Improvements in Bassinettes, Perambulators, Mail Carts, and like Children's Carriages.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 1st Jan., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bassinettes, Perambulators, Mail Carts, and like
Children's Carriages.
I, MATTHEW THRAVES SHARP, of 37 Lawford Road, in the County of London,
Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in bassinettes, perambulators, mail carts
and like children's carriages.
According to my invention I mount one end of the carriage, preferably the back,
on hinges so that it may be let down to form a kind of foot-board as hereinafter
described. In combination with this hinged back-board I combine a movable back-
board formed in two parts hinged together and adapted to be used as a seat with
back when required.
By this arrangement when the back-board is closed the movable back-board,
which is of the same shape, lies against it and the bassinette, perambulator or the
like presents the usual appearance and can be used to carry one or two children in
the usual manner; if however a child be reclining in the carriage and it is desired
to place another child in the carriage the hinged back-board is lowered so as to
form a foot-board, the movable back-board is withdrawn and the two parts thereof
placed at right angles or thereabouts, the horizontal portion being then placed upon
suitable bearings so as to form a seat, the vertical portion serving as a back-board,
the seat and back-board being fixed in position by means of bolts or other suitable
fastenings.
The hinged back-board is also provided with suitable fastenings to hold it in its
closed position and suitable stays are provided for holding it in position when let
down to form a foot-board.
Dated the 23rd day of Aneust 1902
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bassinettes, Perambulators, Mail Carts, and like
Children's Carriages.
I, MATTHEW THRAVES SHARP, of 37, Lawford Road, in the County of London,
Traveller, 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 improvements in bassinettes, perambulators, mail carts
and like children's carriages.
According to my invention I mount one end of the carriage, preferably the back
or rear end, on hinges so that it may be let down to form a kind of foot-board as
hereinafter described. In combination with this hinged back I combine a movable
back-board formed in two parts hinged together and adapted to be used as a seat
with back when required the horizontal portion being then placed upon suitable
bearings and fixed in position by means of bolts or other fastenings.
The hinged back is provided with suitable fastenings to hold it when in its closed
position and when let down.

page_text: To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a perambulator having my improvements
applied thereto and shewn arranged as a bassinette.
Figure 2 is a plan of the back or rear end of the perambulator with the movable
back-board removed; and,
Figure 3 is a view of the rear end of the body of the perambulator the hinged
back and movable back board being partly broken away.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of part of the perambulator shewing the movable
back-board arranged as a seat.
Figures 5 and 6 are a side and a rear view respectively of the movable back-board
detached.
Figures 7 and 8 are respectively a longitudinal section and a plan illustrating a
modification of my invention.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
a is the body of the perambulator, which may be mounted upon two pairs of
wheels, as indicated in Figure 1, or upon one pair to form a "mail cart," the back
or rear end of the said body being hinged or pivotted to the floor thereof so that
it may be opened out, as shewn in Figure 4, to form a foot-board, chains c, c or
other suitable means being provided for preventing the said board from opening
too far.
d is my movable back-board which is made in two parts jointed together as at e,
to allow the two parts to be turned as shewn in Figure 4 so that one part will form
a seat and the other part a back for the said seat.
In order that when the said movable back-board is in the position shewn in
Figure 1 (that is to say, the position which it occupies when the perambulator is
arranged as a bassinette) the part of the said movable back-board above the
hinged back should be flush with the surface of the latter so as not to present an
unsightly appearance, the said movable back-board is formed with a projecting
ledge f, as shewn in Figures 5 and 6, which fits over the edge of the hinged back b,
the sides of the
as shewn in Figures 1 and 3. Strips f¹, f' are arranged ower portion of the
body a as shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, against which the
said movable back-board rests.
g, g are the ribs or bearings which support the back-board d when arranged as a
seat, holes h, being formed in the said bearings to receive dowel pins i, i upon the
movable back-board to prevent the seat from slipping. j, are strips upon the
sides of the perambulator body for supporting that part of the movable back-board,
which (when the latter is arranged as a seat) forms the back thereof, the ledge f
fitting over the top ends of the said strips j, j.
When my improved perambulator is mounted on a pair of wheels as a mail cart
I sometimes dispense with the back b and arrange the foot-board k in guides 1, 1
Figures 7 and 8, so that it can be drawn out into the position shewn when the
movable back-board is used as a seat, or pushed beneath the body of the mail cart
when the said back-board is within the guides formed by the strips f.
By the arrangements hereinbefore described when the back bis closed and the
movable back-board d lies against or between the strips f' the carriage can be used
for carrying one or two children in the usual manner; if, however, a child be
reclining in the carriage and it is desired to place another child in the carriage the
hinged back 6 is lowered, as shewn in Figure 4, or the board k is drawn out as
shewn in Figures 7 and 8, to form a foot-board and the movable back-board d is
taken out and arranged as a seat also as shewn in Figure 4.
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 children's carriage having one end hinged so that it may be used as a foot-
board and having a movable iointed back-board adapted either to lie against the

page_text: hinged back or to be arranged so that one part thereof forms a seat and the other
part a back, substantially as described.
2. A children's carriage provided with a removable back-board which when desired
can be arranged as a seat, and a board sliding beneath the carriage forming a foot-
board, substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 1st day of January 1893.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.