AN IMPROVED SPRING FOR CARRIAGES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Briggs, of Wigmore Street, in the County
of Middlesex, Carriage Builder, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
SPRING FOR CARRIAGES."
Sealed the 27th July 1855, and dated the 7th February 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Briggs at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th February 1855.
I, GEORGE BRIGGS, of Wigmore Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Carriage Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED SPRING FOR CARRIAGES" to be as follows:-
My improved spring consists of an under elliptical spring, the top plate of
which is turned up at each end. so as to form an eye for the reception of the
ends of a leather bracc. This brace is stretched under the upper spring, which
is somewhat of the form of A, flattened at top, and with an extended base.
The upper spring and brace are held together by clips.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Briggs in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th August 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CEORGE
BRIGGS, of Wigmore Street, in the County of Middlesex, Carriage Builder,
send greeting.
WHEREAS er most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Iler Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said George Briggs, Her special licence that I, the said George
Briggs, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
George Briggs, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
SPRING POR CARRIAGES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
George Briggs, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Offico within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Briggs, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say:-
My improved spring consists of an under elliptical spring, the top plate of
which is turned up at each end, so as to form an oyo for the reception of the
ends of a leather brace. This brace is stretched under the upper spring, which
is flattened at top, and extended at the base. The upper spring and .brace are
held together by clips.
In the Drawing hereunto annexed I have shewn the manner in which I
construct my improved spring. A, A, represents the bottom elliptical spring,
which is attached to the axle B by the clips C, C, in the ordinary way. This
spring is turned up at the ends D, D, and flattened out so as to form eyes,
through which bolts or shackles a, a, are rivetted, and round which the ends

page_text: of the leather brace E, E, are passed. This brace is stretched under the upper
spring F, F, which is flattened at the top part, and attached to the carriage
by the clips G, G. These clips G, G, also serve to keep the plates of the
spring F and the brace E together. H, HI, are two clips, one at each end of
the spring F, the bolts b, b, of which are passed through eyes formed by
turning up each end of one of the plates of the spring. By these means the
spring F and brace are securely held together. The advantages from this
improved spring arise from its being more casy than the common spring;
no sudden jerk is experienced in going over crossings or any irregularities
in the road, and, by the combination of the leather brace E with the spring,
all noise or "drumming" is prevented; a sufficient lateral motion and play
are obtained to render a carriage provided with these springs almost as easy
as if fitted with C springs.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim the improved
spring for carriages herein-before described, and represented in the Drawing
hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Briggs, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of August, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.
GEORGE BRIGGS. (L.B.)