Improvements in Tops or Coverings for Wagonettes or similar other Carriages.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 29th May, 1890-Accepted, 5th July, 1890
PROVISIONAI, SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tops or Coverings for Wagonettes or similar other
Carriages.
I, FEATHER WHITtaker of Throstle Nest, Oakworth near Keighley in the County
of York Coal Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows, that is to say :-
It relates to the tops or coverings (which as is well known consist of the roof and
the four sides extending from said roof to the top of the vehicles' sides forming the
back of the seats) for wagonettes or similar other carriages, and consists of constructing
and arranging same in such a manner that any or all of the four sides as also the roof
thereof may be readily opened or closed as and when desired for the comfort or
convenience of those using the wagonette or carriage to which this invention is
applied.
This is attained by attaching to the body of the wagonette or carriage suitable
framework to extend upwards and over the top thereof so as to support in an appro-
priate manner the material (which is preferably calico or some such light fabric
rendered waterproof or not as may be desired) forming the roof or top covering.
roller arrangement is employed for winding this roof-covering upon when same is not
required to be extended over the vehicle.
A
The sides of the wagonette are covered by tiers of laths arranged to operate some-
what as those blinds for windows known as Venetian blinds are arranged and operated
with the exception that appropriate guides and stays are employed for keeping same
in position.
For the purpose of elevating or withdrawing these tiers of laths from covering the
sides of the carriage winding-drum arrangements are mounted so as to be easy of
access for the driver, or in place of these winding drums, cords and pulleys may be
employed as will readily be understood.
Dated this 29th day of August 1889.
FEATHER WHITAKER.
Per Samuel Hey,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tops or Coverings for Wagonettes or similar other
Carriages.
I, FEATHER WHITAKER of Throstle Nest, Oakworth near Keighley in the County
of York, Coal Merchant, 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, that is to say :-
It relates to the tops of coverings (which as is well known consist of the roof and
the four sides extending from said roof to the top of the vehicle's sides forming the
backs of the seats) for wagonettes or similar other carriages, and consists of constructing
and arranging same in such a manner that any or all of the four sides as also the roof
thereof may be readily opened or closed as and when desired for the comfort or con-
venience of those using the wagonette or carriage to which this invention is
applied.
In the accompanying sheets of drawings
Fig. 1 is side elevation of such a portion of a wagonette as will shew the application
of my invention and

page_text: described.
UT the means employed for operating the parts nereinafter
Fig. 3 is end view of parts shewn by fig. 1, and
Fig. 4 is top view of the overhead framework.
Fig. 5 is a detail drawing enlarged scale shewing a ratchet wheel arrangement
employed as hereinafter described.
Fig. 6 is elevation enlarged scale shewing an adjustable stay arrangement in detail
while
Fig. 7 is top view thereof.
Similar letters and figures of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several
views.
The object of this my said invention is attained by attaching to the body a of
the wagonette or carriage suitable framework 6 which is made to extend upwards
and over the top thereof so as to support in an appropriate manner the material c
(which is preferably calico or some such light fabric rendered waterproof or not
as may be desired) forming the roof or top covering.
This roof covering c is attached, so that it may not be removed by the ordinary
actions of the wind or the like, by series of rings d, to the rods e, and also
through each of the series of these rings passes a cord having one of its ends
attached to the outermost ring d in each series while its other end is attached to
a long roller d2 (or one of a series of short rollers fixed on a rod extending the
whole length of the framework somewhat as does the rod f, fig. 1) by which
means when the roller or series of rollers is rotated the covering c is drawn
into a mass on one edge as is shown by fig. 3, or again these cords may be
loosely held so that they may be drawn by hand to pull the cover into position.
The sides of the wagonette I cover with tiers of laths
which I arrange to
are
operate somewhat as those blinds for windows known as "Venetian blinds
arranged and operated with the exception that appropriate adjustable guides h
mounted upon the pieces which are respectively hinged to the framework b
and body a are employed for keeping same in position. And by these guides h
being mounted upon hinged brackets the lower one of which carries a small
pawl which operates in connection with the suitably formed segment-rack m (see
figs. 6 and 7) said guides h may be adjusted to hold the tiers of laths from
vibrating whether they are in their flat position as shewn at the front of the
vehicle fig. 3 or in their tilted positions as shewn at the sides of the vehicle in
same figure.
l
For the purpose of elevating or withdrawing these tiers of laths g g from covering
the sides of the carriage winding-drum mechanism, consisting of the rods or
shafts having small drums nn fixed thereon, are arranged along the upper
parts of the vehicle's framework b, said shafts f being joined or coupled by the
bevel wheels pp so as to be operated together whenever the handles is rotated,
this handles preferably being detachable so as to be in the care of the driver, or
each shaft may be operated separately and so dispense with the wheels pp.
In order to maintain or hold the shafts from rotating by reason of the weight
of the laths when in their raised position the ratchet wheel t is fixed upon one
of the said shafts f and is held from rotating, in the direction that it will tend to
rotate, by means of the pawl w, see fig. 5.
In place of these shafts and drums being employed cords and pulleys may be
used for raising the laths as will be well understood, and if desired these cords
may be carried along the upper edges of the framework 6 and wound upon
drums fixed to a shaft mounted on the front end, the same being of easy access
to the driver instead of being merely drawn directly by hand.
In place of a segment rack m being employed in connection with each guide h,
an additional arm may be formed on the arms k¹ as shewn by fig. 8, these additional
arms being joined together by a rod which extends and is joined to the hand-lever y
by which it is operated so that the guides may be moved thereby and by the
rack z may be held in any position desired.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
In combination with the covering of a vehicle, tiers of laths mounted and arranged
to operate as set forth, and adjustable means for holding same in their several positions
substantially as herein specified.
F. WHITAKER.
Per Samuel Hey,
Agent.