IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PERAMBULATORS, BATH CHAIRS, AND OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES."
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Dunkley, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
PERAMBULATORS, BATH CHAIRS, AND OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Dunkley at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st December 1877.
WILLIAM HENRY DUNKLEY, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PERAMBULATORS, BATH CHAIRS, AND OTHER
SIMILAR VEHICLES."
"
"IM-
The object of this Invention is to enable perambulators (or other vehicles pro-
pelled by handles in a similar way) to be reversed, that is to say, to be propelled
either from the back or from the front, as may be required.
In the lower part of the frame of the carriage (or in a kind of false bottom
attached thereto) I form an annular groove or slot, and in this groove I fit a
movable ring, and to the said ring I attach the shaft which carry the hand rail or
handle.
The frame, body, axles, and wheels are all connected together in the usual manner,
so that their position with regard to each other does not change in whichever
direction the carriage is propelled, but it will be evident that the handle shafts
being attached to the movable ring can be brought round either to the back or the
front of the body, according to whether it is desired to propel the carriage forwards
or backwards.
A spring catch or other suitable contrivance is provided for the purpose of
locking the ring or the shafts in either position.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Dunkley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st
May 1878.
WILLIAM HENRY DUNKLEY, of Manchester, in the County of Lancastor
"IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PERAMBULATORS, BATH CHAIRS, AND OTHER
SIMILAR VEHICLES."
The object of this Invention is to enable perambulators (or other vehicles pro-
pelled by handles in a similar way) to be reversed, that is to say, to be propelled
either from the back or from the front, as may be required.
In the lower part of the frame of the carriago (or in a kind of false bottom
attached thereto) I form an annular groove or slot; and in this groove I fit a
movable ring, and to the said ring I attach the shafts which carry the hand rail or
handle.
The frame, body, axles, and wheels are all connected together in the usual manner,
so that their position with regard to each other does not change in whichever
direction the carriage is propelled; but it will be evident that the handle shafts
being attached to the movable ring can be brought round either to the back or the
front of the body, according to whether it is desired to propel the carriage forwards
or backwards.
A spring catch or other suitable contrivance is provided for the purpose of
locking the ring or the shafts in either position.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention, I will now proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed
or carried into practical effect; and in order that the same may be clearly under-
stood, I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have
marked the same with figures and letters of referenco corresponding with those in
the following explanation thereof:-
Fig. 1 in the annexed Drawings is a side view of the body of a perambulator,
and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the false bottom detached.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the shafts, ring, and handrail; and Fig. 4, a
plan view of the same.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the perambulator complete, showing in dotted lines
the reversed position of the handles.
Between the false bottom or platform a, a, and the body b, b, is placed a circular
block of wood c, c, forming an annular groove c*, c*, round which fits the ring d, d,
which is attached to or formed in one piece with the shafts e, e, carrying the hand
rail ff
It will thus be evident that the ring d, d, carrying the shafts e, e, and hand rail
ff, can be turned round horizontally in the groove c*, c*, from the back to front,
and vice versa, as may be required.
The ring is provided with a spring catch g, and two corresponding holes are
made in the block c, c, for locking the handles in either position.
The platform u, v, is secured to the body b, b, of the perambulator by three bolts
h, h, h, and the axles are carried by the springs and brackets i, i, attached to the
platform a, a, in the usual manner.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention, attaching the shafts
of the perambulator to a ring (or forming them in one piece therewith), such ring
turning in an aunular groove formed beneath the body of the carriage, so that the

page_text: shafts and handle can be reversed from back to front, and back again, and fixed
in either position by spring catches or otherwise.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Dunkley, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
WILLIAM H. DUNKLEY. (LS.)