Improvements in Folding Perambulators and other Light Road Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 16th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Perambulators and other Light Road
Vehicles.
I, ROBERT RIACH THOM, 12 London Road, Kilmarnock, Scotland, Minister of
the Free Church of Scotland 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 :-
My object in this invention is to construct a perambulator or other light road
vehicle, capable of being folded into small space.
I attain this hy means and contrivances, which I shall explain and illustrate in
their application to a double perambulator with four wheels, by means of the
accompanying drawings, of which the following is a brief description.
Fig. I. A side view of the vehicle, showing the frame and body.
Fig. 11. An end view of the distended vehicle, showing the hinged handle and
chain stays.
Fig. III. An end view of the vehicle collapsed.
The vehicle consists of the body, (A) and of the two side frames (BB) from
which the body is suspended by straps (CC) or springs. The side frames as
shown in the drawings are of wood, but can also be made wholly or partly of metal.
The metal brackets (D D) on which the handles (E E) are hinged are shaped
somewhat like the letter Y, and the forked ends are bolted on to the corner of the
frame.
If springs are used for supporting the body, the following arrangement can be
employed.
A steel spring, fastened at each end to the top corners of the side frame by
bolts or shackles, takes the place of the upper rail, and to this spring the body of
the vehicle is fastened by screws or other means. The forking of the handle
bracket is not necessary in this arrangement. Both methods of suspending the
body are efficient and satisfactory; the former is the stronger, the latter the more
compact.
The handles (E E) are divided in the middle, and the two halves so hinged
to each other, that the handle folds downwards in collapsing. The handles when
distended are kept rigid by a catch (F) Close to each of the under corners of the
outside frame, is a trebly hinged cross bar (GG) which folds upwards in collapsing,
and when distended, is kept rigid by a catch. Metal corner plates (HH) are
bolted on to the under corners of the frame, and in these there are holes (P P) to
receive the stump axles (NN) on which the wheels run. The inner ends of
these axles are fitted into the holes and screwed up tight on the inside.
The outside frames are strengthened, kept rigid, and connected with each other
at the bottom and at each end, by diagonal stays (K K) formed of metal chains, or
bands or cords of some suitable material.
The sides and bottom of the body of the vehicle are made of wood or other
suitable material. The bottom (L) is divided into two equal parts down the
middle, and the halves are so hinged to each other and to the sides, that the bottom
folds upward in collapsing. The ends and seats are of leather, cloth or other
suitable flexible material or materials, fastened to and stretched between the sides.
At the ends of the outside frames, hooks and eyes (M M) are attached, to keep
the vehicle firmly and closely together when collapsed.

page_text: To collapse the vehicle, undo the catches of the handles and crossbars, giving
them a slight push in the direction in which they fold; then raise the bottom, and
press the sides together.
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 ;-
1. A vehicle of which the ends and seats are formed of leather, cloth or other
flexible material or materials arranged and disposed to collapse laterally as in my
invention.
2. A vebicle which in addition to such ends and seats, combines cross stays as
described, along with stump axles, suspensory frames and a hinged bottom.
3. I claim to be protected by Letters Patent, in the possession, use and
manufacture of this my invention, in its application to folding perambulators,
children's carriages and other light road vehicles.
Dated this 24th day of March 1896.
ROBERT RIACH THOM.