An Improved Recreation Machine or Apparatus.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 25th July, 1889-Accepted, 7th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Recreation Machine or Apparatus.
I JOHN CARRINGTON SELLARS of 24, Liversage Road, Birkenhead in the County
of Chester Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
to be as follows:-
'
This invention relates to apparatus of the nature described in the Specification
accompanying my application for Letters Patent No. 11373, A.D. 1888.
A machine according to my present invention comprises the following main parts:
à column of wood or other suitable material, an oscillatory or vibratory beam or beams
hinged upon the upper end of said column, a seat or seats attached to or connected
with each end of the said beam, a spring or springs adapted to act as buffers to the
beam.
The seats inay be placed above the beam, and it may be mounted on a joint on the
beam and controlled by a rod or bar beneath the beam to give it a parallel motion in
the verticle plane when operated.
I provide means in connection with the apparatus by which the users. may operate
the apparatus completely themselves or aid in its operation. According to one means
by which this may be effected it may consist of a foot rest placed level with or below the
beam, and above the. beam I provide a handle. The foot-rest may be provided with
one or a plurality of steps or stages. If it has a plurality they would by preference
be placed one below the other.
According to another arrangement for the same end I provide ropes or their
equivalent attached to the beam or parallel rods or bars, each of which ropes is worked
by the user occupying the seat on the opposite end or side of the apparatus.
•
If by one of the users in the first arrangement pressure is exerted on the step or
stage by the feet, or the weight of the body put forward the tendency is for the beam
to become slower in its motion, stopped or reversed; or in the latter arrangement the
same control or capabilities of governing the movement is provided when the ropes
are pulled by either user.
+
When the apparatus is operated by mechanical or other extraneous power'the effect
just described may be effected by causing the seats cither separately or together-to be
brought and removed to and from the centre of the apparatus. In this case the seat
or carriage to hold the users might be arranged to work on wheels and caused to be.
moved from one platform kept permanently in the horizontal plane as above described-
on to another parallel platform mounted on the beam.
For large apparatus a small steam engine and boiler. or equivalent motor may be
used in connection with the apparatus to give the requisite motions.
Dated this 24th day of Sentember 1888
JOHN CARRINGTON SELLARS.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Recreation. Machine or Apparatus.
1, JOHN CARRINGTON SELLARS, of 24, Liversage Road, Birkenhead, in the County
of Chester, Manufacturing Chemist, 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 the following statement :-
This Invention relates to apparatus of the see-saw swing nature.

page_text: A machine according to my present invention comprises the following main parts:
a column of wood or other suitable material, an oscillatory or vibratory beam or beams
hinged upon the upper end of said column, a seat or seats attached to or connected
with each end of the said bean, a spring or springs adapted to act as buffers to the
beam.
The seats may be placed above the beam, and may be mounted on a joint on the
beam and controlled by a rod or bar beneath the beam to give a parallel motion in the
vertical plane when operated.
I provide means in connection with the apparatus by which the users may operate
the apparatus completely themselves or aid in its operation, which means consist of a
foot rest placed level with or below the beam, and above the beam I provide a handle.
The foot rest may be provided with one or a plurality of steps or stages. If it be a
plurality they would by preference be placed one below. the other.
If by one of the users pressure is exerted on the step or stage by the feet, or the
weight of the body put forward or backward, the tendency is for the beam to become
quicker or slower in its motion, stopped or reversed according to the movement of
the user.
Having thus set forth generally the nature of my invention, its description will now
be proceeded with in reference to the annexed sheet of drawings, which makes a part
of this specification, by way of explaining more fully the nature, objects and effects of
the invention. The drawings and the description of then set forth together examples
of my invention, the said drawings being marked with figures and letters of reference
corresponding with those used in the following explanation, and like letters and
figures being used to denote the same or corresponding parts throughout the
drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 illustrates in side elevation a recreation machine or apparatus with my
improvements applied thereto.
Figure 2 illustrates in side elevation an apparatus of the type shown in Figure 1
with a varied arrangement of parts.
Figure 3 illustrates in side elevation another variation of a recreation apparatus,
with my improvements applied thereto.
Figure 4 illustrates in sido elevation a modification of the apparatus shown in
Figure 3.
The type of recreation apparatus to which the improvements according to my
invention are applicable are those known as see-saw swings, and the objects of my
invention are, to facilitate the propulsion of the apparatus, to keep the body of the
person or persons using the swings upright when swinging, and to prevent oscillation
of the body.
A see-saw swing provided with the improvements according to my invention
comprises the following parts; reference to the drawings, a column a of wood or
other suitable material; an oscillatory beam hinged at the centre c upon the
upper end of the column a, the said column being by preference made of two
parts with the beam between the parts, as illustrated, the lower part of the column
is provided with base pieces a¹ to support and steady it; seats connected with
each end of the beam 6; and a spring or springs e adapted to act as buffers to
the beam b.
The seats d are placed above the beam band are carried by side members h
which are hinged by the joint pink to the beam; these side members 4, extend
below the beam and are connected by a joint pin to a rod or bar i hinged at i¹
to the column a and parallel with and below the beam b. This construction and
arrangement provides a parallel motion in the vertical plane for the seats when
operated. On the beam 6 and bar i there are provided links which are provided
with foot rests m these links are jointed to the beam bat l, and to the bar i at 1,
thus providing a parallel movement in the vertical plane for the foot rests m, in-like
manner to the movement of the seats d. The side links or members are extended

page_text: above the beam and are provided with handles ». Underneath the apparatus there
is a spring device; the spring is contained in a casing e, the lower end of which is
connected by a hinge el to the base a¹ of the apparatus, the spring being of the
compression type, and is provided with, and compressed by the action of a rod and
follower p, one end of which extends through the top end of the case and is
connected to the beam b' by a chain or chains 5. The springs act as buffers to the
beam.
The seats may be provided with a guard or curtain d as shown at Figure 4
in dotted lines, and they may also be provided with bars d² (Figure 3) to prevent
the users from falling out. The apparatus is provided with a ladder or steps t to
give access to the seats.
This
In the apparatus shown at Figures 3 and 4 the seats & are connected to the beam b
by U shaped arms this construction keeps the beam bout of the way of the user.
The arrangement shown at Figure 3 has a double beam b and arms 6.
construction is particularly applicable for use by ladies, as is also the guard d' shown
at Figure 4.
In operation, by one or both of the users alternately throwing their weight onto
the foot rests m and away from the seats d the see-saw swing will be worked, and
the motion can be controlled at the will of the users by the motion of their bodies,
and as the weight of the body is thrown on to, or away from, the foot rests m.
handles n being used to facilitate the action.
The
In the foregoing Specification I have described the nature of certain constructions
of apparatus with my improvements applied thereto and certain constructions of parts
under my invention, but I wish it to be understood that the precise construction and
arrangement of parts may be amplified or modified, and their equivalents employed
without departing from my Invention.
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
clain is :-
1. A recreation apparatus of the see-saw type, comprising an oscillatory beam,
hinged upon a column, a parallel motion carrying seats for the users, foot rests, and.
handles, by which the users may impart an up and down motion to the apparatus, as
set forth.
2. A recreation apparatus of the see-saw type, comprising an oscillatory beam
hinged upon a column and having seats for the. users, and foot rests adapted to
receive and remove the weight or a portion of the weight of the users from the said
seats, and so impart motion to the apparatus.
3. A recreation apparatus of the see-saw type, comprising an oscillatory beam
hinged upon a column, and having seats for the users, and a parallel motion provided
with foot rests and bandles adapted to receive and remove the weight or a portion
of the weight of the users from the said seats, and so impart motion to the apparatus.
4. A recreation apparatus of the see-saw type, comprising an oscillatory beam,
hinged upon a column and having seats and foot rests for the users, and a spring or
springs constructed and operating as and for the purposes set forth.
5. A recreation apparatus of the see-saw type, comprising an oscillatory bean,
working upon a column and having, bent arms adapted to carry the seats for the
users, so as to keep the feet of the users clear of the working parts, as set forth.
6. A recreation apparatus of the see-saw type, constructed, arranged, and
adapted to operate substantially as set forth with reference to Figure 1 of the
drawings hereto annexed.
7. A recreation apparatus of the see-saw type, constructed, arranged, and adapted.
to operate substantially as set forth with reference to Figure 2 of the drawings hereto
annexed.
8. A recreation apparatus of the see-saw type, constructed, arranged, and adapted
to operate substantially as set forth with reference to Figuro 3 of the drawings hereto
annexed.

page_text: 9. A recreation apparatus of the see-saw type, constructed, arranged, and adapted
to operate substantially as set forth with reference to Figure 4 of the drawings hereto
annexed.
Doind this 24th dow of Lulu 1980
JOHN CARRINGTON SELLARS.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents.