An Improved Safety Rocking Cart.
Year: 1888

page_text: An Improved Safety Rocking Cart.
I, TOM GRIFFIN RICHARDS of Loose, Maidstone in the County of Kent, School-
master, 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 invention has reference to that type of appliances employed for recreational
purposes known as "rocking carts" or "rocking horses," and has for its object to
produce a device in which perfect safety and security from overturning is assured, at
the same time that it shall be light and elegant in appearance.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings in which Figure 1. is an elevational view of the
improved device or appliance above referred to, and Figure 2. is a plan of the seat of
the same.
In carrying out my invention, 1 form the rockers A of my improved "rocking
cart" preferably of channel iron, such as is usually employed for the rims or felloes
of velocipede wheels, in the channels or grooves of which would be inserted and
secured, round rubber as used for the tyres of such wheels; or I may use half round
or round iron, or iron pipe or tubing, or otherwise flat band iron.
The ends a a of said rockers are turned over to form scrolls, which, while presenting
an ornamental appearance, serve as stops for preventing the overturning of the device.
The curve of the rockers A is maintained constant by the adaptation thereto of an iron
rod or bar B representing the chord of the arc xy. which is bolted at both ends to the
rockers aforesaid.
Three ties or braces b, 61, 61, which serve to secure the rockers A together at a
suitable distance apart, are bolted one at the bottom as shown at 61, the other two b, b¹¹,
being fixed at the ends by the same bolts which secure the ends of the tie rod B above
referred to.

page_text: The "cart" C, which may be formed of wood, or wicker work, or a combination
of both, or of other suitable material or substance, is mounted upon the rockers A
by means of flat bands of iron to serve as springs. One form of spring which
I adopt is shown at c Figure 1, which may be furnished preferably with the
strenghtening members c¹. Alternative forms of springs are also shown in the
diagrams Figures 5 and 6. The base of the cart C, which serves as a seat thereto,
a wider seat being adopted for more than one occupant, has a semi-circular hole d
cut therein, Figure 2. to allow of the passing therethrough of the legs of the occupant
or occupants, and is provided with a back and arms, padded or otherwise as may be
desired. A strap or equivalent is also provided to secure occupant in the cart.
The front of the base of the cart is extended into a narrow tongue D to which is
adapted a horses head and neck, or other suitable attractive effigy, provided with
reins and other adornments.
Beneath the aperture d in the base of the cart C, is provided an adjustable foot-rest E,
formed of any suitable material, and bolted or otherwise secured to two peices of flat
iron F, the ends ff¹ of which are bent to form scrolls. The upper scrolls of have a
longitudinal slot formed therein to allow of the ready adjustment to any desired angle
of the foot rest E aforesaid. The scrolls flare loosely attached to a transverse bar,
the ends of which latter are secured to the lugs of two bosses G, shown drawn to an
enlarged scale at Figure 4, pieces of tubing being inserted between the eyes of the
scrolls and the bosses G to maintain said scrolls fin position, as shown in diagram
Figure 3. Said bosses G which slide freely upon the tie rods B, are provided with
set screws g by means of which the foot rest E and supports F may be shifted to and
fro, and secured in any suitable position.
A longitudinal slot may, if desired be cut in the tie rods B, as shown in the
enlarged view Figure 3, in which slots would be inserted the supports F above
described. The distance of the foot rest E from the seat of the cart C, may be varied
or regulated at will, by means of a strap, cord or equivalent H, one end of which
would be attached to a transverse bar joining the supports F together, the other end
being secured to any suitable part of the bottom of the cart by means of a stud,
button, hook or equivalent, or to a transverse bar secured to the springs c.
Instead of the foot rest E and supports F above described, I may form a well,
beneath the aperture d of the cart C, for the reception of the legs of the occupant of
the cart, as shown by the well in dotted lines at Figure 1, similar to those employed
'in infants perambulators.
As a modification of the above described form of cart, 1 may, according to my
invention, form a cart to accommodate two occupants; according to which modification,
the base of the cart C. would be provided with a central partition, and a second semi-
circular aperture formed in said base, as also an accompanying footrest. In a cart
formed or made up in the manner last above mentioned, the occupants would be seated
back to back, and in order to meet the requirements of these circumstances, the rear
end of the base of the cart would be extended into a tongue, upon which would be
fitted the representation of a horses head or other suitable effigy, to correspond with
the first above mentioned effigy ; thus, both occupants would enjoy their recreation
under the same conditions.
In order to ensure a smooth oscillatory movement of the rocking cart upon uneven
floors, I employ a frame work or base made up of two planks having longitudinal
grooves or depressions formed therein for the reception of the rockers:-said planks
being maintained at the proper distance apart by means of iron tie rods, wooden
braces or equivalents.
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
d claim is:-
First: The improved safety rocking cart substantially as herein set forth.
Second-The improved rockers for rocking carts or rocking horses substantially
basin dasaribad and chown in the

page_text: Third-In a rocking cart or rocking horse the adaptation thereto of a cart, the
base of which is in one piece and having the effigy of a horses head mounted on a
narrowed end thereof substantially as herein set forth and shown.
Fourth-In combination with the cart of a rocking cart or rocking horse the
employment of an independent foot rest E supported upon iron bars F free to travel
backward and forward upon the tie rods B substantially as herein set forth.
Fifth-In a rocking cart or rocking horse the mode of and means employed
for mounting the cart upon the rockers substantially as herein described and shown.
Da
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T1 1000