Year: 1898

page_text: V
Date of Application, 18th May, 1898
Last 40th Fab
4000
Located
10th 1lov 1000
1, CHARLES EBENEZER CHALLIS, of 13, South Hill Park Gardens, Hampstead,
N.W., Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this device is to provide a place where young children may safely
be left unattended perfectly open to light and air but protected from draughts,
where they are quite unhampered in their movements but cannot crawl into
fireplaces or other dangerous situations and where they can play about without
risk of picking up harmful substances from the floor. The device consists of
a sort of box or cabinet with bottom and sides made of linen canvas or other
suitable material the upper edges of this receptacle being carried and kept in
shape by a frame supported on legs of suitable height which may be padded if
desired. The frame is so constructed that it may be easily folded when required
while it may be readily taken to pieces for packing. The size and shape of the
device may be varied according to circumstances but is usually rectangular
while the height may also be varied but is preferably of the height most suitable
for young children to hold when learning to walk.
1
1
1011
1
er
1000
C. E. CHALLIS.
Safety Enclosures for young tundren,
1, CHARLES EBENEZER CHALLIS, of 13, South Hill Park Gardens, Hampstead,
London, Machinist, 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 object of the device is to provide a place where young children may be
safely left unattended, free as to light and air, but protected from draughts,
unfettered in their movements, but restrained from crawling into fireplaces or
other dangerous situations, and safe from the risk of picking up harmful sub-
stances from the floor, while it may be readily closed into a small space when
not in use.
The manner in which these objects are attained in my invention is fully
disclosed in the following statement, and in the accompanying drawings which
form part of the specification, each letter of reference indicating a corresponding
part. throughout.
The enclosure or complete device that I construct for children, consists of
an inner flexible receptacle, and a frame for supporting it; the base of the

page_text: inner receptacle is of sufficient area to give plenty of room for free movement-
say for example three feet by five feet-around this base sides are placed o
sumicient height to about reach the child's elbows-say for example eighteen
inches high.
General views of the device are shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 Sheet 1, Figs. 20,
27, 28, Sheet 5, and Fig. 35 Sheet 6, while the details of the construction are
shown in the other figures. The receptacle marked is preferably made of
linen or other textile fabric, with a stout cord or rod, or equivalent, around its
upper edge by which it is attached by clips (to be presently described) to a frame
standing on legs A, A, A. The frame shown in detail in Figs. 35 and 36 is
made of two rails of wood; G, forming the width or ends of the enclosure, and
two longer rails LL forming the length or sides of the enclosure. To enable
these latter to be folded they are jointed at about their centre E by mortising
(and rounding one angle of their abutting ends) and fitting a long tenon I across
the joint, a pin J passes through the centre of each rail, and through the tenon l'
and is fixed by a nut underneath. The ends of the mortise are not cut at right
angles to the rails but at an angle of say 60° and the tenon is cut in the same
manner so that when the rails are extended, the ends of the mortise butt against
the ends of the tenon, and can be fixed rigidly in that position by buttons, or
an equivalent, and when the rails are folded the ends of the tenon project beyond
the sides of the rails so as to form tongues FF to lock into recesses G¹, L³, cut
in the adjoining rails G, L.
The ends of these side rails L which abut upon the end rails G have their
inner angles rounded off and are jointed to tenons b, b₁, b3, b, projecting at right
angles from the end rails; on one end of each of the end rails G, tenons. bi za
(made with prolonged angles or projections) project directly at right angles
so that the side raits L when jointed and folded may lie close against the end
rails G and the projecting angles of the tenons F at the centre joints E lock into
recesses G cut in the end rails G. At the other end of the end rails G the tenons
are cut at the ends of short rails b; (equal in length to the total width of each
folded side rail L) which project at right angles to the end rails G and the
further ends of the side rails L are jointed to them, so that the short tenons 1 bd
(with prolonged angles or projections) lock into the mortises of the side rails L
which are upon the tenons of the short projecting rails b, 62, opposite them:
thus when folded the tenons of the centre joints E of the two side rails L each
lock into an end rail G and one fold of the opposite side rail L to render the
device rigid when folded, when the rectangular figure may be closed by a cover
as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 Sheet 1.
At each corner à leg of suitable height is attached, preferably by a pin passing
through the rail and fastened by a nut or otherwise. For this form of frame
the inner receptacle is attached by clips or clamps affixed to the under side of
the rails in such manner that it may be folded with the frame and easily
detached if necessary, while it may be looped up out of sight under the cover
when folded.
A method of constructing the clamp is shown in Fig. 13 in which L is the
rail S a clamp or series of clamps under the rail and having slots S at intervals.
through which it is attached to the rail by means of studs or screws T.
Sis a trough or channel along the clamp in which the corded edge C of the
receptacle C is inserted. The clamp as shown is closed.
Fig. 15 shows the same view with the clamp open for the insertion of the
corded edge of receptacle.
Fig. 14 shows an end view of the clamp closed with the corded edge ef
receptacle inserted.
Fig. 16 shows a similar view with the clamp open and the receptacle removed.
I do not limit myself to this particular form of clamp as the method of fixing
the receptacle to the frame may be varied to meet special requirements, so that
under various circumstances I may use nails buttons, loops, cords, hooks and

page_text: eyes, rings, eyelets, rods passed through a hem and resting in sockets or clips
on the rants, or an equivalent, or with a wide hem through which the rails or
rods themselves are passed as in Figs. 29, 30.
The inner receptacle is not necessarily made of linen or with separate sides
sewn to the bottom but may be made of canvas, carpet, tick silk or almost any
tex.ile or Hexible fabric waterproof" or otherwise, padded; stuffed, quilted uphol-
stered or otherwise; or the receptacle may be open or net like upon which easily
removable cloths, may be hung.
Instead of the device being made with a flexible receptacle supported by a
frame as shown in Fig. I, the enclosure may be made of a light tramework sus-
taining canvas or other material stretched upon it, or stuffed and covered with
a suitable material, the sides and ends being hinged to the bottom in such
manner that the sides marked 2, 4, Fig. 27, 28 may fold down upon the bottom
marked 5 and the ends marked 1, 3, foid under the bottom the ends and sides
being connected when erected by clips or angle plates.
The device is not necessarily rectangular, but may be round; oval, or other
desired shape as Fig. 26 in which A are the legs C the receptacle, and L the
rails; in this form collapsibility is obtained by mortising and tenoning at
intervals, or by hinged joints at several points marked o, o, o, o, one of which
is made with a removable pin which being withdrawn enables the frame to be
rolled upon itself.
Instead of the rails being made with folded joints, they may be plain rods
G, L, which pass through a prolongation of the upper part of legs A wherein
they are fixed by screws Y Figs. 29, 30. The frame being readily detachable
by loosening the screws and withdrawing the rods in which case the rods are
passed through wide hems of the receptacle C, or through rings X upon the
receptacle C as shown in Fig. 31, 32; or the side rails L may be slotted as
shown (or for a greater distance) and be placed on a pin in the top of leg A
whereon they are fixed by a nut Z Fig. 33, 34; the receptacle being attached
in one of the manners described.
The device may be closed by withdrawing the rails from under the nut--and
gathering the several parts together, or by sliding the legs along the slots and
then closing in the manner of a parallel rule in which case the length of the
folded device is then equal to the length of the device when erected.
Instead of the joints of frame being mortised and tenoned as previously
described, the side rails may be jointed to the end rails by an ordinary. hinge,
or the projecting tenon-B Fig. 24-from the end rail G may have a plate 1
upon it while the end of the rail L is halved and laid upon the plate and a
screw D6 fitting in a socket 17 passes through the whole and is locked by a nut D³
underneath; while the centre joints of the rail L may be made in several manners
according to the particular use which it is intended to serve. For instance, it
may be made with a hinge in the manner shown in Figs. 17 to 20 Sheet 3 in
which
Fig. 17 is a view (underside) of the rails folded.
Fig. 19 is a view (underside) of the rails extended.
Fig. 18 is an end view of the same folded.
Fig. 20 is a side view of the same extended.
In Fig. 17 L L are the rails in their folded position is an ordinary hinge,
P is a plate with projecting tongues F1 F to lock into recesses in the adjoining
rails G, L, when folded Q is a catch to lock the rails when extended R is the
stud which holds the catch. Or the side rails may be connected at E by a locking
joint consisting of gearing segments attached to the ends of the rails and working
in each other, a bolt to lock the racks in their extended position, springs to hold
the bolt in position, a plate to carry the pivots, and having projections to lock
into the adjoining bars when folded.
Fig. 5 shows an underview of the lock with rails folded.
Fig. 6 shows an end view of the same.

page_text: Fig. 7, shows an underview of the gearing segments in position with rails
folded.
Fig. 8, shows an underview of the plate, springs, and lock with rails folded.
Fig. 9,,shows the side and end view of the bolt
Fig. 10, shows the underview of the lock with the rails extended.
Fig. 11, shows a side view of the same in section.
Fig. 12, shows the segments attached to the rails extended.
Fis the plate attached to the bars L, L, by means of the pivots J, J' which
are fixed by the nuts K, K; Fare projecting tongues on the plate which
lock into the adjoining rails G, L, when folded. Hare the gearing segments
attached to the rails L L'; h h are the slots in which the cars m2, m", on the
bolt M lock when the bars are extended; m is the finger piece for operating the
bolt. N, N are the springs which lie in channels in the plate and hoid
the bolt M in position. Figs. 21 to 23 show a similar locking joint in which the
bolt M is operated by an eccentric V. Fig. 21 shows a plan with part of the
rail and the gearing segments removed to show lock and eccentric. Fig. 22
shows the gearing segments in position with the bolts engaged. Fig. 23 shows
a side view in section. F is the plate F F the projections thereon, H, H', the
gearing segments J, J¹, the pivots L, L', the rails M the bolt on which M MP
are the ears which engage in the gearing segments, V is the eccentric which
operates the bolt, V is the lever for turning the eccentric, N is the spring.
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:-
:
-
1. As an article of manufacture a safety enclosure for young children con-
sisting of a receptacle of flexible material, connected to a collapsible frame by
means of clips or their equivalent, the parts being combined substantially as
described.
2. As an article of manufacture a safety enclosure for young children con-
sisting of a frame with solid or jointed rails with locking device, detachable
legs, a flexible receptacle, clamps for attaching same to the frame and a cover
for enclosing the device when folded, the parts being constructed and combined
substantially as described.
3. As an article of manufacture a safety enclosure for young children con-
sisting of a box or cabinet with removable or jointed sides and ends, which, when
erected, are maintained in position by means of angle plates or their equivalent,
attached to the corners, constructed substantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of Wak
1800