US1543298A - Sleeping car - Google Patents

Description

June 23, 1925. 1,543,298

7 A. R. ROSSMAN SLEEPING CAR 'Filed Nov. 13, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 "1 lNVENTOR E{ flGNEs R. Ross/7AM! ATTORNEYS June 23, I925. 1,543,298

A. R. ROSSMAN SLEEPING CAR Filed Nov. is, 1924 5 sheets-sheep 5 INVENTOR Ham/ 5 R. Rosana/V I 3M4 QKZlI/k A ORNEYS June 23', 1925.

A. R. ROSSMAN SLEEP ING CAR Filed Nov. 13, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 676N155 Ross/76W ATTORNEYS A. R. ROSSMAN June 23, 1925.

SLEEP ING CAR Filed Nov. 13, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR fiGA/Es If. ROSS/MN ATTORNEYS Patented June "2 3, 19 25.

UNITEl) STATES P A TE NTl oFFlcEL AGNES. R. ROSSMAN, or scorer: PLAINS, New JERSEY.

stnnrrne cm.

i 5 Application filed November 13, 1924. Serial N'o. 749,577.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, AGNES R. ROSSMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scotch Plains, county of'Union, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sleeping Cars, of which the following is a specification.

- This invention relates to improvements in railway cars, and has particular reference to an improved sleeping car construction.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of sleeping car wherein the berths are so arranged as'to provide toilet accessories for the occupants and enable them to dress and disrobe with considerable more comfort and convenience than in the cars now commonly employed.

Another objectis to interpose between two sets of. berths a dressing room compartment individual to each set and to divide each compartmentinto upper and lower sections each having communication with one, of the berths of the set to which said compartment is individual. 5

Still another object is to establish direct communication between each lower berth and the associated section of its compartment so as-to avoid the necessity of the occupant of a berth entering th aisle of the car when passing back and forth between his berth and compartment section.

A further object is to provide eachupper berth of a set with means, capable of storage within the berth when not in use, which will facilitate entrance to and exit from the berth and which will not obstruct the aisle of the car when said means is not actually being used. 1

A still further object is to provide a common support for the lower berth curtains and the hunk of the upper berth when said bunk is in its operative position.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the following detailed description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a railway car showing in side elevation one set of berths and its associated compartment;

Fi re 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the berths made up for occupancy,

the associated compartment being shown in vertical longitudinal section;

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; p

Figure 4 is a similar section on the'line 4 -4ofFigure1;

Figure 5 is .a fragmentary dia rammatic view showing the arrangement of erths and compartments in the car;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical longi tifdinal section showing the manner of supporting the bunk'of the upper berth and the mounting for the curtains of the lower berths;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the means affording access to and exit from the upper berth with saidmeans in its operative osition Y Figure 8 is a side e ovation showing the means of Figure 7 in its inoperative position;

Figure 9 is an enlarged edge elevation of said means, the dotted lines indicating the operative position thereof; and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan view of said means.

Referring more particularly to Figure 5 in. which the schematic layout of the car is illustrated, the numeral 11 indicates gen erally the body of the car having the usual vestibule 12 at one end entering into. the aisle 13. Adjacent each end of the car there is provided the usual lounge room 14 with the communicating lavatory 15. The re mainder of the car is divided into a plurality of sets of berths, generally indicated by the numeral 16, each set including an upper berth 17 and a lowerberth 18 separated by the pivoted bunk 19, which may be of the usual construction commonly'employed and which is movable to the inoperative position shown in Figure 4; against the upper side and roof of the car when the berth is not in use. Each of the sets of berths 16 on opposite sides of the aisle 13 at the right hand end of the car, as illustrated in Figure 5, has associated therewith a compartment, generally indicated by the numeral 20, the spethe next adjacent set of berths. This arrangement of berths and compartments is continued throughout the remainder of the length of the car with the berths at the opposite end'arranged as described in connection with the berths adjacent the lounge room 14. The compartment 20 diagonally opposite from the lounge room 14 may, in accordance with the present construction, be provided with a shower bathroom, conventionally illustrated by the numeral 21. v

The lower berth 18 of each set is substantially of the same construction as now employed in the Pullman car with the seats therein arranged so that the'same may be made up as a bunk. The top section 22 of the back of the seat, when the seat is formed' into a bunk, is detached from its operative position and placed under the bunk, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The end wall 23 of the lower berth of each set adjacent the associated'compartment 20 is provided with an opening 24 which is normally closed by a vertically folding door 25 which may be raised to the position shown in Figure 2 and held in such position by a catch 26 so that the occupant ofthe lower berth may readily enter his compartment 20 through the opening 24 without passing into the aisle of the car. Each compartment 20 is divided into lower and upper sections 27 and 28, respectively, by means of a parti tion 29 and the lower section of each compartment contain various toilet accessories for the convenience of the occupant of the lower berth The lower section 27 of the compartment is also provided with a door 30 through which access may be obtained to the compartment from the aisle 13 of the car when the berths are not made up. If desired, the two adjacentcompartments 20 may be provided with folding communicating doors 31 which may be locked, if necessary. The upper section 28 of each compartment is provided for the purpose of convenience to the occupant of the associated fupper berth 17 and may be made sufiiciently large to store luggage or clothing therein when the berth is occupied. Communication may be afiorded from the berth to the upper section 28 through a door 32 formed in the -wall 23 separating the compartment from its associated set of berths. The upper section may also be provided with doors 34 through which access may be had to the upper section 28 from the aisle 13.

At each end of each set of berths there is arranged a. vertical supporting member or standard 35, preferably of hollow construction and capable of receiving therein a cur- I tain roller 36 upon which is wound one section 37 of a flexible curtain of any desired construction employed for the purpose of enclosing the lower berth when the same is occupied. The free or outer end of each Suitable latching devices 41 may be utilized i to secure the bars 38 together when the curtain is in its closing position. The upper end of the roller 36, which may be of any desired construction wherein a spring is provided for rolling the curtain section upon said roller, is rotatably mounted in the head 42 of the standard 35, which head is provided with a reduced extension 43 upon which an ornamental knob 44 may be mounted when the hunk of the upper berth is in its inoperative position. These knobs may be replaced by light globes which enclose suitable lights, the wire for which may be extended through the standards 35. When said bunk is lowered to the position shown in Figure 3 the knobs or light globes 44 are removed and the outer edge of the bunk 19 is supported upon the head 42 of the standard by providing a suitable opening 45 in the bunk which will receive the reduced extension 43. In order that the bunk may be maintained in its operative position a looking device is provided which consists of a spring pressed bolt 46 carried by the bunk 19 and engageable with the extension 43, as shown in Figure 6. By this construction it will be obvious that the bunk 19 is efl'ectively held in its operative position until such time when the bolts 46 are retracted from engagement with the extensions 43 whereupon said bunk may be swung upwardly to its inoperative position.

In accordance with the present invention the upper berth is provided with a guard rail 47 of a height substantially equal to the width of the bunk 19 and including a supporting section or arm 48 from which the curtain 49 may be suspended. This guard rail 47 is pivoted to the outer edge of the bunk 19 at 50 and is braced in its operative position by means of the pivotedhnks 51, connected respectively to the guard rail'and to the bunk, as shown ,in Figure 3. When not in use the guard rail may be folded upon the top of the bunk 19, as shown in Figure 4, in such manner that when the bunk is in its inoperative position a suitable place for the guard rail will be proing the inner and outer side members 54.- and 55, respectively, connected by a plural- -ity*of steps 56 hinged to the Side members, as indicated at57, so that the side members guard rail 47 and stored in this position.

The inner side member 54 has extending upwardly therefrom a pair of straps 59, the upper free ends of which are curved so as to engage over the outer edge of the bunk 19 and thus suspend the ladder in its operative position. With the ladder in the position shown in Figure 8 the steps 56 thereof are disposed vertically and the depending arm 53 of the gate 52 is engaged with the inner surface of the top step. Thus swhen the gate 52 is swung open' the outward movement of the same will cause the arm I r 53 to force the outer side member 55 and consequently the steps 56 outwardly and downwardly against the tension of the springs 58 to the position shown in Figure 7 Thereupon the occupant of the berth may step upon the ladder and thereby reach the floor of the car. As long as the gate remains open the lower end of the arm 53 will engage the top step and maintain the ladder in its operative position. If desired, the occupant of the berth'may reach up and close the gate to. permit the ladder to restore to its folded position under the in fluence of the springs 58 so as not to obstruct the aisle. In order to again enter the berth it is only necessary to swing the outer side member outwardly and downwardly and then step upon the ladder to hold it in its operative position until .the gate can again be opened:

What is claimed is:

1. In a sleeping car construction, a plurality of sets of berths, and a plurality of dressing room compartments disposed between adjacent sets of berths and each individual to one of said sets.

2. In a' sleeping car construction, a set of berths, and a compartment at the end of said set and divided into upper and lower sections each individual to one of the berths of the set.

3. In a sleeping car construction, a plurality of sets of upper and .lower berths,

and a plurality of compartments disposed between said sets and each individual to one of them, each com artment being divided into upper and orwer' sections each individual, res ectively, to the upper and lower berths o the associated set.

4. In a sleeping car construction, a plurality of sets of berths, a plurality ofdressing room compartments disposed between said sets of berths, and a communicating door between, said compartments 5. In a sleeping car construction, a berth, a compartment arranged adjacent said berth, and doors for said compartment one of which permits access to said compartment from said berth and the other from the aisle of the car.

6. In a sleeping car-construction, upper and lower berths, a compartment adjacent I said berths and including upper and lower section's associated, respectively, with the upper and lower berths, and doors for each section of said compartment one of which permits access to said section from the associated berth and the other from the aisle of the car. 1 I

7. In a sleeping car construction, a berth, a compartment arrangedv adjacent said berth, a foldable door afi'ording communication between said berth and 'compart-' ment,'and a second door for the compartmentpermitting access thereto from the aisle of the car.

8. In a sleeping car construction, upper and lower berths, a bunk for said upper berth having a trackway therein, supporting members upon which said bunk rests when in operative position, and curtains for the lower berth normally contained within said supporting members and having portions engageable in said trackwayto guide said curtain when moved to positions to enclose. said lower berth.

9. In a sleeping car construction, a set of berths, a compartment individual thereto and divided into sections corresponding in number to the number of berths in said set, and means aflording access directly 7 11. In a sleeping car construction, ,a berth including a bunk pivoted to the body of the car, a supporting member arranged at each end of said berth and upon which said bunk rests when the latter is in operative osition, and cooperating means between-t e bunk and su porting members for locking the bunk in'ltsoperative position.

12. In a sleeping car construction, a berth including a bunk pivoted to the body otthe car, a supporting member arranged at each end of said berth and upon which said bunk for bunk rests when'the' latter is in operative position, and a locking bolt carried by said bunk and engageable with one of the sup porting members for retaining said bunk in operative position.

13. In a sleeping car construction, upper and lower berths, a bunk for said upper berth, supporting members upon which said bunk rests when in operative position, curtains-for the lower berth normally contained within said supporting members and movable to positions therefrom to enclose said lower berth, and meanscarried by said guiding said curtains to saidpositions. I

14. In a sleeping car construction, upper with said members for locking the bunk in its operative position, curtains for the lower berth contained within said supporting members and movable to positions there from to enclose said lower berth, and means carried by said bunk for guiding said ourtains to said positions.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

AGNES R. RossMAn.

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