Year: 1888

page_text: I JOHN TWITCHIN, of 51 Victoria Road, Finsbury Park, in the County of
Middlesex, House Decorator, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to bo
as follows:-
The object of my invention is to manufacture road and other carriages in such a
manner that they may be capable of being folded, and thus reduced to a very narrow
compass, and to occupy only a small space when out of use.
In carrying out my invention, I construct the bottom of the carriage with parallel
frames, at such a distance apart as to afford space between them for closing up. The
bottom frames may be either longitudinal or transverse, as most convenient. The ends
of these frames are united to the sides back and front, or either of them, by bolts and
nuts, upon which they are capable of pivotting.
The axles are divided and jointed, the axle trees and arms being made to pivot
upon the fixed axles, and having movable bolts, set screws, or analogous contrivances
for fixing the same, when extended.
The locking frame may be attached to the front axle, or to the frame of the carriage,
or the front axle arms may be made to pivot upon their centres, in combination with
segmental racks operated by the pole or shafts.
When the carriage is in use the bottom is covered with movable boards, if required;
and when the carriage is required to be folded these boards and the bolts and other
fittings are removed, and the sides are folded together, thus greatly reducing the
width of the carriage.

page_text: 1 JOHN TWITCHIN of 51, Victoria Road, Finsbury Park in the County of Middle-
sex,
House Decorator, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to manufacture carriages, wagons, carts, trucks,
barrows, perambulators, invalid chairs, and other road vehicles in such a manner that
they may be capable of being folded; and thus reduced to a very narrow compass, and
occupy only a small space when out of use.
In carrying out my invention I construct the bottom of the carriage with parallel
frames, at such a distance apart as to afford space between them for closing up. The
bottom frames may be either longitudinal or transverse as most convenient. The
ends of these frames are united to the sides back and front, or either of them, by bolts
and nuts, upon which they are capable of pivotting.
The axles are divided and jointed, the axle trees and arms being made to pivot upon
the fixed axles, and having movable bolts, set screws, hinged clips or analogous
contrivances for fixing the same when extended.
The locking frame may be attached to the front axle, or to the frame of the carriage,
or the front axle arms may be made to pivot upon their centres, in combination with
segmental racks operated by the pole or shafts.
When the carriage is in use the bottom is covered with movable hoards if required;
and when the carriage is required to be folded these boards and the bolts and other
fittings are removed and the sides are folded together, thus greatly reducing the width
of the carriage.
.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a perambulator constructed in accordance with my inven-
tion. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, with the wheels removed; Fig. 3 is a plan of the
same, showing the method of folding. Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan of the wheels and
frame. Fig. 5 shows the method of folding the wheel frame and Fig. 6 is an
elevation further illustrating the method of folding the perambulator.
Fig. 9
Fig. 7 is an elevation of a Builders truck: Fig. 8 is a plan of the same.
is a plan showing the method of folding and Fig. 10 is an elevation further illustrating
the method of folding the builder's truck.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 6.a a are the sides of the perambulator. 66 are the spring
frames. cc are the wheels! is the well. e e are parallel frames uniting the sides,
and pivotted to the sides at e¹. ƒƒ are the two ends of the perambulator hinged to the
sides at or otherwise. 7 is the handle, pivotted to the handle bars at g' g'. h hare the
axles, are the axle trees, pivotted to the axles by holts h. kk are U clips, pivotted
to the axle trees, so that when raised up as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the axles are

page_text: free to pivot, but, when the axles are placed square to the sides and in line with the
axle trees, the clips kk. are turned down as shown in Fig. 4 whereby the axles and
axle trees are kept securely in line and ready for travelling.
The well d and the bottom of the perambulator are hinged to one of the sides or
otherwise made movable to enable the vehicle to be folded into a narrow compass.
Figs 7. 8. 9 and 10 shew the method of applying my invention to a Builders truck.
a a are the sides. c. c the wheels. n is the pole and m the handle. The front board f
is hinged at one side, as at p, and the back board f' is hinged at s to make it capable
of being let down as shown in Fig. 10.
Referring to Figs. 8 and 9 the axle h is pivotted to the axle trees i by means of
bolts and the axle and axle trees are secured in line by bolts inserted in the holes v v¹
whereby the truck is secured in position for travelling. The bottom is also hinged to
one of the sides or otherwise made movable.
From the foregoing description the application of my improvements to other
descriptions of carriages and vehicles will be readily understood.
In applying my invention to invalid chairs having three wheels, the front axle,
carried by the front wheel, is pivotted at each end to the frame; and the main axle is
pivotted to the axle trees, as hereinbefore described; the bottom being hinged or
movable, and the cover (if any) being also made movable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In the construction of folding carriages, the application and use of jointed axles
and axle trees capable of being pivotted for folding, and fixed for travelling, sub-
stantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. In the construction of folding perambulators as aforesaid, the method of effecting
longitudinal folding, by means of the parallel bars e e pivotted to the longitudinal
frames at ein combination with the handle g pivotted at g' substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by the drawings.
3. The general arrangement, construction, and combination of the several and
respective parts, together forming my improvements in the construction of folding
carriages, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated 30th March 1889.
GEO. DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.