Improvements in Sliding or Adjustable Seats for Dog-carts and Traps and other Vehicles, and in Fittings for the same.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, ist Feb., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sliding or Adjustable Seats for Dog-carts and
Traps and other Vehicles, and in Fittings for the same.
I, HENRY BRITTAIN, of the Firm of S. Brittain and Son, of Ncs. 77 and
77 Alsten Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference, in part, to the fittings or guiding bars of sliding or
adjustable seats for dog-carts and traps and other vehicles, that is to say, the parts
situated on opposite ends of the sliding seat and along the opposite sides of the
body of the dog cart or trap, by which said fittings or guiding bars the seat is
guided in its sliding motion for obtaining the required balance in the seat; and
further to the locking mechanism by which the sliding seat is fixed after its
position has been adjusted; and my said invention consists of the improvements
hereinafter described in the said fittings or guiding bars and locking mechanism.
I construct the said fittings or guiding bars in the following manner.
According to one of the arrangements of my invention, I make the guiding bar
fixed on the underside and at each end of the sliding seat of an angular metallic
strip having at its outer side a hollow nearly circular rib, the said angular strip
being fixed by its horizontal web to the seat; and I make the guiding bar fixed
along each side of the body of the dog cart or vehicle of a nearly similar ribbed
metallic strip, that is, the hollow rib of the last named guiding bar is circular in
cross section and of a size proper for the nearly circular rib of the seat guide to
engage with and slide upon, the two engaged ribs fitting closely together so that
while the seat can, by means of its guiding bar, slide freely upon the fixed guiding
bar upon the side of the vehicle yet the seat is prevented from moving upwards or
downwards or laterally.
The horizontal web of the guiding bar on the side of the vehicle is perforated
with holes for fastening the sliding seat as hereinafter described.
When the seat guiding bar is engaged with the fixed guiding bar on the vehicle
sufficient space is left between the underside of the scat and the horizontal webs of
the guiding bars for the operation of the locking mechanism of the seat.
Instead of giving the engaging parts or ribs of the guiding bars, a circular
figure in cross section they may have a V figure in cross section, the engaging part
or V of the guiding bar on the seat being smaller than that on the side of the
vehicle within which it engages and slides. I prefer to make the engaging part of
the larger V shaped bar on the side of the vehicle of such a size that the smaller
V shaped bar can slightly rise and fall and move laterally within it and thereby
prevent the jamming of the said engaged parts. The guiding bars are fixed to the
seat and sides of the vehicle by vertical webs holes being made in the vertical webs
of the guiding bars on the body of the vehicle for the locking bolts to engage
with. These guiding bars and those first described are made preferably of hard
drawn sheet metal.
One of the locking arrangements of the seat constituting part of my invention is
constructed as follows. On the underside of the seat is a jointed board or flap, or

page_text: metal frame of nearly the same length as the seat but of about half the width of
the seat. The inner or hind corners of the said board or flap are hinged to the
underside of the seat and the fore corners of the said jointed board or flap are
provided with bolts or studs for engaging with holes in the horizontal webs of the
guiding bars fixed on the sides of the vehicle. The said jointed board or flap has
motion in a vertical plane and when at liberty to move falls and the bolts or studs
on its front corners engaging in the holes in the horizontal webs of the guiding
bars fix the position of the seat. A spring or springs between the upper side of
the jointed board or flap and the underside of the seat assist in depressing the said
board or flap and preserve it in its lowered or locking position. On the front edge
of the jointed board or flap is mounted a moulding of metal or wood to form a
continuous handle for raising the said board or flap and adjusting the seat, which
moulding can be operated upon in any part of its length. Or a special handle may
be fixed at the middle of the jointed board or flap for the same purpose. When it
is required to adjust the sliding seat the beading or handle is lifted thereby
turning the jointed board or flap on its hinges and raising the bolts or studs on its
fore corners out of the holes in the horizontal webs of the guiding bars. The seat
being thus released can be moved in its guides to the required position. On
loosing the handle the jointed board or flap descends and its bolts or studs drop
into the holes in the said horizontal webs, opposite which holes they have been
brought, and thus fix the seat in its adjusted position.
Another arrangement for locking the sliding seats consists of the following
combination of parts. This locking arrangement consists of two horizontal sliding
bolts the outer ends of which are made to simultaneously engage with or are with-
drawn from holes in the vertical webs of the fittings on the sides of the vehicle.
The said sliding bolts are actuated in the following manner. On the underside of
the middle of the sliding seat and near the front thereof is a hollow bearing in
which a toothed wheel works the said wheel being turned through a small angle
by means of a handle on its axis, a flat coiled spring, one end of which is fixed to
the axis of the toothed wheel, and the other end to the fixed bearing, giving the
return or back motion to the said wheel and the parts geared to it. The inner end
of each sliding bolt is made into teeth, constituting a rack, the toothed parts or
racks of the said bolts being situated respectively at the top and bottom of the
hollow bearing and gearing with the top and bottom of the toothed wheel in the
said bearing.
By this arrangement the motion through a small angle of the toothed wheel in
one direction, by means of its handle, simultaneously withdraws the two bolts from
the holes in the guiding bars at the sides of the dog-cart and releases the sliding
seat; and the return motion of the said toothed wheel, by the action of the spring
described, on loosing the handle, causes the simultaneous shooting of the two bolts
into the said guiding bars and the fixing of the sliding seat. The locking and
releasing arrangements of the seat may also be effected by a rocking bolt or bolt
having a lever action mounted on the top of the fixed guide. When the handle of
the bolt is turned in one direction, the bolt ends are raised out of the guides, and
when the handle is again reversed, the bolts pass through the fixed bars, into
recesses made on the top of the sliding bars, and fix the seat in the position to
which it has been brought.
Dated this 7th day of May 1894.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Sliding or Adjustable Seats for Dog-carts and
Traps and other Vehicles, and in Fittings for the same.
I HENRY BRITTAIN of the Firm of S. Brittain and Son, of Nos. 77 and
77ª Alston Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturers do
hereby declare the nature of my invention and the manner in which the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention has reference, in part, to the fittings or guiding bars of sliding or
adjustable seats for dog-carts and traps and other vehicles; that is to say, the
parts situated on opposite ends of the sliding seat and along the opposite sides of
the body of the dog-cart or trap, by which said fittings or guiding bars the seat
is guided in its sliding motion for obtaining the required balance in the seat,
and further to the locking mechanism by which the sliding seat is fixed after
its position has been adjusted; and my said invention consists of the improve-
ments hereinafter described in the said fittings or guiding bars and locking
mechanism.
I construct the said fittings or guiding bars in the following manner.
According to one of the arrangements of my invention I make the guiding bar
fixed on the underside and at each end of the sliding seat, of an angular metallic
strip having at its outer side a hollow nearly circular rib, the said angular strip
being fixed by its horizontal web to the seat; and I make the guiding bar fixed
along cach side of the body of the dog cart or vehicle of a nearly similar ribbed
metallic strip, that is, the hollow rib of the last named guiding bar is circular in
cross section and of a size proper for the nearly circular rib of the seat guide to
engage with and slide upon, the two engaged ribs fitting closely together so that .
while the seat can, by means of its guiding bars, slide freely upon the fixed guiding
bars upon the sides of the vehicle yet the seat is prevented from moving upwards
or downwards or laterally.
The horizontal web of the guiding bar on the side of the vehicle is perforated
with holes for fastening the sliding seat as hereinafter described.
When the seat guiding bar is engaged with the fixed guiding bar on the vehicle
sufficient space is left between the underside of the seat and the horizontal webs of
the guiding bars for the operation of the locking mechanism of the seat.
Instead of giving the engaging parts or ribs of the guiding bars, a circular figure
in cross section they may have a V figure in cross section the engaging part or
Vof the guiding bar on the seat being smaller than that on the side of the vehicle
within which it engages and slides. I prefer to make the engaging part of the
larger V shaped bar on the side of the vehicle of such a size that the smaller V shaped
bar shall slightly rise and fall and move laterally within it and thereby prevent the
jamming of the said engaged parts. The guiding bars are fixed to the seat and
sides of the vehicle by vertical webs, holes being made in the vertical webs of the
guiding bars on the body of the vehicle for the locking bolts to engage with.
These guiding bars and those first described are made preferably of hard drawn
sheet metal.
One of the locking arrangements of the seat constituting part of my invention is
constructed as follows; On the underside of the seat is a jointed board or flap or metal
frame of nearly the same length as the seat, but of about half the width of the seat.
The inner or hind corners of the said board or flap are hinged to the underside of the
seat and the fore corners of the said jointed board or flap are provided with bolts
or studs for engaging with holes in the horizontal webs of the guiding bars fixed on
the sides of the vehicle. The said jointed board or flap has motion in a vertical

page_text: plane and when at liberty to move falls and the bolts or studs on its front corners
engaging in the holes in the horizontal webs of the guiding bars fix the position of
the seat. A spring or springs between the upper side of the jointed board or flap
and the underside of the seat assist in depressing the said board or flap and
preserve it in its lowered or locking position. On the front edge of the jointed
board or flap is mounted a moulding of metal or wood to form a continuous handle
for raising the said board or flap and adjusting the seat, which moulding can be
operated upon in any part of its length. Or a special handle may be fixed at the
middle of the jointed board or flap for the same purpose. When it is required to
adjust the sliding seat the beading or handle is lifted thereby turning the jointed
board or flap on its hinges and raising the bolts or studs on its fore corners out of
the holes in the horizontal webs of the guiding bars. The seat being thus released
can be moved in its guides to the required position. On loosing the handle the
jointed board or flap descends and its bolts or studs drop into the holes in the said
horizontal webs, opposite which holes they have been brought and thus fix the seat
in its adjusted position.
Another arrangement for locking the sliding seats consists of the following
combination of parts. This locking arrangement consists of two horizontal sliding
bolts the outer ends of which are made to simultaneously engage with or are with-
drawn from holes in the vertical webs of the fittings on the sides of the vehicle.
The said sliding bolts are actuated in the following manner. On the underside of
the middle of the sliding seat and near the front edge thereof, is a hollow bearing
in which a toothed wheel works, the said wheel being turned through a small angle
by means of a handle on its axis, a flat coiled spring, one end of which is fixed to
the axis of the toothed wheel and the other end to the fixed bearing, giving the
return or back motion to the said wheel and the parts geared to it. The inner end
of each sliding bolt is made into teeth, constituting a rack, the toothed parts or
racks of the said bolts being situated respectively at the top and bottom of the
hollow bearing and gearing with the top and bottom of the toothed wheel in the
said bearing.
By this arrangement the motion through a small angle of the toothed wheel in
one direction, by means of its handle simultaneously withdraws the two bolts from
the holes in the guiding bars at the sides of the dog-cart and releases the sliding
seat and the return notion of the said toothed wheel by the action of the spring
described, on loosing the handle, causes the simultaneous shooting of the two bolts into
the said guiding bars and the fixing of the sliding seat. The locking and releasing
arrangement of the seat may also be effected by a rocking bolt or bolt having a
lever action, mounted on the top of the fixed guide. When the handle of the bolt
is turned in one direction the bolt ends are raised or withdrawn out of the guides
and when the handle is again reversed, the bolts pass through the fixed bars into
recesses made on the top of the sliding bars and fix the seat in the position to which
it has been brought.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings the
manner in which my invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in perspective, a portion of a dog-cart or other vehicle, the
sliding seat of which is provided with my improved metallic fittings or guiding
bars and also with one of the arrangements of my invention for locking the sliding
seat; Figure 2 is a plan and Figure 3 a longitudinal vertical section of the same,
portions being broken away and Figures 4 and 5 are cross sections of the same,
Figure 4 being taken through the guiding bars and Figure 5 being taken through
the middle of the seat and locking mechanism;
Figure 6 represents a section of the guiding bars drawn to a larger scale and
Figures 7 and 8 parts of the locking and guiding mechanism drawn to a larger
scale.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1 to 8.
1 will first describe the metal fittings or guiding bars of the sliding seat; a is the
guiding bar fixed on the underside and at each end of the sliding seat c and b is

page_text: the guiding bar fixed along each side of the body d of the dog-cart. The said
guiding bars are made of hard drawn sheet metal and have the sectional figures
best seen in Figure 6; that is, have a V figure in cross section, the he or projecting
part of the guiding bar a on the seat c being smaller than that of the she or hollow
part of the guiding bar b on the vehicle d. The said guiding bars a, bare hollow
or tubular and the ends of the guiding bars a are closed by plates brazed to them.
The V part of the guiding har a on the sliding seat c is engaged with the corre-
spondingly shaped hollow part of the guiding bar on the side d of the vehicle by
an end motion and when the said parts a and b are engaged together the seat
guiding bar a can slide freely within the fixed guiding bar upon the vehicle and
cannot be lifted therefrom. The engaging parts of the guiding bars are of such a
size that the smaller or seat bar a can slightly rise and fall and freely move within
the larger side bar band thereby prevent the jamming of the engaged parts. The
guiding bar a is fixed to the underside of the sliding seat c by the angle plate a² to
which the guiding bar is brazed, and the guiding bar bis fixed to the side of the
vehicle by the angle strip 2 brazed to the said guiding barb (see Figure 6).
Equi-distant holes e, e are made in the horizontal webs of the angle strips 62 on the
si fes of the vehicle for the bolts or studs of the locking mechanism to engage with
as hereinafter described. The engaging part of the guiding bar a may either be
continuous, that is, may extend from end to end of the angle plate a² to which it is
brazed, or the engaging part of the bar a may be situated at the front and back
ends only of the angle plate a². The last named arrangement is that shown in the
drawing and is best seen in the enlarged view Figure 8 of one of the angle
plates a².
I will now describe the locking mechanism of the sliding seat.
This locking
mechanism consists of a hinged flap or rectangular frame marked f, g, f situated on
the underside of the seat c, the said flap or frame consisting of the side metal parts
or arms, and the front connecting wooden bar g. One of the metal side parts or
arms of the hinged flap or frame is shown separately drawn to a larger scale in
Figure 7. The said side parts or arms f, f are preferably angular in cross section.
The inner ends of the side parts, of the frame are furnished with knuckle
pieces which are fitted between the knuckle piece a³ and the V shaped guiding
bar a on the angle fixing plate a² as best seen in Figure 8. Joint pins being
passed through the engaged parts of the arms fand angle plates a², the hinged flap
or frame
jointed at its inner or hind corners to the underside of the scat c. The
outer ends of the arms of the flap or frame are secured to the corners of the
connecting cross wooden bar g by the clip pieces at f. Near the fore corners of
the jointed flap and made in one piece with the metal side arms f, fare studs or
bolts h, for engaging with the holes e, e in the horizontal webs of the guiding
bars fixed on the sides of the vehicle for locking the sliding seat.
The manner in
which these studs or bolts engage with the horizontal webs 62 of the guiding
bars is best seen in Figures 3 and 4. The upper projecting parts of the locking
studs or bolts act as guiding studs on the lifting of the hinged flap or frame and
take into slots and depressions at i in the fixing plates a² and sliding seat c (see
Figures 3 and 4). The said hinged flap or frame f, g, has motion in a vertical
plane on its hind hinges, and when at liberty to move the said flap or frame
descends by its own weight and causes the bolts or studs near its fore corners to
engage in the holes e in the horizontal webs 62, over which they have been brought,
so as to fix the seat. The descent of the flap or frame f, f, g is assisted and rattling
of the seat prevented by the bow spring fixed at its middle to the said flap, the
ends of the bow spring bearing against the underside of the sliding seat c; or in
place of the middle bow spring k, a bow or other spring may be situated between
each of the arms f and the fixed plate a² on the sliding seat for the same purposes.
On the front edge and at the middle of the jointed flap or frame is a handle c³ for
lifting the said flap or frame when the seat is to be adjusted. Or a continuous
projecting beading or moulding may be made along the front edge of the jointed
Hap or frame for lifting it.

page_text: In order to adjust the sliding seat c, the handle c³ of the flap or frame f, f, g is
lifted, thereby turning the said flap or frame on its hinges at 22 and raising the
bolts or studs h, near its fore corners out of the holes e, e in the horizontal webs 62
of the guiding bars b, the upper parts of the said bolts or studs h, h passing into
the guiding holes at i. The seat is thus released and can be moved in its fixed
guiding bars to the required position. On loosing the handle c² the jointed flap or
frame f,f,g descends assisted by the pressure of the compressed spring k, and its
bolts or studs h, drop into the holes e, e in the horizontal webs 62, 62 opposite
which holes they have been brought as represented in the drawing and thus fix the
seat in its adjusted position.
Instead of making the hinged locking flap in the form of a frame as represented
it may consist of a continuous board jointed at its hind ends to the seat and
provided with locking bolts for taking into the fixed guiding bars.
Figure 9 represents in plan of upper side (the seat being partly broken away);
Figure 10 in vertical longitudinal section and Figure 11 in cross section, a portion
of a sliding seat and sides of a dog-cart containing guiding bars and locking
mechanism constructed according to my invention. In this arrangement sliding
bolts, actuated by a rocking bolt or lever action are used for fastening the sliding
seat.
d, d are the sides of the dog-cart or vehicle and c is the sliding seat, a portion
of which is broken away for the purpose of the better exhibiting the locking
mechanism situated on the underside of the seat. The guiding bars a, b on the
seat and vehicle respectively are essentially of the same construction as those
already described but the vertical webs of the lower or fixed V guiding bar b
are perforated with equi-distant holes for receiving the outer ends of the locking
bolts, for fastening the seat. The inner horizontal part of the seat guiding
bar a bears upon the horizontal part of the fixed side guiding bar band in order to
reduce the friction of the sliding parts and to guide the sliding seat the latter is
provided with flanged antifriction wheels m, m the larger flanges of which project
on the inner sides of the bars b, b and assist in guiding the sliding seat. The
mechanism for simultaneously shooting or withdrawing the two sliding bolts 1, 1 for
locking and releasing the sliding seat consists of the following parts. On the
underside of the sliding seat c is a case n within which the acting ends of the
rocking bolt or lever p, p³ work, the said rocking bolt or lever being provided with
a handle på for operating it; q is the axis of the lever p, p² the said axis turning
in bearings in the sliding seat and in the case n (see Figures 10 and 11). The
inner end of each sliding bolt has a box or rectangular frame and is bent out of
the plane of the bolt (see Figure 10). The said box ends are situated in the
case n and are marked respectively 12 and 13. To the box end 12 of the sliding
bolt the arm p² of the rocking bolt or lever is jointed by the pin and slot at p
and to the box end 13 of the other sliding bolt the arm p of the said rocking bolt
or lever is jointed by the pin and slot at p. The horizontal parts or limbs of the
box ends 12, 13 of the two sliding bolts 1,1 are engaged together, the engaged parts
sliding upon one another and acting as guides during the shooting or withdrawal of
the sliding bolts l, as will be understood by an examination of Figure 9. In the
drawing, the sliding bolts 1, 1 are shown in their shot position, that is, their outer
ends are engaged with the flanges of the guiding bars b, b on the sides of the
vehicle d for locking the sliding seat c, the said bolts being maintained in this
position and the snapping action given to them by the flat coiled spring 9² acting
upon the rocking lever p, p². This flat coiled spring is situated in a recess in
the sliding seat, one end being fixed to the axis 9 of the lever and the other end
being fixed to the bearing or case n (see Figure 9). By turning the lever p, pz
through a small angle by means of its handle p³, the spring 2 is tightened or
the required tension put upon it to effect the return motion of the sliding bolts 1, 1
and lever p, 2 when the latter is released. To simultaneously withdraw the
sliding bolts, and release the sliding seat c, the handle p³ is moved in the direction
of the arrow Figure 9. By the movement in opposite directions of the arms of the

page_text: lever p, p² the box ends 12, 13 of the sliding bolts are brought nearer together and
slide upon one another, and the inner ends of the sliding bolts 1, 1 are simultaneously
withdrawn from the holes in the guiding bars b, b and the sliding seat released.
After the adjustment of the sliding seat the lever p, p² is released, when the two
sliding bolts, are simultaneously, by the action of the spring q², shot into the
holes in the guiding bars b, opposite to which holes they have been brought as
represented and the seat is refixed in its adjusted position.
Figure 12 represents in plan (the covering plate of the case being removed) and
Figure 13 in cross section the locking arrangement of my invention in which the
sliding bolts 1, I are simultaneously shot into or withdrawn from the guiding bars
by a toothed wheel acting upon toothed racks at the inner ends of the sliding bolts.
As the guiding bars into which the outer ends of the sliding bolts engage are the
same as those herein before described and illustrated in Figures 9, 10 and 11
I have not thought it necessary to repeat the said guiding bars in Figures 12
and 13; 1, are the sliding bolts for taking into holes in the guiding bars on
opposite sides of the dog cart and 1, 1 are the toothed racks on the inner cranked
ends of the said bolts, the said toothed racks 15, 16 working in the hollow bearing
or case n fixed at the middle and near the front edge of the sliding seat of the dog
cart. In the said hollow bearing or case n, a toothed wheel (or portion of a
toothed wheel) r works. The said toothed wheel is fixed to the axis turning in
the case or bearing n. The toothed wheel is turned through a small angle for
withdrawing the bolts 1, 1 by means of the handle on the axis working
under the guide bar 4. By means of the flat coiled spring 92 fixed at one end
to the axis of the toothed wheel and at the other end to the fixed case or
bearing the return or back motion of the said wheel and the bolts 1, 1 geared
to it is effected. It will be seen that the toothed parts or racks 15, 1 of the
sliding bolts, are situated respectively at the top and bottom of the hollow
bearing or case n and gear with the top and bottom of the toothed wheel r.
When the parts of the locking mechanism are in the normal positions represented
in the drawing, the sliding bolts, are in their shot or forward positions for locking
the sliding seat, the said parts being pressed into and maintained in that position
by the action of the flat coiled spring q2 upon the toothed wheel r.
In order to simultaneously withdraw the sliding bolts 1, the handle 3 on the
axis of the toothed wheel is turned into the position indicated in dotted lines in
Figure 12. The toothed wheel r is thereby turned through a small angle or into
the dotted position indicated in the said Figure 12 and its opposite sides acting
upon the toothed racks 1, 16 simultaneously withdraw the two sliding bolts 1, 1 from
the holes in the sides of the dog-cart and unfasten the sliding seat. After the
adjustment of the sliding seat and the releasing of the handle, the action of the
flat coiled spring causes the two sliding bolts to be simultaneously shot into
the holes in the sides of the dog cart for refastening the adjusted seat.
Instead of giving the return or snapping action to the sliding bolts 1, by
means of a flat coiled spring applied as described and illustrated, each sliding bolt
may be provided with a helical spring around it for effecting the same object.
The shaped guiding bars may be inverted as illustrated in Figure 14, that
is, the he guiding part a may be fixed to the sides d of the vehicle and the hollow
or she part 6 be secured to the sliding seat and in order to give greater freedom of
motion to the sliding bars when from the shrinking of the woodwork or from
imperfect fixing, the said sliding bars are not parallel, I so construct the parts of
the sliding seat connected to the hind and fore corners of one or both of the seat
sliding bars that the seat is made capable of a limited lateral motion. This
arrangement is shown in Figure 14 where the seat c instead of being connected
rigidly to the sliding bar bis connected through the tubular sleeve c³ to the sten
or projection 6 of the said bar b. Upon the stem or projection 62 the sleeve c³ is
capable of a limited sliding motion so as to permit of a slight lateral motion in the
seat c should the sliding bars be wanting in parallelism as before pointed out.
Or the same object may be attained by the arrangement represented in Figure 15,

page_text: b
where the inverted fixed guiding bar a is used with a sliding bearing in the form
of a wheel having a V groove for taking upon the V shaped bar a. The said
sliding bearing turns on the axis 62 carried by the sliding box 6, the latter being
fixed to the seat c. The axis 2 of the box 64 slides within the bush of the
bearing for giving the limited lateral motion to the seat c for the purpose before
explained.
The guiding bars may have the sectional forin represented in Figure 16 instead
of the V form hereinbefore described and represented; I prefer however to employ
V shaped guiding bars.
In the arrangement represented in Figure 16 the angular metallic strip fixed on
the sliding seat chas at its outer side, a nearly circular hollow rib 65, and the
angular strip fixed to the side d of the vehicle has at its side a circular rib a" of a
size proper for the nearly circular rib of the seat guide to engage with and
slide upon. The two engaged ribs a, fit closely together so that while the seat
can, by means of its guiding bars, slide freely upon the fixed bars of the vehicle,
yet the said seat is prevented from moving upwards or downwards or laterally as
will be understood by an examination of Figure 16.
Although I have described and represented my improved locking mechanisms in
conjunction with guiding bars constituting part of my invention yet I wish it to he
understood that I do not limit myself thereto, as the said locking mechanisms may
be used in combination with sliding or adjustable seats having other kinds of
guiding bars.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that I claim as my
invention of "Improvements in sliding or adjustable seats for dog carts, and traps
and other vehicles and in fittings for the same
"
;-
First. The new or improved fittings or guiding bars for the said sliding or
adjustable seats hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
8, 14, 15 and 16 of the accompanying drawings; that is to say, forming the
fittings or guiding bars fixed to the sliding seat and to each side of the vehicle, of
angular metallic strips provided with engaging or guiding parts consisting either
of circular or nearly circular ribs or of V shaped projections and depressions
substantially as described and illustrated; also the modifications described with
respect to Figures 14 and 15 for permitting of a slight lateral motion in the seat to
compensate for want of parallelism in the guiding bars.
Secondly. The construction and combination of the parts of locking mechanism
of sliding or adjustable seats herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings; that is to say, the combination
with the sliding seat of a rectangular flap, frame or board hinged or jointed at its
inner or hind corners to the sliding seat and provided near its fore corners with
bolts or studs for taking into holes in the guiding bars or analogous parts fixed on
the sides of the vehicle for locking the said seat, the several parts of the hinged
or jointed flap, frame or board being constructed, arranged and working substantially
as described and illustrated.
Thirdly. The combination of the parts of mechanism herein before described
and illustrated in Figures 9, 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings for simul-
taneously operating the sliding locking bolts of the said seats; that is to say,
making the inner ends of the sliding locking bolts with box or angular guiding
ends and operating the said inner ends for simultaneously shooting or withdrawing the
sliding bolts by means of a lever the arms of which are connected respectively to
the said box ends of the bolts substantially as described and illustrated.
Fourthly. Simultaneously shooting or withdrawing the sliding bolts of the said
seats by means of a toothed wheel or portion of a toothed wheel, having motion
through a small angle, engaging at opposite sides with toothed racks on the inner
ends of the said sliding bolts substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in Figures 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: Lastly. Giving the return or snapping action to the sliding bolts of the locking
mechanisms claimed in Claims 3 and 4 by means of a flat coiled spring arranged.
and applied substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 9,.
10, 11, 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 28th day of January 1895.
HENRY BRITTAIN..