Improvements in Mail Carts and Bassinettes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 2nd June, 1894-Accepted, 30th June,
1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mail Carts and Bassinettes.
I JAMES SPENCER HODGSON of 100 Clifton Street Old Trafford Manchester
in the County of Lancaster Architect and Surveyor do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the combining of the requirements of mail carts and
bassinettes in one vehicle.
The fore portion of the body of the mail cart or bassinette is made detachable,
and by altering reversing or adjusting, will make in its respective positions a
vehicle to seat two persons seated face to face, or two persons seated one behind
the other, or will form a couch or bed for one person to recline in, or a mail cart
for one person.
The alterations for the several purposes just named are accomplished by the
various positions in which the detachable part of the body is placed, the same to
run or slide on rods or in grooves, or other suitable contrivance and to be secured
in its required position by a bolt, spring bolt, or screw.
Attached to the moveable part of the body is the well board, which will form the
boot or part of the boot when the said moveable portion is placed in the necessary
position for a person occupying the seat to face the shafts.
The said moveable part will also invert, and enclose a part of the fixed portion
of the body when the vehicle is being used as a single mail cart.
Dated this First day of September 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mail Carts and Bassinettes.
I JAMES SPENCER HODGSON of 100 Clifton Street, Old Trafford, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Architect and Surveyor, 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 relates to the means of combining in one vehicle the requirements
of children's mail carts and bassinettes.
The nature of my said invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed or carried into practical effect will be readily understood on reference to
the sheet of drawings hereunto annexed and the following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1 on the drawings represents a side view of the body of a mail cart made
according to my invention and arranged to carry two children seated face to face.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same arranged so as to carry two children seated
one behind the other.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the same arranged as an open single cart to
carry one person, and Fig. 4 a similar view of the same arranged as an enclosed
cart for one child. Fig. 5 shows the same arranged as a bassinette or couch for
one person to recline in.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the body hereinafter more particularly referred to.
The fore portion a of the body of the cart is made detachable and of such a
width that it can slide more or less inside the hinder or fixed part 6 thereof (see
Fig. 6) and the alterations necessary to adapt the same to the several purposes just

page_text: named are accomplished by placing the detachable part a of the body in various
positions or removing it altogether as required. The part a is made to move on
slides or racks c, or in grooves, or other suitable contrivance, and it is secured in
its required position by sliding or spring bolts or screws d or by a similar device.
Attached by hinges to the front of the seat of the movable part a of the body is
the well boarde which when in the position shown at Fig. 2 for both children to
face the shafts, will form the boot, or part thereof as shown.
In the position shown at Fig. for the two children to face each other, and also
when arranged as an enclosed single cart as at Fig. 4 the board e is folded up
underneath the cushion which is loose.
The said movable part a can also be inverted so as to enclose the front of the
fixed portion 6 of the body when the vehicle is being used as a single mail cart as
shown at Fig. 4.
When arranged as a bassinette or couch the hinged board e will cover in the
well level with the two seats as shown at Fig. 5 an extra cushion being provided
to cover the well board e in that case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The combination with the body of a children's mail cart of a detachable portion
or seat capable of being detached and reversed or inverted and fixed in either
position or entirely removed so as to form five distinct vehicles vizt.: (1) A double
cart with both seats facing towards the shafts (2) a double cart with both seats
facing the well, (3) a single cart with open front (4) a single cart with enclosed
front and (5) a bassinette or couch in which a child can recline at length, sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings annexed.
Secondly. I claim the combination with a detachable or reversible seat of a
convertible mail cart, of a board hinged to the said seat so as to be capable of
serving as a well-board when used as a bassinette or of forming the boot or part of
the same when used as a mail cart substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 1st day of June 1894.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.