IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO PERAMBULATORS AND OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES to RENDER THE SAME REVERSIBLE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Duke Meredith, of the City of Manchester, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO PERAMBULATORS AND
OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES to RENDER THE SAME REVERSIBLE."
Sealed the 20th October 1877, and dated the 30th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Duke Meredith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th July 1877.
HENRY DUKE MEREDITH, of the City of Manchester "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR
APPLICABLE TO PERAMBULATORS AND OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES TO RENDER THE
SAME REVERSIBLE."
The object of this Invention is the construction of a perambulator or other
similar vehicle with a simple description of reversible and adjustable handle, in
order that such vehicles may be pushed or drawn from either the back or the front,
and that the handle may be adjusted in height to suit the convenience of the user.
Now this Invention consists in elongating the metallic rods to which the handle is
ordinarily secured, and instead of affixing the same rigidly to the back or bottom
of the body of the perambulator, to carry the same forward through two or more
suitable slides or sockets affixed upon the framework to the front of the perambulator,
where at the extremity of such rods I affix another handle. I am thus enabled to
draw out the handle and rods from either the back or front of the perambulator,
and to adjust them in position by a suitable catch or set screw to the height of the
person using the perambulator, and to the direction in which the perambulator is
desired to be driven.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Duke Meredith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th January 1878.
HENRY DUKE MEREDITH, of the City of Manchester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR
APPLICABLE TO PERAMBULATORS AND OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES TO RENDER THE
SAME REVERSIBLE."
The object of this Invention is the construction of a perambulator or other
similar vehicle with a simple reversible and adjustable handle, in order that such
vehicle may be pushed or drawn from either the back or the front, and that the
handle may be adjusted in height to suit the user. Now this Invention consists in
elongating the metallic rods to which the handle is ordinarily affixed, and instead
of affixing the same rigidly to the back or bottom of the body of the perambulator,
to carry the same forward through two or more suitable slides or sockets affixed
upon the framework to the front of the perambulator, where, at the extremity of
such rods I affix another handle. I am thus enabled to draw out the handle and
rods from either the back or front of the perambulator, and to adjust them in
position by a suitable catch or set screw to the height of the person using the per-
ambulator, and to the direction in which the perambulator is desired to be drawn
or pushed.
And in order that this my said Invention may be the more readily seen and
understood I have hereunto annexed a Drawing illustrative of my improvements in
perambulators and other similar vehicles, and will now proceed to describe the
same, reference being had to the letters of reference marked thereon, and which are
used to denote the same parts in both the views.
Fig. 1 is a front, and Fig. 2 a side exterior view of a perambulator fitted with
my improvements, and rendered reversible in accordance with my Invention.
A is the ordinary handle affixed to the metallic rods B, which rods however in
this case are not affixed rigidly to the body C of the perambulator, but are elongated
and extended forwards round the outside of the body, and pass through suitable
sockets D to the front of the perambulator, where they have another handle E
affixed at their extremities, as illustrated. These handle rods B are capable of
sliding through their sockets D, and of being fixed in any desired position by means
of a binding screw F screwing through one of the front sockets (or a spring bolt or
other suitable fastening might be substituted), by which means the perambulator
may be used with the handle A, as seen in Fig. 2, when it is desired to push the a
same from the back, or the handle E may be drawn out from the front to the
position indicated by the dotted lines when desired to be pushed from the front.
In order to steady the rods and handle when in the position seen in Fig. 2, I
apply a pair of slotted brackets G (a front view of one of which is shewn detached)
to the back of the vehicle, through the open slot of which the rods B pass, and are 4
so held firmly, whilst they are equally free to slide out of the same when the
screw F is released. It will thus be apparent that the height of either handle
can be adjusted to the greatest nicety to suit the height of the person using the
vehicle.
It will be obvious that instead of affixing handles at each extremity of the same 4
rods, as herein-before described and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing, that
each handle could be affixed to separate rods capable of sliding in sockets, or one of
which could be affixed rigidly to the body of the perambulator in the ordinary
manner, and the other capable of sliding out of the way when not in use; or, instead
of rods metallic tubes might be employed, capable of sliding one within the other, 5
but these I should consider to be simple modifications of my Invention.
Having thus particularly described the nature of this my said Invention, together
with the best methods with which I am acquainted for carrying the same into
practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine myself

page_text: to the precise details, relative proportions, or dimensions herein-before described
and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing, as the same may be considerably
varied without departing from the Invention. I wish it further to be understood
that I am well aware that the handle of a perambulator has been made detachable,
and so as to be affixed temporarily either at the front or back of the perambulator,
but this necessitates the entire removal of the handle and rods when the change in
the direction of pushing is desired, and is obviously a less convenient arrangement
than the present Invention.
I claim the methods herein-before described and illustrated on the accompanying
Drawing of reversing and adjusting the handles of perambulators and other similar
vehicles.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Duke Meredith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 29th day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
HENRY DUKE MEREDITH. (L.S.)