Improvements in Vehicle Seats.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
[Communicated from abroad by JOSEPH FRANKLIN GOODRICH, of No. 560, Chapel
Street, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America.]
Improvements in Vehicle Seats.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex 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:-
Reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this speci-
fication, and in which,
Figure 1 is a view in vertical longitudinal section of my improved carriage, with
the jump-seat arranged to take the place of the back-seat of an ordinary two-seated
carriage.
Figure 2, is a similar view with the jump-seat jumped forward to form a one-
seated carriage.
Figure 3 is a similar view with the jump-seat jumped forward and its hinged
back turned down to form the back seat of a "dos-a-dos," as carriages in which two
seats are located back to back are called.
My invention relates to an improvement in seats for jump-seat carriages, the
object being to provide for the conversion of a two-seated jump-seat carriage into
a dos-a-dos, in which the occupants of the vehicle are seated back to back.
With these ends in view my invention consists in a jump-seat having a movable
back in combination with means for supporting such a back in a horizontal position,
and in certain details of construction, as will be hereinafter more fully described and
pointed out in the claims.
As herein shown, my improved jump-seat A has an upholstered hinged back B,
provided at each end with a hook C, for engagement by pivotal braces D, secured
to the guards E E, located at the ends of the seat. Two light skeleton iron frames F,
respectively located at the opposite ends of the seat, are pivoted to the rear edge
thereof and to the body G of the carriage, which in this case is a buck-board, at a
point in about the same vertical line as the forward edge of the seat. These frames
are shaped to form horizontal bearings H for the seat to rest upon when in its
ordinary position, and are each provided with an arm 1, having the two-fold function
of supporting the seat when the same is in such position and of supporting its back
when the seat is jumped forward and its back turned down to transform the carriage
into a dos-a-dos. Two long lovers J J pivoted to the seat and to the carriage body,
assist in binding the seat to the body and relieve the strain upon the frames
aforesaid. A handle K pivoted below the forward edge of the seat, is provided for
convenience in jumping it forward and back.
The front seat L, of the carriage is, as herein shown, supported upon a rigid
frame M, and inclosed at its ends by casings N. Its cushion O is made in two like
parts, united by a strap P, whereby it is adapted to be readily folded and placed
under the seat when the carriage is converted into a one-seated carriage, or into a
dos-a-dos. The front seat is also provided with a lazy-back, Q, pivoted at its ends,
and so adapted to be swung over in front of the seat and out of the way when the
jump-seat is jumped over upon the front seat of the vehicle.
Having described one form of my invention in detail, I will now explain how
it is used.
To convert the vehicle from an ordinary two-seated vehicle into a one-seated
carriage, the cushion of the front seat is removed, folded up and placed under such
seat, and the lazy-back folded over out of the way. The handle pivotel to the back
seat is then grasped, and such seat pulled or jumped forward upon the front seat,

page_text: which then supports it, the pivotal frames and the staying levers being turned over,
but having then no function except that of holding the seat from displacement upon
the supporting front seat.
This form of the carriage is shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings. To convert the
carriage into a dos-a-dos, the adjustments above described are made, and the braces
of the hinged back of the jump-scat are uncoupled and such back turned down to
rest upon the now uplifted arms of the pivotal frames. This forms the dos-a-dos, as
shown by Fig. 3 of the drawings. By means of these conversions of the seats, three
different vehicles are virtually combined in one: Moreover, the conversions are very
easily made, the jump-seat being light and easily shifted forward and back.
My improved hinged back jump-seat is not limited of course to use with buck-
board-carriages, but may be applied to carriages constructed on quite different
principles as to their bodies. The means for supporting the hinged back of the
jump-seat in its upright and in its horizontal positions, may also be modified. If
desired, the pivotal frames may be made of wood. If desired, also, provision may
be made for supporting the back of the jump-seat in a horizontal position in the
ordinary or normal position of the jump-seat, thus forming a three-seated carriage.
I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact con-
struction shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and
alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and
scope of
my invention.
What I claim is :-
.
First. A jump-seat for vehicles, having an independently-movable back and means
for supporting such back in a horizontal position independent of the adjustments of
other parts of the vehicle, substantially as set forth.
Second. A jump-seat for vehicles, having an independently movable back and
means for supporting such back in a horizontal position and disconnected from it to
permit it to be used as a seat or as a back independent of the adjustments of the other
parts of the vehicle, substantially as described.
Third. The combination, in a vehicle, with a seat, of a jump-seat adapted to be
used by itself and to be jumped over and upon the other seat and having a movable
or hinged back, and means for supporting such back in a horizontal position to form
a seat, substantially as set forth..
Fourth. A jump-seat for vehicles, having a hinged back and a frame pivoted to the
seat and to the vehicle body and supporting the seat in its ordinary position and the
seat back when the seat is jumped forward and the back turned down to form a seat,
substantially as set forth.
Fifth. A jump-seat for vehicles, having a hinged back and pivotal frames pivoted
to the seat and to the vehicle body, and having seat-bearings upon which the seat
rests when in it's normal' position, and arms which support the seat in such position
and the seat-back when the seat is jumped forward and the lack turned down to
form a seat, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. A jump-seat for vehicles, having a hinged back and two light skeleton metal
frames pivoted to such seat and' to the vehicle body and' adapted to support the seat
when in its ordinary position and its back when the same is turned down to form a
seat, substantially as set forth.
11-
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.