US2112005A - Sleeping car - Google Patents

Description

Mmc lv12.2,1938.w @,F 205K' f 2,112,005

l SLEEPING CAR Filed Aug. l2, 1935 4 Sheets-Shea?l l INVENTOR.

J A RNEY.

D. F. ZOOK SLEEPING CAR Marh 22, 1938.

Filed Aug. 12; 1935 4 sheets-sheet 2 @n 4, EE

- .INVEN-TOR. A Daz/fd F Zoo/,

D. F. ZOOK SLEEPING CAR March 2 2, 1938.

Filed Aug. l2, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 'March 22, 193e. D F, ZOOK 2,112,005

SLEEPING CAR Filed ug. l2, 1935 4 Shets-Sheel', 4

1N VENTOR.

mam

Patented Mar. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE SLEEPING GAR David F. Zook, Evanston, Ill. Application August 12, 1935, Sierial No. 35,841

1 Claim.

.The invention relates generally to sleeping cars, and more particularly to cars of the corridor type which are `adapted for convertibleuse so as to provide sleeping facilities during the night and seating facilities during the day.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a corridor type sleeping car of standard size and .dimensions embodying a novel and advantageous construction of the sleeping and seating facilities whereby the available space is utilized with such a degree of eiciency as to furnish seating and bed facilities for at least the `same number of passengers as are accommodated in a standard Pullman car, and so arranged l5 that all of the beds are located at a convenient and readily accessible Vheight above the adjacent licor level, thereby eliminating the unpopular and inconvenient upper berths of present day equipment. Y'

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide such a corridor type sleeping car embodying a series of rooms arranged at different levels in the car, with each of such rooms having Aboth sleeping and Vseating facilities, and being accessible directly from" the corridor without inconvenience to the passengers in theV other rooms. By reason of this two-level arrangement of the car, and the accessibility of all of the rooms from a common corridor, I choose to call the car a .mezzaninetype of corridor sleeping car.

Another object is Vto provide a sleeping car of this type wherein complete privacy is afforded the occupants of any particular room independently of and without inconvenience to the passengers in other rooms.

Another object is to provide a car of this type so constructed that each room` has lounging facilities for its passengersL Y A furtherobject is to provide a corridor type car arranged to provide Vunusual visibility on both sides of the car `for the passengersin all of its rooms, and embodying unusual convertibility so as to meet the demands of large parties by'perLV mitting inter-communication of a number of its `rooms or sections during day or night use. v

Another `object is to provide a mezzanine car of the corridorA type having a passenger capacity at least equal to that of a standard Pullman car and embodying longer and wider beds, greater and more readily accessible luggage space, greater 155 parentfrom the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: l

Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal sectional View illustrating the central portionV of a car embodying the features of the invention, the View being 5 taken substantially along the line I--l of Fig. 3, in thev direction indicated'by the arrows, and omitting certain of the doors and wash basins for the sakeof clarity of disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a iragmentalplan sectional View of the 10 car taken substantially along the line 2'2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 isa vertical sectional View of the vcar taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

looking in the direction shown by the arrows. 15

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the adaptation of the invention to a car of standard sleeping car dimensions and proportions, as contrasted with the straight side wall construction and relatively low 20 floor level of the form shown in the other views, this View being taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view showing the womens end of the car, the View being taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. '7. 25

Fig. 6 is a similar horizontal sectional View taken along the line 6--6 of Fig. 8, and showing the'mens end of the car.`

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional View taken along the broken line .1 -1 of Fig. 5. 30

Fig. 8 is a` vertical sectional View taken along the line 8--8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a plan View of the locker space in the womens end of the car, the View being taken in section along the line 9-9 of Fig."7.V 35

Fig. 10 is a similar plan section of the locker space at the other end of the car, the View being taken along the line lll- I of Fig. 8.

i Fig. 11 is a plan section taken along the line -l l--II of'Fig. l, and showing one arrangement 40 of two adjoining lower level rooms.

Fig. l2 is a view similar to Fig. 11 and showing adiiferent arrangement of the same two rooms.

Fig. 13 is a detail view illustrating a locking device employed for holding the roll-beds of the 45 lower Yrooms in any desired position.

Fig. 14 is a crosssectional view of one ofthe `roll-beds employed Vin the lower rooms of thecar.

While'I have show in the drawings and will .herein describe in detail the preferred embodi- 50 ment of myinvention, together with one alterna- .tive embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the inventions to the specific .forms disclosed, .but aim to cover `all modifications falling within the spirit .55

and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the form chosen for illustration herein the invention is embodied in a car having side walls I5 and I6, a roof I1 and a floor I8 carried by trucks I9 in a conventional manner. In accordance with the present invention, the car and trucks may be of a standard form and dimensions as illustrated in Fig. 4, with a relatively high floor level as measured above therails and with inwardly stepped side walls, or the car may have the straight sides, a rounded top and a lower floor level as shown in Fig. 3 and the other figures .of the drawings.

By means of a longitudinally extending partition 20 located adjacent to the side wall I5, the car is divided to form a corridor 2|, extending along one side of the car throughout substantially the entire length thereof, and providing convenient access to a series of similar twoelevel room-units 22 located between the partition 20 and the other side wall I6 of the car. Roomunits 22 of similar size and construction are employed throughout the major portion of the carlength, the proportioning being such that there is provided (as shown in Figs. 5 to 8) a ladies toilet section 23 and a combined porters bunk and mens toilet section 24 located at opposite ends of the car. The section 23, as indicated by a bracket and a reference numeral in Fig. 5, also includes a vestibule 38, and denes a length of locker space at the womens end of the car. At the other end of the car, the bracket and the reference numeral 24 include a vestibule 95, and show a length of locker space available with the -present arrangement. In the end sections 23 and 24 of the car the corridor 2| is oifset as at 2| and 2|" to meet the centrally located vestibule doors 25.

The room-units 22 are normally defined and separated from each other by transverse partitions 26, and as best illustrated in Fig. 1, each unit comprises two lower or main floor rooms 2'I and an elevated yet readily accessible mezzanine room 28. Generally considered, the elevated or mezzanine room 28 of each room-unit is T-shaped in longitudinal section, the vertical or central portion of the T extending downwardly between the two lower rooms 21 of the unit and having an entryway 29 at one end (Fig. 2) through the partition 20 into the corridor 2|. The laterally extending portions of the T are defined at their ends by the upper portions of the walls 26, and on their lower sides by a floor 30, and this space is utilized to form two permanent beds or berths 3| (Fig. 2) which extend transversely of the car. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the seating facilities in the mezzanine rooms 28 are provided by two permanent upholstered corner seats 32 located in the downwardly extending portion of the room in the corners formed by the side wall I5 and front and rear partition walls 33, which walls 33, with a floor 34, dene said downwardly extending portion of the room. Drop seats 35 are also provided on each of the partitions 33. These drop seats preferably terminate short of the corridor partition 20, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, thereby providing space, on opposite sides of entryway 29 for full opening of doors 46. In the corners dened by partition 2i] and the walls 33, on opposite sides of the entryway 29, a pair of wash basins 36 are mounted in fixed position. Piping 36 serving the basins 3G passes out through partition 2D at about the mezzanine floor level, as shown at 36, and is located on the corridor side of the partition 20 from that point to the floor of the car. This construction is employed in order that the piping 36 may not interfere with the free rolling of beds 50 which are provided in the main floor rooms. On the corridor side, this piping 36 is enclosed by a light, removable shield 20A as shown in Figs. 5 to 8.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 4, the corner seats 32 are eliminated, and the wash basins 36A are mounted on vertical bearings in correspond ing corners adjacent to the side wall I6 of the car, and the basins may be pivoted to out-of-theway positions under the recessed roof of the car as shown.

It will be noted that mezzanine rooms 28 provide duplicate and independent washing, seating and sleeping facilities along their front and rear sides so that by providing independent lights 31, a pair of clothes hooks 38 on each side of wall 26, and hooks 38 for supporting curtain 39, the room is tted for use as two semi-private sections for occupancy by separate parties of one or two persons each. These rooms, with their permanent berths 3|, provide unusually convenient lounging facilities for day-time travel, and are rendered safe for sleeping by nets 40 which may be stretched along the edges of the berths between hooks 4|.

In the proportioning of parts herein illustrated, the iioor 30 of the berth portions is slightly lower than the ceiling 42 of the corridor 2|, and one end portion of the mattress 43 of the berth rests directly on the upper surface of the ceiling 42. Throughout the balance of the length of the mattress 43 it is carried on springs 44 resting on the oor 39.

In view of the transverse positioning of the berths 3|, the mattress 43 may be made of ample length, and by locating the same equally spaced from the side walls 5 and I6, convenient storage space is provided at opposite ends of the mattress to receive suit cases and the like. During day travel such suit cases may, if desired, be transferred to positions on the mattress 43 so as to permit light to enter freely through windows W-3 which are located in the walls |5 and I6 at opposite ends of each berth 3|. Additional window W-4 is provided in each room 28 in the Wall IB between seats 32, this window being of a greater height than windows W-3.

Opposite the windows W-4, windows W-S and W-6 are provided in the wall I5, windows W- opening into the corridor opposite the entryways 29, while windows W--I are of a size corresponding to windows W-3 and open into the mezzanine rooms over the entryways 29. Preferably additional windows W-5 are also provided in the side wall so that there are three such windows in the corridor 2| opposite each room-unit 22 as indicated in Fig. 5.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the access to the mezzanine rooms 28 is convenient, and is provided by steps 45 in the entryway 29, the lower step extending slightly into the corridor 2| as illustrated in Fig. 2. In the entryway 29, inwardly swinging doors 46 are provided which are mounted at an angle as shown in Fig. 3 on narrow transverse partitions 29a. which flank the entryway 29 on its opposite sides. In the form shown in Fig. 4, the doors 46a are mounted vertically for outward swinging movement. To provide headroom over the steps 45, the corridor ceiling 42 may be cut away to form an opening 41 (Fig. 2) which opening may be closed by "their active clamping positions.

and .3.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, the seating and .sleeping facilities for the lower1room`s21 are provided by roll-type beds 50, extending transversely of the car, and which for day use as seats, are rolled back against partition 5I into the space beneath the floor 34 of the mezzanineV `26, and a suiiicientdistance beyond the `partition 33 to form a seat of ample depth extending substantially the entire width of the room.

To provide a suitable back to cooperate with the extending portion `of the bed 50 to form a seat, a permanently mounted head rest 53 is xed on the lower portion of the face of partition 33, while a pair of removably mounted cushioned `seat backs54 are suspended from the lower edge `of the partition 33.130 extend down substantially tothe upholstered upper surface of the bed 56. In the form shown, a'horizontalshelf 55 extends from the wall 5I toward the normal location of seat backs 54 to engage the seat backs and maintain the same in the desired angular position. By locating this shelf in spaced relation to the floor 34 of the superposed room 28, and in spaced relation to the top of the bed 59, a convenient and readily .accessiblestorage space 56 is provided for the room 21. Thus the spaces beneath the floor 34, dened by the floors I8 and 34 and the wall 5|, and provided with luggage shelf 55, maybe termed a luggage and bed alcove, which extends transversely of the car for the full width of the room. The top of the concealed portion of the bed, beneathV the shelf 55, may also serve as storage space during the day.

As shown in Figs. l, 4, and 14, the beds 56 are formed with box-like bases 51 having rollers 58 running in shallow grooves or tracks 59 inthe floor i8 of the car to facilitate shifting between day and night positions. Preferably each bed is formed in two longitudinally extending sections as shown in Fig, 14 so as to facilitate installation and removal of the beds, the two sections being bolted together as at 60. An upstanding marginal rim 6i on the base 51 retains the seat cushion 62 in position on the bed, and at the rear of the bed the rim 6| is somewhat higher to prevent mattress 63 Vfrom sliding off the bed. For night use, the mattress 63, which is formed in two parts, is removed from the storage space within the bed base 51 (Fig. 1, right handroom) and is placed upon the seat cushion -62.4 At the same time, the removed seat backs 54 may be stowed within the base 51. f

Preferably each bed is provided with a locking device such as that illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14. This device in the form shown comprises a pair of rubber bumpers 64 mounted within the base 51 for projecting movement through -the ends thereof into contact with partition 20 `and side wall I6. Springs 65 normally retract the bumpers 64, while a cam 66 on the rear end o-f a rod 66', which is connected to and operated by a lever .61 at vthe front edge of the bed, may be actuated to urge the `bumpers outwardly to vThus the bed 4may berolled out to any desired extent during Athe day so .as tofmeet therequirements or desires `of the individual passenger, and itV may be securely locked in the desired position.

For each room 21 a window W--1 is provided in the wall I6; an individual light 68 is provided, and an individual wash basin 69 is mounted in each room 21 in the corner formed by walls I6 and 26. An individual entry is provided for each room 21 by a door 10, which door may be of the sliding type as in Figs. 6, 8, 11, and 12, or of the inwardly swinging type as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. When the swinging type is used, the doo-r may be of two sections, as illustrated in Fig. '1, to permit swinging of the upper section thereof inwardly over the bed after it has been shifted to its outer or sleeping position. In ,each instance a glass panel 1l is mounted in the door, and a window 12 is provided in the partition 26 beside the door and opening into the room 21. In the preparation of the room for sleeping, the bed may be partially withdrawn, or may be moved back and forth as required for convenient performance of the necessary operations. After being completely made up, the bed may be returned to its out-of-the-way position for the convenience of the passenger. The passenger, upon retiring, may rest upon the bed, and by pressing against the head rest 53, roll the bed .to its outermost position where it may be xed by Yoperation of the locking lever.`

As illustrated in Figs. 11 and12, the partition 26 between the mezzanine floor 36 and the car floor !8 is formed in four sections, one section 26a between the wash basins 69 being stationary, while three sections 26h are hinged together and are removably mounted. Thus the three sections 26b may be removed, together with a removable end post 26o, so that the two adjoining rooms 21 of the adjoining units 22 are thrown together into a commodious space free from all obstructions. Further freedom and visibility on both sides of the car is provided by fastening the two doors 16 in their open positions as shown in Fig. 11.

For further convenience and adaptability,` the upper or mezzanine rooms 28 are also constructed to permit inter-communication in the event that large parties are to be accommodated. To

` this end each wall 26, in the upper stationary `part between rooms 28, has an upwardly swing- Yable door 36a therein, which door or panel may `the lower tier are similarly adaptable.

As an added feature of utility, the present car is particularly convenient for the transportation of invalids and the like, since a window W-5 in the wall is positioned opposite the door of each lowerroom of the car. These windows W-5 are' preferably constructed for convenient removal so that a Vstretcher may be moved into any lower room by removal of the opposite window W-5.

Theladies end of the car as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7 is formed by a jogged partition 15 which denes the offset portion 2| of 4the corridor 2|. In one portion of the wall 15 which constitutes a continuation of the partition 26, an entry door 16 is provided and by suitable partitions and doors, two compartments 11 are formed along wall I6 for each of the toilets 18. Individual windows W-8 are provided in the wallV I6 `for 'the compartments V11.

Outside the Y compart- 75 ments 11, but inside of the section, and against the wall 2'6 of the adjacent room 2'I, a wash basin 'I9 is mounted.

The extent of end section 23 of the car is indicated in Fig. by the bracket 23 and includes the womens toilet room and the adjacent vestibule 80, and defines a length of locker space at that end of the car; The corridor ceiling 42 terminates at I4 (Fig. 5) and from that point to the car end wall i3, the corridor portions 2I and 2| extend the full height of the car. A false roof 3U covers the entire ladies toilet space, and is on the same level as the mezzanine floor 39, and forms the iioor for lockers L-2 and L3.

In the present instance locker L-2 isutilized to house an air conditioning unit 83 of conventional construction. This locker is provided with doors 82, which allow of inspection and ordinary servicing of the unit 33. For complete accessibility the sectional insulated wall 82 is removable, as is also a lighter partition I3, adjacent the vestibule space, while a removable cover-plate 83 on the car wall I6 permits of easy installation or removal of unit 33.

By means of a horizontally extending duct S4 in the wall I6 between the bottoms of windows W-4 and the tops of windows W-l, conditioned air from the unit 83 is discharged through ports 85 into each lower room 2l. A similar duct 89 located immediately above the corridor ceiling 42 (Fig. 3) serves to supply conditioned air to each of the mezzanine rooms 28 through ports 8B.

Locker L-3 is a very large, undivided space, closed by doors 91, and provides storage space for unwieldy and bulky articles. In the vestibule 89, false roofs 39' are also provided over the car steps and this permits lockers L-I to be built in this space, which lockers are served by doors 9|.

At the other or mens end of the car (Figs. 6, 8, and 10) the bracket 24 includes the mens toilet room, porters bunk, and adjacent vestibule 95, and within this length of the car, a large amount of locker space is provided. The corridor offset 2|" occurs at thev partition 26 of the end room 2l, a porters bunk compartment being located along the wall l5 in alinement with the corridor 2 I, while a wall 89 defines a mens toilet room 90 along wall I6. The room 96 has two communieating compartments with individual windows W-8, the compartment adjacent to the end of the car having a toilet 9! therein, while the other compartment is accessible from the corridor 2 I" and has a urinal 92 and a wash basin 93 located therein.

The porters bunk compartment is provided with an upholstered seat 94 located against the wall II of the vestibule and facing toward the other end of the car. At the other end of the compartment 38 and spaced from the seat 94 is an upholstered bench 99 of the same height as the seat 94, and a shiftable cushion 91 which normally forms a back for the seat 94 may be positioned between the seat 94 and the bench 96 to form a full length bunk for the porter. Over the bench 96, the end of the compartment 88 is preferably formed by a glass display cabinet 98 for the display of articles ordinarily sold by the porter. Beneath the cabinet and above the bench 96 is an open space 99, and through this space and theglass display cabinet the porter may have a clear view of the corridor at all times.

The end 24 of the car, as dened by the bracket in Fig. 6, also provides abundant locker space, the floor 39 of these lockers constituting a false roof or ceiling over the mens toilet compartvof the car.

ments and over the porters bunk, and also extended into the vestibule space 95 as at 30 for the provision of two lockers L-I over the car steps as at the other end of the car.

The corridor ceiling terminates at I2 (Fig. 6) and from the partition 26 to the car end wall Il, the corridor 2| extends up the full height The locker doors thus swing into this full-height corridor space. Over the toilet compartments 90, lockers L-l and L-4 are provided. Between the end of the porters bunk and the partition 26 of the end room 21, a locker L-B is formed, while directly over the compartment 88 is a long shallow locker L5 adapted particularly for storage of the hinged removable sections of the partitions 26. The locker L-5 as herein shown has a single horizontallyhinged door |90 as distinguished from vertically hinged doors IUI which are provided for the relatively large locker L-S above the locker L-5. Similar vertically hinged doors are, of course used on the other lockers. In the corner of the carridor formed by the end wall 26 and the wall 89 of the mens room, a triangular locker I92 is preferably provided for containing a switch panel, a water cooler, or other desired equipment, The corridor 2I is provided with lights |93 (Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6) installed in the corridor ceiling as indicated opposite each mezzanine entryway, for correct illumination at night.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the present invention provides a car wherein a novel and advantageous disposition and construction of sleeping and seating facilities makes it possible to afford greater comfort, convenience and privacy to all of the passengers. The arrangement is such that all oi the beds are wider and longer than in the conventional Pullman, while the accessibility of the upper or mezzanine beds renders it feasible for two persons to occupy each mezzanine bed. When the car contains ve room-units 22, there are twenty beds available, so that with the convenient double capacityof each mezzanine bed, the maximum passenger capacity is increased to forty persons.

Other features of the present car also mark an advance in eiiciency by providing increased convenience and capacity of the storage room and baggage space, added visibility fromE all of the rooms on both sides of the car, greater toilet and washing facilities, and convenient convertibility of the various rooms to meet the demands and wishes of various groups of passengers.

I claim as my invention:

In a sleeping car of the side-aisle type, having passenger accommodations therein disposed upon two levels, said passenger accommodations being disposed between said aisle and the remote side wall and extending the greater part of the car length, service and storage facilities of full car height occupying a section of car length immediately adjacent to the two car endwalls and separating said end-walls from immediate contact with the passenger sleeping and seating portion of the car, said passenger accommodations comprising a plurality of similar roomunits, each of said room-units consisting of two corridor level rooms with abutting bed alcoves, and a superimposed two-bed, two level mezzanine compartment, the lower rooms of abutting roomunits constituting adjoining rooms, said adjoining rooms of abutting room-units being separated by a transverse partition having a fixed section at the car-wall side, a wash basin in each of said adjoining rooms mounted in the corners formed by the car wall and the fixed section of said partition, the remaining section of said partition being a hinged removable portion and a removable end post at the corridor end of the partition, a window in the car side wall in each of said lower rooms, door openings from said lower rooms into said corridor, sliding doors for said openings which when closed abut said end alongside of the corridor partition whereby re moval of said transverse partition section throws the two adjoining lower rooms into a single compartment for day or night use, while further removal of said end post and opening of said sliding doors provide, for day use, a large unobstructed space including the adjacent corridor and extending the full width of the car.

DAVID F. ZOOK.

post, said doors when opened being moved back

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