Adjustable Springs for Baby Carriages and other Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1899
Adjustable Springs for Baby Carriages and other Vehicles.
I, GEORGE ARBUTHNOTT SMITH, of Alberni, in the County of Vancouver, Province
of British Columbia, Canada, Engineer and Provincial Land Surveyor, 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:-
11
This invention relates to springs for vehicles, and its object is to provide a
spring which can be quickly and easily adjusted to conform with the weight
of the load carried in the vehicle. A further object is to provide a spring
constructed of two parts hinged together, one part of which can be folded up
when not needed.
To these ends, the invention consists of an adjustable spring, which is con-
structed substantially as hereinafter illustrated and described and defined in the
appended claims.
Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate similar
parts in all the views,
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the improved spring applied to a
vehicle, the body of which is partly broken away, the spring being adjusted to
light weight.
Figure 2 is a side view showing the invention as it appears when used as an
ordinary carriage spring and adjusted to heavy weights.
Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the hinge-bar detached, showing details
of construction.
In the drawings, A represents the body portion of a vehicle which may be of
any ordinary or preferred form, and A' is the frame or running gear upon which
the said body portion is supported.
To the under side of the rear of the body-portion is secured a hinge-bar a,
having sockets a¹ a² and a³ for the hinge pintle or bar 6 or 6¹, attached respectively
to the end of the spring B and B¹.
The improved spring is constructed of two parts, an inner and outer spring, or
the spring proper or ordinary carriage spring B, and the spring B', for use with
light loads which are united by an ordinary hinge joint by the pintle b. The
outer end of the spring B is angled and provided with means for attaching it
to the frame of the vehicle.
A rubber buffer or pad C is adjustably mounted on said spring B near the
pintle b.
The spring B is preferably slightly curved and is provided upon its outer
end with a pintle by means of which it may be detachably secured to the
hinge-bar a.
When the device is to be used as a simple or ordinary spring for heavy loads,
as shown in Figure 2, the pintle 6 of the spring B is inserted in the socket a¹
of the hinge-bar a and the spring B₁ folded down upon the top of the spring B.
When it is desired to convert the ordinary spring into the light load spring, the
pintle 6 of the spring B is withdrawn from the hinge-bar a, and the spring B' is
077

page_text: turned upwardly over the spring B and the pintle b' inserted in the socket a³ or a³
of the hinge-bar a, as shown in Figure 1, according to the weight carried, the
socket a being employed for the lighter weight.
The rubber buffer C may be adjusted to any suitable point near the hinge
connection between B and B where it will best subserve its intended purpose.
It has been found by actual experiment that with a spring constructed as above
described, there is an addition to the ordinary spring motion a gentle, reciprocating
motion of the vehicle, back and forth.
Thus not only is the pleasure to the occupant of the carriage greatly increased
but an additional means of healthful exercise imparted.
At a suitable point on the spring B₁ may be arranged a screw D by means of
which the tension of the spring B' may be adjusted.
From the above description, it will be seen that the improved spring is
especially adapted for use in connection with baby carriages, though it is equally
useful with vehicles of all kinds.
While I have herein shown a preferred form of carrying my invention into
effect, yet I do not desire to limit myself to such preferred details of construction,
but claim the right to use any and all modifications thereof which will serve to
carry into effect the objects to be attained by this invention in so far as such
modifications and changes may fall within the spirit and scope of my said
invention.
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 adjustable spring for vehicles, constructed and operating substantially
as herein shown and described.
2. An adjustable spring for vehicles, comprising two springs hinged together;
and means for attaching an end of either spring to its operative position, sub-
stantially as described.
3. An adjustable spring for vehicles, comprising two springs hinged together;
and means for detachably securing an end of either spring to its operative
position, substantially as described."
4. An adjustable spring for vehicles, comprising an inner and an outer spring
hinged together; and means for attaching an end of either spring to its operative
position, the outer spring being adapted to be swung back over the inner spring,
substantially as described.
5. An adjustable spring for vehicles, comprising an inner and an outer spring: a
hinged connection between said springs; means for attaching the outer end of
either spring to its operative position, the outer spring being adapted to be swung
back over the inner spring, and a spring buffer interposed between said inner and
outer spring, substantially as described.
6. The combination with a vehicle, having a hinge-bar upon its under side;
of an adjustable spring comprising an inner and an outer spring: a hinge con-
nection betwen said springs; means for securing the inner end of the inner spring
to the frame of the vehicle; means for, detachably securing the outer end of the
inner spring and the outer end of the outer spring to either section of the said
hinge-bar and a spring buffer interposed between the inner and the outer springs,
substantially as described.
Dated this 8th dox of August 1900
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.