US2205085A - Railway sleeping car - Google Patents

Description

June 18, 1940. CRAWFORD 2,205,085

RAILWAY SLEEPING UAR Filed Nov. 3, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 flan/i67 Crawford June 18, 1940. CRAWFORD 2,205,085

I RAILWAY SLEEPING CAR Filed Nov. 3, 1938 6.Sheets-Sheet 2 June 1940. D. A. CRAWFORD RAILWAY SLEEPING CAR Filed Nov. 5, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 1940- D. A; CRAWFORD 2,205,085

RAILWAY SLEEPING CAR Filed Nov. 5, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ja /id fl Urdu/f0 rd June 18, 1940. o. A. CRAWFORD RAILWAY SLEEPING CAR Filed Nov. 3, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 fianton- .Dmu'dfl Crawford June 18, 1940. D. A. CRAWFORD RAILWAY SLEEPING CAR Filed Nov. 3, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented June 18, 1940 PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY SLEEPING CAB David A. Crawford, Golf, 11]., asslgnor to The Pullman Company, Chicago. 111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 3, 1938, Serial No. 238,537

14 Claim.

This invention relates to conventional railway sleeping cars of the type providing sections each having upper and lower berths for individual occupancy and has particularreference to such cars when offering these accommodations as single occupancy sections.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of dressing space in "single occupancy section" accommodations without increasing the overall dimensions of the individual sections.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a single occupancy section with enclosed dressing space and a seat in the dressing space.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a single occupancy section bed which is hinged to provide a portion that may be raised to provide standing space for dressing and capable of operation from inside or outside of the section. (V

An important object of the invention is the provision of a portable washbasin which may be removably mounted on the side wall of a section by means of the usual table slots and having supplemental supporting means and equipped with separate means for supplying hot and cold water.

Other and more detail objects are attained bythe arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view through a railway car equipped-with the invention and'illustrating the bed in raised'position for dressing, on one side of the view, and thesection seats made up for day occupancy on the other side of the view;

Fig. 2 is a side-elevational view of the seat arrangement with parts broken away better to illustrate the type of seats used and their method of operation;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrates the bed made, up, for night occupancy with one seat cushion removed to provide standing room for dressing when the bed is in the raised position as indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 4 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fi 3; v

Fig. 5 is a dissassembled perspective view of the hinged mattress-supporting panel and appurtenances;

Fig. 6 is a general perspective view of the single occupancy section with dressing space made up ready for use and showing theportable washstand in position for use;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing the application of the portable washstand to the' side wall and disposed ready for use;

Fig. 8 is a perspectiveview of the washstand removed from the side wall and closed up ready for storage; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the separate hot and cold water container.

In conventional sleeping'cars of the type contemplated for application of this invention-having a plurality of sections upon opposite sides of a central aisle-each section is provided with confronting seats for day use which are convertible into lower berths for night occupancy, and each section also has an upper berth which, in the present invention, is kept closed at all times *but is used for the storage of all bedding for the section, including mattresses for the upper and lower, pillows, blankets and the like. When the confronting seats are converted into a lower berth in an ordinary single occupancy section, the occupant, to dress, must stand in the aisle of the car between the edge of the berth and the curtains, but, in the present invention, standing room, together with a seat and a large mirror for dressing, is provided in the section itself, thereby afiording the utmost privacy and comfort.

The single occupancy section has been improved by the use of this invention by hingingthe bed approximately in the center, whereby a portion of the bed may be folded upwardly to a 30 vertical position, leaving the' cleared space available for dressing, and, when ready to retire, the occupant merely lowers the bed from inside the section or, if desired, the porter can do this from the aisle of the car outside the berth curtains. The dressing space is made available by removing one of the seat cushions and storing it in the closed upper berth. The additional dressing space increases the comfort of the section accommodation-whether used by one or two persons. The folding device takes up no room in the accommodation and in no way afiects the softness, resilience or sleeping qualities of the bed. In fact, the sleeping qualities of the bed are actually improved, since the upper berth in this invention is not utilized for sleeping and the upper berth mattress therefore is placed in the lower berth, with the usual lower berth mattress, for the greater comfort of the occupant. The arrangement is applicable to and primarily intended for existing equipment, but is equally adapted to use in new equipment.

In the drawings, [0 represents a railway car having a plurality of sections I I defined by partitions |8--each having an upper berth l2 and a pair of confronting seats l3. The seats are adjustable to several positions for the daytime comfort of an occupant and at night are adapted to form a support for the mattress. The seats each comprise a. seat cushion H, a back cushion l5 and a headrest cushion l6 extending between the side wall of the car and the respective seat ends l1. In ordinary practice in converting the seats into a bed, the seat cushions H of confronting seats slide together to abut at the center of the section, and the back cushions l5 drop from their usual vertical position to a horizontal position behind the respective seat cushions, thereby to form a continuous mattress support the full distance between section partitions l8; but for the purpose of this invention one of the seat cushions I4 is removed when the berth is made ready for night occupancy and stored in the closed upper berth, as shown in Fig. 1the function and operation of the seats otherwise remaining the same. To provide a base for the mattress i9 across the space existing between the remaining extended seat cushion I4 and the lone horizontal back cushion i5, a relatively thin but rigid panel 20 bridges the opening and affords a positive support for the otherwise unsupported portion of the mattress. The panel 20 is provided with a hinge 2| approximately in the center thereof adjacent the edge of extended seat cushion i4--permitting the panel to fold upwardly. The panel 20 is hinged off center with respect to the center of the section so that the portion spanning the opening created by removal of the one seat cushion will be supported in the horizontal position both on the lone back cushion I5 on one side The foot of the mattress is removably securedto the panel 20 by means of strap 22 passing thereabout and removably attached to the panel a by buckles 23 engaging rings 30 at opposite sides thereof and having a fastening 24 for ready securement of the strap about the mattress at the time of making up the bed; and, if desired, the strap 22 might be used in multiple. The strap is passed about the bed after it is made up and serves to help hold the bedding in place when in the vertical position. The fastening 24 is also useful in that it permits release of the strap 22 by the occupant, at the time of getting in bed, for greater comfort and to avoid any binding feeling about the feet. The mattress, with its supporting hinged section of panel 20, may be folded to the vertically disposed position indicated in Fig. 6, thus exposing the dressing space 25 and cushion I5 which may be utilized as a seat for dressing purposes.

The mattress and hinged section of the panel 20 are raised to their vertical position by means of ring 26 secured to strap 22 providing a handhold for lifting them and are held in that position by a safety strap 21 removably secured to one of the section partitions l8 by means of a clamp 28. The strap 21 has a safety catch 29 for engagement with a ring 29 secured to the hinged section of the panel 20 and which may readily be attached by the occupant of the section and which is easily detachable by merely turning the securing hook '29 to release position-the hook normally being held in locked position by tension on the the like.

strap due to the application of such force in line with the pivotal point of the hook 29. To raise the mattress, the occupant of the section stands between the edge of the bed and the berth curtains 3| enclosing the section, grasps the ring 25, raises the mattress to vertical position and engages catch 29 in ring 29 and secures it; but, if desired, the'mattress may be raised by the car porter from the aisle of the car outside of ourtains 3| without the necessity for his entering the section. Cable 32 is suspended over pulley 33 supported from the curtain-supporting rods 34 by means of hook 35 engaging both the rod 34 and arm 35, as best shown in Fig. 1, and one end of the cable hangs on the outer side of the berth curtains to be operated by the porter upon the request of the occupant of the section, and the other end hangs on the inner side of the curtains and is provided with a snaphook 31 for engagement with a lifting ring 38 secured to the lunged section of the panel 20. After the hook 31 has been engaged in the ring 38, the exertion of tension on the cable 32 outside the berth curtain causes the mattress and hinged portion of the panel to assume the vertical position where they are held by catching hook 39 on cable 32 under the edge of seat end I1. The hook 39 is bound with non-abrading material to avoid sending the seat end 'and is shaped properly to engage beneath the seat end as shown. As a safety measure, the occupant of the section then may secure the safety strap 21 by means of the catch 29, whereby, if the hook 39 should accidentally be disengaged from beneath the seat end, the bed cannot fail until it is desired that it shall be lowered.

In raising and lowering the bed, the headrest I6, as best shown in Fig. 3, must be raised to the position indicated in Figs. 3 and 6 to provide clearance for the swinging end of the bed, and a separate and detachable shelf 81 is supported thereon for the accommodation of the personal belongings of the occupant or for baggage or The shelf 81 is made of fabric and is removably secured to the headrest cushion l6 by means of straps 88. An adjustable strap 90 from the shelf 81 also extends upwardly and is I secured to the curtain-supporting rod 34 by means of hook 89. A plush boot 82 having a reinforcing frame 83 is utilized to cover the extended portion of the adjustable seat frame 84 and extends all the way to the floor to prevent a person's foot from coming under the seat frame with the consequent bumping of the leg thereon, and is secured in place by means of a buttonhole 86 engageable over the adjustable seat-securing knob 85.

The underside of the hinged panel 20 is provided with a mirror-like reflecting surface 40 which, in the vertical position of the parts, provides for the convenience of a person using the space 25 for dressing. The panel 20 is prevented from becoming displaced longitudinally of the berth by means of downwardly hinged flap 4| which is adapted to be inserted downwardly between back cushion l5 and the section partition It at the head of the bed, as best shown in Fig. 3, whereby the panel is prevented from slipping upon manipulation of the hinged section. Later: ally extending hinged flaps 42 prevent displacement of panel 20 transversely of the berth by providing close engagement with the side wall of the car and the inner side of the seat end l1 and are hinged to fold in an upward direction to insure their being horizontal at all times in the operative position of the panel for proper engagement aaoaoss with the side wall and seat'end. The flaps 4| and 42 serve to maintain the panel 20 and associated mattress in proper position for the efllcient functioning of the hinged portion. The panel '20, in the daytime, when the section is made up for day occupancy, is folded up and stored in the upper berth l2 together with the bedding and curtains andv other paraphernalia used in night operation, and the seat cushion l4 then restored to its normal position in the seat. The upper berth I2 is maintained in the closed position at all times during the realization of this invention and is utilized merely for storage purposes, andthemattress ordinarily used for the upper berth is combined with the lower berth mattress for the greater comfort of the user of the singleoccupancy section."

As best shown in Fig. 6, facilities are provided whereby the occupant of each section is afforded a private individual washbasin with hot and cold water. The washbasin 45 is removably mounted on the side wall of the car by means of retaining bracket 46 which, as best shown in Fig. 7, enters the usual table slot bracket 44 with which it interlocks by means of the lip 41 in such manner that the outer portion of the washbasin must be lifted upwardly before the retaining member 45 can be removed from the slot bracket 44 whereby, since all forces on the basin normally are in a downward direction, any chance of its accidentally becoming displaced is avoided. The washbasin is afforded a three-point support by means of folding legs 48 hingedly mounted on the underside of the basin adjacent the outer portion thereof, as at 49, and resting on the usual heater pipe cover or footrest 50 and is thereby rendered more stable in use. The legs 48 are hinged at 5| to fold into the position indicated in Fig. 8, where they are held by means of spring clips 52 when not in use. The hinge 5| is disposed to one side of the center of the respective legs 48, and a spring 53 connects the two hinged sections of each leg in such manner that in the operative position a force is exerted tending to hold the. legs in extended position, and likewise, in their collapsed condition, a force is exerted tending to maintain the legs in folded position due to the fact that the spring is so mounted as to exert its force beyond dead center. in the two such extreme positions of the legs.

The washbasin '45 comprises the bowl 55 having a drain opening 54 with removable plug 56 and the rim structure 51 to which the bowl is secured by welding, as best illustrated in Fig. 7, and is provided with a cover 58 having a mirror surface 60 and hinged to therim structure at 59 in position to be raised, as shown in Fig. 6, for use of the washbasin and mirror. Removably secured to the drain opening 54 is a flexible receptacle 6| for receiving waste water drained from the bowl 55. The receptacle 6| comprises an expansible bellows-fold;moisture-proof container se cured to the drain 54 by means of a threaded connecting member 62 which is rotatably mounted in bearing 53 about the drain and provided with a knurled surface 64 for turning the member 62 to release the receptacle 6| for emptying, "The flexible receptacle is supported in an enclosing member 65 hinged to the rim structure adjacent the outer portion, as at 66, and having a receptacle retaining flange 61 and side walls 58 having flanges 69 which, in the operative position of member 65, rest upon the underlying flange 10 of the rim structure to support the member 65 in such operative position. After the receptacle 6| has been emptied and restored to its normal position secured to the drain 54, the member 65 is folded upwardly-collapsing the receptacle GI and causing the side walls68 to enter the space between the bowl 55 and rim structure 51, as indicated in Fig. 8. The retaining bracket 46 is secured to the back wall II of the rim structure in a position to locate the washbasin with respect to the adjacent upright mattress, as desired, and is flanked on either side by rubber bumpers 12 secured to the wall H by screws 13 and which engage the' side finish of the section to prevent any possibility of shifting or pivoting of the basin about the bracket 46. The supporting legs 48 are provided with adjustable extensions 18 to compensate for any variations in the dimension between the table slots 44 and the footrest 50 in the various sections.

Hot and cold water are provided in the section by means of the portable container assembly 15 which comprises the holder 14 having the bail I6 for ready handling and which also serves to keep the individual hot and cold water containers 11 in place. The containers 11 are of similar construction and removably mounted in the holder 14 for filling purposes, but are retained in the holder by the user and the hot or cold water poured from the respective spouts 19 as desiredthe air vent 8| in each container permitting ready flow of the water. Handles 80 permit ready handling of the individual containers. In practice, both the container assembly 15 and the washbasin 45 are stored in the porters locker at the end of the car, and when they are called for by the occupant of a single occupancy section the porter fills the containers 11 with hot and cold water, respectively, and brings them to the section and installs the washbasin on the side wallthen leaving the occupant to perform his ablutions in privacy, after which he removes the washing facilities, empties the waste water receptacle GI and returns them to storage.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the conventional sleeping car accommodation has been improved by the use of this invention virtually to the status of a room and offers private, fully-enclosed dressing space within the section and permits either standing or sitting, withthe convenience of a mirror for dressing, with portable washing facilities supported by the existing table brackets, and provides a folding bed easily manipulated either by the occupant or by an attendant from without the section and in which the folding device takes up very little room in, the section either in operative positions or collapsed storage condition.

What is claimed is:

1. In a railway car having a section, confronting seats in the section each having a back cushion and a seat cushion convertible jointly to form a mattress support, a mattress on said cushions, dressing space in said section formed by removal of one of said seat cushions, and a rigid panel supported on said remaining cushions having a hinged portion supporting said mattress over said dressing space and movable with said mattress to a position to expose said dressing space.

2. In a railway car having a section, confronting seats in the section each having a back cushion and a seat cushion convertible jointly to form a mattress support, a mattress on said cushions,

dressing space in said section formed by removalv of one of said seat cushions, and a rigid panel supported on said remaining cushions having a hinged portion bridging the space between the remaining seat cushion and the lone back cushion to support said mattress and movable with the mattress to a position to expose said dressing space, said lone back cushion providing a seat in said dressing space when exposed.

3. In a railway car having a section, confronting seat in the section each having a back cushion and a seat cushion convertible jointly to form a mattress support, a mattress on said cushions, dressing space in said section formed by removal of one of said seat cushions, and a rigid panel supported on said remaining cushions having a hinged portion bridging the space between the remaining seat cushion and the lone back cushion to support said mattress and movable with the mattress to a vertical position to expose said dressing space, and detachable means for securing said mattress and hinged portion of the panel in vertical position.

4. In a railway car having a section, confronting seats in the section each having a back cushion and a seat cushion convertible jointly to form a mattress support, a mattress on said cushions, dressing space in said section formed by removal of one of said seat cushions, and a rigid panel supported on said remaining cushions having a hinged portion bridging the space between the remaining seat cushion and the lone back cushion to support said mattress and movable with the mattress to a vertical position to expose said dressing space, means securing said mattress to the hinged portion of said panel, and means for releasing said securing means.

5. In a railway car having a section, confronting seats in the section each having a back cushion and a seat cushion convertible jointly to provide a mattress support, a mattress on said cushions, dressing space in said section formed by removal of one of said seat cushions, and a rigid panel supported on said remaining cushions having a hinged portion bridging the space existing between the remaining seat cushion and the lone back cushion to support said mattress and movable with the mattress to a vertical position to expose said dressing space, and means for moving said hinged portion and mattress to vertical position.

6. In a railway car having a section, confronting seats in the section each having a back cushion and a seat cushion convertible jointly to provide a mattress support, a mattress on said cushions, dressing space in said section formed by removal of one of said seat cushions, and a rigid panel supported on said remaining cushions having a hinged portion bridging the space existing between the remaining seat cushion and the lone back cushion to support said mattress and movable with the mattress to a vertical position to expose said dressing space, means for moving said hinged portion and mattress to vertical position, and means for securing said portion and mattress in vertical position.

7. In a railway car having an aisle, a section, confronting seats in the section each having a back cushion and a seat cushion convertible jointly to provide a mattress support, a mattress on said cushions, dressing space in said section formed by removal of one of said seat cushions, and a rigid panel supported on said remaining cushions having a hinged portion bridging the space existing between the remaining seat cushion and the lone back cushion to support said mattress and movable with the mattress to a vertical position to expose said dressing space, means inside the section for moving said hinged portion and mattress to vertical position, means for moving said hinged portion and mattress to vertical position and securing them from said aisle, and means inside said section for securing said hinged portion and mattress in vertical position.

8. In a railway car having an aisle, a section, confronting seats in the section each having a back cushion and a seat cushion convertible jointly to provide a mattress support, a mattress on said cushions, dressing space in said section formed by removal of one of said seat cushions, and a rigid panel supported on said remaining cushions having a hinged portion bridging the space existing between the remaining seat cushion and the lone back cushion to support said mattress and movable with the mattress to a vertical position to expose said dressing space, means for'moving said ,hinged portion and mattress to vertical positionj'and securing them from said aisle, and means-inside said section for securing said hinged portion and mattress in vertical position.

9. In a railway car having a section defined by partitions, confronting seats in the section each having a vertical back cushion and a horizontal seat cushion, said seat cushions being movable to abutting relation at the center of the section and said back cushions to horizontal positions behind said seat cushions to provide a continuous mattress support between partitions, a

mattress on said cushions, dressing space in said section formed by removal of one of said seat cushions, and a rigid panel supported on said remaining cushions having a hinged portionbridging the space between the remaining seat cushion and the lone back cushion to support said mattress over the dressing space and movable with the mattress to a vertical position to expose said dressing space, said rigid panel having a hinged flap engageable between one of said horizontal back cushions and a partition to prevent longitudinal displacement of the panel.

10. In a railway car having a side wall, a section in said car defined by partitions extending from the side wall, confronting seats in the section having seat ends defining the width of the section, said seats each having a vertical back cushion and a horizontal seat cushion, said seat cushions being movable to abutting relation at the center of the section and said back cushions to horizontal positions behind said seat cushions to provide a continuous mattress support between partitions, a mattress on said cushions, dressing space in said section formed by removal of one of said seat cushions, and a rigid panel supported on said remaining cushions having a hinged portion bridging the space between the remaining seat cushion and the lone back cushion to support said mattress over the dressing space and movable with the mattress to a vertical position to expose said dressing space, said rigid panel having a hinged flap engageable between one of said horizontal back cushions and a partition to prevent longitudinal displacement of the panel, and hinged flaps on said panel engageable with the side wall and a seat end to prevent lateral displacement of the panel.

11. In a railway car having a section defined by partitions, confronting seats in the section each having a back cushion and a seat cushion convertible jointly to provide a mattress support, a mattress on said cushions, dressing space in said section formed by removal of one of said seat cushions, and a rigid panel supported on said remaining cushions having a hinged portion bridging the space between the remaining seat cushion and the lone back cushion to support said mattress and movable with the mattress to a vertical position to expose said dressing space, means for holding said mattress and hinged portion of. the panel in said vertical position, and means for detachably securing said holding means to one of said partitions.

12. In a railway car having a section, confronting seats in the section each having a back cushion and a seat cushion convertible Jointly to form a mattress support, a mattress on said cushions, dressing space in said section formed by removal of one of said seat cushions, and a rigid Panel supported on said remaining cushions having a hinged portion supporting said mattress over said dressing space and movable with said mattress to a position to expose said dressing space, and a portable washstand detachably secured to a wall of said section in said dressing space.

13. In a railway car having a section, confronting seats in the section each having a back cushion and a seatcushion convertible jointly to form a mattress support, a mattress on said cushions, dressing space in said section formed by removal of one of said seat cushions, and a rigid panel supported on said remaining cushions having a hinged portion supporting said mattress over said dressing space and movable with said mattress to a position to expose said dressing space, a portable washstand detachably secured to a wall of said section in position to be used in said dressing space, and portable hot and cold water supply means carried in a common supporting member.

14. In a railway car having a section defined by partitions, a curtain-supporting rod extending between said partitions, confronting seats in the section each having a headrest cushion adjustable to a vertical position and back and seat cushions respectively convertible jointly to form arest cushion, and adjustable means connecting the shelf with said curtain rod.

DAVID A. CRAWFORD.

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