Improvements in Seats for Outdoor Use, so constructed that they will be kept Dry in Wet or Stormy Weather.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1891
COMPLETE SI MULTICATIVA
Improvements in Seats for Outdoor Use, so constructed that they
will be kept Dry in Wet or Stormy Weather.
We, THOMAS GARDINER FORD, of No. 19 North Street, Bristol, Purveyor,
and GEORGE GARDINER FORD, of No. 1, Greville Road, Bedminster, Bristol,
(no occupation) 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:-
Our invention relates to the construction of seats for outdoor use in connection
with garden seats, benches on omnibuses or tram cars, portable or fixed seats for
carts, vans, or similar vehicles, stools for use on ship-board, or other like purposes;
the seats being so arranged that they may be turned back and kept dry, ready to
be brought forward and occupied when required.
and
To persons who travel frequently on the outsides of omnibuses and tram cars,
the annoyance and inconvenience of having only damp benches or cushions to sit
on will be well known, and the object of our invention is to provide a simple means
whereby the seats may be turned back in showery weather when not in use,
be kept dry until required for occupation; and for carriers, carmen, and persons
who have to be riding or driving in all kinds of weather, our improved seats may
be turned back immediately they are not required, and when the occupiers return,
they may be readily replaced in position, and be found quite dry, instead of soaked
or covered with rain.
In carrying our invention into effect, we make our seats of any ordinary or
convenient shape or size, constructing them of laths or battens placed longitudinally
and the ends secured to a frame, the battens are chamfered at the edges and over-
lap each other, leaving slight spaces between them, in such a way that when the
rain falls on either side of the seat, it will run off without wetting the other side;
the seats are either hinged to a strong rail at the back, or suspended to the principal
frame by hinges spindles, swivels, pins, or any suitable contrivance that will permit
them to be quickly and easily thrown back or brought forward; when the seats
are suspended by spindles or the like, these are inserted at the ends, about one
third the distance from the back, or they may be loaded with iron at the back, so
that the seats when thrown back will fall over and remain there, or when laid down
will retain their position ready for use; stop blocks are fastened to the frame in
such a manner that they will prevent the seats from being turned back too far;
the most suitable position for the seats when not in use is at an angle of about 45°
beyond the perpendicular, so that the bottom of the seat only may be exposed to
the weather, and any rain that falls thereon may rapidly pass from one batten to
another and fall on the floor, without wetting the upper part of the seat.
When our adjustable seats are used in connection with benches having reversible
backs, such as are placed on the roofs of tram cars, it will be necessary if the
Beats are suspended by spindles or the like, to use spring locks or catches to keep
the front of the seats in place, and to prevent their being prematurely turned up by
persons sitting on the edge nearest the spindle or hinge.
For portable seats or driving boxes, such as are used by carmen, carriers, and
other persons who have frequently to be leaving their seats in all kinds of weather,
the front part of the seat is hinged to the back part, so that when he rises from his
seat, the person using it has only to turn it over and leave it until his return, and
then with a slight touch of the hand, it can be thrown into place again, when it will
be found quite dry and ready for use, without exposing him to the dangers consequent
on sitting unon a wet seat..

page_text: Our invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying
sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a driving box with two seats, one.thrown back to be kept dry, while
the other is lying in position exposed to the weather;
Fig. 2 is a view of a double garden chair, with the seat on the near side
thrown back and the under surface exposed to the weather, while on the other
side, the seat is in position ready for occupation;
Fig. 3 is a sectional and end view of a self acting seat to be used on the
tops of omnibuses and in other places where the vehicle is not reversed on the
return journey, as on tram cars; this seat is weighted at the back, and has a knob I
or handle fitted on the under surface, so that when not in use, it naturally falls
into the position shown in the drawing, and when a person wishes to occupy it, he
pulls the knob forward and sits on the seat, and when he rises the weight gradually
turns the seat over as shown; in fine weather, when it is desired to keep the seats
in their normal position, a bolt or button on the back of the seat may be turned, 1
and the weighted side of the seat will be prevented from turning it over so that it
can be used as an ordinary fixed seat, and when the weather is unsettled, and rain
is expected, the attendant has only to go round and withdraw the bolts or buttons,
and the seats are made self acting as already described;
Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively an end view and section of seats adapted for 2
the tops of tram cars, having reversible backs, Fig. 4 showing the seat in position,
and Fig. 5 a sectional view of the seat thrown back; as these seats have to be
used when the car is going in either direction, a spring catch is inserted in the
under surface of the seat as shown, and this engages in a lock or spring in the..
frame of the seat, to prevent the seat being turned up at the wrong time by a
person sitting on the side nearest the spindle or hinge; and when a person leaves
the seat in wet weather, and it is desired to keep the seat dry, the seat can be
turned back as shown by releasing the spring or catch, and be pulled down again in
a dry condition when required.
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. The construction of seats to be used in connection with benches or other out-
door forms, stools, portable seats or driving-boxes, and other resting places;
suspending the seats at or near the back by hinges, spindles, or the like, by which
the seats can be readily swung back or partially reversed, so as to be kept dry
during rain, ready for use when required, substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth and described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
2. The construction of seats with battens or laths chamfered at the edges and
overlapping each other with slight openings between, so that the rain may readily
run off the seat without wetting the other side, substantially as and for the purpose
herein described, and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 5th day of October 1901
J. G. WESTLAKE,
2, John Street, Bristol, Applicants' Agent.