AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC APPARATUS TO BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE WELL-KNOWN CHILD'S CHAIR AND TABLE, ALSO CARRIAGE TO BE USED THEREWITH, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR ADULTS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Browne, of the Firm of Browne and Company,
of 5, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC APPARATUS TO BE USED AS A
SUBSTITUTE FOR THE WELL-KNOWN CHILD'S CHAIR AND TABLE, ALSO CARRIAGE
TO BE USED THEREWITH, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR ADULTS." A communication
from abroad by Jules Emmanuel Eutrope Mégissier, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 3rd December 1878, and dated the 8th June 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Browne at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th June 1878.
ALEXANDER BROWNE, of the Firm of Browne and Company, of 5, Southampton
Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents. "ÂN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC
APPARATUS TO BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE WELL-KNOWN CHILD'S CHAIR
AND TABLE, ALSO CARRIAGE TO BE USED THEREWITH, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR
ADULTS." A communication from abroad by Jules Emmanuel Eutrope Mégissier,
of Paris, France.
The essential feature of this apparatus is,-
First. That it will serve as a seat for children, as a substitute for the child's chair
now in use.
Secondly. That it will advantageously replace "children's carriages," now in use.
Thirdly. And above all, the child can either stand up, sit down, rest itself, or
walk in any desired direction without effort or fatigue.
By the use of this improved little apparatus children can easily learn to walk
without effort or fatigue, or the child can sit, stand, or walk without the aid of
the mother or nurse, and the apparatus can be made very small and light.
This improved apparatus will be found well adapted for very young children, as
well as those of two years old or more.
The apparatus is furnished with toothed racks or other suitable contrivance, so
as to adjust it according to the age and size of the child, and may be mounted on

page_text: india-rubber rollers, so as not to make any noise or mark the floor, or destroy the
carpet. It provides a healthy exercise for children and without fatigue, as, if the
child wishes, he can at once sit down on a little seat, which, by the action of
springs, adjusts itself automatically. As the child can walk alone he likes the
little apparatus, which gives him good exercise and forms a toy.
It is well known that children are much better on their bed than in their mothers'
arms, therefore it will be far better for their health to use this apparatus, in which
also they will not be liable to accidents, and being constructed light and small will
not be found inconvenient.
The little table is made for toys or food to be placed upon, and the small box
may be used for toys in reserve.
This improved apparatus is constructed with a movable seat, which turns down
when the child rises and returns again to its normal position when the child sits
down.
On the upper part of the apparatus there is a little table having a holo therein
sufficiently large to admit of a child, which opens and shuts at will, in order to
put the child in or take him out.
This table may be made square, round, or other suitable shape, and may be
surrounded by a projecting rim, so as to prevent anything placed thereon from
sliding off.
The table follows the child when he goes to sit down, and at the same time
causes the seat to come under him;. the table also lowers itself, and upon the child
getting up the seat turns down and the table rises to suit the height of the child
when standing. The action is very soft and without any jerk, so that the child
cannot hurt or tire himself, nor will it annoy him, but, on the contrary, be a pleasure
and a sort of gymnastic.
The use of the above-described apparatus will be found to be of real service and
good for the children's health, who require some means of assisting the mother or
nurse, instead of being left on a bed, on the ground, or on a chair, or standing, in
which latter position they are often left for a considerable time, and thereby rendered
"bandy legged."
According to this Invention it is also proposed to make an apparatus of the above
description which can easily be adapted to a "small children's carriage" (constructed
as hereafter described) and detached therefrom, so as to allow of the apparatus
being used independently.
In order that this Invention may be better understood reference is had to the
Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, shewing examples of an apparatus constructed
according to this Invention.
Figure 1 shews a perspective view of the apparatus in the position in which it
would appear when the child is sitting down; Figure 2 shows a view of the same
as it would appear when the child is standing up.
Figure 3 shews a perspective view of the apparatus with a back and ring.
In these three Figures similar letters of reference are employed to denote the
same parts.
a, framing or carcass of the apparatus; b, feet or supports, furnished with rollers c;
d, box to contain toys; c, moveable table; f, round ring, and belt and breast
cushion; g, rods fixed at one extremity to the frame a and at the other on the
racks h, fixed solidly to the moveable table; i, tie rods to keep the racks in
position; j, moveable seat actuated by the rod attached to the rods g; 1, short
levers or rods fixed to the rods k, by which they are actuated.
Figure 4 shews frame of a carriage ready to receive the aforesaid apparatus.
m, steering wheel; n, back wheels; o, spring connecting the wheels; p, hooks
to keep the apparatus on the carriage; r, arm to push the carriage along by.
Figure 5 shews a view of a carriage furnished and ready to receive the apparatus;
two holes S are made in the wicker to receive the feet of the apparatus; Figure 6
shews view of same, but furnished with the apparatus, which can be easily detached
at will; an awning may also be attached to the carriage if desired.

page_text: Figure 7 also shews a carriage with the apparatus attached; the body of this
carriage can be lowered, so that the child can while in the apparatus touch the
bottom to rise himself or sit down, or move the whole along.
Figure 8 shews a view of the same carriage with the body lowered and the
apparatus in the position it would occupy to enable the child to move the carriage
along.
t, frames supported on the wheels wand v; x, levers mounted on the frame t;
y, rods connecting the two levers x; 2, extremities of the levers x attached to the
body or basket part of the carriage; w, levers linked on the extremities z of the
levers; there is a roller a which permits of the rising of the body of the carriage;
b', bottom of the carriage, which adjusts itself automatically. One end of the
moveable bottom is jointed on the levers wand the other end on the rods c¹, which
guides it in the different movements. In order to rise the body of the carriage to
its normal position it is only necessary to press at d¹ on the levers w.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Browne in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
December 1878.
ALEXANDER BROWNE, of the Firm of Browne and Company, of 5, Southampton
Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents. "AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC
APPARATUS TO BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE WELL-KNOWN CHILD'S CHAIR
AND TABLE, ALSO CARRIAGE TO BE USED THEREWITH, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR
ADULTS." (A communication from abroad by Jules Emmanuel Eutrope Megissier,
of Paris, France.)
The essential feature of this apparatus is,―
1st. That it will serve as a seat for children and as a substitute for the child's
chair now in use.
2nd. That it will advantageously replace children's carriages now in use.
3rd. And above all the child can either stand up, sit down, rest itself, or walk
along in any desired direction without effort or fatigue.
By the use of this improved little apparatus children can easily learn to walk
without effort or fatigue, or the child can sit, stand, or walk, as he may desire,
without the aid of mother or nurse, and the apparatus may be made very small
and light.
This improved apparatus will be found well adapted for very young children, as
well as those of two years old or more.
The apparatus is furnished with toothed racks or other suitable contrivance, so as
to adjust it according to the age and size of the child, and may be mounted on
india-rubber rollers, so as not to make any noise, or mark the floor, or destroy the
carpet. It provides a healthy exercise for children and without fatigue, as, if the
child wishes, he can at once sit down on a. little seat, which, by the action of

page_text: springs, adjusts itself automatically.
As the child can walk alone, he likes the
little apparatus, which gives him good exercise and also forms a toy.
It is well known that children are much better in their bed than in their mothers'
arms, therefore it will be far better for their health to use this apparatus, in which
also they will not be liable to accidents, and being constructed light and small will
not be found inconvenient.
The little table is made for toys or food to be placed upon, and the small box
may be used for toys in reserve.
This improved apparatus is constructed with a moveable seat, which turns down
when the child rises and returns again to its normal position when the child sits
down.
On the upper part of the apparatus there is a little table having a hole sufficiently
large to admit of a child, which opens and shuts at will, in order to put the child
in or take him out.
This table may be made square, round, or other suitable shape, and may be
surrounded by a projecting rim, so as to prevent anything placed thereon from
sliding off.
The table follows the child when he goes to sit down, and at the same time
causes the seat to come under him; the table also lowers itself, and upon the child
getting up the scat turns down and the table rises to suit the height of the child
when standing. The action is very easy and without any jork, so that the child
cannot hurt or tire itself, nor will it annoy him, but, on the contrary, be a pleasure
and a sort of gymnastic.
The use of the above apparatus will be found to be of real service and good for
the children's health, who require some means of assisting the mother or nurse,
instead of being left on a bed, or the ground, or on a chair, or standing, in which
latter position they are often left for a considerable time, and thereby rendered
bandy legged.
According to this Invention it is also proposed to make an apparatus of the above
description which can easily be adapted to small children's carriages, constructed as
hereafter described, and detached therefrom, so as to allow of the apparatus being
used independently, so as to be able to take them out.
In order that this Invention may be better understood reference is had to the
illustration Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, shewing an example of an
apparatus and carriage constructed according to this Invention.
Figure 1 shews a perspective view of the apparatus in the position in which it
would appear when the child is sitting down; Figure 2 shews a view of the same
as it would appear when the child is standing up.
Figure 3 shews a perspective view of the apparatus with a back.
In these three Figures similar letters of reference are employed to denote the
same parts.
a, framing or carcase of the apparatus; b, feet or supports furnished with rollers c;
d, box to contain toys; e, moveable table; f, round ring and a belt with breast
cushion; g, rods fixed at one extremity to the frame a and at the other on the
racks h fixed solidly to the moveable table; i, tie rod to keep the racks in
position; j, moveable seat actuated by the rod k attached to the rod g; 1, short
levers or rods fixed to the rod k, by which they are actuated.
Figure 4 shews frame of a carriage ready to receive the aforesaid apparatus.
m, steering wheel; n, back wheels; o, spring connecting the wheels; p, hooks
to keep the apparatus on the carriage; r, arm to push the carriage along by.
Figure 5 shews a view of a carriage furnished, and ready to receive the apparatus;
8' are two holes made in the wicker to receive the feet of the apparatus; Figure 6
shews view of same, but furnished with the apparatus, which can be easily detached
at will; an awning may also be attached to the carriage if desired.
Figure 7 also shews a carriage with the apparatus attached; the body of this
carriage can be lowered, so that the child can (when in the apparatus) touch the
bottom, to raise himself or sit down, or move the whole along.

page_text: Figure 8 shews a view of the same carriage with the body lowered, and the
apparatus in the position it would occupy to enable the child to move the carriage
and apparatus along.
t, frame supported on the wheels wand v; x, levers mounted on the frame t¹; y, rods
connecting the two levers c; z, extremities of the levers x attached to the body or
basket of the carriage; w, levers linked on the extremities z of the levers x; there is a
roller a', which permits of the rising of the body of the carriage; b¹, bottom of the
carriage, which adjusts itself automatically. One end of the moveable bottom is
jointed on to the levers w, and the other end on to the rod c¹, which guides it in
the different movements. In order to raise the body of the carriage to its normal
position it is only necessary to press at d¹ on the levers w.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature and object of this Invention, I
would remark in conclusion that I do not intend to limit this Invention to the use
of children exclusively, as the apparatus and carriage may be made sufficiently
large for adults, so as to be suitable for invalids and other persons, but what I
claim is,
Firstly. The apparatus herein described, having a moveable table and seat con-
nected together by rods or equivalent means, as and for the purposes herein
set forth.
Secondly. Of racks for connecting the frame or carcase and the moveable table,
so as to adjust the apparatus to the size of the child or other person.
Thirdly. The entire apparatus, substantially as described and represented.
Fourthly. The combination of the apparatus with a carriage, substantially as
described and represented, also the different modifications herein set forth for
attaining the same object.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Browne, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
ALEX. BROWNE. (L.S.)