Improvements in Folding Heads of Carriages.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Heads of Carriages.
CHARLES EDWARD HARRISON, 4 Bearwood Road, Smethwick, Coach Ironwork
Fitter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a simple means for locking the heads
of Victorias, Phaetons, and similar vehicles in a closed position without the aid
of outside stay joints, at the same time keeping the hood leather tight and smooth
until my arrangement is brought into play, when the head falls back balanced
by the spring and forms an open carriage.
I effect my purpose by attaching to the valance rail of Victorias and similar
vehicles, revolving props, with handles fitted in a convenient place near the
upper end of such valance rail on the inside of the vehicle and within easy reach
of the occupant thereof, and to the other end of the revolving prop I form a
spur of suitable length; on this spur which points towards the main centre on
which the victoria head turns I couple linking plates, which at the other end
are jointed to the rod which carries the spring used for balancing the carriage
head, and so adjust the lengths that all the centres of the spring rod, the coupling
plates, and the spur, are in direct line when the inside handle on the revolving
prop is moved by the occupant of the vehicle, holding the hood in a closed
position rigidly and securely, when by the action of the occupant the handle is
moved again, the spur of the revolving prop and the direct line of the different
centres are thrown out the hood may be thrown back and by certain arrange-
ments of the spring rod eyes and the bracket which carries it, the hood is held
securely to form an open top until again slightly raised by the occupant, when
having reached its nearly closed state the inside handles are worked and the
head or hood is strained into position and the outside leather brought tight and
kept firmly in its place until it is found desirable to open the vehicle, when the
operation previously described is repeated.
Dated this 10th day of February 1897.
Improvements in Folding Heads of Carriages.
I, CHARLES EDWARD HARRISON, 4 Bearwood Road, Smethwick, Fitter of Coach
Ironwork, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
[Price 8d.1

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement: -
The object of my invention is to provide a simple means for locking the heads
of Victorias, Phaetons, and similar vehicles in a closed position without the aid
of outside stay joints, at the same time keeping the hood leather tight and smooth
until my arrangement is brought into play when the head falls back balanced
by the spring and forms an open carriage.
I effect my purpose by attaching to the valance rail of Victorias and similar
vehicles, revolving props, with handles fitted in a convenient place near the
upper end of such valance rail on the inside of the vehicle and within easy reach
of the occupant thereof, and at the other end of the revolving prop I form a
spur of suitable length; on this spur which points towards the main centre on
which the victoria head turns I couple linking plates, which at the other end
are jointed to the rod which carries the spring used for balancing the carriage
head, and so adjust the lengths that all the centres of the spring rod, coupling
plates, and the spur, are in direct line when the inside handle on the revolving
prop is moved by the occupant of the vehicle, holding the hood in a closed
position rigidly and securely, when by the action of the occupant the handle is
moved again, the spur of the revolving prop and the direct line of the different
centres are thrown out the hood may be thrown back and by certain arrange-
ments of the spring rod eyes and the bracket which carries it, the hood is held
securely to form an open top until again slightly raised by the occupant, when
having reached its nearly closed state the inside handles" are worked and the
head or hood strained into position and the outside leather brought tight and
kept firmly in its place until it is found desirable to open the vehicle, when the
operation previously described is repeated.
Fig. 1 represents an appliance or means of raising carriage heads according to
my invention, the said Fig. 1 showing the head closed. Fig. 2 is a plan of upper
part of back of front stick or valance rail, and Fig. 3 shows the spur and linking
plates when handle is moved.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in figures 1 to 3.
A is the main centre or pivot on which the carriage head turns. B is the bracket
attached to main centre or pivot. C spring rod eyes at which the spring rod
turns. D shows the spring which is supported and kept in place by the rod.
E, E are the linking plates coupled to the spur and jointed to the rod. F is the
spur to which the linking plates are coupled. G is the handle which throws the
centres in or out of line by means of pin H and forked spur I.
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:-
1st. I claim as new that part of my arrangement which I call the spur also
the linking plates coupled to the spur and jointed to the rod which carries the
spring.
2nd. The arrangement for working or moving the spur and linking plates,
and
3rdly. The combination of parts and arrangements of same to effect the object
of my invention.
CHARLES EDWARD HARRISON.