Self Folding or Automatically Folding Dry Covering for the Outside Seats of Omnibuses, Tramcars, or other Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 4th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1900
Self Folding or Automatically Folding Dry Covering for the Outside
Seats of Omnibuses, Tramcars, or other Vehicles.
THOMAS DENNIS SYKES, Clerk, 36, Tipton Street, Openshaw, Manchester,
WILLIAM GOODWIN KNIGHT, Pattern Maker, 6, Bertha Street Openshaw, Man-
chester, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows: –
-
The covering consists of two leaves hinged together one of which leaves is
also hinged to the back bottom rail of the seat which when not being used or
occupied are self or automatically folded in book form against the back of the
seat by means of a spring or other reserved power affixed under the seat. When
required to be used to be pulled down and unfolded. Universal hinges being used
to attach the two leaves. A strap is attached to the spring or other reserved
power and brought over a portion of the back leaf which projects beyond the
hinges thereby forming a lever, the strap being carried forward to the front leaf
and attached thereto a distance beyond the joint and by aid of the universal
hinges gives a leverage to raise the front leaf and closes it upon the back leaf
when the back lever comes into operation and raises the two leaves to a perpendi-
cular position close to the back of the seat.
Dated this Thind day of Mal 1000
THOMAS DENNIS SYKES,
WILLIAM GOODWIN KNIGHT.
Self Folding or Automatically Folding Dry Covering for the Outside
Seats of Omnibuses, Tramcars, or other Vehicles.
We, THOMAS DENNIS SYKES, of 36, Tipton Street, Clerk, and WILLIAM GOODWIN
KNIGHT, of 6, Bertha Street, Pattern Maker, both of Openshaw, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and as-
certained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an improvement in seats with the object of affording
means for providing an intending occupant with a dry covering for said seat in
wet weather or when used in exposed places such as tramcars, public gardens and
the like, and means for automatically removing said covering when the seat is
vacated.
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a transverse section of a seat constructed
according to this invention showing the covering placed down on the seat ready
for occupation. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same seat with the cover

page_text: folded back when the seat is not in use. Fig. 3 is a plan view drawn partly in
section through line A A on Fig. 2. In these views similar letters refer to similar
parts.
According to this invention we fit to any ordinary seat such as 6 a covering
consisting of two leaves a and a¹ which are hinged together at c one of said leaves
being also hinged at d to the back rail e of the seat, so that said leaves may fold
up in book form against the back of the seat. We connect one end of a band f
to the upper side of the back portion of the flap or leaf a', pass said band over
rollers 9 and g¹ fitted in a holder j at the back of the seat b and join the opposite
end of the band to springs such as k that are affixed to a sliding bar h through
which a thumb screw is passed for regulating the tension on the aforesaid
springs a lining of cloth or other suitable material is fixed on the face side
of the leaf at and is continued over the surface of the leaf a but is not fixed
thereto that when the leaves are folded up the slack is taken up by the roller g¹.
When the seat is required for use the leaves a and a' are turned down on to
the seat as shown in Fig. 1 and are so retained during the time a person is
sitting thereon. When the occupant rises said leaves immediately fold up against
the back by the tension of the springs as shown in Fig. 2 in consequence of
the band being connected with the leaf a' in the position described and as shown.
By these means a dry covering for a seat in any exposed place or position is
obtained and is automatically removed when not in use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
An automatically folding dry covering for the outside seats of tramcars and
other vehicles, that is obtained by two leaves which are caused to fold in book
form against the back of the seat when not in use by means of a spring or springs
or other like forces fitted under the seat in the manner substantially as and for
the purpose hereinbefore described.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1800
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
Agents to the said W. G. Knight,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.