Improvements in Reversible Car Seats.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 19th Nov., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reversible Car Seats.
I, WILLIAM MILAN NORCROSS, of 651, North Broad Street, in the City and
County of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:
My invention has relation to reversible car seats of that general class wherein
provision is had for the shifting of the back section from side to side of the seat
section, and for the simultaneous tipping or inclining of the latter.
The object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable and effective con-
struction wherein the back shall be rigidly and firmly supported at an appro-
priate angle or incline in respect to the seat, and in its adjustment or movement
from side to side of the seat, shall swing positively and uniformly in a path
above and clear of the arched seat cushion, and this without the use of long
depending radius or striker arms.
To this end the invention, as generally stated, consists in the combination
with the frame and the back, of a swinging arm or lever at each end of the frame
pivotally connected to a depending arm on the adjacent end of the back, the
lower end of said arm being provided with cam-engaging portions constructed
and arranged to co-act with appropriate cam-ways on the end of the frame.
The invention also comprises novel features of construction and organization
of parts which will be hereinafter described and claimed.
In the drawings-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of one end of my improved car seat.
Figure 2 is a vertical section thereof, as on the line
of Fig. 1, the seat
cushion being indicated in dotted lines, and the operation of the back section
being likewise indicated.
Figure 3 is a transverse section, as on the line y-y of Fig. 2.
Figure 4 is a detail of the depending back-arm.
Numeral 1 designates an end frame for the support of the outer end of the
seat, the inner end thereof being usually supported on the side wall of the car.
This frame may be of any appropriate construction and configuration, and, if
desired, one may be arranged at each end of the seat. On the end frame and
on the opposite supporting part (whether it be a wall or frame) are formed or
secured transverse members 2 on which are mounted the usual rockers 3 that
sustain the seat section 4, such rockers comprising slides with oppositely-bevelled
or inclined portions that bear upon the fixed casings or supports 6 on the
frame, whereby when the rockers are slid to and fro they, together with the
seat section, are correspondingly tilted or inclined. The rockers are actuated
by and during the adjustment of the back section 7, as below explained. This
section is provided at each end with a depending arm 8 which lies adjacent to
the inner side of the frame member, and is provided with two studs or projec-
tions 9, 10, located at points preferably, though not essentially, equidistant
from a central line drawn through the end of the back and the arm.
The arm

page_text: is pivotally connected at the central portion thereof, at a fixed point below the
back section (as at 11) to the upper end of a lever 12 that is fulcrumed centrally
of the frame member (as at 13) so that as the lever is swung on its pivot the back
will be bodily lifted and carried from side to side of the seat.
Formed on the inner side of the frame member are two reverse cam ways 14, 15,
with which the studs on the arm are adapted alternately to co-act as the back
is swung from side to side, and thereby positively guide and steady the back
in its adjustment, the lower edge of the back being elevated by the lever suffi-
ciently to clear the arched cushion of the seat. The cam ways are open at their
upper ends and closed at their lower ends, as shown.
When the back is in the position represented by the full lines in Fig. 2, the
left-hand stud 9 is engaged with the lower or closed end of the cam-way 14,
while the other stud 10 lies below the latter, the position of the cam engaged
stud in respect to the pivotal connection of the arm with the lever being vertical
or nearly so, so as to support the back rigidly and firmly at the proper degree
of inclination.
In the operation of shifting the back to the opposite side of the seat, the stud 9
travels upwardly in the cam way and gradually brings the back to a vertical
position as it approaches the centre of the seat. The distance between the studs
is such that the forward or leading stud 10 passes into the opposite cam way as
the back reaches the central position, and hence the arm spans the opening or
space between the cam ways. As the movement of the back is continued the
leading stud is guided in the right-hand can way 15 in a manner to gradually
tilt the back as it approaches the other side of the seat, the rearward stud, as
the arm is inclined, being disengaged from the cam-way 14 and directed below
the reverse cam way. When the back reaches the limit of its adjustment the
right hand stud bears against the lower end of the cam way 15 and thus in con-
junction with the lever maintains the back firmly in place.
On the outer side of the arm are formed oppositely-inclined shoulders 16,
which abut against the opposing inclined edges of the frame member, and
thereby aid in effectually supporting the back in its positions of adjustment.
It will be seen that as the back is swung from side to side of the seat the cam
engaging studs are deflected in intersecting paths intermediate the cam_ways.
If desired, the studs may be fixed projections with or without rollers. In the
present instance rollers are provided.
The lower arm of the lever is provided with a stud 17 which engages a vertical
slot or socket 18 in the adjacent rocker, so that as the lever is swung back and
forth the rocker will be reciprocated to effect the requisite adjustment and
inclination of the seat.
I preferably construct the lower arm of the lever in two parts, between which
is clamped a rod or bar 19 that couples the levers on the respective sides of the
frame and insures their concerted operation. The lower part 12ª is preferably
a cap detachably held in place by screws or the like, whereby the parts may be
readily disconnected as occasion may require. It is to this part that the connee-
tion with the rocker is made.
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. In a car seat, the combination, with the frame and the back, of a depend-
ing arm on said back, a lever pivoted to said frame and having a fixed pivotal
connection with said arm, and a cam connection between said frame and arm,
whereby as the back is swung upon the lever from side to side of the seat, said
back is guided and adjusted in respect to the seat by said pivotal and cam
connections.
2. In a car seat, the combination with the frame provided with lateral cam
ways, of a seat back, an arm thereon provided with two cam-engaging portions

page_text: adapted to co-act alternately with said ways and travel in intersecting paths
intermediate the latter, and a lever pivoted to said frame and having a fixed
pivotal connection with said arm.
3. In a car seat, the combination with the frame provided with lateral cam-
ways, of a seat back, a depending arm thereon provided with two studs adapted
to co-act alternately with said ways, and a lever fulcrumed centrally to said
frame and pivotally connected at its upper end to said arm at a fixed point below
the back section and above the studs.
4. In a car seat, the combination with the frame provided with two reverse
cam-ways open at their upper ends and closed at their lower ends, of a seat back,
a depending arm thereon provided with studs adapted to co-act with said cam
ways, and a lever pivoted to said frame and having a fixed pivotal connection
with said arm.
5. In a car seat, the combination with the frame provided with two reverse
cam ways open at their upper ends and closed at their lower ends, of a seat back,
a depending arm thereon provided with studs adapted to co-act with said cam
ways and provided also with shoulders adapted to abut against the frame, and a
lever pivoted to said frame and having a fixed pivotal connection with said arm.
6. In a car seat, the combination with the frame, the back, the rocker, and its
co-operating parts, of a depending arm on said back, a lever pivoted to said frame
and having a fixed pivotal connection with said arm, a cam connection between
said frame and arm, whereby as the back is swung upon the lever from side to
side of the seat said back is guided and adjusted in respect to the seat, and a
connection between said lever and the rocker.
7. In a car seat, the combination, with the frame, the back, the rocker, and
its co-operating parts, of a depending arm on said back, a lever pivoted to said
frame and having a fixed pivotal connection with said arm, a cam connection
between said frame and armi, whereby as the back is swung upon the lever from
side to side of the seat, said back is guided and adjusted in respect to the seat,
a connecting bar on the lower end of said lever, a detachable cap or section to
hold said bar in place, and a connection between said cap or section and the
rocker.
8. In a car seat, the combination with the frame provided with two reverse
cam ways open at their upper ends and closed at their lower ends, of a seat back,
a depending arm thereon provided with studs adapted to co-act with said cam
ways, a lever pivoted to said frame and having a fixed pivotal connection with
said arm, the rocker, its supports, the seat on said rocker, and a connection
between said lever and rocker.
T
101 1
1000
WILLIAM MILAN NORCROSS.
Wm. P. Thompson & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.