Certain Improvements in Children's Carriages and Mail Carts.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left. 21st May 1897--Accented 10th July 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Certain Improvements in Children's Carriages and Mail Carts.
I, HARRY ISRAEL HUMPHRY, of Redford House, Sandford Road, Moseley,
Birmingham, Warwickshire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
Invention to be as follows:---
This invention has reference to children's carriages and mail carts and consists
in constructing the said carriages and mail carts as herein described so that they
can readily be converted from single carriages or mail carts for one child into
double carriages or mail carts for two children and also be used for a child to lie
down in.
In carrying out this Invention I provide a mail cart or carriage body which is
provided with a fixed seat facing the shafts and a well below the said fixed seat.
Arranged to slide upon the shafts or sides of the mail cart or carriage at the top
of the well I provide a sliding frame forming the sides and back of a front seat
for a second child, and hinged or jointed to the front ends of the sides of
this frame there is a flap or seat which when the frame is slided forward along the
shafts rests upon a cross bar extending between the shafts and thus forms a seat
for a second child in front of the fixed seat. When the frame with the hinged
seat as aforesaid is slided hack over the well the said hinged seal turns down into
the well and occupies a position at the side of the well close to the front seat so
that the opening in the frame thus enables the legs of the child sitting on the
front seat to pass down into the well. Or the seat may be turned over on to a stop
or slide and when the frame is pushed forward the seat may slide under the fixed
seat or be turned on to the seat as mentioned above. To convert the carriage
from this form into a double carriage for two children to sit in face to face, the
frame has to be slided forward along the shafts as aforesaid so as to expose the well,
then the seat is lifted and turned round on its hinges so as to close the opening in
the frame and rest on the cross bar as stated above. When the carriage is required
for a child to lie down in, the top of the well is closed by a flap hinged to the front
of the fixed seat or otherwise conveniently arranged.
Instead of the seat being hinged to the front of the sides of the sliding frame as
above described, the said seat may be hinged to the front of the well so as to either
turn down in the well when the carriage is required for one child to sit in facing the
shaft, or turn up and close the opening in the sliding frame to form the seat for
the second child with its back to the shafts.
In a further modification of my Invention the seat is hinged to the back of the
frame so that when pushed forward the seat falls into the well leaving the well
space open for the child's legs; or the seat part of the sliding frame may be made
of two parts hinged together so that when pushed forward to the first hinge ouo
half of the seat turns down into the well and the carriage then forms a bedrest
carriage for one child and when the slide or seat are pushed in to the second hingo
the other half of the seat turns down in the well and the carriage forms the double
carriage or for a child to lie down.

page_text: Or at the front of the well a board may slide down in grooves or otherwise and
when drawn up to the full extent may turn down on a pivot or hinge to cover the
open space in the sliding frame to form the seat for the second child.
Instead of the well being covered by the usual flap hinged to the front of the
fixed seat, there may be for the same purpose a sliding board arranged to slide
ander the fixed seat to expose the well or to slide out to cover the same."
In a further modification of my Invention the said seat part is made in a piece
with the frame so that the frame will then form the sliding front seat with the
sides and back which can either be slided to cover or partly cover the well for a
child to lie down, or be slided forward to form the front seat so that the carriage
will then accomodate two children sitting face to face.
Uated this 20th day of August. 1896
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Certain Improvements in Children's Carriages and Mail Carts.
J, HARRY ISRAEL HUMPHRY, of Bedford House, Sandford Road, Moseley
Birmingham, Warwickshire, Manufacturer, 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 has reference to children's carriages and mail carts and consists
in constructing the said carriages and mail carts in the soveral ways herein
described so that they can readily be converted from single carriages or mail carts
for one child into double carriages or mail carts for two children and also be used
for child to lie down in.
I will describe my Invention by referring to the accompanying drawings on
which Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation; and Fig. 2 is a plan of the body of a
children's carriage or mail cart with my Invention applied. These figures show
the carriage or mail cart arranged to be occupied by two children sitting face to
face; Fig. 3 shews the same parts as in Fig. 1 but in the position which the
moving front parts occupies when the carriage is required for one child to sit up
in; Fig. 3 shews the moving frout part of the carriage separately; Figs. 4 and 5
illust.ate a modification of the arrangement shewn by Figs 1, 2 and 3; Figs. 6 and 7
are respectively a sectional side elevation and a plan of a children's carriage or
mail cart embodying a further modification of my Invention; Figs. 8, 9 and 10
illustrate a further modification of my Invention; Figs. 11, 12 and 13 illustrate a
further modification of the same; Fig. 14 shews a further modification of my
Invention; Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation of a children's carriage or mailcart
body to show how a slide may be used underneath the seat to cover the well
instead of the usual flap but this slide forms no part of my Invention; Fig. 16 is
a plan and Fig. 17 is a cross section of a children's carriage or mail cart illustrating
a further modification of my said Invention.
The same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts in all tho
Figures of the drawings.
I will first describe the arrangement of my Invention shewn by Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
I provide an ordinary mail cart or carriage body A. which has a fixed seat a¹
facing the shafts as as and a well at below the fixed seat a'. Arranged to slide
upon the shafts a a³ or sides of the mail cart or carriage at the top of the well a' I
provide a sliding frame B forming the sides and the back of a front seat for
to the front ends of the sides 61 b
a second child; and hinged or jointed at cc

page_text: of this frame B there is a flap or seat which when the frame B is slided forward
along the shafts as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 rests upon a cross bar D extending
between the shafts and thus forms a seat for a second child in front of the fixed
seat a'. When the frame B with the hinged seat C is slided back over the well a
the hinged seat C turns down as in Fig. 3 into the well a and occupies a position
at the side of the well close to the seat a' as shewn in Fig. 3 so that the opening &*
in the frame B enables the legs of the child sitting on the front seat a to pass
down into the well. Or as shewn in Figs. 4 and 5 the seat C may be turned on to
the side stops or slides a fixed at a short distance underneath the seat a¹ so that
when the frame B is pushed backwards as shewn in Fig. 4 the seat C will slide
under the fixed seat a¹ out of the way, or the seat Ccan be turned back on to the frame
B to form the front seat as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2. To convert the carriage into a
double carriage for two children to sit in face to face, the frame B has to be slided
forward along the shafts a a3 as aforesaid and as shewn in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 so as to
expose the well at, then the seat C is lifted and turned round on its hinge cso
as to close the opening 6 in the frame B and rest on the cross bar D as stated
above and as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2. When the carriage is required for a child
to lie down in the top of the well is closed by the usual flup E which is hinged
to the front of the sent a' or is otherwise conveniently arranged.
Instead of the seat C being hinged to the front of the sides of the slidi
frame B as above described and shown in Fig. 1, 2, 3, 3, 4 and 5 the said seat
may as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 be hinged at ci to the front a' of the well a' so0 As
to either turn down into the well as shewn in Figs. 6 and 7 when the carriage is
required for one child to sit in facing the shafts, or turn up and close the
opening in the sliding frame B as above described to form the soat for the
second child with its back to the shafts a² a³.
م.
In the further modification of my Invention shewn by Figs. 8, 9 and 10 the
seat C is hinged at a to the back of the frame B so that when the frame is
pushed backward towards the fixed seat al as shewn in Fig. 10, the seat C will
fall into the well as leaving the well space open for the child's legs Or as shown
in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 the seat part of the sliding frame B may be made in two
parts marked respectively C C hinged together at ee so that when the framo B
is pushed forward to the first hinge as shewn in Fig. 12 the first half of the
seat tarns down into the well at and when the usual flap E is turned over the top
of the well as the carriage will then form a bed rest carriage for one child to lie
in, and when the slide or frame B is pushed as far as the second hinge the other
half of the seat turus down into the well and the carriage then forms, as
shewn in Fig. 13, a single carriage for a child to sit up in on the fixed seat a'.
Or as in the arrangement of my Invention shewn by Fig. 14, at the front as of
the well at a board C may be slided down in side grooves a or otherwise arranged
to move up or down, so that when the board ( is drawn up to the full extent as
indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 14 this board will turn down on side pivots or
hinges to cover the open space in the sliding frame B to form the seat for the
second child.
Instead of employing the usual hinged flap for covering the well at hinged to the
front of the fixed seat a there may be for the same purpose a sliding board F
arranged to slide in guides under the fixed seat at as shewn in Fig. 15 so as to
slide out and cover the well or slide back underneath the seat a to expose the
well. It is to be understood however that I make no claim in respect of this
sliding board F.
In another arrangement of my Invention shewn by Figs. 16 and 17, the seat
part of the sliding frame B is made in two pieces marked CC (see Figs. 16 and 17)
which are hinged underneath to the sides of the sliding frame B and meet at
about the centre of the sliding frame B to fill the hole in the same so arranged
that when the sliding frame B is slided backwardly to the front seat a' the
flaps CC of the well turn down on their hinges against the sides of the well a' as
shewn in Fig. 17 so that the mail cart can then be used for a child sitting on the

page_text: fixed seat, or after these flaps CC have been turned up to close the hole in the
sliding frame B, as shewn in Fig. 16, the said frame can be slided forward so that
these flaps CC will rest upon the cross bar D or upon the front of the well and
thus form the seat for the second child facing the child sitting on the fixed.
seat a¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a children's mail cart or carriage the combination with the carriage body
made with a fixed sent a 'and fixed well a', of a sliding frame such as B forming
the sides and back of a front seat facing the said fixed seat and adapted to slide to
and fro along the shafts and having a lap or seat hinged thereto and so arranged
that when the sliding frame is slided backwardly towards the fixed set this hinged
flap or seat will fall down within the well and when the sliding frame is moved in
the opposite direction the hinged flap or seat is turned up and supported horizontally
to form a seat or extension on the top of the well in front of the fixed seat,
substantially as hereinbefore described
2. In a children's mail cart or carriage the combination with the body A minde
with a fixed seat a' and a fixed well as, of a sliding frame such as B forming the
sides and back of a front seat facing the fixed sent a' and adapted to slide to and
fro along the shafts, a flap or seat (hinged to the front of the said sliding frame
so as to fall down within the well immediately below the fixed seat when the
sliding frame is slided backwardly towards the fixed seat and to turn to a
horizontal position when the frame is moved in the opposite direction and means
for supporting the hinged flap horizontally to form with the sliding frame a seat
or extension on the top of the well in front of the fixed seat, all substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 3 of tho accompanying
drawings.
3. In a children's mail cart or carriage the combination with the body A made
with a fixed sent a' and a fixed well-, of a sliding frame such as B forming the
sides and back of a front seat facing the fixed seat a' and adapted to slide to and
fro along the shafts, a flap or seat hinged to the back of the sliding frame so as
to fall down within the front of the well when the sliding frame is slided back-
wardly towards the fixed seat and to turn up when the frame is moved in the
opposite direction and means for supporting the hinged flap horizontally to form
with the sliding frame a seat or extension on the top of the well in front of the
fixed seat, an substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figa. 8,
9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In a children's mail cart or carriage the combination with the body A made
with a fixed seat al and a fixed well as, of a sliding frame such as B forming the
sides and back of a front sent facing the fixed seat a' and adapted to slide to and
fro along the shafts, a flap or seat made of two parts C C hinged together and
hinged to the back of the said sliding frame so as to fall down within the front of
the well when the sliding frame is slided backwardly towards the fixed seat and to
turn up when the frame is moved in the opposite direction and means for supporting
the hinged flap horizontally to form with the sliding frame a seat or extension on
the top of the well in front of the fixed scat, all substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Figs. 11, 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings.
5. In a children's mail cart or carriage the combination with the body A made
with a fixed seat a' and a fixed well as, of a sliding frame such as 33 forming the
sides and back of a front seat facing the fixed seat and adapted to slide to and
fro along the shafts, a flap or seat Chinged to the front of the said sliding frame
and arranged to slide under the fixed seat when the sliding frame is slided back-
wardly towards the fixed seat and also to turn to a horizontal position when the
frame is moved in the opposite direction and means for supporting the said hinged
flap horizontally to form with the sliding frame a seat or extension on the top of

page_text: the well in front of the fixed seat, all substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
6. In a children's mail cart or carriage the combination with the body A made
with a fixed seat al and a fixed well a of a sliding frame such as B forming the
sides and back of a front seat facing the fixed seat and adapted to slide to and
fro along the shafts, a flap or seat made in two parts Chinged to the sides of
the sliding frame so as to fall down within the well when the sliding frame is
slided backwardly towards the fixed seat and to turn to a horizontal position when
the frame is moved in the opposite direction and means for supporting the hinged
flaps horizontally to form with the sliding frame a seat or extension on the top of
the well in front of the fixed seat, all substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by Figs. 16 and 17 of the accompanying drawings.
7. In a children's carriage or mail cart the combination with the body A made
with a fixed seat a' and a fixed well a' of a sliding frame such as B3 forming the
sides and back of a front seat facing the fixed seat and adapted to slide to and fro
along the shafts, a flap or seat (hinged to the top of the front of the well so as
to either fall down within the front of the well when the sliding frame is slided
backwardly towards the fixed seat or turn up to a horizontal position when the
frame is moved in the opposite direction and means for supporting the hinged
flap horizontally to form with the sliding frame a seat or extension on the top of
the well in front of the fixed seat all substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by Figs. 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
8. In a children's carriage or mail cart the combination with the body A made
with a fixed seat a' and fixed well a', of a sliding frame such as 13 forming the
sides and back of a front seat facing the fixed seat a and adapted to slide to and
fro along the shafts, a flap or seat ("arranged to slide up and down in the front of
the well so as to slide down within the front of the well when the sliding frame is
slided backwardly towards, the fixed seat and to slide up and turn to a horizontal
position when the frame is moved in the opposite direction and means for sup-
porting the hinged Hap horizontally to form with the sliding frame a seat or
extension on the top of the well in front of the fixed seat, all substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated by Fig. 14 of the accompanying drawings.
9. Constructing children's mail carts and carriages in the several ways sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings
so that they can readily be converted from a single mail cart or carriage for one
child into a double carriage or mail qart for two children and also to be used for a
child to lie down in.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.