Improvements in Folding Perambulators.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 26th Jan., 1891—Accepted, 25th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Perambulators.
I, JOHN MARTIN, of South View, St. Martins, Guernsey, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to perambulators constructed more particularly in the
basket or bassinette form, and is designed to enable such perambulators to fold
up upon themselves in a small compass, for convenience in packing, or transport,
from place to place.
To carry out my invention, I prefer to use such a material as galvanized wire, or
wicker work, as will permit by its character the parts to hinge one upon another,
and thus collapse without necessarily disconnecting the parts of the structure from
one another, but it is evident that solid material hinged, as hereinafter described,
to one another, may be employed as a mechanical substitute within the scope of my
invention, the connection between certain parts being disconnected for folding.
To more particularly describe my system of folding, as applicable to a structure
of jointed wire, or other material, I form the body of the perambulator of four
sides hinged to one another, and to the bottom, which latter may be provided with
a well forming the bottom into two seats facing one another, or I may fit adjustable
and removable seats within the body and above the said bottom.
The two long sides of this body are so hinged to the bottom that one of the
sides is capable of falling outwards into the same plane as the bottom of the
perambulator, and the other side folds inwards upon it, this movement is still
possible whilst the two sides are still connected by the two end panels provided
such panels consist of open bar work, the bar work terminating in open loops so as
to readily move relatively to the framing, the two end panels would thus collapse
downward diamond fashion between the two collapsed sides.
I mount the wheels, conveniently four in number in independent bracket hinged
to the bottom of the perambulator, so that, when free to fold, the two wheels and
brackets will fold up under the collapsed side of the said body, and the other pair
under the bottom of the body.
The handle or hood must be so jointed to the top of the side frames that they
can be turned inwards, and collapsed down upon the upper side of the bottom of
the perambulator.
Thus the whole perambulator will be collapsed into a plane not thicker than the
material of the side and bottom, and a wheel and bracket together and may thus be
brought within a compass of thickness of about 5 inches, the other dimensions of the
folded packet, being in one direction the length of the body frame of the peram-
bulator and in the other twice the depth of a side.
This will enable the folded perambulator to be packed in a case, say not more
than three feet by three feet by five or six inches deep.
As to internal upholstery, the sides and bottom may be permanently upholstered
as they fall flat in their own plane, but the two ends must be constructed of open
rod work, as they move diagonally by collapse from corner to corner. They
would thus conveniently be supplied with loose cushions removable for packing.
Should loose independent seats be used they will be fitted in the body of the
perambulator for easy removal for collapse for packing.
When the perambulator is unfolded ready for use it is locked in place by two or
more locking rods between the body, and two or more wheel brackets, and when
the locking bolt or bolts are in position, the wheel brackets are rendered rigid to
the body, any pair of brackets being connected to one another by a connected

page_text: .
double swivel jointed rod which renders the pair of brackets also rigid with the
body.
At the same time the said locking rods maintain the perpendicular, and constant
rigidity of a side, and thus all sides of the body of the perambulator. When the
said locking rods are withdrawn the whole perambulator can be collapsed as before
described.
I may also construct the sides of my perambulator jointed vertically in the centre
with a short distance piece between them to allow for spacing. The body of the
perambulator would thus collapse upon itself at the centre and the wheels would
come two on one side face to face and the other two on the other side face to face.
The floor would be of parallel longitudinal rods jointed to corner bars to admit of
the diagonal movement of the said Hoors.
There may be other equivalent mechanical arrangements by which the folding
of the perambulator may be effected without departing from the spirit of my
invention.
Dated this 25th day of April 1890
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Perambulators.
I, JOHN MARTIN, late of South View, St. Martins, Guernsey, but now of
8, Old Quebec Street, Portman Square, London, Gentleman; 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':-
The invention relates to devices and methods for rendering the bodies, wheels,
axles and springs of perambulators, invalid carriages and like vehicles collapsible
and portable in order that they may be contained within a small compass for transit
or storage.
In the following description the letters refer to accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side view of the body of the perambulator showing the springs
and axles.
Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.
Fig. 3 shows the vehicle when folded.
The body of the vehicle consists of a framework of 2 or more ribs on either
side a at one end of which are attaclied to each 2 or more links of metal or wood
the ribs being forked at one end to receive the springs d.
At each end of the body there are 2 ribs e joined at both extremities to a
centre rib by means of links band, all the ribs being free to turn about the pins
or rivets p.
A fixed rod of brass or other suitable material holds the ribs on either side
together.
When the body is extended a movable rail or rod of brass or other suitable
material is inserted into holes at the extremities of the ribs e and keeps the sides
of the body in position being held in place by means of its ends, which are bent at
right angles to its length, and are split for a short distance, making a tight fit in
the holes at the extremities of the ribs e.
The sides of the body may consist of boards or other suitable attachments fixed
upon the ribs the whole body being lined with leather, cloth, or other suitable
material.
The springs d may consist of flat steel or other suitable material bent into C slape
2 being at each end, and each one being joined to the corresponding one at the
other end, by means of bolts or other removable fastenings ; thus each, pair of
springs on either side of the body form one continuous spring running from end
to end.

page_text: The 2 pairs are then joined transversely and held in position by suitable tie
rod m. fixed at the ends by bolts or other fastenings l.
On each of the 4 springs at k a solid block of metal or wood is fixed on the
underneath side of the spring, into which block a stud or projection is fixed
forming the axle upon which the wheels.revolve, the wheels being secured in any
suitable manner.
One end of each spring is flattened out at right angles to the plane of the rest of
the spring and a hole is made through which passes a pin the pins passing through
the fork at the extremity of the ribs a; the spring is free to turn about this pin.
The width of the body is always less than the distance over the outside of the
wheels.
The method of folding the vehicle is as follows the bolts or other fastenings
are withdrawn and the tie rod m is removed and the rails g at each end having
been unfixed the 2 sides of the body are pressed close together which is done by
folding the links b and b¹.
The springs d with the wheels attached, being so arranged that the pair of wheels
at one end n, are nearer together than those at the other end o.
The springs are turned about the pins through the extremities of the ribs a so as
to take up positions close to the side of the body as shewn by the dotted lines,
Fig. 1 the pair of wheels n being between the body and springs and the pair of
wheels o on either outer side of the springs.
When required for use the springs are fastened together again, the sides
of the body are extended, the end rails g and the tie rod m are replaced.
Loose seats O may be provided for the interior of the perambulator which may
be hung upon suitable hooks or projections attached to the sides and ends of
the perambulator, and these may be removed & packed as flat boards when the
perambulator is collapsed for transit or storage. If a handle P is required for the
perambulator it is made detachable; Side forks q at the extremities engage over
the top bars & embrace the side ribs a, whilst hooked recesses p in the sub-
stance of the arms engage over & secure the extension bar g. When it is
desired to collapse the perambulator the inner ends q of the handle are disengaged
by springing them inwards & the handle may then be disengaged & the extension
bar g released.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. A folding perambulator or small vehicle of the bassinette or rectangular
form of body, in which two rigid sides are connected to one another by short
jointed links at the ends & bottom kept extended for use, but collapsible by the
bending of the said jointed links upon one another, the wheels being mounted
upon springs pivoted to the frame so that they are capable of movement in a
vertical plane so as to bring the wheels alongside the body, when collapsed for
transit or storage.
2nd. A folding perambulator having rigid sides connected to one another at
the end & bottom by jointed links 6 and extension bars m, g, g, to extend
the body in use, upon removal of which the sides may collapse upon one another
for transit or storage.
3rd. The combination with a folding perambulator body, of springs bearing
the wheel & pivoted on horns so as to be capable of rotation in a vertical plane
when unlocked from one another enabling the wheels to be folded up alongside the
body for transit or storage.
Dated this with dam of 1001
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.