An Improved Cab or Carriage.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1894-Accepted, 9th June, 1894
An Improved Cab or Carriage.
I JOSEPH OFFORD of 6 Boundary Road, St. John's Wood Park Coach
Builder 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 :-
The object of the present invention is to improve the construction and increase
the carrying capacity of cabs or carriages.
In a vehicle constructed according to my invention the body somewhat resembles
that of a hansom cab, but its carrying capacity is increased sufficiently to
accommodate three persons side by side, without widening the wheel base, by
providing it with elbow spaces overhanging the wheels, which in my improved
vehicle are of smaller diameter than those usually employed in hansom cabs the
said smaller wheels permitting the foot board to be brought much nearer the ground
and thereby facilitating getting in and out and dispensing with the necessity for a
step. In lieu of the driver's seat being situated at the back of the vehicle I
allow sufficient space between the splash board and the cab doors for such seat and
I make the cab roof project forwards over the footboard to form a shelter for the
driver and also to prevent penetration of wet to the interior of the vehicle. In lieu
of the usual hinged doors and falling glass I propose to provide hinged or sliding
doors extending from floor to roof of the cab.
In the accompanying drawings in which similar letters refer to corresponding
parts in all the figures :-
Figure is a side elevation of a cab or carriage constructed according to my
invention.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation thereof and,
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the body of the vehicle.
A is the body of the vehicle and a are cross springs supporting the same. Any
other convenient arrangement of springs however may be employed. The body A
is provided with elbow spaces cc overhanging the wheels b as shewn clearly in
Figures 2 and 3, and the said wheels being of smaller diameter than those usually
employed with this type of cab body I am enabled to bring the footboard d of the
cab nearer the ground and to dispense with the necessity for a step which is always
awkward to find with the foot. e represents the side windows and f is a window at
the back of the cab. The front of the cab may be closed by sliding doors g g
which slide behind or within the fixed piece or partition h extending from footboard
to roof or the said doors may in lieu of sliding be hinged to the said partition.
I allow sufficient space between the doors g g and the splash board i for the driver's
seat which is secured to said partition and I provide the roof of the vehicle
with an extension or prolongation l' which extension gives shelter to the driver and
also prevents to a great extent the entrance of wet into the cab. g¹ g¹ are windows
in the sliding doors gg.
mm indicate the handles of said doors. If desired I
may make the windows g'g' in two portions, the upper portion sliding over the
lower and thus secure efficient ventilation. is a window in the fixed partition h.
I prefer that the roof of the vehicle should be flat as shewn in lieu of convex as
this prevents the weight of any luggage carried thereon from being thrown on the
guard rail n and I should provide a suitable beading or ridge around the roof for
causing any rain to drain off at the rear of the vehicle away from the passengers.
Although I have illustrated in the drawings and prefer to employ one pair of
wheels only I do not confine myself to this arrangement as I may if I deem it

page_text: necessary provide another pair of wheels suitably disposed forward, or I may use a
single swivelling leading wheel if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. A cab or carriage constructed with elbow spaces overhanging the wheels, front
doors, a driver's seat disposed between the splash board and such doors, and a
forward prolongation or extension of the roof protecting the driver, substantially
as described and illustrated.
2. A cab or carriage constructed with elbow spaces c overhanging the wheels, a
fixed piece or partition h in front of the seat, a driver's seat k secured to such
partition, and a prolongation or extension of the roof, substantially as described
and illustrated.
3. The general construction and arrangement of cab or carriage substantially as
described and illustrated.
Dated this 4th day of Mar 1801
E. P. ALEXANDER & SON,
Fels. Chartered Inst. Patent Agents,
19, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
For the Applicant.