Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Balancing Two Wheeled Carriages, such as Dogcarts and other Vehicles, in which the Seats are similarly Arranged Back to Back According to the Weight they Carry.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 24th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 27th Jan., 1888
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Balancing Two Wheeled
Carriages, such as Dogcarts and other Vehicles, in which the
Seats are similarly Arranged Back to Back According to the
Weight they Carry.
I JOSEPH LEFERT of 13 Cour du Prince Ghent in the Kingdom of Belgium
Carriage Builder do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:
•
My invention consists in the application to two wheeled carriages such as dogcarts
and other vehicles in which the seats are similarly arranged back to back of a mode
of balancing the said vehicles according to the number of people they are to carry by
means of a new or improved arrangement of the seat which in combination with
mechanical appliances and springs as hereinafter described enables the seat to be
moved forward and backward according to the distribution of the weight carried and
when the seat is moved backward one half of the back cushion of the said seat is
automatically and instantly made to turn over onto the other half of the said cushion
which it covers and when the seat is again moved forward the back cushion is
unfolded and resumes its former position.
The carriage seat is made in three parts the front and back parts being supported
by and capable of sliding upon bars of angle iron or other suitable supports on
each side of the carriage. One part of the said seat constitutes the front sent the second
part made of strong sheet metal is attached to the front seat and forms one half of
the back seat being capable of sliding upon the second half of the back seat which
forms the third part of the whole seat.
The after cushion is made in two halves which in their normal position lie one
before the other. These two halves of the cushion are hinged together and for this
purpose the smaller sides are lined with wood into which are inserted iron bars or
plates which at their upper ends form together a hinge or joint at the upper edges
where the two half cushions meet. On each of the iron plates on the after half
cushion is formed or affixed in a suitable position a stud or pivot to which is jointed
one end of a lever the other end of which lever is slotted and engages with a pivot
ixed to the side of the carriage. By this means when the carriage seat is moved
ΓΡ. 71

page_text: backwards the back half of the said cushion turns over onto and covers the front part
thereof and when the said seat is drawn forwards the back half of the cushion
resumes its former position on the back half of the after seat. The seat is fixed in
any position in which it has been placed by a screw actuated by a hand wheel the
said screw passing through the seat upon which it rests by means of a suitable collar
and having upon its lower end a nut one face of which bears against the side of the
carriage so as to prevent its turning with the screw. By turning the said hand
wheel in one direction the screw locks the seat in its place and by turning it in the
contrary direction the seat is released and may be moved. Or the seat may be locked
in position by means of a bar capable of revolving partially on bearings attached to
the underside of the seat one end of the said bar having a handle upon it to move
it and the other end of the said bar having upon it a tooth or projection which by
means of the said handle may be caused to engage with the teeth of a rack affixed to
the side of the carriage or a spring bolt engaging in holes or with teeth may be used
to fix the seat in position and release it as required.
The back part of the after seat is connected to the frame of the carriage at each
side by a spiral or other suitable spring attached to the said seat when the said back
part of the after seat is drawn forward the said spring tends to bring it back to its
original position.
When the carriage is to be balanced to carry two persons the front seat is pushed
back and with it the front part of the back seat which slides upon the after part to
the said back seat and covers it at the same time the after half of the back cushion is
turned over onto the front part of the said cushion and the carriage is balanced to
carry two persons on the front seat the back seat being unoccupied.
When the carriage is to carry three persons two on the front seat and one on the
back seat the seat is moved forward the front part of the back seat slides forward and
uncovers the after part of the said seat and at the same time the after cushion is
unfolded and covers the whole of the back seat.
When the carriage is to contain four persons two on the front seat and two on the
back seat the whole scat is still further moved forward a projection on the front part
of the back seat engaging with a stop or catch on the back part of the said seat causes
the latter part of the said seat to be drawn forward by the front part of it to the
required extent.
When the whole seat is again moved backward the spring above mentioned draws
back the after part of the back seat to its normal position.
Dated this Twenty eighth day of March 1887.

page_text: Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Balancing Two Wheeled
Carriages, such as Dogcarts and other Vehicles, in which the
Seats are similarly Arranged Back to Back According to the
Weight they Carry.
I JOSEPH LEFERT of 13 Cour du Prince Ghent in the Kingdom of Belgium
Carriage builder 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:—
My invention consists in the application to two wheeled carriages such as dog carts
and other vehicles in which the seats are similarly arranged back to back of a mode
of balancing the said vehicles according to the number of people they are to carry by
means of a new or improved arrangement of the seat which in combination with
mechanical appliances and a spring as hereinafter described enables the seat to be
moved forward and backward according to the distribution of the weight carried and
when the seat is moved backward one half of the back cushion of the said seat is
automatically and instantly made to turn over onto the other half of the said cushion
which it covers and when the seat is again moved forward the back cushion is
unfolded and resumes its former position.
The carriage seat is made in three parts the front and back parts being supported
by and capable of sliding upon bars of angle iron or other suitable supports on each
side of the carriage. One part of the said seat constitutes the front seat the second
part made of strong sheet metal is attached to the front seat and forms one half of
the back seat being capable of sliding upon the second half of the back seat which
forms the third part of the whole seat.
The after cushion is made in two halves which in their normal position lie one
before the other. These two halves of the cushion are hinged together and for
this purpose the smaller sides are lined with wood into which are inserted iron
bars or plates which at their upper ends form together a hinge or joint at the upper
edges where the two half cushions meet. On each of the iron plates on the after
half cushion is formed or affixed in a suitable position a stud or pivot to which
is jointed one end of a lever the other end of which lever is slotted and engages
within a pivot fixed to the side of the carriage. By this means when the carriage
seat is moved backwards the back half of the said cushion turns over onto and
covers the front part thereof and when the said seat is drawn forwards the back
half of the cushion resumes its former position on the back half of the after seat.
The seat is fixed in any position in which it has been placed by a screw actuated
by a hand wheel the said screw passing through the seat upon which it rests by
means of a suitable collar and having upon its lower end a nut one face of which
bears against the side of the carriage so as to prevent its turning with the screw.

page_text: By turning the said hand wheel in one direction the screw locks the seat in its
place and by turning it in the contrary direction the seat is released and may be
moved. Or the seat may be locked in position by means of a bar capable of
revolving partially in bearings attached to the underside of the seat one end of
the said bar having a handle upon it to move it and the other end of the said
bar having upon it a tooth or projection which by means of the said handle may
be caused to engage with the teeth of a rack affixed to the side of the carriage or
a spring bolt engaging in holes or with teeth may be used to fix the seat in
position and release it as required.
The back part of the after seat is connected to the frame of the carriage at
each side by a spiral or other suitable spring attached to the said seat when the
said back part of the after seat is drawn forward the said spring tends to bring it
back to its original position.
When the carriage is to be balanced to carry two persons the front seat is
pushed back and with it the front part of the back seat which slides upon the
after part of the said back seat and covers it at the same time the after half of
the back cushion is turned over onto the front part of the said cushion and the
carriage is balanced to carry two persons on the front seat the back seat being
unoccupied.
When the carriage is to carry three persons two on the front seat and one on
the back seat the seat is moved forward the front part of the back seat slides
forward and uncovers the after part of the said seat and at the same time the
after cushion is unfolded and covers the whole of the back seat.
When the carriage is to contain four persons two on the front seat and two on
the back seat the whole seat is still farther moved forward a projection on the front
part of the back seat engaging with a stop or catch on the back part of tho said
seat causes the latter part of the said seat to be drawn forward by the front part of
it to the required extent.
When the whole seat is again moved backward the spring above mentioned draws
back the after part of the back seat to its normal position.
Having now described the nature of my said invention I will proceed to describe
with reference to the accompanying drawings the manner of performing the same.
Figure 1 represents in longitudinal section partly in elevation a portion of a dog
cart showing the seats arranged for carrying one or two persons. Figure 2 is a
similar view showing the seats arranged to accomodate three persons.
plan showing the upper side of the seat and Figure 4 is a plan showing the under-
Figure 3 is a
side of the said seat Figure 5 represents an arrangement for locking the seat to the
carriage as hereinafter described.
The same letters of reference indicate like parts in
drawings.
Figures 1. 2. 3. and 4 of the
The carriage seat is made of three parts A. B. C. The part A forms the front
seat the part B constitutes one half of the back seat. It is formed by preference of
a number of sheet iron bands or plates bbbb attached to the front seat A. The
said iron bands or plates bbb161 are capable of sliding upon the second half c of
the back seat which constitutes the third part of the whole seat. M are bars of
angle-iron on each sido of the body of the carriage to support the seat and upon
which bars or supports the parts A and C of the said seat are capable of sliding.
The side plates 61 61 of the part B of the seat are made to extend to the front part of
the front seat A.
Y and S are the two halves of the back cushion the smaller sides of which are lined
with wood as shown at Y₁ S¹ Figure 3. The said two halves Y and S of the back
cushion are hinged together by means of the iron bars or plates V and X inserted in
the wooden sides of the two half cushions Y and S and jointed together at T. X' is an
iron plate fixed at the lower edge of the after part $ of the back cushion which iron
plate X may be formed of the prolongation of the bar or plate X. On the said
plate X' is formed or affixed a stud or pivot Z to which is jointed one end of a lever E

page_text: on the other end of which lever E a slot e is formed which slot e engages with a
pivot D fixed to the side K of the carriage. G shows the position occupied by the
back of the carriage seat.
The part C of the after seat is provided at each side with a spiral or other suitable
spring J attached to the front of the said part C and passing through the said part C
to the back of the body of the carriage where its other end is attached to a bolt I
passing through the side of the carriage.
At each side of the back part G is formed a groove h in which grooves h engage
projections H on the ends of the side plates of the part B of the seat the said
projections H slide in the grooves & when the part 6 of the back seat is pushed back
over the part C. A stop or catch L is provided at the end of the groove / to engage
with the projection H when the whole seat is required to be drawn forward.
Figure 5 shows an arrangement which may be used to fix the seat in any position
in which it has been placed M is a screw rod actuated by a hand wheel M which
screw rod passes through the seat A upon which it rests by means of the collar It on
the lower or screwed end of the screw rod M is a nut N one face of which bears
against the side of the carriage to prevent its turning with the screw.
By turning the hand wheel M² in one direction the screw M locks the seat in its
place and by turning it in the contrary direction the seat is released and may be
moved.
But I prefer to use the arrangement shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 in which a is a
lever provided with a handle al which lever is connected to the underside of the seat A
by means of a pivot b. To one arm of the said lever a is fixed one end of a rod c the
other end of which rod c engages with the teeth of a rack k affixed to one side of the
carriage and to the other arm of the lever a is fixed one end of a similar rod c¹
the other end of which rod c' engages with the teeth of a similar rack k¹ affixed to
the other side of the carriage.
The said rods c c work through suitable guides d d d' d' attached to the under-
side of the seat A. Around the rods c care coiled springs f f one end of
which springs is attached to the rod while their other ends are fixed to and abut
against the guides & d.
The racks may be replaced by plates perforated with a series of holes affixed
to the sides of the carriage and in which holes engage the end of the rods c c¹.
When the carriage is to carry three persons two on the front seat and one on the
back seat the different parts occupy the position shown in Figure 2 that is the two
halves of the back cushion are unfolded and cover the back seat which is fully
developed the back part of the after half S of the back cushion extending nearly to
the back end of the carriage.
When the carriage being balanced to receive three persons as shown in Figure 2
it is desired to dispose the carriage for four persons two on each seat the handle a¹
of the lever a is moved in the direction of the arrow until the ends of the rods c c¹
are disengaged from the teeth of the racks kk. The front seat A is then drawn for-
ward and with it the part B of the seat and the projections H on the said part B which
projections El engage with the stops L and draw forward the part C of the back seat
stretching out the springs J.
When the seat has been drawn forward to the required extent the handle a¹ of the
lever a is let loose and by the action of the springsff the ends of the rods c c are
forced between the teeth of the racks k k¹ with which they engage thus securing the
seat in its advanced position.
To bring back the seat to its former position (Figure 2) the handle a' is moved in
the direction of the arrow until the ends of the rods c c' are freed from the teeth of
the racks kk' and the seat is then drawn backward automatically by the action of the
springs J.
When the carriage being balanced to carry three persons as shown in Figure 2 it is
desired to dispose the said carriage for receiving only two persons both on the front
seat the rods c c are disengaged from the racks k k² by acting on the handle a¹ of the
lever a as hereinbefore described the front part of the seat A is then pushed back-

page_text: ward and with it the front part B of the back seat which then slides upon the after
part of the said back seat and covers it the projections H on the part B sliding in
the grooves in the said part C. At the same time the cushion Y fixed upon the part B
of the back seat forces back the cushion S and with it the lever E connecting the
stud to the pivot D until the said pivot D reaches the end e' of its stroke in the
slot e the stud on the cushion S is then prevented from moving further back and
by the action of the continued pressure of the cushion Y the stud Z and with it the
cushion S is slowly raised and brought to revolve round the pivot D until the weight
of the cushion S brings it down on the cushion Y when the seat has reached the end
of its back stroke.
The seat may then be fixed in its place by causing the ends of the rods e c¹ to
engage with the teeth of the racks k k¹.
To bring back the seat to its former position (Figure 2) after disengaging the ends
of the rods c c¹ from the teeth of the racks k k the front seat A is drawn forward and
draws forward with it the part B of the back seat the projections H sliding in the
grooves until they reach the stops L on the front part of the part C of the back
seat. The cushion Y is then carried forward with the part B and draws forward the
cushion S and with it the lever E until the stud D reaches the end of the slot e.
The cushions is then lifted up turns round the pivot T and resumes its place on the
back part of the after seat.
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that I claim as my inven-
tion of Improvements in means or apparatus for balancing two wheeled carriages
such as dog carts and other vehicles in which the seats are similarly arranged back to
back according to the weight they carry."
Firstly. The general arrangement and combination of parts for balancing dog carts
and such like carriages according to the weight they carry substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. Constructing the carriage seats of three parts A B and C the part A
constituting the front seat and the parts B and C the back seat the part B being
capable of sliding upon the part C and the two seats being mounted on slides on the
carriage sides upon which they may be moved forward or backward as required
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1. 2. 3 and 4 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. In combination with the carriage seat B the cushion Y S made of two
parts so jointed together and arranged that when the said carriage seats A B C are
pushed backwards and the part B slides over the part Cone half of the said cushion
folds over onto the second half and when the seats are drawn forward and the seat BC
is extended the said cushion unfolds itself and resumes its position over the extended
seat BC substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of
the accompanying Drawings.
Fourthly. The arrangement and combination of parts for locking in position the
seats to the frame of the carriage substantially as herein before described and illustrated
in Figures 1. 2. and 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fifthly. The arrangement and combination of parts for locking the seats to the
frame of the carriage in position substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in Figure 5 of the accompanying Drawings.
1
13
Desemba 1007
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.