Apparatus for Enabling Passengers in Hansom Cabs to Direct the Drivers from the Inside.
Year: 1893

page_text: GUMI LEIN DIFCIFICATION
An Apparatus for Enabling Passengers in Hansom Cabs to Direct
the Drivers from the Inside.
THOMAS POUNDS, 50, Langton Road, North Brixton, S.W., Compositor 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 apparatus, to be fixed on the roof of a Hansom cab immediately behind the
reins rest, consists of a flat piece of wood, about 12 inches long & 2 inches wide
(hereafter referred to as the "bottom"), with a strip of thin metal of same width
(2 inches) arched in a line with it, & over it, in a semi-circle, & fixed to it at bothe
ends (hereafter referred to as the "guard ") (g, Fig. 1). Thus is formed a kind of
semi-circular-topped, flat-bottomed frame, measuring 12 inches at bottom & 6 inches
in height in centre. To one side of the bottom is also fixed a strong semi-circular
wooden flat back (hereafter referred to as the "back") 8 inches long & conse-
quently 4 inches high in centre, thus leaving a space of 2 inches between it & the
guard. At the bottom of the back, in the centre from the sides is fixed an inch
cube, in the centre of which is attached an indicator (or hand) (a, Fig. 1), extending
perpendicularly above the back to near the guard, which protects it. This indicator
is attached on a pivot, so that it can be moved in either direction in a line with the
guard. About half-way up the indicator on each side a hammer-head projects
(b, Fig. 1), & on the back of apparatus 2 dome-shaped bells (crown of dome to
back) (c, Fig. 1) are so fixed that one of them is struck by one of the hammer-heads
when the indicator is moved in either direction. At the bottom, & extending for
a sufficient distance up the sides of the indicator to be effectual, are fixed 2 upright
springs (f, Fig. 1), to restore the indicator to its normal or perpendicular position
after it has been pulled. The indicator is worked by cords (d, Fig. 1) fixed to
eyeholes on the indicator about mid-way between its base & the hammer-heads.
These cords run downwards in a slanting direction under wheels (e, Fig. 1) to right
& left, through holes in bases of metal guard, along top of cab to the sides, thence
over wheels through to the inside, where they hang down by sides of front windows
in same manner as ordinary bell-pulls (d, Fig. 2) (A section of cab, B apparatus
attached). The apparatus is boxed in to the extent of the back, leaving a slot for
indicator, the only portion of which seen being in the 2-inch space between the back
& the guard (a, Fig. 2). By means of a glass-backed lamp raised partly above
the cab roof level the indicator could be seen at night. The dimensions given in
the foregoing are not necessarily to be absolutely followed, being given as a
demonstration of approximate proportions. By means of this apparatus & the
adoption of a simple code-say, for example, for the driver to turn to the right,
1 pull of the indicator to the right; to pull up on the right, 2 pulls; to turn to the
left, I pull of the indicator to the left; to pull up on the left, 2 pulls-a passenger
could direct the driver to any destination without trouble, thus rendering unnecessary
the old & inconvenient method of giving instructions through the trap in roof.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
--
1. For the foregoing-described original apparatus.
2. For the application of the apparatus (or any colourable imitation thereof) to
Hansom cabs.