Improvements in and in connection with Swing Boats, specially applicable for Children's Use.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with Swing Boats, specially
applicable for Children's Use.
I, OWEN STRICKLAND of 8 Lower Archfield Road Redland Bristol, Farmer, 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 my invention is to construct a swing boat for the use of children
that shall be perfectly safe both to those using same, and also to others who may
be looking on, or swinging the boat, the invention being specially adapted for
fitting up in nurseries and like situations. For this purpose I construct a firm
framing, preferably of wood, consisting of a rectangular base, and four or more
uprights or posts of suitable height at the corners. From these uprights or posts,
two or more metal rods or tubes extend, which are preferably curved or arched
from the posts at one end of the frame to those at the other.
These posts and metal rods may be strengthened with stay rods where required
for extra rigidity.
In the centre of the curved metal rods suitable bearings are formed, in which a
crossbar or spindle works freely. To this crossbar or spindle two or more metal
rods or tubes are firmly bolted and extend nearly to the bottom of the frame the
lower extremities of these rods or tubes are preferably divided to form a fork, and
affixed rigidly to the side frames of the swinging boat which is hung from its
centre. The bottom of the boat is formed as a segment of a circle of which the
bearing of the spindle forms the centre. The upper part of the boat may be made
of any ornamental form, the interior upholstered as desired. Between the side
posts of the framework, the space below the boat is filled in with wooden or other
casing in the form of a semi-circle of the same radius as the bottom of the boat, the
space between the two sides of the casing being filled in preferably with a sheet of
iron or match boarding as close as possible to the bottom of the boat only allowing
it just sufficient space to move freely. The sides of the casing should extend
slightly above this to prevent the fingers of those in or around the swing from being
pinched by the boat in action. To still further reduce the chance of such an
accident, a strip of india rubber, or other flexible substance may be affixed to the
edge of the casing overhanging the opening. The seats are not placed at the extreme
ends of the boat, but a short distance from it and the bottom of the boat extended
any suitable distance at both ends to prevent an occupant from reaching from the
seat over either end of the boat while in motion, and getting pinched.
A small flap or flexible lid being attached at the extreme end as an additional
precaution.
The whole apparatus may be made of any dimensions either as a toy or to seat
any number of children, and either plain, or ornamental to any desired extent. By
an arrangement of the upper framework with hammers, a peal of bells or gongs
may be rung by the motion of the boat.
For the better illustration of this my invention I have hereunto annexed a sheet
of drawings in which,
Fig. 1. is a side elevation and Fig. 2. an end elevation of my invention, the latter
being partly in section.
In these drawings, A, A, A, is the wooden framework from which the curved
rods, B, B, extend, carrying the bearings in the centre at C, in which the spindle
or crossbar D (Fig. 2) is hung. On this crossbar, the pendant rods E, E, are
bolted as shown at F, F, (Fig. 2,) extra rigidity being given to them by the
bracket rods G, G, bolted to the spindle at H H. “The boat I, I, is firmly bolted

page_text: to the rods E, E, by any suitable method. The backs of the seats are shown at J, J,
extending above the side frames of the boat and the bottom of the boat is extended
at both ends as shown at K. K.
The sides of the frame are enclosed by suitable matchboard or panelling in the
form of a semi-circle as shown at L, L, and closed in preferably by a sheet of
metal marked M, M.
The peal of bells or gongs may be rung by several different methods, one of
which is shown in the figures. In the centre of the spindle D, a rod or rods N, N,
are clamped or bolted, on these, a quadrant O is affixed on which a peal of suitable
bells or gongs P P are attached preferably with their mouths upwards. On the
arched or curved stay of the framework R, one or more hammers are affixed,
preferably on springs as at S, S, (Fig. 2.) in such a position or positions that they
strike the rims of the bells or gongs as they pass in succession by the action of the
swinging boat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. The construction of a swing boat by which it is hung from the centre and its
working parts are all enclosed, thus preventing injury not only to those using
the same, but to others standing near, as herein set forth, described and
illustrated.
2. The construction of the frame by which the whole is enclosed, making it
work with perfect safety, as herein described, set forth, and illustrated.
CL
Lated unon automatically by
GRAHAM & GRAHAM,
Agents for Applicant.