Improvements in Children's Mail-carts and other Light Vehicles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 27th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 6th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Children's Mail-carts and other Light Vehicles.
We JAMES HONIBALL TOZER and WILLIAM TOZER both of 10 Eastcheap in the
City of London, Railway Plant Contractors do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
Our invention has been designed more particularly with reference to the vehicles
known as children's mail carts, but it is applicable to other light vehicles such for
example as perambulators and Bath chairs.
We will describe the invention as applied to children's mail carts. These vehicles
have hitherto been constructed with the seat, the back and the footsteps firmly and
rigidly fixed to the framing of the vehicle; the angle of the seat, back and footsteps
therefore varies with the height of the person who propels the vehicle, that is to say
with the height to which such person lifts the shafts, and with the nature of the
ground-whether level or inclined-upon which the vehicle is being moved. This
difference in the angle is sometimes very considerable, so much so that it is detrimental
to the health and comfort of a child or children sitting in the vehicle.
Now the object of our invention is to overcome this objection and for this purpose
we make the seat and back, and if desired the footsteps independent of the main
framing of the vehicle and provide them with a framework of their own so that they
will maintain or approximately maintain the horizontal or other position to which
they may have been adjusted, notwithstanding any variation in the angle of the main
framing.
Our invention can be carried out in various ways. For example the independent
framework which carries the seat and back and if desired the footsteps, can be suspended
or balanced from or between the main framing of the vehicle on a centre or centres.
Or the main framing can have curved paths or guides upon or in which the indepen-
dent framework can roll or run. Or the independent framework can be mounted on
a horizontal axis in the main framing and be supported at back and front by pivoted
rods which are connected to the main framing.
11
11
Jana 1200
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Children's Mail-carts and other Light Vehicles.
We, JAMES HONIBALL TOZER and WILLIAM TOZER both of 10 Eastcheap in the
City of London, Railway Plant Contractors, 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:—
Our invention has reference more particularly to the vehicles known as children's
mail carts. These vehicles as bitherto generally constructed have had the seat, the
back and the footsteps firmly and rigidly fixed to the framing of the vehicle, the angle or
inclination of the seat, back and footsteps therefore varies with the height of the
person who propels the vehicle, that is to say with the height to which such person
lifts the shafts, and with the nature of the ground-whether level or inclined-upon
which the vehicle is being moved. This angle or inclination is sometimes very
considerable, so much so that it is detrimental to the health and comfort of a child or
children seated in the vehicle.
Now the object of our invention is to overcome this objection and to make the

page_text: vehicle more comfortable both for the occupants and for the person who propels it.
For these purposes we make the part which carries the child or children, that is to say
the seat and back and the footsteps independent of the main framing of the vehicle
and we provide them as hereinafter described with a suspended or balanced swing-
like framework of their own, so that they will maintain or approximately maintain
their normal position notwithstanding the variation in the inclination or angle of the
main-framing or shafts according to whether these are held by a tall or short person.
Figure 1 of the annexed drawings is a side elevation and Figure 2 a back elevation
showing a children's mail cart constructed according to our invention in its preferred
form. a, a is the main framing of the vehicle and b, b are the shafts formed in a piece
therewith or fixed thereto. are stretchers or ties connecting together the sides of
the framing a, a. c, c are the bearing springs, d the axle and e, e the wheels, f, fare
front and rear seats, g the back and h, the footsteps. These parts are carried by an
independent framework which is constructed and suspended from the main framing a, a
as follows: i, are side bars or beams forming the lower part of the independent
framework. From these bars are carried up the front and rear bars k, k and these
are connected at their upper ends by side bars 1, 1, and intermediately by side bars m, m
which support the seats. The bars i, i support the footsteps hh. To the main framing
we affix bearings n, n to receive the bent ends of cranked rods p, p which are held in
place by bearings 7, 9 on the underside of the side bars i, . These cranked rods
which are free to turn or rock in the bearings n, n and y, 9 suspend the bars i, i and
the rest of the independent framework together with the seats, back and footsteps,
from the main framing a, a so that the independent framework will approximately
maintain its normal position swinging with the cranked rods p, p on the main
framing a, a irrespective of the height at which it is usually held by the person
propelling the vehicle.
į
Although we prefer to employ cranked rods of the form shown in Figures 1 and 2
by which to suspend the independent framework it is not essential that these rods
should be continuous from the bearing n on the one side of the vehicle to the corre-
sponding bearing n on the other side. It will suffice if there is a rod or link from
each bearing n to the corresponding bearing on the same side of the vehicle.
Instead of these bearings other analogous devices may be employed for the rods or
links to turn on or in. The two cranked rods p,p are shown at a considerable angle to
each other, being such as we think necessary to ensure that the independent frame-
work shall approximately maintain its normal position at the extreme height to which
the shafts are likely to be lifted while the vehicle is being propelled; this angle may
however, be reduced if thought fit, but the nearer the two rods p, p approach the
parallel, the less will be the limit within which the independent framework will
approximately maintain its normal position although it will still swing on the main
framing a, a.
As with our invention the independent suspended framework with the seats and the
occupants can be practically balanced in all probable positions of the shafts, little or
none of the weight comes upon the person propelling the vehicle.
The front and rear bars k, k are extended below the side bars so as to form front
and rear supports or stops, to the framing a, a when the vehicle is at rest and the
shafts are lowered or raised to the full limit. In order to reduce or ease the shock in
case these stops r, come in contact with an obstruction while the vehicle is being
propelled, they may be fitted with small wheels or rollers. Or one or more wheels or
rollers may for the same purpose be fitted to the front footstep h, these wheels in this
case constituting the front stops or supports.
Figure 3 represents in side elevation a modified construction in which the independent
framework instead of being suspended by swinging cranked rods as in Figures 1 and 2
is hung or suspended from centres n in brackets or supports s fixed to the main
framing a, a. Each of the two seats has a separate body or framework and they can
be arranged either back to back as shown or tandem fashion as may be preferred.
The two separate bodies or frameworks are connected together by the beans or
bars which are attached to the bars k, k of the bodies, the beams i being free to

page_text: turn on pins or centres v, v attached to the bodies and serving to keep them apart
from each other, but not preventing their moving freely upon the centres n, n from
which they are suspended. The footsteps h, h are carried by the beams i.
It is obvious that our mail carts can be constructed with only a single seat instead
of with two seats as shown in the figures.
Although our invention is more particularly intended for the so-called children's
mail carts it is also applicable to two wheeled perambulators. Its application
to this purpose is represented in Figure 4 in which it will be seen that the body of
the perambulator is carried by an independent swinging frame. Reference letters the
same as those in Figs. 1 and 2 indicate corresponding parts. t, tare wheels or rollers
(or they may be plain supports or stops) to assist in supporting the vehicle when at
rest; they do not touch the ground when the vehicle is being propelled. The handle
bars are hinged at bottom to the frame i and can be moved over as desired to either
end of the vehicle and secured to the frame a by a bolt or catch; but the method of
attaching these bars forms no part of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In a children's mail cart or two wheeled perambulator a separate or independent
framework or body for that part of the vehicle which carries the child or children, the
said framework or body being suspended from the main framing of the vehicle on each
side by two suspending rods arranged on opposite sides of its centre of gravity and
pivoted at their upper ends to the main framing of the vehicle and extending thence
downwardly at diverging angles and pivoted at their lower ends to the said indepen-
dent. framework of the vehicle, whereby the part which carries the child or children
maintains or approximately maintains its normal position notwithstanding any variation
of the inclination or angle of the main framing substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
2. In a children's mail cart or two wheeled perambulator, a separate or indepen-
dent framework or body for that part of the vehicle which carries the child or children
in combination with suspending rods by which the said framework or body is
suspended from the main framing of the vehicle, the said rods being pivoted at their
upper ends in bearings in the two sides of the main framing and at points above the
axle thereof, und being pivoted at their lower ends by bearings in the lower part of
the independent framework and at points below the axle of the vehicle, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The construction of children's mail-carts substantially as shown in Figures 1
and 2 and hereinbefore described.
4. The construction of children's mail-carts substantially as shown in Figure 3 and
herein before described.
5. The construction of two wheeled perambulators substantially as shown in Figure 4
and hereinbefore described.
Dated this 27th day of Dotation 1800
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.