US831063A - Car-seat. - Google Patents

Description

PATBNTED SEPT. 18, 1906.

H. W. K. HALE.

CAR SEAT.

Am LIoATIoN FILED APR. 2, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Inventor Witnesses rm: NORRIS ETERs :04, wAsHmai'ou, a. c.

No. 831,063. PATENTED SEPT. .18, 1906. H. W. KFHALE. CAR SEAT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2, 1902.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

PETERS co., WASHINGTON, 0. c4

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE; HENRY WARREN KILBURN HALE, (HELADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ASSIGNOR TO THE HALE AND KILBURN MAN UFAOTURING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

CAR-SEAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 1906;

To all whom it 77mg concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY WARREN KIL- BURN HALE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in OarSeats, of which the following is a description.

This invention relates generally to carseats, and particularly to that type of such seats in which are employed a common pedestal or other support, a beam or yoke mounted thereon, and twin chairs sustained by such beam or yoke and movable relatively thereto.

In arranging the seating of a railway-vehicle, and particularly of surface cars, it is desirable that provision be made for effecting certain changes in the direction in which the seats face. Thus under some circumstances it is desirable that the seats shall face directly across the car or substantially in or parallel to the transverse axis of such car. Where twin seats mounted upon a common pedestal are employed, such seats in this position lie in or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car. While the seat-bottoms are in this position, it is sometimes further desirable, however, to effect a change in the direction in which the seats face, this being de pendent upon the direction of movement of the car. To meet this requirement, the seat bottoms may be so turned as that while each pair still remains in or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car the backs thereof shall be moved in such manner that each chair as a whole shall face in a direction oblique to the transverse axis of the car when such car is proceeding in one direction, and when the direction of travel is reversed said chairs may be again turned, so as to adapt themselves to the new direction by moving through an arc of approximately forty-five degrees of a circle. In each of these two positions the chairs will face in a direction oblique to the direction of travel of the car, and the back of one chair will lie parallel to the backs of the chairs on either side, thus greatly conducing to the comfort and convenience of the occupants of the several seats. Again, it is often desirable to arrange the twin seating of a car transversely that is to say, to arrange the erable to have the inside or window seat' somewhat in advance of the outside or aisle seat. l/Vhere such transverse seating is employed, provision should be made for such a reversal of the chairs as will permit them to always face in the direction in which the car is proceeding.

Under the present invention I provide a twin-seat structure capable of any one or of all of the operations heretofore referred to, provision being also made for locking such structure in any position which it may assume. Such structure possesses numerous advantages in addition to its capacity for a greater number of positions, among which may be mentioned the use of positively coacting parts, which are few in number, durable in operation, and capable of ready and easy assemblage. The wear upon these parts is but trifling, and little or no attention thereto is necessary during the operation of the structure.

In carrying out this invention I preferably employ a common support or pedestal, which may be secured to the floor of a car. Pivot ally mounted upon such pedestal is a beam or yoke provided at its ends with bearings to receive the pivots of twin chairs, said chairs being movable upon said pivots and in said bearings. In conjunction with these structural elements of the invention I provide a reversing mechanism comprising, essentially, a pin and a V-shaped slot, one of these being carried by a member connected with the pedestal or common support and the other by each of the chair-bottoms or an appurtenance thereof. I prefer to employ a pin on either side of a reversing arm adj ustably pivoted upon the supporting-pedestal and to coact with these pins a V-shaped slot formed either in the under side of each of the chairbottoms or in an appurtenance thereof, such as the spider upon which such chair-bottom is mounted and to which the chair-pivot is secured. I refer to this as a preferable'construction for the reason, inter alia, that where it is employed greater convenience is experienced inthe provision of locking mechanism for securing the structure in any of the several positions to which it may be moved. Since the reversing mechanism to which I have referred coacts similarly with each of the twin chairs, it will be seen that the move ment of the latter is interdependent, that when the locking mechanism is released each may be operated by moving the other.

The several movements of the chair structure to which I have heretofore referred are made possible in the present embodiment of the invention by a locking mechanism which coacts with the stationary pedestal, with the pivoted beam upon said pedestal, and with the reversing-lever also pivotally mounted upon said pedestal. This locking mechanism is capable of the following operations and produces the following results: In one position it secures together the pedestal and the beam upon which the seats are mounted. Where this is done, the plane of the structure between the chair-pivots is unchanging; but the chairs may be readily turned interdependently upon such pivots, this being con' trolled by a latch, which will presently be described. In this position the reversinglever pivotally mounted upon said support is free to move relatively to said support in order to accomplish said interdependent movement of the chairs. In another posi tion of the locking mechanism the reversinglever is secured to the pedestal so as to be incapable of movement relatively thereto, while the beam, also pivotedupon said pedestal, may be moved. In this position of the locking mechanism, which is employed where transverse seating is used, the movement of the beam effects the reversal of the chairs, this operation, however, being also controlled by the latch hereinabove referred to.

.Finally, in a third position both the chair supporting beam and the reversing-lever are secured to the pedestal, so as to be incapable of movement relatively thereto, whereupon and quite regardless of the operation of such latch the various parts, including the twin chairs, are rigidly positioned relatively to each other.

The latch to which reference has hereto fore been made is preferably arranged to co act with the slot-and-pin device of one or both of the twin chairs heretofore described, and it may, if desired, take the form of a gravity-latch, which may be released when the movement from one position to another is started and which will automatically fall into operative position when such movement has been completed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a twin chair employing my invention. In this, as in other figures now to be referred to, the backs and bottoms of the twin chairs are shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating the construction as em ployed for transverse seating, one of the transverse positions being shown in full lines and the reversed transverse position being shown in dotted lines. Fig; 3 is a plan view illustrating the construction as employed for longitudinal seating, the full lines indicating the arrangement of the parts when the car is proceeding in one direction and the dotted lines indicating the position of the parts when the car is proceeding in the reverse direction. Fig. 4 illustrates the position of the several parts when the twin seat is arranged so as to face directly in or parallel to the transverse aXis of the car, the line between the chair-pivots being then parallel with the longitudinal axis of the car. Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are enlarged detail views illustrating the mounting of the chair-supporting beam and reversing-lever upon the pedestal, Fig. 5 showing also a preferred form of latch employed in connection with one or both of the chair-spiders; and Fig. 9 is a detail view, also on an enlarged scale, illustrating the latch mechanism shown partly in section in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters denote corresponding parts, A designates a support, here shown in the form of a pedestal common to both chairs. This form is not essential, but is adopted for convenience, it having been found preferable, since it is easy of installation and greatly facilitates cleansing the floor of the car. I shall hereinafter refer to this support as a pedestal, without, however, limiting myself to the form .shown and described, but meaning thereby merely a support for the construction hereinafter referred to. Secured to or formed integral with the pedestal A are pivots a and a, (best shown in Figs. 5 and 6,) the pivot a being above the pivot a.

B designates a beam or yoke mounted upon the pivot a of the pedestal A and in this instance about midway the ends of said beam. Each of the ends of said beam is provided with a bearing 7), secured thereto or formed integral therewith, and each of these bearings receives a pivot or spindle c, secured to or formed integral with a spider C, to which a chair C is secured by screws or other means. Each spider is here shown as comprising four outwardly-extending arms 0, and these arms, together with the pivots c. are preferably formed integral.

D designates a reversing-lever centrally mounted upon the pivot a of the pedestal A and each end of which is provided with an upwardly-projecting pin or stud (1, said pins or studs being preferably round. Each end of the lever D is also provided with a tooth d,'presently to be referred to. The pins or studs d upon the reversing-lever D coact with the spiders C to effect interdependent movement of the chairs, as will be now described. I

One of the arms 0 of each of the chair-spiders is provided adjacent to its free end with a V- shaped slot E, which preferably, although not necessarily, extends completely through said arm, the rounding apex of the V being inward toward the center of the spider and the two members of the slot diverging from this point. The slot is of such dimensions as to permit one of the pins (Z to snugly fit therein, as best shown in Fig. 9. In all of the positions which the structure herein described may assume, save that illustrated in Fig. 4, a pin (Z will rest in the end of a slot E, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, 5, and 9. In effecting the movement from one position to another said pin will pass inwardly through one member of said slot E to the apex thereof and outwardly through the other member, being finally brought to rest on reaching the end of the latter. This also is clearly illustratedin Figs. 2 and 3, and since there is a V-shaped slot E upon each of the spiders C and a coacting pin or stud cl on each end of the reversingdevei D the movement of one of the chairs independently of the other will be impossible. Each of the spider-arms carrying a slot E is also provided with a recess 0 for coaction with the teeth d of the reversinglever D, as hereinafter described.

Turning now to the locking mechanism for the pedestal A, the beam B, and the reversing-lever D, a preferred form is illustrated in the drawings (in detail in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive) and comprises a locking-rod F, provided with a thumb-piece 0r handle f. About midway its length, at f, this rod is round in cross-section and engages with a correspondingly-shaped orifice'extending through the pedestal A at the point where the same, having been lessened in diameter to form the pivot a, is st ll further lessened in diameter to form a pivot a, said orifice, in other words, extending both above and below the shoul der a of the beam-pivot a. On either side of the central cylindrical portion f of the locking-rod F said rod is cut away, as at f so as to be substantially semicircular in crosssection at these points. As will be seen, the locking-rod F may be readily turned by the thumb-piece or handle f in the pedestal A. The upper edge of thebeam B at the center of its pivotal point is provided with a semicircular orifice f and the lower edge of the reversing-lever at its pivotal point is provided with a correspondingly-shaped orifice fg t-hese orifices f and f being of such size as to permit the coaction therewith of the cular portions 2 thereof will engage with the corresponding y-shaped orifice f 3 in the beam B, therebyfirmly and securelv locking said beam against movement relatively to the pedestal A. In the position illustrated in Fig; 7 the locking-rod has been exactly reversed, with the result that the reversing-lever D is locked against movement relatively to the pedestal A; but the beam B is free to move relatively to said pedestal. In Fig. 8 the locking-rod has been turned to a position intermediate of the two heretofore described, as the result of which the pedestal A, the beam B, and the reversing-lever D are immovable relatively to each other. The occasion for each of these operations will be further referred to in the description which follows of the movement of the chairs.

Owing to the positive coaction between the reversing-lever and the chair-spiders, it will be apparent that when the locking mechanism, which has just been described, is in the position illustrated in Fig. 8 all the parts, including the chairs themselves, are locked against further movement. When, however, such locking mechanism is in the position shown in either Fig. 6 or Fig. 7, (when either the reversing-lever D or thebeam B is free to move relatively to the pedestal,) obviously other means additional to the locking mechanism must be provided for securing the chairs in position. In the present instance this requirement is met by means of a hinged gravity-latch, carried by each chair-spider in operative relation with the slot-and-pin device heretofore described. As here shown, this gravity-latch consists of an arm G, pivoted at g in" an ear or ears carried by that arm of each spider in which the V-shaped slot is formed. The free end of the arm G is provided with a bifurcated block g, having a handle 9 Said block is of substantially the same shape as, althoughsomewhat smaller than, the V-shaped slot E, save that one end thereof terminates short of the distant end of one of the members of said slot, leaving a space between the end of the block and the end of the slot suflicient in size to receive one of the pins (1 of the reversing-lever D. If desired, the handle g may be duplicated on either side of the gravity-latch, although this is not essential. By means of such handles the latch may be readily lifted upon its hinge g, so as to permit so much of the reversing o eration as will bring the pin (1 under the blbck g. After this has been done the operation can be completed without reference to the latch, which during the remainder of the movement will of course be inoperative. When, however, the chairs have again been moved to return the pins (1 to the position illustrated in Fig. 5,the latch will fall by gravity into the V-shaped slot, thereby securing said pin (1 in the end thereof.

Turning now to the operation of the strucof the car.

ture herein described, I premise by calling attention to Fig. 4, which, as hereinbefore indicated, illustrates the chairs of a twin seat so arranged as to face directly in the latitude of a car, in other words, said chairs being side by side, their centers parallel with the longitudinal axis of the car, and each chair facing directly across the car rather than at an angle across the car. the structure to this position the beam B is moved so as to lie parallel with the longitude The chairs are revolved (both by means of pressure applied to one) until they face inthe direction stated. When they as sume this position, the beam B, the reversinglever D, and those spider-arms which carry the V-shaped slots all lie in a single plane. At this time the orifice f of the reversingarm D and the orifice f 3 of the beam or yoke B are in line, and the locking-rod F being turned to the position indicated in Fig. 8 the pedestal, the beam, and the reversing-arm are locked against relative movement. In addition to this, as the parts assume the position illustrated in Fig. 4 the projections d on the extreme ends of the reversing-lever D entered the recesses c in those spider-arms carrying the V-shaped slots E. The described operation of the locking-rod F therefore results in securely binding together all of the otherwise movable parts of the seat structure, and this has been accomplished by a simple and quickly-performed application of the locking mechanism F. We next assume that although the chairs are to remain parallel with the longitudinal axis of the car, (or substantially so,) each chair is to face in a direction other than exactly transversei. e., in a direction oblique to the direction of travel of the car. This is accomplished in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3, the looking-rod F being turned to the posi tion illustrated in Fig. 6,.so as to retain the beam or yoke B parallel with the longitude of the car (or substantially so) and to lock it in that position. When this has been done, the reversing-lever D is free to move upon its pivot a. The latch G being in inoperative position, pressure now applied to one of the chairs will shift the same upon its pivot, so that it shall face in the desired direction. This movement of one chair causes, through the operation of the reversing-arm D, a corresponding movement of the other chair, so that each of the pins (1 comes to rest at the same moment in the end of its V-shaped slot E, and as it comes to rest the block g of one of the latches G, falling into its slot, securely locks the parts in this position. If now the direction of travel of the car be reversed, it is only necessary to release the operative latch and to apply pressure to one of the chairs to bring it to the desired position, when, as before, the other chair will be simi- In bringing larly moved through the intermediation of the reversing-arm D until when the movement has been completed each of the pins a has traversed one member of its slot to the apex of the V and back to the extreme end of the other member of the V, where the parts are locked in the new position by the operation of one of the latches G.

It will be seen that I have thus described three of the 'several positions of which the seat of this invention is capable, all three being describable by the term longitudinal seating. The term transverse seating is employed where twin-seat structures, as entireties, are located on opposite sides of the car and arranged to assume one or two positions oblique to the transverse axis. The use of the structure of this invention in such transverse seating is illustrated in Fig. 2, the wall of the car being indicated by the line at the right of that figure. Referring first to the full-line position, it will be seen that the beam B is oblique to the transverse axis of the car. To bring it to this position from the position illustrated in Fig. 3, it is necessary only to release the proper latch G and to move the structure so as to bring the reversingarm D into parallelism with the beam B, both then lying (in the present instance) longitudinally of the car. The locking-rod F is then turned from the position illustrated in Fig. 6 to the position illustrated in Fig. 7, thereby releasing the beam B for movement upon its pivot a. The latter being then swung upon such pivot to either the full-line or dottedline position of Fig. 2, the chairs will through the agency of the reversing mechanism assume their proper position, as indicated in said figure. In this operation, the reversingarm D being stationary, the movement of the beam B causes the pins on such arm to traverse one member of each of the V-shaped slots in the spider-arms, so that the movement of the beam B from the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to the position shown in Fig. 2 involves, also, as above stated, the interdependent movement of the chairs upon their pivots, and, in the embodiment of the inventionunder discussion, this movement is simultaneousi. e., the chairs are individually turned to operative position while the structure is being moved as an entirety in the arc of a circle. When the chairs assume the fullline position indicated in Fig. 2, the pins having performed their entire traverse of the V- shaped slots E come to rest in the extremities of those slots, whereupon one of the latches G immediately drops into operative relation, thereby locking not only the seats themselves, but lo oking, also, the beam against movement relatively to the pedestal, since each of these movements is dependent upon ure referred to. The chair being in the fullline position thus illustrated, the inside or window seat, as will be seen, is somewhat in advance of the outside or aisle seat 3 but both seats face in the direction of travel of the car..

pivot a to its dotted-line osition, Fig. 2; but.

since the reversing-lever is locked, so as to be immovable relatively to the pedestal A, the pins upon the ends of said reversing-arm D perform'their complete traverse of the V- shaped slots, thereby effecting simultaneously with the shifting of the beam the complete and interdependent reversal of each of the chairs. In other words, there is an interdependent movement of the chairs upon their pivots and a movement of the seat as an entirety (and in this instance simultaneously) through the arc of a circle in the direction of the large arrow I. When the parts assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, they are locked in such position by the engagement of one of the latches G with one of the V-shaped slots and the pin located in'the end thereof.

I here observe that in the particular form of locking mechanism F herein described operation of this is not necessary to change of position where the structure is used for transverse seating only, the two positions whereof are shown in Fig. 2. Its greatest utility is realized as part of the provision for using the seats either longitudinally or transversely at will. I also observe at this point that I deem it preferable, although not essential, to arrange the V-shaped slots as illustrated in the drawings, even though this requires a movement of the structure as an entirety in a considerable arc of a circle in effecting the change from one to the other of the two positions shown in Fig. 2.

What I claim is 1. In a carseat, the combination with a pedestal, of a beam movably mounted thereon, chairs sustained by said beam, mechanism intermediate of said beam and chairs for effecting interdependent movement of said chairs and a locking device coacting with said pedestal and said mechanism, substantially as set forth.

2. In a car-seat, the combination with a pedestal, of a beam movably mounted thereon, chairs sustained by said beam, mechanism intermediate of said beam and chairs for effecting interdependent movement of said chairs and a locking device coacting with said edestal said beam and said mechanism substantially as set forth.

3. In a car-seat, the combination of a pedestal, a beam pivotally mounted thereon, means for locking said beam 011 said pedestal in any one of three positions one a definite amount less and another an equal amount greater than a right angle to the third position, chairs pivotally mounted on said beam, means actuated automatically on movement of the beam from the first to the second position and vice versa for reversing thefacing direction of said chairs, and means for effecting interdependent movement of said chairs when the beam is in the third position, substantially as set forth.

4. In a car-seat, the combination of a pedestal, a beam pivotally mounted thereon, means for locking said beam on said pedestal in anyone of three positions one a definite amount less and another an equal amount greater than a right angle to the third position, chairs pivotally mounted on said beam, means actuated automatically on movement of the beam from the first to the second position and vice versa for reversing the facing direction of said chairs, means for effecting interdependent movement of said chairs when the beam is in the third position, and a locking mechanism coacting with said chairs when the beam is in the third position, substantially as set forth.

5. In a car-seat, the combination of a pedestal, a beam pivotally mounted thereon, chairs pivotally mounted on said beam, means for effecting interdependent movement of said chairs, means actuated by move ment of said beam for turning said chairs on their pivots, and means for rendering the first-named means inoperative to permit of the operation of the second-named means and vice versa, substantially as set forth.

6. In a car-seat, the combination of a pedestal, a beam pivotally mounted thereon and capable of assuming three operative positions, chairs mounted on said beam, means actuated by movement of said beam from one position to a second position for automatically reversing the facing direction of said chairs, means operative when said beam is in the third position, for effecting interdependent movement of said chairs through arcs of approximately forty-five degrees independently of: said beam, and means for rendering the first-named means inoperative to permit of the operation of the second-named means and vice versa, substantially as set forth.

7. In a car-seat, the combination with a pedestal, of a beam and reversing-lever pivoted thereon, chairs sustained by said beam, a pin-and-slot connection between said lever and each of said chairs, means for effect ng interdependent movement of said chairs independently of the movement of said beam, means for locking said beam to said pedestal, and means for locking said lever to said pedestal, substantially as set forth.

8. In a car-seat, the combination with a pedestal, of a beam and reversing-lever each pivotally mounted on said pedestal, chairs sustained by said pedestal, connections between said lever and said chairs, means for effecting interdependent movement of said chairs independently of the movement of said beam, means for locking said beam to said pedestal and means for locking said reversing-lever to said pedestal, substantially as set forth.

9. In a car-seat, the combination with a pedestal, of a movable beam and reversing device carried thereby, chairs having supports sustained by said beam, connections between said reversing device and said chairs and locking mechanism for said pedestal, said chair-sup orts and said beam, substantially as set fort 10. In a car-seat, the combination with a pedestal, of a movable beam and reversing device carried thereby, chairs sustained by said beam,.connections between said reversing device and said chairs, and a locking mechanism coacting with said pedestal and said reversing device, substantially as set forth.

11. In a car-seat, the combination with a pedestal, of a chair and mechanism intermediate of said pedestal and chair for operating the latter, said mechanism including a member having an angular slot and a pin coacting therewith, substantially as set forth.

12. In a car-seat, the combination with a pedestal, of a chair and mechanism intermediate of said pedestal and chair for operating the latter, said mechanism including a memher having an angular slot, a pin coacting therewith, and a securing device for locking said pm at either end of said angular slot, substantially as set forth.

13. In a car-seat, the combination with a pedestal, of chairs sustained thereby and mechanism intermediate of said pedestal and chairs for operating the latter interdependently, including members having angular slots and pins coacting therewith, substantially as set forth.

14. In a car-seat, the combination with a pedestal, of chairs sustained thereby and mechanism intermediate of said pedestal and chairs for operating the latter interdependently, including members having angular slots, pins coacting therewith, and a'securing device for locking said pin at either end of said angular slot, substantially as set forth.

15. In a carseat, the combination with a pedestal, of chairs sustained thereby, a reversing device, and connections between the same and said chairs, including members having V-shaped slots and pins coacting therewith, substantially as set forth.

16. In a car-seat, the combination witha pedestal, of a beam, chairs sustained thereby,

a reversing device, and connections between the same and said chairs, including members having V shaped slots and pins coacting therewith, substantially as set forth.

17. In a car-seat, the combination with a pedestal, of a pivoted beam, chairs sustained thereby, a reversing device, and connections between the same and said chairs, including members having V-shaped slots and pins coacting therewith, substantially as set forth.

18. In a car-seat, the combination witha pedestal, of chairs sustained thereby, a reversing device, and-connections between the same and said chairs, said connections comprising pins or lugs carried by said reversing device and coacting with V-shaped slots carried by said chairs, substantially as set forth.

19. In a car-seat, the combination with a pedestal, of chairs sustained thereby, a reversing device, connections between the same and said chairs, said connections comprising pins or lugs carried by said reversing device and coacting with V-shaped slots carried by said chairs, and securing mechanism for said connections, substantially as set forth.

20. In a car-seat, the combination of a pedestal, a beam pivotally mounted thereon and capable of assuming one position or either of two positions one at a definite amount less and the other an equal amount' greater than a right angle to the first-named beam, means for effecting interdependent -movement of said chairs, means actuated by a movement of said beam for turning said chairs on their pivots, means for rendering the first-named means inoperative to permit of operation of the second named means and vice versa, and means for locking said beam in any one of said three positions, substantially as set forth.

21. In a car-seat, the combination of a pedestal, a beam and a reversing device pivotallymounted thereon and adapted to move one independently of the other, chairs pivotally mounted on said beam,mechanism con necting each of said chairs to said reversing device, and means for locking either said beam or said reversing device to said pedestal, substantially as set forth.

22. In, a car-seat, the combination of a pedestal, a beam and a reversing device pivotally mounted thereon and adapted to move one independently of the other, chairs pivotally;mou;nted on said beam, mechanism con- 23. In a car-seat, the combination of a reversing device to said pedestal, substanpedestal, a beam and a reversing device pivtially as set forth. otally mounted thereon and adapted to This specification signed and witnessed move one independently of the other, chairs this 31st day of March, 1902.

pivotally mounted on said beam, mechanism HENRY WARREN KILBURN HALE, connecting each of said chairs to said revers- Witnesses: ing device, and means for locking said beam, H. E. JAMES,

said reversing device or both the beam and H. S. HALE.

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