An Improved Apparatus for Recreation adapted for use in Public Grounds and like Places.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Recreation adapted for use in Public
Grounds and like Places.
I, ARCHIBALD LAIDLAW BAIRD, of 8, Upper Bedford Place, London, no occupa-
tion, 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:-
My invention relates to an improved apparatus for recreation adapted for use in
public grounds and like places and consists in a combination of parts whereby the
sport known as tobogganing" may be enjoyed without the necessity of having
snow or ice for the track or tracks.
In the accompanying drawing I show one arrangement of my invention to illus-
trate how the same may be carried out.
In this drawing
Figure 1 is an elevation of the track.
Figure 2 is a plan of a portion of same on an enlarged scale.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the toboggan.
Figure 4 is a plan of same.
Figure 5 is an end view and
Figure 6 is an elevation of a toboggan and a part of the track to show one method
of holding and releasing the toboggan.
According to my invention I provide wooden tracks at a suitable angle such
tracks having on them at one or more parts an elevation or hump such as a¹ the
track thereafter finishing more or less upon a level.
Where more than one track is employed I prefer to make the humps such as b¹ c¹
of the other tracks of a varying height so as to present greater difficulties for the
toboggan to surmount. The tracks at the upper end connect with a suitable main
platform d to which proper means of access is provided and at the other ends the
tracks may be provided with spring strips e of wood or other suitable material
between which the toboggan will pass at the end of its journey and which will
check its momentum or entirely stop it as desired. The toboggans are preferably
of a considerably less width than the tracks and they are provided with a suitable
The toboggan
steering device so that some skill may be employed in guiding same.
without being properly guided will probably not keep in the centre of the track
and thus by rubbing against the side guides ff will have so much momentum taken
off it that it may not be able to ascend the hump a while if properly guided this
should be done without difficulty. Suitable platforms such as d' extending from
the main platform d may be provided to enable riders to take their seats in the
toboggan. The toboggans may he provided with straight runners but I prefer to
provide curved runners as shewn in Figures 3 and 6 as this enables them to get
properly over the humps without twisting on same and also provides a smaller
frictional surface with the track. They may be of any suitable shape, the frame-
work being preferably light and be provided with one or more seats h.
At the end it carries a pair of wheels i on an axle j which is suitably pivoted

page_text: to the framework and to such axle are attached at some convenient point lines or
cords for moving such wheels to effect a steering of the toboggan.
The toboggan may also be provided with a ring or a slotted plate such as with
which may engage the hooked end of a cranked lever m pivoted in the platform d
at and provided with a handle and a device as a chain and hook o for holding
same. By this or some other suitable device the toboggan may be held on the
slope of the track and discharged when safely loaded in a perfectly even manner
so that no pushing off is required.
It will be obvious that the details of my invention may be varied without depart-
ing from the spirit of same.
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 apparatus for recreation consisting in the combination with a wooden
track arranged at a suitable angle and provided with an elevated portion or hump
or humps of toboggans provided with a steering device for travelling on said tracks
substantially as described.
2. The improved apparatus for recreation substantially as described and illus-
trated in the drawing.
Dated the 9th day of January 1899
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent
For the Applicant.