Improvements in and relating to Folding Baby Carriages or Perambulators.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 12th Oct, 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JOHN ELLIS, of No. 349, Fifth Street, in the City
and State of New Jersey, United States of America, Mechanic.]
Improvements in and relating to Folding Baby Carriages or
Perambulators.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 invention consists in the construction of a baby carriage which may be folded
into a small compass.
Figure 1 is a side view of the carriage unfolded and ready for use. Figure 2 is
a plan view of the same with the canopy removed. Figure 3 is a longitudinal
sectional view of the same. Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the same.
Figure 5 is an end view of the carriage when folded. Figure 6 is an inverted plan
view of the same. Figure 7 is a detail view showing a vertical cross section through
one of the wheels and its support. Figure 8 is a top view of a clip by which the
canopy is secured in place. Figure 9 is a side view of one of the links by which the
carriage seat is supported. Figure 10 is a side view of the carriage with the wheels
folded and with rockers placed beneath the body to convert the same into a cradle.
Figure 11 is an end view of the same. Figures 12 and 13 show the rockers
detached.
I will first describe the manner in which the provision is made for folding the
body.
a is the bottom board of the body. b and bare side pieces rigidly secured to the
bottom board and one extending higher than the other, as indicated in the drawings.
To the top of the side piece b is hinged the side piece 62; and to the top of the side
piece bis hinged the side piece b³.
The piece is wider than the piece 62, as indicated in the drawings, so that the
body side composed of 6 and 63 will be equal in width to the body side composed
of b and b². c is the foot-board hinged at its bottom to the bottom board. d is the
head-board hinged at its bottom to the bottom board.
The seat e when in position for use is supported upon the links e¹ and e³ by the
oblong projections es entering circular openings at the extremities of the links, as
shown in Figure 9. Each of these circular openings connect with a slot of the
width of the oblong projection e³; so that when the oblong projection turns in the
circular opening, it can slide into the slot.
f is a latch by which the foot-board is connected to the two side-boards; lips f¹ and
f being formed on the extremities of the side-boards and overlapping the foot-board
so as to hold it in place. Similar lips f³ and fare provided at the opposite ends of
the side-boards to hold the head-board in place.
g is the handle by which the wagon is propelled and which is hinged to the head-
board near the bottom thereof. It is held in a position inclined away from the
head-board by means of the links g' and g³, pivoted at one end to the head-board
near its top and provided with L-shaped slots within which work the projections g³
from the handle.
The bottom board of the wagon is recessed on its upper side so as to receive the
seat unfolded.
I will now describe the provision for folding the wheels.
hare the wheels, each of which is connected with the lower extremity of an arm,
as shown in Figure 7. That is to say, a journal ³ is provided with a flange and
is thereby secured to the inner side of the arm i¹; the opening in the arm through

page_text: which the journal extends being cut large enough to permit the hub ¹ of the wheel
to rest against the flange whilst the flange by which the hub is connected with
the spokes of the wheel rests against the face of the arm ¹. The hub h¹ is secured
upon the journal 3 by any suitable means. The arms for the forward wheel
and for the rear wheel on one side, are pivoted at the top to the hinged side
piece of the body 62 whilst the corresponding arms on the opposite side of the
carriage are pivoted to the body side piece 6³.
j are springs, one of which may constitute a portion of each of the arms i¹. The
flange connected with the bushing of each wheel is made rectangular, as shown
in Figure 3.
A frame consisting of a cross piece k and two side pieces k¹ and k², is provided as
a stay for the forward wheels. The two side pieces k¹ and k² are hinged to the
bottom board of the body toward the rear of the carriage.
7 and are two plates of the form shown in Figure 6 arranged at opposite ends
of the cross piece k. Each of these plates is provided with a T-shaped socket,
as shown in Figure 6, which slides upon one of the plates i, from the top downwards,
and is held in the position shown in Figures 3 and 4 ; being prevented from
falling below the plate by a stud suitably arranged for that purpose. A similar
frame is provided for the hind wheels; the corresponding parts being lettered mm² m²,
nn. But this frame is hinged to the bottom board toward the front crossing the
frame of the forward wheels as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The cross piece m may
be made double, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, and the slots between the two parts
may be utilized for receiving the braces o and o¹ each of which is pivoted to the
cross piece m, and each of which may be used, as shown in Figure 4, to act as a
brace between the cross piece and one of the arms ¹.
The canopy may consist of the ordinary parasol p the handle of which is grasped
by the clip, as shown in Figure 8. The rear end of this clip is split and embraces
between its two parts, a plate q to which it is pivoted. The parasol may be moved at
various angles of inclination upon this pivot and may be held at any desired angle by
tightening the set screw q' and thus cause the plate q to be held firmly between the
two branches of the clip. The plate q is mounted upon the upper end of an upright g²
which enters any suitable socket in the head-board of the carriage.
If desired, arm guards 771 may be hinged on either side to the top of the side-
board above the rear wheels, and each may be held in place by a brace made in two
parts hinged together so that the same may be folded and thus allow the arm
pieces to drop down against the side-board. The folding is accomplished; as
follows:-
Starting with the carriage in condition for use, as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4,
the seat is moved forward and downward in the direction indicated by the arrow e*,
(Figure 3) and is then shoved backwards to the extent permitted by the entrance
of the projections es into the slots of the links e¹. Next, the support 92 is removed
from its socket in the head-board thus removing the canopy. Next, the foot-board is
unlatched from the side boards and is moved backwards and downwards in the
direction indicated by the arrow c¹ of Figure 3, until it rests upon the bottom-board.
Next, the links g¹ are moved upwards so as to bring the projections g³ into the main
portion of the slot g₁ and then the handle g is moved up against the head-board in
the position shown in Figure 10. Next, the head-board is unlatched from the side-
boards and is moved forward and downward in the direction of the arrow d¹
(Figure 3) until it lies upon the bottom-board; the handle g then occupying a
position on the top of both the head-board and the foot-board. Next, the side-
piece 63 is moved in the direction of the arrow 64 (Figure 4) until it lies horizontally
above the parts previously folded.
In order to do this however, it is necessary first, to detach the wheel supports i and i¹
one one side of the carriage, from the frames k and m, which is done simply by sliding
the plates and n upward off of the plates. This permits the two wheels on one
side of the carriage to be swung upward-the front one in a backward direction and
the back one in a forward direction-until they overlap one another, as indicated in

page_text: Figure 10. Then the folding of the side-board 63 as already described, will carry
with it the two wheels connected therewith and place them in position of the
The two wheels on the
wheels (Figure 5) above the parts already folded.
opposite side of the carriage are then detached from the frames k and m and swung
up in the same manner; and the hinged side-piece 62 is then swung inward and
downward as indicated by the arrow (Figure 4) until it occupies the position, as
shown in Figure 5, above the wheels already folded, carrying with it the wheels
connected with it and placing them on top of the wheels already folded in the position
indicated at he and h³ (Figure 5).
The frames and m are now swung up against the bottom board and held there by
a button n³, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.
It will now be seen that the carriage, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, occupies a very
small compass and can be readily stored or transported.
If desired, the carriage may be converted into a cradle in the following manner:
To do this, the wheels are folded as shown in Figure 10, then rockers are provided
and attached as shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13. These rockers consist of the following
parts: the flexible metallic pieces which, when unattached to the carriage body,
flattens out as shown in Figure 13; links s¹ and s², one of which is pivoted to each
end of the pieces; pieces 3 and 4, one of which is pivoted to the extremity of each
of the links s¹ and s²; and braces and also pivoted to the ends of the links.
The links may be made in two parts as shown in Figure 12, and the braces may be
pivoted to them so as when folded, each will swing up into the slot between the two
parts of the link to which it is pivoted, as shown in Figure 12.
When these rockers are not in use, they are folded as shown in Figures 12 and 13
so that they occupy very little space. But when in use the pieces and stare
inserted in sockets s' formed in the bottom of the carriage body as shown in
Figure 6; the pieces connected with opposite ends of the rocker being inserted in
the sockets located at opposite sides of the body, as shown in Figures 10 and 11.
Then, by moving the braces into the position shown in Figure 11, the piece s
is sprung into the bowed form there shown and constitutes the rocker.
Projections may be provided on the links for holding the wheels in the folded
position, as shown in Figure 10. If preferred, the upright 92 and the clips
supporting the canopy need not be removed, but the latter may be swung over
onto the former and the former pushed down into its socket so as to occupy the
position shown in Figure 11.
In order that the rear wheels may swing into their folded position outside of the
forward wheels, they may be pivoted to the side of the body upon a stud t projecting
therefrom; and they may each be steadied by a projection t from the bottom
board.
Having thus described the nature of the said invention and the manner in which
the same may be used or carried into effect, I would observe that I do not confine
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe
or refer to, as variations may be made therefrom without diviating from the principles
or main features of said invention. But what I consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim the invention secured to me, is :-
1. In combination with the body of a vehicle and a wheel thereof, an arm pivoted
at its upper end at or near the top of the vehicle body, upon the lower end of which
arm the wheel is journalled and mechanism connected with said body at or near its
bottom whereby the swinging motion of said arm is stayed.
2. In combination with a vehicle body and four wheels, the forward pair being
arranged to have a different width of track than the rear pair, an arm for each wheel
pivoted at its top to the body of the vehicle, having at its bottom the journal of the
wheel and means connected with the body of the vehicle whereby said arm is stayed
from oscillation.
3. In combination the body of a vehicle and its four wheels, an arm for each wheel
pivoted to the body of the vehicle and having at its lower end the journal for the wheel,

page_text: the pivots for the two arms on each side of the vehicle being separated by a distance
nearly equal to the distance from each pivot to the ground.
4. In combination with the body of a vehicle and a wheel thereof, an arm pivoted
to the body having at its lower end a journal for the wheel; said arm being composed
of two parts, a spring interposed between the upper and lower parts of said arm and
means whereby said arm may be stayed from oscillation.
5. In a vehicle, in combination with a folding body and a wheel thereof, au arın
pivoted to a side of said body so as to swing longitudinally and having the journal of
the wheel at its lower end and adapted to be swung up at the side of the body.
6. The combination with a vehicle body adapted to have its sides folded over upon
one another, four arms, two of which are pivoted to each side and swung in parallel
longitudinal planes and four wheels journalled at the ends of said arms.
7. The combination of the bottom of a body, the ends hinged thereto, the sides,
each consisting of two sections hinged at different elevations above the bottom of the
body wheels and the arms upon which the wheels are journalled and which are pivoted
to the upper sections of the side of the body.
8. The combination of the bottom of the body, the sides thereof, each composed of
two sections hinged together at different elevations above the body, the wheels, and
the arms upon which the wheels are journalled and which are pivoted to the upper
sections of the sides.
9. In a vehicle having a folding body, the combination with each side of said body,
of two arms pivoted thereto and the wheel journalled upon the end of each arm so
arranged that the wheel upon one arm may be swung up to overlap the wheel upon
the other arm.
10. In a vehicle having a folding body, the combination with each side of said body,
of two arms pivoted thereto and swinging longitudinally, a wheel journalled to each
arm and mechanism whereby the oscillation of said arms may be stayed.
11. In combination, a vehicle body, a rocker composed of a flexible strip having a link
connected with each end, and intermediate braces whereby said flexible strip is drawn
into a bowed form.
12. In combination, the vehicle body, the wheels thereof, the arms pivotally con-
nected to said body and upon which the said wheels are journalled whereby the said
wheels may be swung so as to overlap each other at the sides of the body and rockers
adapted to have attachment to said vehicle body whereby the same may be con-
verted into a cradle.
13. In combination with a baby carriage having folding wheels to adapt it to be
converted into a cradle body, the detachable rockers.
Dated this 10th day of September 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.