Improvements connected with the Covers or Aprons for Outside Passengers on Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 20th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with the Covers or Aprons for Outside
Passengers on Vehicles.
I, CHARLES BRAWN, of Loretto, 51, The Chase, Clapham Common, in the County
of Surrey, Gentleman, 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 improvements connected with the covers or aprons for
protecting the outside passengers on vehicles such as tramcars from the inclemency
of the weather, the objects being to apply such covers or aprons to vehicles with
seats provided with reversible backs in such a position that they will serve to
protect persons on one seat when the vehicle is travelling in one direction and
those occupying the next seat when such vehicle is travelling in the opposite
direction, while at the same time the frames on which such covers or aprons are
mounted shall take up as little a space and incommode the passengers as little
as possible.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of two seats showing my invention applied in connec-
tion therewith, and
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of same.
The outside seats on tramcars are now usually made with reversible backs
which are pivotted to the seats so that same can be adjusted to permit the
passengers to sit facing the direction in which the tramcar is going, and covers
or aprons are also usually provided to be used by the occupants of these seats to
protect them from the inclemency of the weather.
In carrying out my invention I attach the cover or apron A in any suitable
manner to a light metal frame B of approximately T-form, such frame being
pivotted at its lower end 6 to the floor forming the roof of the tramcar and in a
central position between the two seats C and D), as shown.
I prefer to secure the cover or apron A to the frame B at about the centre of
the former, so that when in use one part of same will serve to cover the passenger's
knees and the other part will hang down in front of him and so form a further
protection.
The full lines in Fig. 1 show the reversible backs c and d of the seats C and D
and the cover or apron A in the position to suit passengers sitting on seat D
facing the direction of seat C, but should the tramcar be moving in the opposite
direction and the backs c and d of the seats be reversed as shown in broken
lines, it will be seen that by simply turning the frame B on its pivot b the cover
or apron A will be brought into position for use by passengers on seat C facing
the seat T)

page_text: When not required for use the frame B carrying cover or apron A can be turned
on pivot towards the seat in front of that on which the passenger is sitting
and so be out of his way.
By constructing the frame B of T-form as above described as little of the
room between the seats as possible is taken up, and the comfort of the passengers
is thereby increased, and the single upright of such frame permits the free passage
of persons in taking or leaving their seats.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
The improvements connected with covers or aprons for the use of outside
passengers on vehicles having seats with reversible backs consisting in mounting
such covers or aprons upon frames of approximately T-form and which are
pivotted centrally between the adjacent seats of such vehicles, substantially as
specified.