Improvements in the Front Lights of Hansom Cabs.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left 12th July 1889-Accented 17th Aug. 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Front Lights of Hansom Cabs.,
We, FREDERICK FORDER, CHARLES FORDER, and ALFRED FORDER, trading,
together in co-partnership as Forder Brothers and Company, of Charles Street,
Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, Hansom Cab and Carriage Builders, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention refers to the front lights of Hansom Cabs which are constructed so
that the lower frame of the light is drawn up, in being opened, into grooves carried
by the upper frame, previously to the frames being together turned inwards on
hinges connecting the upper frame with the head-piece which is fixed to the head of
the cab; and has for its main object to give a clear unobstructed area of glass between
the top bar of the upper frame and the bottom bar of the lower frame, when the
frames are in position closing in the front of the cab; and has the further object of
providing efficient ventilation through the front light in a manner which will securely
shut out the rain.
According to this invention, the meeting rails of the frames, that is the bottom rail
of the upper frame and the top rail of the lower frame, are dispensed with, and the
glass is continued sufficiently downwards in the upper and outer frame, and sufficiently
upwards in the lower and inner frame, to ensure that the upper glass will overlap the
lower glass sufficiently to prevent the rain being blown through between the edges of
the glasses into the interior of the cab. A space is left between the overlapping parts
of the glasses which allows of a current of air constantly passing upwards towards
the roof immediately behind the upper glass and thus, while causing a thorough venti-
lation, avoiding a draught against the occupants of the cab.
In carrying out this invention a strong framing must be used for each division
of the light, as one of the usual longitudinal bars is in each case omitted;
and it is preferred to construct each frame in the manner described in a provisional
specification filed by the said Frederick Forder and Charles Forder on the 20th
April 1888 with an application numbered 5873 for a patent for an invention entitled
Improvements in carriage windows." Each glass is securely prevented from
slipping edgeways out of its frame when in position with its free edge downwards, by.
forming short returns, or inward projections, on the unconnected ends of the side
bars of the frames. The corners between the top and side bars of the upper frame,
and between the bottom and side bars of the lower frame, may be strengthened by
corner pieces or diagonal bars, if desired.
By the employment of this invention the usual obstruction to the view occasioned
by the meeting rails or middle bars, when the cab front is closed, is entirely avoided,
and an improved ventilation is obtained.
Datad the cal
bom 100
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton and Walsall, Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Front Lights of Hansom Cabs.
We, FREDERICK FORDER, CHARLES FORDER and ALFRED FORDER, trading.
together in co-partnership as Forder Brothers and Company, of Charles Street,
Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, Hansom Cab and Carriage Builders 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:
This invention has special reference to the front lights of Hansom cabs. which are.

page_text: constructed so that the lower frame of the light is drawn up, in being opened, into
grooves carried by the upper frame, previously to the frames being together turned
inwards on hinges connecting the upper frame with the head-piece which is fixed to
the head of the cab; and has for its main object to give a clear unobstructed area of
glass between the top-bar of the upper frame and the bottom bar of the lower frame,
when the frames are in position closing in the front of the cab; and has the further
object of providing efficient ventilation through the front light in a manner which
will securely shut out the rain.
.1.
This invention will be readily understood on reference to the drawings herewith, of
which figure is a front elevation of one side of a Hansom cab front sufficient to
shew portions of the front window; figure 2 is a vertical section through the window
taken on line a x of figure 1; figure 3 is a full size front elevation of the left-hand
bottom corner of the upper frame of the window, shewing how the glass is prevented
from slipping out of the frame; and figure 4 is a side view of figure 3, looking in the
direction of the arrow. The window consists of the usual upper frame or sash A and
lower frame or sash A'. The frame A is hinged as usual to the head piece a which
is fixed to the head of the cab, and the frame A' is shewn to be carried, in a manner
well understood, so as to be drawn up by a strap, in being opened, into grooves b
carried by the frame A, previously to the frames being together turned inwards, under
the roof of the cab, on the hinges of the frame A.
Now, according to this invention, the usual meeting rails of the frames. that is the
bottom rail of the upper frame and the top rail of the lower frame, and also the
central vertical bar usually employed in the bottom frame, are dispensed with, and
the glass c is continued sufficiently downwards in the upper frame, and the glass c¹
sufficiently upwards in the lower frame, as shewn by figures 1 and 2, to ensure that
the upper glass will overlap the lower glass sufficiently to prevent the rain being
blown through between the edges of the glasses into the interior of the cab. A
space dis left between the overlapping parts of the glasses which allows of a current
of air constantly passing upwards towards the roof immediately behind the upper
glass and thus, while causing a thorough ventilation, avoiding a draught against the
occupants of the cab. The strap for raising and lowering the window is connected
to the bottom rail of the lower frame, or a pair of straps may be connected to the
sides of the frame.
The lower front edge of the glass c of the upper frame may be rounded or bevelled
off to avoid the exposure of a sharp edge when the window is turned up, and the
inner top edge of the glass c' of the lower frame may be correspondingly rounded or
bevelled to avoid the exposure of a sharp edge when the window is closed.
By the employment of this invention a clear unobstructed area of glass may be
obtained between the top bar of the upper frame and the bottom bar of the lower
frame, when the frames are in position closing in the front of the cab; and an efficient.
ventilation may be obtained through the front window in a manner which securely
shuts out the rain. It is not essential, simply for the purpose of ventilating the cab
as described, to omit the meeting bars or middle rails, as the lower frame may be set
back, sufficiently behind the upper to allow ventilation between the hinder face of the
front rail and the forward face of the back rail.
It is necessary, when the meeting rails are omitted as described, that a strong frame
be used for each division of the window, the side bars or styles being strongly and
rigidly connected at the angles of the frame with the single rail forming the top or
bottom bar as the case may be. Frames of the character of those described in patent
specification No. 5873 of 1888 are specially, adapted for employment in connection
with this invention, and the modification shewn by figures 5 and 6 of the drawings
accompanying such specification is preferred. The glass is securely prevented from
slipping out of the grooves in the frames by means of ends (of which one of
those of the upper frame is shewn by figures 3 and 4) forming the downward
terminations of the sides of the upper frame and the upward terminations of the
sides of the lower frame. It is preferred to broaden out the stopped ends of the
frames, as shewn; so as to give a broad bearing for the edges of the glass there-

page_text: against and prevent any liability of the frames springing open sufficiently to allow
the glass to slip out. The shaped unconnected ends of the metal frames may be
cast or stamped, and be brazed to the straight portions of the metal bars.
The corners between the top and side bars of the upper frame, and between the
bottom and side bars of the lower frame, may be strengthened by corner pieces, as
shewn by broken lines figure 1, or by diagonal bars, if desired.
Wooden frames may, of course, be used for carrying the glass, if desired, for
the purpose of reducing cost, and in such case stopped ends are formed to prevent
the glass falling out of the frames, by plain plates screwed on to the unconnected
ends of the frames and projecting over the edge of the glass. The frames are
strengthened at the corners by suitable metal angle pieces let in flush with
the wood.
It will be obvious that the advantages of this invention may be secured in a
considerable degree if very light narrow. rods or bars are used to join the otherwise
unconnected ends of the frames. Such light narrow rods or bars might be shaped
to pass across or around the edges of the glass to give a finish, if desired. The term
very light rods or bars" is used to indicate such sections as would be quite unsuitable
to take the ordinary strains to which the members of a frame as ordinarily constructed
are subject. These rods or bars are not, however, at all necessary; and their employ-
ment is not recommended.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is :-
1. A front window of a Hansom cab, having the usual meeting bars or middle
rails omitted (and whether very light narrow rods or bars of the character described
are substituted therefor or not), substantially as described, for the purpose set
forth.
2. A front window of a Hansom cab, of which the frames are so constructed that
their strength and rigidity are independent, or practically so, of middle bars or
meeting rails, whereby such bars or rails may be omitted or be of very light narrow
sections, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
3. The means by which ventilation is obtained through the front window of a
Hansom cab, substantially as described.
4. A front window of a Hansom cab constructed substantially as described with
reference to the drawings herewith, for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 11th day of July 1889
STEPHEN WAIKIND,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.