US453034A

US453034A - Edward f

Info

Publication number: US453034A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1891-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 1908-05-26

Description

(No Model.)

B. P. BLYTHE. TOY.

No. 453,034. Patented May 26, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDW'ARD F. BLYTIIE, OF

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO \VILLIAM S. HASSALL, OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 453,034, dated May 26, 1891.

Application filed December 1, 1890. Serial N0. 373,202- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. BLYTHE, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Toys, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to make a toy figure having the capacity of moving its limbs so as to change from one position to another, the movement being dependent upon the expansion of an elastic portion of the toy. This object I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of one form of toy embodying my invention. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are side views illustrating the action of the toy, and Figs. 5 and G are views illustrating a special plan of making a toy in accordance with my invention.

The toy shown in Figs. 1 to 4 consists of a representation of a human figure having a body A, head B, arms D, and legs F, the body being in the form of an elastic ball, and the head, arms, and legs being so attached to this elastic body that when the ball is compressed by thrusting the back portion of the same into the front portion the arms and legs will be projected to front and rear, as shown in Fig. 1. If the figure is then laid upon a fiat surface with the convex portion of the ball representing the stomach portion of the figure downward and air is permitted to enter the ball through the opening a, the gradual expansion of the ball will cause the arms, and legs to be drawn under the body, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and as the legs are shorter than the arms they will be finally drawn so far beneath the body that the center of gravity of the figure will be shifted to the rear of the bearing-points of the legs and the figure will suddenly move backward, so as to assume a sitting posture, as shown in Fig. 4, by the time the ball constituting the body of the toy has become fully expanded. In order to facilitate this last movement, the feet I) of the toy are preferably provided with projecting prongs cl, which serve to take hold upon the surface upon which the toy rests,

so as to constitute a bearing, upon which the toy can readily swing backward in assuming the final sitting posture. By making the arms shorter than the legs the center of gravity will be at the front of the figure and the latter will swing forward, so as to turn a somersault.

In the toy shown in Figs. 1 to l the arms and legs of the figure are molded or otherwise formed integral with the body; but in many cases the arms and legs may be independent of the body and may behungthereto, so as to be free to swing. For instance, in Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a construction in which the ball A, constituting the body; has around the same a band f, to which are hung levers D and F, the duplex projecting portions of which constitute, respectively, the arms and legs of the figure; or they may simply be cores or centers for such arms and legs the shorter members of the levers being acted upon by the ball as it expands, so as to cause the desired movement of said levers. An internal spring may, if desired, be employed to add to the resiliency of the ball.

It will be understood that my invention is not limited to any special figure or to the specific movements of the figure which Ihave shown and described, as other figures having limbs moved by the expansion of the elastic body may be devised within the scope of my invention.

I-Iavingthus described inyinvention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A toy figure having a compressible elastic body possessing an inherent tendency to expand when released from pressure, andlimbs which are caused to change their position by the expansion of said elastic body, substantially as specified.

2. A toy figure having an elastic body with limbs projecting therefrom and so proportioned in respect to each other that as the body expands the limbs will be drawn under the same and the center of gravity will be shifted, so as to cause the figure to overbalance, substantially as specified.

3. A toy figure having an elastic body possessing an inherent tendency to expand when relieved from pressure, and having armsand legs projecting from opposite parts of said body, said legs having feet each with a prong projecting forwardly beyond the same, substantially as specified.

4. Atoy figure having a compressible elastic body possessing an inherent tendency to expand when relieved from pressure, and levers -11nn g to said body, the projecting arms of said I levers forming or aiding to form the limbs of lo the figure, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EDWARD F. BLYTI-IE.

Witnesses:

EUGENE ELTERICH, HARRY SMITH.