Improvements in Children's Mail-carts.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 9th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 19th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Children's Mail-carts.
I ERNEST ROBINSON, of 22, Rushmore Road, Hackney, in the County of
Middlesex, Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in children's mail-carts, and has for its
object, the arrangement of such mail-carts, whereby they may be folded into 'a
compact and portable form, for convenience in transportation.
According to my invention, 1 form the body of the mail-cart, with hinged sides,
which fold over the bottom of the cart in the form of the lid of a box.
The four ends of the axle-springs fit into slots or sockets on the under side of the
bottom, and when the axle is removed therefrom, they can be folded inwards, and
so laid flat against the said bottom of the cart.
The springs are bent in the centre to form brackets, into which the axle is
dropped, being prevented from coming out therefrom, by a slotted pin, which is
pivotted on each spring at one side of the bracket, and which engages with a catch
at the other side.
The axle is provided with shoulders, which serve to keep the wheels in place, and
so prevent the springs from collapsing on the said springs."
The rear and front of the cart are provided respectively, with a folding step,
which normally hangs down in the usual manner, the step-irons being hinged
respectively to a bar which can slide in a socket on the floor of the cart, and by
means of which the step can be drawn up so as to form the back and front of the
cart, when desirable.
The shafts of the cart will fit into suitable sockets, and can be detached therefrom,
upon removal of a pin which passes through the socket and the shaft, and holds
same securely therein.
The axle and wheels will be so arranged, that they can be folded together in such
a manner, that the axle will lie parallel with the wheels.
When the mail-cart is required to be folded for transport or other purposes, the
shafts are removed, the axle-springs and the steps are folded as before described;
the axle being removed from the springs and folded parallel with the wheels, and
laid inside the body of the cart, over which the sides are then folded.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1891.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Children's Mail-carts.
1, ERNEST ROBINSON, of 22, Rushmore Road, Hackney, in the County of
Middlesex, Clerk, 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 :-
This invention relates to mail-carts, such as are used by children and the
improvements consist in constructing these carts in such a manner that they can be
readily taken to pieces and the whole of the parts packed or folded into a small
compass whereby the cost and trouble of transporting the same from place to place
is greatly reduced.

page_text: The manner in which my invention is carried out will be readily understood from
the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 represents a side view of the cart ready for use except that the near-side
wheel is removed.
Fig. 2 is a section of the same through the line - the off-side wheel
being removed in this figure.
Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of a portion of the floor of the cart showing hind
step lowered;
Fig. 4 is a similar view showing front step folded up.
Fig. 5 shows plan of underside of cart with wheel carriers or springs folded.
Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective of wheel carrier and axle clip.
Fig. 7 shows wheels folded upon axletree;
Fig. 8 is sectional plan showing how the loose parts are packed and
Fig. 9 is a general view of cart when packed and folded.
Referring to Figs. 1 and. 2, the body of the cart consists of the floor a and side
rails a, a, a, a, and a, the rail at being fixed to the floor of the cart and the
rail a fixed to a' by brackets which are bent outwardly opposite the space
between the rails. The rails a³ are hinged to the rails a and the three rails a
and are secured together by the vertical bars seen in dotted lines only in Fig. 2.
The body of the cart is divided midway of its length by a partition composed of
two vertical bars c to which are fixed by pivot joints the ends of four horizontal
bars c'. This partition when "squared" as shown in Fig. 2 fits into grooves formed
in the side rails and serves both as a back rest and as a support for the hinged or
folding sides.
The steps d are fixed to jointed arms, the part of the arm d¹ to which the step is
actually attached being bent at a right angle for the purpose. The other part of
the arm is turned upwards at its free end 3, this turned up end catching against
an antifriction roller in the end of the guide e and arresting the withdrawal of
the arm at the proper moment when the step is lowered for use as shown in Fig. 3.
The wheel carriers f Figs. 1, 5 and 6 are formed of flat wrought metal, portions
of which are cut away at the ends, the remaining portions being rounded to form
pivots which pass through bearings fixed to the underside of the cart. When
mounted the carriers are free to fold inwardly as shown in Fig. 5 in which
position they can he retained by means of a turn button f2; the flattened ends³
serve to prevent them from turning outwardly and compel them to maintain a
vertical position beneath the body of the cart when mounted on the wheels and
axle.
The axle is constructed in three parts eiz.: a central portion see Fig. 7
consisting of a flattened rod bifurcated at each end and two end portions g¹ which
are partially flattened and attached to the central portion by knife or rule joints g
which admit of turning in one direction only.
Between the rounded portion's upon which the wheels are mounted and the
flattened portions which form parts of the joints are collars g³.
To mount the wheels the axle is straightened out and the joints which are nearly
square in section are placed in the recesses f formed in the wheel carriers and are
retained by the clips which fit upon threaded studs and are firmly secured by
nuts. When the parts are fitted together the collars g³ are in close contact with
the outer edges of the wheel carriers.
j
The shafts fit into staples j' and are secured from withdrawal by pins j² which
can be readily removed when required.
Such being the general construction of the cart I will give an outline of the mode
of packing and folding the same.
The partition dividing the body of the cart is first removed and afterwards the
shafts. The cart is then turned over and the wheels removed and folded as in
Fig. 7 and the wheel carriers folded inwards and secured by the turn button".
The cart is then righted and the shafts placed within the body upon the floor a
as shown in Fig. 8. The partition is also placed within upon the floor being first

page_text: folded into an oblique parallelogram whereby the bars care brought into contact
with each other. Over the shafts and partition are placed the wheels and if the
diameter of the wheels exceed the width of the cart they will have to be inserted
with a longitudinal sliding motion between the rails a' and a² to admit of which the
brackets are curved outwards as previously described. The steps are next raised
and pushed inwards so as to close the ends of the cart as shown in Figs. 4, 8 and 9
and lastly the hinged sides are folded inwards, the body of the cart thus being
converted into a comparatively shallow packing case.
In the central line of the lid where the folded sides meet each other are two
oblong apertures & formed by cutting notches in the rails a'. These apertures are
for the reception of the flattened ends of the parts g' of the axle, which as will be
seen in Fig. 7 project above the central portion when the wheels are folded. The
wheels are thus effectually prevented from shifting about within the cart after they
have once been properly packed.
I would have it understood that although I have entered into considerable detail
both in the drawings and in the foregoing description thereof I am fully aware that.
such details are susceptible of great modification even in the class of cart selected
for illustration whilst for carts constructed of cane or wicker-work some modi-
fications would be absolutely necessary. As however the information herein before
given is sufficient to enable any competent person to apply my invention to any
variety of cart I do not deem further illustration necessary.
Having now particularly described and 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:
1. A mail-cart having sides constructed so as to be capable of folding inwardly
for a portion of their depth substantially as hercin described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2. In a folding mail-cart the method of utilizing the steps or footboards for
closing the ends of the cart substantially as herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing,
3. In a mail-cart such as described the wheel carriers adapted to fold inwardly
beneath the body of the cart substantially as herein described and illustrated in
Figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In combination with a folding mail-cart the axletree formed in three parts
jointed together in manner and for the purpose herein described and illustrated in
Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings.
5. The recess in the wheel carrier fadapted to receive the axletree together
with the clip screwed stud f and nut f' for securing the same substantially as
described and illustrated in Figs. 1, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
6. The complete folding mail-cart. constructed substantially as herein described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 9th day of February 1892.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, Agents..