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

In (the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a side elevation, parts in section, taken through a toy constructed in accordance with the invention, and illustrating one embodiment thereof,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view illustrating one position the figure will assume when in operation,

Figure 3 is a similar view with the iiigure in a further changed position,

Figure at is a similar view with the figure in a still further position,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the toy and showing a slight modification'thereo'f,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation showing means which may be employed to secure the weight to one of the movable members of the figure,

Figure 7 is an edge-view of theanernber shown in Figurefi,

Figure 8 illustrates a modified formiof the figure,

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the device shown in Figure 8,

Figure 10 shows a modified form of the means to be employed in attaching the figure or members thereof to its support, and

Serial No. {165,198.

Figure 11 is a sectional view through the device shown in Figure 10.

'Elhe device of this invention, for purposes of illustration only, is shown asembodied in inanik in to be :used as a toy, but it is obvious that the invention is not necessarily limited to the toy art, as it may be effectively carried out in connection with advertising,

display, exhibition, or, in fact, any device .wherem it is required that the figure perform certain feats or go through, peculiar and attractive gymnastics or gyrations. Furthermore, it is to 'be understood that the figure herein disclosed is for the purpose merely of exemplifying the invention, and it is apparent that the inventive character istics may be carried out equally as well-and the effectrenderedfully as ludicrous or amusing by varying the type or ,style, of figure, the size, proportion, shape and contour of the parts thereof, by employing one or more figures of like or diglfe ient styles in single apparatus, or by constructing the figureor figures tosimulate animals or birds. The means herein employed tfcr supporting and imparting certain of the movements to the figure is also merely for illustrative purposes, and it may he changed, varied or enlarged upon according to requirements without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, 12 is a platform or base of suitable size or shape, having standards 13 extending upwardly therefrom in. spaced parallel relation, the standards being preferably positioned inwardly from one end of the base. The upper portions of-these standards rotatahly receive-the ends of a support or shaft 14 the latter in the present instance constituting a small rod. As simple and effective means for imparting rotary movement to {thlSiShtlft a depressiible lever device is employed; a lever'15 being pivoted as at :16 atone end to the upper part of the platform and preferably near one side thereof, the said lever being disposed longitudinally of theiplatform'. Tothis lever, :one end of a cord 17 is secuned; the said cord passing upwardly and s veral times around the shaft 14, then downwardly; being secured at its opposite end to one end of anelastic member, such as a spring or rubber stra 18. Eli-is strapisattae'hed at its lower en to a fixed member, such as one of the standards 13., The cord and strap are so tensioned that the lever will be normally held in raised or operative positions, and sufficient stress is exerted upon the end to cause the latter to frictionally hold upon the rod or shaft 14. When the lever is depressed, the shaft 14 is caused to rot-ate in clockwise direction, the cord paying out as will be understood and the band or spring 18 being tensioned. Then the lever is released, the band, in assuming normal retracted position, will cause the cord to reverse its direction of movement, rotating the shaft in counterclockwise direction, and lifting the lever to normal or initial position. 7

The figure which is employed in the present instance to carry the invention into effect includes a body 20 having a head 21 at one end. inwardly from the head end of the body arms 22 are attached, such attachment being by way of pivot pins 28. The outer ends of the arms are securely attached to the shaft 14. Near the extreme opposite or lower end of the trunk or body 20 legs 24 are attached. such attachment including the pivot pin 25. It will be understood that the legs and arms of the figure will be suitably proportioned, and may be made of anysuitable material, the legs in the present instance being bent at the knee and assuming the angle shown. That part of each leg extendingbeyond the pivot pin 25 is weighted as at 26, and the weights of each leg may be of similar or varying sizes as desired, and they may be also disposed upon the leg portions at varying angles with respect to the shaft. The head 21 of the body is provided at its outer end with a weight 27, such weight being preferably sufiiciently heavy to normally maintain the body in upright position with the head downward, and the weights 26 of the legs also normally maintain legs 24 in a similar position.

The shaft 14 is provided with a counterbalance including the rod 28 and weight 29, the rod radiating from the shaft directly opposite to the arms 22, and it is preferred that the body or weight 29 be slightly heavier than the figure, although, if desired,

the weight 29 may be of equal weight with the figure.

Normally, the toy and the movable parts thereof will assume the position substantially as shown in Figure 1. When lever 15 is depressed, the cord 17 will cause shaft 14to rotate in clockwise direction, and the figure attached thereto will maintain its normal position throughout a part of this cycle of movement. the weights 27 and 26 maintaining the body and legs in such posi-- V tions. As the shaft moves further, the body 20 and the legs 24 carried thereby will pass between standards 13, and the rear edges of legs 24 will move into contact with shaft has turned suificiently to bring aboutan overbalancing action of body 20, or in the case of more rapid rotation of shaft 14, centrifugal action causes the leg end of the body to swing outwardly with shoulder pins 23 as pivots. In the case of slow rotation of shaft 14, after legs 24 have become disengaged from shaft 14, the body 20 will at once swing to normal position, and weights 26 will cause legs 24 to correspondingly move. Gontinued depression of lever 15 causes shaft 14 to turn a number of times,

until the lowermost position of the lever has been reached, at which time the band 18 will have become tensioned. When the lever is released, the band in assuming normal or relaxed position will rotate shaft 14 in counter-clockwise direction, whereupon the figure will be caused to revolve about the shaft and in so traveling will assume positions different from those assumed during the winding up process, and will perform antics varying from those performed during the winding operation. In the case of rapid rotation of shaft 14, the latter will rotate several times after. lever 15 has reached its lowest position, due to the momentum of the figure and the counter-balance 29. This free rotation of the shaft is permitted by reason of the loose gripping action of cord 17 upon the shaft 14.

lnv Figure 5 of the drawings there is shown a pair of toy figures of identical construction, size and weight, which figures are disposed upon opposite sides of shaft 14, thus eliminating the counter-balance 29. In by so constructing the device, it will be understood that the figures will be disposed side by side on the shaft far enough apart not to engage or interfere with each other during the operation of the device.

It is preferred that the legs 24 be pivoted to the body independently of each other, and' the weights 26 thereon may be disposed at diiferentpositions upon the inner ends of,

the said legs so that the latter will normally assume the position shown in Figure 1. By thus weighting the legs, peculiar effects are produced in operating the toy, as the legs frequently assume entirely different angles with respect to the body. and it frequently happens that one leg will be engaged over support or rod 14 while the other swings freely or assi'un'es the position shown. by dotted lines Figure The upward swinging movement of the legs may be ar rested by pins projecting outwardly from; body 20 at suitable points,

till

normally When the body and its legs assume the position shown in d, it is apparent that further upward movement of the legs will be arrested by the pins or stops 30, in which event the lever arm of the combined weights of the legs is extended, thereby reversing the balance of the entire figure and the body will thereafter maintain the position shown in l, which is opposite to the normal position shown in Fig. 1. With the body in the position shown in Fig. 4:, it is possible for either one or both legs of the figure to assume either the full or dotted line positions.

lu Figures 6 and T of the drawing I have shown. a slight modification, wherein the inner end of each leg is provided with a slot or opening 31 through which extends a pin or screw 32 holding weight 33 to the leg. It will be observer that the slot 31 in the present instance is arcuate, being concentric with pivot 25, and it will be further ob served that pin or screw 32 is eccentrically connected to weight 33. This manner of mounting the weight enables a variety of adjustments to be made, whereby the angles assumed by legs 24 may be changed.

In Figures 8 and 9 I have shown a fur ther modification. wherein the legs 84:, instead of being independent of each other are connected together in spaced parallel relation, and are pivoted as at between the parallel plates 86 representing the body. In

this instance, the body and movable members thereof may be formed of stiff cardboard, composition, tin, or other suitable light material possessing sufficient stiffness to maintain proper shape and withstand usage, and the legs 34 may be stamped of one-piece and bent intermediate itsiends and providing a pocket beyond pivot for the lieception and accommodation of t'heweight 37.

In Figures 10 and 11 I have shown a still further modification, wherein means is pro vided for producing a solid connection between the arms 22 of the figure and the shaft 14:. The shaft may be shouldered as at 38, and the inner end of arm receives the smaller portion of the shaft. A spring clutch men1- her comprising an annular dished plate apertured centrally as shown, is then passed over the small end of the shaft and engages arm 22 being then held against outward sliding movement upon the shaft by a key or pin 40 passing through a suitable opening in the shaft. The clutch member or plate 39 presses inwardly upon the arm 22 sulficiently strong to maintain frictional contact between the said arm and the'shoulder of shaft 14. This frictional contact will maintain a connection between the arm and shaft sufiiciently tight to cause the figure to rotate with the shaft. but the momentum exerted upon the figures due to rapid rotation in its preferred e-n'lbodiments, but it is at 7 once apparent that variations may be made without departing from the invention. For n'istance, the body may be differently shaped,

the proportion of the weights may be differently distributed to the various parts .of

the body thus producing not only different positions the body will normally assume when at rest but also controlling the gyrations or gymnastic-s carried out by the body when the shaft is rotating. Furthermore, the proportions of the body, legs, arms and head thereof, particularly the length of the arms and the angles thereof, as .well as the length and inclination of the shank portions of the legs. One or more figures may be attached to the shaft 314., and they may be located upon the shaft at angles to ieacihiother differing from those shown in Figure 5,. It

J also be understood that the shaft driving means herein disclosed by Way of illustra-ti'on need not be relied upon tocarryout the invention, as shaft 14 may be driven from any suitable. power source either upon the base 12:01" at some distant point.

It will be understood, therefore, that the invention is not to be restricted by this disclosure, as many variations in the structural details may he resorted to without departing from the invention as defined by the claims.

Havmg thus fully described my inven- :lI-l-Oll, it claim 1. In a device of the classdescribed, .a notatable support, a body, arms connected rigidly at one end to said support and pivoted at their opposite ends to said body, free swinging line TIQIS pivoted inwardly from one end to said body, and weigh-ts on the short ends of said members 'rtO normally maintain said members in one position.

in a device of the class described, a rotatable support, a body, arms connected rig-idly at one end to said support and pivoted at their opposite ends said body, free swinging members carried by said body, and weights on said members tending normally to maintain the same in one position.

In a device of the class described, a support, .a body, an connected at one and to saidsupport and pivoted at its opposite end to said body, a weight on one end of said body tending normally to maintain the latter in one position, a free swinging member connected to the opposite end of said body, and means tending normally to maintain said member in a certain position.

4. In a device of the class described, a support. an arm carried by said support adapted tomove about the same, a'body pivoted inwardly from its ends to said arm, a

weight on said body removed from the pivotal connection of the arm therewith, a leg pivoted near the opposite end of said body, and a weight on said leg.

5. In a device of the class described, a

' support, an arm carried by said support and adapted to move about the same, a body pivoted inwardly from its ends to said arm, a weight on said body removed from the pivotal connection of the arm therewith, a leg pivoted near the opposite end of said body, and a weight on said leg adjustable toward or away from the pivot thereof.

6. In a device of the class described, a support, an arm carried by said support and adapted to move about the same, a body pivoted inwardly from its ends to said arm, a weight on said body removed from the pivotal connection of the arm therewith, a leg pivoted near the opposite end of said body, and a weight on said leg adjustable concentrically with and radially with respect to the pivot thereof.

7. In a device of the class described, a support, an arm connected to and adapted to move about said support, a body pivoted inwardly from one end thereof to said support, a leg pivoted near one end of said body, and the combined weights of said leg and the adjacent portion of said body being less than the weight of the opposite end of said body.

8. In a device of the class described, a support, an arm carried by said support and adapt-ed to move about the latter, a body pivoted to said arm and adapted to spin upon its pivot, the said body being of such length as to at all times clear said support, a weight causing said body'to normally assume a position perpendicular to said support, a leg pivoted near one end of said body and adapted at times to engage said support, and a weight onsaid leg.

9. In a device of the class described, a rotatable support, a body carried by and spaced from said support and rotatable relatively to said support, means tending normally to maintainsaid body in a given posi tion, legs pivoted to said body, and means tending to maintain said legs at a predetermined angle with respect to said body.

10. In a device of the class described, a support, a body rotatable about said support, a pivotal connection between said body and said support, legs hinged to said body, a counterbalance on said body'tending normally to maintain the body with the legs uppermost, and means for rotating said body.

11. In a device of the class described, a support, a body movable about said support, free swinging members pivoted to said body,

weights on said members, the said weights being differently positioned upon their respective members to produce dilferent pendular periods for their respective members.

12. In a device of the class described, a support, a body rotatable about said support, the body being at all times out of con-- tact withsaid support, members pivoted to said body, a weight tending normally to maintain said body in a predetermined position, weights tending normally to maintain the members in a predetermined position, and the said members adapted to engage with said support when said body is in cer tain positions with respect to said support.

13. In a device of the class described, a rotatable horizontally disposed support, an arm connected at one end to said support, a body, a head on said body, a pivotal connection between said arm andsaid body inwardly from the head thereof, legs pivoted to the trunk end of said body, a weight on said head normally maintaining said body in vertical position,'weights on said legs normally maintaining said legs substantially alined with said body, and the said legs adapted to engage the said support.

let. In a device of the class described, a support, a body rotatable about said support, a pivotal connection between said body and said support, free swinging members on said body, and means tending normally to maintain said body with its member carrying portion uppermost.

15. In a device of the class described, a support, a body rotatable about said support, a pivotal connection between said body and said support, free swinging members on said body, means tending normally to maintain said body with said members uppermost, and means tending to maintain said members with their free ends uppermost.

16. In a device of the class described, a support, a body rotatable about said support, a pivotal connection between said body and said support, a weight on said body removed from said pivotal point, a tree swinging member carried by said body at a point on the side of the pivot opposite to said body weight, said body weight tending to maintain the body with said member uppermost, a weight on said member tending to maintain same with its free end uppermost, and means operating when the body assumes a certain position to cause a reversal of the balance of the body.

17. In a device of the class described, a

body pivoted inwardly from its ends, a.

weight on said body removed from said pivot, a free swinging member carried by said bodyat a point on the side of the pivot opposite to said .body weight, said body weight tending to maintain the body with said member uppermost, a weight on said member tending to maintain same with its free end uppermost, and means operating when the body assumes certain positions to cause a reversal of the balance of the body.

18." In a device at the class described, J

body pivoted inwardly from its ends, a Weight on said body removed from said pivot, a free swinging member carried by said body at a point on the side of the pivot opposite to said body Weight, said body Weight tending to maintain the body With said member uppermost, a Weight on said member tending to maintain the latter With its free end uppermost, and cooperating means upon the member and body to arrest 10 the upward movement of the member When the Weighted end of the body is above the pivotal support thereof.

In testimony whereof he aflixes his signature.

ARTHUR W. TUPPER.

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