An Improved Chair Sledge Adapted to be Propelled by the Occupant.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Chair Sledge Adapted to be Propelled by the
Occupant.
I, OTTO VOIGT of Fleischhauerstrasse, Lübeck, in the German Empire,
Merchant, 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 a chair sledge by means of which the occupant is
enabled to travel without extraneous aid.
In the drawing
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the sledge and
Figs. 2 and 3 sectional views of the same.
a are two hand levers fixed at each side of the sledge on shaft 6 on which are
also fixed two levers c jointed at their lower ends to rods d. These by their bottom
ends are connected to spiral springs e winding and unwinding on drums f. To each
spiral spring e there is rivetted one end of another spring the other end of which is
connected to the lower end of one of two rods g whose upper ends carry a foot
piece or presser h guided by projecting studs when pressed down to travel in the
line of slotted arms i. Across the hind legs of the chair there is mounted a shaft k
carried in spring bearings 1. On this shaft are fixed the two drums fand outside
the chair two toothed side wheels m.
To move the chair sledge forward, the position being that shewn in Fig. 1, the
occupant draws the two levers a from 1 to 2 at the same time pressing down rods g
with the feet whereupon springs e unwind from the drums f by which shaft k is
turned round and with it the two toothed side wheels m in the direction shewn by
the arrow, in which movement the side wheels are sprung upwards by the ice or
ground. If now levers a are pushed back into their former position the drum
springs again wind up bringing about a rotation of the side wheels in the opposite
direction so that the teeth of these wheels engage in or on the ice and move the
sledge quickly forward. The height of the seat is to be made adjustable so that it
may be raised or lowered as required for riders of different stature or length of leg.
The runners may have a rail acted upon by an undulating spring. This arrange-
ment serves, when the sledge is not in use, to keep the toothed side wheels at the
same height or even with the bottom surface of the runners.
To steer the sledge it is only necessary to press the levers on the side opposite
the required direction. In order to control the sledge quickly upon steep roads
there is provided between the slotted arms ia brake n which is operated by simply
pressing down a foot piece against the resistance of a spring.
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:
A chair sledge operated solely by the occupant through levers in such a way
that a spring or springs is or are caused to wind and unwind on a drum or drums
to rotate a shaft carrying toothed wheels which engage in the ice or ground and
cause the sledge to travel forwards, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1893.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.