IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE CHAIRS AND OTHER ARTICLES FOR SITTING OR RECLINING ON, ROAD, CHILDRENS', AND INVALID CARRIAGES, AMBULANCES OR VEHICLES FOR CARRYING SICK OR WOUNDED PERSONS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hill, of 212, Piccadilly, in the County of
Middlesex, Travelling Equipage Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE CHAIRS AND OTHER ARTICLES FOR
SITTING OR RECLINING ON, ROAD, CHILDRENS', AND INVALID CARRIAGES,
AMBULANCES OR VEHICLES FOR CARRYING SICK OR WOUNDED PERSONS."
Sealed the 11th April 1862, and dated the 1st February 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hill at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st February
1862.
I, JOHN HILL, of 212, Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex, Travelling
Equipage Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE CHAIRS AND OTHER ARTICLES
FOR SITTING OR RECLINING ON, ROAD, CHILDRENS', AND INVALID CARRIAGES,
AMBULANCES OR VEHICLES FOR CARRYING SICK OR WOUNDED PERSONS," to be
as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in the construction of childrens' and invalid
carriages, or perambulators, portable chairs, and other articles for sitting or
reclining on, and which improvements are also applicable to ambulances or
vehicles for carrying sick or wounded persons, consists in the principle of
hinging or otherwise connecting the several parts together, and by means of

page_text: the rods or pistons acting as a lever upon and regulating the opening and
shutting of the same, and by means of the pressing down of the lifting seat
upon the spring catch or other fastening rendering the joints and other parts
rigid when in use.
As the principle of construction of the above-mentioned carriages, vehicles,
or chairs is identical, I will merely describe my Invention as adapted to a
child's carriage or perambulator mounted on the usual springs and wheels,
the framework of which is connected together by means of bolts, or joints in
the following manner:-The bottom part of the back of the perambulator is
hinged to the framework of the seat. The propellers or handles are also
hinged to the top of the back, so that when not in use they hang at the back
of the perambulator, and attached to such propellers or handles just above
such joints are hinged or jointed two rods or pistons by means of bolts, one to
each propeller or handle. The other end of such rods or pistons is hinged or
jointed to the end of the side pieces or elbow rests which project a little
beyond the back of the perambulator, such rests being also hinged to the side
pieces of the back by bolts on which they turn. The front pieces which
support the foot rest and front wheel are hinged to the front ends of the two
side pieces or elbow rests, and also to the framework under the seat by
knuckle joints, and when open for use, being held in position by means of the
said knuckle joints. Also a lifting seat which when shut down on a spring catch
or other similar contrivance renders the knuckle joints and other parts rigid, and
when required to be shut it is done in the following manner :-By pressing
down the handle after releasing the catch, the two rods or pistons press down
the end of the side pieces or elbow rests to which they are attached, which
brings the front end of such side pieces or elbow rests close up to the back of
the perambulator, and draws up with it the seat and front piece which carries
the foot rest and front wheel between the two hind wheels. I do not confine
myself to any particular method of hinging or joining the several parts
together.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Hill in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th July
1862..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HILL, of 212, Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex, Travelling Equipage 3
Maker, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Hill, Her special licence that I, the said John'
Hill, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Hill, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should. at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTABLE CHAIRS AND OTHER ARTICLES FOR
SITTING OR RECLINING ON, ROAD, CHILDRENS', AND INVALID CARRIAGES, AMBULANCES
OR VEHICLES FOR CARRYING SICK OR WOUNDED PERSONS," upon the condition,
amongst others, that I, the said John Hill, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal, Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Hill, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Drawings, that is to say:---
My Invention of improvements in the construction of childrens' and invalid
carriages or perambulators, portable chairs, and other articles for sitting or
reclining on, and which improvements are also applicable to ambulances or
vehicles for carrying sick or wounded persons, consists in the principle of
hinging or otherwise connecting the several parts together, and by means of
the rods or pistons acting as a lever upon and regulating the opening and
shutting of the same, and by means of the pressing down of the lifting seat
upon the spring catch or other fastening rendering the joints and other parts
rigid when in use.
As the principle of construction of the above-mentioned carriages, vehicles,
or chairs is identical, I will merely describe my Invention as adapted to a
child's carriage or perambulator mounted on the usual springs and wheels, the
framework of which is connected together by means of bolts or joints in the
following manner:-The bottom part of the back of the perambulator is
hinged to the framework of the seat. The propellers or handles are also

page_text: or
hinged to the top of the back, so that when not in use they hang at the back
of the perambulator, and attached to such propellers or handles just above
such joints are hinged jointed two rods or pistons by means of bolts, one to
each propeller or handle. The other end of such rods or pistons is hinged or
jointed to the end of the side pieces or elbow rests which project a little
beyond the back of the perambulator, such rests being also hinged to the side
pieces of the back by bolts on which they turn. The front pieces which
support the foot rest and front wheel are hinged to the front ends of the two
side pieces or elbow rests, and also to the framework under the seat by
knuckle joints, and when open for use being held in position by means of the
knuckle joints. Also a lifting seat, which, when shut down on a spring catch
or other similar contrivance, renders the knuckle joints and other parts rigid,
(or a jointed stay may be used for the same purpose, fixed on one or both
sides,) and when required to be shut, it is done in the following manner:
By pressing down the handle after releasing the catch, the two rods or pistons
press down the end of the side pieces or elbow rests to which they are
attached, which brings the front end of such side pieces or elbow rests close
up to the back of the perambulator, and draws up with it the seat and front
piece which carries the foot rest and front wheel between the two hind wheels.
I do not confine myself to any particular method of hinging or jointing the
several parts together.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "Improvements
in the Construction of Portable Chairs and other Articles for Sitting or
Reclining on, Road, Childrens', and Invalid Carriages, Ambulances or
Vehicles for Carrying Sick or Wounded Persons," in order that the manner
in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect may be distinctly understood, I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of
Drawings illustrative of the same as applied to a child's carriage or per-
ambulator, and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference
corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof, that is
to say:-
Figure 1 is a side view of a child's carriage or perambulator when in use;
and Figure 2 is a side view of the same when closed. a being the back;
b, the handles or propellers, to which are hinged or jointed the rods or
pistons c, which are hinged or jointed at their lower ends to the side pieces
or elbow rests d, which are again hinged to the back a by bolts, on which
they turn; e are the front pieces supporting the foot rest and front wheel, and
are hinged to the front ends of the two side pieces or elbow rests d, and also
to the framework funder the seat, which is hinged to the bottom of the

page_text: back a; g is the lifting seat, shutting down upon a spring catch or other
similar contrivance rendering the knuckle joints and other parts rigid.
Having now described the nature and object of my Invention for "Improve-
ments in the Construction of Portable Chairs and other Articles for Sitting
or Reclining on, Road, Childrens', and Invalid Carriages, Ambulances or
Vehicles for Carrying Sick and Wounded Persons," together with the manner
in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as the Invention secured to
me by Letters Patent, the method herein-before described of constructing
portable chairs and other articles for sitting or reclining on, road, children's,
and invalid carriages, ambulances or vehicles for carring sick or wounded
persons, or other analogous purposes, or any mere modification thereof, con-
sisting of a framework connected together by means of bolts or joints, such
framework when extended being held in one given position by means of
knuckle joints, and by means of the rods or pistons acting as a lever upon and
regulating the opening and shutting of the same, and by means of the pressing
down the lifting seat upon the spring catch or other similar contrivance,
rendering the joints and other parts rigid when in use.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hill, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
WM. LONG,
38, Carey Street.
JOHN HILL. (L.S.)