Improvements in Sleeping Apartments or State-rooms in Railway Carriages and Cars, Vessels, and other Structures.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sleeping Apartments or State-rooms in Railway
Carriages and Cars, Vessels, and other Structures.
We CHARLES LEVAKE LOCKWOOD of Arlington, Hamilton County, Ohio,
United States of America, Cashier, JOHN WILMORE SHRAGUE and GUSTAVUS
ADOLPHUS SHRAGUE both of 103 East Liberty Street, Cincinnati, Hamilton
County, aforesaid, Lawyers, 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 and accompanying drawings:
:―
This invention relates to sleeping-apartments or state-rooms on railway-cars,
ships, boats and the like; and it consists in certain novel features of arrangement,
construction, and application, as hereinafter fully explained, and particularly pointed
out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a broken, longitudinal, sectional elevation, on line x, x, of Fig. 2,
showing a portion of a railway-car with this invention applied thereon, the parts
being shown in position for night or sleeping use; Fig. 2 a transverse sectional
elevation, on line y, y, of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a broken, sectional plan of a sleeping-car
embodying the invention in its preferred form and showing three state-rooms pro-
vided with doors in the dividing transverse partitions, (said doors not being shown
in the remaining views, thus illustrating how this improvement may be used with
or without communicating-doorways between sections or state-rooms); Fig. 4 a
view similar to Fig. 1, on line ¹, ., of Fig 5, but showing the parts in-position for
day use; Fig. 5a view similar to Fig. 2 on line y', y', of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6a
view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modified form, having a stationary berth-
partition.
A represents a fragmentary portion of a railway-car to which class of carriers
the invention herein is especially adapted.
a is the customary elevated roof or so-called double-deck; and B, a longitudinal
partition or inner-wall running along that portion of the car usually devoted to
sleeping-berths. b represents the corridor between partition B and one side of the
car. Crepresents each one of a series of transverse, ordinary or blind partitions,
arranged at suitable intervals apart along said partition B. The side wall of the
car, together with every two partitions C and said partition B, form a large state-
room or full-section. This state-room or section is divided into two distinct apart-
ments by means of an angular or stepped berth-partition preferably constructed,
arranged, and manipulated as now described.
Each of these angular berth-partitions is composed of three leaves or divisions D,
D', and D2, the division D being always an upright or vertical one, and both
those D' and D2 being adapted to be disposed either vertical or horizontal, as
circumstances may require.
The divisions D and D' are preferably connected together along their contiguous
edges by hinges d, or other suitable means; and one edge of division D' is hinged
to a hollow-base E, the latter having drop-doors e, and thereby adapted to be used
as a locker or receptacle for bed-clothing, or other articles.
The opposite ends of the joint, formed by said contiguous edges of divisions D
and D', may be provided with studs or rollers which project into and travel in
slotted-plates d', set in both the wall of the car, (see Figs. 1 and 4), and partition B.
The contour of division D corresponds to the upper contour of the car, within
the partition B, and fillings d2 and d³ are used to close the gap between the upper
edge of said division D and the ceiling of elevated roof a.

page_text: Frepresents latch-bolts secured along the outer edge of said divisions D, D¹
and D2, and engaging sockets in the car-wall and partition B.
The fillings d' and d³, provide substantial sockets for the latch-bolts on the upper
edge of division D.:
G represents each one of a series of doors in partition B, closing an independent
doorway leading to each apartment, and opening either into the apartment, or the
corridor b, as desired. In the operation of this invention each section is normally
arranged or divided into two apartments for day use, by laying division D² hori-
zontal on locker-base E, both the divisions D and D¹ in their central, vertical
position, forming one continuous vertical partition (see Fig. 4). The upper face of
division D2 is upholstered to provide a suitable seat for the occupants, at either
side the partition-division D', as also shown in Fig. 4.
The upper end of division D is securely bolted in place in connection with the
filling d², and the bottom of partition D¹ rests centrally on the division D2, and is
properly bolted thereto, the intermediate bolts between the top of division D and
bottom of division D', also properly engaging the car-wall and partition B, to
sustain the partition upright. (See Fig. 5.)
For night use, or sleeping purposes, said berth-partition is manipulated as indi-
cated by arrows and dotted lines in Fig. 4, the ultimate result of the operation
being that shown in Fig. 1, in which the vertical-division D has been brought
forward, with its upper end adjacent and bolted to the filling d³, and its lower end
supported in the forward ends of the several slotted-plates d'; the division D'.
raised on its hinges d to a horizontal position, and supported at its forward edge,
(or the joint it makes with division D,) in the said slotted-plates d', and resting at
its rear or free edge on the division D2, which has also been swung on its hinges to
an upright position.
The division D¹, in its horizontal position, forms a bottom for the upper-berth,
and a top for the lower-berth, both said berths being located between two blind-
partitions C, C, but each facing or opening into an independent apartment or room,.
having its own doorway leading to the corridor b. These two apartments, between
each pair of blind-partitions C, C, form a full section or double state-room, one'
apartment being perfectly independent of the other, and the occupant of one apart-
ment in a section absolutely unobservable and separated from the occupant of the
other apartment, or in fact any others in the car, as is very clearly obvious.
Sufficient space is thus provided whereby each passenger may readily robe and
disrobe without exposure, no cumbersome curtains or screens being necessary, as
in the form of sleeping-cars in general use.
A horizontal row of hooks g is attached on both sides of each blind-partition C,
upon which the passengers may properly hang their garments, thus obviating
the inconvenience of placing them in their several berths, as heretofore practised.
- C₁ represents a doorway, preferably provided in each transverse partition C,
(see Fig. 3), to permit occupants of adjoining apartments in adjoining sections to
have free access to each other, if desired, the occupants of one apartment having
an upper and the others a lower berth, (the same as in each section), thus enabling
them to throw open their said adjoining apartments at either side said partitions,
especially for day use, in common, and also if desired, for night use, where a number
or a family are travelling together. Thus there is no necessity of going into the
corridor to go from one adjoining room to the other, as aforesaid, and said doors, C',
can also be used to excellent advantage by throwing them all open when it is desired
to clean and ventilate the car and its several apartments, at any and all times.
For thoroughly ventilating and cleaning the car, all the doors and windows.are
thrown open; the divisions D2 of each berth partition arranged horizontal on. the
lockers; and the divisions D supported in a horizontal position together with the
divisions D, which have been turned on their hinges down flatly upon said
divisions D', thus permitting a perfect circulation and ready access to all the
apartments. One or both faces of the division D' may be properly upholstered to
provide padded seat-backs for the passengers in both apartinents. A blind'
.

page_text: partition e¹ is preferably provided in each locker E, for both strength and to prevent
any communication or under-passage from one apartment to the other.
The hereinbefore described construction and manipulation of the divisions D, D¹,
and D, permit the building of each section of somewhat smaller and more compact"
dimensions than other sleeping-apartments, without deterioration.
This is accomplished by merely arranging the divisions D and D' centrally over
the division D2, (see Fig. 4) thus dividing each section into two equal apartments,
each of which apartments can be enlarged for night or sleeping purposes, to the
entire extent of the double-seat, in the manner shown in Fig. 1.
Instead of making the central partition in each section a knock-down affair, as
hereinbefore described, it could obviously be made a permanent feature, or
stationary, in double rectangular form, as shown in the modification Fig. 6.
This plan is best adapted to boats and ships where the passengers have ample
space without, for moving about, which is not so in railway-cars where the confine-
ment is really unavoidable. Double upper and lower berths are provided in this
form, the same as in the other, each opening into a separate apartment or room,
whose occupants are perfectly independent and unobservable, one from the other.
Each apartment has its own particular doorway leading to a corridor or main-cabin,
as the case may be, and there is no danger or necessity of contact or observation
between passengers occupying said upper and lower berths of a section, thus
practically furnishing each passenger with a double-berth and a room separate and
apart from all others, and fully utilizing the entire space to the very best advantage.
It is also obvious that the latch devices, could be connected, so as to operate
simultaneously, by means of rods or levers, as in the bolt-work of safes, and the
upper-berths of sleeping-cars in general use, and thereby facilitate the handling of
the several divisions D, D' and D2, but as this mechanism forms no material or
essential part of this invention herein, it is not necessary to either describe or:
show it.
It is further obvious that, if a party desires an entire section, the divisions D
and D of the movable-partition could be removed from the room altogether, or
they could be arranged in a single, vertical line at one edge of the lower-berth, in
this wise, say that the division D remain as shown in Fig. 1, then division D' would
be dropped on its hinges, to a vertical position in line therewith, and the division D³,
would, of course, lie in its normal position on the locker or base E. Said party
could then have the entire section, without the necessity of the attendant changing
the central partition for either day or night use during the trip, and more space
would thus be available in one apartment for said whole-section passenger.
In the day-time, light, of course, enters from the usual car-windows, but at night,
lamps could be provided in each apartment, or light admitted from lamps in the
corridor through translucent panels made in the doors and partition B. These
separate apartments are well adapted for accommodating the sick, who are perfectly
isolated and free from the many annoyances and embarrassments of the constant
passing of persons to and fro through the car. Both strict privacy and best means
of security against robbery are also particularly good features of this construction
herein, as the door of each apartment may be locked and bolted from within, and
the passenger can retire and rest with almost all the comforts and feelings of safety
usual at home.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is.
1. A state-room for railway-cars, ships, boats, and other structures, having a
stepped or double-rightangled partition therein, whereby it is divided into two
separate and independent apartments, the upper angle of said partition forming an
upper reclining receptacle or double berth opening into one apartment, and the
lower angle forming a lower receptacle or double berth, directly beneath said upper
"

page_text: berth, and opening into the other apartment, and each apartment having its own.
independent doorway.
2. A state-room composed of two side and two end walls, having a central zig-zag
partition extending from one end wall to the other, and composed of an upper
vertical division D, a middle horizontal division D¹, and a lower vertical division D³,
whereby it is divided into two independent private apartments, one having an upper
berth and the other a lower berth, and each entered by independent door-ways in
said walls.
3. A state-room for railway-cars, ships, boats, and other structures, having a
stepped or double-rightangled partition therein, whereby it is divided into two
separate apartments, the upper angle forming an upper receptacle or berth which
opens into one apartment only, and the lower angle forming a lower receptacle or
berth which opens into the other apartment only, the lower end of said partition
resting on a base E, the latter forming the bottom of said lower-berth and each
apartment having its own independent doorway, substantially as herein set forth.
4. A section or state-room for railway-cars, ships, boats, and other structures,
having a stepped double-rightangled partition therein, whereby it is divided into
two separate and independent apartments, said partition being composed of three
separate, movable leaves or divisions D, D¹, and D2, the division D being always
a vertical one and hinged or otherwise freely jointed to the divisions D', the
division D being adapted to be disposed either horizontal or vertical, and the
division D2 being also adapted to be disposed either vertical or horizontal, all
the parts being arranged, constructed, and adapted to be operated, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
5. A series of sections or state-rooms for cars, ships, and other structures,
composed of stepped or double-rightangled partitions D, D', D2, therein, whereby
they are each divided into two separate apartments, longitudinal partition B having
doorways G, and one side wall of the car or other structure, and transverse
partitions C dividing adjoining sections and having doorways C¹, substantially as
herein set forth.
Dated this 7th day of November 1892
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5, John Dalton Street, Manchester, Agents.