An Improvement in or applicable to the Folding Shafts of Mail Carts for Children, or of other Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 17th May, 1897-Accepted, 18th Aug., 1897
An Improvement in or applicable to the Folding Shafts of Mail Carts
for Children, or of other Vehicles.
I, PETER SMITH, of No. 7 Lindley Street, Queen's Road, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Bassinetto fitter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention is chiefly designed for the folding shafts of a child's "mail cart"
but it is also applicable to the folding shafts of other vehicles which are or may
be provided with such shafts.
According to this invention each shaft is made in two parts, one fixed to or
forming part of the body of the mail cart or vehicle and the other attached to the
fixed part by a hinge; the centre of this hinge is by preference at the upper side
of the shaft.
The fixed part of the shaft is also provided with a spring bolt capable of being
withdrawn flush or nearly flush with the under surface thereof, and the loose or
hinged part of the shaft is provided with a plate fixed thereto and projecting from.
the underside thereof. This plate is provided with a hole or slot or notch in such
a position as to correspond with the position of the spring bolt, when the two parts
of the shaft are in a line, so that the spring bolt would pass through the hole slot
or notch in such position aud lock the two parts together; but the spring may be
compressed or otherwise displaced by a suitable knob or button projecting above
the fixed part of the shaft when the hinged part thereof is to be folded up.
The pivot or centre of the binge, the hole or notch in the fixed plate, and the
spring bolt are so situated with regard to each other that the loose or hinged part
of the shaft can be lowered and the bolt will not pass or shoot through the plate to
lock it until the hinged part of the shaft has been brought into the desired position,
in line with the fixed part.
Dotod this 1711 Dan of 1900
An Improvement in or applicable to the Folding Shafts of Mail Carts
for Children, or of other Vehicles.
I, PETER SMITH, of 7 Lindley Street, Queen's Road, Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Carriage Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
[Price 8d1

page_text: 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 folding shafts of "Mail Carts" for children, or
the shafts of other vehicles, and is designed to securely and rigidly faston or bolt
sanie when folded and ready for use-
It consists of a hinge with bottom plate and bolt and spring to allow the shafts
to be easily and quickly folded or replaced.
It is fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
sufficient is shewn of the shafts to illustrate the invention.
Fig. 1. Side view of shafts, open for folding.
Fig. 2. Top view of shaft shewing hinge aud position of spring bolt.
Fig. 3. Spring Bolt and Spring.
The shaft is made in two parts, One, A, fixed to or forming part of the body of
mail cart or vehicle, to which is attached hiuge B being preferably placed on
the upper side of the shaft and securing the loose part of the shaft C."
Through the hody shaft A a bolt D is passed having small collars E fixed at
the upper and under sides of the shaft.
To bolt D a spiral spring F is attached, which when bolt D is raised ensures its
positive return to its original position.
To the loose or hinged part of the shaft C is fixed an iron plate G which is
provided with a hole slot I which is placed in a corresponding position with the
spring bolt D when the shafts are in line, so that when closed the spring bolt D
will pass through the hole slot H and lock the two parts together.
To release or fold the shaft C the spring bolt D is withdrawn until the bottom
part of same is flush with the underside of body shaft A, and the folding shaft C
is then released as shown in Fig. 1. and the spring bolt 1) at once returns to its
original position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
In folding shafts for Mail Carts for children or of other vehicles the securing
of the loose shaft to the body shaft by means of a hinge and bottom plate, through
which a spring bolt passes, securing the two parts when in position for use, or
releasing the loose shaft when the spring bolt is raised.
Dated this Fifteenth day of May '97
PETER SMITH,
Applicant.