Improved Baby Carriage.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 20th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 5th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Baby Carriage.
I, JAMES RICHARD VELLACOTT, of 10 Pope's Road, Brixton, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
"
This invention relates to improvements in baby carriages, of the "Mail cart
type, and my improved carriage is so constructed (on the plan and by the means
hereafter described) as to be adapted to be taken apart and packed in a compact
parcel or bag of such a weight and size as to be readily portable, easily and
quickly put together at the end of a journey, and roomy and strong enough to
carry three children.
In describing my invention, for the purposes of this Specification I shall assume
that my improved carriage is to be constructed of tubing, except where otherwise
stated as should a different material be selected the details of construction would
necessarily vary.
In carrying out my invention, I mount a frame, on and between two wheels, and
to this frame the seats with the foot rests attached to them are hinged or jointed,
and the handles removably attached.
This frame I prefer to make in the form of a hurdle, with two or more horizontal
bars, as it combines lightness and rigidity, and is well adapted to receive the
various parts required to be fastened or jointed to it.
The horizontal bars of the
frame are made by securely fastening to the ends of tubes of suitable length,
fittings similar to the "tee" ordinarily used on gas or steam pipe, except that they
are provided with such brackets and catches as are hereafter described. The
vertical or end bars of the frame are then passed through the tees of the horizontal
bars, and permanently fastened to them, the end bars projecting through and above
the tees of the top horizontal bar, and below the tees of the bottom one. To the
bottom projecting ends of said bars are attached the trunnions or axles, on which
the wheels are mounted. These trunnions are not formed on the ends of a
continuous bar as usually made, but are formed on, and at right angles to, sleeves
surrounding and capable of sliding or being revolved on, the said end bars of frame.
To secure the trunnions in the proper position for use, and still permit their being
turned around to bring them inside the dimensions of the frame when packed for
transport, the said sleeves have formed on their upper ends, teeth, or projections,
adapted to interlock with similar teeth on the tees of the lower horizontal bar of
frame.
The weight of the carriage and load tend to keep the trunnions in the required
position when in use, but as an additional precaution, spiral springs surrounding
the end bars of frame are provided, and compressed between the lower ends of
said sleeves, and stops or collars fixed to the bottom of said end bars. The wheels
are secured to the trunnions by means of washers and linch-pins in the usual
manner.
To suitable brackets fixed to the end bars of the frame at the proper height, (or
the middle horizontal bar if one be used) are hinged or pivoted the seats, in such a
manner as to be adapted to fold up parallel with the frame (one on each side) when
packed for transport. The seats prefer to make in the form of three sides of a
rectangle, hinged or pivoted at their free ends. The seats are supported in the
position required for use, by chains, cords, or links, (chains preferred) connected at
their one ends to lugs or ears cast or formed on the tees of the top horizontal bar,
and running thence in a descending diagonal line over the front bars of the seat

page_text: 4
frames near the corners, at which point they are provided with hooks fixed to one
of the links of each chain, the function of said hooks being to receive and support.
the seats in a horizontal position, the front bars of the seats resting in the hooks.
Continuing still downwards and outwards, though in a slightly deflected line, the
chains serve also to support the foot rests, as hereafter described.
As a covering for the seat frames, I prefer canvas, or netting. They may be
covered separately and independently of each other, but I prefer one continuous
piece of material passing through and between the main frame, and firmly attached
to each of the front bars of the two seat frames.
When both seats are let down, this arrangement furnishes a comparatively flat
and taut covering, and should one seat only be occupied, by folding up the other, a
seat of the "hammock chair" type is formed. Should this type of seat be
preferred for both sides, they may be made by passing the material over the top.
horizontal bar of the main frame, and allowing a sufficient length, fasten the ends:
to the front bars of seat frames as before, also securing the canvas or netting in the
middle to the top bar of main frame.
:
The foot rests may consist simply of a straight bar or tube, but I prefer to make
them of a rectangular skeleton form, similar to the so called "rat-trap" bicycle
pedals. The foot rests are supported in their proper position by the aforesaid
chains, and braces hinged at their one ends to the side bars of the seat frames,
inside, and at about the middle, said braces having their other ends bent around in.
the form of a hook, to which the aforesaid supporting chains are attached. By
having a number of holes at short distances apart in the said braces, and holes of a
corresponding diameter in the centres of the end bars of the foot rests, by means of
removable pins the foot rests may be pivoted at the heights required to suit the
occupants of the seats. The braces, chains, and the included portion of the seat
frames, thus form obtuse angled triangles.
By providing hooks to support the seats, instead of permanently attaching the
chains to the seat frames at these points, by simply taking hold of the fronts of the
seats and raising them to a vertical position, the braces and foot rests naturally and
automatically fold up with them, thus-The seats fold up, the braces carrying foot
rests down, and the foot rests being pivoted, fall into line, all being folded up.
within the dimensions of the frame every way.
The handles are attached to the top projecting ends of the end bars of the main
frame, by means of tee or elbow fittings fastened to the ends of said haudles,
adapted to slip over the top of said end bars, and are secured in position by
shaped interlocking lugs or projections, cast or formed on both the tees (or
elbows) of handles and tees of the top horizontal bar of main frame. The handles
are jointed in the middle that they may be taken apart for convenience iu
transport. To attach the handles they are held horizontally over the end bars of
frame at about an angle of 120 degrees with the same. The elbows or tees are
then slipped over the said end bars, when on swinging the handles around to a
position parallel with each other and at right angles to the frame, the lugs or pro-
jections previously mentioned become interlocked, and prevent the handles (while
in that position) from being lifted off or their free ends approaching each other
nearer. At the free ends of the handles I provide a brace, consisting of a tube
with tees at each end, adapted to slip on over the ends of the handles to a position
far enough to permit the handles to be grasped outside it. To provide additional
rigidity I attach diagonal braces between the handles and main frame. These
braces are formed preferably of corrugated metal, having holes near either end; and
are attached to the handles and frame respectively by means of clips surrounding
same and having lugs with holes to correspond with the holes in braces, to which
they are secured by removable pins. To gaurd against these pins working out
when the carriage is in use, I make them in this manner-In the end of the pin
opposite to the head, I saw or otherwise form a longitudinal slot, and on the
end of a short pin of the same diameter I form a tennon. This tennon being
inserted in the slot, drilled through, and loosely pinned, forms a jointed extension

page_text: of the pin that after being passed through the hole, will of its own gravity drop
down and form a cross bar to prevent the pin working out, but by raising it into
line with the pin it may be easily be withdrawn.
In addition to the two seats already mentioned, I suspend between the handles a
hammock made of canvas or netting, on which a child may be laid that on account
of its tender age or infirmities cannot sit up. This hammock is suspended from the
handles by means of eyelets or loops attached to, or formed on the hammock, which
are hooked over studs affixed to the handles. Straps fastened to the hammock and
buckled around the handles, also furnish a ready means of attachment.
To enable the carriage to maintain its proper position (seats and handles level)
without being so held, I provide two legs hinged to lugs on the tees at either end
of the brace between the handles, and capable of being folded up parallel with and
close to said brace, when required to be packed for transport. These legs are
hinged to said brace at a point near the inner end of the tees, and have a short arm
extending to the handles at right angles to the legs, said arm having a fork
formed at its free end to embrace the handles and thus hold the legs rigidly in
position.
When packed for transport, the wheels are placed one on each side of the frame,
the hubs touching each other through the centre of said frame. The size of
package thus equals the diameter of wheels (the frame not exceeding this in either
dimension) by the added lengths of the hubs.
Dated this 20th day of May 1893.
JAMES R. VELLACOTT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Baby Carriage.
I, JAMES RICHARD VELLACOTT, of 10 Pope's Road, Brixton, London, 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 :-
The present invention relates to a new form of baby carriage or go-cart, the
component parts of which are so constructed and combined as to enable the
whole to be readily folded up into a small compass and be inserted in a bag or
case for facility of transport, while at the same time such carriage or go-cart
will when opened out and fixed ready for use be perfectly solid and present
advantages not possessed by such articles as hitherto constructed.
Such carriage or go-cart consists essentially in a rigid frame to which the seats
for the occupants and also the handles for driving the vehicle are connected in
such a manner that the whole may be folded up Hat with the frame, while the
wheels on which the vehicle runs may be, removed from their axles or trunnions
and be placed one on either side of the collapsed structure, so that the whole
will occupy a minimum amount of space.
The main frame of the carriage and also the handles for driving same are
preferably (for the purpose of combining strength with lightness) composed of
tubes or pipes with the necessary T-pieces for connecting the different parts of
same together, such parts being fitted with the necessary connections or attach-
ments for permitting the folding of the whole structure when not in use, while
ensuring perfect solidity when same is opened out for use.
The method of carrying out my invention is illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the carriage or go-cart as opened out and fixed
ready for use,
Fig. 2 is a plan view of same.
Fig. 3 a front elevation, and Fig. 4 a transverse section of the arrangement

page_text: "
employed for supporting the seats of such carriage or go-cart, while permitting
same to fold up flat with the main frame.
Fig. 5 is an end elevation of Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 an end elevation of the whole vehicle when, collapsed or folded, ready for
insertion in the bag or case to receive same for transport.
Fig. 7 is a plan view, and Fig. 8 a side elevation of the connection for enabling
the handles to be folded flat with the frame.
The main frame is composed of two uprights A, A', connected by top and bottom
cross bars A2, A3, by means of the T-pieces a, the whole constituting a perfectly strong
and rigid frame, which receives the axles or trunnions for the wheels upon which
the vehicle runs when in use, and to which the handles for driving the vehicle and
also the frames of the seats to receive the occupants are connected in such a manner
as to enable same to be folded up parallel to the frame when the vehicle is not in
use, the whole in the manner to be presently described.
To the bottom end of each side of the main frame a trunnion B is secured, each
of which receives one of the travelling wheels C, which are removably mounted
upon such trunnions and secured in position thereon by means of linch pins c.
To the upper end of the main frame the handles D (by means of which the vehicle
is propelled when in use) are pivotted at d so that they can be folded back through
au angle of 270° when not in use, and thus be brought parallel with the uprights A, A¹,
of the main frame, while when opened out ready for use such handles are arrested
at right angles to the uprights by means of abutinents on the top thereof.
The handles D are made in two portions in the direction of their length, the
portions D forming the handles proper, being pivotted to the outer ends of the
parts D before described at the points d', so that such handles D' can turn vertically
backwards in relation to the parts D so as to lie alongside parallel therewith when
folded up.
The handles D', 'D', extend beyond the pivots d', d', and are provided
with abutments d² which when the handles D' are opened out (as shown in Figs. 1,
2, 7 and 8) come in contact with the under surface of a sleeve E rigidly secured to
the parts D, D, so that the handles D', D', are arrested in a line parallel with and
form an extension of the parts D, D. Both the inner end of each of the
handles D¹, D, and the sleeve E on the parts D are provided with hooks F, F, in
conjunction with which a latch or catch G pivotted to the sleeve E operates, so that
when turned in one direction it engages both of such hooks and consequently locks
the parts D, D', together, while when the latch or catch G is turned in the direction
to disengage such hooks it permits the handles D' to be turned back in relation to
the parts D through an angle of 180° until same lie parallel with and side by side
thereto. The outer ends of the handles D' are connected together by a cross
bar D2 which renders same perfectly solid, and at same time is shaped so as to
support or arrest such handles when turned back alongside the parts D. Each
latch or catch G is preferably acted upon by a spring g, which serves to retain
same in both its open and closed positions.
To the under side of the inner end of each of the handles D¹ is pivotted a stay H,
the free end of which is provided with a pin h, which engages a lug or ear a on the
T-pieces a on the bottom end of the main frame, such pin h being sprung into the
hole in the ear or lug a', and if necessary retained therein by means of a pivotted
catch on the T-piece a, and which will be turned back when necessary to disengage
the parts.
It will thus be seen that when the handles composed of the parts D and D' are
opened out, and such parts D, D', secured together by means of the latches or
catches G, and the pins on the staye H are engaged with the ears on the lower
T-pieces a of the main frame, such handles will form one solid structure with the
main frame. By disengaging the pins h of the stays H from the ears a' of the,
lower T-pieces a of the main frame, such stays can be folded forward until they lie
against the under side of the handles D', and when the latches G are turned back so.
as to release such handles D' from the parts D, they may be folded back so as to
lie parallel alongside the latter, and all three parts may then be turned on the
"..

page_text: pivots d through an angle of 270°, so that same are brought parallel with the main.
frame. A band may be passed over the free ends of the handles. D and of the
stays H so as to secure same together when the parts are folded up.
Thé seats for receiving the occupants of the carriage or go-cart are placed back
to back on opposite sides of the main frame, and consist of a seat-frame proper I.
pivotted to sleeve J rigidly secured to the uprights A, A', of the main frame. The
seat is composed of canvas or other suitable material K capable of folding up, one
end of which is secured to the front edge of the seat-frame 1 and the opposite end
to the top cross bar A² of the main frame.
The support for the legs of the occupant of each seat consists of two legs L
pivotted to the side bars of the seat-frame I, and extending down to near the
ground when the seat is opened out, and are connected by a cross bar P, upon.
which the feet of such occupants can rest. The lower ends of the legs L of the
fore seat are provided with rollers M which come in contact with the ground should.
the vehicle be tipped too far forward, while the legs L of the rear seat will come.
in contact with the ground and support the vehicle when same is allowed to tip.
back towards the driver, when he or she releases the handles. Stays N are pivotted
to the lower T-pieces a of the main frame, and their free ends are formed with
hooks n to engage eyes on the legs L. Such legs L are further provided with
pivotted rods O, the upper ends of which are formed with a hook o to clip over the
upper edge of the front bar of the seat-frame I, and also an eye o¹ through which
passes another rod Q, the upper end of which is pivotted to the top T-piece a of
the main frame, while its lower end has a hook q which engages the under side of
the front bar of the seat-frame I. The arrangement of these two rods O and Q.
and their engagement with the front bar of the seat-frame I is shown in detail in
Figs. 3 and 4, and it will be seen that these means, in combination with the stays N
which engage the legs L, will hold such seat-frame securely and render it rigid
with the main frame, in the position for use.
The stays N are connected by a cord R or other flexible connection to the-
forward part of the seat.
When desired to fold up the carriage or go-cart the hooked ends n of the stays N
are disengaged from the eyes of the legs L, and the seat is then lifted upwards so
that the front bar of the seat-frame I becomes disengaged from the upper hooks o-
of the rods O and also the lower hooks q of the rods Q, the eyes o' of the rods O
through which the rods Q pass permitting the necessary movement to allow such.
disengagement. The seat-frame I is thus free to be folded in an upward direction, .
parallel to the main frame, and as the side stays N are connected by the cords R
to the seat, such stays will also be folded up parallel to the main frame.
The legs L are then free to be folded downwards, the eyes o¹ of the rods O.
allowing the relative movement of such rods and the rods Q which is necessary for
this purpose.
The construction, arrangement and operation of the parts constituting the seats.
is the same for each seat, so that the above description in connection therewith.
applies to both the front and back seat.
If desired a hammock S can be slung or supported by straps s or other suitable
means between the handles D, D, D', D', to receive a child in a recumbent position,.
such hammock being composed of a sheet of canvas or other flexible material, and
which will be removed before the handles are folded up in the manner hereinbefore
described. A shade mounted on a flexible spring frame may be employed to fit
over the hammock by clipping the handles, so that the head of the occupant of
such hammock may be shaded.
A shade may also be fitted over the seats of the carriage or go-cart and be.
carried by a light removable frame T (shown in broken lines in Fig. 1) fitting into.
the upper end of the main frame.
Before folding up the vehicle the hammock and the shade or shades are first.
removed, and the hammock and the main shade may be rolled or folded up so as to.
occupy the smallest possible space.

page_text: When the wheels have been removed and the handles and seats folded up in the
manner above described, the whole is inverted as shown in Fig. 6, and the wheels
are then placed one at the back and the other at the front of the folded structure,
as represented in broken lines in such figure. The rolled or folded hammock aud
shade or shades are then placed alongside the side-frames, and the whole inserted
in a suitable bag or case, so that it can be readily carried or transported from place
to place as desired with but little trouble.
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
In a folding or collapsable baby carriage or go-cart-
1. The collapsable seats consisting of a seat-frame pivotted to the main frame
and having legs pivotted thereto, such legs carrying pivotted rods with hooks
engaging the upper side of the seat-frame, and other rods pivotted to the main
frame and having hooks engaging the lower side of the seat-frame, the whole in
combination with stays detachably connecting the legs and the main frame,
substantially as specified.
2. The collapsable seats consisting of a seat-frame pivotted to the main frame
and having legs pivotted thereto, such legs carrying pivotted rods with hooks
engaging the upper side of the seat-frame and eyes through which pass other rods
with hooks engaging the lower side of the seat-frame, the second named rods being
pivotted to the main frame, the whole in combination with stays detachably con-
necting the legs and the main frame, substantially as specified.
3. The combination of the main frame with the handles composed of two parts
pivotted to the upper end thereof and carrying means for securing such parts
rigidly together and to the main frame, in combination with folding or collapsable
seats also pivotted to the main frame and of means of fixing such seats in their
open position rigidly in relation to the main frame, all substantially as herein
described and shown.
Dated this 20th day of March 1894.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.