IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE CARRIAGES, CHAIRS, AND OTHER ARTICLES FOR SITTING OR RECLINING UPON
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Metcalfe, of High Street, Camden Town, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE CARRIAGES, CHAIRS, AND OTHER ARTICLES
FOR SITTING OR RECLINING UPON."
Sealed the 5th January 1855, and dated the 7th November 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Metcalfe at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th November 1854.
I, THOMAS METCALFE, of High Street, Camden Town, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE CARRIAGES, CHAIRS, AND OTHER
ARTICLES FOR SITTING OR RECLINING UPON," to be as follows:-
My Invention of Improvements in the Construction of Portable Carriages,
Chairs, and other Articles for Sitting or Reclining upon, has for its object to
construct, arrange, and combine the several parts of which the above articles
are composed in such a manner that when not in use the several parts may be
folded together, so as to cause the article to occupy less space, and be more
conveniently stowed away.
The Invention is applicable to various kinds of carriages and vehicles, such,

page_text: for instance, as children's carriages, chaises, Bath or invalid chairs, trucks,
barrows, or light carts or waggons for the conveyance of articles of various
descriptions, ambulance. carriages, or vehicles for carrying sick or wounded
soldiers or sailors.
The principle upon which all the vehicles or carriages are constructed
consists simply of two rods or levers, forming a cross frame or frames, the
parts of which are jointed together near the centre, or other convenient part,
by means of centre pins, studs, or pivots, on which they turn, in a somewhat
similar way to a portable tray stand; the several parts when opened being
held in position by means of a flexible or other band or strap, or any suitable
stretcher, extending from the end or other convenient part of one rod or lever
to the end or other convenient part of the other rod, so as to prevent them
from falling too far apart. There is one or more of these bands or straps on
each side, and in some cases they form the side rails of the carriage or vehicle,
and from these side rails are supported the flexible sides and the bottom of the
vehicle. The wheels of the vehicle are mounted on suitable axles, adapted to
the folding arms, and when the carriage is to be stowed away, the wheels may
be taken off for the convenience of packing:
A similar arrangement of folding arms, or cross framing may be adapted
to carriages with rigid bodies with advantage, as by the length of the arms
a considerable amount of elasticity is obtained, and therefore the use of springs
may in some cases he avoided.
I find it convenient and advisable for some purposes to adapt additional
rails to the sides of the carriages, for the convenience of propelling the
same. By means of this arrangement, the person who propels or assists in
propelling the carriage may walk at the side and attend to the wants of the
rider. These side handles may be made fixtures, or removable at pleasure,
as may be considered most convenient.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Metcalfe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30
-4th May 1855.
7.1
TO-ALL-TO-WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
METCALFE, of High Street, Camden Town, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters. 35
Patent, bearing date the Seventh-day of November, in the year of our Lord

page_text: "
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Metcalfe, Her special license that I, the said Thomas Metcalfe,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Metcalfe, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF PORTABLE CARRIAGES, CHAIRS, AND OTHER ARTIC
OTHER ARTICLES FOR SITTING
OR RECLINING UPON," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the sai
said
Thomas Metcalfe, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner' the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.**
T
1.
NOW KNOW YE, that I; the said Thomas Metcalfe, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say)
My Invention of "Improvements in the Construction of Portable Carriages,
Chairs, and other Articles for Sitting or Reclining upon," has for its object to
construct; arrange, and combine the several parts of which the above articles
are composed in such a manner that when not in use the several parts
may be folded together, so as to cause the article to occupy less space, and be
more conveniently stowed away, than if left in its former and original state."
The Invention is applicable to various kinds of carriages and vehicles, such,
for instance, as children's carriages, chaises, Bath or invalid chairs, trucks,
barrows, or light carts or waggons for the conveyance of articles of various
descriptions, ambulance carriages, or vehicles for carrying sick or wounded
soldiers or sailors.
I
The principle upon which all the vehicles or carriages are constructed
consists simply of two rods or levers connected together, and forming a cross
frame or framics, the parts of which are jointed near the centre, or other
convenient part, by means of centre pins, studs, or, pivots, on which they
turn, in a somewhat similar way to a portable tray' stand; the several parts
when opened -being held in position by means of a flexible or other band or
strap; or any suitable stretcher, extending from the end or other convenient

page_text: part of one rod or lever to the end or other convenient part of the other rod,
so as to prevent them from falling too far apart. There may be one or more
of these bands or straps on each side, and in some cases they form the side
rails of the carriage or vehicle, and from these side rails are supported the
flexible sides and the bottom of the vehicle. The wheels of the vehicle are
mounted on suitable axles, adapted to the folding arms, and when the carriage
is to be stowed away, the wheels may be taken off for the convenience of
packing.
A similar arrangement of folding arms or cross framing may be adapted to
carriages with rigid bodies with advantage, as by the length of the arms a
considerable amount of elasticity will be obtained, and therefore the use of
springs may
in some cases be avoided. I find it convenient and advisable
for some purposes to adapt additional rails to the sides of the carriages, for
the convenience of propelling the same. By means of this arrangement, the
person who propels or assists in propelling the carriage may walk at the side
and attend to the wants of the rider. These side handles may be made
fixtures, or removeable at pleasure, as may be considered most convenient.
In the accompanying Drawings I have shewn views of various kinds of
carriages constructed according to my improvements.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a child's carriage, with the several parts
extended, ready for use; Fig. 2 is a side view of the same carriage, with the
several parts collapsed or folded up, for more convenient stowage when not
in use.
a, a, are the bars or levers, which form the supports or framing of the
carriage, and turn on the central stud b. The running wheels c, c, are
mounted upon axles at the lower ends of the bars or levers a, a, and these
axles are formed for bending round the ends of the bars a, a, to right angles,
and mounting the wheels thereon. One of the pairs of levers a, a, is provided
at the upper end with tubular or telescope joints d, which receive the rods e, e,
of the handle f, whereby the carriage can be propelled from behind. When the
carriage is not in use this handle must be pushed in, in order to shorten
the length, as shewn at Fig. 2, and by dots in Fig. 1. The upper ends of the
bars or levers a are connected by the flexible band g, from which the sides h
of the carriage are supported. The bottom may be partly rigid and partly
flexible, and it may also, if required, be provided with a light sun covering i, i,
as shewn in Fig. 1. This covering, which is flexible, is supported on the
framing bars j, j, which turn on pins or studs below, and whereby they are
jointed to the bars or levers a, a. When the carriage is collapsed, the sun
covering i, i, is made to fall back, as shewn by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

page_text: In order to strengthen or increase the rigidity of the cross framing a, a,
I sometimes employ a rigid stretcher in addition to or instead of the flexible
band g; or, if preferred, a quadrant piece may be employed for the same
purpose, as shewn at k, Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side view of a carriage with a rigid body, but with a similar
cross framing a, a, to that shewn in Figures 1 and 2. a, a, are the bars which
The rigid body h acts
form the cross framing, and turn on the centre pin b.
as a cross bar or strap, to prevent the framing from collapsing, and the body h
is attached to the ends of the bars or levers a by leather straps, as shewn in
the Figure. The handle f at the ends of the rods e is placed behind, as in the
former instance, but is attached to one of the axles, and rests against the cross
bar l, at the ends of the arms a.
a, a,
Fig. 4 is a side view of a collapsible invalid carriage or Bath chair, provided
with shafts, so that it may be drawn by a horse, pony, or other animal.
are the bars of the cross framing, as before; 6, the centre pin; c, the wheels;
e, e, the shafts, which are capable of turning back on centre pins, as shewn in
the collapsed view, Fig. 5; g is the flexible or rigid band or bar, from which
the sides of the carriage are supported; an extra strap n is added, to assist
in supporting the seat.
Fig. 6 is another form of invalid carriage, intended to be propelled from
behind by hand, instead of being drawn by an animal; it is also provided
with a flexible hood i, i, which is supported by a metal or other frame j, j,
jointed to the cross bars or levers a, a. The rods or bars e, e, of the handle
are secured at one end to the ends of one of the pairs of arms or levers a, a,
and also at some convenient part to the other bars or levers a, a.
Fig. 7 represents this carriage collapsed or folded up, when not in use.
Fig. 8 is a side view of another carriage, which may be used for carrying a
in a recumbent position.
person
The cross bars or levers a, a, are prevented from collapsing by means of the
flexible band or strap 9, and are further secured by the quadrant k. The
handle attached to the front wheel may, if required, be turned round and
used for drawing the carriage, or directing or guiding it from the side. o is a
handle, one of which is placed on each side, so that the person propelling
the carriage may be enabled to walk by the side and converse with the
rider. The body of the person reclining is supported by the sacking h, which
is fastened at both ends to the levers a, a, of the cross framing.
Fig. 10 is a side elevation, and Fig. 11 a plan view, of another invalid
carriage, with a rigid body h mounted on the cross framing a, a. It will be
seen that the carriage is provided with a back handle f, as usual, and with two

page_text: additional side handles o, o, so that it may be pushed or propelled from the
side. It will be seen that. in this instance the only part that is capable of
folding is the cross framing a, a, to which the body is secured by screws or
otherwise.
Fig. 12 is a side elevation, and Fig. 13. a longitudinal section, of another
form of invalid carriage. a,,a; are.the principal levers or bars of the jointed
cross framing, which works on a centre.b, as before. The running wheels &
are placed behind one of the pairs of levers a, a, and instead of being affixed
thereto,, as in the other instances, the axle of these wheels. is formed of a bar d,
(Fig. 13,) which works on two vertical rods e, provided with coiled springs;
as shewn in the Figure, to give elasticity and ease to the motion of the
carriage. The levers a, a, are connected together and supported in their proper
position by the straps 9, 9. "The seat, foot, and "arm rests are formed of other
bars or levers y, y, y, which are jointed to the levers a, a, in such a manner as
to be capable of folding up with them, but are prevented. from so doing when
in use by the strap, Fig. 13. A proper rigidity of this part of the carriage
is further ensured, by the handle, which, being fixed to two of the bars or
levers yy, 'prevents any great extent of motion. A telescopic handle h is
adapted to the fore wheel, as shewn in Fig. 13, and may be worked either by
the 'rider, or it may be turned round and used to draw. the carriage. When
the carriage is to be folded or collapsed for convenience of stowage, the upper
fastening of the handle. must be undone, as well as the two straps g and; the
parts inay then be brought together into the position shewn at Fig. 14.
1
Fig. 15 is a side view of another collapsible invalid carriage. a, a, are the
main bars or levers of the cross framing, and are jointed together at b. The
upper part of one of the levers a-forms-the-back of the seat, and the upper part
of the other, the inclined foot rest. The flexible seat is shewn at h, and the
levers a, a, are prevented from collapsing by the strap g. The running wheels,
instead of being attached or connected to one of the arms or levers a, is fixed
to one of the additional levers y, y, which forms the other part of the carriage.
The levers yy, and the cross framing a are further secured by the arms e of
the. back handle f, and.when it is required to fold up the chair or carriage, the
pin or stud which connects the arm e to the arm a must be removed, and
when the strap g is unfastened, the several parts of the carriage will collapse.
The front wheel r turns in bearings at the lower ends of the spring levers
s, s, which are secured to the 'levers of the framing, as seen in the front
view, Fig. 16.
Fig. 17 is a side elevation of a vehicle constructed according to my improve-
ments, and which may be used as an ambulance carriage. a, a, represents

page_text: the arms or levers forming. the cross framing, as in the other Figures. b is the
centre pin, and c the running wheels, which are two in number, and are
mounted on axles attached to the lower end of one of the levers or arms of the
cross framing. The upper ends. of-all--the arms or levers a, ȧ, are made into
handles, so that the vehicle may be propelled from either end, or two persons
may be employed for this purpose: A flexible band g is extended from one
pair; of..levers a:to. the other. pair, as shewn in the Figure, and the flexible
body his suspended therefrom, as in Fig. 1;the centre part of the body being
further supported by a band or strap. The rigidity of the cross framing
when the vehicle is, in use is maintained by the quadrant k, which is fixed upon
one of the arms or levers a, and is temporarily connected to the other one by a
pin, stud, or screw q.
Fig. 18, is a side view of a truck for the conveyance of goods or merchan-
dize. This vehicle is constructed on the same principle as that just described;
but in the present, an additional, wheel or pair of wheels is used, for the
purpose of maintaining, the vehicle in a vertical, position when left by itself,
which the vehicle shewn in Fig. 17 would, not do, as it has no other support
than the two running wheels.
'
Fig. 19 is a modification of the two former carriages, and is intended to be
used as a wheelbarrow; the principal difference being that the wheels r of
Fig. 18 are dispensed with, and the barrow is supported by extending or pro-
longing the arms or levers a, a. The cross framing is prevented from collapsing
by means of a strong coiled spring. s, or a rigid strut, one end of which may be
detached when the framing is to be.collapsed.
Fig. 20 is a sectional view of a baker's barrow, constructed according to my
improvements. The cross framing is seen at a, a, as in the other Figures,
and at the lower end of one pair of levers a, a, are mounted the running
wheels c, c, on suitable axles; the lower end of the other pair of levers is
extended or prolonged downwards, to serve as supports to maintain the
barrow in a vertical position when left to itself. A flexible band 9 connects
the upper end of the levers a, a, and the sides h, h, are supported therefrom,
as in the other Figures. Transverse rods or stretchers t, t, extend across
the barrow at front and back to support these parts of the flexible body.
I prefer to make the bottom u of wood or other rigid material, and divide it
into two parts, which are jointed together at v. The handles ff, are fixed to
the under side of the front half of the bottom u, and the bottom is prevented
from collapsing by a bolt w, which passes through eyes fixed on the under
sides of the bottom u, as shewn. The top or cover a of the barrow is shewn
in the Drawing as made rigid, and it will serve to strengthen the other parts.

page_text: Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in the Construction
of Portable Carriages, Chairs, and other Articles for Sitting or Reclining
upon," and the best method with which I am acquainted for carrying the same
into effect, I claim, as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent, as afore-
said, the method herein-before described of constructing carriages, vehicles,
Bath or invalid chairs, or other analogous articles, or any mere modification
thereof, consisting of a cross framing, jointed together by means of centre pins,
studs, or pivots, such framing when extended being held in one given position
by means of the flexible or other body, or a flexible or other band or strap
extending from one rod or lever of the cross framing to the other.
I claim also the application of the cross framing a, a, to carriages with rigid
bodies, as above shewn and described.
Lastly, I claim the application of the side handles o, o, for the purpose
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Metcalfe, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,.
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
THOMAS METCALFE. (L.s.)