Improvements in Steps for Omnibuses and Tram Cars or other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 16th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steps for Omnibuses and Tram Cars or other
Vehicles.
JAMES HUDSON, Omnibus, Coach and Carriage Builder, Harmood Grove, Camden'
Town, N.W., and 6, Canonbury Road, Islington, N., London, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in steps used for omnibuses and tram cars or
other vehicles for passengers or other persons going on the top or coming down.
I make a good wide tread surface at the top of the step formed in such a manner as
to give more safety to the passengers passing up & down the steps, the manner in.
which I form the steps enables me to fix the hand-rails in a more convenient position
for the passengers to take hold of in case the vehicle moves without giving warning
in some cases throwing the passengers off the vehicle.
My improved steps are made in such a manner that I can fix thein on any of the
modern omnibuses now in use without any alteration or addition to the roof or
platform whatever, by making them in the following manner.
I make the top step.
a suitable shape to allow a good wide tread surface, instead of carrying this top step
to the actual top of the omnibus or tram car it is fixed on the steps which are made
a peculiar shape to fit against the omnibus thus forming a single flight of steps
giving more room for passengers going up and down than the present shaped winding
steps now in use on omnibuses and train cars and also has the advantage of not:
taking any more room in fixing on the present sized platform.
One of the main objects of my invention is that by fixing the above described wide
tread surface on the top of the steps I can place the said steps in any position to
suit the height of the omnibus or tram car which will enable me to fix the hand-rail.
in a more convenient position and make the said hand-rails any height to better.
protect the passengers from being thrown off the omnibus or train car when started
in notion without warning, as the hand-rails can be brought nearer together at the.
top of the omnibus saving the leaning forward to get hold, making it much less.
dangerous than the low hand-rails at present used on omnibuses & train cars.
The above described peculiar shaped steps are applicable to omnibuses which now.
carry either fourteen or less outside passengers but with my improved steps sixteen'
outside passengers can be carried without any addition to the size of roof now in
use, and further, ou my principal the peculiar shaped steps are formed so as to enable
an omnibus to be turned in the same space as that required by the omnibuses now in
general use.
:

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steps for Omnibuses and Tram Cars or other
Vehicles.
I, JAMES HUDSON, Omnibus, Coach, and Carriage Builder, of Harmood Grove,
Camden Town, N.W., and 6, Canonbury Road, Islington, N. London, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention relates to improvements in steps used for omnibuses and tram cars,
or other vehicles for passengers or other persons going on the top or coming down.
I make a good wide tread surface at the top of the steps formed in such a manner
as to give more safety to the passengers passing up and down the steps, the manner in
which I form the steps enables me to fix the hand-rails in a more convenient
position for the passengers to take hold of in case the vehicle moves without giving
warning which in some cases throws the passengers off their balance.
My improved steps are made in such manner that I can fix them on any of the
modern omnibuses now in use without any alteration or addition to the roof or bottom
platform whatever, by making them in the following manner:-I make the top step
à suitable shape to allow a good wide tread surface, instead of carrying this top step
to the actual top of the bus or tram car it is fixed on the steps which are made a
peculiar shape to fit against the bus, thus forming a single flight of steps with a top
landing to give more room for passengers going up and down than the present
shaped winding steps now in use on omnibuses and tram cars, and also has the
advantage of not taking any more room in fixing on the present sized bottom
platform.
One of the main objects of my invention is, by fixing the above described wide
tread surface on the top of the steps, I can place the said steps in any position to
suit the height of the bus or tram car which will enable me to fix the hand-rail in
a more convenient position and make the said hand-rails any height to better protect
the passengers from being thrown off the bus or tram car when started in inotion
without warning as the hand-rails can be brought nearer together at the top of the
bus saving the leaning forward to get hold, making it much less dangerous than the
low hand-rails at present used on buses and tram cars.
The above described peculiar shaped steps are applicable to omnibuses which now
carry either fourteen or less outside passengers, but with my improved steps, sixteen
outside passengers can be carried without any addition to the size of the roof now
in use, and further on my principle, the peculiar shaped steps are formed so as to
enable an omnibus to be turned in the same space as that required by the omni-
buses now in general use.
My invention will be understood by reference to the annexed drawing which
represents in perspective the rear end of an omnibus of the present well known
type.
The invention consists, as before stated and as shown, of a projecting step or land-
ing A on the top of the curved or winding flight of back steps B of a passenger
vehicle, and slightly below the level C of the vehicle's roof, so that passengers may
stand as on a platform and turn previous to a descent, the position of the landing A
being such in combination with the off side high guard rail D that a person is
checked in his progress and is in consequence the better prepared for descending
the flight than where the curved flight commences from the roof, as at present.
This landing, step, or platform A also allows of the roofing being extended back-
wardly for two more seats to be fixed, thus enabling an ordinary 14 outside passenger

page_text: ous to carry 16 outside passengers without lengthening the wheel base, or altering
the general construction or form of the body E.
It is customary for passengers in ascending the winding flight of steps of an
omnibus or tram car to use their left hand to grip the inner guard rail F, and instead
of terminating this rail at the point G I carry it up to the top of the back guard
rail H, so that a person in ascending has full command of his balancing powers by
the grip of said guard rail H, and he can thereby steady himself while ascending
although the bus or car may be travelling, it being the practice of drivers now-a-days
not to stop the vehicle to take up or set down passengers except at fixed points
on the journey.
I am aware that a descent or resting step from the roof has been proposed before
commencing the flight, but in this case a special flight of stairs at right angles to
the vehicle was necessary, whereas by my invention I use the ordinary winding
flight of stairs and make what was the ordinary top step, a broad landing or passenger
safety platform with a good wide tread surface and which from its peculiar shape as
a fixture between the back of the vehicle and of the steps proper, gives additianal
room for passengers before actually descending and after having ascended and before
selecting a seat on the roof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In combination with a back winding staircase of an outside passenger carrying
vehicle, a wide tread step or landing A between the top of the winding steps B and
the back body E as a safety platform on which passengers can adjust the balancing
of their bodies after ascension and before descending, as set forth.
2. As an affixture between the back winding steps and rear body of a vehicle having
outside seats as aforesaid, a wide tread step A as a safety landing or upper platform
on which a passenger can temporarily rest and determine his next movements both
for selecting a seat after ascension or previously to descending the winding staircase,
as described.