Improvements in Ships' and other Berths, Parts of which Improve- ments are also applicable to Metallic and other Bedsteads, Cots, Couches, and other like articles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug., 1893-Accepted, 9th Sept. 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships' and other Berths, Parts of which Improve-
ments are also applicable to Metallic and other Bedsteads, Cots,
Couches, and other like articles.
1, JOHN OAKES HOLT, of Eve Hill Works Dudley, in the County of
Worcester, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has reference principally to ships' berths of the kind commonly
called steerage or third class berths; but the improvements constituting my
invention may also be applied to other berths such for example as barrack and
hospital berths. Parts of my improvements are also applicable to metallic and
other bedsteads cots, couches and other like articles.
I will describe my invention in connection with a steerage berth.
Steerage berths are commonly arranged over one another and I construct and
arrange the parts for connecting the berths to the vertical pillars by which they
are supported in the following manner. I fix on the said pillars at the heights
respectively of the top and bottom rails of the berth, two collars for the recep-
tion of the junction pieces at the ends of the rails. The upper collar or socket
has a cup like figure with four depressions in its edge, the said depressions
having a figure and size suitable for the reception of the ends of the junction
pieces of the upper rail of the berth. The said junction pieces have preferably
nearly cylindrical ends which fit in the depressions in the edge of the collar or
socket and the cylindrical end of each junction piece has on its upper side a
cross groove extending to about one half its depth. On the pillar and above
the collar or socket is a sliding tubular piece having on its lower face an
annular rib or projection of a size and shape suitable for fitting in the cross
grooves on the upper sides of the junction pièces. When the ends of the junction
pieces have been placed in position in the collar or socket on the pillar and the
sliding tubular piece is depressed, its annular rib or projection enters the cross
grooves in the ends of the junction pieces and locks them in position. In order
to fix the sliding piece and prevent it from being accidentally raised so as to
liberate the junction pieces, I fix a projecting pin on the pillar immediately
above the top edge of the sliding piece; and I make a slot or depression in the
top edge of the sliding piece sufficiently large for the reception of the said pin.
When the sliding piece is turned into such a position that its slot or depression
is immediately under the pin on the pillar it can be raised on the pillar to a
height sufficient to permit of the introduction of the ends of the junction pieces
into the collar or socket on the pillar. The junction pieces having been intro-
duced into the collar or socket the sliding piece is depressed so as to lock the
junction pieces as herein before described. The sliding piece is then turned so as
to remove the slot or depression in its edge from under the pin on the pillar,
when the said sliding piece can no longer be raised.
I fix on the vertical pillar at the level of the bottom of the berth, a lower
collar or socket consisting essentially of a horizontal disc having a concentric
annular rib or projection at or about midway between its edge and its tubular
part. The ends of the junction pieces of the lower rail of the berth have on
their undersides cross slots or depressions which when the upper junction pieces
are put in position engage with the said annular rib or projection and fix the
lower rail of the berth. Although for convenience of description I have described
only one upper and one lower junction piece it will be understood that each
collar may receive two or four junction pieces according to the particular
arrangement of the berths.

page_text: My invention consiste further of the following method of making the sackings of
ships berths. Sackings made according to my invention are applicable to metallic
and other bedsteads, cots couches and other like articles.
In making a sacking according to my invention I employ a continuous wire bent
as hereinafter described at each side of the frame and connect the said bent wires by
helical or other springs fixed between them. I make in the horizontal web of the
angle iron of which the frame of the sacking is made a series of holes in which
the ends of wire hooks are engaged.
The continuous wire is bent backwards and forwards so as to form a zig-zag, the
adjacent parts making an acute angle with each other. After the zig-zag has been
made of a length equal to the length of the required sacking a backward zig-zag is
made crossing the one first made, the completed bent wire having a figure resembling
a lazy tongs only slightly opened. The compound zig-zags described are attached
at one edge to the angle iron by the hooks described and are connected together at
their other edges by coiled or other springs.
Sackings made according to my invention are simple in construction and efficient
in action.
Dated this 10th der of November 1000
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships' and other Berths, Parts of which Improve-
ments are also applicable to Metallic and other Bedsteads, Cots,
Couches, and other like articles.
1 JOHN OAKES HOLT, of Eve Hill Works Dudley, in the County of Worcester,
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention has reference principally to ships' berths of the kind commonly
called steerage or third class berths, but the improvements constituting my invention
may also be applied to other berths, such for example as barrack and hospital
berths. Parts of my improvements are also applicable to metallic and other
bedsteads, cots couches and other like articles.
I will describe my invention in connection with a steerage berth.
Steerage berths are commonly arranged over one another and I construct and
arrange the parts for connecting the berths to the vertical pillars by which they
are supported in the following manner I fix on the said pillars at the heights
respectively of the top and bottom rails of the berth, two collars for the reception
of the junction pieces at the ends of the rails. The upper collar or socket has a
cup like figure with four depressions in its edge, the said depressions having a figure
and size suitable for the reception of the ends of the junction pieces of the upper
rail of the berth. The said junction pieces have preferably nearly cylindrical ends
which fit in the depressions in the edge of the collar or socket and the cylindrical
end of each junction piece has on its upper side a cross groove extending to about
one half its depth. On the pillar and above the collar or socket is a sliding tubular
piece having on its lower face an annular rib or projection of a size and shape
suitable for fitting in the cross grooves on the upper sides of the junction pieces.
When the ends of the junction pieces have been placed in position in the collar or
socket on the pillar and the sliding tubular piece is depressed, its annular rib or
projection enters the cross grooves in the ends of the junction pieces and locks them
in position. In order to fix the sliding piece and prevent it from being accidentally
raised so as to liberate the junction pieces, I fix a projecting pin on the pillar
immediately above the top edge of the sliding piece and I make a slot or depression
in the top edge of the sliding piece sufficiently large for the reception of the said
pin. When the sliding piece is turned into such a position that its slot or depression

page_text: is immediately under the pin on the pillar it can be raised on the pillar to a height
sufficient to permit of the introduction of the ends of the junction pieces into the
collar or socket on the pillar. The junction pieces having been introduced into the
collar or socket the sliding piece is depressed so as to lock the junction pieces as
hereinbefore described. The sliding piece is then turned so as to remove the slot
or depression in its edge from under the pin on the pillar, when the said sliding piece
can no longer be raised.
I fix on the vertical pillar at the level of the bottom of the berth, a lower collar
or socket consisting essentially of a horizontal disc having a concentric annular
rib or projection at or about midway between its edge and its tubular part. The
ends of the junction pieces of the lower rail of the berth have on their undersides
cross slots or depressions which when the upper junction pieces are put in position
engage with the said annular rib or projection and fix the lower rail of the berth.
Although for convenience of description I have described only one upper and one
flower junction piece it will be understood that each collar may receive two or four
junction pieces according to the particular arrangement of the berths.
My invention consists further of the following method of making the sackings of
ships' berths. Sackings made according to my invention are applicable to metallic
and other bedsteads, cots, couches and other like articles.
In making a sacking according to my invention I employ a continuous wire bent
as hereinafter described at each side of the frame and connect the said bent wires by
helical or other springs fixed between them. I make in the horizontal web of the
angle iron of which the frame of the sacking is made a series of holes in which the
ends of wire hooks are engaged.
The continuous wire is bent backwards and forwards, so as to form a zig-zag, the
adjacent parts making an acute angle with each other. After the zig-zag has been
made of a length equal to the length of the required sacking a backward zig-zag is
made crossing the one first made, the completed bent wire having a figure
resembling a lazy tongs only slightly opened. The compound zig-zags described
are attached at one edge to the angle iron by the hooks described and are
connected together at their other edges by coiled or other springs.
Sackings made according to my invention are simple in construction and efficient
in action.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings the
manner in which my invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in perspective two steerage. berths arranged one above the
other, the said berths being connected to the vertical pillars by which they are
supported according to my invention;
Figure 2 represents in side elevation, drawn to a larger scale than Figure 1, the
arrangement of parts by which the top rails of the berths are connected to the
pillars before the fixing cap or sliding tubular piece is locked in its place and
Figure 3 represents the same after the fixing cap or tubular piece has been locked
in its place;
Figures 4 and 5 represent plans of upper side of the cap before and after it has
been locked;
Figure 6 represents in plan the top connection of the berth with the cap or
sliding tubular piece removed;
Figure 7 represents in vertical section the said connection and part of the pillar
after the ends of the top rails of the berth have been fitted in their places and the
sliding cap fixed over them and
Figure 8 represents in plan of underside the fixing down cap detached.
Figure 9 represents in side elevation and Figure 10 in plan of upper side, the
lower collar or connection for the ends of the lower rails of the berths.
The connections I have represented are fitted for connecting the corners of four
berths to the vertical pillars, each berth being situated at right angles to the
adjacent one.
In the tier of berths represented in Figure 1 the vertical pillars are marked a, a

page_text: the collar like connections for the top rails of the berths are marked b and the
collar like connections for the bottom rails or bars of the berths are marked c.
The top and bottom collar like connections I will describe in detail with reference
to the enlarged views Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings.
I will first describe the top connection.
I fix by riveting or otherwise on the pillar a at the height of the top rails of the
berth, the cup like collar or socket b, the said collar or socket having four equi
distant depressions 62; 12; 12; 162; made in its edge for the reception of the nearly
cylindrical ends d, d of the top rails d', d² of the berth. In each of the cylindrical
ends d and in its upper side, a cross groove d³ is made as best seen in the section
Figure 7. To each of the cylindrical ends d, a vertical stay bar e is jointed.
These bars descend to and their hooked ends are engaged, by a lateral motion, with
the bottom angle bars of the berth as seen in Figure 1. Similar stay bars are used
at the middles of the upper rails as represented in Figure 1. Above the cup like
collar or socket and sliding on the pillar a is a cap or tubular piece 9 having on
its inner face an annular rib or projection h, as best seen in Figures 7 and 8, of a
size and shape suitable for taking into the cross grooves d³, d³ in the cylindrical
ends or junction pieces d of the top rails of the berth. The sliding cap or tubular
picce g has a slot i, with a cut away part at top, and on the pillar a is a stud or
projecting pink. By means of the slot i and stud or pink the sliding cap g is
locked in its place as hereinafter described.
In connecting the top rails of the berths to the pillars a, the several sliding caps g
are lifted on the pillars so as to open the cup like collars or sockets b, the sliding of
the caps on the pillars being permitted by bringing the slots i in the caps
opposite the projecting pins k on the pillars so that the said slots can pass over the
said pins. The ends of the junction pieces d, d of the top rails of the berth having
been placed in the cross depressions 2,2 in the cup like sockets or collars b, b the
caps or sliding pieces 9, 9 are depressed on the pillars and their annular ribs or
projections h, h made to enter the cross grooves d³, d³ in the ends of the junction
pieces and lock them in position as represented in Figures 3, 5 and 7. In order
to fix or lock the caps or sliding pieces g and prevent them being accidentally raised
on the pillars so as to liberate the rails, the said caps are turned through a small
angle so as to remove them from the position represented in Figures 2 and 4 to that
represented in Figures 3, 5 and 7. By thus turning the caps their slots i are no
longer under the studs or pins & which bearing on the unslotted parts of the caps
prevent the latter being raised on the pillars as will be understood by an examination
of the drawings.
I will now describe the lower collar or socket represented in Figures 9 and 10
for fixing the bottom rails or bars of the berths to the vertical pillars.
Each lower collar consists of a horizontal disc c with a shallow tubular part c²
below it for securing the collar to the pillar a by riveting or otherwise.
The upper
face of the disc c has four equi-distant radial vertical ribs c³, c³ upon it. The space
between each of the pairs of ribs 3 and the bottom of the disc enclosed by each
pair, constitutes a seat for the reception of each of the ends of the bottom angle
bars of the berth (see Figures 9 and 10). As the ends of the bottom bars f fit
closely in the seats of the disc like collars c side motion in the said bars is
prevented.
When instead of causing the ends of the bottom rails or bars, of the berths to
fit closely in the seats on the bottom collars, it is required to lock the ends of the
said bottom rails or bars to the bottom collars, the disc c instead of being furnished
with the radial ribs ³ may be provided with a shallow concentric annular rib or
projection situated about midway between its edge and tubular part. In this case,
the ends of the bottom rails are provided with junction pieces having shallow cross
slots on their undersides similar to those marked d³ on the upper side of the
junction pieces of the top rails, for engaging with the concentric annular rib or
projection on the bottom socket or collar for fixing the lower rails or bars of the
berth.

page_text: Figure 11 represents in plan a sacking for a ship's berth, bedstead cot or couch
made according to my invention and Figure 12 represents in plan and side elevation,
a portion of the same drawn to a larger scale. The said sacking consists of a series
of compound or crossing wire zig-zags 1, 1, 1 connected together by the coiled
springs m, m, the end compound zig-zags being hooked by the wire hooks n, n to
the end angle bars p, p of the sacking framing, the said hooks taking holes in the
said angle bars. The said zig-zags are permanently connected to the off angle
bar p² of the sacking frame by hooks similar to those at the end angle bars p, p and
the said zig-zags are connected to the front tubular bar på of the sacking frame by
hooks screwed into the said tubular bar as represented. Each of the compound
zig-zags 1, is made from a continuous piece of wire, that is, the length of wire is
first bent backwards and forwards so as to form a single zig-zag, the adjacent parts
making an acute angle with each other. The required length of zig-zag having
been made from the wire, the backward zig-zag is made from the wire, the last
made zig-zag crossing that first made as will be understood by an examination of
the drawing.
Or two wires may be employed each forming a separate zig-zag and the two
zig-zags may be connected together in a crossing direction by twisting their ends
thus making a compound zig-zag of the kind marked l.
The end compound or crossing zig zags are hooked at their bends by the wire
hooks n to the angle bars p of the sacking and the several compound zig-zags are
connected together by the coiled springs m, the hooks of which are engaged with
the bends of the several zig-zags as represented in the drawing. The ends of each
or several of the zig-zags are also connected to the off angle bar and tubular rail as
before described.
Instead of the coiled wire springs represented other springs such for example as
india rubber springs may be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that I claim as
my invention
First. The arrangements or combinations of parts hereinbefore described and
illustrated in Figures 1 to 10 both inclusive of the accompanying drawings for
connecting steerage berths, barrack and hospital berths and other berths arranged
one over the other to the vertical pillars by which the said berths are supported;
that is to say, the combination of the cup like collars or sockets 6, 62, lixed on the
vertical pillars for receiving the cross grooved junction pieces of the upper rails of
the berths, with the sliding locking caps or tubular pieces y, h, and the studs or
pins k on the vertical pillars, the several parts being constructed arranged and used
substantially as described and illustrated; also the construction of the disc like
radially ribbed sockets or collars c, c², c³ fixed on the vertical pillars for connecting
the bottom rails or bars of the berths to the said vertical pillars as described and
illustrated; also the modification described for the same purpose in which the disc
like sockets or collars are furnished with concentric annular shallow ribs or
projections for shallow cross slots in the undersides of the junction pieces on the
ends of the lower rails to engage with.
Secondly. The improvements in sackings for ships' and other berths, and
metallic bedsteads, cots, couches and other like articles herein before described and
illustrated in Figures 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings; that is to say,
forming the sacking of a series of parallel compound or crossing wire zig-zags
connected together by coiled or other springs and hooked to the sacking frame
substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated the First day of Auceust 1802
JOHN OAKES HOLT.