Improvements in Carriages.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 4th July, 1895-Accepted, 10th Aug., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Carriages.
I, WILLIAM FRANCIS DOWNEY, Livery Stable Proprietor, of 1622 L Street,
North West, Washington City in the District of Columbia, U.S.A. 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 relates to improvements in carriages, and more particularly to that
class known as "cabriolets," and it has for its general object to provide an auxiliary
or front seat which shall be comfortable when in use and entirely out of the way
when not in use so as to admit of a carriage being readily adapted to carry four
instead of two persons, and this without any discomfort, or destroying the elegance
of style and finish of the carriage.
Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and
claims when taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:
Fig. 1, is a side elevation.
Fig. 2, is a section on line II-II.
Fig. 3, is a sectional view-seat closed.
The carriage body 2, which is supported upon wheels 5, by springs 6, has a
driver's seat 3, and a rear set 4. The driver's seat 3, is supported upon a boot 7,
so constructed as to form a pocket 8. Hinged to the sides of the pocket 8, is the
seat 9, having a back 10, and arms 11. The arms, seat, and back, are preferably
upholstered so as to provide a comfortable and elegant seat, and the hinges 12,
preferably are formed so as to cause the seat to project a sufficient distance in use
to bring the back clear of driver's seat 3. When not in use the bottom of seat 9,
forms a perfect finish and closes the open side of the boot 7, the seat being
invisible. The side bars 13, are formed with brackets 14, located one on either
side of the carriage body. The bottom of the seat is provided with buttons 15,
which rest upon brackets 14, and prevent scarring of the polished underside of the
seat. When closed, the back rests upon the bottom of the pocket 8, and the fact
that the seat falls back of the line of equilibrium does away with the necessity of
fastening devices to keep the receptacle closed when the seat is not in use, and when
the seat is in use it is clear that there can be no tendency to tip backward. The
driver's seat 3, is formed by a hinged cover 31, to a receptacle 71, said receptacle
taking the place of the usual boot, which space in the present invention is utilized
as a pocket for seat 9.
The operation and utility of this invention are obvious to any one familiar with
the needs and inconveniences arising from a lack of such front seat in carriages of
this type. The provision of said front seat with all of the comforts of the fixed
seats, and at the same time making it possible to entirely dispense with said seat
when not desired, together with the fact that the finish of the finest carriages
is not marred and no mechanism is employed that can get out of order, renders
said seat of equal utility and comfort with the rear seat when it is desired to
seat more than two persons. The spaciousness of the carriage is not encroached
upon, so that the comfort of the occupants both as to body and leg room is
assured and those upon the front seat are not obliged to sit in the tiresome
position made necessary when no back is provided for the seat.

page_text: 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 cabriolet or similar type of carriage having a boot or receptacle, a
seat hinged to said receptacle, said seat being provided with a back, said seat
and back being enclosed in said receptacle when not in use, the seat closing the
open side of said receptacle, substantially as specified.
2. In a cabriolet or similar type of carriage, in combination with the boot
supporting the driver's seat, a receptacle formed by said boot, a seat comprising a
back and seat connected together and upholstered, said seat being so hinged that
it will remain open or closed by its own gravity, said seat when closed, being enclosed
within the boot, the underside of the seat closing the open side of the boot or
receptacle, substantially as described.
3. In a cabriolet or similar type of carriage, in combination with a receptacle,
a seat hinged in said receptacle in such a manner that the back shall be in
approximately a horizontal position within said pocket when the seat is not in
use, said seat closing the opened side of said pocket or receptacle, substantially
as described.
4. In a cabriolet or similar type of carriage, in combination with the boot supporting
the driver's seat, a receptacle formed therein, a seat hinged in said receptacle in
such manner that when opened, said seat shall form the front seat of said vehicle,
the opening in the boot or pocket being closed by the back of said seat, the seat and
back being enclosed within the receptacle when not in use, the seat closing the open
side of the receptacle when closed therein, substantially as specified.
5. In a cabriolet or similar type of carriage, in combination with the boot
supporting the driver's seat, a receptacle formed by said boot, a seat provided with
a back and arms permanently attached thereto and provided with upholstery, arms
extending from said seat, pivot pins uniting said arms to the sides of receptacle, so
that it will remain open or closed by its own gravity, said seat when closed being
enclosed with the boot, substantially as described..
6. In a cabriolet or similar type of carriage, in combination with the boot, a
driver's seat consisting of a receptacle for trapping, covered by a hinged cover upon
which the driver sits, a receptacle formed by said boot, a front seat provided with
back and arms permanently attached thereto and provided with upholstery, arms
extending from said seat, pivot pins uniting said arms to the sides of receptacle, so
that it will remain open or closed by its own gravity, said seat when closed being
enclosed within the boot, substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of July 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.