US1966686A - Electric toy or the like - Google Patents

Description

July 17, 1934. 1 A RUSS 1,966,686

' LECTRIC TOY 0R THE LIKE Filed Feb. 20, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l 17 v 25 5 27 1 ll M J0 16 26 fg'y 49 25 July 17, 1934. J. A. Russ ELECTRIC TOY OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 20. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ZW July 17, 1934. .1. A. Russ ELECTRIC TOY OR THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 20. 1952 .QN L...

Patented July 17, 1934 UNITED STATES ELECTRIC TOY OR. THE LIKE John A. Russ, Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner of onehalf to George H. Bruce, McKeesport, Pa.

Application February 20, 1932, YSerial No. 594,186

18 Claims.

Ihe present invention relates broadly to electrically operated mechanisms, and more particularly to toys of the moving or oscillatory type in which a movable body is adapted to travel in a circular arc to control the flow of electric current to other devices designed to move in a circular direction and in turn to control the movement of other electrical devices.

The invention provides an electrically operated pendulum adapted to continue in motion so long as it is connected to a source of electric power and at the same time to make and break an electric circuit so as to iniluence the movements of other bodies electrically connected to the same source of power. I have found that very amusing, unusual and useful results may be obtained by the construction of such a device, in that haphazard movements can be readily imparted to other electrically connected devices, or an electric switch may be operated in a haphazard manner for making and breaking connections between the source of power and an electrically operated device, such as a ilashing sign, etc. This haphazard operation of a toy imparts to it a lifelike characteristic, and because there is no denite cycle of movement, the action of the toy or other device is improved. I will herein illustrate and explain certain adaptations of my invention, in one of which two doll gures are shown on the ends of a horizontal swing or merry-go-round, which oscillates in an irregular fashion while the current is on; a second device showing a toy beacon having on top thereof a light which oscillates in a horizontal as well as on a vertical plane, and a third device showing a swinging mechanism adapted to open and close two electric switches, which in turn may control currents to other electrical apparatus. In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustration only, certain'preferred embodiments of the present invention, it being understood that the drawings do not deiine the limits of my invention, as changes in the construction and operation disclosed therein may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of my broader claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of one arrangement of the device showing the relative positions occupied by the various parts;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional View of part of the device shown in Figure 1 along the line II-II and looking in the direction of the arrows, which illus trates the swing switch;

Figure v3 is a cross sectional view of Figure 2 along the line III-III, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a horizontal swinging member -comprising a part of the device shown in Figure 1;

Cil

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view along the line V-V of Figure 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional View of a device in which a swinging member is used to oscillate a swinging light;

Figure 'l is a transverse sectional view through the top portion of Figure 6, showing the light operating mechanism;

Figure 8 is a partial View with cover plate removed, showing a variation of the horizontal swinging member adapted to control separate electric circuits;

Figure 9 is a sectional View along the line IX-IX of Figure 8 with the cover plate in position; and

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic View of the electric circuits. y

The present invention contemplates that there shall be a simple type of electric motor unit of the type which operates only on an interrupted current and an interruptor through which the current ilow to the motor is made intermittent. In Vthe illustrative embodiment in Figures 1 to 5, I have shown a simple form of toy simulating a playground in which there is a base member A having aswing B constituting the interrupter, and a merry-go-round C comprising the motor unit.

In carrying out the present invention there may be provided a hollow inverted base 2 of metal o1` other substance. Rising from the base is a pair of supporting posts or uprights 3 and 4 made of electrical conducting material having fastened to their upper ends a cross piece 5 of wood or other non-conducting material. The upright 3 is secured at the lower end to base 2 by means of two nuts 6 and 7 and insulated from the base by suitable insulating washers 8 and 9, while the upper end of the upright 3 is fastened to the cross piece 5 by means of nut 10 and cap nut 11 threaded to the upright. Similarly, upright 4 is secured to the base by nuts 12 and 13 and insulated therefrom by washers 14 and 15 and fastened to cross piece 5 by nut 16 and cap nut 17. By this arrangement, the supporting posts may be used as electrically separate conductors and the lower ends thereof employed as connectors or binding posts.

Attached to the cross piece 5 is a pendulum device simulating a swing 18 which consists of two bars 19 and 20 fastened at the lower ends to an armature 21 of magnetic material, such as iron. Fastened to the armature 21 is a structure 22 simulating a swing seat and preferably made of metal. The opposite sides of the swing seat are connected by rods 23 and 24. The upper ends of the two bars 19 and 20 are flattened and pierced so as to engage with the staples 25 and 26 which are attached to the cross piece 5 and lll] serve to suspend the swing 22. Secured to the cross piece 5 is an electric switch (best shown in Figure 2) which consists of a flexible spring contact member 27 which is fastened to the cross piece at one end 28 by means of a small screw 29. End 28 is electrical connected to the upright 4 by means of a wire 30. End 31 of the contact member has a contact point 32 adapted to engage with the point 33 which is electrically connected to upright 3 by means of a wire 34. Carried by cross piece 5 is a metal bracket 35, one end of which 36 is bent at right angles to the cross piece and projects in a vertical direction. Pivotally suspended from the end 36 of the bracket, by means of a holding screw 37, is a switch-operating cam 38. Screw 37 comprises a bolt which passes through members 36 and 38 and is secured in position by nut 39. Between nut 39 and member 36 is a spring 40 which serves to keep the cam 38 from moving freely, providing in effect a slight friction brake between the cam and the bracket on which it is hung. Fastened beneath base 2 and to one side of the center line of swing 22 is an electromagnet 41 having a coil 42 and two poles 43 and 44, pole 44 being of U-shape, the ends being turned upwardly to a position level with pole 43 and flush with the top of the base 2 which is cut away around the electromagnet, and the opening covered with nonconducting material 45. The magnet 41 is held in position by bracket 46 of non-magnetic material. The brackets in turn are secured to the base 2. Attached to the bracket 46 are two binding posts 47 and 48 to which the ends 49 and 50 of the coil of electromagnet 41 are attached. The binding posts 47 and 48 are insulated from bracket 46. Binding post 48 is connected by means of a wire 51 to the swing upright 4 and binding post 47 is connected by a wire 52 to binding post 53 set in the base 2 and electrically insulated therefrom. A binding post 54 is attached to base 2 and insulated therefrom, which binding post is connected by the wire 55 to the swing upright 3. The lower end of cam 38, which is movably fastened to bracket 36, is bifurcated and lits loosely over bar 56 which is secured between bars 19 and 20. The upper end of cam 38 is so shaped that the switch points 32 and 33 are in contact at the lower end of the arc of the swing or pendulum 18 and remain so While the swing 18 is moved in the direction of the arrows (Figure 3) almost up to the electromagnet 41, whereupon the current is broken. As soon as the pendulum goes slightly beyond the electromagnet 41 on its return swing, contact is again restored between points 32 and 33 by means of cam 38.

For supplying current to the swing member or pendulum 18, the two binding posts 53 and 54 are connected to a source of current, as, for eX- ample, a few dry cells 57, perhaps three in series. I have illustrated such source of current in the conventional way in Figure 2. As soon as the current is connected across the terminals 53 and 54. the swing will be set in motion and will continue to operate so long as current is supplied. The swing is self-starting due to the fact that electromagnet 41 is offset from the armature 21 and, when energized, attracts the armature, thus setting the swing in motion. Just before the armature reaches a position above the electromagnet 41, the current to the electromagnet is interrupted by reason of the fact that the cam 38 is moved by bar 56 to a position where the contacts 32 and 33 separate. The swing or pendulum 18, however, swings past the electromagnet by reason of its inertia and when it reaches the top of its arc it is forced in the reverse direction by gravity. When the backward swing has progressed far enough so that the armature is a short distance beyond the electromagnet, the cam 38 is moved in the reverse direction to close contacts 32, 33 and the current flow is again established. Due to the inertia of the pendulum 18, it continues on its backward travel until it completes its arc, whereupon it swings back again into the field of the attraction of the electromagnet and the cycle is repeated. 'Ihe current is interrupted at a point on its forward movement diiferent from the point on the return swing, due to the lost motion of the cam 38, which is caused by its bifurcated ends being wider apart than the width of the bar 55. '[t is desirable to have the current connected for as long a period as possible during the cycle, so that other devices connected to the interrupter or swing 18 may have current supplied as long as possible as the operation of connected devices is thereby improved.

The merry-go-round or horizontal swinging member C comprises a motor unit (see Figures 4 and 5) having an armature 58, the ends of which are trimmed to make the armature irregular or non-symmetrical. The armature 58 is connected by means of the bracket 59 to the bar 60. Member 60 may have various shapes, so long it has sufficient mass property distributed as it is advantageous to have this member function as a balance wheel to somewhat smooth out the oscillations of armature 58. At the upper side of bar 60 at the ends thereof are clips 61 and 62 which serve to hold doll figures, such as 63 and 64. Beneath clips 61 and 62 metal strips 65 and 66 of magnetic material are secured. The armature 58 and bar 60 swing on a pivot 67 which pivot is fastened to pole 68 of the electromagnet 69. The pivot 67 passes slidably through the armature and coacts with the bearing 70 on the bar 60. The electromagnet 69 is secured to the base 2 by means of the bracket 71 of non-magnetic material. Pole piece 72 of the electromagnet 69 is U-shape, the ends of the U and the ends of the pole piece 68 being just below the surface of base 2. An opening 73 around the poles of the electromagnet 69 is left in the base 2 and the opening covered with non-conducting material. The cover of non-conducting material is not shown in Figures 4 and 5. The overall length of armature 58 is preferably less than the distance between the ends 72 of the U-shape pole piece. The ends 76 and 77 of the coil 75 of electromagnet 69 are connected to binding posts 78 and 79, respectively, which binding posts are fastened to the support 71 and insulated therefrom. To one side of the center line drawn between the ends of the U-shape pole piece 72 and so located that it is directly below the magnetic members 65 and 66 on the swinging member 60 is a permanent magnet 80 secured beneath the base 2. The object of this magnet is to prevent the swinging member 60 from assuming a dead-center position parallel L,"-

to a line drawn between the centers of the ends of the U-shape pole 72, in which dead-center position there would be no torque on the armature 58, and the swinging member 60 might remain stationery. Should the swinging member ,3i

is made between the binding posts 47 and 78 by L'.

means'o'f wire 81, and a connection is made - betweenbinding posts 48 and 49 by means 'of wire 82. The swing `B and the `motor unit Care thus connected in multiple. When .the swing unit A is being operated, cont-acts32, 33 are closed during a large portion of the cycle of operation and the electromagnet 69 will be energized, but with the opening of the contacts 32, 33, .the Acurrent flow .to unitC also will .be interrupted. The swing unit thus 'provides aninterrupter -for the motor unit. Due to the fact that Athe pole piece 58 is non-symmetrical, the Yhorizontal -swinging member will oscillate first in one direction fora period -of time and then suddenlywill reverse and operate in the other direction, having no particular .regularityof action. Thus, .the horizontal swingingmember will oscillatein an'intermittent fashion and the figures 63 and 64 will be swung rst in onefdirection and then in the other direction for a period of time which is not predictable. That is to say, the merry-go-round unit may ro- 'tate `several times in one direction before reversing, Yor may move throughonly ashort distance and-then reverse. Itis this intermittent motion which makes the toy so attractive.

The switch member B may be connected to various other toys construct-ed on a principle similar to that employed'in the merry-go-,round In Figures 6 and'7, I have illustrated a beacon light which -embodies another application of -my invention. This beacon comprises a hollow base 82 vhaving a pedestal 83 secured thereto. On top'of the pedestalis a light operating mechanism orfrotatable head which consists of a revolving member 84 having a projecting arm 85 fastenedthereto. The arm 85 has a roller 86 adapted to bear against thecam member-87, consisting of lhills, and valleys. The arm 85 has a wing portien 88 projecting therefrom to which a small electric lamp socket 89 is attached with an electric lamp 90 therein. The screw portion of lamp socket 89 is electrically connected Ato the wing portion 88. Connected to cam 87 is the gear 91 which in turn is driven bythe gear 92 .fastened to the upper end of rod 93. The gear 94 is securedto the upper endof rod 93 just below-gear 92 so as to coact with the gear 95 which is attached to member 84. Cam 87 and the gear 91 move independently of .the member 84 and the gear 95 connected thereto. As the ratio between gears 91 and 92 is different from the ratio between gears 94 and 95, the member 84 and the cam 87 rwill move at different rangular velocities and thereby impart an up and-down movement to arm 85 and lamp socket 89. Members 84 and 87 are assembled around shaft 96 and insulated therefrom by Washers 97, 98 and 99 and sleeve 100 made of non-conducting material. The shaft 96 serves to hold the various portions of the light operating mechanism in place and serves to .attach it to the top of pedestal 83. The shaft 96 is secured -in place by means 4of nuts 101 and 101 threaded to the shaft. Electric current is led Ato the shaft 96 by means oi the flexible finger 102 which is secured to the top of the pedestal 83 and insulated therefrom. A flexible wire 103 leads from the top 104 of shaft 96 to one terminal 105 of the lamp socket 89. The electric `circuit is completed from the other terminal of lamp socket 89 through the member 88 which is grounded to pedestal 83. The rod 93 is connected to a horizontal swinging member 106 similar to Amember-60 previously described, but in this instance the member 106 is concealedbeneath the base82.

In Figure 6, 107 :represents .an electromagne't :attached `to .the non-.metallic portion 108 of v.the base. The electromagnet 10,7 has a pole 109 and a .U-shape pole 110. The armature 111, preferably non-symmetrical, and shorter than the distance between the ends ofthe U-shape pole, is fastened to the member 106. The pivot pin 112 is fastened to pole 109 and passes slidably through armature 111 and rests on a bearing 113 in the sleeve 114, which is preferably made of non-'magnetic metal. To the upper end .of sleeve 114 the rod 93 Ais attached so that the rod -turns with member 106. The member 106 has secured to .each of its ends some vmagnetic material'll.

Fastened to the non-metallic portion 108 of the 1.

Vbaseso as to be offset lfroma line drawn between the centers of the .U-shape poles 110 is a permanent magnet 11.6. The function of this per- .manent magnet v116 is the `same as the function of the permanent magnet 80 .described above. One .end of die coil 117 .of magnet 107 is connected by means of wire 118 `to binding post 1-19. The other yend :of 'the coil 117 of magnet 107 is connected to binding apost 12!) Vwhich in turn 'is connected -by means of wire 121 to the binding post 122 fastened in base 82 Aand insulated therefrom. The wire 123 leads Afrom 'binding post 120 and :is grounded to lthe base 82 at 124. A wire 125 is connected at one end to wire 121 and at the other end of finger 102.

/When it is desired to operate the lbeacon light, it is lconnected in multiple `with binding posts 54 and 53 -vby means of Wires `connecting terminal posts 54 and 119 and terminal lposts 5-3 Vand 122. As soon as current is supplied to theswing B, the swing will begin -to oscillate Vand :an intermittent current will `be supplied tothe electromagnet 107. Member 106 will begin -to oscillate in an irregular manner similar to Athat in ywhich the horizontal swinging member 60 oscil- `lates. This will-cause the member 86tobe driven over .the cam member 87 and the light willmove up and .down in a vertical plane at the same time. The '.Jscillation -of the swinging member being irregular -Will be kcommunicated-to the revolving member 84 .and cam -member '87, which members will oscillate at diiierent angular velocities 'andwill result in an irregular path being traced by Vthe -light Vwhich 'will swing intermittently and will glow intermittently `in an unpredictable fashion.

Another useful and interesting adaptation of Amy device is an `intermittent electric switch which is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 in which .the armature 1126 is-attached -to theswitch member or'contact arm 127 by means-of connecting .pieces y128. One -end v129 of the switch .member 127 is Imade of non-conducting material and adapted -to cooperate with contact switches 130 and 131 and to close contact switch 130 when it is in -position illustrated in Figure 8, and .to close the contact switch 131 .when :it is in a position approximately 180 from theposition shown in Figure 8. The contact switches 130 and 131 in turn will lcontrol a circuit to some magnetconsists of the-coil 138, .pole 139.and.the

Counterweight 132 U-shaped pole 140. Fastened to the pole 139 is a pivotpin 141 which slidably passes through the armature 126 and bears on the switch member 127 at the pivot bearing 133. The armature 126 is of non-symmetrical shape similar to the armature 58 described above. The overall length of the armature is preferably less than the distance between the ends of the U-shaped poles 140. The wire ends of the coil 138 are connected to the binding posts 142 and 143 which are attached to the base 137. The switch has a cover 144 to enclose and protect it. The cover is not shown in Figure 8.

The switch is put into operation by connecting the binding posts 142 and 143 to binding posts 53 and 54, respectively of Figure 1, or a like current interrupter. When the current is supplied through the current interrupter, the contact arm 127 will swing in an irregular fashion and will close switches 130 and 131 at various times and for various periods of time and in no methodical fashion. This furnishes a. desirable method for operating various electric devices, as for example, a flashing electric advertising sign.

While I have described one kind of an intermittent electric switch, it will be understood that it is easily possible to devise many other forms 0f switches embodying the principles used in the described switch. For example, the contacts could be made by the contact arm having susn pended therefrom brushes which would sweep over electric terminals arranged around the circle or arc thereof, through which the contact member would oscillate.

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic View showing how several motor units may be operated from a single source of current through a common interrupter or pendulum switch. In this view, 145 represents the source of current, such as a battery, 146 represents the pendulum or swinging switch or interrupter, 147 represents the electromagnet of unit B which is connected in series with the source of current, 148 represents the merry-go-round or horizontal swinging member, 149 represents the beacon, and 150 represents the intermittent electric switch. It will be observed that these are connected in multiple and by no means represent the number of devices that can be operated in like manner by the methods I have described above. Hereinabove we have mentioned electric dry cells as a source of supply, but it will be understood that any source of current supply, whether A. C. or D. C. of the proper voltage, will serve.

From the above description of various embodiments of my invention, it may be seen that the invention provides an extremely simple device or interrupting switch with a unique and simple form of motor device by means of which variable and uncertain movements can be imparted to toys or other devices for improving their action or attractiveness.

I claim:

1. A toy or the like comprising an elongated armature pivotally supported'for rotation about a transverse axis, an electromagnet in juxtaposed relation thereto and having separated pole pieces located at opposite sides of the center of rotation of said armature,'and means for intermittently energizing the electromagnet, the opposite ends of the armature being non-symmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation.

2. A toy or the like comprising an elongated armature pivotally supported for rotation about a transverse axis, an electromagnet in juxtaposed relation thereto and having separated pole pieces located at opposite sides of the center of rotation of said armature, means for intermittently energizing the electromagnet, a permanent magnet on one side of the line of centers passing through the axis of rotation of the armature and the two pole pieces and means associated with the armature arranged for cooperation with the permanent magnet, said permanent magnet and said means being adapted to urge the armature from a position coincident with said line.

3. A toy or the like comprising an elongated armature pivotally supported for rotation about a transverse axis, an electromagnet in juxtaposed relation thereto and having separated pole pieces located at opposite sides of the center of rotation of said armature, means for intermittently energizing the electromagnet, a permanent magnet on one side of the line of centers passing through the axis of rotation of the armature and the two pole pieces a swinging member on which the armature is supported and arranged for swinging movement with the armature and of a length exceeding the length of the armature and means associated with the member arranged for cooperation with the permanent magnet, said means being adapted to urge the member from a position coincident with said line.

4. A toy or the like comprising an elongated armature pivotally supported for rotation about a transverse axis, an electromagnet in juxtaposed relation thereto and having separated pole pieces located at opposite sides of the center of rotation of said armature, means for intermittently energizing the electromagnet, a permanent magnet on one side of the line of centers passing through the axis of rotation of the armature and the two pole pieces and arranged to urge the armature from a position coincident with said line, and a beam member on which the armature is supported and arranged for swinging movement with the armature and of a length exceeding the length of the armature, said beam member having magnet portions thereon adapted to be attracted by said permanent magnet and through which the permanent magnet is made effective for moving the armature.

5. A toy or the like comprising an elongated armature pivotally supported for rotation about a transverse axis, an electromagnet in juxtaposed relation thereto and having separated pole pieces located at opposite sides of the center of rotation of said armature, and means for intermittently energizing the electromagnet, said means comprising an electrically operated pendulum device.

6. A toy or the like comprising an elongated armature pivotally supported for rotation about a transverse axis, an eleotromagnet in juxtaposed relation thereto and having separated pole pieces located at opposite sides of the center of rotation of said armature, and means for intermittently energizing the electromagnet, said means comprising a pendulum device, a circuit breaker operatively connected thereto, and a second electromagnet for operating the pendulum device, the two electromagnets being connected in parallel, the original breaker being in series with both electromagnets.

"I, A toy or the like comprising an elongated armature pivotallyV supported for rotation about a transverse axis, an electromagnet in juxtaposed relation thereto and having separated pole pieces located at opposite sides of the center of rotation of said armature, and means for intermittently energizing the electromagnet, the opposite ends lli) of the armature being non-symmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation, a permanent magnet to one side of the line of centers passing through the axis of rotation of the armature and the two pole pieces and means associated with the armature arranged for cooperation with the permanent magnet, said permanent magnet and said means being adapted to urge the armature from a position coincident with said line.

8. A toy or the like comprising an elongated armature pivotally supported for rotation about a transverse axis, an electromagnet in juxtaposed relation thereto and having separated pole pieces located at opposite sides oi the center of rotation of said armature, means for intermittently energizing the electromagnet, the opposite ends of the armature being non-symmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation, and a beam member on which the armature is supported and arranged for swinging movement with the armature and of a length exceeding the length. of the armature.

9. A toy or the like comprising an elongated armature pivotally supported for rotation about a transverse axis, an electromagnet in juxtaposed relation thereto and having separated pole pieces located at opposite sides of the center of rotation of said armature, means for intermittently energizing the electromagnet, a light operating mechanism, a swinging member on which the armature is supported, said armature being operatively connected tosaid light operating mechanism and to a cam member having hills and valleys thereon and adapted to move said light operating mechanism in an up and down manner.

10. A toy or the like comprising an elongated armature pivotally supported for rotation about a transverse axis, an electromagnet in juxtaposed relation thereto and having separated pole pieces located at opposite sides of the center of rotation of said armature, means for intermittently energizing the electromagnet, a swinging member on which the armature is supported, and a plurality oit' switches in the path of movement of said swinging member and arranged to be operated thereby.

11. A toy or the like comprising an elongated armature pivotally supported for rotation about a transverse axis, an electromagnet in juxtaposed relation thereto and having separated pole pieces located at opposite sides of the center of rotation of said armature, means for intermittently energizing the electromagnet, a swinging member on which the armature is supported and means for limiting the movement of said swinging member whereby its movement is conned to an arc of less than a circle.

12. In a device of the class described, an elongated armature pivotally supported for rotation about a transverse axis, an electromagnet in juxtaposed relation thereto and having separated pole pieces located at opposite sides of the center of rotation of said armature, means for intermittently energizing the magnet, a plurality of switch elements, and means on the armature movable therewith for engaging said switch elements.

13. A mechanical toy comprising a base, a pendulum device simulating a swing mounted on the base, a device simulating a merry-go-round or the like on the base, a magnetic body on the swing and forming a part thereof, an electromagnet supported by the base under the swing, an armature on the merry-go-round, an electromagnet carried by the base under the armature for the merry-go-round, the electromagnets for the swing and the merry-go-round being included in a common circuit, and a switch device arranged to be operated by the movement of the swing to be opened and closed by the operation of the swing, said switch device controlling the current flow to both of said electromagnets.

14. A mechanical toy comprising a base, a device simulating a swing mounted on the base, a device simulating a merry-go-round or the like on the base, a magnetic body on the swing and forming a part thereof, an electromagnet supported by the base under the swing, an armature on the merry-go-round, an electromagnet carried by the base under the armature for the merry-go-round, the electromagnets for the swing and the merry-goround being included in a common circuit, and a switch device adapted to be operated by the movement of the swing to be opened and closed by the operation of the swing, said switch device controlling the current flow to both or said electromagnets, the electromagnet for the swing being disposed to one side of the center of the arc through which the swing moves, a switch device whereby the circuit to said electromagnets is closed when the swing is at one side of its electromagnet and is opened when the swing closely approaches its electromagnet.

15. A toy or the like comprising a base and a pedestal, a rotatable head on said pedestal having a lamp therein, a rotatable armature, a rotatable cam having hills and valleys thereon supporting said head, a roller on said rotatable head adapted to ride on said cam, and a driving connection between said cam, rotatable head, and said armature, arranged to rotate the cam and head at dilerent angular velocities.

16. A toy or the like comprising a base and a pedestal, a rotatable head on said pedestal having a lamp therein, a rotatable armature, an individual rotatable cam having hills and valleys thereon supporting said head, a roller on said rotatable head adapted to ride on said cam, an electric lamp therein, a driving connection between said cam, rotatable head, and said armature, and arranged to rotate the cam and head at different angular velocities, and means for supplying current to said lamp.

17. A toy or the like comprising a base and a pedestal, a rotatable head on said pedestal, a rotatable armature, a driving connector between the armature and said rotatable head, an electromagnet positioned adjacent the armature whereby the eld generated thereby attracts said armature, and means enegrizing the electromagnet in out of phase relation to the movement of said head whereby to eiect haphazard rotation and reversal of the head.

18. In a device of the class described, an elongated armature pivotally supported for rotation about a transverse axis, an electromagnet in juxtaposed relation thereto and having separated pole pieces located at opposite sides of the center of rotation of said armature, a beam attached to the armature of greater length than the armature, and means for intermittently energizing the magnet at a frequency out of phase with the normal oscillation period of said beam, whereby irregular and self-reversing rotation of the armature and beam is effected.

JOHN A. RUSS.

Images