A Combined Wheeled Chair and Child's Carriage.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 30th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 4th Mar.. 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Combined Wheeled Chair and Child's Carriage.
I, ALBERT RUDOLPH, of 204 East 89th Street, New York City, U.S.A.
Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This my invention relates to an improved combined rolling-chair and child's
carriage, which can be used either as a chair or carriage, at will.
By this my invention I provide a chair which consists of two leg-frames, one of
which is pivoted between the other, so as to spread or fold. Wheels are fitted
on the lower ends of the leg-frames, and a seat-frame is pivoted at its front
between the legs of the inner frame. An adjustable back-frame is pivoted below
to the rear of the seat-frame. The arm-rests are each hinged at their ends to
the leg-frames, and are adapted to flex near their centres. A. foot-rest is hinged
to the front of the seat-frame and folds below it. A prop-frame is hinged by its
lower end to the outer leg-frame, and a securing device is fitted at the upper
end of the prop-frame for securing it to the foot-rest.
When it is desired to use the chair as a chair the foot-rest is let down, but
when it is desired to use the article as a child's carriage the foot-rest is raised
to a level with the chair-body, and is supported in that position by the prop-frame
aforesaid.
Dated this 29th day of April 1892.
W. H. MUNNS,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Combined Wheeled Chair and Child's Carriage.
I, ALBERT RUDOLPH,. of 204 East 89th Street, New York City, U.S.A.,
Inventor, 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 object of this invention is to produce a compact, light, strong, and shapely
device which may be quickly converted into a child's carriage or a rolling chair for
an invalid, and when not in service be closely folded for convenient transportation
and stowage.
To this end my invention consists in the peculiar construction of parts and their
combination, as hereinafter described and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the figures.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device, shewing its parts adjusted to
produce a child's carriage.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of parts adjusted as shewn in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the device having its parts adjusted to form a
rolling chair.
Fig. 4 is a side view, broken at one end, shewing the parts in a folded
condition; and
Fig. 5 is an enlarged broken detail view shewing a spring-hinge preferably used
to connect some parts of the device.
The frame of the vehicle consists of two sets of legs A B, which are held spaced
apart parallel in pairs, respectively, by cross-bars a a¹, a³ a³, and 6 6'." The
Pri 811

page_text: e,
legs A A are preferably bent edgewise and oppositely at three points ce c³, thus
affording a shapely design and adapting them to fold closely with other parts
The remaining pair of legs B B are each given a single curve, as at d, these leg
being proportionately spaced apart to locate them between and in lateral contact
with the legs A, to which they are pivoted by a cross-bolt which longitudinally
penetrates the cross-bar b¹. As represented in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the portions of
the legs A B that extend below the pivot-bolt e are spread sufficiently to afford a
stable support for the weight they sustain, and on the lower end of each leg a
wheel C is pivotally secured. Above the pivot-bolt e the pair of legs B are
"forwardly-extended when the device is adjusted for service, the front end portions
of said extensions being bent upwardly, as at fin Figs. 2 and 3.
A seat-frame D is provided, which is rectangular and has its front cross-bar b
pivotally attached to the legs B, near their short upright limbs f which connection
of parts stiffeus the frame-section composed of the legs B and cross-bars 66. The
side pieces of the seat-frame D are extended a short distance rearward of the rear
cross-bar 6³ to provide cars, between which the lower ends of the cushioned back-
frame E are pivoted, as at g, which frame is extended rearwardly and upwardly
when the vehicle is in use, and is secured at any desired angle of inclination from
the seat by the clamped attachment of similar curved and slotted arms upon each
of the legs A by screws or other means. Said leg portions extend upward and
rearward from the pivot-bolt e when the frame of the vehicle is spread for use and
provide means for its propulsion, a transverse handle-bar a', that is secured to the
terminal ends of these leg-portions being adapted for this purpose. Two arm-rests
are furnished for the device of like construction, each consisting of two pieces i,
that are lap-jointed and hinged together at on their lower sides, so as to flex
upwardly and beconie firm arm-rests when extended, as shewn in Fig. 2, there
being a cushioned re-enforce strip attached to each of the forward pieces i, which
strips have a close bearing upon the rear pieces i', when the arm-rests are extended
and prevent improper strain on the hinges. The rearward ends of the arm-rest
pieces are hinged to the upper portions of the frame-legs A, so as to yield
upwardly when the parts are to be folded, and abut upon the edges of said legs
with their sloping ends when the arm-rests are extended for use. The front ends
of the arm-rest portions i are hinged upon the upper ends f of the legs B, so as to
flex upwardly when the parts are to be given the adjustment shewn in Fig. 4, and
thus adapt the vehicle for compact stowage when out of service.
A preferred means of detachably holding the two portions of each arm-rest
extended is shewn in Figs. 2 & 3, consisting of a spring catch m for each rest,
which is attached to the upper surface of the piece and latches fast to the
detent-lip on the end of the re-enforce strip is, the release of said catches being
effected by pushing their latch-heads away from the lips they lock upon.
Forwardly of the seat-frame D a foot-rest F is located, having its rear portion
hinged on the lower side to the front cross-bar of the seat-frame, spring-hinges n
being preferably used for said connection of parts, the construction of which is
shewn in Fig. 5. The strength of the springs on the hinges n should be sufficient
to throw the foot-rest F up into the position shewn in Figs. 1 & 2, when the latter
is free to move. Preferably the foot-rest is cushioned, as at n', and has a base-
board n at right angles to the cushioned side of the same, the latter portion
forming an extension of the seat-frame D when the parts are adjusted, as shewn in
the figures last mentioned. Side pieces n³ of the foot-rest, which are made to
align with the arm-rests previously described, complete an inclosing-body for the
device when it is to be used as a child's carriage.
When the parts are to be adjusted, as just described, the foot-rest F is sustained
in a horizontal position by a prop-frame G, which consists of a rectangular frame
having its lower transverse bar hinged to the legs A, spring-hinges o, similar to the
hinges n, being preferably used for the attachment of parts.
The spring-hinges o have their leaves affixed to the prop-frame bar ¹ and the
cross-bar a', and are adapted to exert the tensional force of their springs to project

page_text: the prop-frame G. away from the legs A, upon which said frame may be manually
folded, the latter-mentioned adjustment being secured by turning the button p
that is pivoted on the prop-frame leg p, in an outward direction, so that its
projecting portion will catch below the adjacent leg A. and retain the prop-frame
until released, thus preventing a rattling vibratory movement of the latter when
the vehicle is changed from a child's carriage into a rolling chair for the easy
transportation of an adult invalid or like purpose. When the parts are relatively
disposed to effect such an adjustment, the foot-rest will be downwardly and
outwardly inclined, as shewn in Fig. 3, the base-board n² then assuming a correct
position for the support of the feet of the occupant.
To adjust the device for use as a child's carriage, the legs A, B, are spread apart
until the seat cross-bar 63 strikes upon the leg-frame cross-bar a', which will limit
the divergence of the pairs of legs, the springs of the hinges o by their torsional
force throwing the prop-frame upwardly and outwardly, so that the upper end of
said frame will impinge upon the lower side of the foot-rest to which it is auto-
matically locked by spring catches or hooks r.
When the device is to be folded up, as represented in Fig. 4, the pairs of
legs A B are rocked on their pivot-bolt e, so as to bring their lower ends close-
together, the arm-rests are flexed, as shewn, and the back and seat-frames, together
with the foot-rest, are disposed, as indicated, the back-frame folding upon the
handle-bar a', and the lower end of the foot-rest bearing upon the cross-bar a² and
upper end of the prop-frame, all these parts being secured in a folded condition by
a hook s, that is pivoted on one of the legs A, and engages its hooked end with a
stud s¹ on the side of the foot-rest.
The folding of the vehicle, as shewn, facilitates its portage upon narrow stair-
ways, and, furthermore, permits it to be stowed away without taking up floor-space,.
which is one of the valuable features of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1) In a combined chair and child's carriage, the combination, with two leg-frames
pivoted to spread or fold, wheels thereon, and a back-frame pivoted between and
held adjustably on one leg-frame, of a seat-frame pivoted to the back-frame, a foot-
rest hinged to the front of the seat-frame, and a prop-frame, substantially as
described.
2) In a combined rolling chair and child's carriage, the combination, with two
leg-frames, one pivoted between the other, so as to spread or fold, wheels on the
lower ends of the leg-frames, and a seat-frame pivoted at its front between the legs
of the inner frame, of an adjustable back-frame pivoted below to the rear of the
seat-frame, arm-rests, each hinged at their ends to the leg-frames and adapted to.
flex near their centres, a foot-rest hinged to the front of the seat-frame and folding
below it, a prop-frame hinged by its lower end to the outer leg-frame, and a
securing device for the upper end of the prop-frame on the foot-rest, substantially
as described.
3) A combined rolling chair and child's carriage composed of two-wheeled
leg-frames pivoted together near their longitudinal centres, so as to spread or fold,
a back-frame pivoted between the leg-frames, clamps for the back-frame on the
upper end of one leg-frame, a seat-frame pivoted to the back-frame near adjacent
edges, and a foot-rest hinged to the front of the seat-frame and provided with an
adjustable support, substantially as described.
4) In a combined rolling chair and child's carriage, the combination, with two
leg-frames having legs bent to undulate edgewise, one frame pivoted between the
other frame near their centres of length, and a wheel pivoted on each leg of the
frames, of a seat-frame pivoted forwardly between the legs of the inner leg-frame,
a back-frame jointed to the rear edge of the seat-frame by its lower end, an
adjusting device between the outer leg-frame and back-frame to limit its inclination,

page_text: arm-rests hinged at their ends to the leg-frame and adapted to flex upwardly near
their centres, a foot-rest spring-hinged to the front edge of the scat-frame, a prop-
frame spring-hinged by its lower edge to the outer leg-frame, spring-catches for the
arm-rests and prop-frame, and a hook that is adapted to hold the device in folded
adjustment, substantially as described.
Dated this 30th day of January 1893.
W. H. MUNNS,
Applicant's Agent.