An Improved Nursery and Lawn Car.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 27th Feb., 1892
COME LEID SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Nursery and Lawn Car.
I WILLIAM WILSON HORN of the firm of Horn and Son of 151 Strand in the
County of Middlesex Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from Judson Andrew Elliott and O. Perry Voorhes and
William Rolla Voorhes all of No. 6 Allen Buildings Cincinnati in the State of
Ohio United States of America Inventors) and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
My invention relates to an improved appliance for providing enjoyment and
recreation for young children, and its object is the construction of a simple
appropriate and durable device adapted for both in and out door use, available at
all seasons of the year and designed to supply the demand for a safe and attractive
source of amusement, as well as a healthful and invigorating physical exercise.
In the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved nursery and lawn car
Fig. 2, a bottom plan of the same
Fig. 3, a detail view of the friction clutch
Fig. 4, a central vertical section of the clutch disk
Fig. 5, a detail view of the extensible radial arm and
Fig. 6 a detail view of the operating lever
An extensible radial
a designates the platform of my nursery and lawn car.
arm has its outer end bolted to the upper side of the platform and its inner end
journaled on a pivot c which is suitably attached to a central point in the floor of
a nursery or other indoor apartment, or to the earth whenever the car is operated
on a lawn. Diagonal stays d extend from the arm to the end of the platform and
hold the parts securely in their relative positions. The ends of the platform are
slotted to admit the wheels e which are preferably provided with rubber tires.
The outer ends of their axles rotate in eyebolts g, while their inner ends engage
journal-bearings provided with slots hand fastened to the platform by screws i.
By this means the wheels may be readily adjusted in proper relative position to
their circuit whenever it is enlarged or diminished by lengthening or shortening
the radial arm b. The car is propelled by a lever, pivoted on struts k, attached
to the sides of the platform. A disk having a recessed face, is suitably attached
to the side of one of the wheels, and contains a friction-clutch consisting of an
arm m, which rotates on a sleeve n, having a dog o pivoted thereon and a
connecting-rod p extending to the lever j. A curved spring y holds the dog out of
engagement with the disk during the backward movements of the lever.
preferred, a ratchet wheel and pawl may be substituted for the friction-clutch.
The radial arm is so formed as to cause the car to incline slightly inward from the
perpendicular, and thereby counteract the effect of the centrifugal force of the car,
whilst travelling in its circuit. A reversible seat is attached to one, end of the
platform, so that the occupant may ride facing the front if desired. This seat is
specially designed for young children and may be made sufficiently wide to accom-
modate two.
If
The advantages of the device will be apparent. It will be observed that by
means of the extensible radial arm in connection with the adjustable journal
bearings for the axles, the car may be readily adapted to an apartment of any
size, and when used on the lawn the circuit may be enlarged to any desired
extent.

page_text: 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,
The hereinbefore described nursery and lawn car, comprising a platform
mounted upon fore and aft wheels adapted to travel in a circular plane, the
movable axle-bearings whereby the wheels are adjusted in relation to a common
centre in the plane of their movement, and the extensible radial arm pivoted on
said common centre and extending therefrom to the platform in combination with
the friction clutch and the propelling lever, substantially as herein set forth and
illustrated.
Dated this Thintoouth dox of Tonno 120
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.