IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jacob Snider, junior, of Pennsylvania, United States
of America, now residing at 51, Dorset Street, London, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
Sealed the 13th April 1863, and dated the 14th October 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jacob Snider at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th October
1862.
I, JACOB SNIDER, junior, of Pennsylvania, United States of America, now
residing at 51, Dorset Street, London, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF HANSOM CABS' AND OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the application to the forward part of the top or
front of the vehicle a folding or moveable cape or curtain sustained by a
frame, and which can be projected and retracted at pleasure, and which is
destined to serve as a protection from the weather in lieu of the present inside
folding glass or framed shutters, or flaps, called "the glass," and also is destined
to serve as a sun shade. To effect this, I cause a folding frame to be made
similar to the frame of a moveable or folding gig or barouche top, of which
the outer rib or piece is of metal, and the inner ones of light metal, wood,
rattan, or other material. The outer rib or piece of this frame is hinged on
to each side of the vehicle outside, and is large enough to extend up over the

page_text: sides and top; to this the lighter inner ribs are attached. Over this frame,
in its most extended form, is affixed a covering of leather or other material
which will readily fold as the frame is drawn together, the outer or front edge
of this covering being firmly attached to the outer rib or piece of the frame
over its whole extent, and the rear or back edge of this covering is firmly
attached to the sides and top of the vehicle on its outside part. This frame,
constituting the cape or curtain, is to be drawn up in place against the front
of the vehicle by a string at the command of the driver, and held there by
making fast said string, or by a thin rod with a ratchet or books, or otherwise,
so that in extending said cape or curtain at will it may be extended full down
in front of the vehicle to its whole capacity, or only partially so, at will.
When said appliance which is destined to hold it in place is released, the
frame, curtain, or cape, as it may be denominated, will be extended by its
own weight, and then held steadily in place by means of a hinged elbow on
each side under command of the occupant inside the vehicle.
This Invention will not only operate as a perfect sun shade and protection
from rain or snow, but will not exclude the air entirely, whilst it will obviate
-the unpleasant noise from the jar and rattling of "the glass" at present in
use, and at the same time it may be applied to all present vehicles without
removing the inside glass.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jacob Snider in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th April 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JACOB
SNIDER, junior, of Pennsylvania, United States of America, now residing at
51, Dorset Street, London, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Jacob Snider, junior, Her special licence, that I, the said Jacob Snider,
junior, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Jacob Snider, junior, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great

page_text: Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HANSOM CABS' AND OTHER SIMILAR
VEHICLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jacob Snider,
junior, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jacob Snider, junior, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to
Bay :-
.
My Invention consists in the application to the forward part of the top or
front of the vehicle a folding or movable cape or curtain sustained by a
frame, and which can be projected and retracted at pleasure, and which is
primarily destined to serve as a protection from the weather in lieu of the
present inside folding glass or framed shutters as flaps, called "the glass," but
also as a sun shade. I make a folding frame similar to the frame of a movable
or folding gig or barouche top, of which the outer rib or piece is of metal,
and the inner ribs of light metal, wood, rattan, or other material. The outer
rib or piece of this frame is hinged on to each side of the vehicle, and to this
the lighter inner ribs are attached. Over this frame, in its most extended
form, is affixed a covering of leather or other material which will readily fold
as the frame is drawn together, the outer or front edge of the covering being
firmly attached to the outer rib or piece of the frame over its whole extent,
and the rear or back edge of the covering is firmly attached to the sides and
top of the vehicle. This frame, constituting the cape or curtain, is drawn up
in place against the front of the vehicle by a string or cord or thin rod at the
command of the driver.
.
The Invention will not only operate as a sun shade and protection from
rain, snow, &c., but will not exclude the air entirely, while it will obviate the
unpleasant noise from the jar and rattling of the "glass" at present in use,
and at the same time it may be applied to all present vehicles without_
removing the inside glass.
;
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a side elevation, and Figure 2
a plan, of a vehicle or carriage known as a "Hansom cab" with a movable
cape or curtain applied thereto according to my Invention.

page_text: a, a, are the ribs of metal forming the frame of the cape or curtain; they
are fitted on each side of the vehicle, and are free to move on the axes b, b;
c is the cape or curtain covering, and supported by the ribs a, a; d is a
quadrant or guide on each side, of, the vehicle connected at one end to the
lower rib of the frame and at the other free to move in the quadrant frame e;
ff, are guides, one only of which is seen, for sustaining the quadrants during
their motion; g is a thin metal bar connected at one end to the front of the
curtain, and extending over the roof of the cab to within reach of the driver
on the seat h; this rod is provided with loops for taking over pins i, i, in
order to maintain the curtain in any desired position, as will be presently
described.
In the Drawing the curtain is shown down to its full extent, and to raise it
wholly or partially the driver raises the rod g from one of the pins over
which its loop passes, draws the rod back or towards him according to the
distance he wishes to raise the curtain, and again places the loop over one of
pins. As the rod moves, the curtain c folds up, the ribs a, a, come closer
To lower or
together, and the quadrant d travels through its frame e.
extend the curtain the driver removes the loop from the pin in which it is
engaged, pushes the bar forward, and with it the curtain. I prefer to limit
the extent of the fall of the curtain in such manner that it shall not, extend
wholly down to the dashboard k, and by that means afford sufficient space
between the dashboard and the curtain for the occupants of the vehicle to
see the route they are travelling, but at the same time sufficiently low to
exclude rain or mud; sometimes I fit an additional flap, as shown at l.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a "Hansom cab" fitted with a curtain
similar in construction to that before described, but in which the curtain is
drawn up inside the vehicle by means of a cord under control of the driver
instead of by a rod.
Figure 4 is a section of so much of the cab as will be necessary to show
the method of action. The same letters of reference refer to like parts in
these as in the previous Figures. 9 is the cord for raising the curtain; it is
connected to the lower rib a, is guided inside the vehicle, and passes out
through the roof to within reach of the driver. The dotted. lines in Figure 4
and the full lines in Figure.3 show the curtain down to its full extent, and to
raise it partially, or, as shown by the full lines in Figure 4, the driver pulls
the cord g the required distance. To lower or extend the curtain, it in this
case is pulled down from the front to the extent required; or I fit to the inside
thereof handles of leather or other suitable flexible material, or of metal, as
shown in Figure 5, whereby the occupant or occupants can at will draw down
9.

page_text: the curtain, as desired, and have it wholly under his or their control, while at
the same time it may be drawn up by the driver outside through the cord
before described.
I have described my Invention as applied to "Hansom cabs," yet at the
same time it is applicable to all description of vehicles where curtains and
hoods are required; as, for example, it will be found useful for omnibuses to
afford protection from the sun and rain to the conductors thereof.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim the employment
of a folding frame and curtain in "Hansom cabs" and other vehicles con-
structed and acting substantially in manner and for the purposes herein-before
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jacob Snider, junior, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
EDWP. G. BREWER,
Firm of Willcock & Brewer,
89, Chancery Lane,
London, W.C.
JACOB SNIDER, JUN³.
(LS.)