US555740A

US555740A - Frank b

Info

Publication number: US555740A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1896-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 1913-03-03

Description

(No Model.)

F. B. SGAIFE.

TOY.

No. 555,740. Patented'Mal 3, 1896;

llNiTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK B. SCAIFE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TOY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,740, dated March 3, 1896.

Application filed October 22,1895.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK B. SCAIFE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toys, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to anew and amusing toy and puzzle; and it consists of a box in which is arranged a figure so held as to require a predetermined movement of the box to cause said figure to appear outside thereof.

Vith these ends in view my invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction and operation in detail, referring by number to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a section of the box, showing the figure and mechanism for moving said figure; Fig. 2, a similar View showing the figure thrust by its mechanism without the box; Fig. 3, a plan view of a box, showing the cap which covers the figure; and Fig. 4 a section at right angles to Fig. 2.

Similarnumbers denote like parts in all the views of the drawings.

1 are series of levers pivoted together so as to form a lazy-tongs movement and adapted to be guided in their movement by the pins 2, 3, and 4., which slide in the grooveways 5, 6, and 7, respectively.

8 is a figure secured to the levers at one of their junctions and having a cap 9 resting thereon, which latter is adapted to fit and close a suitable opening 10 in one side of the box 11.

12 is a weight secured to the levers opposite the figure and of sufficient heft to overbalance said figure, whereby the latter will be thrust through the opening 10 when the levers are reversed and the box held in the proper position to permit the action of the weight upon the levers.

13 is a latch pivoted within the box, the nose of which is adapted to engage the pins 3 and thus retain the levers in their normal Serial No. 566,502. (No model.)

position, (shown in Fig. 1,) which holds the figure inside of the box.

14 is a weight arranged to slide upon the rod 15, which is located in juxtaposition to the latch 13 for the purpose of forcing said latch in the position shown in Fig. 1, and the box is held in a reversed position.

16 are a number of imitations of the cap which surmounts the figure, so that when the latter is in position within the opening 10 it cannot be seen from which side of the box the figure will thrust its head, so that it will be seen that when the figure is depressed and latched into the position shown in Fig. 1 it willbe impossible to determine the position in which to hold the box. In order that the weight may counterbalance the figure and cause it to be thrust through the opening 10, and to further complicate the operation of causing the figure to come out ofthe box, the catch 13 is so arranged as to maintain its hold upon the pin 3 at all times except when the box is turned upon its side at right angles to Fig. 1, as the weight 14 will hold the hook in engagement with said pin, if the box be turned upside down, and the weight of the latch itself will hold it in this engagement at all other times.

Considerable skill and patience are necessary to move the box into the several positions necessary to release the levers and cause them to thrust the figure through the opening 10, and the movement of the box must be carried on much after the manner of a combination-lock, in that the disengagement of the latch must be so accomplished, and the weight 12 caused to operate the levers immediately thereafter, before the box has been moved into any other forced position; otherwise the latch will re-engage itself with the pin and prevent any movement of theleversz Thus a very amusing puzzle tis 'provided, which will hold the attentionbf the manipulator, and which when once solved will not destroy the interest therein, in that it will be as difficult to perform the second time as it was the first.

To restore the figure to its normal position within the box, it is only necessary to depress the cap 9 and so manipulate the box as to cause the latch to engage the pin 3, when the levers will be prevented from any movement.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new and useful is 1. In a device of the characterdescribed, a boX having a cap supported upon the head of the figure, levers to Which said figure is attached, means for supporting the levers a Weight secured to said levers adapted to overbalance said figure, and a catch for holding the levers in their normal position against the action of the Weight, as shown and described.

2. The herein-described toy, consisting of a rectangular box, having a number of representations of caps, an opening 10, formed in one side of the box, a cap adapted to fit therein, a figure for supporting said cap, le-

FRANK B. SCAIEE. Witnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMSON, JOHN WILSON.