US154790A - Improvement in railway sleeping-cars - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAMFLOWERS, OF BANGOR, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILWAY SLEEPING-CARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,790, dated September 8, 1874 application filed March 6, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM FLOWERS, of

Bangor, in the county of Penobscot and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Sleeping-Oars; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, that will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification, in which is shown a perspective view of my invention.

Same letters show like parts.

My object is to provide a sleeping-car which, while possessing all the advantages of those now in use, shall be more economical in construction, capable of better ventilation, and secure more freedom from jar than those now in use. Moreover, from the arrangement of my car the passenger can secure more privacy in dressing than in those cars where the berths -face each other.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that the seats a a are arranged in the center instead of at the sides of the car. Between each section a post, 1), extends from-the bottom to the top of the car through the center, and provided with grooves c, or similar devices. Within these grooves run partitions de, the lower one when not used, as hereafter explained, fitting into a space between and forming the ends of the seatsn a. The upper partition 0 is so arranged as to be capable of being pushed up into the monitor of the car, so as to be entirely out of the way in the daytime. To each sideof these partitions are hinged berths ff 9 g, which when not in use are stowed away, as shown, in the forward section A of the car, shown in the drawing. When the berths are to be made up, the lower partition d with its hinged berths ff is drawn upward until its lower edge, to which said berths are attached, is level with the bottoms of the seats. The berths f f are then turned down, resting on the seat bottoms, the partition 61 remaining upright in the grooves o c of the posts b b, and separating the lower berths from each other; Theupper berths are made up by drawing the partition 6 and its attached berths g y down from the monitor, until its lower edge at or near which the berths g g are hinged,

touches the upper edge of the partition d, when said berths g g are turned down into a horizontal position, the partition 0 remaining upright and separating the upper berths. The berths g 9 may be supported by straps from the top of the car, as at h h, or by resting on the head and foot boards of the lower berths. At the end of each partition 0, on each side, are hinged end pieces 71 t, capable of being turned out, as shown in section B, to make the head and foot boards for the berths.. The same arrangement may be used for the lower berths, or the backs of the seats a a may be recessed and provided with slides j, which may be drawn up, as shown at j, to serve this purpose.

Many changes in details of construction may be made without. departing from the spirit of my invention. The space between the upper edge of the partition 0 and the monitor may be filled by a curtain when said partition is drawn down, or a casing may be provided, into which the partition may run, and which shall remain stationary when the partition e is drawn down. Weights may be employed, after the manner of Window-weights, to assist in raising the partitions and attached berths. The car is also intended to be provided with the usual curtains, upholstery, &c., common to cars of this class.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Pate11t,is

1. In a railroad-car having seats through its center, the grooved posts b b, in combination with sliding partitions d, having berths f f hinged thereto, the partitions when resting on the bottom of the car separating theseats a a, and separating said berths ff when said berths are made up for use, substantially as set forth.

2. In a railroadoar having seats through its center,- the grooved posts b b, in combina tion with sliding partitions 0 having berths g g hinged thereto, and separating said upper berths when made up for use, and capable of being pushed up into the monitor of the car, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of March, 187 4.

WM. FLOWERS.

Witnesses WM. FRANKLIN SEAVEY, R. J. POWER.

Images