Improvements in Brakes for Perambulators, Bassinettes, and the like.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 8th May, 1889-Accepted, 15th June, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes for Perambulators, Bassinettes, and
the like.
I, DONALD MACROSTIE of Myrtletts, Ashdown Road Kingston-on-Thames in the
County of Surrey Builder do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its objects the provision of a simple and inexpensive device,
for effecting all the purposes of a stop brake, and again for those who desire it; the
provision of a more expensive, but yet simple and effective automatic Brake, for
perambulators, bassinettes and similar carriages.
It is not my intention that the stop brake, and the automatic brake, should ever be
fixed to the same carriage, for they are distinct in themselves, and their mode of
application entirely different.
The stop brake consists of a spring hook connected by a chain or like substitute to
any part of the perambulator or other carriage.
When it is required to apply the brake the person in charge of the perambulator
places the spring hook round the tyre, (the hook expanding in the action of being
forced round and closing when quite round.)
To remove the brake a similar action takes place, the spring hook expanding,
allowing it to be removed from the tyre.
I do not bind myself either to the shape of the spring hook or its method of
connection to the perambulator or the like.
My automatic brake consists of a rod say A, fixed so as to work across the outside
of the wheels of the carriage, at each end of which rod A is fixed a spoon brake to
act upon the two wheels nearest the handle of the carriage. The said rod is keyed, or
otherwise fastened to a second rod say B at right angles, one end of which latter
rod B, projects upwards towards the handle of bassinette or the like and terminates in
a half round cross piece say D shaped to encircle the handle of the carriage. The
other end of the rod B is cranked slightly upwards from its fulcrum, the said rod
being supported in any suitable manner, for instance by a slotted bracket or staple.
projecting from the body of the carriage or otherwise.
The cranked end of the rod B is connected by a spiral spring to the spindle of
the wheels of the carriage, or a weight may be fixed to the cranked end of B as an
equivalent.
The action is as follows-
Normally, by means of the spiral spring or weight, the spoon brakes are always
pressing upon the tyres of the wheels of the carriage.
When motion is required to be given to the carriage the cross piece D is pressed
round the handle of the bassinette or the like, by that action the rod A is turned
slightly round freeing the spoon brakes, from the wheels and lengthening the spiral
spring fixed to the crank end of B.
Immediately the hand is removed from the handle of the carriage, the spring
contracts, turns the rod.A to its normal position and presses the brakes upon the tyres
of the wheels.
I do not bind myself either to the shape or the methods of fixing the various parts
of my invention.
Dated this 9th day of August 1888.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes for Perambulators, Bassinettes, and
the like.
I, DONALD MACROSTIE of Myrtletts, Ashdown Road Kingston-on-Thames, in the
County of Surrey Builder 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:-
My invention has for its objects the provision of a simple and inexpensive device
for effecting all the purposes of a stop brake, and again for those who desire it, the
provision of a more expensive, but yet simple and effective automatic brake, for
perambulators, bassinettes and similar carriages.
It is not my intention that the stop brake, and the automatic brake, should be
fixed to the same carriage, for they are distinct in themselves and their mode of
application entirely different.
The stop brake consists of a spring hook Fig. 2. connected by a chain or like
substitute to any part of the carriage. When it is required to apply the brake, the
person in charge of the perambulator places the spring hook round the tire, (the hook
expanding in the action of being forced round and closing when quite round). To
remove the brake a similar action takes, the spring book expanding, allowing it to be
removed from the tire.
. I do not bind myself either to the shape of the spring hook, or its method of
connection to the perambulator or the like. My automatic brake consists of a rod,
fixed so as to work across the outside of the wheels of the carriage, at each end of
which rod is fixed a spoon brake to act upon the two wheels nearest the handle of the
carriage. The said rod is keyed or otherwise fastened to a second rod at right angles,
one end of which latter rod projects upwards towards the handle of the bassinette or
carriage and terminates in a half round cross piece shaped to encircle the handle of
the carriage. The other end of this rod is cranked slightly upward from its fulcrum
and is connected either by a spiral spring to the spindle of the wheels or by a weight
fixed to the cranked end, or as illustrated, to a steel rod acting as a spring against
the C or other springs of the carriage.
Figure 1 is an end view of a Bassinette and Figure 3 is a part sectional side view,
illustrating the application of my invention.
Figure 4 is a plan of my apparatus detached from the carriage. The same letters-
of reference apply to the same parts in the several Figures of the Drawing.
A is a rod fixed preferably by clamps E. E' to the springs M. M' of the Carriage.
At each end of the rod A is a spoon brake F. F¹—Fixed to A and extending upwards
is a rod B, terminating at the upper end in a half round cross piece G. H is a
centre piece, through which A runs and to which B is fixed, through the upper
end of H is run a steel rod K, projecting past and bearing against the carriage
springs M..M.
The action is as follows:-The normal position of the brakes is on, and the
spoons F. Fare pressing upon the tires of the wheels, as in Figure 3. When the
Carriage is to be pushed or pulled, the cross piece G is pressed toward and held to
the handle, the rod B is moved into the dotted line position Figure 3 rod A revolves,
and the spoon brakes move from the tires of the wheels.
The steel rod K which acts as a spring for the return motion of placing on the
brakes is compressed or shortened when the cross piece G is pressed to the handle,
and the moment the hand leaves the cross-pieco G free the spring K, acts through the
centre piece H upon A and places the spoon brakes F F¹ on.
I have illustrated an arrangement in the rod B consisting of a socket spring joint;
by which the top part of the rod B to which the cross piece G is attached which is
held by the hand, may remain stationary, in the event of any obstruction to the hind
wheels forcing the lower part of the rod B upwards. The upper part is formed into
a socket with a slotted hole through it, into which slotted hole 6' takes the lower
part of B working inside a spiral spring 63, with a pin 6 working in the slotted

page_text: hole 6. If the lower part of B is forced upward the spring 6' is compressed and
when the obstruction is removed the spring expands.
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
1st. The spring hook as illustrated in Figure 2 as a stop brake for Perambulators,
Bassinettes and similar Carriages.
2ndly. The combination and general arrangement as illustrated in Figures 1. 3. 4
of the Drawing annexed, and substantially as described forming an automatic brake
for Perambulators, Bassinettes and similar Carriages.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, M.I.M.E., &c.,
Temple Chambers, Temple Avenue, London, E.C., Agent for the said Applicant.