Improvements in and relating to Children's Mail Carts and other Vehicles,
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Children's Mail Carts and other
Vehicles,
We, WILLIAM GRIFFITHS, Blacksmith, of 53, Lower Bridge Street, and
WILLIAM CLARK MCEWEN, Manufacturer, of Abbey Road Works, both in the
Town and County of Stirling, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
It relates to those childrens carriages which are called "mail carts" and to
other vehicles and has for its chief objects;
1st. To adapt each such vehicle for being converted frequently into a single
or double seated one, or a sleeping carriage at will.
2nd. To adapt some of the supplemental parts which comprise the auxiliary
seat for being simultaneously moved in various directions.
3rd. To adapt the supplemental or auxiliary seat for being converted into an
apron or knee guard.
In carrying out one modification of the invention in connection with a childs
mail cart the foot-well of which is made with two or more sloping sides so that
the well is narrowest internally at the bottom, a semi-upright slot is fitted on each
side thereof, right and left, each slot being parallel with its own side of the well
and having a forward slope. Two guide rods are pivotted to studs fixed to the
inside of the well at the upper front part (one on each side, right and left) and
the free end of each guide rod moves in one of the aforesaid slots. The said pivots
allow these guide rods to move up and down, within the slots, they also enable
them to move inwards and back again in harmony with the sloping sides of the
foot-well.
AT shaped rod for guiding and supporting an auxiliary seat is fixed to the
shafts and foot-well, (or corresponding part); the cross head of the T stretches
across the space between the shafts and the leg of it is fixed to the foot-well. This
last named part (the leg of the T) passes beneath the supplemental seat and
through a slot in the lower part of its back.
This supplemental seat comprises a back with right and left sides hinged
thereto; a fragmentary portion of the horizontal seat being fixed to the back and
the remainder of the seat is hinged to this fragment and rests, unattached, upon
the top front edge of the foot-well, its hinge or hinges adapting it for falling in
a semi-vertical position within the front part of the foot-well when this auxiliary
seat is not required. Upon each forward end of the said hinged sides of this
supplemental seat there is a pendant loop or part for connecting it to one of the
pivotted guide rods before named, and the horizontal seat occupies the space
beween these two hinged sides.
A bridge or cover for the foot-well comprises a board, plate or frame, suspended
between the semi-upright slots before named.
A bed may be formed upon the two seats, above named, and this foot-well
cover

page_text: The operation of these devices may be thus described:-
When the auxiliary seat has been made to rest upon the T shaped rod and
other parts, ready for use and the foot-well is covered by the appliance already
described, the latter may be removed and the auxiliary seat be pushed towards the
foot-well until the hinged part of the horizontal seat falls vertically within it,
whilst the hinged sides and pivotted guide rods are simultaneously and auto-
matically turned downwards and inwards within the well, the back and its hinged
sides then form a suitable cover or apron for any child who may occupy the
permanent seat of the cart.
Slight modifications of these devices are made therein when the right and left
sides of the foot-well are not sloped inwards.
This auxiliary seat and its associate devices are designed and adapted for
application to other vehicles besides childrens mail carts or such like carriages.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of June 1898.
JOSEPH LOCKWOOD,
263, Argyle Street, Glasgow,
Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in and relating to Children's Mail Carts and other
Vehicles.
We, WILLIAM GRIFFITHS, Blacksmith, of 53, Lower Bridge Street, and
WILLIAM CLARK MCEWEN, Manufacturer, of Abbey Road Works, both in the
Town and County of Stirling, 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:-
"
It relates to those children's carriages which are commonly called "mail carts"
and to other vehicles, and has for its chief objects:
1st. To adapt each such vehicle as a childs mail cart for being converted
frequently into a single or double seated one, or a sleeping carriage, at will.
2nd. To adapt some of the supplemental parts which comprise the auxiliary
seat, herein described, for being simultaneously moved, in various directions.
3rd. To adapt part of the supplemental or auxiliary seat, herein described, for
being converted into an apron or knee guard.
The invention will be better understood if reference is made to the accom-
panying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a side view in elevation representing a child's
mail cart" made
in accordance with this invention wherein part of the auxiliary seat, described
herein, is converted into an apron; it is fitted with a hood adapted for being
reversed folded or removed therefrom.
Figure 2, is a plan view of the child's "mail cart" represented in Fig. 1, the
hood having been removed and the auxiliary seat being fixed in position for use
as an apron.
Figure 3 is a side view in section showing those portions of the child's "mail
cart," represented in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein this invention lies; part of the
auxiliary seat constituting an apron.
Figure 4 is a side view in section of parts shewn in Fig. 3 but with the
auxiliary members in position ready for use as a supplemental seat.
Figure 5 is a side view in elevation of parts shewn in Fig. 4.
Figure 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2 shewing the fixed and supplemental
seats in the positions represented by Fig. 5.

page_text: Figure is a side view in elevation of a temporary folding cover for the foot-
well of a child's "mail cart."
Figure 8 is a cross view in elevation and section shewing the supplemental seat,
foot-well and shafts as seen through Z, Z, Fig. 5, the foot-well containing the
folded cover.
Figure 9 is a fragmentary view in plan shewing parts of a child's "mail cart,"
also some of the devices comprised in this invention.
Similar letters and numerals throughout the illustrations indicate corresponding
parts.
In carrying out one modification of the invention in connection with a child's
mail cart," as shewn in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, the foot-well A a' a² a² is
made with two or more sloping sides a¹, a², (see Fig. 8) so that the well is
narrowest internally at the bottom, and a semi-upright member ³, containing a
slot at (Figs. 3, 4, 6 and 9) is fitted on each side thereof, right and left, each slot
being parallel with its own side a¹ or a² Fig. 8 or a Fig. 9 of the well and
having a forward slope. Two guide rods a³ (Figs. 3, 4, 6 and 9) are pivotted to
studs a fixed to the inside of the well at the upper front part (one on each side,
right and left) Figs. 3, 4, 6 and 9, and the free end of each guide rod moves in
one of the aforesaid slots at. The said studs or pivots allow these guide rods
to move up and down within the slots at (or equivalent devices); they also enable
them to move inwards and back again in harmony with the sloping sides a¹ a³ of
the foot-well.
AT shaped rod B, 61, for guiding and supporting an auxiliary seat, C cl, c³,
c³, c, cc6c7c8, is fixed to the shafts D, and the front part marked A of the
foot-well (or any corresponding part of the vehicle); the cross head of
this shaped rod stretches across the space between the shafts D, &, and the
leg (B) of it is fixed to the part marked A of the foot-well. This last named
part B (the leg of the T) passes beneath the supplemental seat C, c¹, and through
a slot in the lower part of its back c³.
This supplemental seat, Cc cccccc comprises a back c³ with right
and left sides c hinged thereto at : see Figs. 6 and 8. A fragmentary portion c
of the horizontal auxiliary seat being fixed to the back and the remainder (()
of this seat is hinged, at Fig. 3, to this fragment c¹ and rests unattached, upon
the top front edge marked A of the foot-well: its hinge or hinges c, Figs.
and 6, adapting it for falling into a semi-vertical position within the front part
of the foot-well, as shewn in Fig. 3, when this auxiliary seat Ccc c³ ct cu ci c7 c
is not required. Upon each forward end of the said hinged sides, c', of this
supplemental seat there is a pendant loop or perforated part e for connecting it
to one of the pivotted guide rods, a, before named, and the horizontal seat C, c',
occupies the space between these two hinged sides c'.
The part is broader than the bar b¹, rests upon the member B and overlaps
the shafts D, d.
A bridge or cover for the foot-well comprises a hinged board, plate or frame E,
Fig. 7, cushioned or otherwise. It may be supported in any convenient manner
above this foot-well as indicated by dotted lines at E in Fig. 4. The permanent
seat, body and wheels of this cart are marked F, f, f, G, g³.
A bed may be formed or laid upon these two seats C and F (above named)
and this foot-well cover E.
The operation of the aforesaid devices may be thus described;
When the auxiliary seat, (c³ et es c³ c² cô, has been made to rest upon
the shaped rod B, and other parts as above described, and is ready for use
as a bed or sleeping carriage, the foot-well being covered over by the appliance E,
the latter may be removed and the auxiliary seat be pushed inwards towards
the foot-well Aa¹²²a until the hinged part C of the supplemental seat falls
semi-vertically within it, whilst the hinged sides et and pivotted guide rods a³ are
simultaneously and automatically turned downwards and inwards within the
slots as towards the foot of the well. The back with its hinged sides then

page_text: forms a suitable apron for covering the knees of any child who may be occupying
the permanent seat I of the cart.
When the sides of the foot-well are sloped as shewn at a', a³, Fig. 8, the
sides of this auxiliary scat are hinged at to the back as shewn in Fig. 6
and move inwards with the rods a as they all descend together into the foot-well.
Another modification of the invention as applied to a child's "mail cart" differs
very little from the foregoing particulars. In it the sides of the foot-well, which
are marked a¹, a² in Fig. 8 are not sloped but perpendicular to the base board a
and the sides of the auxiliary seat do not require to be hinged to the back c³.
A foot-well with two such perpendicular sides a, is shewn in Fig. 9.
If the auxiliary seat as shown in Figs. 4 to 6 is pushed inwards towards the
foot-well A a¹ aa (being guided with the handle it travels horizontally over
the parts A, B, and D) until the hinges c, Figs. 3 to 6 have passed over the side
marked A, when the hinged part C (only) of the auxiliary seat falls down into
the foot-well in a semi-vertical position similar to that shewn in Fig. 3, the
back and the sides retain their upright attitudes until the seat-part c¹ over-
hangs the foot-well; the back c³ can then be inclined forward against the sloping
sides of the permanent seat and body F, f'; and the sides c (attached to the
pivotted rods a) descend into the foot-well.
The parts containing the grooves or slots a (or equivalent devices) are made
of wood, metal or any suitable materials and are fixed within the foot-well.
The auxiliary carriage seat C c¹³ ³ cc c6 cc and its associate devices A a¹ a²
a7a8 and B, 1, are designed and adapted for application to other vehicles besides
children's mail-carts" or such like carriages.
66
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
First, In a child's "mail cart" the combination therewith of a moveable seat
adapted for being alternately extended along the shafts as shewn in Figures 4, 5,
and 6, or for being pushed inwards and tilted, upon the rod B, into the foot-well
of the vehicle as shewn in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings; comprising a loose
flap C hinged to a strip which is fixed immoveably to a back e also two
sides hinged to the said back, the latter containing a slot or eye ²; also a
rod B, (the part B of which passes through the eye c) which is fixed to the
shafts D, and foot-well front A; also loops or eyes c contained upon the
arms ; also rods a pivotted to the carriage and adapted for passing through
the eyes and moving in slots or grooves at; also parts a³ containing grooves a
or their equivalents for receiving the ends and regulating the movements of the
rods a all substantially as herein described and drawn or any mere modification
thereof for the purposes specified.
Second, In a child's mail cart" the combination therewith of a moveable seat
adapted for being alternately extended along the shafts as shewn in Figs. 4, 5
and 6 of the drawings or for being pushed inwards and tilted into the foot-well
of the vehicle as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3: comprising a part (hinged to the
part which is fixed to a back having arms e hinged or otherwise fixed thereto
and an eye (or eyes) (all substantially as herein described and drawn or any
mere modification thereof for the purposes specified.
Third, In a child's mail cart," having a moveable seat adapted for being
alternately extended along the shafts or tilted into the foot-well of the vehicle
as shewn in Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings, the combination therewith of a rod Bb¹
all substantially as herein described and drawn or any mere modification thereof
for the purposes specified.
Fourth, In a child's "mail cart" having a moveable seat adapted for being
alternately extended along the shafts or tilted into the foot-well of the vehicle
as shewn in Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings, the combination therewith of one or

page_text: more pivotted rods a³, a all substantially as herein described and drawn or any
mere modification thereof for the purposes specified.
16
Fifth, In a child's mail cart," having a moveable seat adapted for being
alternately extended along the shafts or tilted into the foot-well of the vehicle
as shewn in Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings the combination therewith of one or
more parts with grooves at all substantially as herein described and drawn or
any mere modification thereof for the purposes specified.
Sixth, In a carriage or vehicle the combination therewith of a moveable seat
adapted for being alternately extended along the shafts or for being pushed
inwards and tilted upon one or more rods into the foot-well of the vehicle, com-
prising a loose flap Chinged to a strip which is fixed immoveably to a back c³;
also two sides e hinged or otherwise fixed to the said back, the latter having one
or more eyes such as 2; also one or more rods B, 61 for passing through the said
eye or eyes ; also loops or eyes c upon the sides ; also rods pivotted to
the carriage and adapted for passing through eyes and moving in or upon slots a¹
or their equivalents: also parts as a or their equivalents for engaging with the
rods a, all substantially as herein described and drawn or any mere modification
thereof for the purposes specified.
Dated T: 081
1 1000
JOSEPH LOCKWOOD,
263, Argyle Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicants.