Improved Means for Preventing Passengers from being Thrown from Hansom Cabs.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Preventing Passengers from being Thrown from
Hansom Cabs.
WILLIAM DICKSON, of Holly Lodge, 93, Bolingbroke Grove, Wandsworth, in
the County of London, Retired Captain in the Auxiliary Forces, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to the interior of hansom cabs and its object is to
provide such vehicles with attachments or means whereby in the event of the
horse falling or a collision taking place the passenger is secured or prevented from
being thrown out. According to my invention I provide the vehicle with a stran
composed of leather or other suitable material 2 inches in width (more or less)
and to one end of the strap I attach a ring of india rubber or other material.
This ring I permanently affix to the interior ledge of the right hand window, or
near thereto by means of a hook or screw or an eye. To the other end of the
strap I attach a similar ring and if necessary a swivel affixed to such ring to be
placed by the passenger when seated to a hook fastened to the left hand side of
the interior of the vehicle. Such strap when so affixed to form a barrier in front
of the passenger as a protection in the event of accident as aforesaid. I may also
make the strap in two parts one end of each of such parts being permanently
affixed to opposite sides of the interior of the vehicle by means of a ring as afore-
said the two parts to be brought together by the passenger by means of a buckle
attached to the end of one of such parts.
Dated 13th January 1899
Improved Means for Preventing Passengers from being Thrown from
Hansom Cabs.
I, WILLIAM DICKSON, formerly of Holly Lodge, 93, Bolingbroke Grove, Wands-
worth, and now of 15, Dents Road. Wandsworth Common, in the County of
London, Retired Captain in the Auxiliary Forces, 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 relates to means for preventing passengers from being thrown
from hansom cabs, and it has more particularly for its object to provide such
vehicles with attachments or means whereby in the event of the horse falling
or stumbling or of a collision taking place, the passenger or passengers will be
secured in their places and thus prevented from being thrown either against the
doors or the splash-board or into the roadway.
According to my invention I provide the vehicle with a strap composed of
[Price 8d1

page_text: leather or other suitable material and about 2 inches in width, and to one end of
this strap I attach a ring of indiarubber or other suitable material. This ring is
permanently affixed to the interior ledge or lower part of the frame of one of the
windows preferably the right hand window, or near thereto, at 10 or 12 inches
more or less from the back of the cab, by means of a hook, screw, eye, or other
suitable device. To the other end of the strap I attach a similar ring, and if
thought necessary I affix a swivel to this ring, which said ring (or said swivel
when a swivel is provided) is intended to be placed by the passenger when seated
on to a hook which I fix to the left hand side of the interior of the vehicle at
approximately the same height as hook, screw or other device at the opposite side.
The strap, when so affixed, forms a barrier or support in front of the passenger or
passengers whereby the latter are secured in their places in the event of an
accident as aforesaid.
I may also make the strap in two parts or sections, the outer end of each of
said parts being permanently affixed to the corresponding side of the interior of
the vehicle by means of a ring or other device as aforesaid; while their inner ends
can be temporarily connected together and the length of the strap adjusted by the
passenger by means of a buckle or other suitable fastening.
The accompanying drawings illustrate a suitable mode of carrying my invention
into effect.
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a front and a plan or top view of strap and
attachments for affixing it to the sides of the vehicle.
Figure 3 is a perspective front view of part of a hansom cab provided with my
invention.
The strap consists of a band A. of stout woollen webbing to each end of which is
attached a stout indiarubber ring B. One of the indiarubber rings B is per-
manently fixed inside the cab by means of the staple C which is fastened by means
of screws to the internal ledge or lower part of the window frame about 10 or
12 inches more or less from the back of the cab on the right hand of the passenger.
The other indiarubber ring is adapted to be hooked onto a hook D fixed by means
of screws to the opposite window ledge on the left hand of the passenger. This
hook D should be fixed with its point directed towards the back of the cab.
When the cab is unoccupied the band A will hang down loosely from the
staple C on to the seat of the cal as indicated in dash-dotted lines in Figure 3.
On a passenger entering the cab and taking his seat he has merely to lift the
free hand of the band A, pass it in front of his body, and slip the ring B on that
end on to the hook 1), thus bringing the band A to bear with a slight pressure
against his chest as indicated in full lines in Figure 3.
In the event of an accident as aforesaid, or of a sudden stoppage of the cab,
the band A will prevent the passenger from falling forward, whilst the elasticity
of the rings B will save him from the discomfort of a sudden jerk.
When the passenger wishes to alight he has merely to unhook the strap from
the hook D, and let the strap drop loosely on to the seat of the cab.
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:
The means hereinbefore described for preventing passengers from being thrown
from hansom cabs, said means comprising a strap or band, elastic rings on the
ends of said band and means of securing the rings to devices on the opposite sides
of the interior of the vehicle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dotad 41: 10+1 1...
1000
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.