US407874A - mcmanus - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. N. MOMANUS.

TOY RAGE TRACK.

No. 407,874. Patented July 30, 1889.

ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 2. W. N. MQMANUS.

TOY RAGE TRACK.

N0. 407,814. 3, Patented July 80, 1889.

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(No Model.) I i I 3 Sheet-Sheet 3.

' W. N. MOMANUS.

T-OY RAGE TRACK.

. No. 407,874. Patented July 30, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT UFFIC YVILLIAM N. MCMANUS, OF NEl/V YORK, N. Y.

TOY RAC E-TRAC K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,874, dated July 30, 1889.

Application filed November 14, 1888. Serial No. 290,823. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM N. MCMANUS, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Toy Race- Track, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to toy race-tracks,

in which a real race is simulated by means of a toy so constructed that a number of miniature figures will be carried about a circular race-course, and after a number of times round will be projected forward by an impulse to the finish line.

This invention has for its object to provide an improvement 011 the toy race-track of the above character for which United States Letters Patent No. 391,262 were granted to me October 16, 1888.

The invention consists in an improved toy race-track constructed and arranged as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view in horizontal section on the line m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view of the driving mechanism with casing partly in section and broken away. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the invention in horizontal section on the line 5, Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a side View of the driving and operating mechanism, with casing partly in section on the line 2'2, Fig. 4, and broken away.

In the construction of this invention acasing 1, of metal or other suitable material, is provided, preferably having a removable top 2, held in place by lugs 3 thereon engaging socketed brackets 4 on the interior of the casing, or by other suitable means, for detaching the top, whereby access may be had to the interior of the casing. The top 2 is formed with a number of concentric strips 5, having intervening circular slots 6, the strips 5 being supported by vertical rods 7, depending from horizontal rods 8, extending over the top of the casing 1 and mounted on vertical rods 9 at the periphery thereof. The space 011 the top 2, through which the slots extend, constitutes the racetrack. Beneath the top of casing 1 islocated a rotary plate 10, having a series of circular strips 11 and slots 12, corresponding to strips 5 and slots 6 above them. The plate is supported on vertical rods or bolts 13, projecting upward from horizontal arms 14, extending from a hub 15, mounted on avertical rotary shaft 16, and detachably held thereon by a set-screw 17 or other suitable means. The bolts 13 are formed with collars or shoulders 18, adjacent to their screw-threaded ends 19, and resting against the plate 10 and arms 14, and are secured by nuts 20, engaging their screw-threaded ends 19.

The shaft 16 projects through a hole 21 in the hub 22 of plate 10, has its upper end located in a socket 23 in the top 2, and is mounted in a horizontal bracket 24 on a frame 25, in which is mounted the mechanism fordriving the shaft 16, the frame 25 being supported by lips 27, bolted to the casing 1. It will be seen from the foregoing description that the top 2 may be removed, the plate 10 and bolts 13 detached from arms 14, thelatter unfastened from shaft 16, and the plate 10, bolts 13, and arms 14 lifted out of the casing for repair or other purposes.

Above the slots (3 are located miniature figures 28, preferably in the form of horses in motion with jockeys mounted thereon, the horses being supported on vertical rods 29, extending through the slots 6 and 12 and mounted on rollers 30, resting on the plate 10 and strips 11. The lower ends of rods 29 are provided with weights in the shape of balls 31. It wilLt-hus be seen that the figures 28 are mounted loosely on the rotary plate 10, and are free to move thereon independently of its movement.

The driving mechanism for rotating shaft 1 6 is constructed as follows: Within the frame 25 is mounted a drum 32, which is preferably operated by a cord 33,wound thereon, extending through a slot 34 in shelf 26,and havinga weight 35 suspended from its end.

Upon the shaft 36 of drum 32 is secured a gear-wheel 37, and also a ratchet 38, with which engages a spring-actuated pawl 39,

pivoted to a large toothed gear-wheel 40,

loosely mounted on the shaft 36 between drum 32 and gear-wheel 37. The drum 32, with its cord 33 and weight 35, is wound up through a shaft 41, mounted in a bracket 42, frame 25, and extending through casing 1 and terminating in a squared end 43 to receive a winding-key, and having at its inner end a toothed gear-wheel 44, meshing with the gear wheel 37.

The drum 32 is connected with shaft 16 by an intermediate gearing consisting of alarge toothed gear-wheel 45, mounted on a shaft 46, having a pinion 47 meshing with large toothed gear-wheel 40. The gear-Wheel meshes with a pinion 48 on a shaft 49, on which is mounted a toothed gear-wheel 50. The toothed gear-wheel 50 meshes with a pinion 51 on a shaft 52, having a bevel gear-wheel 53 meshing with a bevel gear-wheel 54 on the lower end of shaft 16, resting in a bracket 55 on frame 25.

To hold the train of gearing just described and prevent the drum and its cord and weight from operating shaft 16, aratchet-wheel 56 is mounted on the shaft52,and is normallyheld from turning by a spring-pawl 57 on a shaft 58, mounted in frame 25. When the drum 32, with its cord and weight, is wound up, upon the pawl 57 being released from the ratchetwheel 56, the train of gearing above described having a fiat plate 61 at one end, located beneath the lower end of an inclined chute 62,

mounted in the wall of the casing 1, and a counter-weight60 at its other end, which tilts lever 59 when released, and holds and moves the plate 61 up beneath the end of chute 62. To the frame 25 is pivoted an arm 61,with a spring 59', which presses against the upper end of arm 61', the latter'having a hook 62 at its upper end, which normally bears against the lever 59 and engages the upper edge of tilting lever 59 between its pivotal point and the plate 61 when the upper end of arm 61' is thrown forward by spring 59. The rear of pawl 57 is formed with an inclined arm 63, against which a pin 64, projecting laterally from the lever 59 forward of its pivotal point, is brought to bear and raise the pawl 57 out of engagement with ratchet-wheel 5'5 when the lever 59 is tilted by the weight of a coin dropping on plate 61. The pin 64, bearing against the pawl 57, serves with the weight 60 to hold pawl 57 in engagement Wit-h ratchet-wheel 56. The chute 62 is formed with a fiat passage-way 65, of a size to permit a coin to roll down therein on its edge. Upon the 7 coin; striking the fiat plate 61 it causes that end of lever 59 to be carried down and the counterweighted end to be raised up. This movement of the counterweighted end of lever 59 causes the pin 64 to raise arm 63 and swing the toe of pawl 57 out of engagement with ratchet-wheel 56, thereby permitting the counterweighted drum 32 to operate the train of gearing and rotate shaft 16 and through its connections therewith the plate 10.

Beneath an opening 65 in shelf 26 is located a drawer 66, into which a coin falling from plate 61 drops. Upon the lever 59 being tilted by the weight of a coin it swings past the hook 62', and the latter is thrown forward by its spring 59, so that upon the lever 59' being tilted back by weight 60 it will come into engagement with the hook 62, and thereby be held from ascending farther, prevent pawl 57 from engaging ratchet-wheel 56, and permit the shaft 16 and its mechanism to continue in motion. As the plate 10 rotates, the figures 28 are carried about therewith, and are given the appearance of racing on the top 2. back by its spring 57 into engagementwith ratchet-wheel 56 upon thelever 59 tilting back to normal position, the gearing mechanism, with shaft 16, arms 14, and plate 10, is suddenly stopped, and the shock occasioned thereby causes the plate 10 and shaft 16, with its arms 14, to be swung back a little, the pawl 57 slipping over the teeth of ratchetwheel 56, and at the same time the forward momentum of plate 10 is imparted to the figures 28 and the latter caused to move forward over the plate 10 on their rollers 30, the figures separating and the forward figure arriving at the finish line and winning therace.

The finish line may be indicated by a horizontal rod 67, extending over the track and supported by vertical rods 68. Instead of the top 2 and plate 10 being formed with alevel surface, the strips 5 and '11 may have a horizontal wave form, thereby aiding in giving to the figures 28 the life-like appearance of horses in motion.

To return lever 59 to normal position and thereby cause pawl 57 to engage ratchet- When the pawl 57 is thrown wheel 52 and the machine to be brought to a upon a downward pressure of the rod 69, is

brought behind the lower end of arm 61' and pushes it out, thereby releasing the hook 62 from engagement with lever 59. The upper end of rod 69, projecting outside of easing 1, is provided with a coiled spring 72,located between a shoulder 73 thereon and a bracket 7 O, and by its tension withdrawing rod 69 and its head 71 from engagement with arm 61 upon releasing the rod 69 from downward pressure applied thereto. When the head 71 is released from engagement with arm 6l',the latter is thrown back by its spring, so that its hook 62 will be in a position to be moved over the lever 59 as soon as it is again tilted by a coin.

It will thus be seen that by means of the lever 61, having hooks 62', the lever 59 may be held from returning to its normal position and the pawl 57 held out of engagement with ratchet-wheel 56 and the mechanism permitted to continue in operation.

By means of this invention an effective toy race-track is provided,which maybe properly governed in its action and which can be readily taken apart and adjusted.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A toy race-track consisting of a casing having its top formed with a series of concentric slots, a rotary plate mounted on a vertical'shaft beneath the top of the casing and having slots coinciding with the slots in the top of the casing, a number of miniature figures located above the top of the casing, mounted on vertical rods projecting through the slots in the top of the casing and in the rotary plate and having rollers loosely resting at their ends beneath the plate, and a driving mechanism consisting of the drum 32, with cord 33, having suspended Weight 35, the large gear-Wheel 40, loosely mounted on the shaft 36 of drum 32, and meshing with a pinion 47 on a shaft 46, a large gear-wheel on shaft 46, meshing with a pinion 48 on a shaft 49, a gear-wheel 50 on shaft 4.9,meshing with a pinion 51 on a shaft 52, and a bevel gear-wheel 53, meshing with a .bevel gear-wheel 54 on the vertical shaft 16,

on which the rotary slotted plate is mounted, in combination with a ratchet-wheel 56 on shaft 52, a pawl adapted to engage with ratchet-wheel 56, and a tilting counterweighted lever operated by a coin deposited upon it, substantially as described.

2. A toy race-track consisting of a casing having its top formed with a series of concentric slots, a rotary plate mounted on a vertical shaft beneath the top of the casing and having slots coinciding with the slots in the top of the casing, a number of miniature fig ures located above the top of the casing, mounted on Vertical rods projecting through the slots in the top of the casing and in the rotary plate, and having rollers loosely resting on the plate and weights at their ends beneath the plate, a driving mechanism consisting of a drum with rope and suspended counter-weight connected by a train of gearing with the vertical shaft on which the rotary slotted plate is 1nounted,'a ratchet and pawl for governing the train of gearing, a counter- Weighted coin-operated tilting lever for tripping the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel, and a spring-actuated hooked lever for holding the tilting lever and pawl in engagement with the ratchet, and a rod for moving the hooked lever out of engagement With the tilting lever, substantially as described. 1

In a toy race-track, the casing 1, having removable top 2, with concentric slots 6, the

vertical shaft 16, with arms 14, having their hub 15 detachably secured to shaft 16 by setscrew 17 a rotary plate 10, loosely mounted on shaft 16 and having a series of concentric. strips 11 and slots 12 coinciding with the strips 5 and slots 6 above them in top 2, and the plate 10, mounted on bolts 13, connecting it with arms 14, and secured by nuts 19, substantially as described.

4. In a toy race-track, a driving mechanism consisting of a drum 32, with rope 33, having suspended counterweight 35, and connected by a train of gearing, substantially as described, with vertical shaft 16, in combination with the ratchet-wheel 56 on one of the shafts of the train of gearing, the pawl 57, engaging the ratchet-wheel 56 and having an arm 63, and the tilting lever 59, having a counter-Weight at one end, a plate 61 at the other located beneath a coin-chute 62, and a pin 64 on the lever 59 forward of its pivotal point and engaging arm 63 of lever 57, substantially as described. r

5. In a toy race-track, a set of gearing consisting of a drum with rope and suspended counter-weight connected by a train of gearing with a vertical shaft, the ratchet-wheel 56 on one of the shafts of the train of gearing, a pawl59, engaging ratchet-Wheel 56 and having an arm 63, a tilting coin-operated lever having counter-weight 60 at one end and plate 61 at the other, an inclined coinchute 62, with its lower end projecting over plate 61, in combination with a pivoted springactuated lever 61, having a hook 62', adapted to engage lever 59, and a sliding rod 69, with retracting-spring 72, and a tapering head 71, adapted to engage the lower end of lever 61 and move it out of engagement with lever 59, substantially as described. 6

WM. N. MCMA'NUS.

WVitnesses:

EDWARD WV. OADY, EDGAR TATE.

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