IMPROVEMENTS IN CRIBS FOR CHILDREN
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of the firm of A. M and
W Clark of 53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the
Institute of Patent Agents for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN CRIBS FOR
CHILDREN Communicated to him from abroad by M™ Ida Reed Opdyke, of
Plainfield in the County of Union and State of New Jersey, United States of
America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th February 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CRIBS FOR CHILDREN." [Communicated to him from abroad
by Mr Ida Reed Opdyke, of Plainfield in the County of Union and State of New
Jersey, United States of America]
This Invention consists in a childs crib constructed with a movable side or gate
sliding vertically in grooves in the front posts of the crib. The gate is provided
with counter weights which are attached to cords passing over pulleys pivoted in
slots in the posts so that the gate can be readily lowered and raised and it is held
in the raised position by hooks and staples or other fastenings. The grooved front
posts are held securely in place by a side bar attached to them.
By this construction, the side or gate can be easily lowered for convenience in
putting a child into the crib, and removing it therefrom, and secured in a raised
position, when the child is in the crib. The sides and ends of the crib can be made
higher than is practical, when the crib is constructed in the ordinary manner, so
that the child can be allowed to play in the crib without danger of falling out.
Another advantage is, that at night, the side can be lowered, and the crib placed
at the side of the bed, so that convenient access can be had to the child, when it
requires attention.
If desired the counter weights may be replaced by spiral or other springs,
attached to the vertically sliding side or gate and the posts or side bar and the
raising and lowering of the said side thus made easy.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th August 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CRIBS FOR CHILDREN" A communication to me from abroad
by M Ida Reed Opdyke, of Plainfield, in the County of Union and State of New
Jersey, United States of America
The object of this Invention is to promote safety and convenience in the use of
cribs for children.
The Invention consists in a childs crib constructed with a moveable side sliding
vertically in grooves in the front posts of the crib. To the upper corners of a
vertically-sliding side are attached cords, passing over pulleys pivoted in slots in
the front posts, and having balancing-weights attached to them, so that the said
moveable-side-can-be-readily-lowered-and-raised. The grooved front posts are held
securely in place by a side bar attached to them, and the movable side is held in
place, when raised, by hooks and staples or other suitable fastenings, so that the
said side cannot be accidentally pushed down, as will be hereinafter fully described.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the improvement, two
of the posts being shown in section. Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, one
of the posts being shown in section. Figure 3 is a sectional end elevation of the
same, taken through the line ax, Figure 1.
A are the front posts B are the rear posts, O are the ends, and D is the rear side,
all of which parts are rigidly connected together.
The front posts, A, are connected and held in position by a side bar, E, rigidly
attached to the said posts.
The bedding is supported upon slats F, placed longitudinally of the crib, and the
ends of which are connected with the ends of the said crib.
The front side, G, is moveable, and its ends enter and slide in vertical grooves H
in the sides of the front posts A.
To the upper corners of the movable side G are attached the ends of two cords, I,
which pass over pulleys J, pivoted in slots in the upper parts of the front posts, A.
To the outer ends of the cords I are attached weights K, of such a gravity as to
nearly balance the side G, so that the said side can be lowered and raised easily.
The side G is secured in place, when raised, by hooks L, hinged to the upper part
of the front posts, A, and booking into staples or eye-screws M, attached to the
upper corners of the said side G, or by other suitable fastenings. With this con-
struction the side G can be easily lowered for convenience in putting a child into
the crib and removing it therefrom, and can be easily secured in a raised position
when the child is in the crib, and thus secured against being accidentally pushed
down. By this construction the sides and ends of the crib can be made higher than
is practical when the crib is constructed in the ordinary manner, so that the child
can be allowed to play in the crib without any danger of falling out. Another
advantage is, that at night the side G can be lowered and the crib placed at the
side of the bed, so that convenient access can be had to the child when it requires
attention during the night.
If desired, the weights K can be replaced by spiral or other springs attached to
the vertically-sliding side G, and to the posts A or side bar, E, and the raising and
lowering of the said side G thus made easy.
Having described, the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing

page_text: the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is
1. A child's crib constructed substantially as herein shown and described, and
consisting of the crib having a movable side sliding vertically in ways on the front
posts, as set forth,
2. In a child's crib, the combination, with the posts A, of the sliding side G, the
cords I, and the weights K, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby
the said movable side can be readily lowered and raised, as set forth.
3. In a child's crib, the combination, with the front posts, A, and the movable
side G, of the side bar E, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the
said front posts will be held securely in place, as set forth.
4. In a child's crib, the combination, with the front posts, A, and the vertically-
sliding side G, of suitable fastenings, substantially as herein shown and described,
whereby the said movable side can be readily secured in place when raised, as set
forth.
In witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty fourth day of August, A.D. 1883.