Automobile bridge plate

Claim 1

IN A FLAT CAR, BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION ON THE DECK PORTION OF AT LEAST ONE END OF THE CAR BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE DECK PORTION OF A NEXT ADJACENT COUPLED FLAT CAR, COMPRISING, A BRIDGE PLATE TRANSVERSELY PIVOTED TO AN END OF THE CAR ON THE DECK PORTION THEREOF FOR COOPERATION WITH A BRIDGE PLATE EXTENDING FROM THE DECK PORTION OF THE END OF A NEXT ADJACENT COUPLED CAR, ON ONE SIDE OF THE CENTER OF THE CAR, SAID BRIDGE PLATE BEING FOLDABLE OVER ITSELF WHEN NOT IN USE, A LEVER TRANSVERSELY PIVOTED TO THE DECK OF THE CAR FOR MOVING SAID BRIDGE PLATE INTO ITS INOPERATIVE TRANSIT POSITION AND INTO ITS HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING BRIDGING POSITION, A LINK SLIDABLY CONNECTED WITH SAID LEVER AND CONNECTED TO SAID BRIDGE PLATE INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF, RELEASABLE MEANS FOR LOCKING THE LINK FROM SLIDABLE MOVEMENT ALONG THE LEVER AND RELEASABLE TO ACCOMMODATE MOVEMENT OF THE LINK ALONG THE LEVER AND FOLDING OF THE BRIDGE PLATE OVER THE DECK, AND LOCKING MEANS ON THE DECK OF THE CAR LOCKING SAID BRIDGE PLATE TO THE DECK OF THE CAR AND HOLDING THE FOLDED BRIDGE PLATE IN AN UPRIGHT TRANSIT POSITION.