US2358546A - Berth - Google Patents

Description

4 Sheets-Sheet l L Y L L U T. K im Filed March 27, 1941 IIAII.. llll! J. K. TULLY EAL. 35,46

BERTH Filed March 27', 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 f 50225@ Hg L A w L U T. K IJ BERTH Filed March 27, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 19, l

UNITED s frATEs PATENT OFFICE James K. Tully. Evanston. LitAndersen, Cliicago. and Basil E. Jones. Flossmoor, Ill., assignors to The Pullman Company, Chicago, Ill.,

a corporation of Illinois .u

Application March 27,'1941, Serial No.l 385,474

e'olaims. (oi. 15s-"tij Two of the principal aims or the railway passenger car industry today are to increase travel comfort and to decrease travel costs to the public. 'I'he rst of these objectives is always in the minds of car designersas they work out new arrangements, and, in order to insure comfort, each passenger must have adequate room in which to move around without disturbing his neighbor. Comfortable, roomy seats for daytime travel are essential, with ample arm, leg, and head room to permit the traveler to have a certain amount of freedom tomove about without annoying his neighbor. At night time, the maximum degree of comfort is insured only if each seat occupant has a roomy, comfortable bed in which to sleep. These requirements for comfort must be satisfied'without in any way increasing the size of the car, since the overall dimensions are Alimited by clearance requirements.

The cost to the public of a particular railway passenger car accommodation depends upon what portion of the total revenue expected from theA particular car that accommodation must earn. In order to meet the overhead chargeable against each car and to realize a, reasonable profit on the investment, each car must be capable of earning a certain specied sum. To reduce the per capita charge made to the occupants of the car, it is necessary to increase the number of passengers who will share in paying this specified sum.

We find, then, that the two aims previously stated are somewhat contradictory in the results which they produce. The iirst aim would seem to require more room to be given to each individual passenger in order to insure his comfort, whereas the second aim requires the space available to each occupant to be reduced in order. to increase the capacity of the car. These two obiectives, however, must bel worked -out together with the thought in mind always of guaranteeing berth, so as to give ample head room above the` sofa. The intermediate berth is supported in f a pan which extends substantially in a vertical a certain standard degree yof comfort to the" traveling public.

Recently, a new type of passenger car accommodation known as the coach sleeper was introduced to the traveling public. The capacity of thiscar is very nearly that of some of the stand- Aard day coaches in service today, and yet each occupant is provided with almost all of the conveniences of an up-to-date Pullman sleeping car.

' Roomy, comfortable beds are arranged in tiers of three with the lowerberth convertible into a plurality of seats for daytime use and the intermediate berth adapted to pivot upwardly'into the position when the berth is in condition for use as a bed. This pan serves the dual function of supporting the berth and forming one of the walls closing the intermediate berth.

The present invention relates particularly to the intermediate berth. As shown, it forms one berth in a tier of three, and is foldable into the upper region of the car to be entirely out of the way during the daytime, so as not to obstruct the portion oi' the room normally used. This berth, however, has many uses other than in conjunction with berths at different levels, as it has deflnite utility by itself. For example, it can be used in a room in which movable chairs orl other types of seats are employed for daytime travel,` andat this time the berth will bein its raised position in the upper region of the room. At night time the berth is lowered into position for use as a bed.v

It is strong and easy to manipulate. It is out of the way during the daytime and is a comfortable,

4readily accessible bed at night. The berth can be folded to its inoperative position in its fully made up condition.

The above constitutes some of the principal objects and advantages of the present invention, others of which will become apparent from the following description and drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional viewthrough a car showing a three occupant room made up for day use and a six occupant :com made up for night use;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken crosswlse of the upper andintermediate berths showing in solid lines the relative positions of the upper and intermediate berths when in their daytime position and indicating in broken lines the intermediate berth in position for night use with a counter-balancing mechanism a'ssociated with the intermediate berth;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the upper and intermediate berths;

Fig. 4 is a sectional viewtaken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 showing the upper and intermediate berth varrangements when they are in po-v sition for night use, portions of the iigure being broken away;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of` the upper and intermediate berths when in their daytime position taken on theline 5--5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the Wall bracket which supports the intermediate berth in its day position, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2; and 1 Fig. '1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a car showing the intermediate berth in its inoperative Iposition in the upper region of the room. This application is a continuation in part of the copending application of Peter Parke, James K. Tully, Leif Andersen, and Basil E. Jones, Ser. No. 348,670, filed July 31, 1940, which became Patent No. 2,323,620 on July 6, 1943.

Speciilc embodiments of the present invention are selected for the purpose of vdisclosure in accordance with the provisions of'Section 4888.

of the Revised Statutes.` Many modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For the purposes of illustration, the berths forming the subject matter of the invention are shown in rooms 56 of arailway car (see Figs. l and 7). The rooms are disposed along one car side having windows 82 and are separated from each other by transverse partitions 84. The fourth wall of each room is formed by an aisle partition 85, which separates the rooms from an aisle 55 extending lengthwise of the car.

Each room is provided with berths arranged in a tier of three with the lower one convertible into a sofa 81, the upper berth 88 assuming a stationary position in the upper region of the room, and the intermediate berth 89 foldable to a position adjacent to the underneath face of the upper berth 88, as `shown in Fig.1. The

intermediate berth is adapted to assume a hori-` bracket 268 is pivoted to the casing 258 at 213 about a vertical axis, so that this bracket may be swung about the pivot point into the closed position in which the outer surface 214 lies iiush with the outer surface of the peripheral flange 210. An arm 215 is pivoted to the bracket 268 on the inside thereof about avertical axis 216. The arm 215 extends inwardly into the casing 269 and through the opening 212 in lug 21|. A coil spring 211 surrounds the arm 215 and is held between the lug 21| and a shoulder 218 on the arm 215.

When the bracket 268 is in its open position, as shown in Fig. 6, the spring 211 is compressed between the shoulder 216 and the lug 21| to urge the bracket in its open position. When closing the bracket 268, force is applied to overcomevthe force of spring 211 and move the bracket in a counter-clockwise direction about pivot point 213. During the closing of this bracket, pivot point 216 rotates about pivot point 213 until it reaches dead center inline with the pivot point 213 and the opening 212 in lug 21|, at which time the effect of the spring 211 inmaintainingthe bracket 268 in open position isovercome. Upon further closing of the bracket 268, pivot point 216 moves to a point inwardly of dead center position, so as to apply counter-clockwise force on the bracket 268 to urge the bracket in the closed position. Thus, they eilect of the spring when the bracket 268 closely approaches the closed fully made up with the proper bedding. Thus,

the porter is not required to make up beds at night when he is converting the car into a sleeper for night use. Much time is `thereby saved, and

the porter merely is required to assemble the berths for night use.

Intermediate berth structure lThe intermediate berth structure or assembly 88 (Fig. 4) includes an intermediate berth pan m comprising a bottomzu having upright side substantially horizontal position directly below the upper berth. as shownin Fig'. 2, by a bracket member 268 disposed `at each end of the berth pan, one bracket being recessed in the car side wall 53.and the other ingthe aisle partition (See Figs. 2 and 4.) Referring particularly to Fig. 6, each bracket 268 comprises a bracket casing 268 which nts into a well in the wall and has a peripheral ange 210, through which the casing is .secured to the wall. Extending voutwardly from the inner face of the casing 268 is a` lug 21| having an opening 212 adjacent to `its outer edge. The

-in a counterclockwise direction position is to snap the bracket to and hold it in the closed position.

An intermediate berth 218 closes into and is held by the intermediate berth pan 263, and comprises a frame, (Figs. `2-4, inclusive), made up of angle members 280 secured together in the-form o1 a rectangle with a sheet of canvas 28| closing lthe bottom of the rectangular frame and secured to the angle members 280. lThe intermediate berth frame is pivoted to the side walls 265 of the intermediate berth pan 263 at 282 and 283adjacent tothe front wall 266 of the berth pan; Brackets 284 and 285 are-secured .to the opposite side walls 265 of'the berth Dan,

and each has a centrally inwardly offset portion 286 to which the intermediateV berth is journaled. As best shown in Fig. 2, a chain281 a1; each end of the intermediate berth has one end secured to the outer end of the intermediate berth pan and has its other end securedto the outer end of the stationary upper berth 88 t'o suspend the outer edge of the intermediate berth from the upper berth. The berth includes a mattress 288 which is held in the intermediate berth frame.

In Fig. 2, the intermediate .berth is shown in its closed position housed in the intermediate berth pan 268 held against the underneath face of the upper -berth by brackets 268. A plate 288 is fastened to the underneath face of the bottom 264 of the intermediate berth pan adjacent to the bracket 268 at each end of the berth. To lower the intermediate` berth, an upward force is applied under the front .edge of the berth pan, and the brackets 268 on both sides vof the berth pan are snapped to their closed position. The berth pan is then allowed to rotate downwardly about its pivot points 261 (Fig. 4) until it assumes the vertical position shown in dotted lines at 286 in Fig. 2. Latches 28| engaging catches 282 on the outer edge of the berth pan hold the intermediate berth pan in this .vertical position. yThe intermediate berth is held inthe intermediate berth. pan by a latch 258 (Fig. 3) tting into a slot 268m each side of the intermediate berth pan. When lowering the intermediate berth from the pan,

it is rst unlatched; then rotated about its pivotl points 282 and 283 (Fig. 4) until it assumes the horizontal position shown in dotted lines 293 in Fig. 2, the chains 281 supporting the outer edge of the berth. y

'I'he intermediate berth pan with the weight of the intermediate berth is counter-balanced at each end by a coil spring 294 '(Fig. 2), which extends at right angles to the berth and is fastened at one end to a bracket 296, secured to a wall of the room. A chain'296 is attached to the opposite end 291 of spring 294 and passes over a sprocket wheel 298 journaled to the room wall, and then downwardly to a chain clevis 299v pivoted to one of the side walls 265 of the intermediate berth pan at 300. A counter-balancing spring 294 is provided at each end of the intermediate berth pan, so that two of such springs serve to counter-balance the weight of the intermediate berth.

A housing (Figs. 2 and 5) encTo'ses the counter-balancing springs for intermediate berths on opposite sides of the room (in the case of the six-occupant room), in which case spring 294 (Fig. 2) serves to counter-balance half of the weight of one of the intermediate berths, and spring 294" counter-balances. halfmgi the weight of the intermediate berth on the other side ofthe room. The spring housing 39| is secured to the car wall by screws 30.2. In this manner, -the bulk of the counter-balancing equipment is completely enclosed.

The springs 294 are so arranged that the weight of the intermediate berth overcomes the spring action when the berth assumes a position midway between the closed and open `position, so that when lowering the intermeditae berth its weight permits it to drop to a position substantially at an angle of degrees with respect to the horizontal, and force is required to place the berth in the vertical position with the pan 263 in the position shown at 290 against the room partition 84, v

Berth operation in a counter-clockwise direction in a well known manner about its pivot until it comes to rest in a horizontal position (Fig. 1) Next the intermediate berth pan 263 (Fig. 2) is unlatched by u which the pan may be rotated from a vertical position to an out-of-the-way horizontal position, a berth including a mattress, the berth with its mattress being ,foldable into the pan with the top surface of the' mattress disposed within 4the pan, and means npivotally mounting the'berth in the pan so that the berth may be pivoted out of the pan when the latter is in its vertical position to a position substantially at ninety degrees to the pan.' l

2. In a room, a berth assembly foldable into a horizontal position in the upper region of the room and comprising a pan having a bottom, front, rear and end walls, means for supporting the pan including horizontal pivot means adjacent to the rear wall about which pivot means the pan may be pivoted so that the front edge of the pan may be swung downwardly until the pan assumes substantially a vertical position suspended from the pivot means, and a berth `including a frame and a mattress projecting above the frame, the berth being pivotally mounted in the pan and movable about said last mentioned pivot mounting from an inoperative position in the pan to a horizontal operative position substantially atright angles to the pan bottom, the front Wall of the pan having a height no less than the total thickness of the berth, the rear wall having a height no less than the height of the projecting portion of the mattress, and the end walls of the pan tapering in height from the front to the rear walls.

3. In a room, a berth assembly foldable into a retracted horizontal position in the upper region of the room and movable into an extended horizontal position at a lower level in the room, said structure comprising a pan having a bottom and a front wall and two side walls rigid on the bottom,` means for supporting the pan including horizontal pivot means adjacent to one edge of the pan about which the pan may be swung downwardly aboutl the pivot axis until it assumes substantially a vertical position suspended from the pivot means, and a berth pivotally mounted in the pan and movable about said pivot mounting to said horizontal extended operative position from an inoperative initial position retracted in the pan with the berth enclosed by the bottom and walls of the pan.

4.The combination of a berth pan having a bottom and side and front walls, means for supporting the pan including means adjacent to one relation to a fixed .support so that the pan can be rotated substantially from ar horizontal to a vertical position, means for supporting the pan in a horizontal position, means for'locking the pan in its vertical position, a berth including a mattress housed in closed position in the pan with the topsurfaoe of the mattress disposed within the pan, means in the pan adjacent to the edge opposite the first mentioned edge for pivotally mounting the berth in the pan, the berth being pivotally movable out of the' pan to assume a horizontal open position when the pan is substantially vertical, and means for supporting the berth in said last named horizontal position.

5. In a room, a berth assembly foldable into a substantially horizontal position in the upper region of the room and comprising. a pan having a bottom, and front and two -side walls permanently connected to the bottom, means for supporting the pan in the upper region of the room including horizontal pivot means adjacentto one edge of the pan about which the pan may be swung downwardly until the pan assumes substantiallya vertical position suspended from the pivot means, a berth including a mattress in the pan, and means connecting the berth to the pan including horizontal pivot means adjacent to one edge Qf the berth and to the lower edge of the pan when the latter is lowered, about which pivot means the berth may pivot from a position inside the pan to a horizontal position projecting substantially at right angles from the pan, the front and side walls of the pan being of sumcient height above the pan bottom toretain bed clothing within the limits of the pan.

6. In a room, a berth assembly foldable into a substantially horizontal position in the upper region of the room and comprising a pan having a bottom and a substantially right angularly extendingfront wall permanently connected to the bottom. means for supporting the pan in the upperregion of the room including horizontal pivot means cooperating with pointston the pan remote from said front wall about which pivot means the pan may be swung downwardly until it hangs substantially vertically from the pivot means, a berth including a mattress in the panfand means connecting the berth to the pan including horizohtai pivot means adjacent to one edge ci' the berth and to the front wall of the pan, about which pivot means the berth may pivot from a closed position` substantially parallel to the pan bottom to a horizontal open position projecting substantially at right angles from the pan, the front wall of the ypan being-of suflicient height above the pan bottom toretain -bed clothing on the berth when the berth is in closed position and the pan hangs vertically and to bridge the space between the pan bottom and the adjacent side edge ot the berth when the berth is in open position.

JAMES IK. TULLY. LEIF' ANDERSEN. BASIL E. JONES.

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