Improvements in or in connection with Awnings or Covers for Tramcars and other Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1896
20th Ave 1907 Accented 2nd Oct.
1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or in connection with Awnings or Covers for
Tramcars and other Vehicles.
I, SYDNEY BIRD, of 8, Knowsley Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Theatrical Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object an adjustable awning or covering for tramcars,
omnibuses or other like vehicles which are provided with accommodation for outside
passengers, and the invention is designed to produce an article which can be collapsed
and stowed away into a small space when not required for use.
At the
In carrying my invention into effect I provide any suitable number of (preferably
rigid) metal arched supports which are bolted down to the roof of the car or vehicle
and are arranged at intervals a suitable distance apart, being suitably stayed so as to
render them firm and rigid. These upright arches are formed for example of channel
section or of two pieces of flat iron with a space between, and inside these pipes or
between the two irons, are arranged rollers or small pulleys over which pass cords to
which the canvas or other material of which the awning is made, is attached.
bottom of the uprights in proximity to the roof of the car and on each side, I mount
a winding spindle or drum to which the cords aforesaid are attached. Now it will be
seen that by rotating one of these spindles by hand when it is required to remove
the awning from the car, the cords with the awning will be wound or rolled thereon,
while at the same time the cords will be unwound from the opposite spindle but
when the awning is again required to be drawn over the car to form a roof therefor,
the drum or spindle on the opposite side is rotated so as to unwind the canvas from
the spindle on which it was rolled. Suitable ratchet wheels and ratchets are provided
to prevent the spindles unwinding, after the awning has been rolled upon it and for
keeping the awning taut when stretched over the car. Straps and buckles may be
provided to take up or slacken the awning as required. The spindle or drum on
The canvas when in
which the canvas is rolled is encased in a suitable box or cover.
position as an awning over the vehicle leaves a clear space at the sides above the
roof. This space may however be partly filled with panelled boards fitted with
window sashes, which when raised slide in grooves in the arched uprights and in
intermediate uprights between the main uprights. The said intermediate uprights
are hinged so that they can be folded down when not in use.
When these sashes are
raised they hook on to a hook or eye on the awning. When not required for use
they fall down and are protected by the panelled framing aforesaid or in any other
suitable manner. The ends of the awning are provided with canvas, waterproof or
other suitable material which is suspended from rollers or eyes on a rod attached to
the end arches, and there is also a rod at bottom on which the canvas slides. A
central upright is provided attached to the canvas, by pulling which to one side or
the other, the canvas or waterproof is pulled aside to admit access of the passengers.
The end arched uprights may be provided with projecting flanges or lips to prevent
the weather getting underneath the awning at the ends. The uprights may be
hinged if desired, to enable them to fold down when not in use.

page_text: To fit an awning to a car, the uprights are fixed in position, together with the
panelled frames with their window sashes and the spindles or drums at each side
one of which carries the awning aforesaid. The cords which pass over the guide
rollers in the upright arches are fitted in place. The spindle is then rotated
unwinding the awning and drawing it over the car to form a roof with spaces at the
sides. In wet weather the intermediate uprights are placed vertical to form grooves
for the sashes. In wet or windy weather, the sashes can be raised to exclude the
weather and ends are also fitted in the manner described. It must be understood
however that I do not restrict myself to the exact arrangement described, as in place
of sash windows the canvas might be arranged to go down lower and openings be
provided in the canvas to form windows, also in place of the ends described, the front
end might be permanently closed, and the other left open.
Dated this 27th day of October 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or in connection with Awnings or Covers for
Tramcars and other Vehicles.
I, SYDNEY BIRD of 8, Knowsley Street, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster,
Theatrical Agent, 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 :-
This invention has for its object an adjustable awning or covering for tramcars,
omnibuses or other like vehicles which are provided with accommodation for outside
passengers, and the invention is designed to produce an article which can be collapsed
and stowed away into a small space when not required for use.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure I is an end view of a tramcar with the awning or cover in position;
Figure 2 a side elevation thereof;
Figure 3 a vertical cross section showing one way of raising the frame which
supports the awning;
Figure 4 an enlarged cross section;
Figure 5 an end view showing the framework supporting the awning in its
collapsed or lowered position;
Figure 6 a side elevation thereof;
Figure 7 a side elevation showing an arrangement of window sashes, and
Figure 8 a part plan view thereof.
I provide metal arched supports, bolted down to the roof of the car or vehicle and
hinged or socketted so as to enable them to fold or slide down when not in use. I
prefer the socketting arrangement, for which purpose A are four upright supports firmly
fixed to the roof A¹ of the car, and B the arched frame consisting of sockets B¹ adapted
to slide on the supports A, curved pieces or arches 6 for the awning to rest on,
longitudinal stays and cross stays or arches 62 these latter being adapted to
slide along to the ends of the frame when not in use.. C are small rollers or
pulleys over which pass cords D to which the canvas E or other material of which
the awning is made is attached. At the bottom of the uprights A or in any
other suitable position in proximity to the roof of the car and on each side, I
mount a winding spindle or drum F to which the cords D aforesaid are attached.
Now it will be seen that by rotating one of these spindles F by hand when it is

page_text: required to remove the awning from the car, the cords with the awning will be wound
or rolled thereon, while at the same time the cords will be unwound from the opposite
spindle but when the awning is again required to be drawn over the car to form a roof
therefor, the drum or spindle on the opposite side is rotated so as to unwind the
canvas from the spindle on which it was rolled. Suitable ratchet wheels and ratchets
are provided to prevent the spindles unwinding after the awning has been rolled upon
it and for keeping the awning taut when stretched over the car. Straps and buckles
may be provided to take up or slacken the awning as required. The spindles or
drums F on which the canvas is rolled are encased in a suitable box or cover G. The
canvas when in position as an awning over the vehicle leaves a clear space at the sides
above the roof. This space may however be partly filled with panelled boards or
other suitable material II fitted with window sashes as shown in Figures 7 and 8,
which when raised slide in grooves in the arched portion 6 of the framework B and
in intermediate uprights K between the main uprights. The said intermediate
uprights are hinged at so that they can be folded down when not in use as shown
in the drawing. When these sashes are raised they may hook on to a hook or eye on
the awning or be secured in any other convenient manner. When not required for
use they fall down and are protected by the panelled framing H aforesaid or in any
other suitable manner. The ends of the awning may be provided with canvas,
waterproof or other suitable material suspended from rollers or eyes on a rod attached
to the end arches, and there may be also a rod at bottom on which the canvas slides.
A central upright is provided at the end attached to the canvas by pulling which to
one side or the other, the canvas or waterproof is pulled aside to adinit access of the
passengers, or the ends of the frames may be fitted with panels of tin or other light
material and a portion J hinged as shown at K to admit access of the passengers.
This hinged portion is provided at both ends when the car is provided with access to
the roof at both ends. The end arched pieces B may be provided with projecting
flanges or lips 1. to prevent the weather getting underneath the awning at the ends.
The uprights may be hinged if desired, to enable them to fold down when not in
use.
To fit an awning to a car, the framework is raised from the position shown
in Figures 5 and 6 into the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, by means
of the lever M shown in Figure 3 or by any other well known mechanical
device. N is a catch to hold the frame in ita raised position pins n
also be employed passing through rod A. The intermediate cross pieces b¹
are slid along into position, and the cords D which pass over the guide
rollers or pulleys C in the upright arches are fitted in place. The spindle F is then
rotated unwinding the awning and drawing it over the car to form a roof with spaces
at the sides. In wet weather the intermediate uprights K are placed vertical to form
grooves for the sashes. In wet or windy weather, the sashes can be raised to exclude
the weather and ends are also fitted in the manner hereinbefore described. It must
be understood however that I do not restrict myself to the exact arrangement
described, as in place of sash windows the canvas might be arranged to go down lower
and openings be provided in the canvas to form windows, also in place of the ends
described, the front end might be permanently closed, and the other left open. When
the awning is not in use, it is wound on one of the spindles, the cord from the other
spindle is detached from the awning and may for convenience be placed inside the
drum or casing surrounding the spindle. The framework is then lowered by the
lever M, the intermediate pieces & slid along to the end or altogether removed, and
access obtained to the roof of the car by opening the doors J.
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 :-
1. The method of covering or temporarily roofing the outside passenger
accommodation of a tramcar omnibus or other vehicle which consists in providing the
top of the vehicle with a framework securely fixed thereon but capable of being at

page_text: once easily folded or collapsed when not required for use placing at one side of this
framework a rotary spindle carrying an awning or canvas rolled thereon and at the
other a rotary spindle carrying cords and finally in coupling these cords on one
spindle to the edge of the canvas on the other spindle in such manner that when the
spindles are rotated the canvas will be drawn over the framework to form a roof for
the outside passenger substantially as described.
2. The combination with a tramcar, omnibus or other vehicle having
accommodation for outside passengers of a framework adapted to fit on the top of the
vehicle and capable of being raised or lowered as desired, an awning, adapted when
unrolled to cover or partly cover the framework, rotary spindles located at each side
of the vehicle top, and cords the ends of which are coupled at one of their ends to
the awning and at their other to the spindles arranged on each side of the car in
such a manner that by rotating one of these spindles by hand, the cords with the
awning will be wound or rolled thereon, while at the same time, the cords will be
unwound from the other, the converse action taking place when the other spindle is
operated, substantially as described.
3. An improved awning or cover for tramcars and other vehicles supported when
in use by a framework, in which the awning with a length of cord attached is normally
wound on a spindle located at one side of the car and is capable of being attached to
cords fixed to a spindle on the opposite side of the car, whereby when the spindles
are rotated in one direction the awning is unwound from its spindle to bring it into
position for use, the reverse action taking place when the spindles are rotated in the
opposite direction substantially as described.
4. The combination with a frame and awning such as described and forming a
roof only for the vehicle, of window sashes protected by panels when not in use,
but capable of being raised when required to form sides for the vehicle, and
hinged guides therefor, substantially as described.
5. The general arrangement and construction of parts forming this improved
awning or apparatus for covering tramcars and other vehicles having outside or roof
seats substantially as herein described and shown on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of August. 1897
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents