Improvements in and relating to Combined Infants' Chairs and Cribs.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 1st Nov., 1892-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Combined Infants' Chairs and
Cribs.
A communication by HENRY ARTHUR HAYDEN, of 391, Canal Street, in the
City, County, and State of New York, United States of America, Manu-
facturer, and EDWARD 1. HORSMAN, of 341, Broadway, New York, aforesaid,
Merchant.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street, Manchester,
both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
::L
This invention relates to a 'combination crib and chair or support for an infant
and its object is to provide a shiftable or changeable device adapted to serve various
purposes in connection with the care of an infant, all as will be more particularly
described hereinafter..
'
The device is composed of a framing made of wooden rods, preferably round, with
metal socket pieces. The standing frame comprises four uprights, two side-bars
and two end-bars.
The metal socket pieces are T-shaped and are placed at the four angles of the
framing, the uprights, side-bars and end-bars fitting into the respective sockets of
each piece. Screws or nails are provided to secure the several rods firmly in place
in the sockets. The sockets for the side-bars are formed in pieces pivotally set in
the sides of the main socket pieces so that the main socket pieces may turn about
said lateral socket in order to fold up the frame' compactly for storing, and braces
are provided at each end of the framing, one end of each brace being pivoted to the
side-bar, the other ends being each provided with a hook adapted to engage a stud
or projection on the uprights, in order that said braces may be set so as to hold the
uprights locked firmly to the side-bars and hold the frame in its erect position.
On the uprights is supported a frame composed of two side-rails and two end-rails
connected by socket pieces which have each a ring which is adapted to slip over
one of the uprights, and this frame is upheld by pins or studs set in holes in the
uprights. There may be a series of these holes in each upright so that the frame
may be set higher or lower on the uprights as desired.
On the side-rails of this upper frame is mounted a support for the infant, made of
canvas or other suitable fabric. This support is made to hang loosely between the
rails and has end pieces. It is connected to the end-rails of the frame by straps and
has a flap at one end. When the support is arranged in this wise the device serves
as a crib or bed.
The device may be arranged as a chair or seat by pushing or bunching the fabric
toward the middle of the frame and turning the flap back over it and securing it
to the side-rails. Two apertures are provided in the support for the infant's legs to
pass through, and the flap, which will be strained moderately tight, serves as a
table to support toys, etc., in front of the infant. When used as a chair or seat
after this fashion the frame may be set lower down on the uprights.
The construction of the frame with the loose joints formed by the lower T-shaped
socket pieces permits the device to be used as a cradle, for which it is only necessary
to detach the braces before referred to as holding the uprights in an erect position.
When these are detached, the device may be rocked from end to end, the looseness
of the upper sockets or rings at the corners, permitting of some movement but
preventing the collapse of the structure.

page_text: The upper frame, connected at the four corners by the socket pieces, may also be
entirely removed from the uprights and be hung up by means of cords threaded
through each of the eyes of. the same so as to form a sort of swing or hammock for
the infant.
In order to facilitate the securing of the straps which serve to hold the several fabrics
in place, I form the buckles therefor after the fashion of a square metal frame with
a slit in one of the end bars thereof. The one end of the strap is secured to the
base-bar of this square frame and the loose end thereof, which is provided with holes
in the ordinary manner, is slipped through the slit in the end bar, until said bar
passes through one of said holes. This construction is quite serviceable and has the
advantage of being extremely cheap and easy of manipulation.
In some cases it may necessary to employ a back, where the device is used as
a seat or swing, and in order to provide a back of simple and compact construction,
two stout wires of proper length are taken and a loop or bend formed in one end of
each, and just above this loop a curve is bent, fitting the circumference of the side
rails of the upper frame. A sheet of fabric is provided with a pocket at each side
adapted to receive the longer straight end of each wire and after being slipped
therein said curves are so set over the frame that the aforesaid beuds take over the
side rails thereof just behind the infant. A strap, which may be provided with the
improved buckle, is then placed about the lower short arms of the two wires, just
beneath the side-rails and above the loops, and drawn tight. This secures the back
firmly in place and prevents the infant from falling over backward.
It is preferable to provide castors on the lower ends of the uprights for con-
venience in moving the device about when set up for use..
Dated this 16th day of May 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Combined Infants' Chairs and
Cribs.
A communication by HENRY ARTHUR HAYDEN, of 391, Canal Street, in the
City, County, and State of New York, United States of America, Manu-
facturer, and EDWARD I. HORSMAN, of 341, Broadway, New York, aforesaid,
Merchant.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 a combination crib and chair or support for an infant ;
and the object is to provide a shiftable or changeable device adapted to serve for
various purposes in connection with the care of an infant, all as will be hereinafter
explained.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device arranged to serve as a crib or bed.
Figure 2 is a similar perspective view of the upper part of the device, showing
it as arranged for a seat or chair for the infant.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating the construction whereby the crib is
adapted to be rocked like a cradle.
Figures 4 and 5 are detached detail views on a larger scale than the principal
views. These will be hereinafter explained.
Figure 6 is a perspective view showing how the upper frame of the crib may be
suspended in the manner of a swing or hammock.

page_text: The device is composed of a framing made of wooden rods, preferably round,
with metal socket pieces. The standing frame comprises four uprights a, two side
bars b, and two end bars c. The uprights fit into T-shaped socket pieces d, in
which the end bars c are also secured. Figure 4 is a sectional view of this
construction. The socket piece d has a tenon which fits into a lateral socket in
a socket piece e, that receives the side bar b, a screw e¹ serving to keep the tenon.
or journal in place. Braces 9 are pivotally attached at one end to the side bars b
and each has a hook at its free end which engages a stud or projection g' on the
upright a as seen in Figure 1. When the braces are set as in Figure 1, the uprights
will stand up rigidly, and when the braces are detached from their studs the uprights
will fold down within the frame formed by the bars and c for convenience of
packing, storing or carrying the device. On the uprights is supported a frame
composed of two side rails h and two end rails i connected together by socket
pieces, which have each a ring which is adapted to slip over one of the uprights a.
This frame is upheld by pins or studs k set in holes in the uprights. There may
be a series of these holes in each upright, so that the frame can be set higher or
lower on the uprights, as desired.
:
On the side rails of the frame is mounted a support m for the infant, made :
from canvas or other suitable fabric. This support is made to hang loosely between
the rails and has end pieces m³. It is connected to the end rails of the frame by
straps in and has a flap m³ at one end. When the support is arranged as seen in
Figure 1, the device serves as a crib or bed.
Figure 2 represents the device- arranged as a chair or seat. In this case the
fabric is pushed or bunched toward the middle of the frame and the flap m² turned
back over it and secured to the side rails by straps. The support in has in it two
apertures m for the infant's legs to pass through, and the Hap m³, which will be
strained moderately tight, serves as a table in front of the infant to support toys,
etcetera. When used as a chair or seat, as seen in Figure 2, the frame may be set
down low on the uprights, as indicated in Figure 2.
'
The construction shown in Figure 4 permits the crib to be rocked somewhat like
a cradle. It is only necessary to detach the braces y, and the uprights may be
rocked to and fro as far as the upper frame will permit. This feature is illustrated
in Figure 3. The tenons or journals d' rock in their socket bearings, as will be
readily understood, and the looseness of the rings or eyes j' of the corner socket-
pieces of the frame on the uprights a permits of some movement when the frame
is in place.
In some cases, the frame carrying the fabric support m may be removed from
the stand and hung up like a hammock or swing, as seen in Figure 6, wherein
n are the cords by which the frame is suspended.
For convenience and simplicity the straps of the support m and flap m³ are
provided with buckles or securing links o, (seen enlarged in Figure 5). This
buckle is in the form of a metal frame, to one bar of which the strap m² is secured,
and in the end bar of which is an opening o¹ to receive the loop o² and form the
fastening. The loops may be formed by applying a strip of fabric and stitching
it fast at intervals.
The advantages of this device are its lightness, compactness when folded up,
the many forms in which it may be put for use, and its cheapness.
In some cases it may be necessary to employ a back, where the device is used as
a seat or swing, and in order to provide a back of simple and compact construction,
two stout wires of proper length are taken and a loop or bend formed in one end
of each, and just above this loop a curve is bent, fitting the circumference of the
side rails of the upper frame. A sheet of fabric is provided with a pocket at each
side adapted to receive the longer straight end of each wire and after being slipped
therein, said curves are so ret over the frame that the aforesaid bends take over
the side rails thereof just behind the infant. A strap, which may be provided
with the improved buckle, is then placed about the lower short arms of the two
wires, just beneath the side rails and above the loops, and drawn tight. This

page_text: secures the back firmly in place and prevents the infant from falling over
backward.
Casters may be provided secured to the lower ends of the uprights a.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is-
1. In a combined crib and chair, the combination, with a stand having uprights,
of a frame having rings at its corners, which embrace said uprights, and the
fabric support m, mounted loosely on the side rails of the frame and having holes m*,
a flap m and securing straps m³ substantially as set forth.
2. The combination, with the stand comprising the uprights a and end bars c,
fixed in socket pieces d, the said socket pieces having tenons or journals d² the
:side bars b fixed in socket pieces e, the said socket pieces e, the screws e', which
secure the two socket pieces d and together, and the braces 9 hinged to the side
bars at one end and adapted to be removably secured to the respective uprights at
their other end, of a frame provided with rings to loosely embrace the respective.
uprights of the stand, studs or pins for supporting the frame on said uprights and
the fabric support m on said frame, as set forth.
Dated this 31st day of October 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant..