Improvements in Convertible Mailcarts.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 4th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 30th May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Convertible Mailcarts.
THOMAS FREDERIC SIMMONS, of 3, 5 and 7 Tanner Street, Bermondsey, London,
S.E., Perambulator Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
It relates first to an improved method of constructing and supporting the footwells
of children's convertible mailcarts when they are erected and extended so as with
the seats of the mail-carts to become trays or beds in which young infants may lie.
This support is attained without the use of buttons bolts or movable fastenings of
any kind. In the trays to which the invention applies the floor of the tray is in
two portions hinged together and to the front edge of the seat. When the tray is
folded and let down to become a footwell the portion of the tray-floor nearer the
seat becomes a heel-board and the part farther from the seat a footboard. The
footboard is then enclosed by the heel-board, a front or toe-board and two side-
pieces. These two side pieces are carried beside and beyond the heel-board.
It will be understood that these projecting points approach nearer to the seat
when the bed is straightened out but recede farther from it when the front end
is turned upwards upon the hinges which unite the two portions of the bed or
tray-floor. Suitable stops are fixed to the inner sides of the shafts on either
side of the bed. When the front end of the bed is tipped up the projecting
points of the sides will pass these stops but when the bed is straightened out
the projecting points approach nearer to the seat and they will then not pass
the stops upon which on the contrary they rest and so receive their support
without the use of movable stops or fastenings of any kind. The front end of
the bed or tray is supported by a hook which hangs on a bar between the shafts in
the manner usual with such carts.
The second improvement is in the form of this hook. It resembles an ordinary
sash-lift but from the base of the hook where the spring or bend of the hook
begins projects a tongue which extends so far across the mouth of the hook that
this latter will barely admit of the entrance of the bar on which it hangs but will
make it unlikely that the hook will rise or slip off the said bar.
Improvements in Convertible Mailcarts.
THOMAS FREDERIC SIMMONS of 3,5 and 7 Tanner Street, Bermondsey London,
S.E., Perambulator Manufacturer 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 :-
In referring herein to the vehicles to which the invention is applicable the
word mail-cart is used as denoting children's carriages invalids' carriages and all
vehicles embodying the parts or motions hereinafter described or referred to.
The object of the invention is the method of constructing and supporting the

page_text: bed-trays or footwells of mail-carts convertible for the carrying of a baby lying
down or of an older child sitting. This support is attained without the use of
buttons bolts or movable catches of any kind.
The aforementioned object is thus attained :-In the bed-trays to which the
invention applies the floor of the tray is in two portions hinged together and to the
front edge of the seat. When the tray is folded and let down to become a
footwell the portion of the tray nearer the seat becomes a heel-board and the part
farther from the seat a foot-board. This footboard is enclosed by the heel-board a
front- or toe-board and two side pieces. These two side-pieces are carried beside
and beyond the heel-board. It will be seen that the projecting points of the side-
pieces approach nearer to the seat when the tray is straightened out but recede
farther from it when the front end of the tray is turned upwards upon the hinges
which unite the two portions of the tray-floor.
Suitable stops or blocks are fixed to the inner sides of the shafts on either
side of the tray. When the front end of the tray is tipped up the projecting
points of the sides will pass these stops but when the tray is straightened out
the projecting points approach nearer to the seat and they will then not pass
the stops upon which on the contrary they rest and so receive the support
without the use of movable stops or catches which is the object of the invention.
The front end of the tray is supported by a hook which hangs on a bar between
the shafts in the manner usual with such carts. The second improvement for
which Letters Patent are sought is in the form of this hook. The hook
resembles an ordinary sash-lift but from the base or spring of the bend of the
hook projects a tongue or pin which extends so far across the mouth of the
hook that this latter will barely admit of the entrance of the bar on which it
hangs so that it will be unlikely that the hook will rise or slip off the bar.
In order that the nature and novelty of my invention may be clearly under-
stood and readily put into practice Í now proceed to explain the drawings
hereto appended.
Figure 1. is a longitudinal section of the mail-cart as arranged for the conveyance
of a recumbent babe or invalid.
Figure 2. represents the same cart. The part drawn in black continuous lines.
shows the tray in process of being let down to serve as a footwell and the part
in dotted lines shows the tray when fully let down and used as a footwell for a
person sitting.
The same reference letters refer to the same parts in Figures 1. and 2.
A the seat of the cart is connected with the middle-portion of the tray-floor
or heel-board B and with the front portion or footboard C by the hinges d¹ and d".
c and e¹ the projecting points of the side pieces of the tray or footwell rest upon the
stops a' when the tray is straightened out but pass the stops a when the front end
of the tray at E is tilted up. E the hook hanging upon the bar D extending between
the shafts supports the extremity of the tray while it is set up as shown in
Figure 1 and F a bar or pin attached to the under-carriage supports the tray when
it is let down to form a footwell.
Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the hook E shown in Figures 1 and 2. The
bar B passes barely between the end of the book A and the tongue or pin C.
Having now described the nature of my invention and explained the manner in
which the same is carried into effect I claim as novel and original and therefore
⚫ secured to me by Letters Patent :-
First. The construction of the folding bed-tray or footwell with sides passing
beside and beyond the heel-board so that they will rest upon a stop or stops fixed
to the shafts when the tray is straightened out but will pass above or below the
said stop or stops when the front-end of the tray is tilted up substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 1. and 2. of the drawings hereto
appended.
Second. The construction and use for the purpose hereinbefore indicated of a

page_text: hook with a tongue or pin partly closing its mouth as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Frederic Simmons have hereunto set
my hand this Fourth day of April in the year 1896 (A.D.).
THOMAS F. SIMMONS.