Improvements in or connected with Seats Exposed to the Weather, including those on the Tops of Omnibuses, Tramcars, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 25th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1900
Improvements in or connected with Seats Exposed to the Weather,
including those on the Tops of Omnibuses, Tramcars, and the like.
We, ALLEN EDGAR HIRST, of 6, Houghton Street, Beeston Road, Leeds, in the
County of York and ALBIN LAWN, of 9, Leyburn Terrace, Elland Road, Leeds,
aforesaid, both Mechanics, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
It has reference to a system of arranging and using water-proof sheets, or
cloths, and the like, in connection with outdoor seats such as may get wet or soiled.
The object of the invention is to arrange a system, whereby a would-be occupant
of a wet or soiled seat may draw out a dry sheet of suitable material and sit
thereon, the said sheet being arranged to automatically recoil or draw itself away
under cover immediately the occupier rises, and so keep itself dry for the next
comer.
We accomplish our object as follows:-At the side of the seat we arrange a
cylinder in which a water-proof sheet or cloth is coiled, a spring being arranged
therein for coiling purposes. The cylinder or other cover is so arranged that the
longitudinal slit therein, through which the sheet is withdrawn, is suitably
screened so that no rain or wet may lodge in the interior.
The modus operandi is as follows:-A would-be occupier of a seat, finding it
wet, draws the water-proof sheet out of its case or cylinder, and finding no button
for securing it when opened-out (which button has been purposely omitted) he
holds it down in its outstretched position by sitting on it. It follows therefore
that when he leaves his seat, without any further action on his part, the spring
automatically recoils and draws the sheet once more under cover.
On one or both of the lips of the slit suitable wipers may be arranged to assist
in Keeping the sheet in good order.
A modification may be arranged when it is desirable to avoid coiling the sheet
around or in contact with itself, as occurs in a cylinder of a small diameter. We
then arrange a roller of a suitable diameter for this purpose under cover and under
the seat as far from the manipulated edge of the cloth as may be convenient,
a coiling spring being used as before described.
In arranging seats sufficiently long for two or more occupants we fit our
appliance to each allotted space, so that everyone is independant of his neighbour.
Dated this Eleventh day of March 1899.
WM.
SNOWDON,
Agent for the Applicants, 24, Basinghall Street, Leeds, Yorkshire.
Improvements in or connected with Seats Exposed to the Weather,
including those on the Tops of Omnibuses, Tramcars, and the like.
We, ALLEN EDGAR HIRST, late of 6, Houghton Street, Beeston Road, now of
14, Houghton Groove, Beeston Road, Leeds, in the County of York, and ALBIN
Price S1

page_text: LAWN, of 9, Leyburn Terrace, Elland Road, Leeds aforesaid, both Mechanics,
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:
-
It has reference to a system of arranging and using waterproof sheets, or cloths,
and the like, in connection with outdoor seats, such as may get wet or soiled.
The object of this invention is to arrange a system, whereby a would be occupant
of a wet or soiled seat, may draw out a dry sheet, of suitable material, and sit
thereon; the said sheet being arranged to automatically draw itself under cover
immediately the occupier rises, and so keep itself dry for the next comer.
Our object is accomplished as follows:-Underneath the seat we fix a box, made
of wood, or light metal such as sheet iron or zinc, in which a waterproof cloth is
drawn. The drawing power being a spring roller; which is fixed as far from the
manipulating edge as possible, therefore the cloth when not in use is in a horizontal
.position.
The sheet or cover before mentioned is made of carriage-cloth or some such
material, and hair-cloth, between which is put waterproof cloth and strips of cane
or whalebone.
The reason for the above is that waterproof cloth used alone sucks on a wet
surface.
On the accompanying drawings Fig. I shows the front sectional elevation, Fig. 2
sectional end elevation, and Fig. 3 plan.
1
The box is so arranged that water cannot lodge in the opening. A wood
roller a is fixed on the first lath of the seat to avoid friction.
1
The modus operandi is as follows:-A would-be occupier of a seat, finding it
wet, draws the sheet c out of its box d, and finding no button for securing it when
opened out (which button has been purposely omitted) he holds it down in its
outstretched position by sitting on it. It follows therefore that when he leaves
his seat, without any further action on his part, the spring roller E draws the
sheet c once more under cover.
The above arrangement can also be fixed to the back of the seat in precisely the
same manner.
This appliance will do for seats; either with stationary or reversible backs.
In arranging seats long enough for two or more passangers, we fit our appliance
to each allotted space ff, so that everyone is independent of his neighbour.
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:-
For use in connection with seats exposed to the weather, including those on the
tops of omnibuses, tramcars, and the like, the roller a, the sheet e, and having
spring roller E to draw the sheet e into the box d, and the whole working together
as shown on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 24th dor of Novomban 1800
ALLEN EDGAR HIRST.
ALBIN LAWN.