AN IMPROVED HEARSE OR FUNERAL CAR
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Pope and Richard John Pope, of 31, New Road,
Brighton, in the County of Sussex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED HEARSE
OR FUNERAL CAR."
Scaled the 28th December 1878, and dated the 18th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Pope and Richard John
Pope at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th October
1878.
HENRY POPE and RICHARD JOHN POPE, of 31, New Road, Brighton, in the
County of Sussex. "AN IMPROVED HEARSE OR FUNERAL CAR."
According to this Invention, the hearse or funeral car, which is an open one, is
provided on the inside of its body portion with "ways or ledges, on which a
movable platform or frame is caused to rest.
"
Across and on the under side of this
movable frame transverse bars or sleepers are arranged. On each of these cross bars
is fixed a revolving nut provided with teeth on its periphery.
A longitudinal rod traversing the whole length of the hearse or frame is provided
with two, three, or more worms to take into the corresponding number of toothod
revolying nuts on the cross bars, which nuts thus form worm wheels.
An upper table to receive the coffin is provided with depending vertical screws,
which take into the nuts before mentioned.
A handle may be affixed to the worm rod, by the revolving of which the upper
table, and consequently the coffin on it, may be raised or lowered to any desired
height.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Pope and Richard John Pope in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 20th January 1879.
HENRY POPE and RICHARD JOHN POPE, of 31, New Road, Brighton, in the County
of Sussex. "AN IMPROVED HEARSE OR FUNERAL CAR."
According to this Invention, the hearse, which is an open one, is provided on the
inside of its body portion with " ways" or ledges, on which a platform or frame,
removable or not, is caused to rest.
Across and on the under side of this frame
transverse bars or sleepers are arranged. On each of these cross bars is fixed a
revolving nut provided with teeth on its periphery.
A longitudinal rod traversing the whole length of the hearse or frame is provided
with two, three, or more worms to take into the corresponding number of toothed
revolving nuts on the cross bars, which nuts thus form worm wheels.
An upper table to receive the coffin is provided with depending vertical screws,
which take into the nuts before mentioned.
A. handle may be affixed to the worm rod, by the revolving of which the upper
table, and consequently the coffin on it, may be raised or lowered to any desired
height.
The Invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexed Drawings,
in which,
Figure 1 shows a side view of our improved funeral car, while Figure 2 is an
end view.
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively longitudinal and cross section views of the
elevating apparatus.
And Figure 5 is a plan view showing the worm rod and toothed nuts which
take on the vertical screws.
a (see Figures 3 and 4) is the movable platform or table capable of being raised
or lowered by the vertical depending screws b when they are acted upon by the
nuts or worm wheels c through the worm rod d, the latter being revolved by means
of the handle e when required; this handle is removable at will.
As will be readily seen, the coffin, when placed upon the platform or table, can
be raised or lowered to any desired height within the range of the vertical
screws.
And having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, we declare that we claim, the improved hearse or
funeral car herein-before described, and substantially as shown in the annexed
Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Henry Pope and Richard John Pope, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eleventh day of January, One thousand
cight hundred and seventy-nine.
HENRY POPE.
(L.S.)
RICHARD JOHN POPE. (L.S.)