Improvements in and relating to Combined Cradles and Baby Carriages.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1897--Accepted, 25th Sept.,
1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Combined Cradles and Baby
Carriages.
I, CARL FREDRICK NILSON, of Hurley, in the County of Iron and State of
Wisconsin, U.S.A., Lumberman, 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 relates to improvements in combined cradles and baby carriages.
The objects of the invention are, first to provide a combined cradle and baby
carriage, which may readily be converted into a cradle only; second, to provide
a motor-operated cradle in which the sound of the motor is reduced to a minimum
and further deadened by insulating materials on its way to the ears of the child.
I thus remove the long known objection to cradles operated by a clock mechanism,
that the noise or sound of the machine provokes the child and even injures its
brains, especially when placed at the head end of the cradle, which heretofore
has been the usual practice.
.
The above and other minor objects I attain by the novel construction and
arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,
Fig. 1, is a top or plan view of my improved cradle, with the parasol and the
top or cover of the motor case removed.
Fig. 2, is a side elevation of Fig. 1, with the side of the motor case removed,
but the top of it and the parasol shown.
Fig. 3, is a detail view of the escape mechanism of the motor and its means
of connection with the cradle.
Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, 4, are four carrier wheels
revolving on the ends of the axles 5, which are bolted at 6, to the longitudinal
bars or hounds 7, and thus make up a frame or skeleton truck, to the rear
end of which I secure at 8, the handle 9-10, by which the truck may be pushed
like a regular baby carriage.
Upon this skeleton truck I mount the cradle frame, which is made up of the
end walls or uprights 11, and 12, and the two horizontal longitudinal frame bars 13.
14 are four coil springs interposed between the frame bars 7, of the truck and the
frame bars 13, each with a bolt 15, extending through it and through the said bars.
16 are removable spring-pins put transversely through the upper ends of the
bolts 15, to keep them from dropping out, as they are slidingly fitted in the
woodwork to allow the springs to yield more or less.
17, is the cradle proper, which is suspended in the frame by having its rigidly
secured trunnions 18, journaled in the metallic boxes 19, secured in the rubber
blocks 20, which are fixed one in each end wall of the cradle frame and serve
as insulators to deaden the sound of the motor on its way to the cradle proper.
The head end of the cradle frame I provide with the parasol 21, and at the
foot end of the frame I provide the motor case 22, in which is mounted a spring
motor of the clockwork type. In said motor 23, is the handcrank for winding
up the spring 24, by which is driven a speed-increasing train of gear wheels and

page_text: pinions 25, 26, 27, 28, as shown, and which terminates in the escapement wheel 29,
which is made very broad-faced and of hard rubber in order to reduce its ticking
sound, when touching the anchor 30, which it operates and swings the pendulum
arm 31, which is connected with. the cradle 17; by the elastic cords 32, or by
spring connecting rods 33, which are shown in Fig. 3, as a modification; either
of said means of connection should be secured with their outer ends near the
corners of the adjacent end of the cradle body 17, about as shown.
The rock-shaft 34, of the escapement mechanism is journaled in metallic tubes
or iournal boxes inserted in the rubber blocks 20, and 35, secured in the end
walls of the motor frame or case 36, is an idle air space provided in the wall 11,
or it may be considered as a space between the wall of the motor case and the end
wall of the cradle frame: Its object is to hinder the transmission of sound of
the motor toward the child through the air, while the rubber wheel 29, reduces
the very cause of the sound, and the various rubber bearings or blocks around
all journal boxes leading to the cradle body, and the flexible connection between
the pendulum and the cradle, prevent the transmission of the sound through the
various hard materials, some of which, if coming in direct contact with each
other, would not only conduct but even increase the sound.
The bottom 37, of the cradle, may preferably be provided with ventilating holes
as 38, when the cradle is to be used in a warm climate. The use of the parasol 21,
may not be new on, a baby carriage, but its combination with a cradle, and
especially with the end of a motor cradle opposite to the end where the motor is
located, I believe, is new, and for obvious reasons important in this case.
a stopping hook to prevent the cradle from swinging when so desired.
40, is
In using the cradle in the house, especially in the winter time, the spring
pins 18, may be removed, the cradle lifted off the bolts 15, and set on its four
legs 39, on the floor, but when going out visiting or to picnics, or other outdoor
rides the cradle should be mounted on the truck or lower frame as shown, and will
then perform the double function of both cradle and baby carriage, which is so
very desirable on such occasions, that my invention may well be said to supply
a want of long standing, and will be a blessing to mothers, nurses and other
persons who have heretofore, upon such occasions, lost all pleasure of the picnic,
visit &c. by having to either carry the child in their arms or drive it about. in
the carriage, if the latter is at hand, but usually it is left at home, because the
service it affords when it cannot be used as a cradle, will seldom pay for the
trouble of bringing it back and forth.
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:
1. The combination with a wheeled skeleton truck having the handle 9-10
of a frame detachably supported on springs upon the truck; a cradle suspended
within the frame and being adapted to rock in the frame whether the latter is
on the truck or not, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination with a wheeled truck having handhold for pushing it by,
of a cradle suspended and rocking or swinging in a frame having legs adapted to
stand on the floor and a motor secured to said frame for swinging the cradle and
means for yieldingly and detachably supporting said motor and frame upon the
truck, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a cradle, the combination of a frame and a cradle supported on trunnions
to rock or swing therein, of a clock-work motor' secured to one end of the frame
and operatively connected with the cradle and a parasol secured to the opposite
end of the cradle over the head of the child, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
4. In a cradle, the combination with a supporting frame of a cradle swinging
therein on trunnions or journals, à motor secured to one end of the frame and
operating the cradle, said motor having the escapement wheel, 29, and the

page_text: anchor 30, rockshaft 34, and pendulum arm 31, and flexible connection between
said arm and the cradle proper, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a cradle, the combination with a supporting frame, of a cradle swinging
therein on trunnions or journals, a motor secured to one end of the frame and
operating the cradle, said motor having the escapement wheel 29, and the
anchor 30, rockshaft 34, and pendulum arm 31, and flexible connection between
said arm and the cradle proper, said escapement wheel being made of rubber
or other sound-deadening materials, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
6. In a cradle, the combination with a supporting frame of a cradle swinging
therein on trunnions or journals, a motor secured to one end of the frame and
operating the cradle, said motor having the escapement wheel 29, and the
anchor 30, rockshaft 34, and pendulum arm 31, and flexible connection between
said arm and the cradle proper, said trunnions and rockshaft having their
journal boxes inserted in rubber secured in the frame work, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
7. In a cradle, the combination with a supporting frame of a cradle swinging
therein on trunnions or journals, a motor secured to one end of the frame and
operating the cradle, said motor having the escapement wheel 29, and the
anchor 30, rockshaft 34, the pendulum arm 31, and flexible connection between
said arm and the cradle proper, said trunnions and rockshaft having their
journal boxes inserted in rubber secured in the frame work, and the case con-
taining said motor being secured to the cradle supporting frame with an inter-
vening dead-air space, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 24th day of August 1897.
CHARLES JUNGE,
Agent for the Applicant.