An Improved Children's Folding Mail Cart.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1892-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Children's Folding Mail Cart.
We, EDWIN CHARLES LARKING of 17 Waterloo Terrace Islington, Manager
to a Music Publisher, and THOMAS LESTER of Crewe Villa, Putney Bridge Road,
Putney Commercial Traveller, 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 :-
Our folding mail cart is designed to secure great compactness and portability
when not in use, as well as extreme convenience in packing for export purposes.
It consists of two main parts, the wheels and the body furnished with the usual
handles.
We propose to make no alteration in the wheels, which are the same as are now
employed, but we dispense with the usual axle-bar which passes beneath the cart
and connects the wheels, and we cause the wheels to run on axle-pins projecting
from the frame of the cart as hereafter described.
We will now describe our mode of constructing the body of the cart and the
handles thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 shows a plan view of the body of the cart with the seat and wheels
removed and the handles broken off.
Eig. 2 shows an elevation of one of the sides, also without the seat, handle, and
wheel, as in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows an end elevation of the body in a partly folded or collapsed position,
without handles or wheels but with the seat shewn in its place.
Fig. 4 shows an enlarged plan of a fastening used beneath the folding central
back bar a.
Fig. 5 shows a straining bar or false axle, which may be used if found necessary
in carts of larger size, or such as are required of extra strength.
It will be observed that we construct our cart of what is called open frame
work, but the sides can be filled in with panels if desired. This frame-work we
form by preference of stout wood battens, or laths as most suitable for lightness
and cheapness, but many other kinds of material could be employed.
The bottom of the cart as shewn in Fig. 1 is formed of the four folding laths b,
b, c, c', and ', are hinged at their centres, and also at their ends to the side
parts, d, d. The laths c, c, are hinged to d, or d, as shewn, and at their opposite
ends they fall into or on to catch plates fitted with guides to receive thein.
These catch plates are not seen in Fig. 1, being beneath the laths but are shewn
in Fig. 3. They may have holes to receive pins fixed to the ends of the laths, or
may have side flanges or guides as shewn at c", to prevent lateral movement. The
bar or lath in the centre of Fig. 1 is the back bar a, shewn partly folded in Fig. 3.
It is hinged in the middle and folds downwards as seen in Fig. 3. It can be
widened and padded if preferred.
The plate, Fig. 4 is shewn projecting in Fig. 3. It is made to close over a
stub or pin v, and the button w, turning on its pivot, closes over it and secures the
joint. The letters, s, Fig. 1 denote the two handle sockets which are partly
behind the rail, and are formed to receive the ends of the handles which fit tightly
therein, and are fastened by cross pins secured to the frame by small chains. By
preference we make the handles of bent bamboo cane, but any other suitable
material can be used. p, p, are the axle pins which are secured by nuts shewn in
dotted lines beneath the back-bar a, in Fig. 1. r, r, are stays which can be used
for large carts in order to strengthen the axle-pins against lateral pressure.
In Fig. 2 the upright laths e, are seen connecting the lower rail d, to the upper
rail. The centre upright g, can be dispensed with in small sizes if preferred.

page_text: In Fig. 3 the laths c, c', are seen lifted, and the lath b, folded forwards, while a,
is folded downwards. The action of folding the cart is shown about one fourth
completed. When it is finished the uprights e, approach within a few inches of
cach other., is the seat which is formed of a piece of carpet leather or other
Hexible material. It has its ends suitably strengthened and is suspended by hooks
or rings to eyes attached to the rail. Springs can be inserted between the seat
and the rail if desired.
The false axle-bar shewn in Fig. 5 has forked ends as shewn at , so as to
fit on the nuts of the axle pins inside the rails d, d'. It is attached to the frame by
a chain and eye y.
The position of this bar is indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 by dotted lines.
Movable straining wires formed as hook and eyes, or attached in any suitable
way can be employed to make the cart rigid.
They are indicated by the lines in Fig. 1.
When it is desired to fold the cart, all that is necessary is, to turn back 'the
button unfasten the wire stretchers 2, z remove the bar a, (if there is one,) and
lift up the two laths e, c', when the whole frame readily closes like a camp stool.
W,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
--
1. In a folding mail cart for children, the general combination of parts herein
described and set forth.
2. In a folding cart or carriage for children, the hanging seat, the handle
sockets s, the catch v, w, the back bar a, and axle pins p, with or without lath g,
the stays r,, or the axle bar z, as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 1st day of March 1892.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicants..