Year: 1885

page_text: I WILLIAM MORRIS Perambulator Manufacturer of 24 Freeman Street Moor St.
Birmingham in the County of Warwick do hereby declare the nature of my
invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in the combination of the various parts hereinafter
described, the whole forming a machine or apparatus suitable and convenient to
use for soothing restless infants.
I provide a base which may be made of metal, of wood or of other suitable
material.
I by preference make the base in the form of an open frame with a bottom plate,
or board, resting on two cross pieces one under each end, and rising from each end
of the bottom plate or board a pillar or other equivalent support; on the top of
the two pillars I fix a top plate or board, thus forming a complete open frame.
Near each end of the top plate or board I fix a radius-rod-bearing; I next pro-
vide a duplex or fork shaped radius rod; I place the back part of the fork shaped
radius-rod in one of the radius-rod-bearings, with the duplex sides hanging down.
I place a similar duplex radius-rod to rest in the other radius-rod-bearing.
I next provide two connecting-rods. I take one connecting rod and connect it
to the two radius rods that hang down ready to receive it on one side of the open
framed base and then attach in a similar manner the other connecting rod to the
two radius rods on the other side of the open framed base.
On each of the connecting-rods I fix a bracket formed preferably out of a piece
of metal bent so as to rest on the connecting rod and also project six inches more
or less above the top plate or board of the base.
I next provide a Bassinette or childs cot of any convenient shape and fasten it
on to the connecting rod brackets by means of bolts or other suitable attachments
the apparatus is then completed ready for use.
An infant in a sleepless or restless state could be placed in the bassinette or cot.
The apparatus could then be set in motion by either of the following methods.
By the hand of operator in contact with the bassinette or with either of the
connecting rods, or by means of motive power conveyed to a suitable crank or
pulley fixed on any convenient part of the apparatus, in either case whether worked
by hand, by foot or by conveyed motive power, the action of the radius rods on
the connecting rods transfered to the brackets fixed to the connecting rods and
thence to the bassinette, would move the bassinette in a peculiar undulating manner
calculated to soothe the infant resting in the said cot or bassinette.

page_text: Improvements in Swinging Bassinettes or Cots.
I WILLIAM MORRIS Perambulator Manufacturer of 24 Freeman Street Birming-
ham in the County of Warwick do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN SWINGING BASSINETTES OR COTS and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention consists in the combination of the various parts hereinafter
described, the whole forming a machine or apparatus suitable and convenient to
use for soothing restless infants.
I provide a base which may be made of metal, of wood or of other suitable
material.
I by preference make the base in the form of an open frame with a bottom plate
or board, resting on two cross pieces, one under each end, and rising from each
end of the bottom plate or board a pillar or other equivalent support; on the
top of the two pillars I fix a top plate or board, thus forming a complete open
frame.
Near each end of the top plate or board I fix a radius-rod-bearing; I next
provide a duplex or forked shaped radius-rod, I place the back part of the fork
shaped radius-rod in one of the radius-rod bearings, with the duplex sides hanging
down.
I place a similar duplex radius-rod to rest in the other radius-rod-bearing.
I next provide two connecting-rods, I take one connecting-rod and connect it to
the two radius-rods that hang down ready to receive it on one side of the open
framed base and then attach in a similar manner the other connecting-rod to the
two radius-rods on the other side of the open framed base.
On each of the connecting-rods I fix a bracket formed preferably out of a piece
of metal, bent so as to rest on the connecting rod and also project six inches more
or less above the top plate or board of the base.
I next provide a bassinette or childs cot of any convenient shape and fasten it
on to the connecting-rod brackets by means of bolts or other suitable attachments,
the apparatus is then completed ready for use..
An infant in a sleepless or restless state could be placed in the bassinette or cot.
The apparatus could then be set in motion by either of the following methods.
By the hand of operator in contact with the bassinette or with either of the
connecting-rods, by means of motive power conveyed to a suitable crank or pulley
fixed on any convenient part of the apparatus, in either case whether worked by
hand, by foot, or by conveyed motive power, the action of the radius-rods on the
connecting-rods, transferred to the brackets fixed to the connecting rods and thence
to the bassinettes, would move the bassinette in a peculiar undulating manner
calculated to soothe the infant resting in the said cot or bassinette.

page_text: Figure 6 is a detail view of motor connecting rod.
Figure 7 is a side view of motor connecting rod hook.
Figure 8 is a plan of figure 7.
Figure 9 is a side elevation of the bassinette secured to an iron base and con-
nected to a treadle movement.
Figure 10 is an end view of figure 9 a figure 1 is the radius rod bearing
b figures 1, 2, 9, 10 are the radius rods: c figures 1 and 9 are the connecting rods:
d figures 1, 9 and 10 are the brackets: e figures 1, 9 and 10 is the bassinette.
Motion is conveyed to the apparatus constructed in the manner represented at
figure 1, by the hand in contact with the bassinette e, the pressure or power so
exerted would cause the bassinette to rise and fall endways thus rocking the
infants with a motion closely resembling the natural swaying movement produced
in the arms of a human nurse.
The apparatus constructed with a wood base as shewn at figure 1, or with a
metal frame base as shown at figures 2, 9 and 10 could be used as a cot or crib
during the night time along side the mother's bed, a slight touch would at any
time set it in motion. The apparatus as represented at figures 9 and 10 is arranged
to be operated by the foot. The rod g is secured to the bottom of bassinette, the
treadle frame h oscillates in the bearings j; the treadle frame h is also provided
with a slide block k, this block is shewn in detail at figures 3, 4, 5: the narrow top
part of the treadle frame is passed into the opening and secured in position by
the cap m-the block and cap would by preference be made of wood, or it may be
made of brass or other suitable bearing-material; the said treadle frame oscillating
in its bearings j would describe an arc of a circle and would during its travel carry
with it the slide block k and thereby move the rod g in a lateral direction and
cause the bassinette to oscillate on the centres p of the radius rods thus producing
a wavelike motion (endways) in the bassinette.
I am fully aware that a frame similar to some portion of the frame represented
at figure 1 has been used with a wooden toy horse to imitate the action of the
living counterpart: I therefore shall not consider the making of a frame similar
to the wooden portion of figure 1 connected to a toy horse to be any infringement
of my rights.
The production of a wavelike endwise motion in a bassinette or cot to so closely
resemble the action of a human nurse is a novelty in the manufacture and in the
process of manufacturing bassinettes or cots, therefore what I shall consider to be
an infringement of my rights will be the making of a bassinette or cot to oscillate
end ways in the wavelike manner produced by the combination of the parts
herein before described.
In some cases I prefer to use motive power by which to oscillate the bassinette;
in such cases I provide a suitable motor which may be formed of a spring con-
veying motion to wheels which would be connected to a reciprocating lever q, the
movements being contained in a suitable receptacle r; in such cases I provide
connecting rods 8 made with rubber, metal or other suitable material which are
also shewn in detail at figure 6 the rubber connecting rods would be connected to
the radius rods at t, by means of the hooked attachment u shewn in detail at
figures 7 and 8 or by means of any other suitable attachment, the spring being
wound up by means of a key passed on to the square part of the spring arbour;
the wheels would be set in motion and the reciprocating lever moved regularly
within the arc of a circle, thus conveying motion to the bassinette through the
rods 8; I may in some cases put an electric, pneumatic or bydraulic motor within

page_text: a receptacle similar or equivalent to r and in either case provide a reciprocating
lever or its equivalent to convey motion to the connecting rods 8. I have not
illustrated the mechanism of a motor as I only claim the method of applying a
motor.
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
1st. The invention as illustrated and described for the purpose illustrated and
described.
2nd. The combination of a cot or bassinette with a frame as illustrated in
reference to figure 1 to be worked by hand.
;
3rd. The combination of a cot or bassinette with a frame and treadle as illus-
trated and described in reference to figures:9 and 10 to be worked by hand or by
foot.
4th. The combination of a cot or basinette with a frame and connections worked
by the reciprocating lever (or its equivalent) of a motor as illustrated and described
in reference to figures 2, 6, 7 and 8.