Improvements relating to Vehicles, especially Children's Carriages.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1898
Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 12th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 13th Jan., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Vehicles, especially Children's Carriages.
We, JOHN LEWIS CROWLEY, Carpenter and Builder, of 40, Lawrence Street, and
TIMOTHY JOSEPH LEHAN, Mason and Builder, of 143, Rutherford Avenue, both of
Charleston District, Boston, Mass., U.S.A., do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
-
The object of this invention is to provide means whereby vehicles, especially
children's carriages, may be contracted in such manner as to permit of them being
passed through narrow doorways, passages and the like.
The invention comprises two parallel bars having their ends turned upwards
to support the body of the vehicle.
Suitable blocks are formed on the bars and have the wheels journalled thereto.
A screw-threaded rod is situated between the parallel bars and is fitted with two
nuts or screw-threaded blocks each of which is connected to two of the four blocks
to which the wheels are journalled, by links which are pivoted thereto.
Arms are pivoted to and connect the blocks on the parallel bars with blocks
on the screw-threaded rod which can rotate freely but not move longitudinally
therein.
When the screw-threaded rod is rotated the nuts will recede from the position
immediately between the journal-blocks and the links and the arms will cause the
journal blocks to be drawn inwards thus contracting the running gear; the body
of the vehicle being previously removed.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Vehicles, especially Children's Carriages.
We, JOHN LEWIS CROWLEY, Carpenter and Builder, of 40, Lawrence Street, and
TIMOTHY JOSEPH LEHAN, Mason and Builder, of 143. Rutherford Avenue, both of
Charlestown District, Boston, Mass., U.S.A., 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 this invention is to furnish a child's carriage which shall be simple
in construction, economical in cost, durable in use, and capable of being rapidly
and easily compressed or folded when not in use into a space very materially
narrower than that of its normal width.

page_text: Reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which similar numerals
of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views: Figure 1 is a side
view. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the running gear. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view
of the running gear. Fig. 4 is a top plan view shewing the running gear as it
appears when compressed or folded. Fig. 5 is a plan of the body of the carriage,
open and Fig. 6 is a similar view shewing the same closed.
The numeral 1 indicates the body of a child's carriage. This body may be
constructed in any suitable manner, so as to be capable of being folded into
narrow compass; but I have shewn it as consisting of two sides 2, hinged at 3
to the end pieces, made in two parts hinged together at 4. The bottom 5 is also
made of two pieces hinged together at 6 and to the sides at 7. Turn buttons
may be fitted to the under side of the floor as an additional support thereto.
8 are the wheels, which are of common construction, and turn on journals set on
axle supporting blocks 9 affixed to the under sides of the side rails of the running
gear.
10 indicates the side rails, which are shewn as having their ends curved over
at 11 to form supports to which the carrying body 1 may be attached by any
convenient means.
12 indicates handles for use in drawing or pushing the carriage about. They can
either be made detachable or be hinged as at 13 in such manner as to fold over the top
of the carriage when folded. At their ends the handles are connected by a cross bar
which, in order that it can be folded with the running gear, is centrally provided
with any suitable hinge.
14 indicates what may properly be denominated the "axles." They are made
in two sections or members which are pivotally connected together at 15 by a pin
seated in a block 16. At their other ends, the members of the axle 14 are attached
to the side rails 10 by means of pivot pins 17, which are securely seated in the
axle blocks 9.
18 constitutes what I call "actuating bars." They are also made in two members,
and, like the axles 14, they are pivotally joined together by a pin 19, resting in a
block 20. At. their other ends the actuating rods are connected with the pivot
pins 17 before referred to.
21 indicates a screw-threaded rod or spindle extending lengthwise of the running.
gear, on its under side, and is centrally located between the side rails 10. The
spindle is designed to work in orifices piercing the pivot pin blocks 16 and 20.
The orifices in the blocks 16 are screw-threaded to correspond with the screw-
threaded periphery of the spindle. The orifices in the blocks 20 are not screw-
threaded and are sufficiently large to permit full revolution of the spindle. On
both sides of the blocks 20 the spindle 21 is provided with collars 23, fitting close
against the blocks, so that the position of the spindle with reference to the
blocks 20 shall remain constant. If desired, pins piercing the spindle, can be
substituted for the collars 23. As the collars 23 confine the position of the
spindle with relation to the blocks 20 and the screw-threading of the spindle and
blocks 16 correspond, it is obvious that any rotation of the spindle will cause the
blocks 16 to move along the spindle away from or towards the blocks 20 according
to the direction of the rotation given to the spindle by the operator.
The operation of my device is as follows:-
When the carriage is open for use the several parts of the running gear are
assembled, as shewn in Figs. 2 and 3. To, compact the device, the operator gives
reverse rotation to the screw spindle 21 by hand power applied by any convenient
means at the point 22. This application of power will operate to force the blocks 16
and 20 apart and as the sections or members of the axles 14 and actuating rods 18
are pivotally connected to the blocks 16 and 20 by the pins 15 and 19 respectively,
and also to the side rails by the pins 17 it becomes obvious that any continuation
of rotation to the spindle 21, in the direction specified, will cause the axles 14 and
actuating rods 18 to turn on their pivots and draw the side rails 10 towards each
other until they are brought close together. as shewn in Fig. 4. The folding of

page_text: the carriage causes the sides 2 of the body to be drawn together, the end pieces to
fold inwards, and the bottom to fall downwards from the centre; the removable seat
or seats having been previously taken out. The carriage thus compacted or folded
can be easily carried over narrow stairways or through narrow doorways, or it
can be very conveniently stored in a very limited amount of space in a shallow
closet for example-while it can be easily opened at any time by a reversal of the
operation as above set out.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
;-
(1) In a folding child's carriage; the screw-threaded spindle 21 in combination
with the pivot pins, blocks 16 and 20, and co-acting with the same as specified:
and the sectional axles 14, and sectional actuating rods 18, pivotally connected
with said blocks 16 and 20; and the side rails 10 substantially as herein set
forth.
(2) In a folding child's carriage, the axles 14, made of two pivotally connected
members in combination with the pivot pin blocks 16; actuating rods 18, and pivot
pin blocks 20; and screw-threaded spindle 21, operating as described, and for the
purposes herein set forth.
(3) In a child's carriage, a folding running gear consisting essentially of the
combination of the side rails 10; axle supporting blocks carried thereon; pivotally
jointed axles 14, pivotally connected to said axle supporting blocks; pivotally
joined actuating rods 18, also pivotally connected to said axle supporting blocks;
screw spindle 21, pivot blocks 16 carrying the said axles at their pivotal points.
pivot blocks 20 carrying the said actuating rods at their pivotal points, and
collars 23 substantially as herein set out.
Dated this 10th day of Octahan 1800