AN IMPROVED EXERCISING CHAIR FOR INFANTS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Brinsmead, of St. Giles'-in-the-Wood, near
Torrington, in the County of Devon, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
EXERCISING CHAIR FOR INFANTS."
Sealed the 27th November 1865, and dated the 1st June 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Brinsmend at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st June 1865.
I, THOMAS BRINSMEAD, of St. Giles'-in-the-Wood, near Torrington, in the
County of Devon, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED EXERCISING CHAIR FOR INFANTS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved exercising chair or mechanical nurse for
infants, which is intended to afford them as the same time both amusement and
exercise. The base consists of a plank of wood, supported upon suitable feet.
To one end of this plank is connected a second plank or spring board, which.
may be either attached to the former rigidly by a block at one end, or by.
means of a hinge, in which latter case a metallic spring will be inserted be-
tween the two planks. The second plank or spring board is placed at an acute.
angle with the former, so that its free end rises up several inches above the
corresponding end of the base, and a chair or seat is secured to or formed on
the free end of the said plank or spring board: From the first or base plank,

page_text: a vertical or slightly inclined board rises up in front of the seat or chair, so
that a child placed in the latter can easily reach the former with its feet. It
will be evident that if an infant be placed in the chair or seat and properly
secured by a strap or otherwise, the slightest movement of its feet against the
vertical or slightly inclined board in front of the seat will cause the spring
board, together with the seat or chair and the infant to spring up and down,
and thus both amusement and exercise will be afforded to the infant at the
same time.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Brinsmead in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 1st December 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
BRINSMEAD, of St. Giles'-in-the-Wood, near Torrington, in the County of
Devon, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of June, in the year of our Lord. One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Thomas Brinsmead, Her special licence that I, the said
Thomas Brinsmead, my executors, administrators, aud assigns, or such
others as I, the said Thomas Brinsmead, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
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 "AN IMPROVED EXERCISING CHAIR FOR INFANTS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Brinsmead,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Brinsmead 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.

page_text: the following statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to an improved exercising chair or mechanical nurse
for infants, which is intended to afford them at the same time both amuse-
ment and exercise. The base consists of a plank of wood, supported, upon
suitable feet; to one end of this plank is connected a second plank or spring
board, which may be either attached to the former rigidly by a block at one
end, or by means of a binge, in which latter case a metallic spring will be
inserted between the two plauks. The second plank or spring board is placed
at an acute angle with the fornier, so that its free end rises up several inches
above the corresponding end of the base, and a chair or seat is secured to or
fornied on the free end of the said plank or spring board. From the first or
base plank a vertical or slightly inclined board rises up in front of the seat.or
chair, so that a child placed in the latter can easily reach the former with its
feet. It will be evident that if an infant be placed in the chair or seat and
properly secured by a strap or otherwise, the slightest movement of its feet
against the vertical or slightly inclined board in front of the seat will cause
the spring board, together with the seat or chair and the infant, to spring up
and down, and thus both amusement and exercise will be afforded to the infant
at the same time.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "An Improved
Exercising Chair for Infants," I will now proceed to describe more in detail
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect; and in order that the same may be distinctly understood I
have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have
marked the same with letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation thereof, that is to say:-
The annexed Drawing represents a perspective view of my improved exer-
cising chair for infants. a, a, is the base plank which may be made in one, two,
or more widths (two being shewn in the Drawing). The base plank a, a, is
attached at each end to cross bearers b, b, the front one being supported
upon feet and the rear one furnished with small rollers or wheels underneath,
so as to allow of a little play or spring of the base plank; c, c, is the spring
plank attached at one end by the block d, d, to the base plank a, a, and having
at its other or free end a chair or seat e, e, in which the infant is to be placed,
and secured by a strap or otherwise. f,f, is a vertical board in front of the
chair or seat, against which the feet of the infant will press as it springs up.
and down.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for

page_text: "An Improved Exercising Chair for Infants," together with the manner in
which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect;
I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention the combination
of a seat or chair with a spring plank, and either with or without a foot
board, substantially as herein described without confining myself to any
particular form or dimensions of the various parts, nor to the particular mate-
rials or the manner in which the same may be constructed or applied.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Brinsmead have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of November, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-five.