A Child's Self Propelling Carriage.
Year: 1891

page_text: CUMI UNIN
A Child's Self Propelling Carriage.
I ERNST SCHREIJER Manufacturer of Steinstrasse 66 Hamburg in the Empire
of Germany 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 :-
The purpose of this invention is to provide a child's carriage or perambulator
suitable principally for children of an age to require attendance by the use of
which such attendance may be rendered more easy and the ride at the same time
more pleasurable and capable of providing healthy exercise to the child. By this
invention the natural tendency of healthy children to spring up and down in seats
is utilized for the propulsion of the carriage by the following simple contrivance.
The frame of the carriage moving on wheels carries a seat which may be moved
up and down either upon a special axle on the frame or upon the axle of the rear
wheels and is supported in its upper position by a spring or springs.
To this seat is connected a suitable pawl device gearing with a ratchet wheel on
the axle of the rear wheels so that downward movement of the seat causes the
pawl to move the axle and drive the carriage forward.
The seat will be pressed down by the weight of the child seated thereon until the
feet of the latter touch the ground when the pressure of the child's weight on the
seat is lightened and the springs lift the seat. An oscillation is thus given to
the seat and this can be kept up after a slight practice easily attainable by even
very small children so as to be a source of healthy exercise and amusement in the
propulsion of the carriage.
The improved carriage is shown in the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 2 a rear elevation of one form of
carriage.
Fig. 3 a horizontal section thereof on line n n with seat removed.
Fig. is a longitudinal section Fig. 5 is an end view of another form of
carriage.
r
r"
Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 B is the carriage frame supported on wheels r¹² and
carrying the seat S hinged on the shaft z carried on the frame, the bar t' connects
the under side of the seat S with the lever t which carries the pawl k engaging
in the teeth of the ratchet wheels which is fixed on the axle w to which the rear
wheels are fastened. A spring fhere shown as acting on the lever t throws
the seat S upwards. When the seat is pressed down the pawl t¹ draws with it the
ratchet wheels and thus propells the carriage; when the seat again rises the pawl
moves back idly over the teeth of the wheel s. The front wheel is arranged so
that it may be fixed for steering the carriage either in a straight line or in a circle.
For this purpose in the head of the fork carrying the wheel is a pivoted catch a
which may be dropped over and thus engage with either of the stays y y' so that
the wheel is held in the direction required for steering in a straight line or on a
curve. The wheel may be loose upon the axle w and on the under frame of the
vehicle may be pivoted the lever u engaging with the sliding fork u. By moving
this fork into engagement with one of the spokes of the wheel r the carriage can
be propelled only in a circular direction. In the modified construction of carriage
shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the seat S is hinged direct on the axle w of the rear wheels
the pawl k is hinged on the underside of the seat and engages direct with ratchet
teeth on the side of one of the rear wheels. The action is otherwise the same as
that above described and the guiding may be provided for in the same manner.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what Ị
claim is
A child's carriage adapted to be propelled by an up and down springing
movement of the child upon the seat, the said seat being pivoted to swing up and
down and provided with a spring or springs for lifting it and a pawl and ratchet
wheel for transmitting the movement of the seat to the rear wheel axle and' means
for setting the steering or other wheel for straight or circular movement of the
carriage for the purpose described.
Dated this 17th day of Avonst 1801
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, Agents to Applicant.