Improvements connected with the Covers or Aprons for Outside Passengers on Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1899-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with the Covers or Aprons for Outside
Passengers on Vehicles.
I, CHARLES BRAWN, of Loretto, 51, The Chase, Clapham Common, in the
County of Surrey, Gentleman, 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; -
-
The present invention relates to improvements on the arrangement described
in my prior Application for Letters Patent No. 8308 dated 20th April 1899 in
connection with the covers or aprons for protecting the outside passengers on
vehicles such as tramcars from the inclemency of the weather, the object being
more especially to apply such covers or aprons to vehicles with seats having
reversible backs and in such a position that they will serve to protect persons
on one seat when the vehicle is travelling in one direction, and those occupy-
ing the next seat when such vehicle is travelling in the opposite direction, while
at the same time the frames on which such covers or aprons are mounted shall
take up as little a space as possible. The present invention is however appli-
cable to vehicles such as ominibuses which are not provided with seats having
reversible backs.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of two seats showing my invention applied in con-
nection therewith, and
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of same.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the frame showing the method of
mounting same, and
Fig. 4 is a sectional side view of same.
I will describe my invention as applied to a tramcar having seats with rever-
sible backs, but it will be readily understood that it may be applied to omnibuses
and similar vehicles.
'
The outside seats on tramcars are now usually made with reversible backs
which are pivotted to the seats so that same can be adjusted to permit the
passengers to sit facing the direction in which the tramcar is going, and covers
or aprons are also usually provided to be used by the occupants of these seats
to protect them from the inclemency of the weather.
In carrying out my present invention I attach the cover or apron A in any
suitable manner to a frame pivotted to the side of the tramcear and in a central
position between two seats B and C, as shown. Such frame consists of an arm 1)
pivotted to the side of the tramcar at a suitable height in relation to the seats,
and provided at its upper end with an extension or rod E, preferably tubular
and of circular or other suitable section, to which the cover or apron A is secured
at or near its centre, so that when in use one part will serve to cover the pass-
enger's knees and the other part will hang down in front of him and so form a
further protection for the legs. The part D of the frame may be cast or other-
wise produced in a single piece, or as shown it may be formed of a piece of
tubing with an elbow F at one end into which the tubular extension or rod E

page_text: carrying the cover or apron A may be brazed or otherwise secured, and a second
elbow piece G at its other end forming a pivot which turns in the plate I which
is secured to the side of the tramcar. Instead of tubing it will be readily
understood that the part I of the frame may be formed of T or other suitable
section.
In some cases it may be found desirable to extend the part D of the frame
down to the floor of the roof of the vehicle, as shown in broken lines at D¹ in
Fig. 2, such part being then pivotted to the floor (as at d¹) instead of to the side of
the vehicle.
The cover or apron A being required for use by persons sitting either on
scat B or on seat C (according to the direction in which the vehicle is travelling).
I provide means by which the frame is prevented from turning too far on its
pivot in either direction, so that it will not get out of reach of the person
requiring to use same: Such means may as shown consist of a flange on the
elbow piece G of the frame and having a cut-away or recessed portion which
a stop H on plate I enters, so that in whichever direction the frame is turned
the motion of same will be arrested as soon as either end of such cut-away por-
tion comes in contact with the stop H. It will therefore be seen that the cover
or apron will always be within convenient reach of the person requiring to
use same, while at the same time it and the frame on which it is mounted can
be turned out of the way of the passengers, so that when not required for use
a free passage to and from the seats is afforded.
The full lines in Fig. 1 show the reversible backs b and c of the seats B and C
and the cover or apron A in the position to suit passengers sitting on seat C
facing in the direction of seat B, but should the tramcar be moving in the oppo-
site direction and the backs b and c of the seats be reversed as shown in broken
lines, it will be seen that by simply turning the frame on its pivot G the cover
or apron A will be brought into position for use by passengers on scat B facing
the seat C.
It will be readily understood that in applying my invention to omnibuses and
similar vehicles which are not provided with seats with reversible backs, the
employment of the frame pivotted as above described presents the advantages
that while the cover or apron is always within reach for use when required, by
turning the frame on its pivot it is brought against the back of the seat in
front, and so out of the way of the passengers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
The improvements connected with covers or aprons for the use of outside pas-
sengers on vehicles consisting in mounting such covers or aprons on frames
pivotally secured centrally between the adjacent scats, either to the side of the
vehicle or to the floor of the roof thereof, substantially as specified and as illu-
strated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of August 1899