Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 7th Oct., 1897
Complete Specification Left. 7th July. 1898-Accepted. 24th Sept.. 1898
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 7th Oct., 1897
Complete Specification Left. 7th July. 1898-Accepted. 24th Sept.. 1898
We, FRANCOIS BERNARD, of 49, Rue des Batignolles, PAUL DECAILLIOT, of
45, Avenue de la Republique, and JEAN MARIE THUAL, of 48, Rue de Moscou, all
of Paris, in the Republic of France, Gentlemen, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improved jointed folding or collapsable vehicles for
infants, adults and other purposes of transport.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle constructed according to our said inven-
tion.
Figure 2 is a front view of the same, and
Figure 3 shows the vehicle closed.
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the hub in section.
Figure 5 is a front view of the hub showing the arrangement of the spokes.
Figure 6 shows a compass or folding stay, dismounted.
"
"
Figure 7 shows the same arranged ready for use.
This vehicle is composed of two cheeks or side-pieces a, a, Figures 1 and 2,
which can be brought together or separated from each other as desired by means
of the folding stays b, b, ba, b³, b¹.
These side-pieces each comprise an iron bar z, Figure 1, which supports
the arms and the feet, and the lower end of which is provided with small wheels r,
Figure 1, and a hooked or bent bar c, Figure 1, rivetted to the first and to which
are fixed, at the rear angle thereof, the false axle and the journals of the large
wheels R, Figure 1. Above the bar c is another bar or stay d, Figure 1, rivetted
to the two former, and serving to support the seat band and which is itself
reinforced by a special angle-iron or corner-piece.
At the top of each of the hooked or bent bars c, is rivetted a loop or staple e,
Figure 1, forming a hinge and receiving an arm or rod f, Figures 1 and 2, which
serves as a back and also for guiding and propelling the vehicle by means of the
handle g, Figure 2, which automatically connects the two rods, the arms f being
rounded and provided with apertures to enable the handle to be placed in position
or dismounted, as desired.
These arms or rods are afterwards secured to the hooked or bent bars c by a
movable ring i, Figures 1 and 2, and in order to more closely attach these bars
to the arms or rods f, and ensure perfect regularity in guiding the vehicle, a head-
less stud or steady-pin h, Figure 1, is rivetted to the upright and engages with
.

page_text: the rod fat a place reserved for that purpose between the loop or staple e and
the movable ring. Or, if desired, the studs h can be mounted on the arms or
rods and engage with sockets or recesses in the uprights or upper ends of the
bars c.
In this case the two studs h form pivots for enabling the arms f to be
swung or folded outwards.
The two, cheeks or frames a, a, forming the two sides of the vehicle, are held
together by six folding stays, of which two, b2 and 3, which are permanently con-
nected together, are jointed onto the internal part of the journals, thus forming
an axle; they move in a horizontal plane, the others, b, and 6+, jointed to the
uprights, move in an approximately vertical plane; this combination renders it
possible to bring together the cheeks or to separate them, at the same time exert-
ing tension on the seat-bands and thus imparting perfect rigidity to the vehicle.
The said folding stays can, if desired, be made with any suitable number of joints
instead of with one as shown in the drawing.
This framework is provided with four wheels each comprising a rim or felloe,
a certain number of spokes, the number and strength of which vary according
to the weight and capacity of the vehicle, and a special hub-bearing combined in
such a manner as to enable these wheels to be mounted so as to either employ
or do away with the axle.
The said hub-bearing comprises a disc p, Figure 4, soldered with tin and rivetted
to the hooked or bent bar c, and also, if desired, to the two connected folding
stays forming the axle; this disc itself bears, on one side, a cylindrical pivot or
studs, Figure 4, the end of which is screw-threaded to receive a second disc u,
Figure 4, provided with two holes and serving to regulate the play of the hub:
the cylindrical parts bears the hub proper v, Figure 4, which consists of a
cylindrical box having two crowns or flanges, one a, peripheral, the other y, central
and also peripheral, tangentially to the cylindrical part of the barrel; these two
crowns, or flanges are separated by a chamber the first crown being drilled for
the introduction of the spokes which rest in the second crown, this being drilled
partly through for this purpose.
These spokes are afterwards held in place by tin or solder run into the chamber.
The disc p, the side of which opposite to the hub, is joined to the hooked or
bent bar c and is made of rectangular form, can moreover be simply fixed to the
two folding stays forming the axle and not to the said hooked or bent bar; in
this case it is placed above the axle and is movable in a slide-way or guide pro-
vided between the said bar c and the cross-piece d supporting the seat-band.
Between the rectangular part of this pivot or stud, and the cross-piece d for
the seat, is arranged a spiral spring which allows the said pivot to slide in the
guide-way and thus imparts greater elasticity thereto.
Another special arrangement enables two spiral or other springs to be arranged
between the cross-piece for supporting the seat-band, which piece d, in this case,
is made movable so as to enable it to slide in a groove formed in the bar z and in
the hooked or bent bar c between the top of this groove and a second cross piece
arranged beneath to hold these two bars.
The seat-bands are preferably made of a special design characterized by a base
of two colours or of two shades of the same colour, blended in checks of three
millimetres square and traversed by two bands of a different shade containing
the complementary colours to those of the base, with or without a varied fringe.
The said seat band is secured to the two sides of the vehicle as follows, viz. :--
At the top, by screws clamping two wooden arm- or elbow-rests, of variable form
and colour, and below, by means of copper rivets extending from the angle-iron
or corner-piece.
If desired moreover a small supplementary strap can be employed for carrying
the vehicle, either by introducing one end of the handle g into an eye provided
for this purpose, the other end being introduced into the part of the strap having
a buckle serving to hold the infant in the vehicle, or these two straps may be used
for the purpose above mentioned by buckling them like a waist belt.

page_text: We can construct this vehicle for children or adults, of suitable size to carry
any desired number of persons or weight. It can be made of any suitable form,
dimensions or materials.
Dated this 7th day of October 1807
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in and relating to Folding or Collapsable Vehicles.
We, FRANCOIS BERNARD, of 50, Avenue de Clichy, late of 49, Rue des Batignolles,
PAUL DECAILLIOT, of 45, Avenue de la Republique, and JEAN MARIE THUAL, of
48, Rue de Moscou, all of Paris, in the Republic of France, Gentlemen, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment-
Our invention relates to improved jointed folding or collapsable vehicles for
infants, adults and other purposes of transport.
In the drawing accompanying our Provisional Specification.
Figure 1 is a side clevation of a vehicle constructed according to our said inven-
tion.
Figure 2 is a front view of the same, and
Figure 3 shows the vehicle closed.
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the hub in section.
Figure 5 is a front view of the hub showing the arrangement of the spokes.
Figure 6 shows a compass or folding stay, dismounted.
Figure shows the same arranged ready for use.
This vehicle is composed of two cheeks or side-pieces, a, a Figures 1 and 2,
which can be brought together or separated from each other as desired by means
of the folding stays b, 61, 62, 63, bt.
These side-pieces each comprise a Z-shaped iron bar z, Figure 1, which supports
the arms and the feet, and the lower end of which is provided with small wheels r,
Figure 1, and a hooked or bent bar c, Figure 1, rivetted to the first and to which
are fixed, at the rear angle thereof, the false axle and the journals of the large
wheels R, Figure 1. Above the bar c is another bar or stay d, Figure 1, rivetted
to the two former, and serving to support the seat band and which is itself
reinforced by a special angle-iron or corner-piece.
At the top of each of the hooked or bent bars c, is rivetted a loop or staple e,
Figure 1, forming a hinge and receiving an arm or rod f, Figures 1 and 2, which
serves as a back and also for guiding and propelling the vehicle by means of the
handle Figure 2, which connects the two rods, the arms f being
rounded and provided with apertures to enable the handle to be placed in position
or dismounted as desired.
These arms or rods are afterwards secured to the hooked or bent bars c by a
movable ring i, Figures 1 and 2, and in order to more closely attach these bars
to the arms or rods f, and ensure perfect regularity in guiding the vehicle, a head-
less stud or steady-pin h, Figure 1, is rivetted to the upright and engages with
the rod f at a place reserved for that purpose between the loop or staple e and
the movable ring. Or, if desired, the studs can be mounted on the arms or
rods f and engage with sockets or recesses in the uprights or upper ends of the
bars c.
In this case the two studs h form pivots for enabling the arms f to be
swung or folded outwards.

page_text: The two cheeks or frames a, a' forming the two sides of the vehicle, are held
together by six folding stays, of which two, 63 and 6, which are permanently con-
nected together, are jointed onto the internal part of the journals, thus forming
an axle; they move in a horizontal plane; the others, b, 61 and 64, jointed to the
uprights, move in an approximately vertical plane; this combination renders it
possible to bring together the cheeks or to separate them by exert-
ing tension on the seat-bands thus imparting perfect rigidity to the vehicle.
The said folding stays can, if desired, be made with any suitable number of joints
instead of with one as shown in the drawing.
This framework is provided with four wheels each comprising a rim or felloe,
a certain number of spokes, the number and strength of which vary according
to the weight and capacity of the vehicle, and a special hub-bearing combined in
such a manner as to enable these wheels to be mounted so as to either employ
or do away with the axle.
The said hub-bearing comprises a disc p, Figure 4, soldered with tin and rivetted
to the hooked or bent bar c, and also, if desired, to the two connected folding
stays forming the axle; this disc itself bears, on one side, a cylindrical pivot or
studs, Figure 4, the end of which is, screw-threaded to receive a second disc u,
Figure 4, provided with two holes and serving to regulate the play of the wheel;
the cylindrical parts bears the hub proper v, Figure 4, which consists of a
cylindrical box having two crowns or flanges, one x, peripheral, the other y, central
and also peripheral, tangentially to the cylindrical part of the journal or barrel :
these two crowns or flanges are separated by a chamber, the first crown being drilled
for the introduction of the spokes which rest in the second crown, this being drilled
partly through for this purpose.
These spokes are afterwards held in place by tin or solder run into the chamber.
On that side of the disc p, which is opposite to the journal and is joined to
the hooked or bent bar c, a rectangular extension is provided which can moreover
be simply fixed to the two folding stays forming the axle and not to the said hooked
or bent bar; in this case it is placed above the latter and is movable in a slide-way
or guide provided between the said bar c and the cross-piece d supporting the
seat-band.
Between the rectangular extension of this pivot or stud, and the cross-piece d for
the seat, is arranged a spiral spring which allows the said pivot to slide in the
guide-way thus imparting greater elasticity thereto and consequently reducing
the vibration of the vehicle when in motion by making the body of the vehicle
spring-supported.
Another special arrangement for the same purpose, consists in arranging two
spiral or other springs between the cross-piece & for supporting the seat-band,
which piece d, in this case, is made movable so as to enable it to slide in a groove
formed in the Z-shaped bar and in the hooked or bent bar c between the top of
this groove and a second cross-piece arranged beneath to hold these two bars.
The seat bands are preferably made of a special design characterized by a base
of two colours or of two shades of the same colour, blended in checks of three
millimetres square and traversed by two bands of a different shade containing
the complementary colours to those of the base, with or without a fringe to match.
The said seat band is secured to the two sides of the vehicle as follows, viz:-
At the top, by screws clamping two wooden arm- or elbow-rests, of variable form
and colour, and below, by means of copper rivets extending from the angle-iron
or corner-piece.
-
If desired moreover a small supplementary strap can be employed for carrying
the vehicle, either by introducing one.end of the handle g into an eye provided
for this purpose, the other end being introduced into the part of the strap having
a buckle serving to hold the infant in the vehicle, or these two straps may be used
for the purpose above mentioned by buckling them like a waist-belt.
We can construct this vehicle for children or adults of suitable size to carry

page_text: any desired number of persons or weight. It can be made of any suitable form,
dimensions or materials.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The folding or collapsable vehicle hereinabove described, in which two cheeks
or side pieces are connected by an unlimited number of stays or braces, made with
one or more joints closing in different planes, so as to permit the employment of
an unlimited number of wheels and the adaptation of the vehicle for one or more
children or invalids.
2. The use, as an axle, of two or more coupled stays or braces permanently con-
nected together by rivets, as above set forth.
3. The propelling or guiding arms or rods coupled together so as to turn or fold
over either backwards or sidewise, either by means of loops or staples, or by means
of headless or other rivets, substantially as described.
4. The use of two gudgeons or studs fixed at the two ends of the hooked or
bent bar forming the frame and entering two holes formed for this purpose in the
two arms or rods or vice versa, or of two headless rivets forming a pivot and per-
mitting the external folding of the arms or rods, substantially as described.
5. The use of two rings sliding on the two arms or rods to connect them to the
two ends of the hooked or bent bar forming the frame, substantially as described.
6. The arms or rods having their ends rounded and provided with apertures to
permit the introduction or withdrawal of the guiding handle as desired, as above
set forth.
7. The band or strap forming the seat fixed to the two sides of the vehicle by
means of screws above clamping two arms or elbow-pieces of wood of variable
form and colour, and by means of rivets below extending from the angle-iron or
corner-piece, as above set forth.
8. The above-described arrangement comprising a small auxiliary strap for
enabling the vehicle to be carried, either by introducing one of the ends of the
guiding handle in an eye formed for this purpose, the other end being introduced
into the end of the belt furnished with a buckle, and serving to support the child
or by using these two belts by buckling them around the vehicle like a waist-belt.
9. The employment of spiral or other springs as required, arranged either
between the hooked or bent bar and a second bar rivetted to this bar and to the
bar carrying the seat-band, or between the bar supporting the seat-band and a
second bar connecting the Z-shaped bar with the hooked or bent bar, as above set
forth.