US407353A - keller - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

Patented July 23, 1889 5 qwiimowo (No Model.)

L. KELLER. SLEEPING CAR.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented July 23, 1889.

I] ll TI vvuewto o A Y Patented July 23, 1889.

fill Illl W M NIL M ML 11 .NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS KELLER, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

SLEEPLNG-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,353, dated July 23, 1889.

Application filed January 21, 1889. Serial No. 296,950. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS KELLER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sleeping-Oars, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as to enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, when taken in connection with the drawings, of which Figure 1 is a floor plan of a section of a car when arranged as a day-car. Fig. 2 is a like view when arranged as a sleeping-car or night-oar. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of a car when arranged as a day-car, showing the removable partition in place on one side. Fig. 4 is an end view of a seat, showing the end frame. Fig. 5 is a view of a lower berth, showing a modification of cushions. Fig. 6 is an interior view of a section, showing the berth-curtains Fig. 7 is a view from the aisle of the curtains between the aisle and the berth. Fig. 8 is a floor plan of my improved car. Fig. 9 is a floor plan of a modification.

Fig. 10 is a floor plan of another modification.

This my invention relates to improvements in the seats and berths of sleeping-cars; and it consists in making the frame A, at the end of the seat next the aisle, of curved shape, and also making the top in a curved, rounded, or sloping manner, having the seat and back cushions of a width less than the width of the seat, so arranged that they may, when forming a berth, be placed close to the side of the car, so as to leave an unoccupied space between the outer edge of the berth and the outer portion of the end frame next the aisle, making the upper berth of less width than the seat-frame of the lower berth, having a curtain-rod to conform to the contour of the end frames of the seat, and the various combinations hereinafter specified and claimed.

l-Ieretofore and before this my invention sleeping-cars have been made by placing at either side of a central aisle seats made with straight end frames, arranged so that two seats are back to back against a division from the end frame to the side of the car, the cushions of the back and seat being so arranged as to inove out and form a berth when the car is adapted for sleeping purposes, each section being cut off: from the adjacent section by an interposed partition and from the aisle by a curtain between the aisle and the berth.

This my improvement consists in making the'end frame A of the seat of a curved or bent form, as shown in Fig. 1, and also in making the top of the end frame A on a curve downward in either direction from the center to the outer edges, as shown in Fig. 4. By using this form of end frame I am able to place it nearer the center of the car, and consequently make the seat wider, while at the same time the end frame does not interfere with or obstruct the aisle, as it curves back from the center of the aisle at its higher parts. The division between the seats is opposite the center of this end frame A at O, as is usual in cars of this character; but owing to the curve in the end frame this division is not so long as the width of the berth at its widest part. The frame consists of the end frame A, the division or partition 0, and the under frame 0 0, (shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2,) on which the seat-cushions rest. WVithin the frame 0 c are fixed boxes 00 00, (shown in Fig. 3,) in which the pillows are kept during the day. The partition 0 forms the back of the seat and has placed against it the cushions 1 and at when the car is arranged as a day-car.

The upper berth K, Fig. 3, is hinged to the side of the car and fastened by suitable bolts in its closed position, as is usual in cars of this class.

The cushions 1 2 3 4 are arranged on the back and seat, so as to be movable and adjustable, as they are usually arranged in cars of this class. These cushions are, however, narrower than the space between the end frame A and the side of the car where they are placed, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 3, being made not wider than the back frame of the seat, and preferably as much narrower than the length of the back frame as the back frame is less than the space between the end frame A and the side of the car, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

WVhen the car is arranged for day service, the cushions 1, 2, 3, and 4 are placed in the center of the seat-frames, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the space on the seat-frame at either side of the cushion being filled out with auxiliarycushions, if desired; or the cushion may be placed at one end of the seat-frame and the auxiliary cushion put in at the other end; or those spaces may be left open for the storage of packages or travelers necessaries.

The end frame A has on its upper edge an arm -rest a, extending out from the frame toward the cushion. A like arm-rest a may be applied at the other side, if desired.

Vhen the car is adjusted for night service, the seat-cushions 2 3 are slipped forward, at the same time being pushed close against the side of the car and the back cushions 1 4 are brought down and likewise pushed to the side of the car, resting on the seat-frame c c and the removable cross-bar s between the frames 0 c, as shown in Fig. 2, thus making a berth somewhat narrower than the width between the end frame A and the side of the car.

The curtain-rod R, at. or near the top of the car, follows the contour of the end frames A A, extending straight from over the edge of one end frame to the edge of the other end frame, as shown by dotted line marked R in Fig. 2.

The upper berth is made as upper berths in this class of cars are ordinarily made, but in width equal only to the lower berth, as shown in Fig. 2. By this arrangement a clear space or inclosure is made between the curtain and the berths of sufficient size, and it maybe utilized for dressing or undressing without exposure to the other occupants of the car. This space also allows a free circulation of air in front of the berth inside the curtain.

It will be seen that this construction of sleeping-car gives greater width to the seat, and at the same time increases the width of the aisle at certain parts thereof-that is, in the center of the curve or recess at D of the end frame A A-and while the end frames project nearer the center of the aisle at or near the floor they do not come so near the center of the aisle about three feet from the floor, or near the hip-line of a person passing along the aisle, as in the ordinary construction of cars of this class.

The arrangement of cushions 1 2 3 4: may be modified, as shown in Fig. 5, when the seat-cushionsfl 3 remain stationary when the car is changed from a night to a (lay car and the back cushions 1 t are moved from the back to the position between the seat-frames to form the berth. This arrangement gives a cushion-covering on the entire seat when the car is arranged as a day-car, and also leaves a space between the curtains and the berth proper when made up as a night-car. Various other modifications of the cushions would readily suggest themselves.

There is provided along the edge of the upper berth a rod S, on which the curtain s is hung so as to reach the lower berth and come in contact with the ends of the cushions l 4, the upper berth being, when down for from the aisle are hung on the rod R, (shown more especially in Fig. 7,) Which are made in the pieces Q and Q The curtains or pieces Q are fastened at their top to the rod R on its curved part, and at their bottom to the end frames of the seat A, and may be made to extend to the floor or to fasten to the end frames near the top of said frames,bein g in width suiiicient to reach from one edge to the other of the end frames A. These curtains may also be fastened to the edge of the partition 0', being the removable portion of the partition between the several sections. This partition 0 proj ects slightly beyond the end of partition (J, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the curtain will make a firm close joint with it when drawn taut from the rod to the en d frame A. The curtain Q is of length suflicient to reach from the rod R to the floor, and in width to reach from the curtain Q to the adjacent 9 edge of the next curtain Q, and is provided along each edge with buttons or loops to fasten to the corresponding loops or buttons of the curtains Q, and may be fastened to buttons on the edge of the end frame A. I prefer that these curtains be made with little or no full.- ness, so that when in position they will keep in their proper place.

011 the end frame A, I provide a handle II, which maybe grasped by a person in the aisle to get support. This is preferably made to conform to the curve of the end frame, as shown, but may be made of any suitable shape.

Fig. 8 is a plan of a section of a car as ar-- ranged with my improved end frame as I prefer to apply the samethat is, with a curved end frame A at each seat.

A modification is shown in Fig. 9, where the curved end frames A are introduced in pairs opposite one another at certain parts of the car.

Another modification is shown in Fig. 10, where the curved end frames A are introduced alternately through the car.

I much prefer the arrangement shown in Fig. 8; but the modifications may be used in some instances with advantage.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination,with a car-seat, of an end frame curved in its horizontal section, with a concave side toward the center of the car, as specified.

2. The combination, in a sleeping-car, of a series of seats having the end frames thereof curved in horizontal section, as specified and set fort-h.

3. The combination, in a sleeping-car, of a car-seat curved in its horizontal section and 6. The combination, in a sleeping-car, of a fixed curtain covering the adjacent ends of two berths and a curtain at the center of the length of the section extending from one fixed 15 curtain to another, substantially as specified.

LOUIS KELLER.

Witnesses:

J OSEPH J. SULLIVAN, E. G. THOMPSON.

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