Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1887
Complete Left, 9th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 13th Apr., 1888
I, WILLIAM CUNNINGTON of 61 Bedford Road, Clapham, in the county of Surrey,
Shop fitter do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The construction of a See-saw or Oscillator, working upon a stand or frame as
shewn in the accompanying drawings, in such manner that one half shall be capable
of sliding within the other, in order that it may occupy little space when not in use,
but be readily extended either wholly or partially as may be required.
This sliding movement also enables a perfect balance to be arrived at and main-
tained when children differing in weight occupy the seats; and by means of the
sliding weight or counterpoise, more fully described hereafter, the Oscillator can
be used and worked with the greatest ease by one child only.
Figure I is a side elevation of the Oscillator when fully extended, and Fig. II a
plan of same with seats F and G folded. Fig. III is side elevation shewing the
sliding end (A) only partially extended, and Fig. IV side elevation shewing the
sliding end closed, and turned down inside the stand (C), when the Oscillator assumes
a nearly vertical position, occupying no more ground space than the stand upon
which it is pivoted.
The main frame is constructed of the two side pieces A, A¹, joined at their outer
ends by the seat G, and sliding within the two side pieces B, B1, joined at their
outer ends by the seat D. The inner ends of these side pieces are joined to and
secured by the cross-bars L, L' and M, M' respectively. The inner seats E and F
are attached to the pieces H, H' and I, I' respectively which latter are pivoted to the
main frame in order that these seats 'may be free to rise and fall and thus permit the
Both inner and
sliding or telescopic action of the main frame already mentioned.
outer seats are by preference made of two pieces hinged together so that they may
either be folded as F and G (Fig. II) or opened to approach each other as D and E
(Fig. II).
Four uprights J, J¹,-K, K', are fixed to the main frame-two at either end
between the seats, strengthened if required by metal brackets. These serve to
carry the handle-bars N and o.

page_text: By means of a screw-bolt with butterfly nut (P) the sliding frame may be clamped
in any position.
Four buffers are attached to the main frame two of which (Q-R) are shewn in
Figs. I and III.
The counterpoise weight which may be of iron, lead, or other suitable material is
suspended freely in the box S, which is supported by the rails or runners T, T¹,
attached to the side pieces. This box, containing the weight, is free to slide backwards
and forwards immediately under the seats when the main frame of the Oscillator is in
a horizontal position; but as soon as the main frame is inclined in either direction the
weight (W) acts upon the loose wedges, U U or V V as the case may be, driving
them against the mainframe, and both weight and box are thereby automatically
locked.
Fig. V is a plan of the counterpoise box, (S) and
Fig. VI is side elevation of same shewing the grooves (a,b) by which it is
suspended from the runners.
Fig. VII is horizontal section of same shewing the weight (W), the wedges (U U-
VV) and rollers (X-Y) which may be used to reduce the friction upon the wedges.
Immediately above the main frame and equi-distant from the extreme ends when
fully extended is the axle Z which is firmly attached to the side pieces B, B¹ by metal
straps, and from this axle, which is the centre of oscillation, the main frame with its
seats, handle-bars, counterpoise, and other fittings, is suspended. The projecting ends
of the axle rest upon and are supported by the stand C.
This stand, which must be strongly.constructed, consists in its simplest form of two
triangular frames, connected by boards or diagonal bracing (c) at one side, and by a
tie-rod or sill only (d) at the other, so as to admit the sliding end of the Oscillator
when closed and turned down (Fig. IV) as already explained. When not in use the
Oscillator may be fixed in this position by hook and eye,-lock, or similar fitting
attached to the inside of the stand at c.
To the upper surfaces of the triangular frames are attached the metal plates e,—e¹
upon which the axle (Z) rests when the Oscillator is mounted on the stand.
By preference the axle is free to roll upon these plates when the Oscillator is in
action.
Two blocks (f, f¹) united by a tie-rod (g) serve to connect the upper surfaces of
the triangular frames, and at the same time to limit the movements of the axle.
These blocks are secured to the stand by the bolts and nuts, h, i, j, k, and may be
easily detached should it be necessary to remove the Oscillator from its stand.
The design and dimensions of both Oscillator and stand may be varied at will and
I do not therefore bind myself to those indicated by the drawings.
Dated this Tenth day of June 1887.

page_text: I, WILLIAM CUNNINGTON of 61 Bedford Road Clapham in the county of Surrey
Shop and Office fitter 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:-
The construction of a see-saw or " Oscillator " working upon a stand or frame
substantially as shewn in the drawings left with the provisional specification in such
manner that one half shall be capable of sliding within the other in order that it may
occupy little space when not in use but be readily extended either wholly or partially
as may be required.
This sliding movement also enables a perfect balance to be arrived at and main-
tained when children differing in weight occupy the seats and by means of the sliding
weight or counterpoise more fully described hereafter the Oscillator can be used and
worked with the greatest case by one child only.
Fig. I is a side elevation of the Oscillator when fully extended and Fig. II plan of
same with seats F and G folded. Fig. III is side elevation shewing the sliding
end (A) only partially extended and Fig. IV side elevation shewing the sliding end
closed and turned down inside the stand (C) when the Oscillator assumes a nearly
vertical position occupying no more ground space than the stand upon which it is
pivoted.
The main frame is constructed of the two side pieces A-A¹ joined at their outer
ends by the seat G and sliding within the two side pieces B-BI joined at their outer
ends by the seat D. The inner ends of these side pieces are joined to and secured
by the cross-bars L-L', M-M' respectively.
The inner seats E and F are attached to the pieces H-H₁ and I-I' respectively,
which latter are pivoted to the main frame in order that these seats may be free to
rise and fall and thus permit the sliding or telescopic action of the main-frame already
mentioned. Both inner and outer seats are by preference made of two pieces hinged
together so that they may either be folded as. F and G (Fig. II) or opened to
approach each other as D and E (Fig. II). Four uprights J-J-K-K' are fixed
to the main-frame-two at either end between the seats, strengthened if required by
brackets. These serve to carry the handle-bars N and O.
By means of a screw-bolt with butterfly nut (P) the sliding frame may be clamped
in any position.
Four buffers are attached to the main-frame two of which (Q-R) are shewn in
Figs. I and III.
The counterpoise weight which may be of iron, lead, or other suitable material is
suspended freely in the box S which is supported by the rails or runners T-T¹
attached to the side pieces.
This box containing the weight is free to slide backwards and forwards immediately
under the seats when the main-faame of the Oscillator is in a horizontal position but

page_text: as soon as the main-frame is inclined in either direction the weight (W) acts upon the
loose wedges U-U or V-V as the case may be driving them against the main-
frame and both weight and box are thereby automatically locked. Fig. V is a plan
of the counterpoise box (S) and Fig. VI is side elevation of same shewing the
grooves (a-b) by which it is suspended from the runners. Fig. VII is horizontal
section of same shewing the weight (W)-the wedges (U-U-V-V) and
rollers (XY) which may be used to reduce the friction upon the wedges.
Immediately above the main-frame and equidistant from the extreme ends when
fully extended is the axle Z which is firmly attached to the side pieces B-B' by
metal straps and from this axle, which is the centre of oscillation, the main-frame
with its seats, handle-bars,-counterpoise, and other fittings is suspended. The
projecting ends of the axle rest upon and are supported by the stand C.
This stand which must be strongly constructed consists in its simplest form of two
triangular frames. connected by boards or diagonal bracing (c) at one side and by a
tic-rod or sill only (d) at the other so as to admit the sliding end of the Oscillator
when closed and turned down (Fig. 1V) as already explained. When not in use the
Oscillator may be fixed in this position by hook and eye, lock, -or other fastening
attached to the inside of the stand at c. To the upper surfaces of the triangular
frames are attached the metal plates e-e¹ upon which the axle (Z) rests when the
Oscillator is mounted on the stand. By preference the axle is free to roll upon these
plates when the Oscillator is in action. Two blocks (f) united by a tie-rod (g)
serve to connect the upper surfaces of the triangular frames and at the same time to
limit the movements of the axle. These blocks are secured to the stand by the bolts
and nuts hij.k. and may be easily detached should it be necessary to remove
the Oscillator from its stand. The design and dimensions of both Oscillator and
stand may be varied at will and I do not therefore bind myself to those indicated by
the drawings.
The main-frame may be of iron or steel of L,-T, or any required section.
The cross-bars L, M, may be omitted and the inner seats (E-F) attached
directly to the main-frame. A box may be made under the seat G to contain
moveable weights in lieu of the counterpoise weight already described.
The stand may be either wholly or partially of cast iron and may be supported
upon wheels or rollers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
I. The construction of a see-saw or Oscillator in such manner that one half shall be
capable of sliding within the other so that it may be either wholly or partially
extended as required.
II. The construction of a counterpoise free to slide backwards and forwards when
the Oscillator is horizontal but which is instantly and automatically locked when the
Oscillator is inclined to the horizontal in either direction.
III. The construction of hinged and folding seats as herein described.
Dated this Ninth day of March 1888.
WILLIAM CUNNINGTON.