IMPROVEMENTS IN PERAMBULATORS to be as follows:-
Year: 1884

page_text: I THOMAS MCGRAH of 33 Church Street Sheffield in the County of York
Sewing Machine Maker do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PERAMBULATORS to be as follows:-
"
The first part of my improvements comprises a simple and inexpensive arrange-
ment for facilitating the turning or guiding of a perambulator (whilst being
propelled) in any direction. In order to effect this object I make or attach, in
combination with what are commonly called the front irons or springs of an
ordinary perambulator, which are designed to carry the front wheel or wheels,
a metal plate or cross bar, so as to bind or secure the same together, and by means
of a bolt pin or pivot passing through a hole formed in the said plate or cross bar
I secure the same to the body of the perambulator in such a manner as to allow
the wheels and the framework thus formed to turn upon the said bolt pin, or pivot;
to this framework I attach the lower end or ends of what are generally termed the
back irons or bandle levers, extending the same along the under part of the body
of the perambulator and rising behind so as to receive the driving handle, as in an
ordinary perambulator. By this arrangement a person may by moving the handle
on one side also move the wheels sideways, and so facilitate the turning or guiding
of the perambulator in the desired direction.
The second part of my improvements relates to an improved method of reversing
the hood of a perambulator from one end of the body to the other; upon the top
edge of each side of a Bassinette, or other similar shaped body, I secure a screw
bolt, and upon each end of a hood lath I fasten a metal plate, with a hole or slot
formed therein.-To secure the hood to the perambulator I pass the screw bolts
through the holes or slots formed in the metal plates attached to the hood laths,
and by means of a screw nut on each bolt I secure the hood in the desired position;
by removing the nuts the hood may be turned round and secured at the opposite
end of the body in the same manner as before described.
The third part of my invention has for its object the more effectually securing
the metal tyres upon the wood wheels of perambulators. In place of making the
metal tyres as hitherto used flat on the under or inner side, I make them hollow
and so formed, that upon their being stretched hot upon the wood, they burn,
contract, and grip round the outer edges of the wheel, in such a manuer as to
prevent their falling off.

page_text: The fourth part of my invention relates to an improved construction of the
stretchers for the hoods of perambulators used for the purpose of stretching out
and holding the hood in the desired shape and position; the centre joint of such
stretchers have hitherto been made on the upper side, with two shoulders, designed
to act when opened, and meeting together as a stop when the hood has been
stretched or opened out sufficiently--such shoulders are considered to be very
objectionable on account of the liability of the flesh of a person's hand being
caught between them when in the act of pressing upon them for the purpose of
forcing the hood open, or in its desired position. In order to avoid this danger
I make the he side of the joint in an eccentric form, or with a projection (preferably)
on the upper or top side, so constructed, that upon its being opened upon a pin in
the usual manner, the eccentric or projection bears upon the upper portion of the
she side, of the joint, and thus forms the necessary stop. The stop may however
be formed by the eccentric bearing against a pin, which may be passed through the
sides of the she part of the joint. The last part of my improvements has for its
object the prevention of the too rapid wear of the material of which hoods are
usually made; it is frequently found that the hoods upon falling back and bearing
their weight upon the back irons or handle levers, and the constant vibration when
the perambulator is in motion, rapidly wears holes through the cloth or leather of
which the hood is usually made. In order to remedy this defect I case that part
of the back iron with india rubber tubing or similar material upon which the hood
thus bears upon.

page_text: I, THOMAS MOGRAH, of 33 Church Street, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Sewing Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PERAMBULATORS," and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement—
The first part of my improvements comprise a simple and inexpensive arrange-
ment for facilitating the turning or guiding of a perambulator (whilst being
propelled) in any direction in order to effect this object I make or attach in
combination with what are commonly called the front iron or springs of an
ordinary perambulator which are designed to carry the front wheel or wheels
a metal plate or cross bar so as to secure or bind the same together and by means
of a bolt pin or rivet passing through a hole formed in the said plates or cross bar
I secure the same to the body of the perambulator in such a manner as to allow
the wheels and framework thus formed to turn upon the said bolt pin or pivot ;
to this framework I form or attach the lower end or ends of what are generally
termed the back irons or handle levers extending the same along the under part of
the body of the perambulator and rising behind so as to receive the driving handle
as in an ordinary perambulator by this arrangement a person may by moving the
handle on one side also move the wheels sideways and so facilitate the guiding or
turning of the perambulator in the desired direction.
The second part of my improvement relates to an improved method of reversing
the hood of a perambulator from one end of the body to the other end. Upon the
edge (preferably the top edge), on each side of a Bassinette, or other similar shaped
body, I secure a screw bolt or stud; and upon each end of the hood lath I fasten a
corresponding metal plate with a hole or slot formed therein. To secure the hood
to the body of perambulator I pass the screw bolts through the holes or slots
formed in the metal plates attached to the hood laths (the holes or slots in plates
being elongated so as to allow the hood to be properly adjusted to fit either end of
the body) and by means of a screw nut on each bolt. I secure the hood in the desired
position. By removing the nuts the hood may be lifted off, turned round, and
secured at the opposite end of the body, in the same manner as before described.
The third part of my invention has for its object the more effectually securing
the metal tyres upon the wood wheels of perambulators: Instead of making the
metal tyres as hitherto used flat on the inner or under side I make them hollow
and so formed, that upon their being stretched hot upon the wood they burn the
wood, contract and grip round the outer edges of the wheel in such a manner as to
prevent their falling off.
The fourth part of my invention relates to an improved construction of the
joints or stretchers for the hoods of perambulators used for the purpose of stretching
out and holding the hood in the desired shape and position. The old method of
constructing stretchers for this purpose have been arranged with two shoulders on
the upper or top part of the centre joint so as to form a stop upon meeting together
when the hood is forced out as required; such shoulders are considered dangerous
on account of the liability of the flesh of a persons hand being caught between
them when in the act of pressing upon them for the purpose of forcing open the
hood. In order to avoid this danger I make the he side of the joint in an eccentric
form or with a projection on the top or upper side, so constructed that upon opening

page_text: upon a pin in the usual manner the projection rests upon the upper side of the she
part of the joint and thus forms the necessary stop. The upper portion of the
she part of the joint is suitably recessed so as to form a bed or rest for the eccentric
or full part of the he part of the joint to fall in; when fully open the stop may
however be formed by the eccentric bearing against a pin passed through the sides
of the she part of the joint, or the like result may be obtained by making the lips
of the she part of the joint eccentric so as to bear against the shoulders of the he
part when fully open.
The last part of my invention has for its object the prevention of the too rapid
wear of the material of which hoods are usually made. To accomplish this I stretch
upon the back irons or handle levers a piece of india rubber tubing upon the part
where the hood falls and vibrates when thrown back and in motion, the rubber thus
forming a soft cushion, and preventing friction upon the rough iron and so protecting
the material of which the hood is made from being damaged or worn through.
In order that my invention may be still more clearly understood I will refer to
the drawings herewith.
Figs 1 and 2 shew the front irons a a combined with the back irons bbc being
the hole through which a pin or pivot is passed and fastened to the body of the
perambulator, so as to allow front wheel w and the framework to move or rotate
from side to side on c as a centre.
Fig 2 shews the same attached to the body of a perambulator.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the top rail of the body of the perambulator; Fig. 4 is a
partial side view, and Fig. 5 an enlarged view, shewing the method of reversing
the hood.
The slotted or bored metal plates or brackets h h are firmly fixed to the frame of
the hood. These brackets enter recesses at ee in the body. Two screws (i Fig. 5)
are fixed, as shewn, and the nut g secures the same in position. By removing the
nuts the hood can be lifted off and its position reversed.
Fig. 6 Female part of joint shewing recessed part j in which the eccentric or
prominent part 1 of Fig. 7 fits into.
Fig. 8 shews the same pinned or joined together.
Fig 9 shews male part of joint with a projection formed on the upper side
designed to form a stop when coming in contact with upper side of female part.
Fig. 10 shews the same when joined together.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
Firstly The construction or arrangement of the framework as herein described or
any modification of the same for the purpose of facilitating the guiding or turning
of perambulator when in motion.
Secondly The construction of hood joints or stretchers as herein substantially
set forth.
Thirdly The making of metal tyres hollow on the under side so as to secure
them more effectually upon the wood felloes of wheels as berein substantially set
forth and described.
Fourthly The construction of hoods of perambulators in combination with a
slotted metal plate as herein set forth and described, and
Lastly The application and use of india rubber tubing to prevent the too rapid
wear of perambulator hoods as herein set forth and described.
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