Improvements in Folding Tricycles and similar Wheeled Carriages.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1887.
Complete Left, 22nd Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 27th May, 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Tricycles and similar Wheeled Carriages.
I, GEORGE WINSOR COURTIER, 25 Caxton Road, Wimbledon, London, S.W.,
Builder do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
The object of my invention is to provide a simple and safe method of folding up
and contracting the width of tricycles and similar wheeled carriages.
To effect this purpose I make each half of the axle of each pair of wheels jointed
in two places. By folding the axle up on these two joints the width of the machine
may be diminished by more than double the space between the two joints on the semi-
axle. When the machine is laterally extended as in ordinary use the joints are secured
by a tube passing over each semi-axle of sufficient length to cover the two joints.
This tube is provided with a longitudinal slot so that the axle may be bent out of the
tube. Proper contrivances are provided for securing the tube with the slot in any
desired position.
W. H. MUNNS,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Tricycles and similar Wheeled Carriages.
I, GEORGE WINSOR COURTIER 25 Caxton Road, Wimbledon, London, S.W., 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 supplies a simple and safe method of folding up and contracting the
width of Tricycles and similar wheeled Carriages.
I make each half of the axle of each pair of wheels jointed in two places. By
folding the axle up on these two joints the width of the machine may be diminished
so that the external wheels will nearly meet. When the machine is extended as in
ordinary use the joints of the axle are secured by a tube embracing cach semi-axle
between the frame of the machine and the outer wheel. This tube is furnished for a
portion of its length with a longitudinal slot of greater width than the diameter of the
semi-axle. The entire or unslotted portion of the tube is a little shorter than the
distance between the two joints on the semi-axle. The frame of the machine is secured
to a collar embracing the inner end of the semi-axle, and the tube is fixed with the
slot in any desired position
on the collar by screws or bolts or other suitable method.
When it is required to bend the axle the tube is unscrewed from the collar and the
semi-axle bent on the inner joint out of the slotted portion of the tube. The tube can
then be pushed along the axle so as to uncover the outer joint, and allow the outer
wheel and the part of the semi-axle attached to it to be bent on this outer joint.
To show more clearly how my invention is carried out, I furnish drawings in which
similar letters represent corresponding parts throughout.
Fig. 1 is a plan of part of a machine with axle extended as for ordinary use.
Fig. 2 is a plan of part of a machine with axle bent.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section of axle within the tube at its inner end.
Fig. 4 is a view of the tube showing slot.
Fig. 5 is a representation of the semi-axle bent on the two joints.
A is an outer wheel fitted on to jointed axle.
B is axle.
C is inner joint in axle.
D is outer joint in axle.
E is tube.
F is slot in tube.
G is nut screw to fix tube on collar J.
His frame of machine fixed to collar J.
J is collar round the axle and to which the frame H is attached. This collar is
partly within the tube E when the axle is extended,

page_text: When it is desired to keep the axle extended the tube E is screwed on to the
collar J and encircling the rest of the semi-axle up to the outer wheel A. When it is
required to bend the semi-axle, the tube E is unscrewed and turned so that the slot F
is in such a position that the part of the semi-axle B up to the inner joint C may be
bent out of the tube. The tube E is then pushed along the semi-axle B so as to
uncover the outer joint D, when the outer wheel and semi-axle can be bent on this
outer joint.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :
1st. A method of folding up a tricycle or similar wheeled carriage substantially as
described.
2nd. A jointed semi-axle used in conjunction with a slotted tube for the purpose
specified, substantially as described.
W. H. MUNNS,
Agent for the Applicant.