US250224A - foiibes - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1'.

J M. FORBES.

'SLEEPING GAR.

No. 250,224. Patented Nov. 29,1881.

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CNB MOdel.) 3' Shets-Sheet- 2.

J. M. FORBES.

SLEEPING GAR.

No. 250,224. Patented Nom-29,1881.

WITNESSES N, PETRS. Phofvliihognuhen Wnshinmurl. D. C.

3 Sheets-Sheet'. 3.

(No Model.)

J. M. FORBES. SLEEPING. GAE.

` Patented fNov. .29, 1881.

INVEJVTOR I Jaim. MTW-6.9. By his `Attorneys WI TJV ESSES N. PUERS, Phnlwmmgnpher. wnshmglm nc.

IINTTEFD STATES Erica.

PATENT JOHN M. FORBES, OF MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CHICAGO, BURLINGTON AND QUINCY RAILROAD COMPANY.

SLEEPING-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters :Patent No. 250,224, dated November 29, 1881.

Application filed .August 12, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN M. FORBES, of Milton, in the county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SleepingvCars, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In the ordinary sleeping-car now in use in the United States there is provided an aisle through 1o the center of the car, and a series of sections with upper and lower berths ofequal width on each side of the central aisle. In addition to these sleeping accommodations there is sometimes a state-room at the end of the car, with a I5 narrow passage between it and one side of the car, communicating with the central aisle. There are serious objections against this plan of constructing a sleeping-car:

First. Travelers object to being shut up in the zo ordinary state-rooms as now constructed, because they are close, poorly lighted and ventilated, and afford no view ofthe rest'of the car. ABesides this, on account of the very narrow aisle at one side of the car, it isY inconvenient to enter or go out ofthe car.

Second. The unavoidable exposure incident to the use of'ordinary sections, and the impossibility ofen tire seclusion whileoccupyingthem either for sleeping or as seats during the daytime, is a source of much dissatisfaction.

It is the object of my invention to overcome these objections, and to provide a car with one or more state-rooms which will afford complete seclusion whenever itis desired, and which will also ai'ord a view of the entire car and the advantages of light and ventilation of the whole car at the pleasure ofthe occupant. Accordingly, I provide a state-room at one end of a sleeping-car, as usual, but of a width less than 4o that of the ordinary state-room, and a set of single seats or a half-section on the opposite side of the ear, with an aisle between, a little to one side of the center of the car. Instead of making solid partitions for my state-room, as

is usual, I make partitions with their upper parts of open wire or wicker work, or thelike, and in connection with these open partitions I employ the ordinary leather or other suitable curtains, which may be drawn over them at Ywith single-seat accommodations.

will whenever the occupants of the state-room 5o desire seclusion. My improved construction admits of the introduction of my state-room at one or both ends of the car, or of filling the entire car-body with state-rooms and dispensing with the ordinary sections on opposite sides of the car. Thus my invention comprehends at once the advantages ofthe entire seclusion of passengers from each other, when desirable, according to the English system, and the advantages of free communication, according to the 6o less exclusive social habits of Americans.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure lis a plan view ofa portion of a sleeping-car embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section 65 of the same, through the line 2 2 of Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

A indicates a car-body, and B my state-room upon one side, occupying one-half or a trie 7o more of the width of thecar.

C indicates an aisle of ordinary width a little to one side of the center of the car, and D a half-section upon the opposite side of the car,

E indicates the state-room door, opcnin g from the aisle within the room, which may be provided with a mirror on the inside.I

F F indicate the double seats in the state room for use in the day-time, and the state-room 8o should be provided with the usual upper and lower berths of an ordinarysection. The space G between the inner ends of the seats and the aisle-partition H aords sufficient room for dressing and undressing, and may be occupied at one end by a cushioned drop-seat, I, that, when not needed for use, maybe turned up or down against the partition to give room. The opposite end of this space Gr may be occupied by a similar seat, or by a small wash-stand and 9c its appliances, or by a combined lavatory and Water-closet, such as described in United States Patent No. 248,914, so that when the lavatory is raised up out of the way, as set forth in the patent, the cushioned cover over the water- 9 5 closet affords another seat for the state-room. Thus my stateroom can be provided with all the appliances and conveniences of a sleeping room at a hotel, -includin g tivo seats, a mirror, Wash-stand, Water-closet, and room enough to Wash and dress with convenience, so that it is possible to perform a complete toilet Without emerging from the state-room, and an invalid or any other traveler may conveniently rem ain in the state-room with every comfort from the beginning to the end of a longjourney, at the same time having the benefit of light, ventilation, and a view of the entire car, and communication with his fellow passengers at his pleasure.

The aisle-partition Hand the end partitions, K, of the state-room are made solid from the iioor to the height of the tops of the seat-backs, and from thence upward they are made of light open Wire or wicker work L or the like, and are provided with suitable curtains, M, controllable from Within.

In addition to the foregoing I have devised another improvement in the construction of sleeping-cars, which is designed to be applied in one end of a car for the special accom modation of invalids and their attendants, or ladies traveling with nurses and small children, or other travelers desiring greater accommodations than a single state-room affords. This improvement consists in What may be termed an apartment or suite of apartments with communicating rooms. It involves the same conveniences as to open-work partitions, the location ofthe aisle, doors, &c., as above described.

Referring to the drawings with reference to this improvement, N indicates what I term, in order t0 better distinguish it, a parlor stateroom;7 and O another state-room, the two communieating by means of a door, P. The end partition, Q, and the aisle-partition R of the parlor state-room are to be formed in their upper parts of open-work, as above described, While the partitions of the communicating state-room O are preferably made solid. Each state-room is to be provided with a door opening from the aisle inward, as shown,and seats should be provided at S and rI, with one of which may be combined a water-closet and lavatory, as above set forth.

The parlor state-room N, I propose to provide with a sofa, U, which may be converted into a bed at night. Such a construction and combination of conveniences will accommodate a special class of travelers with their attendants, and render it nearly as safe and convenient for them to be transported great distances as to remain at home or at a hotel, 'while not interfering with convenient passing in and out through the car.

Having thus described my improvements, what Iclaim as new and of my own invention 1sl. In a sleeping-car, a state-room built as a permanent and iixed part of the car, provided with open-work partitions on three sides within the body of the car, with or Without curtains, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a sleeping-car, the combination of a state-room upon one side of the car, a main aisle a little to one side of the center of the car, and a half-section on the opposite side of the car, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a sleeping-car, the combination of tWo communicatingstate-rooms provided with combined Wood and open-Work partitions, and with doors entering from the main aisle, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 22d day of July, A. D. 1881.

J. M. FORBES.

llitnesses;

H. M. CHAPMAN, W. J. LADD.

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