Improvements in Locking Hinged Joints for Folding Shafts and like purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 17th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locking Hinged Joints for Folding Shafts and
like purposes.
We HENRY COWTAN and CHARLES EDWARD COWTAN of 84 Aldenham Street,
Somers Town, Perambulator Smiths do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention refers to hinge joints for the folding shafts of mail carts, and like
purposes.
It is designed to supply a joint which can be easily operated by any inexperienced
person and which will be proof against side play and will be self fastening when
returned to the closed or horizontal position.
It consists of two parallel horizontal plates which lie along and close to the
shaft, one, which is rigid being fixed below, and the other which is divided and has
its two halves connected by a hinge is placed above the shaft. The upper plate
therefore consists of a fixed or rigid part and a movable flap both connected by a
hinge joint.
These two horizontal plates are connected together by two or more vertical side
straps or bars, which by preference are placed near, the middle of their length.
The wooden shaft which is inserted between the plates, is divided immediately
under the hinge joint and this division is concealed by the vertical connecting bars
adjoining the hinge when the shaft is in the straight position. The plates are fixed
to the shafts by bolts and nuts, and screws.
Hinged to the outer end of the movable flap of the upper plate is a rectangular
staple which is large enough to embrace both the shaft and the lower plate. This
staple has a leg or thumb piece projecting above the fixed end of the upper plate
and beyond the knuckle of the joint to which it is attached which forms a lever by
means of which it can be lifted off the lower plate when it is desired to fold
the shaft.
Beneath this lug is fixed a spring, which by pressing the lug upwards holds the
staple in position upon the bottom plate. When the shaft is returning from the
bent or folded position to the straight position this staple automatically engages
with the bottom plate, and locks the two parts of the shaft rigidly together.
Dated this 18th day of December 1895.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, E.C., Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locking Hinged Joints for Folding Shafts and
like purposes.
We HENRY COWTAN and CHARLES EDWARD COWTAN, of 84, Aldenham
Street, Somers Town, Perambulator Smiths, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention refers to hinged joints for the folding shafts of mail carts and like
QUERASAN

page_text: It is designed to supply a joint which can be easily operated by any inexperienced
person and which will be proof against side play and will be self fastening when
returned to the closed or horizontal position.
It consists of two parallel horizontal plates which lie along and close to the shaft,
one, which is rigid, being fixed below and the other which is divided and has its
two halves connected by a hinge, is placed above the shaft. The upper plate
therefore consists of a fixed or rigid part and a moveable flap both connected by a
hinge joint.
These two horizontal plates are connected together by two or more vertical side
straps or bars, which by preference are placed near the middle of their length.
The wooden shaft which is inserted between the plates, is divided immediately
under the hinge joint and this division is concealed by the vertical connecting bars
adjoining the hinge when the shaft is in the straight position. The plates are
fixed to the shafts by bolts and nuts, and screws.
Hinged to the outer end of the moveable flap of the upper plate is a rectangular
staple which is large enough to embrace both the shaft and the lower plate. This
staple has a leg or thumb piece projecting above the fixed end of the upper plate
and beyond the knuckle of the joint to which it is attached, which forms a lever
by means of which it can be lifted off the lower plate, when it is desired to fold
the shaft.
Beneath this lug is fixed a spring, which by pressing the lag upwards holds the
staple in position upon the bottom plate. When the shaft is returning from the
bent or folded position to the straight position this staple automatically engages
with the bottom plate, and locks the two parts of the shaft rigidly together.
We will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of our hinge joint.
Fig. 2 shows a plan view of same.
Fig. 3 shows an end view.
Fig. 4 shows the joint unfastened.
a is the socket to receive and embrace the fixed half of the jointed shaft; b is a
bolt and nut or other fastening to secure same to the shaft c; d is a short arm
which is secured to the other part or hinged half c' of the shaft, hinged to the
main pivot joint e, and at the other end forms a bearing which supports the bell
crank locking lever and staple ƒ centreing about f'; g is a recoil spring to return'
the lever to its normal position.
The lower arm of crank lever f is made of an open frame shape so that the
wooden handle may pass through same. As will be seen this lower arm snaps onto
the extended portion a¹ of socket a, when a straight joint is desired. h. h. are side
guides which slip on to the wooden part of the joint c and helps to hold d in
position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
In a folding locking joint for shafts and like purposes, the combination of the
socket a with extension piece a' the hinged arm a pivot joint e locking cranked
lever and staple f; recoil springg and guides: h. has. herein described-and-set
forth.
Dated this 17th day of September 1896