US972147A

US972147A - Toy beehive.

Info

Publication number: US972147A
Application number: US50788109A
Authority: US
Inventors: Minnie Averill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1909-07-16
Filing date: 1909-07-16
Publication date: 1910-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 1927-10-11

Description

M. AVERILL.

TOY BEEHIVE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1900.

Patented Oct. 11, 1910.

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MINNIE AVERILL, or JoPLnv, MISSOURI.

TOY BEEHIVE.

Application filed July 16,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MINNIE AvEnILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Joplin, in the county of Jasper and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Toy Beehives, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object to produce a toy comprising a casing or holder, preferably formed as an old fashioned bee-hive, in which are mounted a plurality of flexible coiled springs carrying at their free ends objects shaped to represent insects, such as bees, these being so arranged that when the case is opened the springs will project the toy insects and by reason of their resiliency cause them to move in the air in proximity to the case from which they were released, thereby simulating the movements of bees about a hive. In combination with the parts thus referred to is mechanism arranged to produce a buzzing noise when the case is opened.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is an elevation of a toy embodying my invention, the casing thereof being closed. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section Specification of Letters Patent.

taken on the line IIII of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a top plan view of the buzzer or noise producing devices detached.

The toy illustrated has a casing A formed of two parts, a lower one a, which is hollow, and an upper portion a arranged to serve as a cover or cap for the casing as a whole. This casing may be formed of any suitable material and is exteriorly shaped to represent a bee-hive of old fashioned shape, though I do not wish to be limited in my invention to the shape or construction of the casing. The top or cover a is hinged at Z) to the lower section and a catch C is arranged to hold the parts together. The catch is provided with a press button or projection 0 by which it may be manipulated. As stated the lower portion a of the casing is hollow and is provided with a bottom D which is preferably removable. The top of the casing is likewise preferably hollow to insure the desired degree of lightness and is provided with a septum or cross plate E. Suitably supported within the lower portion of the casing are a plurality of coiled springs F. These are formed of sufficiently small and elastic wire to permit of the springs Patented Oct. 11, 1910.

1909. Serial No. 507,881.

being relatively quite long, and very flexible. hen the top of the case is closed the springs are pressed into the chamber within the casing and there held under tension ;-but as soon as the cover a is released from the action of the catch C the springs force it open, and being released, expand to their full extent and by reason of their flexibility and resiliency vibrate more or less violently above the open casing. The lower ends of the springs may be attached in any suitable way so long as they are securely held. They may be mounted directly upon the bottom piece D, but in the form of my invention herein shown I prefer that they should be supported upon a shell G attached to the bottom and from the upper face of which project studs 72, to which the springs are secured.

At the upper free ends of the springs are secured small figures I which are preferably shaped to represent bees. These may be made of light metal colored to imitate the insects they represent. The weight of the figures I will cause the springs to remain in vibration for a considerable length of time when the case or hive is opened, giving to the toy the appearance of a beehive about which are flying the bees.

In order to heighten the effect I preferably combine with the parts thus far described, means which produce a humming or buzzing sound when the case is opened. The mechanism for producing the sound is preferably mounted within the compartment inclosed by the shell G. Any suitable mechanism for producing the sound may be em ployed, though I prefer to use that which I will now describe.

J represents a disk or wheel provided with a series of tappets j adapted, as the wheel is revolved, to successively engage with wings 7c of a vibrator K which is suitably mounted within the chamber inclosed by the shell G. The shaft of the wheel J carries a gear pinion m with which engages a gear wheel M. The latter has connection with a motor spring N mounted in a suitable case and arranged to be put under tension by a winding key a. A latch piece 0 is arranged to engage with and hold the gear wheel M against rotation. This latch 0 may consist of a vertically mounted rod carrying at its lower end a laterally disposed contact piece 0 arranged to engage with the toothed wheel M whenever the cover a of the case is closed and, engaging with the upper end of the rod, forces it downward or into engagement with the Wheel. A spring Q, preferably coiled about the rod of the latch 0, tends to force the latter upward or out of engagement with the wheel M, but readily yields when the cover is closed. The winding key is arranged in a recess provided therefor in the bottom piece D.

The closing of the casing compresses the springs and holds them under tension within the body of the casing, and also forces the catch 0 into engagement with the wheel M, which is held thereby. The spring N may now be wound up. Upon moving the catch C to release the cover the springs F force it open, releasing the insect figures, and also the wheel M from the action of the catch 0, whereupon the buzzer will-produce a sound like that of flying insects, while the springs will cause the figures I to vibrate and move through the air as has been described.

What I claim is L 1. A toy comprising a hollow casing having a movable cover, a series of relatively long flexible coiled springs supported within the casing and arranged to be put under tension when the cover is closed, and insect figures carried at the free ends of the springs.

2. A toy comprising a casing in the form of a bee-hive, the casing being formed of two parts, the lower portion of which is hollow and the upper hinged to the lower part, a catch for holding the parts together with the casing closed, a series of relatively long flexible coiled springs secured at the1r lower ends within the casing, and a series of figures representing bees secured at the outer free ends of the springs.

3. A toy comprising a hollow casing having a movable cover or cap, a plurality of relatively long flexible springs supported at their inner ends within the casing, insect figures supported at the free ends of the springs, a buzzer mounted within the casing and means for causing the buzzer to operate whenever the cover is released to free the insect figures.

MINNIE AVERILL. Vitnesses CAROLINE YATES, En. N. CUNNINGHAM.