AN IMPROVED COMBINED CART AND SLEIGH
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Burnett, of Ashford, in the County of
Kent, Coach Builder, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED COMBINED CART
AND SLEIGH."
Sealed the 23rd January 1863, and dated the 28th July 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Burnett at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th July 1862.
I, EDMUND BURNETT, of Ashford, in the County of Kent, Coach Builder,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
COMBINED CART AND SLEIGH," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in a novel arrangement of vehicle forming a com-
bined cart and sleigh.
The shafts are jointed by a hinge to the cart or sleigh, and at a short
distance from the joint underneath each shaft a curved branch or arm of
iron descends, forming a connecting stay, which is attached to a flat spring
extending across the under part of the boot, to which it is attached by bolts or
screws or other fastening. The curved.arms are hinged at a short distance
from their attachment to the shafts in. order to allow the shaft points to
descend to the ground when the cart is not in use, and also to prevent
fracture or other damage to the shafts or cart in the event of the horso
falling..

page_text: This arrangement also relieves the shafts of much weight and strain. The
springs are formed of elliptical bars or plates, and only consist of two plates
presenting the appearance of a small spring inside a larger one, with which it
is only connected at the upper and lower bearing surfaces of the cart and
axle. The seats are made to hold four persons, who sit back to back;
the front seat is adjustable and can be shifted backwards when only two
persons are to ride, so as to cause the cart to balance as when four persons
are riding. When the wheels are removed, as well as the iron feet on which
the cart falls forward and bears on the ground when not in use, the body can
be attached to a sleigh frame, and be used in winter as a sleigh, with all the
advantages of the spring shafts before described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edmund Burnett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th January:1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDMUND
BURNETT, of Ashford, in the County of Kent, Coach Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Edmund Burnett, Her special licence that I, the said Edmund
Burnett, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, tho. said Edmund Burnett, 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 "AN IMPROVED COMBINED CART AND SLEIGH," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Edmund Burnett, 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 Invention,
and in what manner, the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in tlie 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. Edmund Burnett, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My Invention consists of a novel construction of vehicle, forming a combined
cart and sleigh.
The shafts are jointed by a hinge to the cart or sleigh, and at a short
distance from the joint underneath each shaft a curved branch or arm of
iron descends, forming a connecting stay, which is attached to a flat spring
extending across the under part of the boot, to which it is attached by bolts or
screws or other fastening. The curved arms are hinged at a short distance
from their attachment to the shafts in order to allow the shaft points to
descend to the ground when the cart is not in use, and also to prevent
fracture or other damage to the shafts or cart in the event of the horse
falling.
This arrangement also relieves the shafts of much weight and strain. The
springs are formed of elliptical bars or plates, and only consist of four plates,
presenting the appearance of a small spring inside a larger one, with which it
is only connected at the upper and lower bearing surfaces of the cart and axle.
The seats are made to hold four persons, who sit back to back; the front seat
is adjustable, and can be shifted backwards when only two persons are to ride,
so as to cause the cart to balance as when four persons are riding. When
the wheels are removed as well as the iron feet on which the cart falls
forward and bears on the ground when not in use, the body can be attached to
a sleigh frame, and be used in winter as a sleigh with all the advantages of
the spring shafts before described.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible I now
proceed to explain the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same
into practical effect, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing, and
to the letters of reference marked thereon.
The Drawing exhibits a side elevation of the vehicle, shewing the wheels and
sleigh attached thereto. a is the body of the cart, and 6 the shaft, the
body being connected with the axle and the wheels c by means of the
springs d.
It will be observed that the spring consists of a small spring within a larger
one, each being formed of single bars or layers of metal. is the curved
arın or branch descending from the shaft to a flat horizontal spring attached
to the under part of the boot. The arms (there being one to each shaft)
are hinged a short distance below the shafts, as before stated, entirely
obviating all unpleasant jolting in descending a hill. f represents a sleigh

page_text: frame attached to the lower part of the cart, by means of which, when the
wheels are removed, the vehicle is converted into a sleigh.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I would remark in conclusion that I do
not limit myself to the precise details herein expressed, as the same may
Lobviously be varied or modified without departing from the principle of the
Invention, and the sleigh frame may be of any desired configuration and
attached to the lower part of the cart by any suitable fastenings; but what I
claim and desire to be secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters
Patent is, the general arrangement and combination of parts constituting "An
Improved Combined Cart and Sleigh," substantially as herein described and
for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund Burnett, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of January, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
WILLIAM CHARLES HARRIS,
9, Somerset Road,
Ashford, Kent.
EDMUND BURNETT. (L.8.)