Improvements in or relating to Perambulators or similar Carriages for Children.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Perambulators or similar Carriages
for Children.
I, GEORGE SMITH, of Sharp Street Mills, Rochdale Road, Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Manufacturer of Perambulator and Bassinettes, 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 :-
This invention relates to that type of perambulator or bassinette constructed with
four wheels which are required always to maintain the same relative position one to
the other, and refers particularly to the underframe or carriage which carries the
wheels and springs.
Hitherto it has been customary to connect the springs direct to the two axles by
means of bolts passed through each; or to one axle by bolting and to the other by
means of eyes formed in the ends into which the axle is driven, the ends of the springs
which receive the axle being curved or bent down to the level of the axle. Such
connections in use are liable to shift either from being knocked or the bolts or rivets
wearing loose, thereby setting the axles askew and altering the relative position of the
wheels which causes the carriage when propelled not to travel in a straight line or
path.
The object of this invention is to so construct and arrange the under carriage or
under-frame of a perambulator that the axles or wheels cannot either from wear or
slight accident be turned askew or altered in their relative positions.
It consists essentially in bracing together the two axles, by two metal stays or
braces, preferably parallel to each other and at right angles to the axles, having eyes
at their ends which receive and rigidly retain the ends of the axles, thereby forming an
undercarriage or under frame to support the springs and body.
The invention will be fully described by reference to the accompanying drawing:
Fig. 1, side elevation of perambulator constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 2, plan of under-carriage or under-frame showing axle with wheels removed.
Figs. 3 and 4, elevation of the axle and brace showing details of construction of
frame.
The axles A and B, are held parallel by the metal braces or straps C. The braces
or straps C, are both constructed of equal length, with an eye c at each end. The
eye is formed by forging or bending the end of the brace and is of a size to tightly
embrace the end of the axle and prevent lateral movement or play therein. On each
axle is fitted a shoulder or collar a, against which the inner side of the brace C, is
driven. The shoulders a are all fitted equidistant from each other. When the braces
are in position a long collar or sleeve b, is driven onto the back or longer axle B, to
adjust the position of the wheels thereon, to over-lap or clear the side of the carriage.
The two braces C, being straight and rigidly affixed to the axles A and B, and their
position adjusted by the collars a, the whole forms an under-frame or under-carriage
to support the springs and body and no loosening or wear of bolts will twist this
frame or alter the relative positions of the axles and wheels, so that when once set
square the wheels when propelled forward will always tend to run in a straight line.
Where the front wheels are smaller than the back, as is usually the case the stays or
braces C, will be on an incline as shown in fig. 1, the springs being made higher at
the front than at the back to compensate therefor.
As shown in the drawing the stays or braces C, are placed parallel to each other
and at right angles to the axles, if desired, however, they may be placed cross-wise,
(as indicated by dotted lines) being attached to the axles as shown.
The springs D, are attached to the braces C, by the bolts d. The springs may be
of any suitable form or shane used for such vehicles.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. In a perambulator the combination with the two axles, of the straight metal stays
or braces C, having eyes c, at both ends, by which they are rigidly connected to the
axles, forming an under-frame to support the springs, substantially as described.
2. In a perambulator the combination with the springs, of the braces C, having an
eye c, at each end to rigidly secure the end of the axle, the axles A and B, and the
shoulders or collars a, substantially as described and shown.
CM 1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.