Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 20th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 20th Nov., 1897
I, ARTHUR ALEXANDER HERD of 13 Cheriton Place, Folkestone in the County
of Kent, Proprietor of Private Millinery Establishment, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to toboggans and has for object to provide improved means
for steering the same.
The invention consists in arranging a bogie under the forepart of the toboggan
capable of being guided or inclined at an angle to the toboggan by means of rods
or otherwise, suitably operated from the after part of the toboggan.
I propose to cut away the runners from a portion of the forepart of any ordinary
toboggan and to substitute the bogie in place thereof. The bogie consists of a
metallic or other framework provided with suitable runners and pivoted to the
underside of the forepart of the toboggan. The framework may be furnished
with suitable guides and rollers to facilitate the turning of the bogie.
I connect the rear of the framework of the bogie with a steering handle (which
may resemble that of a bicycle) fitted to the afterpart of the toboggan by rods
and suitable connections. Preferably the steering handle is situated under the
seat and by suitably turning this handle the bogic is inclined to the afterpart of
the toboggan by means of the rods and cranks or other connections.
By my improved method of steering I am enabled to easily and accurately steer
the toboggan even when journeying at a rapid pace without the disadvantages
arising from the use of the feet or of pegs for steering purposes.
For the Applicant,
GEDGE & FEENY,
60 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agents.
I, ARTHUR ALEXANDER HERD, of 13 Cheriton Place, Folkestone, in the County
of Kent, Proprietor of Private Millinery Establishment, 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:-
My invention relates to toboggans and has for object to provide improved means
for steering the same.

page_text: The invention consists in arranging a bogie under the forepart of the toboggan
capable of being guided or inclined to an angle to the toboggan by means of rods
or other connections, suitably operated from the afterpart of the toboggan.
I propose to cut away the runners from a portion of the forepart of any ordinary
toboggan and to substitute the bogie in place thereof. The bogie consists of a
metallic or other framework provided with suitable runners and pivoted to the
underside of the forepart of the toboggan. The framework may be furnished
with suitable guides and rollers to facilitate the turning of the bogie.
I connect the rear of the framework of the bogie with a steering handle (which
may resemble that of a cycle) fitted to the afterpart of the toboggan by rods
and suitable connections. Preferably the steering handle is situated under the
seat and by suitably turning this handle the bogie is inclined to the afterpart of
the toboggan by means of the rods and cranks or other connections.
In order that my invention may be better understood reference is had to the
accompanying sheet of drawings on which,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a toboggan fitted with my bogie.
Figure 2 being a front end view of the same.
Figures 3 and 4 are plan views of the top and bottom respectively of the
toboggan.
In carrying out my invention I attach a bogie A to the forepart of the
toboggan B, such bogie being rotatable on a bolt b acting as a pivot. The bogie
is formed of a framework, metallic or otherwise, and is provided with any
ordinary and suitable runners a. It is shaped, preferably in the manner shewn
on Figure 4, and suitable guides and rollers to facilitate the partial rotation of
the bogie are secured respectively to the underside of the forepart of the toboggan
and to its bogie, or vice versa. I have shewn such guides 6 and rollers a¹ on the
drawings, consisting of a suitably curved metal plate or ring and rollers or castors
travelling on the same. These guides and rollers serve also to lessen the strain on
the pivot, and prevent the rocking sideways of the bogie; the rollers may taper
somewhat in longitudinal section towards the pivot to facilitate the rotation of
the bogie.
Two links or rods C are loosely riveted or otherwise freely attached to the rear
bar of the framework. These rods or links C are continued rearward of the
bogie and their opposite ends are similarly attached to the arms or cranks d of
a steering handle D which passes through the frame or body of the toboggan.
The rods which thus act as stays or traces for the bogie may be arranged to slide
on one or more horizontal guides extending across the underside of the toboggan
from side to side of its runners.
The space between the forepart of the toboggan and the bogie may be fitted
with a block c of wood or other material, to exclude snow, ice and the like, suffi-
cient clearance, however, being left to allow the free steering of the bogie.
Caps or guards c¹ may be fitted over the extremities of the pivot b, being
secured to the framework by screws or in any ordinary manner.
The steering handle may resemble that of a bicycle and is arranged to turn in
an ordinary socket in the frame of the toboggan provided with ball-bearings
in the usual way. Or, it may be formed slightly conical and the socket be corre-
spondingly tapered.
Where a seat E is provided on the toboggan I prefer to arrange the steering
hanure centrally thereunder so as chiefly to avoid risk of damage, but it may be
situated on any convenient part of the centre line of the toboggan. In some
cases I dispense with the rods or links C and the pivot b, and fix the handle D
directly to the metal frame of the bogie, the handle and its socket thus replacing
the pivot b. The toboggan itself is otherwise constructed in the ordinary manner.
By means of my invention I am enabled to easily and accurately steer the
toboggan even when journeying at a rapid pace without the disadvantages arising
from the use of the rider's feet or of pegs for steering purposes.

page_text: 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:-
1. In toboggans, a steering bogie situated under the forepart of the toboggan
and operated or guided from the toboggan itself, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
2. In toboggans, a steering bogie provided with rods acting as traces and operated
from the toboggan by means of a directing handle for the purpose of guiding the
toboggan in its travel, substantially as described.
3. In steering bogies for toboggans, as claimed in the preceding claims, guides
and rollers attached to the forepart of the toboggan and its bogie, for the purposes
and as described.
4. Toboggans constructed, combined and operating for the purposes and as des-
cribed and illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twentieth day of October 1897.
For the Applicant,
GEDGE & FEENY,
1
60 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agents.