IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED BY PERSONS TO SECURE WARMTH AND DRYNESS WHEN TRAVELLING
Year: 1851

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
BYCROFT, of Paradise Walsoken, in the County of Norfolk, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Eighteenth day of
January (One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one), in the fourteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Richard Bycroft, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, Her especial license,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Richard Bycroft, my
exors, adiñiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard Bycroft, my
exors, adors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey,
Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all Her said Majesty's Colonies and
Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED
BY PERSONS TO SECURE WARMTH AND DRYNESS WHEN TRAVELLING;" in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said Richard Bycroft, shall
cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in
part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW IE, that in compnance with the said proviso, 1, the said
Richard Bycroft, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say:-
My Invention consists of certain arrangements or combinations of apparatus
to be used by persons when travelling, in order to obtain warmth and dryness.
And in order that my Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a plan of a light metal frame employed in constructing the
apparatus; Figure 2 shows a front view thereof; Figure 3 shows a side view
thereof, the red lines showing the parts when folded, for the purpose of con-
venient carriage; Figure 4 shows an edge view and plan of a frame used for
the portion of the apparatus into which the feet are inserted; Figure 5 shows
a complete apparatus when the head and shoulders of the person are not
covered; Figure 6 shows a complete apparatus when the whole of the person
is to be covered; and when the whole of the person is to be covered,
as shown at Figure 6, another light framing of metal is employed.
Figure 7 is a plan thereof; Figure 8, a side view; Figure 9, a back view;
and Figure 10, a view shewing the frame folded, or in place of this frame
the frame shown in Figures 11 and 12 is employed. a, a, is a framing for the
seat, and is intended to receive an air or other elastic cushion. To the frame
a, a, is hinged the back frame b, b, as is shown in the Drawing. c, c, are arms,
which turn on joints at c¹, c, and the same are supported by the parts c², c³,
which turn in sockets c, all which will readily be understood on examining
the Drawing at Figures 1, 2, and 3; these parts are to be covered, as shown
at Figure 5, and the covering material or fabric used is to be of waterproof
material when intended to secure dryness. And in order to secure warmth,
the fabric for the internal lining should be made with long nap or pile, or in
place of piled or other warm fabrics being used sheep or other skins or fur
may be used. The form of the covering fabric I prefer to be such as is
shown at Figure 5, and when the head and shoulders are also to be covered
in, I prefer that the covering fabric should be according to the form shewn in
Figure 6; the details, however, of the wrappers may be varied, though I
believe those shown will be as convenient and complete as may be desired.
In making the upper portion of the apparatus, Figure 6, the frame, Figures 7,

page_text: 8, 9, 10, is employed. d, d, is the upper framing, having the two upright sup-
ports e, e, which fold at d. These uprights when in use rest on the shoulders,
and a further support fat the back, which has a folding joint at f¹, is used;
this support is fastened to the person by straps passing round the chest, as will
readily be understood on examining the Drawings, Figures 7, 8, 9, 10. Or
in place of the frame, Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, the frame, Figures 11 and 12, may
be used and secured to the person by means of straps at 9, 9, h.
This
apparatus produces a folding hood, and the wrapping fabric may be made
to proceed down over the shoulders and back, and to fold in front, as in
Figure 6. Apparatus thus combined will be very suitable for persons riding
in open carriages, whether by railway or otherwise, and the lower part of the
apparatus, shewn at Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, will also be found very useful in
covered or closed carriages as a means of securing warmth, and the apparatus
will be found convenient for carriages, owing to its folding into a small
compass.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of. per-
forming the same, I would remark that I do not confine myself to the details,
so long as the peculiar character of my Invention be retained; but what I
claim are the combinations of apparatus herein described for securing dryness
and warmth when travelling.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Bycroft, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
Enrolled the Eighteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord Oue
thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.