Improvements in Berths for Use in Railway Carriages, Ships, or other Places.
Year: 1887

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Berths for Use in Railway Carriages, Ships, or
other Places.
I, HENRY JACKSON, of 19, Fawcett Street, Sunderland, in the County of Durham,
Accountant and Auditor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved construction of berths of a cheap and compact
character intended to be used as sleeping berths, and which may be closed up when
not in use. They are especially adapted to be used in railway carriages, but may be
used on board ships, or in any place or building where an occasional sleeping berth,
or occasional sleeping berths may be desired.
:
I will describe a berth made in accordance with this invention for use in a railway
carriage it is constructed as follows:-A roller of iron, steel, brass, or other suitable
material-which may
he solid or hollow-is suitably secured in brackets, carriers, or
centres, to that portion of the railway carriage, a part of which ordinarily acts as a
rest for the backs of passengers. To this roller is connected canvas, ticking, or other
suitable material upon which the sleeper can recline. The roller is provided with a
coil spring or springs attached at one or both ends as may be found necessary, the
arrangement being such that the canvas or ticking may be rolled up on the roller by
the spring or springs or extended as may be required.
A front frame or bar (which is, by preference, of wood, and may be ornamented as
desired) is provided, extending the full length of the berth. This bar is grooved on
the inside so as to cover the roller and brackets or carriers when the berth is closed.
To the inner side of this front frame or bar the canvas or other material is also attached.
The ends of this front bar are grooved or slotted to admit of its sliding over two
parallel bars or casings which may be of iron, steel, or other suitable material and of
any suitable sectional form, but preferably they are square or oval, with a groove or
tongue formed in or on them so as to admit of small wheels (which may be connected
to the ends of the front bar) running in the said grooves or on the tongues when the
berth is being opened or shut; these end bars support and carry the front frame
or bar.

page_text: .
The front frame or bar, when drawn out for use, slides along the above
imentioned end bars or casings, and is (when fully drawn out), held firmly in position
by end brackets or cups suitably shaped and flanged to receive it, as will be readily
understood.
The construction of berths made in accordance with this invention will be clearly
understood by reference to the annexed sheet of illustrative.drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a section of a compartment of a railway carriage fitted with four berths,
two of them being shown open, and two closed.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same.
Fig: 3 is a plan of the same partly in section.
Fig. 4 is a section of the same at right angles to Fig. 1.
Figs. 5 & 6 are detail drawings to be hereinafter referred to.
The same letters of reference are used to denote like parts where ever they
occur.
A is a roller arranged in close proximity to the back of the railway carriage; B is
ticking or canvas; the front frame or bar; and D, D, end bars. One edge or side
of the ticking or canvas, or other suitable material, large enough to form a berth, is
securely fastened in any suitable manner to the roller A, so that it may be rolled up
upon it by the spring or springs.
Fig. 6 illustrates a convenient form of bracket and spring for supporting and
actuating a roller. The other side or edge of the ticking or canvas is fastened to the
inner side of the front bar C. Small rollers (c¹, c¹, Fig. 5) are attached to the ends of
the front bar C, and so arranged as to roll in grooved or on tongued ways d¹ formed
for them in or on the upper sides of the end bars D, D. When the front bar is drawn
out, so as to open the berth for use, it is held by being caused to engage with the ends
of the side bars and flange ou end cups as shown in Fig. 5.
According to a modified construction, the roller A and coil spring can, if preferred,
be attached to the front bar, and the canvas be attached to the back of the
carriage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner it is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
My improved berths for use in railway carriages, ships, and other places, substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the drawings hereto
annexed.
1000