IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION CF PER-
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Tiffin, junior, of College Place, N.W.,
Artist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION CF PER-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charlos Tiffin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th
October 1866.
1, CHARLES TIFFIN, junior, of College Place, N.W., Artist, do hereby
5 declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF PERAMBULATORS AND OTHER SIMILAR CARRIAGES," to be as
follows:-
Folding perambulators and carriages for infants and invalids are usually
constructed in such a manner that the side frames thereof are formed of
parallel bars kept asunder by means of several ridged stretcher bars, hinged or
pivoted at each end; by this means a parallel motion of the two upright or
nearly upright bars is ensured, and the footboard, seat, and arms may
be brought into close proximity and made nearly parallel to each other. Thus
the distance between the fore wheel or wheels and the hind wheels may be
5 reduced, and the latter may be caused to form a narrower base for the
carriage to rest upon whilst closed and out of use. According to the method
of construction and the arrangement of parts just described, there are several
joints, bars, and hinges in each side frame, and the periphery of the fore wheel
ונם.

page_text: or fore wheels cannot be brought within the periphery of the larger hind
wheels.
Now by my improvements I am enabled to reduce the number of joints and
pieces, simplify the parts in their sliape or form, and thereby reduce the cost
of such carriages; I also enable them to be closed or folded up into a smaller
space and reduce the area of the base by bringing the periphery of the fore
wheel or wheels within the diameter of the larger hind wheels. These
advantages I realise in the following manner :-For the purpose of forming
the frame of the carriage I construct each side portion thereof of two pieces
suitably bent or shaped, and jointed or pivoted together at some convenient
part or portion of the length of each respectively; these two side pieces of
the frame formed in this manner may be connected together by means of a
stretcher rod or stay regulating their distance from each other at their points
of junction or motion, and by means of the axle or axles, the hand rail or bar,
and a footboard stretcher (where necessary), the side frames are fixed and
maintained at their proper distance from each other, according to the length
or width of the seat, whether the carriage be intended to hold one or two
children or persons. To the lower end of each of the two longer side pieces
a scroll or other suitably formed piece may be fitted for the purpose of
receiving the axle of the fore wheel or wheels whilst at the upper end a hand
rail or stretcher piece is introduced for the purpose of propelling the carriage.
Between the side pieces and at about the centre of their length the seat or
body is fitted securely, and arm pieces are hinged at a convenient height above
the seat; these arm pieces, stretcher bars, or extension pieces keep the jointed
cross pieces forming the side frames properly expanded. A single or double
hinged footboard is also mounted between the side frames in such a manner
that it may be folded or closed. The upper end of each short cross piece
forming part of the frame is received into the outer end of the arın piece or
rest so as to form a secure fixing by which the jointed cross pieces or side
fiames are held asunder whilst the carriage is in use. At the lower end of
the same piece a scroll or spring is secured, and by this means connexion is
effected with the axle of the hind wheels. Thus it will be seen that each side
frame is formed of but two piecos irrespective of the arm piece or rest which
forms a stretcher, and that there is but one pivot or joint instead of several.
Instead of making the side pieces or frame of wood they may be made of
metal, and the stretcher bars and other parts may also be made of metal tubes
or rods.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Tiffin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
April 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
TIFFIN, junior, of College Place, N.W., Artist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Charles Tiffin, Her special licence that I, the said Charles Tiffin, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles
Tiffin, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF PERAMBULATORS AND OTHER SIMILAR CARRIAGES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Charles Tiffin, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, 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 Office-within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Tiffin, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
and the accompanying Drawing:—
Folding perambulators and carriages for infants-and invalids are usually
constructed in such a manner that the side frames thereof are formed of
several rails or pieces jointed together in several places, or of parallel bars
kept asunder by means of several rigid stretcher bars hinged or pivoted at
each end or some other part thereof, and by this means a parallel motion of
the two upright or nearly upright bars is ensured, and the footboard, seat,
and arms may be brought into close proximity and made nearly parallel to
each other. Thus the distance between the fore wheel or wheels and the hind
wheels.may be reduced, and the latter may be caused to form a narrower base
for the carriage to rest upon whilst closed and out-of use. According to the
method of construction and the arrangement of parts just descrbed, there are

page_text: several joints, bars, and hinges in each side frame, and the periphery of the
fore wheel or fore wheels cannot be brought within the periphery of the larger
hind wheels for the purpose of standing the perambulator in a vertical or
nearly vertical position. Now by my improvements I am enabled to reduce
the number of joints and pieces, simplify the parts in their shape or form,
and thereby reduce the cost of such carriages. I also enable them to
be closed or folded up into a smaller space, and reduce the arch of the base
by bringing the periphery of the fore wheel or wheels within the diameter of
the larger hind wheels. These advantages I realise in the following manner:-
For the purpose of forming the frame of the carriage I construct each side
portion thereof of two pieces suitably bent or shaped, and jointed or
pivoted together at some convenient part or portion of the length of each
respectively; these two side pieces of the frame formed in this manner may
be connected together by means of a stretcher rod or stay, regulating their
distance from each other at their points of juncture or motion; the two side
pieces which are connected with the fore axle, are placed or fitted inside of the
two side pieces connected with the hind axle, and by means of the axle or
axles, the hand rail or bar, and a footboard and stretcher (where necessary)
the side frames are fixed and maintained at their proper distance from each
other, according to the length or width of the seat, whether the carriage be
intended to hold one or two children or persons. To the lower end of each of
the two longer side pieces a scroll or other suitably formed piece may be fitted
for the purpose of receiving the axle of the fore wheel or wheels; whilst
at the upper end a hand rail or stretcher piece is introduced for the
purpose
of propelling the carriage. Between the side pieces and at about the centre
of their length the seat or body is fitted securely, and arm pieces are hinged
at a convenient height above the seat; these arm pieces, stretcher bars, or
extension pieces keep the jointed cross pieces forming the side frames properly
expanded. A single or double hinged footboard is also mounted between the
side frames in such a manner that it may be folded or closed for the purpose
of further economizing space when the perambulator is folded. The upper
end of each short cross piece forming part of the frame is received into the
outer end of the arm piece or rest, so as to form a secure fixing, by which the
jointed cross pieces or side frames are held asunder whilst the carriage is in
use. At the lower end of the same piece a scroll or spring is secured, and by
this means connection is effected with the axle of the hind wheels. Then it
will be seen that each side frame is formed of but two pieces irrespective of
the arm piece or rest which forms a stretcher, and that there is but one pivot
or joint instead of several. Instead of making the side pieces or frame of

page_text: wood they may be made of metal, and the stretcher bars and other parts may
also be made of metal tubes or rods.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings I have shewn several views of
perambulators or portable wheel carriages suitable for children.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an iron-frame perambulator constructed accord-
ing to my Invention; Fig. is a view of Fig. 1, shewing the perambulator
folded and standing upright; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a perambulator
having wooden side frames; Fig. 4 is a back clevation of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5
is a perspective view of a perambulator generally similar to that shown in
Figs. 3 and 4. In each of the several Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the same letters
of reference are employed for corresponding parts of the perambulators
according to my Invention.
A, the large wheels; B, the small front wheels of a three-wheeled carriage;
C, the scrolls or springs by which the wheels and axles are connected with the
side pieces or frames; D, the footboard, which may be in one, two, or more
pieces hinged together and made to fold, as herein described; E, the hand
rail, which also forms a stretcher or means of maintaining the two longer
pieces of the side frame at a proper distance apart; F, the bottom board of
the seat, which also assists in framing the two longer pieces of the side frame
together; G, the pivot or pin, by which the two portions of the side frames are
attached together; this pin may in some cases extend from side to side of the
carriage, and act as a stretcher or extension piece, as well as the pivots or
studs on which the two side pieces are made to move or turn when the
carriage has to be put out of use and folded; H, the arms or rests, which
also form stretchers and extension pieces, by which the two portions of ench
side frame are held apart whilst the carriage is in use; I, the back and sides of
the carriage body forming a single or double seat, as the case may be; K, the
longer piece of each side frame; L, the shorter piece of cach side frame; these
may be made in wood or in metal, and I have shown in Figs. 1 and 2, metal
side pieces which may be of wrought iron or steel, each forged in one piece
and hinged or jointed together aud secured by means of a pivot, pin, or
stretcher rod G. The side pieces of the side frames may however be made of
metal tubes, screwed into or otherwise secured to the joint pieces, and suitably
curved and fitted at their respective ends,soas to receive the necessary attach-
ments, as herein-before described. In Figs. 3, 4, and 5, these portions of the
side frames.arc.shown as wood, and the pivots or studs G-may either be fitted
upon metal plates or in sockets let into the side pieces.
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in the Construction
of Perambulators and other similar Carriages," and illustrated in the accom-

page_text: panying Drawing some of the forms in which I prefer to put my said Invention
into practice, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to claim the
construction of portable wheol carriages intended to be folded or doubled up
irrespective of the mode or method of constructing the same, nor otherwise
than as described in the earlier portion of this Specification, and although I
have shown in the accompanying Drawings two or more variations in the
mode of constructing such carriages in accordance with the present Invention,
I do not intend to confine myself to the shape or configuration of parts thereof
as therein shewn, as it is evident that various forms and variations in the
mode of combining the parts together may be employed without departing
.from my said Invention, but what I claim is,—
First, the mode or method of constructing carriages, as herein described,
with four main pieces forming the side frames, each pair being jointed or
hinged together, as herein described.
And, second, the mode or method herein described of constructing
portable wheel carriages with side frames, each composed of two main pieces
pivoted or hinged together, as herein described, and held apart and secured in
their proper position whilst the carriage is in use by means of a stretcher bar,
arm piece, or rest, as herein described; such side pieces being attached to or
mounted upon the wheel axles, as herein described and set forth for the pur-
pose of enabling the carriage when folded or doubled up to stand upon a space
represented by the diameter and distance apart of the two larger wheels, or
only slightly in excess thereof.
In witness, whereof, I, the said Charles Tiffin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of April, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-seven.
. Witness,
W. FREDERIC ROGERS,
19, Salisbury St.,
Strand.
CHARLES TIFFIN, Jr. (L.S.)