US1859730A - Sleeping car - Google Patents

Description

May 24, 1932. T. DE ROODE .SLEEPING c Ary 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Original Filed June 13, 1924 i INVENTOR I T 'mble dfioade ATTORNEY I May 24, 1932. l T. DE ROODE SLEEPING CAR Original Filed June 15, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Y z'rnble defioode. BY

ATTORNEY Patented May 24, 1932 TRIMIBLE DE ROODE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SLEEPING can.

REISSUED Original application filed. June 13, 1924, Serial No. 719,772. Divided and this application filed April 18, 1930. Serial No. 445,369.

This invention relates to sleeping cars in general, and more especially to standard sleeping cars having the open berth sections, and constitutes the sub ect matter of a division of my co-pending application, Se-

rial No. 719,772 filed June 13, 1924.

Among the objects of the present invention it is aimed to afford greater individual privacy for the upper and lower berths, and to facilitate access to the upper berths. To the aforesaid ends, the present invention more specifically contemplates an arrangement of curtains with the standard open berth-sections, whereby the occupants of the 0 upper berths while dressing or undressing behind their curtains are positioned outside of the curtains of the lower berths and vice versa, whereby the occupants of the lower berths while dressing or undressing behind their curtains are positioned outside of the curtains of the upper berths. f

The present invention further contemplates the' provision of means whereby the occupants of the upper and lower berths of a section may simultaneously be dressing or un-' dressing while adjacent to their berths without intruding upon one anothers privacy.

The present invention still further contemplates an arrangement of curtains for the upper and lower berths whereby the portion of curtain foran upper berth disposed behind the curtain for the lower berth is secured at the lower extremity to insure the privacy of the occupants of the upper berth, and similarly, the portion of the curtain of the lower berth disposed behind the curtain of the upper berth is secured adjacent to the ;lower edge of the upper berth, to insure the privacy of the occupant of the lower berth.

As another object of the present invention, it is aimed to provide standing room or head room where the occupant of the lower berth may stand erect outside of the lower berth without intrudingupon the privacy of the occupant of the upper berth, and similarly,

to provide-standing room or leg room where the occupant of the upper berth may stand erect outside of the upper berth without intruding upon the privacy of the occupant of the lower berth.

for use throughout the night.

More specifically, the present invention contemplates, the provision of an individual step formation for each upper berth which preferably forms a permanent part of the car and may be moved into operative position To this end, the step formation may be variously arranged such for instance as equipped with a projection disposed below a recess formed in the lateral side supporting section andan auxiliary upper portion having projections disposed below recesses to form steps.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the subjoined detail description of certain embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a fragmental longitudinal section of a car equipped with one form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmental plan of the modification illustrated in Fig. 1.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are modifications respectively of the step portions.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental longitudinal section of a car equipped with one form of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental plan showing'the modification illustrated in Fig. 6.

- The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is shown as used with a standard car having upper and lower berth sections showing four sections, 1, 2, 3 and- 4, section 1 being partly broken away.

Since the several sections are substantially identical with one another, homologous parts will be designated by the same reference character, and to facilitate an understanding of the invention, the several sections are shown in different stages of conversion from day use to night use, which on account of the identity of the several sections, will at the same time, illustrate the different stages of conversion from day use to night use of each section, section 1 for instance, being entirely closed up ready for day use; section 2 having only the upper berth 5 opened up ready for night use without hanging up the curtains, and the step containing housing 6 swung out into opened position ready for night use; section 3 having both the upper and lower berths 5 and 7 respectively, opened up ready for night use with the upper curtain 8 for the upper berth 5 of such section hung up in place ready for night use, and the step containing housing 6 of such section swung out into opened position ready for night use; and section 4 having both the upper berth 5 and the lower berth 7 opened out ready for night use with the upper curtain 8 for the to the curtains and-the 20 f upper berth 5'and the lower curtain 10 for the lower berth 7 of said section both hung up ready for night use, and the step containing housing 6 of such section swung out ready for night use. In such outwardly swung position, the housing 6, of course, formsra partition between the lower berths and the space or room where the legs of a user may be positioned when standing on the steps of such housing 6, the housing 6 thus forming a leg room for the occupant of the upper berth.

With the modification illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, it is thus seen that the upper and lower berths of the standard sleeping car in use today will remain practically unaltered, the invention relating more or provision of a step ormation for gaining access to the upper berths.

With respect to the arrangement of ourtains, the invention contemplates using one portion of the curtain of each berth as a ivision or partition between such berth and the standing room or leg room for the other berth, and using the other portion of the curtain as the door flap for such berth. To this end the invention specifically contemplates providing securing means for securing one portion of the curtain for a berth to the upper and lower edges of a berth to form the partition, and providing securing means for securing the other portlon of the curtain merely at the upper end of such curtain, so that the lower end of such ortion may hang loosely and form the door ap for such berth.

As an instance, the upper curtain 8 is substantially L shaped as shown in F ig. 1, and is provided with the usual books 11 at its upper edge to engage the supporting rod 12 extending longitudinally of the car, and at the upper ends of the upper berths 5. The partition forming portion of the curtain 8 1s the narrow strip 13, and is provided with a suitable fastening means at its lower edge preferably as illustrated, the loops 14 which are bent around the rod 15 secured to the outer edge of the upper berth 5 and fastened in place by suitable buttons 16. The partition portion 13 as a rule extends over a half or a little more than a half of theberth. The other portion of the curtain 17 is not secured at its lower edge but is preferably less directly provided with an extending portion 18 hanging below the lower edge of the upper'berth and part way over the lower berth, to provide a leg covering for the occupant of the upper berth when dressing or undressing, the unsecured portion in addition thereto serving to facilitate the folding back of this portion 17 when used as a door flap during the entrance or egress of the occupant.

The curtain 10 for the lower berth is also provided with hooks at its upper end as for instance the hooks 19 which are secured to the supporting rod 12, but with the curtain 10, only a portion of the upper edge of the curtain 10 is provided with the hooks 19, which portion for convenience of description may be designated as the door flap portion 20 which hangs loosely down over the lower berth, and is preferably provided with a slit 21 preferably provided with suitable securing means such as the buttons 22 and suitable button holes whereby the opposing edges of the slit 21 may be buttoned together to close the upper flap when desired. The curtain 10 has a lateral extension 22' which extends below the lower edge of the upper berth 5 over which the portion 18 of the upper curtain 8 overlaps and this extension 22 is preferably provided with hooks 23 at its upper edge to be secured to and bent around the rod 15 and fastened in place by suitable buttons 24, such extension 22 forming the partition for the lower berth, spacing the lower berth from the leg room for the upper berth. This extension 22, as illustrated in Fig. 1, preferably extends inside of the step containing housing 6. From the foregoing it will be' seen that each curtain forms a partition and a door flap, the curtain 8 having the partition portion 13 separating the upper berth from the head room' for the occupant of the lower berth disposed between the par-- tition portion 13 and the door flap portion 20 of the curtain 10, and the curtain 10having the partition portion 22' formin le room for the occupant of the upper ert spacing the lower berth from such leg room, disposed between the partition portion 22 and the door flap portion 18 of the upper curtain 8.-

The step containing housing 6 in the present instance resembles a door member which is pivoted or hinged along one-edge as at 25 to one edge of the lateral upright end portion 26 disposed at the lateral edge of the adjacent back rests of two adjacent seats 27 and 28. For the purpose of the present invention it is preferable to provide an end portion 26 that extends substantially to the lower edge of the upper berths 5 as illustrated in Fig. 1. This end portion 26 in the present instance is preferably recessed from its upper edge down to the lever of the arm rests 29 as shown by the recess 30. The step containing housing 6 is provided with two recesses 31 for silent engagement and 32 each disposed above a step formation 33 and 34 whereby the step formations 33 and 34 extend inwardly into the recesses 31 and 32, affording a greater area as a foot support for the occupant of the upper berth, without forming an unduly extending step pro ection. The upper edge of the end ortion 26 and the upper edge of the housing are preferably provided with velvet edgings 35 and 36 for engagement with one another when the housing 6 is swung into closed position, to provide a dustproof closure and at the same time afford a sufficiently silent closure, and the velvet edging 35 is'provided for yieldable engagement with thecurtain extension 22' or with the under edge of the up r berth 5 should the curtain exten sion 22 be omitted.

Beyond one side of the end portions 26, and in the end board 37 of the seats 27 and 28, and preferably disposed below the position of the housing 6' when opened, there IS formed a recess 38 and below the recess 38 a step projection 39, which extends part1 outside of the recess 38 and beyond the end card 37, and partly into the recess 38' to form an extended sup orting area as a foot support to form the first step of the step formation for the occupant of the upper berth.

In Fig. 3, there is illustrated anotherend member generally designated by the reference character 40, the lower portion or end board 41 of which is substantially identical with the end board 37 of the end member 63 illustrated in Fig. 1, andis also provided with a recess 42- disposed above a step projection 43 substantially identical with the recess 38 and step projection 39 respectively of the modification illustrated in- Fig. 1. Above the end board 41, however, the end portion 44 has a less altitude than the altitude of the end portion 26 and as illustrated, is substantially one-half the height of the end portion 26 or just high enough to afford the formation of a single tion 44 has pivoted thereto a step containing housing 45 step formation 47, the step formation cooperating with the recess 46 to afford a greater supporting area for the foot of the occupant of the upper berth. The end portion'44 is provided with a recess 48 to receive the step portion 47 when the housing member 45 is swung into closed position, against the end portion 44.

In Fi 4, still another form of end member is il ustrated which is generally designated by the reference character 49. This end member 49 is substantially identical with the end member 40 having a low end portion 50 similar in height to the height of the end portion 44. In this modification, however, the step containing housing consists of v a slidable member 51 provided with a recess 52 and a step projection 53 at the lower end step 47.. This end porwhich is recessed at 46 above the thereof. The end portion 50 is rovided with a recess 54 slidably to receive t e housing member 51, the housing member 51 when slid out into the position shown in Fi .,4 being ready for night use and when slid into the recess 54 of t e end portion 50, being moved out of the way for day use.

In Fig. 5 there is illustrated still another form of end member, which is generally designated by the reference character 55. This end member 55 has an end portion 56 which has substantially the same height as that of the end portion 26 illustrated in Fig. 1. In this modification, Fig. 5, however, the end portion 56 is provided with a plurality of recesses, to wit, the two recesses 57 and 58 below which'there are formed the step projections 59 and 60 respectively. Below the step projection 60, the end board 56 is recessed as illustrated at 61 having a step projection 62 at its lower end. In the form illustrated in Fig. 5, the step formations are fixed relative -to the end member 55 and assume the same position for day use as for night use. However, when the end member 55 is used for instance with the arrangement of berths illustrated in Fig. 1 in place of the end member 63 there illustrated, in order properly to position the step formations 59, 6.0 and 62 to facilitate access to the u per berth from such step formation, it is esirable slidably to mount the end member 55, for instance on a track 64', the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 5 showing theposition of the end member 55 when in day use and the full line position illustrating the position of the end member 55 when ready for night use.

In Figs. 6 and 7 the berths are illustrated in staggered relation to one another with the upper berths overlapping the lower berths, with which arrangement, the curtains and step formations are provided, according to the present invention, that is, an arrangement of curtains and step forniations is provided whereby head room is provided for the lower berth spaced'from the upper berth, for

use of the occupant of the lower. berth in the course of dressing and undressing. and leg room is provided for the occupant of the uprangement here shown from the standard construction being that the lower and upper berths are staggered in relation to one another with the upper berths overlapping the lower berths. \Vith the modification illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, it is also'desirable to have the end portions 69 of the end members 70 extend up to the level of the lower edges of the upper berths 65. lVith this staggered relation, the end portions 69 extend up substantially to the middle of the upper berths and consequently when provided with step formations, the end portions 69 are in proper position for access to the upper berths from the step formations, without providing any movable step formations, such as those illustrated and required for the modification illustrated in Fig. 1. The end portions 69 are substantially identical with the end portions 56 of the end members illustrated in Fig. 5, that is provided with two recesses 71 and 72 with step projections 73 and 74 extending from the lower edges of such receses 71 and 72 respectively, and the end boards 75 of the end members provided with the recesses 76 disposed below the step projections 7 4 and having step projections 77 extending from the lower edges of the recesses 76.

In this modification, the upper berths are provided with two curtains 78 and 79 which are provided with hooks 80 at their upper ends adapted to be secured to the supporting rods 81 extending along the upper edges of the upper berths 65. The curtains 78 and 79, have the narrow end portions 82 and 83 respectively which form the partitions between the upper berths and the head room for the lower berths. As an instance, the narrow portions 82 and '83 adjacent to one another at adjacent ends of successive upper berths, together formthe partitions between such adjacent ends of the upper berths and the head room for the lower berth disposed there below. These narrow be secured in place on the rods 81 more or less tightly, functioning as they do, as partitions. The remaining portions or elongated portions 84 and 85 of the curtains 78 and 79 respectively, however hang loosely, with their lower ends projecting down and extending below the lower edges of the upper berths'65, preferably to form a covering for the leg room of the occupants of the upper compartments. These portions 84 and 85 of a curtain preferably overlap one another and are provided with suitable fastening means such as the buttons 86 cooperating .with suitable button holes. It may also be desirable as illustrated in Fig. 6, that suitable fastening means such as buttons 87 be provided on the edge of the upper berths 65 to cooperate with button holes formed in the curtains 78 and 79, in the door flap portions 84 and 85 of the curtains 78 and 79.

i The upper berths 65 as illustrated in Fig. 6,

preferably have their ends 88 rounded whereby a recess is formed b tween adjacent rounded portions 88 to form. head room for the occupant of the lower berth, such rounded portions 88 cooperating with the partition portions 82 and 83 to form partitions beportions 82 and 83 may,

tween such head room and the upper berths.

The lower berths are provided with the elongated curtains 89 which are preferably provided with hooks 90 also secured to the rods 81, the curtains 89 as illustrated, extend over the adjacent ends of two successive upper berths, with a half portion of each curtain supported by its books 90 overlapping portions of adjacent curtains 78 and 79 of adjacent ends of successive upper berths. The curtains 89 preferably in width extend from the rear edge of one end portion 69 to the forward edge of the succeeding end portion 69 and in length extend from the rods 81 down to and below the bed portions 91 of the lower berths 68. The curtains 89 are also preferably provided with a slit 92 to provide door flaps for the entrance and egress of the occupants of the lower berths, each slit havin an overlapping portion 93 provided with utton holes to receive the buttons 94 formed in the portion 95 of the curtain 89 disposed below such overlapping portion 93.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the inventionas set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a car, the combination with a row of upper and lower berth spaces in superposed staggered relation, of berths in said spaces disposed-longitudinally of the car with each lower berth overlapped substantially throughout its length by portions of two upper berths, there being a standing space for each upper andfor each lower berth disposed adjacent to one another in a row alongside of said berths, the standing space of each upper berth extending down alongside of the side of a lower berth space, the standing space of each lower berth extending up alongside of the sides of two upper berth spaces, and partitions for forming and separating said standing spaces from one another.

2. In a car, the combination with a row of upper and lower berth spaces in superposed staggered relation, of berths in said spaces disposed longitudinally of the car with each lower berth overlapped substantially throughout its length. by portions of two upper berths, there being a standing space for each upper and for each lower berth disposed adjacent to one another in a row alongside of said berths, the standing space of each upper berth extending down alongside of the side of a lower berth space, the standing space of each lower berth extending up alongside of the sides of two upper berth spaces, and partitions for forming and separating said standing spaces from one another and for separating the standing spaces of the upper berth spaces from the lower berth spaces and for separating the 1 upper and for each berths in said spaces each lower berth space standing spaces of the lower berth spaces from the upper berth-spaces.

3. In a car, the com ination with a row of upper and lower berth spaces, of berths in said spaces disposed longitudinall of the car, there being a standing space or each lower berth disposed adjacent to one another in a row alongside of said berths, the standing space for each upper berth being disposed therealongside intermediate the ends of the berth and extendingJ down alongside of the side of a lower erth space, the standing space for being disposed therealongside intermediate the ends of the berth and extending up alon side of the side of an upper berth space, and partitions for forming and separating said standing spaces.

4. In a car having an aisle, the combination with a row of upper and lower berth' spaces in superposed staggered relation, of disposed longitudinally of the car with each lower berth overlapped substantially throughout its length by portions of two u per berths, there being a standing space or each upper and for each lower berth dis osed ad1acent to one another in a row a ongside of said berths, the standing space of each upper berth extending down alongside of the side of a lower berth space, the standing space of each lower berth extending up alongside of the sides of two upper berth spaces, each standing space having individual access 5. In a car having an aisle, tion with a row of upper and spaces in superposed staggered relation, berths in said spaces disposed longitudinally of the car with each lower berth overlapped substantially throughout its length by portions of two upper berths, there bem a standing space for each upper and for eac lower berth disposed adjacent to one another in a row alongside of said berths, the standing spaceof each upper berth extending the combinalower berth down alongside of the side of a lower berth space, the standing space of each lower berth extending up alongside of the sides of two upper berth spaces, and partitions for forming and separating said standing spaces from the aisle.

6. In a car, upper and lower each berth space,

the combination with a row of berth spaces, of a berth in the berths in the upper and lower berth spaces extending longitudinally of the car and being in staggered relation to one another with the ends of the berths in the upper berth spaces overlapping the ends of the lower berth spaces, the ends of the upper berth spaces abutting one another and being narrowed to form head rooms, each ,head room being disposed alongside of aside of an upper berth space for a standing occupant of a lower berth space, and partitions to said aisle.-

for forming and separating said head rooms from said upper berth spaces.

7. In a car havin an aisle, the combination with upper an lower berth spaces, of berths in said berth spaces disposed longitudinally of the car, and partitions eac of which separates an upper berth space from the aisle and having 8. Ion portion extend ing materially below the side of the upper berth to conceal the legs of a person standing alongside of the upper berth and a short portion terminating at its lowerv edge substantially at the level of the side of the upper berth to afford entrance to the lower berth below said short partition portion.

8. In a car having an aisle, the combination with lower berth spaces convertible into day or night use, of means for forming: a berth disposed longitudinally of the car in each of said berth spaces or for forming seats in each of said berth spaces with a seat at each end thereof each facing the other, upper berths disposed in staggered relation to said lower berth spaces there being standing spaces for said upper berths alongside 0 said seats, and partitions for forming and separating said standing spaces from said seats and from said aisle and spaced apart from one another to afford access from said aisle to the central portions of the lower berth spaces.

9. In a sleeping car, the combination with upper and lower berths, of partitions for said berths, portions of the partitions for the upper berths forming partitions between head room for the lower berths and the upper berths and other portions of the partitions forming doors for the upper berths, and portions of the partitions for the lower berths forming part1tions between the leg room for the upper berths and the lower berths, and

other portions of the partitions for the lower berths forming doors for the lower berths.

10. In a conveyance, the combination with a row of upper and lower compartments, of a bed in each compartment, the beds in the upper and lower compartments extending longitudinally of the conveyance and being in stag red relation to one another with the ends 0 the beds in the upper compartments overlapping the beds in the lower compartments, and standing room for each com artment adjacent to each compartment, wit the standin room of each upper compartment, being a jacent to, and at adifi'erent level than the standing room of a lower compartnient.

11. In a conveyance, the combination with a row of upper and lower compartments, of a bed in each compartment, the beds in the upper and lower compartments extending longitudinally of the conveyance and being in staggered relation to one another with the ends of the beds in the upper compartments overlapping the beds in the lower compartments, standing room for each compartment adjacent to each compartment, with the standing room of each upper compartment being adjacent to the standing room of a lower compartment, there being an aisle in said conveyance adjacent to said standing room, and partitions for separating the standing room of the compartments from one another and from the aisle.

12, In a conveyance, the combination with a center passageway extending the full length of the conveyance, of upper and lower compartments independent of one another extending longitudinally of the conveyance, the upper and lower compartments in staggered relation to one another, with ends of the upper compartments overlapping ends of the lower compartments, and the level of the standing room for each occupant of an upper compartment when dressing being at a different level than the level of the standing room for the occupant of a lower compartment. A

13. In a conveyance, the combination with a center passageway, of upper and lower compartments independent of one another and extending longitudinally of the conveyance, the upper and lower compartments mg in staggered relation to one another, with the ends of the upper compartments overlapping the ends of the lowercompartments, and movable partitions for shuttin one another when required for night use.

14. In a car having an aisle, the combination with a row of upper and lower berth spaces in superposed staggered relation, of berths in said spaces disposed longitudinally of the car with each lower berth overlapped substantially throughout its length by portions of two upper berths, there being a standing space for each upper and for each lower berth disposed adjacent to one another in a row alongside of the aisle side of said berth spaces, the. standing spaces of said upper berths extending down alongside oft-he sides of said lower berth spaces, spaces of said lower [berth spaces extending up alongside of the sides of said upper berth spaces, partitions for forming and separating said standing spaces from one another, and elevated supports disposed alongside of the sides of said lower berth spaces for standing upon in the standing spaces of said upper berth spaces.

15. In a car having an aisle, the combination with a row of upper and lower berth spaces in superposed staggered relation, of

the standing ing spaces .of said lower berth spaces extending up alongside of the sides of the upper berth spaces, the standing spaces of said upper berth spaces extending down alongside of the sides of said lower berth spaces to terminate in a base at a level higher than the floor of the aisle, and partitions for forming and separating said standing spaces from the aisle and afiording individual access to said aisle.

16. In a car having an aisle, the combination with a row of upper and lower berth spaces in superposed staggered relation, of berths in said spaces disposed longitudinally of the car with each lower substantially throughout its length by the ends of two upper berths, there being a standing space for each upper and for each lower berth disposed adjacent to one another in a row alongside of said berths, the standing spaces of said lower berth spaces extending up alongside of the sides of the upper berth spaces, the standing spaces of said upper berth spaces extending down alongside of the sides of said lower berth spaces and each having a base at a level higher than the floor of the lower berth spaces, said base to he stood upon by an occupant of an upper berth space, and flexible partitions for independentlyseparating said standing spaces from the aisle to permit occupants thereof to eng croach upon said aisle.

off the upper and lower compartments from 17. In a car having an aisle, the combination with lower berth spaces convertible into day or night use, of means for forming a berth disposed longitudinally of the car in each of said berth spaces or for forming seats in each ofsaid berth spaces one seat at each end thereof facing the other, upper berths disposed in staggered relation to said lower berth spaces, there being standing spaces for said upper berths, elevated supports for said standing spaces alongside of said seats, and partitions for forming and separating said standing spaces from said seats and separatberth overlapped l ing said standing spaces from said aisle, said I partitions being spaced from one another to afford access from said aisle to the central portions of the lowerberth spaces.

18. In a conveyance, the combination of rows of upper and lower sections in superposed staggered relation, said rows of sections being separated to form, and being in individual direct access with, a central aisle, the endsof the upper sections being substantially similarly disposed relative to the centers of the lower sections, thelower sections being each provided with a seat at each end thereof facing each other, each lower section being overlapped by ends of two upper sections at a height above the lower section less than the length of such lower section, and adjacent ends of such upper sections having portions spaced apart from one another so as to provide'a headroom which extends above the lower part of such adjacent ends.

19. In a conveyance, the combination of rows of upper and lower sections in superposed staggered relation, said rows of sections being separated to form, and being in individual direct access with, a' central aisle, the lower sections being each provided with I a forwardly and a rearwardly facing double seat disposed back towards back with the seats in the adjacent lower sections, the ad jacentends of two upper sections overlapping said seats at an elevation above the bot tom of the lower sections less than the individual length of such lower sections, the lower sections being each provided with a headroom extending above and between spaced apart portions of the ends of the upper sections.

20. In a conveyance, the combination of rows of upper and lower'sections in superposed staggered relation, saidrows of sections being separated to form, and being in individual direct access with, a central aisle, the lower sections being each provided with a seat at each end thereof facing the other end, each lower section being overlapped by ends of two'upper sections at a height above the lower section less than the length of a section, and the adjacent ends ofsuch upper sections having portions spaced apant from one another to provide headroom above a portion of the lower sections,', the combined over-all height of the two sections being less than the combined length of two sections.

'21. In a conveyance, the combination of rows of upper and lower sections in superposed staggered relation, said rows of sections being separated to form, and being in individual direct access with, a central aisle,

the combined height of said row of upper and lower sections being substantially less than the combined length of two of said lower sections, the ends of the upper sections being similarly disposed relative to the centers of the lower sections, the ends of the upper sections overlapping the lower sections. at a height less than a lower section length, and adjacent ends of such upper sections having portions spaced apart from one another to provide additional-space above the lower sections and adjacent the aisle for persons in said lower sections.

22. In a conveyance, the combination of rows of upper and lower sections in superposed staggered relation along either side of said conveyance, said rows of sections being separated to form, and being in individual direct access with, a central aisle, the lower sections being each provided with a seat at each end thereof facing the other, the upper sections being disposed above said seats at an elevation higher than the height of the average person seated in such seats but materially lower than the height of the average person standing between such seats, and the portions of the upper sections adjacent sa1d aisle being of materially less length than the center to center length of such sections so that said portions adjacent said aisle are spaced apart from one another to provide room therebetween for the heads of persons of average height passing in or out of said lower sectionsbetween sa1d seats to or from said aisle.

23. A conveyance having upper sections provided with downwardly extending leg room and lower sections provided with upwardly extending head room in which the over-all distance from the bottom of the interior of the conveyance to the top of the interior of the conveyance is made materially (less than the combined height of a lower section including its head room and an upper section including its leg room by superposmg in staggered relation said upper and lower sections, each upper section being arranged tooverlap two adjacent lowersections at a height above the lower sections less than the individual length of a lower section, the upper and lower sections being arranged in rows, said rows of sections being separated to form, and being in individual direct access with, a central aisle, the lower sections being each provided with a seat at each end thereof fac ing each other, and the adjacent ends of the upper sections having portions spaced apart from one another to provide a headroom above the central portion of each lower section between the seats thereof.

, 24. A conveyance in which upper and lower sections are provided and in which the overall distance from the bottom of the interior of the conveyance to the top of the interior of the. conveyance is made materially less than the combined height of two average persons by superposing 1n staggered relation said upper and lower sections, each upper section being arranged to overlap two adjacent lower sections at a hei ht above the lower'section less than the individual height of an average person, the upper and lower sections being arranged in rows, said rows of sections being separated to form, and bein in individual direct access with, a. centre aisle, the lower sections being each provided with a'seat at each end thereof facing each other, and the adjacent ends of the upper sections having portions spaced apart from one another to provide a headroom above the central portion of each lower section between the seats thereof.

25. In a conveyance, the combination of the lower sections being each provided with a 7 individual direct access with, a

seat at each end thereof facing the other, each lower section being overlapped by substantially equal portions of two upper sections disposed at an elevation thereabove materially less than sufiicient for persons of average height to stand therebeneath but sufiicient for such persons to sit in said seats therebeneath, and the adjacent ends of such upper sections having portions thereof spaced apart from one another so as to afford room therebetween for the heads of persons of average height standing between such seats.

26. In a conveyance, the combination of rows of upper and lower sections in superposed staggered relation, said rows of sections being separated to form, and being in central aisle, the lower sections being each provided with a seat at each end thereof facing the other, each lower section being positioned substantially centrally relative to the adjacent ends of two upper sections disposed at an elevation thereabove materially less than suflicient for persons of average height to stand therebeneath but suflicient for such persons to sit therebeneath in such seats, and the adjacent ends of said upper sections being spaced apart adjacent said aisle so as to afi'ord room v between such adjacent ends for the head ofa person of average height standing adjacent said aisle substantially centrally in such lower section.

TRIMBLE DE ROODE.

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