Improvements in Folding or Collapsable Vehicles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 20th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 20th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding or Collapsable Vehicles.
We WILLIAM BARNARD PINHEY of 6 Albion Road, Lewisham in the County
of Kent, Surveyor, and JAMES CAMPION of 6 High Road Lee in the County of
Kent Ironmonger, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention for improvements in folding or collapsable vehicles relates to
wheeled vehicles generally, but is more especially applicable to small vehicles such
as childrens' mail carts and the like and has for its object to so construct the vehicle
that the sides, wheels and shafts can be drawn together to render it capable of
being packed in a small space for storage or transit, but which shall at the same
time be rigid when in its normal or open position, and consists essentially in con-
necting the sides and seats together by a system of articulated and sliding joints in
such a manner, that on displacing certain members of the mechanism so connected,
the sides are caused to approach each other.
In one arrangement constructed according to this invention, and designed more
especially for children's mail carts, a transverse vertical partition dividing the
front and back seats is hinged at its ends to two plates or frames sliding in guides
secured to, or forming a part of, the main side frames of the vehicle-so that when
the said partition is rotated about a vertical axis through a right angle it lies flat
between the two side frames. Beneath the aforesaid partition is a crossbar
similarly hinged to two other and similar sliding plates, but arranged when opening
or closing to rotate in the opposite direction. The upper and lower sliding plates
in each side frame are formed on their adjacent edges with a rack gearing with
a common pinion mounted between them in the side frame, so that as either plate
is slidden in one direction its connected plate is caused through the said pinion to
slide an equal distance in the reverse direction.
The partition and crossbar are connected together at their centres by a common
vertical swivel pin which insures the syminetrical action of the apparatus on both
sides.
The seats are hinged to the lower part of the partition, and when in their normal
positions are secured to the frames, thereby greatly stiffening the structure; but
when it is desired to fold up the apparatus they are elevated into a vertical
position and lie flat against the partition. Each wheel is mounted on a stud pin
secured to the corresponding side frame.
In a modified arrangement constructed according to this invention the two
sides of the vehicle are connected by a system of parallel link work operated to
open or close them on the rotation of the central partition by means of a crank or
cam secured or connected thereto.
11 of Tul, 1809
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding or Collapsable Vehicles.
We WILLIAM BARNARD PINHEY of 6 Albion Road, Lewisham, in the County
of Kent, Surveyor and JAMES CAMPION of 6 High Road, Lee in the County of
Kent, Ironmonger, 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:-
This invention for improvements in folding or collapsable vehicles relates to
wheeled vehicles generally, but is more especially applicable to small vehicles, such
as childrens mail carts and the like, and has for its object to so construct the vehicle
that the sides wheels and shafts can be drawn together to render it capable of
being packed in a small space for storage or transit, but which shall at the same
time be rigid when in its normal or open position, and consists essentially in con-
necting the sides and seats together by a system of articulated and sliding joints in
such a manner that on displacing certain members of the mechanism so connected
the sides are capable of being drawn together.
In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings:-
Figure represents in its open or normal position a longitudinal sectional
elevation of a child's mail cart constructed according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a transverse section through 1-1 Figure 1 and showing the back
part of the vehicle and
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the same at 2-2 in Figure 1.
Figure 4 represents a transverse section of a vehicle in its closed or folded
condition ready for storage or transit.
A transverse vertical dividing panel or frame a dividing the front and back
seats b and c, is hinged at its ends by the lugs d, e, and pins to two sliding panel
plates or frames g sliding in guiding grooves formed of rebates cut in the longi-
tudinal rails i, 1 of the main side frames of the body of the vehicle and of the side
or covering plates m secured to the said rails as is clearly shown, or the guiding
grooves may be entirely of metal of channel cross section and attached to longi-
tudinal rails. The seats a, b, are hinged horizontally to the panel or frame a by
the hinges and, when the vehicle is in its open position, rest upon small lugs or
brackets o secured on the rails 1, and are rigidly held in a horizontal plane by
pins p which engage in corresponding holes in the said seats, and which serve to
impart rigidity to the whole body of the vehicle. The main wheels
9 are each
mounted on a journal pin secured to a brackets, itself secured to the side frame
of the vehicle. The front and back foot boards are hinged on one side to hanging
brackets e secured to the body frame by pins w, their outer ends bearing on similar
brackets, and being rigidly held in position laterally by pins a engaging in holes
in the said footboards. The shafts y are made detachable and are secured to the
body when desired by the pins z.
When it is desired to close or fold up the vehicle into its smallest dimensions
for storage or transit the footboards are released from their pins, the seats
being also rotated into a vertical position beside the dividing panel a. The
said seats and panel are then rotated horizontally through a right angle, the
panels sliding in their respective grooves in opposite directions, and the sides
being thereby drawn together until they and the seats and dividing panel are
parallel and in contact with each other as indicated in Figure 4.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In folding or collapsable vehicles, the combination of a hinged dividing
panel or frame with sliding panels working in the sides of the vehicle, sub-

page_text: 2. In folding or collapsable vehicles, a hinged dividing panel or frame a
sliding panels g in combination with guiding grooves consisting of rebates and
side rails or plates m, or metal channel grooves, substantially as described.
3. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting our improvements
5 in folding or collapsable vehicles, the whole constructed and operating substantially
as described with reference to the drawings hereunto annexed.
1st 10th day of April 1902
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.