Improved Safety Portable Rocking Horse or Device.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1889
Complete Soecification Left, 2nd June, 1890-Accepted, 5th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Safety Portable Rocking Horse or Device.
I JOHN ALCOCK of Cheadle in the County of Stafford, Auctioneer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object the production of a rocking horse or device which
may be either permanently built up, or otherwise so constructed and fastened together
as to be readily detachable for convenience of packing and transport. At the same
time I aim to produce a rocking horse or device, which being provided with a
convenient handle and back rest at either end of the seat the safety and comfort
of the rider is thereby increased.
In carrying out my invention I abandon the ordinary carved figure of a horse.
I use any usual shaped rockers of any suitable material, and either with or without
rubber tyres or stops at the ends thereof to prevent overturning. Upon these rockers
I lay a horizontal framing or platform for the feet. From the centre of each end of
this framing (which connects the rockers at a suitable distance apart) and about
midway between the rockers, I erect each side or end of the rocking horse which may
be inclined towards each other at the top for greater stability. These sides then being
projected up and carried for some distance above the seat and at either end thereof,
form respectively the handle and back rest herein before referred to. The seat may be
hinged to the side, or may slide into position thus locking the device together, or
otherwise arranged. A bracing of wood or other material may be used to increase
the rigidity of the device. The rocking horse may be constructed to carry either one,
two, three, four or more riders respectively. This is effected by carrying up centro
boards which may radiate from the rockers or from the framing. A bracket or
folding seat may be provided to either end of the horse, or in lieu thereof a carved or
shaped horses head may be attached.
Dated this Thirty-first day of August 1889.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Safety Portable Rocking Horse or Device.
I JOHN ALCOOK of Cheadle in the County of Stafford, Auctioneer 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 :-
My invention has for its object the production of a rocking horse or device which
may be either permanently built up or otherwise so constructed and fastened together
as to be readily detachable for the convenience of packing and transport, at the same
time I aim to produce a rocking horse or device which being provided with a con-
venient handle and back rest at either end of the seat the safety and comfort of the
rider is thereby increased.
In carrying out my invention I abandon the ordinary carved figure of a horse.
1 use any usual shaped rockers of wood or any suitable material as at A. A. Fig. 1.
and either with or without rubber tyres or stops at the ends of said rockers to prevent
overturning. Upon these rockers I lay a horizontal framing or platform for the feet,
as at B fig. 1. from the centre of each end of this framing, I erect each side or end of
the rocker as C. (. Fig. 1. which for greater stability may be inclined towards each
other and not parallel.
The said sides (). C being projected and carried for some convenient distance above
the seat, form respectively, the handle and back rest hereinbefore referred to. The

page_text: seat D fig. 1. may be made to slide into position, the ends of same being keyed
into the corresponding slots cut into the sides C. C. The ends C. C may be fretted
or otherwise ornamented.
The handle at top of sides may either be cut out of the wood and left plain, or
may be provided for greater strength and to prevent splitting with a metal cap to
fit over end as at E fig. 1.
Stirrups of leather or other suitable material may be placed at F. F as shewn.
Figure 2 shews another form of rocker side having handle A attached by means of
iron plate B.
Fig. 3. gives end elevation of a framed rocker side in which panels A. A. are
inserted, and fig. 4 gives side or sectional view of same.
Fig. 5 shews a carved or shaped horses head attached to rocker. The head may
be made to swing from side to side by being provided with pins same being inserted
in the sockets A. A. or the head may be attached by other convenient method.
The rigidity of the rocker may be increased by means of a cross bracing of wood
or other suitable material placed in the space under the seat as in Figure 6.
This bracing may be provided with angle plates at the ends thereof, said plates
being fastened to rocker sides by screws. In Figure 6 two additional bracket
seats are provided as shewn at A. A. and additional platform space is provided
as at B. B.
In figure 7 the rocker is provided with a head and tail which may be made to
swing back and forwards and also from side to side.
To effect this a rod or strip of wood or other suitable material is suspended by
a loop or ring underneath the centre of seat, each end of said rod projects through a
stit in each side of rocker, at each end of said rod an iron or other socket is formed.
The head and tail are each provided with a round iron or other pin bent at a suitable
angle to fit in said socket, a nut may then be screwed on to end of pin to secure
same in socket.
Figure 8 shows a double rocker having two separate and similar seats and an
extended platform, the general construction of which is the same as that of Figure 1.
I do not confine myself to the exact details shown or described as the same may be
varied without departing from the peculiar character of the invention.
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
:-
First The improved safety portable rocking horse or device substantially as
herein described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Second In a rocking horse or device the mode of and means employed for
mounting the device upon the platform for securing the seat in position, and for
the projecting safety ends of the sides above the seat substantially as herein set
forth.
Third In a rocking horse or device the adaptation thereto of a swinging bar with
head and tail attached as herein described and shewn.
Dated this Thirty-first day of May 1890.
JOHN ALCOCK.