IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SEATS AND DRIVING BOXES OF CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES."
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Harry Holscher Bennett, of the Patent Carriage
and Harness Works, 131, St. Clements, Ipswich, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SEATS AND DRIVING BOXES OF CARRIAGES AND
OTHER VEHICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Harry Holscher
Bennett at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 8th April 1873.
I, HARRY HOLSCHER BENNETT, of the Patent Carriage and Harness
Works, 131, St. Clements, Ipswich, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SEATS AND DRIVING BOXES OF
CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES," to be as follows :—
The first part of my Invention, which refers to the seats of carriages
or other vehicles, consists of so constructing such seats that they may
be moved into any position to balance the weight without stopping the
animal or requiring the driver to change his seat or to remove the

page_text: cushions, and this I effect without weakening the seat or causing any
inconvenience. To carry out this part of my Invention I arrange a
centre screw to work on bearings, both back and front, and either
actuated by a moveable key or fixed wheel. On this screw works a
threaded boss secured (although moveable) to the bar of the body of the
vehicle by suitable thumb nuts. On each side of the seat or seats I
arrange suitable grooved rollers or pulleys running on beads, forming
tramways on the sides of the body, which securely hold the seats,
although running exactly square. By turning the centre screw, which
works in the boss, as herein-before described, the seats slide backwards
or forwards on the rollers, but the screw cannot move of itself.
The second part of my Invention, which refers to the driving boxes of
carriages and other vehicles, consists of so constructing them as to raise
such driving boxes to any required height. I carry out this part of my
Invention by arranging a moveable handle or fixed wheel to work on a
spindle supported by two bearings with a cog wheel at the hind end
working on another small cog wheel held by a spindle which works in
a ferule through the seat board, having a crank at the bottom. To this
crank are attached connecting levers acting on cranks at the bottom of
four vertical screws (one at each corner), and solidity is obtained by
bosses working on them fixed to the box. By this means any height
for the driving box may be obtained by turning the front spindle, which
having a cog turns the centre spindle, which has a smaller cog with
crank attached at the bottom. As this crank turns, the levers turn the
four end ones exactly in the same manner, the box fixed to the bosses
which work on the screws thereby giving the height required.
Thirdly. My Invention refers to giving a tilt or slope to such driving
boxes, and consists of arranging a vertical screw to work in a boss let
into the top of the box, the top of the screw having a collar fixed to the
inside of the extra top of the box whereon to work when being turned
up or down, the top being hinged in front. The moveable handle works
on the top of the screw. By turning the screw the top lid of the box is
raised or dropped, resting on the screw by the collar which works on the
hinges.

page_text: SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Harry
Holscher Bennett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
October 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HARRY
HOLSCHER BENNETT, of the Patent Carriage and Harness Works,
131, St. Clements, Ipswich, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Harry Holscher Bennett, Her special license
that I, the said Harry Holscher Bennett, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Harry Holscher Bennett,
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 Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE SEATS AND DRIVING BOXES OF CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Harry Holscher
Bennett, my executors or administrators, by an instrument under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain 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 on or before the Fourteenth day of
October, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Harry Holscher Bennett, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :—
The first part of my Invention, which refers to the seats of carriages
or other vehicles, consists of so constructing such seats that they may
be moved into any position to balance the weight without stopping the
3 animal or requiring the driver to change his seat or to remove the
cushions, and this I effect without weakening the seat or causing any

page_text: inconvenience. To carry out this part of my Invention, which is fully
illustrated and shewn by plan, section, and elevation of Figure 1 on
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, where similar letters refer to similar
parts, I arrange a centre screw A revolving in bearings B, B, both back
and front, and either actuated by a moveable key C or fixed wheel; this i
screw works in a threaded boss or nut D secured to the bar E of the
body of the vehicle by suitable bolts and nuts F, F. On each side of
the seat or seats I arrange suitable grooved rollers or pulleys G, G,
running on beads or rails, forming tramways on the sides of the
body H, H, which securely hold the seats while allowing them to run
perfectly parallel. By turning the centre screw which works in the
boss, as herein-before described, the seats slide backwards and forwards
on the rollers, but the screw cannot turn of itself, and when not actuated
by the handle acts as a lock for the seats.
The second part of my Invention, which refers to the driving boxes
of carriages and other vehicles, consists of so constructing them as to
raise such driving boxes to any required height. To carry out this part
of my Invention, which is fully illustrated and shewn by plans and
sections of Figure II., and also by enlarged plan on the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, where similar letters refer to similar parts, I arrange :
a moveable handle A or fixed wheel to work on a spindle B which can
revolve in two bearings C, C, and carrying a cog or bevel wheel D at
the opposite end to the handle; this wheel gears into another small cog
or bevel wheel E on a vertical spindle, supported by a ferrule in the seat
board, and having a crank at the bottom end. To this crank F are "
attached connecting levers G, G, acting on cranks at the bottom of four
vertical screws H, H, (one at each corner). These screws work in
bosses or nuts K, K, fixed to the box. By this means any height for
the driving box may be obtained by turning the front spindle, which by
means of the bevel wheels turns the vertical spindle and crank attached
thereto. This crank, by means of the connecting levers, turns simul-
taneously the four smaller cranks and vertical screws which work in
the fixed nuts or bosses, and thereby give to the box the height
required.
Thirdly. My Invention refers to giving a tilt or slope to such driving
boxes. To carry out this part of my Invention, which is illustrated and
shewn by Figure III. of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, I arrange
a vertical screw A to work in a boss or nut B let into the top of the

page_text: box, the top of the screw having a collar C fixed to the inside of the
extra top of the box wherein to work; when being turned up or down
this top is hinged in front D, the moveable handle works on the top of
the screw. By turning the screw the top lid of the box is raised or
lowered as required, resting on the screw by the collar, and works on
the hinges.
If required, the hind seat of any open carriage, more especially that
of two wheel vehicles, may be secured to the front seat, as as to slide at
one and the same time.
Having now particularly described and illustrated the nature of my
said Invention and how the same is to be carried into practical effect, I
would have it understood that what I claim and desire to secure by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly. The arrangement, as herein-before described and illustrated
by Figure I., for moving backwards or forwards carriage seats, and
securely fixing them in the required position.
Secondly. The arrangement, as herein-before described and illustrated
by Figure II., for raising or lowering box seats of vehicles, and securely
holding them in the required position.
And thirdly. The arrangement, as herein-before described and illus.
trated by Figure III., for tilting or giving a slope to the seat, as may be
required.
In witness whereof, I, the said Harry Holscher Bennett, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of October, in
the year our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
HARRY HOLSCHER BENNETT. (L.S.)