The Washington times., 1894-08-19
CAR PATENTS APPLIED FOR
The Recent Pullman Troubles Doomed
that Class of Invention.
DIFFERENT DEVICES SENT IN
They Were Quite Generally Aimed to Puzzle
the Festive Train Robber and 0utwit the
Wrecker-Mechanical Guards to Provide
for the Safe Conveyance Of Valuables.

A rush Of applications from inventors for
patents for improvements in sleeping cars is
looked for ut the Patent Office, now that the
railroad troubles at various points have qui-
eted down, The fact that the Pullman and
Wagner companies have SO far had monop-
oily of the sleeping car service throughout the
country, has served to discourage inventors
who have for some time past, either been en-
gagged in perfscting their devices, or else have
employed their time in other channels. The
organization at st. Louis, No., within the
past few days, Of the Continental Palace Car
Company. with a capital of $1,000. 900, has
apparently greatly encouraged inventors of
car appliances and already patent has been
issued to Helen K. Ingram, of Jacksonville,
Fla, for what is stated to be ian improve
ment in railroad cars. whereby the ordinar y
day coach, by slight addition and alterations.
can readily and speedily be converted into a
sleeping car" The invention contemplates
the construction Of day coaches. in a slightly
changed manner from the plans generally
followed, the backs Of the seats being con-
structed with the usual curved surface on one
side, but on the back they are to be heavily
upholstered with fiat cushion that can
easily be removed.
Beneath the cushions Of the seats box or
tray is provided to hold a mattress, ETC.,
while the car is not In use as q sleeper. There
is also hinged to the back of the frame OF the
seats board like the leaf of table to shut
in the box or tray and rests beneath the seat
cushion in the daytime, but when the car is
used as a sleeper is turned outward and up
ward to form head and footboards. On the
side of the car between the windows there is
q recess panel, upholstered on one side, the
lower end OF which Is on line with the
backs of the seats when thrown upward and
horizontal and Of width to fill the space be-
tween and rest upon the backs, and thus
form a continuous surface. The arm rests
are cushioned, and the frame of the seats is
extended by curving it upwards about three
or four inches above the arm rest.
SOMEWHAT COMPLICATED.
In order to widen the space between the
berths when the backs are thrown up and the
car is used as sleeper, there is provided a
brass or other metal rod running from the side
of the car, first above the windows and pro-
jecting out as far as the outer edge ofthe seats,
and at right angles, thence parallel with, and
at the distance OF two seats, and thence at
right angles back to the car. This is sup
ported at its turns or angles by rods or bars
extending and secured to the roof Of the car.
This rod is for the purpose of attaching cur
There is also board or leaf hinged to the
back of the seat to shut into and rest under
the removable cushion above described, and
when the car is used as a sleeper the leaf or
leaves can be hinged outward and form foot
and head boards for the upper berth.
The inventor says she can supply this want
10 the cars as now constructed by having
leaves or boards hinged to one end of the
seat, back of each separate seat. and be held
IN place In the day time by catch or button,
for head and foot boards for upper berth,
while similar boards can be hinged to the
frame of the seat for the lower berth head
and foot boards.
When 1t is desirable to convert the car into
a sleeper one seat is turned to face another,
the cushion of each seat is lifted up. the
leaves hinged to an upright position forming
head and foot boards and the cushion re-
placed. The lower upholstered panel is then
let down, closing the space between the seats,
the backs Of the seats having been turned in
in a horizontal position, the lower berth
Is formed.
The backs of the seats being placed OF
turned in the transverse or horizontal posi-
ton, the cushions above referred to are lifted
and the leaves turned outward in a perpendic-
ular position, the cushions replaced, the up
per panel let down upon the backs and tho
upper berth is formed.
AN IOWA MANS IDEA.
Mr.. William D. Patterson, OF Keokuk, Iowa,
has just received patent for what the inven-
tor terms new and useful improvement in
mail or express cars, which are adapted for
the transportation of mail matter and valu-
ables in general; and in such connection it re-
lates more particularly to the provision ofsuch
cars with apartments having vaults for the