Improvements in Convertible or Open or Close Carriages for Common Roads.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th May, 1889-Accepted, 29th June, 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Convertible or Open or Close Carriages for
Common Roads.
I, DAVID GEORGE HOEY of Commercial Bank Buildings, 8 Gordon Street, Glasgow,
Ventilating Engineer, 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 :—
My invention has for its object to construct or fit a carriage for common roads in
an improved manner, and, so that whilst it can be used alternatively as an open or
close carriage being provided with a moveable or adjustable hood of any suitable
existing kind, it can be driven from a seat in front, or from a seat or board behind;
or from a seat within the carriage.
The present invention is a further development of my prior patented invention
No. 3851, of 1888. In constructing a carriage 'in accordance with my present inven-
tion I provide means for raising one of the inside back seats of the carriage, when it
is being driven from the inside, to such a height as is suitable for a driving seat and
as shall assure comfort and freedom of movement to the arms of the lady or gentleman
driving the carriage. As the box seat, in front, is objectionable, when the carriage is
being driven from the inside as an open carriage, I, under this invention, provide
means whereby the seat can be folded up or collapsed or lowered out of sight.
I also prefer to make the footmans seat behind capable of being folded up.
The precise forms and proportions of the several structural details employed in
practically carrying out my improvements in convertible or open or close carriages
may be modified to suit varied tastes, conditions and requirements.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood I have hereunto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings
representing by way of example a convenient arrangement thereof.
Fig. 1, of the drawings, is a side elevation of a square shaped landau with my
improvements applied thereto and showing the carriage open and being driven from
the inside back seat.
Fig. 2 represents in cross section one method of raising one of the inside back
seats of the carriage.
Fig. 3 represents, in longitudinal section, another arrangement of rising back
seat.
Fig. 4 represents, in perspective, one' method of constructing the box seat.
Fig. 5 represents, in longitudinal section, and fig. 6 in cross section, on the
line a-a, fig. 5, another method of constructing the box seat.
Referring to fig. 1-A, is the body of the carriage showing the folding hood or
cover B, in its lowered or open position, C, is the drivers box seat shown in its folded
up position. In this view the carriage is represented as being driven from one of the
inside back seats. The back or footmans seat W is shown as folded up. To enable the
seat, W, to be so folded the upright supports are jointed or hinged at X to the horizontal
supports Y which latter fit telescopically into the frame of the carriage so as to
be capable of being drawn out, when the seat is to be used, as shown in dotted
lines.
In fig. 2 an arrangement is shown for raising one of the inside back seats, D, of
the carriage to a convenient height for driving. The mechanism for raising and
lowering the seat is a toggle joint arrangement, consisting of two links E, E, the
one E being secured to the under side of the seat whilst the other E is secured
to the floor. The toggle joint is actuated by means of the small lever F, which
on being pushed back raises the seat, whereas, when it is pulled forward the seat
is lowered. To secure the seat in its raised position a standard G is provided; a
pin H being passed through the standard and the lever F to secure the seat

page_text: •
firmly in position. An opening I is made under the seat to enable the hand to
be passed in to operate the lever F. The seat is preferably raised to an inclined
position in the manner described in my prior specification No. 385188. In fig. 3
the inside back seat is raised to the desired position by means of two hand straps J,
secured one at each side of the seat, which, on being pulled up raise the seat. The
seat is kept in its raised position by means of two or more bolts or pins K, or their
equivalent, which, on the seat reaching a certain elevation, are forced into holes
made in each side of the seat, by springs L. When it is desired to lower the seat
the spring bolts K or their equivalent may be drawn out by levers catching in the
rings M, or by other suitable means, when the seat will immediately fall by its own
gravity.
At fig. 4, a folding box driving seat C is shown. The seat C is or may be supported
at a suitable inclination for driving, by a pillar or support, N, at each corner.
Each
pillar N may have an angled part, N to keep the seat in position. At the ends,
panels, O, are or may be fitted to the supports N. A folding lid or door P may, if
desired, he made to constitute the back of the box. The footboard, Q. is also
made folding and is supported in an inclined position on brackets R. which
are capable of being folded inwards against the front, S, of the carriage which
is made hollow or recessed for the reception of the box when folded up.
In folding up the driving box, the seat C is by preference first lifted off and the
ends O. folded inwards ; over them is folded the back P. of the box; the seat, C, is
now placed on top of the back, P. and the whole is covered in as shown at fig. 1.
by the footboard, Q. being folded over. The brackets R. are now folded up against
the front of the carriage. Rails N' hinged and capable of being folded down may
be fitted on the seat C. as shown..
In figs. 5 and 6 a different arrangement of driver's seat or box is shown. The seat
in this case is made open and can be lowered into a recess s¹, as before. For the
purpose of allowing the seat to be pulled up to its raised position two rollers T,
extending across the underside of the seat and working in slotted bars U, secured
thereto, are provided. The rollers are held in position by four rods V, one at each
end of each roller. The rods are secured at their lower ends to the sides of the
recess, s', as shown. On pulling the seat upwards the rollers run along the slotted
bars, U, and then assume the position shown in dotted lines, thus supporting the
seat in its raised position. To lower the seat the rods V are first pushed slightly
inwards, when the seat will fall of its own weight. If desired pins may be passed
through the rollers, or the rods, when the seat is raised, to hold it firmly in position.
When lowered the seat is covered up by the foot board Q. as before.
The arrange
ments of folding up seat shown at figs. 4, 5, and 6 may be used for the inside back
seat of the carriage in lieu of the arrangements shown at figs. 2 and 3.
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 :-
1. In a convertible or open or close carriage for common roads, the raising of
one of the inside back seats to a convenient height for driving, by means of toggle
joint mechanism, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to fig. 2. of
the drawings annexed.
2. In a convertible or open or close carriage for common roads, the raising of one
of the inside back seats to a convenient height for driving, by means of hand
straps the seat being securely held in position, when raised, by springs bolts or their
equivalent, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to fig. 3 of the
drawings annexed.
;
3. In a convertible or open or close carriage for common roads, a seat capable of
being folded up into small compass and concealed from view within a recess made in
the carriage for its reception, substantially in the manner hereinbefore described, with
reference to fig. 4 of the drawings annexed.
4. In a convertible or open or close carriage for common roads; a seat capable of

page_text: being collapsed or sunk into a recess made in the carriage for its reception, substantially in
the manner hereinbefore described with reference to figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings
annexed.
5. The combination with a convertible or open or close carriage for common roads
having a rising inside back seat, of a footmans seat fitted telescopically in the
carriage frame and made capable of being folded up when not required, substantially
as hereinbefore described and shown on the drawings annexed.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agent.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agent.