US713431A

US713431A - Combined wagon and baby-walker.

Info

Publication number: US713431A
Application number: US9189102A
Authority: US
Inventors: John Brunton Harstone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1902-01-30
Filing date: 1902-01-30
Publication date: 1902-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 1919-11-11

Description

No. 7l3,43|. Patented Nov. Il, |902.

, J. B. HARSTONE.

COMBINED WAGON AND BABY WALKER.

App11catxon filed Jan. 30, 19 2 (No Medel!) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

nl" IIIIIII u Il" ifm Alf/army msm Nc-ronmm No. 7|3.43l. Patented Nov. II, |902.

J. B. HABSTONE. COMBINED WAGON AND BABY WALKER.

(Applicaton tiled Jan. 30, 1902.)

3 'Sheets-Sheet .2.

(No Model.)

R a H Jy E ma Norms mins co. PHorcxLrrHn warum-non, r:4 c,

nu. 713,431. Patented Nov. n, |902.

J. B. H'ARSTUNE.

CUMBINED WAGON AND BABY WALKER.

(Application md Jan. so, 1902.) Y (No Mouel.) 3 Sheets-Sheet `3.

ma anale neus ro. Haro-LINO., wAsHnmTon, n. c.

lli-viren STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN BRUNTONllARSTONE, OF WINNIPEG, CANADA.

CONlBlNED WAGON AND BABY-WALKER.

SPECLFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 713,431, dated November 11, 1902. Application filed January 30, 1902. Serial No. 91,891. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BRUNToN HAR- STONE, a subject of the King of England, residing at Winnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba and Dominion of Canada, have invented new and useful improvements in a Combined Wagon and Baby-*Walken of which the following is a specification. l

This invention relates to a combined Wagon and baby-walker; and one object of the same is to assemble in a single device means Whereby a baby-walker can be readily converted into a wagon or the latter quickly arranged as a baby-walker, each converted device being unaffected in the performance of its individual function by the parts contributing to the production of the two devices and which remain present in part continuously in the one main structure.

A further object of the invention is to produce a baby-walker which will enable a child to propel or move himself in erect position over the floor or other surface without injury to or malformation of the limbs and which will also prevent the unhealthful absorptionv of injurious substances or materials usually affecting crawling children present in or on floors or coverings for the latter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined device which can be safely utilized in muscular-ly developing the body, limbs, and arms of a young child and be conducive to healthful sleep and also capable of being readily arranged for amusing an older child or as a means of conveyance for children generally.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved device arranged as a baby-Walker. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device arranged as awagon. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal vertical section of the improved device with all the parts assembled in one structure. Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation of the device; and Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of a portion of the body of the device and the front axle, showing one of the lool;- ing drop-bars.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates a body which may be of any material or dimension, but preferably of a light structure and comprising opposite sides and ends and open at the top and bottom. The body lis secured to the front and rear axles, (respectively designated by the

numerals

2 and 3,) the front axle being held by a king or other similar bolt 4 against a bolster-block 5, secured in the lower front portion of the body. The said front axle 2 is thus made to turn in guiding the body when the improved device is arranged as a wagon and has forwardly-proj ecting eyes 6 for engagement with clip-bars 7, secured -to the rear end of a tongue 8, said clip-bars being freely removable from the eyes. The rear axle 3 is in the form of a drop-axle for convenience in application, and to strengthen l the same, as Well as the body 1, at the point Where said axle is applied a iilling-,bar 9 is intei-posed between the lower edge of the rear end of the body, against which the axle 3 has bearing, and the said axle and bar are surrounded by metal strips 10, Which have their opposite extremities secured to the rear end and lower edges of the body adjacent to the axle 3. YIt is also proposed to form the

axles

2 and 3 of light, strong, and durable material and in accord ance with the most approved pattern, and on the axles wheels 11 will be vmounted'and preferably of alight wire structu re similar to those used ou bicycles and light wagons for children, and in some instances the wheels may be supplied with rubber or other cushioning tires, which is an obvious expedient. Itis also obvious that the successful operation of the improved device is not dependent on any particular form of wheel or axle, and it is proposed to adopt devices of this class best adapted to serve the purnose.

A short distance above the lower open bottom portion of the body'ledge-strips 12 arev secured to the sides and rear end of thepbody,y on the interior of the latter, the upper edges of the ledges or ledge-strips being in a horizontal plane coincident with that of the up.- per edge of the bolster-block 5, so that the said block may also serve as a portion of the general ledge-support. To prevent injury to IOO the limbs of a child when the improved device is used as a baby-walker, the inner sides of the ledge-strips are beveled to remove injurious or rough corners and also avoid any tendency to an obstruction or retardation of the free bodily movement of the child when disposed in the body 1. The ledges or ledgestrips and the upper edge of the bolster-block 5 form a support for a removable bottom 13, which is used when the improved device is arranged as a wagon.

Rising above the upper edges of the sides and front end of the body 1 are combined retainers and guard-supporters 14, having vertical Shanks securely fastened to the sides and front end and upper inwardly-extending angular extremities located above the edges of the sides and end and having vertical members terminating in eyes 15. The eyes 15 have a guard rod or wire 16 secured therein and will aiford a convenient gripping means for the child, particularly when the device is arranged as a baby-walker, and will also provide a surrounding rail for the device when prepared for use as a wagon. The portions of the combined retainers and supports 14 that rise above the upper edges of the sides and front end of the body serve as guides for a top board 17, having acentral circular opening 18, padded or otherwise cushioned to preventinjury to the child, the said opening confining the child in the center of the body 1, and the distance of the board 17 from the floor-surface will be such that the upper side of the board will be on a level with that portion of the body of a child intermediate of the shoulders and waist. By this means the back of a child will be amply supported, and the arms will naturally be employed to grasp the guard wire or rod 16 or to hold on to the board 17, as may be the disposition of the child. The board 17 is applicableto the body 1, and removable from the latter by sliding it under and outward from the inwardly-extending angular portions of the retainers, and to hold the said board 17 in applied position dropbars 1S*PL movably depend from the rearportion of the guard wire or rod 16 and have longitudinally-extending slots 19 in their lower extremities for removable engagement with turn-buttons 20, secured to the rear end of the body 1. These drop-bars 18a can be readily released and raised on the guard or wire 16 to permit the top board 17 to be slid or moved rearwardly off the top of the body 1 to clear the same in arranging the improved device as a wagon. It will also be understood that when the device is prepared for use as a baby-walker it will be necessary to hold the front axle stationary in order that the child may regularly move the device without inconvenience due to sudden change of direction, which might ensue if the said front axle was free to turn on the king-bolt or fulcrum for the same. To hold the said front axle 2 against movement, drop-bars or retention-arms 21 are pivotally secured to the lower front portions of the sides of the body 1 and have downwardlycurved front extremities with front terminal bifurcations 22 to take over the opposite portions of the axles, and thereby hold the latter against movement.

When arranging the device for use as a baby-walker, the bottom 13 is removed and the top board 17 is secured in place on the upper portion of the body. The drop bars or arms 21 are turned down and caused to engage the front axle 2, and when the parts are so disposed the child is placed in the device through the opening 18 in the top board. WVhen it is desired to arrange the improved device as a wagon, the top board 17 is removed and the bottom board 13 is replaced in the body and rests on the ledges 12 and the upper edge of the bolster-block 5, the drop-'bars 1Sa being subsequently secured against the rear end of the body 1 by the turn-buttons 20. The tongue Sis then connected to the front axle by means heretofore explained, and the improved device can then be used as a wagon of that class commonly known as a toy express-wagon.

In addition to the advantages which have been enumerated a means is provided for healthfully amusing a young child and teaching it to walk without liability of injury to any part of the body, and in View of the safe nature of the device close attention of an attendant or nurse is unnecessary. The entire structure is economical by reason of the combination in one `device of means for converting it into either one of two distinct devices with considerably less expense than would be required in purchasing the ordinary separate devices combined in the present improved device.

Though the preferred form of my improved device has been shown and described, it isA obvious that changes in the dimensions, size, and minor details may be made without departing from the principle of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a device of the class set forth, the combination of a body having front and rear axles, the front axle being movable, means for holding the front axle against movement, a removable top board with an opening therethrough, means for holding the said top board in place on the body, and a removable bottom board.

2. In a device of the class set forth, the combination of a body having front and rear axles, the front axle being movable, means for holding the front axle against movement, a removable top board having an opening therethrough,a surrounding guard-rod above the plane of the top board, and means for holding the top board in place on the body.

3. In a device of the claSs set forth, the combination of a body adapted to be propelled, retainers secured to the body and having angular portions located above the upper edge of the latter, a guard device surround- IIO the upper portion of the body, and means movably depending from the rear portion of the guard device and detachably connected 15 to the rear end of the body to prevent the top board from slipping out of place.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN BRUNTON HARS'IONE.

Witnesses:

RICHARD F. DAvY, ARCHD. MCGILLIORAY.