US27189A - Joseph lamb - Google Patents

Description

J. LAMB.

Sled.

Patnted Feb 14. 1860'.

)LPET Rs, FHOTO-LITNDGRQFNER, WASHINGTON, D, c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH LAMB, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND RICHARD LAMB, OF SAME PLACE.

PORTABLE SLED.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 27,189, dated February 14, 1860.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrrr LAMB, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sleds, lVhereby They Are Rendered More Portable and Convenient; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a convenient sled or chair on which ladies and others may slide upon the ice or snow, and which when the ourney or the pastime is over, may be readily reduced to a compact form for transportation or storage, and which may readily be again expanded into a condition for use.

The nature of my invention consists in the production of a folding sled composed of parts so hinged together, as explained below, that it may instantly be made to assume at pleasure the character of a strong and well braced sled or of a compact mass of materials convenient for transportation or storage; also in so combining, arranging and hinging together a pair of grooved braces, a pair of cross braces and a pair of suitable runners that the sled when folded occupies a thickness equal to that of the braces themselves; also in connection with the above in so arranging and hinging a frame thereto, as to form a rest or support for the back of the rider, and to fold into the plane of the braces and runners when so desired; also in the use, in a folding sled of the character herein indicated, of a hinged or flexible foot rest, so arranged and suspended as to support the foot properly, allowing it to swing forward to any extent desired when in use without sensibly increasing the dimensions of the structure when folded.

In many situations where skating and sliding upon the ice is a favorite pastime with both ladies and gentlemen some form of sled is often required upon which those who can not skate may slide, but where the skating fields are at a distance, the usual forms are quite too clumsy and inconvenient of transportation for the purpose. In such places my new sled is peculiarly ap )licable, combining lightness and strengti with compactness and convenience in a very perfect manner.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construct-ion and operation by the aid of the drawings, in which Figure 1, is a perspective view of the sled when unfolded and ready for use. Fig. 1 is a section on the line S, S, in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a view of the same when partially folded up, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sled when completely folded showing the manner in which the braces and runners arrange themselves one within the other when in this condition.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

R, R, are the runners hinged to the end of braces B, B, and each capable of folding into a groove in the edges of the corresponding brace B in a manner similar to the blade of a common pocket knife. The other ends of the runners R, R, are let into the ends of cross braces C, which are hinged to Bat c as represented; shoulders r on the runners prevent the braces B and G from opening farther than is proper, while the construction allows them to approach nearer each other at pleasure. The braces C are of the same breadth as braces B, and are placed within braces B, so that when folded they lie in the same plane.

B and B are rigidly united by cross bars I, J, for the purpose of keeping them steady. C, C, are similarly united by the cross bars K, L, and these are so arranged and the braces G and B so notched, as represented, that neither interferes with the folding of B and G into the same plane.

To the cross bars I and K, at the upper ends of braces B and C, I attach cloth or other flexible material G to form a seat; and to K I attach another piece of cloth E, which is of proper length when looped up, as shown in Fig. 1, to form a stirrup for the feet. Stiffening pieces 6 e are fixed in the bottom of this stirrup to prevent the cloth doubling upon and inconnnoding the feet. This stirrup E may, if preferred, be made of pieces of metal hinged to C, G, and can be suspended so low as to allow the feet to reach the ice. The stirrup may then be provided wit-h short runners and allowed to slide upon the ice at pleasure instead of being constantly supported by the cross bar K.

Outside of braces B, B, and to their up per ends, I hinge two arms A, A, attached to each other at their extreme ends by a rod or bar a, and capable of folding back outside of B, B, as shown in Fig. 3. Acrossthese arms A, A, I extend cloth or other suitable stuff, as represented, and thus form a back rest for the rider. The arms A, A, may be retained in their proper position by pins 9 inserted through them int-o braces B, B, or by any other convenient means.

WVhen folded for transportation my sled assumes the form shown in Fig. 3, all the braces lying side by side in the same plane. The cloth, leather, or the like, of the back and stirrup form a wrapper which may envelop the whole as represented, the extreme length and breadth of the package being the length and width of the back, and the extreme thickness being equal to the width of one of the braces B.

When expanded and prepared for use, the several parts are so braced and supported as to form a strong and stiff sled with a comfortable seat and back. It can, like any other sled, be pushed before the person propelling it or may be dragged by a cord. It will be observed that there are no detached pieces to be lost or mislaid, the sled being complete in itself whether folded or expanded. It Will also be observed that with the exception of the means of supporting the back no fastenings of any character require to be secured on extending the sled, it being only necesssary to unfold the parts, by a slight pull and to see that the extremities of C C are properly placed astride of the runners B. -On folding together no parts except the back-rest require any delay to eflect their release.

Having now fully described my invention what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

1. A folding sled as a new article of manufacture, the parts being hinged together and capable of being instantly expanded into a rigid sled or folded in a small compass as herein set forth.

2. I claim in a folding sled the within described combination and arrangement of the grooved braces, B, cross braces, C, and runners, R, whereby the sled when folded occupies a thickness equal only to that of the braces, B or C, themselves.

3. I claim, in connection with the last, the within described arrangement of the back frame, A, by which it is folded into the plane of the braces B, C, and runners R.

4. I claim, in a folding sled constructed substantially as herein described, the employment of the flexible or hinged foot rest E so arranged and suspended as to secure the advantages above set forth.

J OS. LAMB.

Witnesses THOMAS D. Srn'rsoN, G. H. BABCOCK.

Images