An Improved Table for Ships, Yachts, and other Vessels, applicable also for Vehicles and like purposes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1893-Accepted, 17th June, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Table for Ships, Yachts, and other Vessels, applicable
also for Vehicles and like purposes.
We, FREDERICK EDWARD GOULD LAMBART, Earl of Cavan, of Wheat-
hampstead House, and JOSEPH FENWICK OWEN, Builder, both of Wheathampstead,.
Hertfordshire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention relates to tables for yachts and ships, and is also applicable to
dining cars of trains and like purposes.
It consists of a table of the usual fixed and rigid kind in which are formed boles
of about the size of an ordinary dish or dinner plate. In these holes are fitted
moving pedestals rocking on gimball joints, so arranged as to preserve a vertical
position when the ships lurches or leans out of the horizontal plane. On the top
of the pedestals are platforms hollowed to receive dinner plates, and these
platforms may be covered with cloth or other suitable material to prevent slipping.
The effect of this arrangement is that in rough weather at sea, or during the
rocking of a railway train, meals can be taken in comfort without danger of the
food being spilled or upset, as the plate being placed on the platform of
the gimball suspended pedestal, always retains its horizontal position.
I will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which,
Fig. 1 shews a sectional view of the invention fitted beneath a table top, t.
Fig. 2 shews a plan view of the invention with the top platform and a portion
of the table top removed so as to shew the pedestal and its gimball pivots.
a, is a hole cut in the top of the table, to receive the movable platform e.
a¹, a¹, are extensions of the aperture, or may be additional openings, for
facilitating the fixing of the apparatus. These may be omitted if preferred.
b, is a shelf or bracket sustained by the leg or legs of the table, which supports
the metal or other ring b¹, on or in which are the bearings for the journals a of
the outer gimball ring z. The bolt forms the journal or axle of the rocking
pedestal c.
c¹ is a horizontal ring or collar on the pedestal c, which affords a broad bearing
for the base e¹, of the platform e.
d, is the weight which keeps the pedestal c in the required vertical position.
e, is the summit or platform of the apparatus upon which plates or dishes con-
taining food are placed. Rims or ledges may be fixed around the edge, or recesses
sunk in the surface to receive plates or dishes. The surface may also be covered
as before stated.
f, is a rod which is either screwed into the platform e or otherwise connected
therewith.
It may be inserted in the pedestal c, or may be an integral part thereof. It
serves to uphold the weight d and supports the platform e.
It will be seen that the principle of the invention is extremely simple, being the
application of the well-known gimball joint to platforms inserted in or just below
the surface of the table.
The effect of this arrangement is, that within certain limits, the rolling of the
ship or the incline of the track in railway cars, would not affect the horizontal
position of the dishes, as the suspended weight in conjunction with the gimball
joint keeps the platform level.
Flush covers may be made to fit the apertures a, and a', so that when not required
the platforms and apparatus can be concealed from view.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
In a table for yachts and other ships, railway cars and like purposes, the rocking
pedestal and platform with gimball joint and suspended weight and with bracket
suspending the same as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 16th day of May 1893
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, Agent for Applicants.