Improvements in Convertible Seats and Sleeping Berths for Railway Vehicles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Convertible Seats and Sleeping Berths for Railway
Vehicles.
We, JOHN KREHBIEL, Physician of 33 Quincey Street, Cleveland, Cuyahoga
County, State of Ohio, and WILLIAM NELSON BREWER, Manufacturer of
61 James Street Cleveland, Cuyahoga County State of Ohio United States, of
America 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:-
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a convertible scat and
berth for railway cars.
The invention consists in so constructing a seat that it is movable in the car, that
is, adapted to be adjusted to different positions for day use, and so constructed that
two opposite seats may be connected together and be converted into a sleeping berth
or berths for night use.
The invention further consists in the peculiar construction of the parts whereby
the berths, both upper and lower are constructed from each pair of seats, and,
further in the peculiar construction, arrangement and combination of the various
parts, all as more fully hereinafter described.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our improved seat.
Fig. 2 is a similar side elevation showing the two opposite seats connected
together and arranged as upper and lower berths.
Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the upper berth.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the seats, showing it arranged as made up
for a berth, with the mattress of the lower section removed.
Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view of the hinge and elevating device for the
seat back when used as the upper berth.
Fig. 6 is a detached perspective view of the tension device for the securing bolt
of the seat.
Fig. 7 is a vertical, central, longitudinal section through the seat.
Fig. is a horizontal section on line - in Fig. 2, the lower berth being
made up.
Fig. 9 is a detached perspective view showing the manner of attaching the
rubber cloth cover for the lower berth and Fig. 10 is a similar view of the upper
berth.
Heretofore railway cars designed for day and night use have been constructed
with stationary seats which were convertible into berths. In most cases the upper
berth was formed by a hinged section in the upper part of the car.
Our invention broadly consists in making so-called chair cars, i.e. a car having
movable seats, convertible into a sleeping car, and in the peculiar construction of a
convertible seat and berth.
1 is a seat frame having the usual back 2 and arms 3. This seat frame is
supported preferably upon casters 4. It also has preferably but a limited movement
in the car.
To effect this limited movement we employ a clamping bolt 5 (Fig. 7)
passing through a slot 6 in the bottom of the car and through the bottom of the
seat frame, having a clamping uut 7 at the upper end which bears upon a thick
rubber washer 8, which in turn bears upon the plate 9 pivoted at one end to the
seat frame.
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10 is a shaft journaled in suitable bearings and extending beneath the plate 9.
It is provided with an enlargement or cam 11 beneath the plate 9 and a squared:
portion at the end to which a crank (not shown) may be applied to turn the same.
L

page_text: The effect of turning the shaft is to press the cam 11 against the under side of the
plate 9 and to press the rubber washer 8 against the nut 7, clamping the seat firmly
in its adjusted position.
When
In this condition of the parts the seat may be turned upon its pivot, but cannot
be slid longitudinally of the slot 6. The seat may thus be turned toward the
window or toward the aisle or two adjacent seats may be made to face each other,
thus for day use making practically a chair car of desirable construction.
the cam is turned downward so as to loosen the washer the seat may be moved
longitudinally of the slot as well as being turned on its pivot and thus giving
further adjustment for different arrangements of the seats in the car. It is
preferable to have the seat clamped in any of its adjusted positions so as to prevent
rattling of the bolt and connections.
12 is a seat back which is provided with an upholstering 13, which upholstering
is so constructed as to leave an extension 14 at the end. This extension when in
use as a seat projects into the body portion of the seat frame, as shown in Fig. 7.
The seat back is provided with a hooked plate 15 which engages with a horizontal
pin at the top of the bar 16 which slidingly engages into a groove 17 on the inner
face of the back 2 of the seat.
18 are straps forming guides for the bars 16, this construction forming a
detachable hinge between the frame back and seat back, so that the latter may be
detached for cleaning purposes the same as the seat proper.
19 is a rack formed on the inner faces of the bars 16 and 20 are pinions meshing
with the racks secured to the shaft 21, which extends through the frame and is
provided with a squared end 22, to which a crank may be attached for turning the
shaft for raising and lowering the bar 16, thus enabling me to raise and lower the
hinged end of the seat back to adjust it when it is in use as the upper berth, as
shown in Fig. 4.
23 is the upholstered seat proper resting upon the seat frame in the usual
manner.
Within the body of the seat is removably secured the end mattress section 24,
so constructed that it may be turned with its end portion 25 extending upward
parallel with the front of the seat, as shown in Fig. 7.
The front of the seat may be removable or may be hinged to the seat frame and
the form which we preferably employ is that shown in Fig. 4, in which the front is
made in two parts 44, connected at the ends by hinges 26.
The
When the seat is to be made into a berth, the two opposite seats are moved to
face each other and tightly clamped in position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.
seats proper 23 are removed and the seat back 12 turned upon its hinge upwardly
until it is substantially parallel with the floor, being held in such position in any
suitable manner, preferably by means of the hinged brace 27. This hinged brace
is preferably at the outer edge of the seat. To support the inner edge we employ
the sliding shafts 28 on the under side of the seat back, that shaft having the
off-sets 29 adapted to engage into sockets 30 in the side of the car when turned at
right angles to the normal condition, as plainly shown in Fig. 3, thus not only
serving as a support for the inner edge of the outer end of the upper berth, but
also locking the upper berth to the side of the car to prevent possibility of lateral
movement.
One of the upholstered seats 23 is now placed upon the extensions 14 (see Fig. 2)
and forms with the upholstered portions of the seat back complementary parts of
the mattress for the upper berth.
We preferably use a side rail 31 for the upper berth having downward extending
arms 32 detachably engaging in sockets 33, as shown in Fig. 2.
The sections 44 of the front of the seat frame, are turned into parallel relation
with each other and the ends of the sections of the adjoining seats are connected
together by connecting straps 34, having pins 33 engaging in sockets 36. Thus it
will be seen that the two opposite seats are connected together in a single frame to
form the necessary berths. The end section 25 of the mattress is removed and

page_text: inclined blocks 45 which are stowed in the seat frame, as shown in Fig. 7 are set
in the bottom of the seat, while notched strips 46 extend across the space between
the bottom of the adjoining seats.
The
The two end sections of the mattress are now placed in position upon the inclined
blocks and the connecting strips and the remaining seat cushion placed between,
their ends, the three sections forming the mattress for the lower berth.
blocks 45 may be adjusted longitudinally to give a greater or less inclination of
one end of the mattress, so that the occupant may have his head raised or lowered.
as desired. Both mattresses are now covered with the usual blankets and over
this we preferably extend a rubber cloth cover 37 in the lower berth, having
eyelets 38 and engaging hooks 39, forming a smooth clean covering for the entire
mattress, and which we have found to make much more comfortable sleeping than .
where the occupant lies directly upon the blankets.
Upon the upper berth a similar cloth 40 covers the blankets having eyelets 41
and engaging hooks 42.
The berths may be separated from each other in any desired manner, the means
we preferably employ consisting of curtains 43 at each end. These curtains may
be made of cloth with metallic lining and firmly secured in position so that each.
berth will be as private as may be desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven->
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. A convertible chair and sleeping car, comprising movable seats, constructed
and adapted to be converted into sleeping berths, substantially as described.
2. In a convertible chair and sleeping car, the combination of movable seats and
means for connecting them together in pairs to form a sleeping berth frame,
substantially as described.
3. In a convertible chair and sleeping car, the combination of movable seats,
means for securing them to the car body in their adjusted position and means for
connecting them together in pairs to form a sleeping berth frame, substantially as
described.
4. In a convertible chair and sleeping car, the combination of movable seats,
means for securing them to the car body in pairs oppositely arranged, means for
connecting the pairs together, each pair being constructed and adapted to be
converted into sleeping berths, substantially as described.
} 5. In a convertible chair and sleeping car, the combination of movable seats
arranged in pairs, means for connecting them together, means for converting each
pair into a sleeping berth frame, and a detachable connection between said frame
and the car superstructure, substantially as described.
6. In a convertible day and sleeping car, the combination of seats, having seat
backs hinged thereto and adapted to be supported in a horizontal position from the
top of the frame back, to form ends of the upper berth and upholstered seats
adapted to form the middle section thereon, substantially as described.
7. In a convertible day and sleeping car, an upper berth comprising the seat
backs hinged to the frame back and adapted to be supported in a horizontal
position from the top thereof, and an upholstered middle section supported on said
extensions substantially as described.
8. In a convertible seat and sleeping berth, the combination of a mattress or
upholstered bed, of means for vertically adjusting one end thereof, substantially as
described.
9. In a convertible seat and sleeping berth, the combination of a mattress, or
upholstered bed of means for vertically adjusting either end thereof, substantially
as described.
10. In a convertible seat and sleeping berth, the combination of the seat backs
hinged to the frame and adapted to be moved and supported in a horizontal position,
"
"

page_text: -a middle section between the ends thereof, and means for raising or lowering the
hinged end of the end sections, substantially as described.
11. In a sleeping berth, the combination of the seat backs having a hinge at
their upper end, rack bars formed on one strap of the hinges, slidingly engaging in
the seat frame, pinions engaging said racks, and a shaft on which said pinions are
secured for raising and lowering said rack bars, substantially as described.
12. In a convertible seat and berth, the combination of the seat backs hinged to
the frame and adapted to be moved and supported in a horizontal position to form
the end sections of the upper berth, and of braces for supporting the other ends
of the end sections, substantially as described.
13. In a convertible seat and berth, the combination of the seat back hinged to
the frame and adapted to be moved and supported in a horizontal position to form
the end sections of the upper berth, and of folding braces hinged at opposite ends
to the frame and the end sections, substantially as described.
14. In a convertible seat and berth, the combination of the seat backs hinged to
the frames and adapted to be moved and supported in a horizontal position to
form the end sections of the upper berth, and of a connection from said sections
to the side of the car to lock the same from oscillation, substantially as described
15. In a convertible seat and berth, the combination of the seat backs hinged to
the frames and adapted to be moved and supported in a horizontal position to
form the end sections of the upper berth, of sliding bolts on said end sections,
having a hooked end adapted to engage a socket in the side of the car, substantially
-as described.
16. In a sleeping berth, the combination of the oppositely arranged seat frames,
of strips connecting the frames and a mattress supported on said strip, substantially
as described.
17. In a sleeping berth, the combination of the oppositely arranged seat frame,
of removable front boards therefor, strips connecting the frames and resting at their
ends upon the bottom of the seat frame, and of mattress sections resting upon said
strips, substantially as described.
Dated this Nineteenth day of September 1892
JOHN KREHBIEL.
WILLIAM NELSON BREWER.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.