US852388A - Toy. - Google Patents

Description

A I/TOR/VEYS Ila-852.388. I PATEN'I'ED APR-30,1907. w. T. KEEPER.

TOY.

APPLICATION PILBD'IEBJZB, 1901.

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WITNESSES lNl EN TOR UNTTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM r. KEEFER, or BEDFORD, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF T0 DAVID F. HOLT, or BEDFORD, INDIANA.

TOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 30, 1907.

Application filed February 26, 1907. Serial No. 359350.

To (LZZ/ whorl 1, it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VILLIA'M T. KEEPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bedford, in the county of Lawrence and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Toy, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a toy, more particularly to a dancing toy and consists in general terms of a figure made preferably to resemble the human figure with pivoted limbs, and upheld by a spring support above a platform. Suitable means are provided for causing the figure to rise and fall whereby its feet are caused to strike the platform and produce the semblance of dancing.

In the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of the toy, a platform, in dicated by the numeral 1, is supported on four legs 2, the front legs being connected together by a cross piece 3, near their lower ends, while similar cross pieces i and 4 oin the rear legs at the bottom and top forming a rigid structure. The dancing figure 5, resembling a man, is made up of a rigid body and head with arms pivoted to the body at the shoulders and forearms pivoted to the arms at the elbows. Thighs are pivotally joined to the lower part of the body and legs with feet loosely attached to the thighs. A curved spring rod 6 is fastened at one end to the back of the figure, and at the other end it is driven into the platform at the rear end and held securely in place by a staple or other fastening 7. The figure is supported in such position that its feet are raised a short distance above the platform. A staple may be placed in the figures back over the spring rod to more securely hold the latter in place.

An operating lever 7, here shown as made of wire bent to proper shape, is attached to the lower rear cross piece 4 and projects forwardly at an upward inclination beyond the front of the platform where it is provided with a finger piece 9. The preferred form of operating lever shown in the drawing consists of a length of spring wire bent at its center in rectangular shape to form the finger piece 9. The two portions 10 of the wire then extend rearwardly in parallel relation to the cross piece 4 into which their ends are driven after being first given a downward turn. The portions 10 of the wire are offset at 11 near their rear ends to increase their springiness. The ends 12 of the operating lever 7 are retained in the cross piece t by means of a horizontal rod 13 extending between the rear posts 2, above and bearing on the ends 12 of the operating lever.

Through the front of the body of the figure 5, a transverse hole 14 is made, while imme diately below it two holes 15 are bored through the platform 1. The loop 16 of a bent wire 17 is loosely fitted in the hole 14 in the dancing figure, and said bent wire passing vertically downward therefrom through the holes 15in the platform has its ends attached to the respective portions 10 of the operating lever 7.

The figure is caused to dance by striking in quick succession on the finger piece 9 of the operating lever 7. This movement, through the bent wire, draws the figure 5 down and the spring of the lever and the support 6 immediately returns it. The feet strike the platform on the downward movement and bend the legs, while the vibrations of the support on the return cause the legs and arms to swing on their pivots and produce an excellent imitation of dancing. To produce the best effect and vary the steps of the dancer it is recommended that the forelingers of each hand be used to strike the finger piece 9, the fingers being used in alternation. By varying the rapidity of movement of the lingers, at one time fast and then again slow and striking the finger piece at the sides, a variety of steps by the dancer will result.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is r- 1. A toy, comprising a fixed platform, a jointed figure, a spring support attached to said platform and supporting said figure above the platform, a spring actuating lever, below said platform and a connection between said figure and said actuating lever.

2. A. toy, comprising a fixed platform, a spring supported. jointed figure supported above said platform, and means for pulling the figure downwardly and into contact with said platform.

3. A toy, comprising a fixed platform, a

spring supported jointed figure supported a In testimony that I claim the foregoing as short distance above said platform, an opermy own, I have hereto aflixed my signature ating lever formed of spring Wire rigidly oon- 4 in the presence of tWo Witnesses:

neoted at one end to said platform and prolVILLIAh E T. KEEFER. j eoting unsupported beyond the platform at l/Vitnesses: its front end, and unyielding means oonneotj JOHN H. UNDERWOOD,

ing said figure to said operating lever. J 0s. E. PIERCE.

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