Improvements in Mail- or Go-carts and other Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 31st Jan., 1895-Accepted, 16th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mail- or Go-carts and other Vehicles.
I, LEON L'HOLLIER of Bath Passage, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Perambulator Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to
be as follows:-
My invention has for its object improvements in mail or go-carts and other
vehicles which affords much greater facilities for rapid and easy adaptation to the
various conditions under which it is desired to convey children for their convenience
and comfort as well as for protection from the weather.
I will explain my invention as adapted to a duplex mail or go-cart. Each seat
and back rest is made quite independent of the other and both are pivotted so as
to turn round for the child to face the reverse way so that one or both may go face
forward or face backwards or they may sit face to face or back to back or at an
angle or sideways. Independent hoods are fitted which move with each body part,
but an arrangement is made by which the junction of the two hoods is covered with
an apron piece when the vehicle requires to be practically closed up as in the night
time. I make the pivots from stamped sheet metal such for instance as wrought
iron or brass but preferably from steel of a soft and tough nature and so that one
accurately fits into the other the runner being formed by inclined faces either
double or single with provision for fastening the one part to the body and the other
part to the frame. Recesses or indentations are formed in the plate at intervals
into which a stop enters so as to maintain the seat in certain defined positions.
This may be accomplished without a separate stop by forming projections on the
surfaces with long angles or inclines in combination with a spring of rubber or steel
which has always the tendency to keep the pivot plates face upon face or in some
cases the spring or springs may be dispensed with altogether. I may also hang
the plates together upon antifriction balls or rollers which makes the circular
movement much easier without sacrificing security in any way.
When the two body portions are arranged so as to be face to face side projections
or guards fixed to the frame complete the vehicle so as to practically form a close
carriage when the hoods and cover apron are in use. By these means the carriage
may be used as a single or duplex one either for lying down or the sitting posture
and may be converted into seats at any angle in a very short space of time thus
adapting it to all the requirements for family use. Sometimes I make the seat not
only to turn round but also to slide from its centre so as to project more from its
centre one way than the other.
Dated this 30th day of November 1894.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Application.

page_text: 1, LEON L'HOLLIER, of Bath Passage, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Perambulator Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention has for its object improvements in mail- or go-carts, and other
vehicles which affords much greater facilities for rapid and easy adaptation to the
various conditions under which it is desired to convey children for their convenience
and comfort as well as for protection from the weather.
I will explain my invention as adapted to a duplex mail- or go-cart. Each seat
and back rest is made quite independent of the other and both are pivotted so as to
turn round for the child to face the reverse way so that one or both may go
face forward or face backwards, or they may sit face to face or back to back,
or at an angle, or sideways. Independent hoods are fitted which move with
each body part, but an arrangement is made by which the junction of the
two hoods is covered with an apron piece when the vehicle requires to be
practically closed up as in the night-time. I make the pivots from stamped
sheet metal such for instance as wrought iron or brass but preferably from steel of
a soft and tough nature and so that one accurately fits into the other the runner
being formed by inclined faces either double or single with provision for fastening
the one part to the body and the other part to the frame. Recesses or indentations
are formed in the plate at intervals into which a stop enters so as to maintain the
seat in certain defined positions. This may be accomplished without a separate
stop by forming projections on the surfaces with long angles or inclines in com-
bination with a spring of rubber or steel which has always the tendency to keep
the pivot plates, face upon face, or in some cases the spring or springs may be
dispensed with altogether. I may also hang the plates together upon antifriction
balls or rollers which makes the circular movement much easier without sacrificing
security in any way.
When the two body portions are arranged so as to be face to face, side projections
or guards, fixed to the frame complete the vehicle so as to practically form a close
carriage when the hoods and cover apron are in use. By these means the carriage
may be used as a single or duplex one either for lying down or the sitting posture
and may be converted into seats at any angle in a very short space of time, thus
adapting it to all the requirements for family use. Sometimes I make the seat not
only to turn round but also to slide from its centre so as to project more from its
centre one way than the other.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practice I have appended hereunto three double sized sheets of drawings upon
which I have fully illustrated the nature of my said improvements and the mode
and means for carrying the same into effect.
Figure 1, is a side elevation of one of my combination bassinette mail carts.
Figure 2, is a view of the same carriage but showing it in a reversed position.
Figure 3, is an inverted plan of the pivot upon which each of the bodies turn.
Figure 4, is a section through Figure 3 on the line 1-2.
Figure 5, is a reduced and inverted elevation similar to Figure 3 but showing
the supporting frame.
Figure 6, is a section through the catch on the line 3-4.
Figure 7, is a part section similar to Figure 4 but showing a modification.
Figure 8, is a part inverted plan similar to Figure 3 but shewing a modification
of the catch.

page_text: Figure 9, is a view of one of my combination bassinette mail carts showing a
modification.
Figure 10, is a view of the same carriage as that of Figure 9 but showing the
positions of the bodies more or less reversed.
In carrying my invention into effect I mount upon suitable wheels R and under-
frame B to which is attached suitable handles P the two bodies A and A' as shown
so that each is independently pivotted thus enabling the child in either of the
bodies A or A' to be turned so that one or both may travel face forward or face
backwards, or face to face, or back to back, as may be desired or they may be
arranged and set at an angle or sideways to the frame. Each body A and A¹ is
provided with a hood C which when closed and the bodies are in the position
shown by Figure 1 almost or quite meet at their top extremities and to enable
the vehicle to be quite closed in at the top I provide the apron piece D which may
be permanently attached at one side to one of the hoods C and provided with
eyelets or other fastenings at the other side for attachment when closed or the
apron D may be separate and detachable from both hoods. The bodies A and A'
are mounted upon pivots as shown by Figures 3 and 4 which are formed of stamped
sheet metal such as wrought iron or brass but preferably from steel of a soft and
tough nature. The pivot is formed of two stamped plates E and F the latter
which is circular in form being attached to the underside of the body by screws f
the plate E being first placed in position. The plate E is provided with the ears e¹
and bolt holes by the aid of which it is bolted to the supporting underframe H.
The ring is raised up in the plate E in the stamping as also the indentations e
which are provided around its surface, which indentations engage with the catch f¹
which is mounted upon the inner plate F and thus forms stops to maintain the
seat in certain defined limits. The indentations may be formed upon the sides of
the ring e as shown by Figure 8 and the bolt f2 actuated by the spring f³ may
be provided to engage with the same. In this case the centre part of the
plate F is shown cut and raised to receive the bolt while the ends fs are recessed
thus forming a socket out of the plate F in which the_bolt slides against the
resistance of the spring. In some cases such as shown by Figure 71 may dispense
with the catch, the surfaces, of the curl or angle of the two plates E and F causing
sufficient friction to retain the body steadily in position or I may have the two
plates face upon face and with or without a spring to increase the friction. Anti-
friction balls or rollers may be mounted between the two plates E and F in which
case the aforementioned stops, or catches, or their equivalents would be required to
retain the bodies securely in the required position.
Side projections or guards K are in some cases fixed to or form part of the
frame of bodies A and A' so that when the bodies are arranged face to face as
shown by Figures 1 and 2 the body part of the vehicle is practically closed all
around thus forming a complete bassinette and at the same time preventing any
possibility of any draught coming against either childs' legs when two children are
sitting face to face with their feet in the well N. It also forms considerable
protection from side winds when the bodies are turned the reverse way and by the
addition of side screens as shown by dotted lines L great protection for the legs
from side winds would be obtained even when the bodies A and A' were placed
back to back. The side protections or guards may be attached to the supports B
of the vehicle as shown by M Figures 9 and 10 thus forming a bassinette as shown
at Figure as well as a shield to the legs when children are sitting face to face.
The shields or guards K or M inay be loose or made to slide back or they may be
hinged to fold away with suitable fastenings to retain them in position when required.
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:-
1st. The improvements in mail- or go carts and other vehicles substantially as
and for the purpose herein set forth and shown upon the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 2nd. The double combination bassinette mail cart with duplex pivots such as
described in reference to Sheet 2 of the drawings and as herein set forth.
3rd. The double pivotted combination bassinette mail cart having side projections
or guards K to the bodies substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and
shown upon Sheet 1 of the drawings.
4th. In mail carts, bassinettes, and other vehicles the pivotted plates E and F
substantially as herein set forth and shown on Sheet 2 of the drawings.
5th. In mail carts, bassinettes & other vehicles the mode of and means for
securing the bodies, or seat or seats at various angles and in various relationship
to the frame or to each other substantially as herein set forth and shown on
Sheet 2.
6th. The double pivotted combination bassinette mail cart, having side
projections, guards, or shields M substantially as and for the purpose herein set
forth and shown upon Sheet 3.
Dated this 29th day of January 1895.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.