Improvements in the Construction of Hansom Cabs.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 11th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 11th Mar., 1887.
Improvements in the Construction of Hansom Cabs..
I EDWARD ELLIS ALLEN of 111 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
::
According to my invention I construct so called Hansom cabs with a body of, what
is known as
:: Brougham shape, but instead of making the front a fixture I make the
same movable by hinged or sliding doors. Narrow doors are also fitted to the sides
which open outwards against the wheels, and when closed meet the front doors so as to
close the vehicle. Small side lights are used as usual.
In order that the cab may be used sometimes as an open vehicle I cut the fore part
of the body, that is, the front and side doors, in half horizontally, and make the upper
portions, which are in this case attached to the fore part of the roof, to slide back into
the hinder portion of the vehicle whereby its form is made to approach that of an
ordinary hansom cab. This movable hood as well as both sets of doors can be
operated by the driver through levers and suitable mechanism. By means of these
arrangements I make Hansom cabs which may be used either open or closed, having
a very wide entrance with protection from the wheels, and when closed giving the air
space and foot room similar to that obtained in an ordinary single brougham.
BREWER & SON,
For the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Hansom Cabs.
I, EDWARD ELLIS ALLEN of 111 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
--
According to my invention I construct so called Hansom cabs with a body of what
is known as Brougham shape, but instead of making the front a fixture I make the
same movable by hinged or sliding doors. Narrow doors are also fitted to the sides
which open outwards against the wheels, and when closed meet the front doors so as
to close the vehicle. Small side lights are used as usual.
In order that the cab may be used sometimes as an open vehicle I cut the fore part of
the body, that is the front and side doors, in half, horizontally, and make the upper
portions which are in this case attached to the fore part of the roof, to slide back into
the hinder portion of the vehicle whereby its form is made to approach that of au
ordinary Hansom cab. This movable hood, as well as both sets of doors can be
operated by the driver through levers and suitable mechanism.
By means of these arrangements I make Hansom cabs which may be used either
open or closed, having a very wide entrance with protection from the wheels, and
when closed giving the air space and foot room similar to that obtained in an ordinary
single brougham.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings Figure 1 shews a side elevation of a
Brougham Hansom cal with the pair of doors on one side open, and Figure 2 a half
plan of same. A and B are the doors parallel to each other when open, the dotted
lines A and B shewing their position when closed at right angles to each other.
shews the foot board on the near side of the cab and there is a similar one on the off
side not shewn on the drawing. The central foot board D being partly dispensed
with and partly taken into the body of the vehicle. Figure 2 shews also the floor of
the cab when the doors are closed to be square in form the space for the knees and feet
being the full width and depth of the cab giving ample room as in a Brougham
carriage. Figure 2 also shows how the two doors A and B protect the person
entering the vehicle, from the wheel on one side, and from the horse on the other
side. It also shews the arrangement for opening and closing each pair of doors
simultaneously. a and bare levers attached to the said doors; and c and d are two
links connecting them to the lever e which is within easy reach of the driver. Such
levers and links may be either worked below the cab or on the roof as most
convenient.
C
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
1st. The construction and employment of Brougham Hansom cabs having double
doors on each side which when open are parallel to each other, but when closed are at
right angles to each other or nearly so, and substantially as set forth.

page_text: 2nd. The construction of Brougham Hansom Cabs in which two footboards are
arranged at the angles of the floor of the vehicle, the ordinary central footboard being
dispensed with, part of it being included in the body of the cab substantially as set
forth.
3rd. The construction and employment of Brougham Hansom cabs, combining the
four following features of construction viz: a large wheel (usually 58 or 60 inches
diameter) a completely square or Brougham body floor; a wide entrance (may be
22 inches) and reduced distance between the axle and the breeching.
4th. The construction and employment of Brougham Hansom cabs, so that on
entering the vehicle, protection from the wheels is afforded by one door, and protection
from the horse by the other door and substantially as set forth.
5th. The opening of each pair of doors by levers and rods arranged as shewn and
so that the driver can operate them without moving from his seat in combination with
a Brougham hansom as set forth.
EDWD. E. ALLEN.