Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1897
I, LEON L'HOLLIER of Bath Passage, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Perambulator Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 object improvements in mail carts which are very
quickly adjusted and adapted to the use of one or two children in a sitting position
as well as to a flat or lying position for one child or person. By this means 'the
needs of families are met with one instead of two or three vehicles which is a
great saving and convenience.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practical effect I have appended hereunto two double-sized sheets of drawings
upon which I have illustrated an' example of one of my mail carts with diagrams
of the mode of making the alterations and adaptations but it will be distinctly
understood that the general design of the whole or of the parts may be considerably
varied and that the bodies, may be made from wicker work, wood, composition, or
any other suitable material and that such bodies may be mounted upon any kind
of underframe and wheels so long as there is room for the manipulation of the
collapsing or folding portions which I am about to explain by reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a general perspective view looking principally at the side of a mail
cart. made according to my invention and opened out so as to be adapted to the
requirements of two children in a sitting position viz., one in the B. portion and the
other in the. F portion with the feet of both children in the well M. The body is
shown mounted upon an ordinary underframe and wheels but almost any other may
be used.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the mail cart collapsed into a single seat vehicle
the portion F having now become the foot rest of the rider and the B portion
the seat.
Figure 3 shows the mail cart as seen at Figure 1 extended or adapted for two
riders but with the side nearest the eye removed so as to better illustrate the
construction of the body of the cart.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the body between the shafts S for the
purpose of making the construction quite clear."
Figure 5 shows one shaft'S with the slide bar s in a modified form.
Figure 6 is a somewhat similar view to Figure 3 with the side nearest the eye
removed but adapted for a child to be carried in a lying posture.
Figures 7 and 8 are modifications shewing means for altering the position of the
foot rest when the mail cart is transformed for a single rider.
I have already said that my new mail cart is for the purpose of meeting several
conditions in one vehicle and that is accomplished without complication of parts
and the transformation from one state or condition is accomplished almost instan-
taneously. The back B of my body is stationary. The side or guard pieces M
which are fixed at each side to the shafts S have a substantial cross bar m³ secured
between or to them as shown at Figure 2 so that when the cart is adapted for one
child as shown by Figure 2 the part f' rests against the edge of the bar m' in the
position there shown. I may however alter the inclination of Fas seen at Figure 2

page_text: by means of a such like device as the buttons shown at Figures 7 and 8 which are
secured to the under side of m¹ by a screw m³ and the button has a long end m
and a short end m so that three inclinations may be given to F. The
portion F which forms the supplemental seat has its bottom f hinged to f
by hinges and fis hinged to f' by hinges f and fis hinged to f* by the
hinges and fis hinged to the bottom 6 by the hinges fs these connections
being clearly shown by Figures 2. 3. 4. and 6. The rod R unites the shafts S
and serves to hold the supplemental seat F. by means of the hooks H when
the cart is in its double condition as shewn by Figures 1. 3. 4 and 6. The
slides are fastened one to each shaft S as shewn and pins P are attached to
the seat and work freely between S and s¹. To transform the cart from
the double condition as seen at Figure 1 to that seen at Figure 2 it is only
necessary to lift the hooks off the rod R and push it back so that the parts
fold under as seen at Figure 2. The rods may have the turned up part
or curls, with the gap into which the pin or pins P take to lock the
parts for a single seat. is secured to the shafts S by screws in and .
When the cart is required for a bed the door b¹ as seen at Figure 3 is turned
over as seen at Figure 6 to cover the gap when cushions or a bed may be
placed across and upon this door the full length of the vehicle.
It will be quite understood that the slides may be made in different ways
and might be formed as grooves in the shaft S and that the wheels W and
legs Land part M may be shaped to any design or ornamentation and may
. be made from any material or materials.
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 :-
First. The improvements in mail carts. consisting of the seat F constructed
with such like pieces as f', f and f* hinged and constructed so as to slide
backwards and fold together in a such like manner as shown at Figure 2. and
either with or without the hinged gap cover b¹ and so as to form a double or
single vehicle for sitting or for lying down all substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth and as shown upon the accompanying drawings.
Second. In mail carts the particular mode of transforming a single vehicle
as seen at Figure 2 into a double one as seen at Figures 1, 3, 4 and 6 and of
locking it in the double seated position by such like devices as the locks H
and cross rod R substantially as set forth and shown.
Dated this 7th day of October 1896.
GEORGE BARKER,
77 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent.