Year: 1887

page_text: I, JAMES MCHARDY Dollar, N.B. Scientific Expert 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 :-
This invention, which has for its object, the providing of a safe and healthful
means of leaving infants to themselves, combined with all the advantages of an
ordinary go-cart, may be constructed as follows.
Four corner-poles being suitably made with rounded edges, and holes with, or
without threads, are held in position by a number of cross rails which fit into the
before-mentioned holes in such a manner as to form a kind of cage. The cross rails
may be at any suitable distance, and may hold the contrivance together by screws on
their ends, pins through inclined holes, or any suitable means, but I prefer to arrange
the parts as follows; Each corner pole is perforated near the lower extremity, and at,
or near the top, by threaded holes, at right angles but at slightly different heights so
as to clear each other. These threaded holes are so arranged that they shall be
capable of receiving right and left screws, hereinafter described. In addition to
these threaded holes, the poles have, on their inner surfaces, a number of plain holes
which do not completely perforate the poles, and are at such a distance from each
other as, that the rails, which enter them, shall be close enough together to prevent
the possibility of an infant's head passing between any two of them.
The upper and lower sets of cross rails, being provided with right and left screws,
may be made to hold the whole construction rigidly together, by causing them to draw
the corner poles in upon the intermediate rows of cross rails, which shall have been,
previously fitted into the beforementioned plain holes in the corner poles. As already
stated we may produce the same rigidity by screws and nuts, pins and inclined holes,
or other suitable means, whereby the contrivance may be easily put together or taken
to pieces. A floor or bottom is provided, either of a flexible material such as
canvass, or a firm material such as wood, on or about the level of the lowest row of
cross rails. If flexible the bottom may be laced to the rails ;-if firm, it may be
made in two or more pieces hinged to each other and cut in such a shape as, that,
when spread out to its full size, it shall fit in upon the corner poles and become fixed
by them. The dimensions shall be such as shall fulfil the following conditions;

page_text: viz, That the contrivance may be used as a crib or bed-that an infant may be left
in it without danger of its being able to get out-that a child shall not be able to
climb over the top rail before he is able to walk.
The corner poles may be provided with castors or wheels, arranged in such a
manner as that, either, the contrivance may be pushed in any direction or, only in
straight line.
On removing the bottom, the contrivance will become a safe go-cart, and being
constructed as hereinbefore described, it may, be fitted up or taken to pieces at
convenience.
viz, That the contrivance may be used as a crib or bed-that an infant may be left
in it without danger of its being able to get out—that a child shall not be able to
climb over the top rail before he is able to walk.
The corner poles may be provided with castors or wheels, arranged in such a
manner as that, either, the contrivance may be pushed in any direction or, only in
straight line.
On removing the bottom, the contrivance will become a safe go-cart, and being
constructed as hereinbefore described, it may, be fitted up or taken to pieces at
convenience.
The accompanying drawing shows two of the methods of construction.
Fig. I A side.
A B & C D
=
Two corner poles with wheels at their lower ends (x x).
a a= Upper and lower rails with right and left screws.
b b b b b =
c & c =
d & d
Fig. II
-
Intermediate rails in plain holes.
Ends of bbb bb in corner poles.
=
Right and left screws on upper and lower rails.
One end, in which it will be seen that inclined holes and pins take the
places of right and left screws.
Fig. III
a α=
=
The hinged bottom.
Centre piece to which are hinged
b b = the side pieces by means of
C C C =
straps of cotton web.
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. That construction of the contrivance, herein set forth, which facilitates the
fixing or detaching of the parts, and may be said to constitute portability.
2. The folding bottom as herein described.
3. The combination of the crib and go-cart.
4. The arrangement of parts, herein laid down, that enables me to construct a crib
or bed so that an infant may not be able to get out of it until he can climb over
the top.
M
1007