Improvements in Sleeping Cars.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 3rd May, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sleeping Cars.
I, HENRY CASPAR, residing at the corner of Dryads and Thalia Streets, in the City
of. New Orleans, State of Louisiana, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 is an improvement in sleeping cars and seeks among other objects to
provide a simple arrangement of the sections so as to form spaces between them to
constitute dressing rooms; to furnish folding leaves or boards adapted for convenient
adjustment to enclose such spaces when desired or to be shifted out of the way when
it is desired to open the spaces; to so form the lower berths of the sections that parts
or portions constituting parts of the seats or sofas formed therefrom in the day-time
may be detached at night and. used as parts of the upper berths; and to provide in
front of the seats of the lower berths, supports on which cushions may be rested to
form parts of a double bed lower berth.
The invention has for further objects, other improvements and consists in certain
features of construction and novel combination of parts, as will be described. and
claimed.
In the drawings
--
Fig. 1, is a horizontal section somewhat broken away, and in diagram form, of a
car_constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 2, is a detail horizontal section with the folding leaves adjusted to folded
position.
Fig. 3, is a similar view with the leaves open and adjusted to enclose and form the
dressing room..
Fig. 4, is a vertical sectional view of one of the sections.
Fig. 5, is a perspective view of the lower. berth and foot-rest-as adjusted in the
day-time..
Fig. 6, is a detail view illustrating the detachable connection of the back, with the
body of the sofa.
Fig. 7, is an enlarged view of a portion of a car showing the dressing room: or
cabinet with its leaves extended and taken through the door in one of the leaves.
Fig. 8, is an enlarged detail plan view of one of the sections, showing the removable
partition for dividing the seats.
Referring more particularly to said figure 7, it will be seen that the leaf, C¹, has an
opening, or doorway, a' which is also shown in Fig. 4.
Hinged or otherwise suitably secured to this leaf C₁ is a leaf C which is designed to
close the opening, or doorway in the leaf, C¹ when turned in one position and when
turned in the position shown in. dotted lines will, open communication between the
berth and cabinet and close the cabinet from view. of a person in the central aisle, or
other portion of the car.
In carrying out my invention, I arrange the seats or sections, A, longitudinally in
rows in the direction of length of the car, the said sections facing outward.toward the
sides of the car, a central aisle a, being, provided between the rows, and cross-aisles
being provided between the ends of the adjacent sections of each row.. Between the
ends of the sections I provide spaces, B, which form dressing rooms and are suitably
enclosed when desired by the folding leaves or boards presently described..
At the sides or outer ends of the spaces, B, I provide what may be called closets or
casings, which are formed of two fixed sides b, 6 arranged.in line with the ends of the
sections.. To the outer.edge of side b 1.hinge one edge of the leaf, C, which is formed
and adapted to turn out against the end of the section to the left of space, B and

page_text: form one side or wall of the dressing room. To the outer edge of leaf, C is hinged
one edge of leaf (which is adapted to turn outward and form the outer end wall of
the room and may be provided with a door leading to aisle, a, as shown in Fig. 4.
To the side is hinged one edge of the leaf C to the opposite or outer end of which
is hinged the narrow leaf, C³. This leaf, 2 turns out against the section to the left of
space, B, and forms such side of the room, the narrow leaf, (3 turning out snugly
against the free edge of section, C, and serving to prevent such leaf being pushed in
by one walking along the central aisle. It will be noticed that this narrow leaf is
necessary to reach to the leaf, C" when unfolded as the leaf C is hinged at a point
nearer the side of the car and consequently cannot reach so far into the car when open
as it is of the same width as leaf C to enable it to fold into the closet, consequently
the narrow leaf, C³ is provided to supplement leaf, 02 and enable the leaf, C₁ to be
braced outward.
Except to hold the said leaf, C' outward, the sections, C2, C3 might in some instances
be omitted as the dressing room is for the section to the left and as the leaves C2, C³
effectually prevent entrance thereto by the occupants of the section to the right, but I
prefer to use all the leaves and to arrange them as shown.
When the dressing rooms are not in use, the leaves, C, C1, C2, C3, may be folded to
serve as doors for the closet or casing, which latter may be utilized as receptacles for
bedding, light baggage, such as small hand satchels etc."
It will be noticed that the sections have lower berths D, and upper berths, E, the
lower berths being formed to provide sofa-like seats in the day-time as shown in
Fig. 5. The ends or arms this seat are provided with sockets, d, into which fit
lugs, f, on the cushioned back, F, so such back may be conveniently removed at night
time, being then lifted by the porter and adjusted into the upper berth and for use as
mattress therein. This feature it will be understood is important as it enables the
utilization at night in the upper berth of a part of the sofa formed during the day-time
from the lower berth and dispenses with the necessity of extra mattresses for the upper
berths.
In front of the seats or sections I form recesses, G, of equal length with the sections
and along the sides and ends of which I extend ledges or cleats, y, at approximately
the height of the frame of berth, D so that one of the double cushions, H, H, or the seat
of berth, D, may be adjusted asto theledge or support, g, and so form the lower berth
into a double bed.
In front of berth, D, as shown in Fig. 5, is provided the foot rest, I, having the
board, which extends alongside the car and is hinged at its outer edge at, i so it can
be turned up out of the way or down to form a foot stool being supported when lowered
by blocks or standards, 12.
At one end of the car I provide in one corner the smoker, J and in the other, the
gentlemen's toilet room K. At the opposite end of the car, I provide in one corner
the ladies toilet, L, and in the other, the storage closet, M, a suitable wash-room N
being also provided as shown.
It is obvious that a curtain will be used to close the lower berths or compartments
such as employed with the upper ones, and I also provide means for closing the top of
the closets or cabinets from view to a person occupying the upper berths. This latter
means is better shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings in which a leaf or board, Z is hinged
to the inner side of the car. This leaf is of a length and width sufficient to completely
close the top of the cabinet and when not in use, may be swung up against the side
wall of the car. A ledge or other suitable stop may be employed to serve as a rest for
the board when let down.
W, indicates my improved partition wall. This partition wall, W, which is designed
to divide the seats of the sections when desired, is adapted to be seated in slots or
receses cut in the back of the seats and the main bar of the window frame, respectively,
and is capable of being easily placed in position and removed when desired.
1, indicates the slot or recess cut in the back of the seat section to receive one end
of the dividing partition, and, 2, indicates a recess cut in the main bar of the window
frame to receive the other end of partition. This latter recess 2, is gradually curved at

page_text: its top to the surface of the bar to allow of the free introduction of the small end of
the dividing partition.
When it is desired to place the partition in position, to divide the seat, one end
thereof is placed in recess, 1, and the other is then inserted in the recess, 2, and
the division of the seat is thus effected.
It is obvious that the sides and top of the partition wall may be upholstered or
otherwise decorated and that it may be of any form or configuration suitable to
the requirements of the case.
I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to the precise construction of
division wall described nor to the manner in which it is placed upon the seat as
it is obvious that any suitable means may be employed.
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. A car having a number of seats or sections arranged longitudinally in rows in
the direction of length of the car and having a central and cross-aisles, substantially
as specified.
2. In a car, substantially as described, the combination with the lower berth frame
having its ends or arms provided with sockets, of the back provided with lugs fitting
in said sockets, substantially as set forth.
3. A sleeping car having its sections or seats arranged facing the side of the car,
having the side of the car in front of such section formed with a space or recess of
approximately equal length therewith and provided along the side and ends of such
recess with cleats or ledges, substantially as set forth.
4. In a sleeping car, the combination of the upper berth, the lower berth formed to
provide a sofa-like seat having a detachable back adapted for use as mattress for the
upper berth and provided with double cushions and supports arranged in front of
such seat and adapted to receive one of the cushions substantially as set forth.
5. In a car having its sections or seats arranged facing the sides of the car, a foot
rest or board extended along the inner side of the car hinged at one edge to the side
of the car whereby it may be turned up out of the way and blocks or standards by
which to support the said board when lowered, substantially as set forth.
6. A car having a number of seats or sections arranged longitudinally in rows in
the direction of length of the car and having a central and cross-aisles and also having
spaces between the ends of the adjacent sections and folding leaves in said spaces to
form a dressing room, substantially as specified.
7. A car having a number of seats or sections arranged longitudinally in the direc-
tion of length of the car and having a central and cross-aisles and also having spaces
between the ends of the adjacent sections and provided at the sides of such spaces with
a closet or casing having folding leaves or boards adapted when folded to forin a closed
straight closet and when unfolded to close said spaces, substantially as specified.
8. A car such as described, having spaces between the adjacent ends of the sections
adapted to form a dressing room, in combination with the fixed side pieces, b, b¹, the
leaf, C, hinged to the side piece b, the leaf, Chinged to the outer edge of said leaf, C
the leaf, C, binged to the fixed side-piece, 6' and the narrow leaf, C³, hinged to the
outer edge of the leaf, C2, whereby the whole may form a convertible closet and
dressing room, substantially as specified.
9. In a sleeping car having its sections formed with upper and lower berths, in
combination with the framing, of the lower berth adapted to form the body of a sofa,
and the sofa having a removable back, said back being detachably connected with the
frame whereby the same may be lifted off and form a mattress for the upper berth,
substantially as specified.
10. A sleeping car having closets or dressing rooms arranged in spaces between the
ends of the adjacent sections, said dressing rooms being composed of hinged
leaves, C, C¹, and, C, and the narrow leaf, (3, and having a hinged top or horizontally
closing cover as Z, to close the said dressing room from the view of a person occupying
the upper berth, substantially as specified.

page_text: 11. A sleeping car having closet or dressing room arranged in a space between the
ends of adjacent sections, said dressing room being composed of folding leaves and
one of the leaves having a doorway adapted to be opened and closed by a leaf which
forms one of the walls of the dressing room, substantially as specified.
12. A sleeping car having a closet or dressing room arranged at the end of a berth,
said dressing room being composed of hinged leaves, C, C1, C2, and the narrow leaf, (³,
the leaf, C having an opening or doorway and the leaf, C', being adapted to serve the
twofold function of closing the doorway and forming one of the walls of the cabinet
substantially as specified.
13. In a sleeping car having its sections or seats arranged facing the sides of the
car, the combination with the longitudinal seats, of a partition or division wall adapted
to be placed in position upon said seats to divide the same transversely, substantially
as specified.
14. In a sleeping car having its sections or seats arranged facing the sides of the
car, the combination with the seats and sides of the car, having vertical slots or
recesses cut therein, of a removable partition or division wall adapted to be seated in
the said slots or recesses to effect a division of the seat substantially as specified.
1000
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.