Improvements in Perambulators.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 15th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Perambulators.
We, WILLIAM JAMES HARRIS, of the firm of W. J. Harris & Co., Ld., of
219, Old Kent Road, Bermondsey, in the County of Surrey, Perambulator
Manufacturers, and EDWARD REDMAN, of 8, Osborne Mews, Clapham Road,
Clapham, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to perambulators; its objects being, first, to provide
handles which are more easily grasped and bring the perambulator under better
control than the straight handle intended for both hands which is at present
employed, secondly, to make the handle-bar adjustable in height, and, thirdly, to
diminish the effects of jolting or vibration by hanging the body from spring-
actuated bell-crank levers pivoted to the framework.
In carrying out our invention, we employ a separate handle, made preferably of
cork for each band; the two handles being mounted at the extremities of a curved
handle-bar. To the centre of the handle-bar, midway between the two handles, we
attach a vertical or nearly vertical socket or spindle, which fits and is adjustable on
or in a spindle or socket carried by the framework. The socket is either furnished
with a split collar having a tightening screw, or else is provided with a set-screw,
so that the spindle and consequently the handles may be firmly secured at any
desired height.
The framework consists of a curved tube or bar having a cross-piece at each
extremity; the cross-pieces being approximately on a level with the top of the
body. The axles on which the wheels are mounted are bolted to brackets brazed
on the curved tube. On the end of each cross-piece is pivoted a bell-crank lever.
One arm of each bell-crank lever is united to the body by a link or links. One
end of a spiral spring is connected to the other arm of each bell-crank lever; the
other end of each spiral spring being preferably secured to the body, though it may
be secured to the framework.
When the framework is jarred or caused to vibrate by reason of the wheels being
pushed against obstructions in the path or road, the spring-actuated bell-crank
levers yield, so that practically no jolting or vibration is communicated to the body
of the perambulator.
Dated this 15th day of January 1891.
WILLIAM JAMES HARRIS.
EDWARD REDMAN.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Perambulators.
We, WILLIAM JAMES HARRIS, of the firm of W. J. Harris & Co., Ld., of
Haymerle Road, Glengall Road, and 219, Old Kent Road, Bermondsey, in the
County of Surrey, Perambulator Manufacturers, and EDWARD REDMAN, of
8, Osborne Mews, Clapham Road, Clapham, in the County of Surrey, Engineer,
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 perambulators; its objects being, first, to provide

page_text: handles which are more easily grasped and bring the perambulator under better
control than the straight handle intended for both hands which is at present
employed; secondly, to make the handle-bar adjustable in height; and, thirdly, to
diminish the effects of jolting or vibration by hanging the body from spring-
actuated bell-crank levers pivoted to the framework.
The way in which we prefer to carry out our invention is illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, whereof
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a perambulator embodying our present
improvements;
Fig. 2 being a corresponding plan.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation, drawn to a larger scale, of one of the spring-actuated
bell-crank levers ;
Fig. 4 being a corresponding plan.
We employ a separate handle a or a', made preferably of cork, for each hand;
the two handles a and a¹ being mounted at the extremities of a curved handle-bar A.
To the centre of the handle-bar, we attach a vertical or nearly vertical spindle A',
which fits and is adjustable in a socket B carried by the framework B'. The
socket is either furnished with a split collar having a tightening screw, or else is
provided with a set-screw b, so that the spindle A and consequently the handle-
bar A and handles a and a¹ may be firmly secured at any desired height. On the
right-hand side of Fig. 1 and of Fig. 2, the handles a and a¹ are in the normal
position. When the perambulator is not in use, the handles may be turned, after
the set-screw b has been loosened, into the position shewn on the left-hand side, so
that as little space as possible may be taken up by the perambulator.
The framework consists of a curved tube or bar B' having a cross-piece B³ at
each extremity; the cross-pieces being approximately on a level with the top of
the body C. The axles D and D' on which the wheels are mounted are bolted to
brackets brazed on the curved tube B'. On each end of each cross-piece B' is
pivoted a bell-crank lever E E'. The arm E of each bell-crank lever E E' is
united to an eye F on the body C by a link or links e e¹. One end of a spiral
spring G is connected to the arm E¹ of each bell-crank lever E E'; the other end
of each spiral spring being preferably secured to the body C, as shown, though it
may be secured to the framework.
When the framework is jarred or caused to vibrate by reason of the wheels being
pushed against obstructions in the path or road, the spring-actuated bell-crank
levers EE and springs G yield, so that practically no jolting or vibration is
communicated to the body C of the perambulator.
We do not confine ourselves to the precise details illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, as the same may be varied without departing from the principle of our
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The improved perambulator constructed, arranged and operating substantially
as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. A. perambulator provided with handles a and a substantially as described with
reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
3. A perambulator-body hung on bell-crank levers EE' substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
4. A perambulator-body hung on bell-crank levers E E¹ carried by the frame-
work, each arm E being connected to the body C by a link or links, a spring G
serving to connect each arm E' to the body, substantially as described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
5. A perambulator comprising a body C, bell-crank levers E E¹, springs G, a
handle-bar A and spindle A', handles a and a', a socket B, a curved tube or

page_text: bar B', and cross-pieces B', substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
6. In a perambulator, the combination, with the body C, of the bell-crank
levers E E and the springs G, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 13th day of October 1891.
WILLIAM JAMES HARRIS.