Improvements in Children's Mail or Go-carts and other Light Vehicles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Children's Mail or Go-carts and other Light
Vehicles.
I CHARLES GIRARDAU of 37 Aston Lane, Aston Manor in the County of
Warwick, Pattern Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described to vehicles
known as childrens mail or go-carts, but it is applicable to other light vehicles such
for example as perambulators and hand carts.
My invention in connection with childrens mail or go-carts consists principally
in constructing and arranging a mail or go-cart which can be readily and expedi-
tiously folded or closed into a very small compass when desired which arrangement
will be particularly useful for transit, or for storing away when not required
for use.
I will describe my invention as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Figures 1, 2, 3 & 4 Sheet 1 represent in elevation and Figures 5, 6, 7 & 8
plans of a mail or go-cart in its extended position constructed according to my
invention.
Figure 9 shows the same cart in a partly closed or collapsed position.
Figure 10 shows the mail or go-cart in an entirely closed or collapsed position in
which it may be packed for transit or stored away thus occupying about one fourth
its normal space.
Figures 1, 2, 5 & 7 show the seats of the mail or go-cart arranged so that the
children occupying the same sit back to back.
Figures 4 & 6 show the seats of the mail or go-cart reversed so that the children
sit face to face.
When it is desired to reverse the position of the seat as shewn in Figures 1, 2
& 5 and put them in the position described in Figures 4 & 6 the back of the
seat is turned in a horizontal position on its hinge joints as shewn in Figures 3,
4, 8, 9 & 10 the backs of the two seats & h. which are folded on hinged joints
under the two seats a a. as shewn at Figure 7 (which is a plan of the under side of
the cart) are turned upwards into an inclined plane as shewn at Figures 4 & 6 and
the folding or collapsing of the said cart is effected in the following manner :-
The seats a a. are raised into a vertical position on the hinged joints as shewn
at Figures 3, 8, 9 & 10. The back of the seat a being turned on its hinges into a
horizontal position as shewn at Figures 3, 4, 8, 9 & 10 the backs & being
turned under the seat a a. and held in that position by a thumb screw g g. as shewn
in Fig. 7.
The shaft 6 (or 62) is drawn forward as shewn at Figure 9 which causes the axle
bar of the cart to turn on two conical pivot bearings d d. one of which is shewn
more plainly in Figures 11 & 12 Sheet 2. the socket e. part of which forms the
axle i. is connected to the sides of the cart, the pivot d. being extended at right
angles and attached to the axle bar k.
Figure 19 represents the bearings d. and e. in their normal or extended position
as shewn on the mail or go-cart Figures 1 to 8 respectively.
Figure 17 represents the same joint in the act of being closed which is shewn
attached to the cart Figure 9.
Figure 18 represents the pivot d and the axle k turned at right angles to the
socket e and the axle i which being attached to either side of the cart causes it to
close or collapse as shewn at Figure 10.

page_text: Figure 13 shews a similar bearing made parallel instead of conical.
Figure 14 represents the rear foot board l. connected to the sides of the cart by
the hinge joint m.
Figure 15 represents the fore foot board 2 connected partly to the sides of the
cart and partly to the shafts by the extended hinge joint m².
Figure 16 represents a hinge joint . for connecting the stay rods P. to the sides
of the cart, a similar joint is used for connecting the middle foot board ♬ to the
body of the cart.
In closing or collapsing the cart the hinge joint m. connecting the foot boards to
the sides of the cart (Figures 14, 15 & 16) closes simultaneously with the pivot
bearing d and e. connecting the axle bar to the sides of the cart.
When the mail or go-cart is in its collapsed position it may be wheeled about in
the same manner as if in its extended position.
In applying my said invention to perambulators, hand carts or other light
vehicles it differs in no essential respect to that herein before described in connection
with the mail or go-carts the parts being constructed and arranged in a similar
manner.
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 I
claim is
The construction and arrangement of the parts of a folding or collapsable mail
or go-cart, perambulator, hand-cart or other light vehicles herein before described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, that is to say making the seats and
the seat backs capable of folding on hinged joints in the way described and
illustrated, also in making the pivot or socket bearings for the folding of the axle,
and the hinge joints for the foot boards constructed and combined with the body
of the cart for giving motion thereto for the purpose of folding or collapsing the
said cart substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 24th day of August 1891.
RAYNER & CASSELL,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.