Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1886
Complete Left, 20th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 20th Sept., 1887.
JOHN WILLIAM JACKSON 45 Lansdowne Place Brighton Sussex Commercial
Traveller do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
My invention has for its object giving the power of altering an ordinary second or
third class Railway Compartment in a few minutes without any accessories into a six
berth (or any less number) sleeping Compt.
The means I adopt in carrying out my invention are mainly as follows. I place
the ordinary seats about 3 inches nearer the floor of the compartment and have a
second cushion about 3 inches thick on the top of the usual one which is to be used to
put into the uppermost berth which is afterwards described herein.
I make the second berth by having a long horizontal hinge in the back of the back
cushion about 27 hinges from the seat the lower edge of the back cushion is made on
to a strong wooden bar with wooden sides & is backed by strong webbing and fitting
into the back of the wooden bar are to be two iron legs duly fixed so as to support the
back cushion (when it is raised to form a sleeping berth) by their lower ends resting
on flanges in holes made in the woodwork of the lowest seat.
The third or uppermost berth is made out of the luggage rack which when not
required for sleeping presents the usual appearance & can be used in the usual way
but instead of the ordinary brackets I use tubular ones one half telescoping into the
other so as to pull out when required to twice the usual length the bed of the rack is
to be of the usual open work iron sheeting but there are to be two layers of it working
over each other by means of three straight slits or openings across through which are
fixed double headed nuts so that when the rack is pulled out to form a berth the iron
sheet is single & when pushed in to form a luggage rack one half of the iron sheet
slides over and rests upon the other The front and sides of the rack to be of strong
wood & when in use as a berth the sides rest upon the top of the blind holders or fix

page_text: upon hooks which are suitably placed to hold them firmly the brackets are joined to
the wall or back of the compartment by screwed metal plates & work thereon on
hinges arranged so as to fix at either of the angles required the extra cushion from
the lowest berth or seat is to be used for the uppermost berth when the latter is used
as a luggage rack the frame is supported by strong hooks fixed suitably.
I also arrange that all the cushions are made in two pieces one about 9 inches long
& the other filling up remainder of the seat so that the smaller pieces can be placed on
the top of the other pieces so as to form pillows.
In order to enable Passengers to get into the upper berths I have leather handles
fastened in convenient positions.

page_text: I, JOHN WILLIAM JAOKSON 45 Lansdowne Place Brighton Sussex Commercial
Traveller do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My invention has for its object the provision of means for altering an ordinary
second or third class railway compartment, in a few minutes into a six berth sleeping
compartment.
The means I adopt in carrying out my invention are mainly as follows.
Under the ordinary cushion on the usual seat I provide another cushion placed
behind the front of the seat and supported by wood underneath, and I make the upper
ordinary cushion movable so that it can be used for the uppermost berth hereinafter
described.
I make the second or middle berth out of what constitutes the stuffed end or
cushion which is at the back of the compartment the said stuffed end or cushion being
made on to a strong metal or wood frame which rests for day use against the back of
the compartment being only connected therewith at convenient height by a long
horizontal hinge so that the front and sides of the frame with the cushion, or stuffed
back, or end, can be raised bodily upwards to a position at right angles with the back
of the compartment so as to form a sleeping berth; when so raised it is to be supported
on two iron legs (of proper length) which have projecting flanges near their ends so
as to rest in and upon metal protected holes correspondingly placed in the seat below,
and they can if necessary be secured there by pins or bolts or otherwise; the iron legs
when not in use are turned upon hinges, which connect them with the frame, up into
grooves made for their reception in the underside of the said frame and they are there
secured by means of thumb pieces; I also support this berth by means of folding
brackets suitably placed for use if necessary, the back of the cushion or stuffed end
(otherwise the under side of the berth) is made of strong webbing or other suitable
material.
The uppermost berth is made out of the luggage rack which is to be supported by
two or more strong metal brackets consisting of two portions which are hinged or
have pivots near the centre of their length, the hinges or pivots allowing said portions

page_text: of brackets to open upwards and the lower portions of the said brackets (when the
berth is left as a luggage rack) are to fit between suitable metal grooves or double
plates constituting a fork or jaw (fixed on the back of the compartment) through
which as well as through portions of the double jointed brackets themselves are to be
pins or preferably screws fitted in horizontally which are removable at pleasure, the
pins or screws when not in use to be secured to the metal grooves or jaws by chains
or otherwise to guard against their loss, metal slides of the nature of collars or ferrules
are applied on the brackets in such manner as to slide upon same so that when the
rack is in use as a berth the said collars or ferrules fit over the central hinges or
pivots connecting the two sections of the brackets and prevent their opening thus
rendering them rigid supports for the berth. The frame of the luggage rack is made
of strong metal or wood front and in addition to the double jointed brackets above
described there will be supporting brackets or stays at each end connected in any
suitable manner but preferably made of metal tubes telescoping one into the other to
admit of such end brackets or stays being made longer or shorter at pleasure. The
bed of the uppermost berth is made of two openwork metal plates one fastened on one
of its sides to the inside of the front of the frame and the other to the back of the
compartment the two plates being attached in such a manner as to accomodate them-
selves and to lie one over the other when forming part of the luggage rack and to be
kept together preferably though not exclusively by means of nuts or studs working in
slits cut across the metal plates so that they are kept in position when the rack is
drawn out to form a berth, and thus are ready to receive the previously mentioned
extra cushion from the lowest berth that is the ordinary seat of the compartment;
the front of the frame when forming either luggage rack or berth, is by means of eyes
formed at its ends supported or hung upon strong hooks conveniently placed on either
side of the compartment, or it may be supported by means of slip bolts similar to
those used for securing doors, or spring bolts placed so as to fit automatically or
otherwise into suitable metal framed holes in the sides of the compartment.
In order to enable passengers to get into the upper berths, I have leather or other
handles placed in convenient positions on the walls of the compartment or on the
berths themselves and I also provide a light iron ladder (which can be kept under the
seat) in case its use is necessary.
By means of simple lock catches suitably placed interference with the berths on the
part of the public may be prevented.
While for present purposes the several brackets and supports of upper and inter-
mediate berths together with their subordinate details, finish, and methods of
attachment, are described and shewn in drawings to be of the plainest description
they will obviously in practice lend themselves readily to a more ornamental treatment
while maintaining their general constructive character upon the lines described and
illustrated herein.
Having thus far described the nature of the said invention and incidentally
intimated in what manner the same is to be performed I will now proceed (aided by
the accompanying drawings) to further and particularly describe and ascertain in
what manner the same is to be carried out in practice, that is to say.
Fig. 1 is an interior sketch view and Fig. 3 is a section longitudinally of one end
of a second or third class railway compartment shewing the same as adapted to give
three sleeping berths (A B and C respectively) the other corresponding end of such
compartment being exactly similar and thus affording in said compartment the
aforementioned six berths.
The lowest berth (A) has a cushion (a) which when the compartment is fitted to
suit for day use has a second removable cushion (marked b) (on Fig. 2) placed on top
of same to form the ordinary cushioned seat at required height from floor, said
removable.cushion being shewn on Figs. 1. 3 and 5 as utilized in new position to serve
for uppermost berth (C).
The intermediate berth (B) is formed out of what for day use constitutes the stuffed
end of the compartment itself and which at (c) of Fig. 2 is shewn in position as such.

page_text: This intermediate berth (B) as hereinbefore described is so constructed as by means
of a strong hinge extending along its upper edge to be capable of being swung bodily
upwards to the required horizontal position of a sleeping berth and as such to be
securely retained in that position by means at each end of strong front legs or
uprights (d) which will be hinged to readily fold back and be securely kept out of the
way when not in use as uprights fitting into suitable eye plates or holes in the front
framework of bottom berth or seat.
Instead of, or it may be in addition to such uprights or legs (d) brackets or else
slip bolts may conveniently be employed to support this intermediate berth (B) and
likewise be made to fold or slip out of the way and admit of the berth resuming its
interchangeable position and use as a stuffed end for the compartment as shewn at
Fig. 2.
In Figs. 1 and 3 the uppermost berth (C) is shewn as formed interchangeably out
of what for day purposes and as illustrated at (E) Figs. 2 and 4 serves as a luggage
rack.
In adapting this luggage rack as a sleeping berth the brackets (f of Figs. 1 to 5
inclusive) are folded outwards to the full extent of their two constituting portions (as
shewn in Figs. 1. 3. and 5) which for such purpose are pivoted to each other and
suitably fulcrumed as a whole at their lower extremity (9) of Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive)
to the woodwork of the compartment end. When so folded outwards the brackets (f)
have collars or loose ferrules (1) slipped over their two aforesaid constituting portions
at their uniting pivot or joint and that in such manner as to insure a rigid and
effective stay or supporting bracket for the berth's outer framework which in
addition
will be furnished with a further
bracket at each end ( Fig. 1) (such brackets (8) being made preferably though not
exclusively of tubes fitted to telescope into each other in the operation of lengthening
or shortening same as required) and also an eye or ring formed at each outer end of
front of frame to fit down upon alternate hooks ( of Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive) attached
to the sides of compartment for the further support of the said front frame whether in
adaptation for use as a berth or as a luggage rack. As herein before stated the upper
removable cushion (shewn as b of Figs. 1. 2 3 and 5) forming the seat for day use as
aforesaid is placed upon the framework after same is adapted as above described and
there utilized for the uppermost sleeping berth (C) after the manner illustrated at
Figs. 1. 3. and 5.
Figs. 4 and 5 shew the supporting brackets (f) as adapted to suit their employment
respectively for a luggage rack as shewn at Figs. 2 and 4, and for a sleeping berth as
illustrated at Figs. 1. 3 and 5.
In Figs. 1. 4. and 5 are shewn the two metal bottom plates (k) (by preference
perforated throughout) as overlapping on each other to form the bottom of the luggage
rack while the same metal plates (k) are shewn at Figs. 3 and 5 as extended in the
manner hereinbefore described to form a bottom to the framework of the inter-
changeable sleeping berth, the cushion (6) of which is shewn by dotted lines in
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6 particularly shews the aforesaid hooks as intended to be fixed to each side of
the compartment and fitted into eyes formed on both ends of the front part of frame-
work as shewn for the efficient end support of said framework in its adaptation either
as a luggage rack or as a sleeping berth. In Fig. 4 the lower constituting member
of the bracket (f) is shewn as folded back against the woodwork of compartment end
where it is securely held by pin, bolt, or otherwise within the metal grooves or jaw
plates (of Figs. 4 and 5) as aforesaid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of my
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in practice
I declare that what 1 claim is,
1st. Originality in adapting a second or third class railway compartment to serve
at pleasure for ordinary day use or as a six-berth sleeping compartment comprising

page_text: the adapting and employment of the back cushion or stuffed end of compartment for
the purpose of a sleeping berth in railway travelling substantially as herein described
and illustrated.
2nd. So constructing the upper luggage rack of a second or third class railway
compartment that said rack may at pleasure be readily adapted for use as a receptacle 5
for luggage or as one of six berths in a six berth sleeping compartment all substantially
as herein described and illustrated.