AN APPARATUS FOR CARRYING LUGGAGE PARCELS GOODS & CHATTELS UP AND DOWN STAIRS
Year: 1885

page_text: Up and Down Stairs.
I WILLIAM JOHN TANNER of 5 Argyll Road Kensington in the County of
Middlesex Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN
APPARATUS FOR CARRYING LUGGAGE PARCELS GOODS & CHATTELS UP AND DOWN
STAIRS to be as follows:-
My invention consists of an apparatus of such a nature that two persons are
enabled to carry luggage or goods of any description up and down stairs and also.
over level ground.
In order to carry out my invention I construct an apparatus of wood or metal
or a combination of both in such a manner that the platform on which the luggage
&c rests has at each end a flap hinged on to the platform so that it can be laid flat
on the platform or can be set at right angles to it to prevent the article carried on
the platform from sliding off either backwards or forwards. From the top corners
of both of the flaps handles are made to stand out at an angle to and outside of the
flaps such handles are also hinged to fold up against the flap. From one of the
ends of the platform and at each corner of such end handles are made to project
in a line continuous with the length of the platform such handles are either hinged
to fold up or not At the bottom of the platform I have castors rollers or wheels.
The platform may be made to extend in length by means of one section of the
platform sliding over or along-side another. In order to enclose the sides of the
platform I arrange side pieces which may be attached to the sides of the platform
and to the flaps when set up, so that with the platform flaps at each end and side
pieces a rectangular space is enclosed.

page_text: -Up-and-Down Stairs:
I WILLIAM JOHN TANNER of 5 Argyll Road Kensington in the County of
Middlesex Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN
APPARATUS FOR CARRYING LUGGAGE PARCELS GOODS AND CHATTELS UP AND DOWN
STAIRS and in what manner the same is to be perforined, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
It is well known that considerable difficulty is experienced in carrying heavy
luggage parcels coals &c up and down stairs in private houses hotels schools &c.
For the purpose of lessening this difficulty I construct an apparatus of wood or
metal or a combination of wood and metal of which A B C D is a platform on
which the luggage is placed and from one end an end piece E F G H is set up at
an angle to the platform A B C D and from the other end of the platform
handles J K are placed and also at or about the end of the end pieces E F G H
other handles L M are placed so that when the apparatus is placed level the
handles L M will be higher than the handles J K by this means a person
lifting the apparatus by the handles L M and another person at the same time
lifting the apparatus by the handles J K the load placed on the platform A B C D
can be easily carried up and down stairs. For the purpose of making the
apparatus more convenient and useful I arrange another end piece N O P Q and
side pieces R S T U from the platform A B C D The end pieces and the side
pieces may be fixed to the platform or I make them hinged to or detachable from
the platform for the purpose of their folding on to or lying upon the upper surface
of the platform A B C D. when the apparatus is not in use (Figs. 9, 10, 11.) I also
make the handles L M and J K either fixed or detachable or hinged to fold against
the ends E F G H and N O P Q.
I sometimes make the side pieces R S T U of leather canvas netting or any
other similar strong and pliable material and I so arrange them that the bottom of
the side pieces are attached to the sides of the platform along the lines A B
and CD or made by means of rings to run on a rod fixed to the sides A B
and CD. I make the ends of these side pieces attachable and detachable from the
end pieces E F G H and N O P Q and I make these side pieces pleated or baggy
and to run on a rod string or wire as shewn in Fig. 5 for the purpose of allowing
them to extend and contract according to the nature of the load carried upon the
platform.
For the purpose of carrying coal grain or any material of a dirty or dusty
nature without soiling or injuring the apparatus I arrange a box or receptacal
(Fig. 6) to hold such material and which can be carried upon the apparatus and
used for such special purpose Such box may be made of wood or metal or a
combination of wood and metal with fixed sides and ends or with the sides and
ends hinged or detachable for the purpose of its taking less room when not in use.
In the case of the sides and ends of the box being hinged or detachable I fasten a
rim A B C 1) round the bottom of the box for the purpose of keeping in the dust
and the like and I hinge or attach the remaining part of the sides and ends on

page_text: such rim A B C D. One end of the box should be made higher than the other as
shewn in figure 6 for the purpose of preventing the material carried in the box
from falling out when the apparatus is held up by the handles J K and L M on
level ground.
Under the platform A B C D and attached to it I fit rollers castors or wheels.
In order to make the apparatus light the platform and end pieces may be made
of a framework of wood or metal or a combination of wood and metal and the part
surrounded by the framework may be filled in with leather canvas netting or
other similar material.
I also sometimes divide the platform so that one part of it may slide over or
alongside the other part the divided parts being kept in various positions by pins or
bolts such as P. Fig. 7 or some similar fastening by this arrangement the platform
can be extended or reduced in length.
Figs. 8 9 10 and 11 shew respectively a side view plan and two end views of
the apparatus when folded up.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. An apparatus substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
2. The use of hinged or removable sides and ends substantially as described and
for the purpose set forth.
3. The use of hinged or removable handles substantially as described.
4. The use of side pieces constructed of pliable material and made to extend and
contract substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
5. The use of a box or receptacal substantially as described and for the purposes
set forth.
6. The use of rollers castors or wheels substantially as described.
7. The use of a divided platform so arranged as to be extended or reduced
substantially as described.
1.
1986