Improvements in Ships' Fittings, Berths, and Furniture.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 6th July, 1893-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships' Fittings, Berths, and Furniture.
I WILLIAM PARISH HOSKINS, of Upper Trinity Street, in the City of
Birmingham, Ships Berths Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to improvements upon two several Letters Patent granted to
Improvements
me, and bearing date the 19th day of October 1886 No. 13304 for "
in Ships' Berths and Ships' Furniture," and the 14th day of June 1890 No. 9207,
also for "Improvements in Ships' Berths and Ships' Furniture" and pertains in
the first part, to ships' between-deck fittings, comprising or comprehending
accomodation or portable cabins, and parting boards, and parting fittings; in the
second part to the mounting and fitting of double or triple lee-rails for ships'
berths; in the third part, to the connections and mountings of the bottom framings
of ships' berths.
In carrying out the first part of the said improvements, the between-decks are
provided with upright and portable pillars or stanchions, with their ends taking
into sockets or recesses, and with parts of the said pillars or stanchions fitted with
cupped and slotted bearing brackets, wherein or wherewith, bulbous, spherical, or
book-ended extensions or joints of shoes connected to bulk heads or division boards,
take or engage.
The said shoes, which consist of parallel flanged attachments or plates, are
secured to the edges of the division partition or bulkheads, which are to form the
walls or divisions of the said portable and detached cabins, at suitable positions for
the hanging of the said partitions or bulkheads from and upon the cupped and
slotted bearing brackets.
The said attachment plates or sides of the shoe are pieced with non-coincident
holes, wherethrough screws transversely take into the said division boards or
partitions.
The bulbous or hook ended extensions which form the bearings of the shoes, lie
within gapped or slotted parts, so that the front edges of the shoes can come up to
the opposed surfaces of the pillars or stanchions. Each shoe carries one or more
of the said hook or bulbous ended extension bearings, with a gap in the shoe below
it or them, so as to make a clearance for the socketed brackets to lie within.
Thus, in making up a block of four portable cabins, nine uprights or stanchions
are arranged at suitable or equal distances apart. Ten bulkheads or partition
boards, with shoes at top and bottom, are then taken, and each one dropped between
two pillars with the bulbous or book-ended extension bearings of each shoe,
engaging with and resting upon the slotted and socketed cupped brackets as
aforesaid, hence the forming of four portable cabins in block.
Any number of the said cabins are capable of being thus erected between deck,
by providing the interior spaces with fitted stauchions and shoed divisions, which
are arranged at any convenient position between decks, leaving ventilation spaces
above, or above and below the partitions.
These cabins are made to follow the rake of the ship, by the fittings taking any
contour desirable.
In erecting isolated or detached cabins, instead of attached ones in block as
described, two rows of pillars or stanchions are employed, so that the spaces or
divisions, between the division walls, form passages or gang ways, leading to and
from the cabins, which have separate doors, lavatory arrangements, furniture and
fittings, all independent of each other.
The parts composing the said cabins, are interchangable, and admit of being

page_text: readily erected and removed. Thus, a cargo space, when empty, may be easily
occupied by passengers, which is found oftentimes absolutely necessary by steam
ship owners, at certain times of the year.
On the other hand, when there are few passengers these portable cabins, which
have all the appearance and stability of permanent ones, are readily removed, and
the spaces occupied by them employed or utilized for the stowing away of cargo.
These attached and portable division walls, partitions, or parting boards, may be
advantageously employed, or the cabins as aforesaid utilized, as pockets or divisions
for the storing of grain for preventing "shifting."
The sleeping berth, lounge, or other fittings may be of any well-known kind,
such for example as are described in the already herein cited Patents, or the drop-in
brackets may be attached to the fittings wherein the ends of the framings of
sleeping furniture take.
When portable cabins are required to be erected adjacent to fixed or permanent
bulkheads, or ships sides, then only a single row of pillars or stanchions, to form a
number of continuous berths, will be necessary.
The socketed brackets, wherein the headed or hooked connections of the
transverse divisions or sides of the cabin, are connected or hung on the outer sides
of the pillars, and at their inner sides or ends to brackets carried by the permanent
bulkheads, whilst the spaces between the pillars themselves are enclosed by
d.visions as before stated, resting only from the cupped brackets of them.
In carrying out my invention in connection with further forms of fittings of
portable cabins, I propose to enclose or cover in the fronts of the same by curtains
or draperies suspended from portable rods, supported from spurs or studs, directed
from the sides of hat and coat or clothes hooks, whose rear parts have enlargements
or plates, which take into the shoe sockets carried by the stanchions.
In fitting or enclosing the fronts of portable berths in block, or in rows or tiers,
the ends of the drapery curtain rods are made to take into the studs or spurs of two
wardrobe hooks, or other connections or attachments, then by slipping the backs of
the said hooks into the cups as aforesaid, an attachable or detachable curtain rod
attachment is thereby produced.
The drapery enclosures are employed in lieu of bulkhead closures fitted with
doors.
The portable curtain rod may be connected, if desired, by hooked ends of the
same taking into eyes or attachments carried by the stanchions.
In carrying out the second part of my invention, viz., that part relating to a
double or triple half-length lee-rail, for a two or three high berth, I proceed as
follows:-
:―
I take an upright rectangular framing, jointed and connected together as herein-
after described, of a breadth equal to a half-lee rail, and of a height or depth equal
to the distance between the framing of the lower berth, and the top rail of the lee
of the upper berth. The top and bottom rails of this rectangular framing, and also
the top rail of the middle lee rail, have their ends taking within double bell-
mouthed or flared sockets of corner chills or junctions, carried or fitting upon the
ends of the side bars or railings of the general framing.
Directed a little above the angle or other framing of each of the bed bottoms,
are horizontally and parallel directed lower lee-rails, with their outer ends stud or
pivot jointed to fixed chills cast on the outside boundary rails, and at intermediate
distances between the said side boundary rails, and the upper and lower rails
constituting the lee-rail of each berth, are vertically disposed bars, with their ends
respectively jointed, so as to admit of the whole of the framing changing its figure
to any desired extent, in order to follow any inequalities in the settings of the
berth framing brackets, or any inequalities in the ships' rake or parts.
The angle framings of the berth bottoms are connected to chills on the. vertica
side bars, by screw pins, which take through holes in the said angle or frame bars
and are secured upon the iuner side by nuts, cotter pins or the like.
In carrying out the third part of my invention, I carry or support the berth

page_text: framings from dovetailed chills, or dovetail brackets carried by the framing, or
attached to the bulkheads or sides of a cabin.
The berth framing or the bottom framing, carries at its ends he-connections, in
The
the form of bulbous or spherical headed studs, in lieu of he-dovetails.
spherical-headed stud of a berth or berth framing, or parts of a berth framing,
takes into the open topped she-dovetail of a bottom or chill as aforesaid, hence the
connection and supporting of the article.
Or the he-dovetail, which is preferably of wrought iron, may be carried by the
bracket framings or attachments, whilst the open dovetail is carried by the berth
bottom.
By employing bulbous headed he-connections, in lieu of he dovetails, breaking
and jambing of these parts is prevented, in consequence of a belt line only of the
spherical head, gripping or taking within the socket of the she-dovetail.
Heretofore, fittings with he and she dovetails, which former take extended
bearings within the latter, have not admitted of being galvanized, which is
desired, in order to protect the metal from oxidation and decay.
The bulbous headed he-connection, when made of wrought iron, is preferably
affixed into the tube upright of a framing, prior to the casting of the corner chill,
to form a junction around it.
Dated this 5th day of October 1892.
WILLIAM PARISH HOSKINS,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships' Fittings, Berths, and Furniture.
I, WILLIAM PARISH HOSKINS, of Upper Trinity Street, in the City of
Birmingham, Ships' Berth Manufacturer, 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 improvements upon two several Letters Patent granted
to me, and bearing date the 19th day of October 1886 No. 13304 for "Improve-
ments in Ships' Berths and Ships' Furniture" and the 14th day of June 1890
No. 9207 also for "Improvements in Ships' Berths and Ships' Furniture," and my
said present invention pertains in the first part, to ships' between-deck fittings,
comprising or comprehending accommodation or portable cabins, and parting boards
and parting fittings; in the second part, to the mounting and fitting of double or
triple lee-rails for ships' berths ; in the third part, to the connections and mountings
of the primary or bottom framings of ships' berths.
In carrying out the first part of the said improvements, the between-decks are
provided with upright and portable pillars or stanchions, with their ends taking
into sockets or recesses, and with parts of the said pillars or stanchions fitted with
cupped and slotted bearing brackets, wherein or wherewith bulbous, spherical, or
hook-ended extensions or joints of shoes connected to bulk-heads or division
boards take or engage.
The said shoes, which consist of parallel flanged attachments or plates, are
secured to the edges of the division partitions or bulkheads, which are to form the
walls or divisions of the said portable cabins, at suitable positions for the hanging
of the said partitions or bulkheads from and upon the cupped and slotted bearing
brackets.
The said attachment plates or sides of the shoe are pierced with non-coincident
holes, wherethrough screws transversely take into the said division boards or
partitions.
The bulbous or book-ended extensions, which form the bearings of the shoes, lie
within gapped or slotted parts, so that the front edges of the shoes can come up to

page_text: the opposed surfaces of the pillars or stanchions. Each shoe carries one or more
of the said hook or bulbous-ended extension bearings, with a gap in the shoe
below it or them, so as to make a clearance for the socketed brackets to lie
within.
Thus, in making up a block of four portable cabins, nine uprights or stanchions
are arranged at suitable or equal distances apart. Twelve bulkheads or partition
boards, with shoes at top and bottom, are then taken, and each one dropped between
two pillars, with the bulbous or hook-ended extension bearings of each shoe,
engaging with, and resting upon the slotted and socketed cupped brackets as
aforesaid, hence the forming of four portable cabins in block.
Any number of the said cabins are capable of being thus erected between deck,
by providing the interior spaces with fitted stanchions and shoed divisions, which
are arranged at any convenient position between decks, leaving ventilation spaces
above, or above and below the partitions.
These cabins are made to follow the rake of the ship, by the fittings taking any
contour desirable.
In erecting isolated or detached cabins, instead of attached ones in block as
described, two rows of pillars or stanchions are employed, so that the spaces or
divisions between the division walls form passages or gang ways, leading to and
from the cabins, which have separate doors, lavatory arrangements, furniture and
fittings, all independent of each other.
The parts composing the said cabins, are interchangeable, and admit of being
readily erected and removed. Thus, a cargo space, when empty, may be easily
occupied by passengers, which is found oftentimes absolutely necessary by steam-
ship owners at certain times of the year.
On the other hand, when there are few passengers, these portable cabins, which
have all the appearance and stability of permanent ones, are readily removed, and
the spaces occupied by them employed or utilized for the stowing-away of cargo.
These attached and portable division walls, partitions, or parting boards, may be
advantageously employed, or the cabins as aforesaid utilized, as pockets or divisions
for the storing of grain for preventing "shifting."
The sleeping berth lounge or other fittings may be of any well known kind, such
for example, as are described in the already herein cited Patents, or she brackets
or drop in brackets may be attached to the fittings, wherein the ends of the framings
of sleeping or other furniture take.
When portable cabins are required to be erected adjacent to fixed or permanent
bulkheads or ships' sides or skins, then only a single row of pillars or stanchions, to
form a number of continuous berths, will be necessary.
The socketed brackets, wherein the headed or hooked connections of the
transverse divisions or sides of the cabin take, are connected or hung on the outer
sides to the pillars, and at their inner sides or ends to brackets carried by the
permanent bulk beads, whilst the spaces between the pillars themselves are enclosed
by divisions as before stated, resting only from the cupped brackets of them.
In carrying out my invention in connection with further forms of fittings of
portable cabins, I propose to enclose or cover in the fronts of the same by curtains
or drapery suspended from portable rods, supported from spurs or studs, directed
from the sides of hat and coat or clothes hooks, whose rear parts have enlargements
or plates, which take into the shoe sockets carried by the stanchions.
In fitting or enclosing the fronts of portable berths in block, or in rows or tiers,
the ends of the drapery curtain rods are made to take into the studs or spurs of two
wardrobe hooks, or other connections or attachments, then by slipping the backs of
the said hooks into the cup brackets as aforesaid, an attachable or detachable
curtain rod attachment is thereby produced.
These drapery enclosures are employed in lieu of bulk head closures fitted with
doors.
The portable curtain rod may be connected if desired, by hooked ends of the
same taking into eyes or attachments carried by the stanchions.

page_text: In carrying out the second part of my invention, viz., that part relating to a
double or triple half-length lee-rail, for a two or three high berth, I proceed as
follows:-
I take an upright rectangular framing, jointed and connected together as herein-
after described, of a breadth equal to a half-lee, and of a height or depth equal to
the distance between the framing of the lower berth, and the top rail of the lee of
the upper berth. The top and bottom rails of this rectangular framing and also the
top rail of the middle lee have their ends taking within double bell-mouthed or
flared sockets of corner chills or junctions, carried or fitting upon the ends of the
side bars or railings of the general framing.
Directed a little above the angle or other framing of each of the bed-bottoms,
are horizontally and parallel directed lower lee rails, with their outer ends stud or
pivot jointed to fixed chills cast on the outside boundary rails, and at intermediate
distances between the said side boundary rails, and the upper and lower rails
constituting the lee-rail of each berth, are vertically disposed bars, with their ends
respectively jointed, so as to admit of the whole of the framing changing its figure
to any desired extent, in order to follow any inequalities in the settings of the berth
framing brackets, or any inequalities in the ships' rake or parts.
The angle framings of the berth bottoms are connected to chills on the vertical
side bars by screw pins, which take through holes in the said angle or frame bars,
and are secured upon the inner side by nuts, cotter pins or the like.
In carrying out the third part of my invention, I carry and support the berth
framings from dovetailed chills, or dovetail brackets carried by the framing, or
attached to the bulk heads or sides of a cabin.
The berth framing or the bottom framing, carries at its ends, he-connections in
the form of bulbous or spherical headed studs, in lieu of he-dovetails. The spherical-
headed stud of a berth or berth framing, or parts of a berth framing, takes into the
open-topped she-dovetail of a bottom or chill as aforesaid, hence the connection and
supporting of the article.
Or the he-dovetail, which is of wrought iron, may be carried by the bracket
framings or attachments, whilst the open dovetail is carried by the berth bottom.
By employing bulbous headed he-connections, in lieu of he-dovetails, breaking
and jambing of these parts is prevented, in consequence of a belt line only of the
spherical head, gripping or taking within the socket of the she-dovetail.
Heretofore, fittings with he and she dovetails, which former take extended
bearings within the latter, have not admitted of being galvanized, which is desired,
in order to protect the metal from corrosion and decay.
The bulbous-headed he-connection, when made of wrought iron, is preferably
affixed into the tube upright of a framing, prior to the casting of the corner chill
around it, to form a junction.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in front elevation a block of
detached and portable cabins, made up of parting boards or parting fittings mounted
and hung according to one form of my invention.
The said block consists of a series of between-deck fittings, or a series of con-
tiguous cabins, separated from each other by parting boards, and with each of the
said cabins fitted with tiers of three-high berths, (although for passengers two high
berths are generally employed) supported from shoes or brackets carried by the
said parting fittings, which are themselves supported by stanchions, fitted alike unto
the first named brackets with slotted and socketed bearings or cupped and slotted
bearings, wherein bulbous ended and necked studs or hook ended studs of the other
fitting parts take.
The said three-tier berths are fitted with tier-frame half lee-rails, so mounted and
fitted as to admit of the same following the inclination or rake of the berths, conse-
quent upon any irregularity in the ship's rake or in the setting of the said between-
deck fittings.
Figure 2 represents a horizontal section upon the dotted lines A. B. Figure 1,

page_text: showing the arrangement of the said contiguous and block cabins, and also that
of the berths and their fittings, and also the means of gaining access to the said
cabins.
Figure 3 represents the tier lee-rail framing with portions of the same in section,
in order to exemplify how the component parts or members admit of changing their
relative positions in following the rake of a ship, or following uneven settings of the
framings or other faults in erecting.
Figure 4 represents a portion of one of the berths showing the swivelling con-
nection of one of the berth framings with an upright member.
Figure 5 represents a diagrammatic view of a block of berths partially enclosed by
parting boards hung or slung from the pillars or stanchions at the four corners of
each cabin of the block, and with the berth framings hung or slung from brackets
carried by the parting boards, or from brackets carried by the stanchions.
The outsides of the said cabins are left open, and enclosed by draperies suspended
from curtain rods.
Figure 6 represents upon an enlarged scale, the metallic fitting shoes of the
parting boards, and how the same, which have hook-like connections, engage with
the slotted and cupped annular brackets carried by the stanchions, and which shoes
have middle clearances, so as to admit of the adjacent edges of the shoes coming
close up to the brackets or the stanchions themselves.
Figure 7 represents a horizontal section upon the dotted lines C D Figure 6.
Figure 8 shows partly in section and partly in elevation, the fittings and con-
nections of the berth framings and parting boards.
Figure 9 is a part horizontal section and part elevation of the same.
Figure 10 represents a bat and coat hook fitting in connection with one of the
brackets of the stanchion.
Figure 11 is a topside plan of the same, showing how the horns or stalks
proceeding from the two opposite sides of the body part of the hook receive and
take the curtain rods.
Figure 12 represents in horizontal section, a diagrammatic view of a block of four
cabins entirely enclosed, and fitted with doors.
The parting boards for the making up of the said cabins in block, are hung, as
before, from brackets carried by uprights or stanchions fitted between-deck.
Figure 13 represents a further series of berths having a gang way or passage
running between them, and with one series entirely enclosed by parting boards,
and with those presented to the gangway or passage provided with doors, whilst
the opposed sides of the other series of berths are enclosed by draperies or
curtains.
Figure 14 represents a diagrammatic view in plan of a large cabin, enclosing a
block of berths. Thus, the large cabin encloses a series of berths in a tiered
block.
Figure 15 represents a series of cabins fitted up adjacent to the inside skin of a
ship.
Figure 16 is a perspective view of a two-tier block of berths fitted and provided
with berth fittings according to a modified form of my invention.
Figure 17 represents one of the junctions upon an enlarged scale, and with a
part of the same iu section.
Figure 18 represents another connection of the said fittings, and Figure 19 is an
inverted plan of Figure 18.
In the block of cabins, having erected within them, block tiers of berths, and
fittings, Figures 1 to 15 inclusive,
a are parting or division boards, having between-deck spaces a³, a³, for ventilation,
and which parting or partition boards are hung, slung or supported upon slotted
and cupped bearing brackets b, through connection shoes c, c, carried by stanchions
or between-deck pillars d, having their ends fitted within sockets d², secured between
the decks e, e¹.

page_text: Thus, the said parting boards a, which in this case, comprehend one side of a
cabin, are fitted with top and bottom shoes c, having hook shaped connections (³,
which take through open-topped slots b', and engage with cupped bearings b³,
formed within the head or upper parts 63, of the said brackets b.
The necks of the said hooked euds c³, are of less diameter than the lower and
hooked parts c', and below the said hooked connections, are clearances 6, made
in order to bring the inner parts of the said shoes close up to the stanchions on the
parting boards being hung.
The shoes have cheeks or plates 65, fitted with non-coincident screw holes b°.
fare tiers of berth framings, fitted at their corners or ends (as see Figure 2)
with bulbous ended and necked studs g, having attachment plates 9', taking within
open topped slots, of brackets h, attached or fixedly connected to the parting
boards a, and with the said brackets h, having lower socketed parts h³.
Thus it will be seen that the parting or division boards are supported from the
brackets of the stanchions, whilst each berth of each tier is supported by brackets
carried by the said parting or division boards.
In the triplicate half Ice-rails forming a single framing, the same consist of
upright rod members i, fitted at points opposite the berth framings f, with junction
bosses j, carrying pivots or centres j', which pass through holes or piercings f³, in
the side webs or framings f', and are affixed by a nut or other means j³, so that
the bodies of the berths, or the berth framings properly right themselves by turning
upon the said pivots as centres.
Adjacent to the said chill castings j, are fixed bases or chills k, having
extensions A, to which lower and elevated rods m, of each lee-rail, are jointed at m².
n are upper lee-rails, fitted with junctions or junction castings n', having extensions n³,
jointed at ³ to upright bars or rods o, whose lower ends are also jointed at o³, to
the lower bars m.
The terminal ends n*, of the said upper bars n, constituting the tops of the lee-
rails, take within flared or inside-concaved sockets p³, of necks pl, of stationary
chills P, fixed around the uprights i, at suitable points as represented.
By thus jointing and fitting the ends of the component members in manner as
described and represented, the tier frame lee-rails admit of following the berths,
which take the general rake of the ship, or which take any faults in the fittings of
the cabin.
In the cabins, the hinged doors of the same for gaining access to the berths,
are marked a³, and are made to open preferably inwards from the outer sides of the
cabins.
In Figure 5, a are the parting boards, f, the berths, & the stanchions, with the
"", whose
outer ones d', being fitted with hat and coat hooks q, carrying curtain rods
ends, take upon horns or stalks q', directed outwardly from the two opposite
sides of the said hat and coat hooks, and from which hat and coat hooks, draperies
or curtains 3, are hung, by means of rings or runners s.
The connection of the said hat and coat hooks is made by a dovetail shank end
or rib q, taking within the slots of the slotted and cupped brackets b.
In Figures 16 to 19, fis the berth framing, and i the two half lee-rails united
together in one frame.
The ends or corners, of the said frames have inverted she dovetail blocks f³,
which drop and take upon headed and necked studs or he-connections t, either
carried by attachment plates t, affixed to the parting walls or bulk head a, or by
posts or uprights to, with chilled corner blocks 1.
Figure 20 represents another form of socket, as represented at p, p', p³, Figures 1
and 3.
Figure 21 represents a further means of connecting the parting or divisional
boards to the uprights or stanchions.
It is to be understood that the he and she fittings may be arranged indifferently
with respect to the fittings to be carried and their supports.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :--
First. In portable cabins or between-deck accommodation for ships, forming
enclosed spaces by combining together a series of parting or divisional boards,
hung, slung or supported by headed and necked studs, or by bulbous or spherical
headed studs, or by hook ended bearing connections or joints, or by other like joint
connections affixed to, or carried by the said parting or divisional boards, engaging
within, or bearing within brackets or cupped and slotted bearing brackets, carried
by stanchions, pillars or uprights formed between deck fittings, or vice versa,
substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly. In the shoes or connection fittings c, the construction and arrangement
of the parts, with the clearances, substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly. In portable cabins and berths, or portable cabins with berths, slinging
or mounting the parting or divisional boards by or through the medium of joint
connections carried by them, engaging with bracket connections carried by
stanchions or uprights, and with the berth framings, in tiers or otherwise, supported
and hung from or by the said parting or divisional boards, through the medium of
bulbous or spherical headed and necked studs or hook or like joints of the one
part, engaging within brackets or gapped and cupped brackets carried by the other
part, substantially as described and set forth.
Fourthly. In the fittings of cabins or between-decks, the combination with a
slotted and cupped bracket carried by the stanchions or uprights of a hat and coat
or wardrobe hook, having an inner connection q', or an inner connection with side
spurs or stalks 93, upon which curtain rods r, are supported, substantially as
described and set forth.
Fifthly. In lee-framings or double or triple lee framings, the general construction,
arrangement and combination and mounting of the parts of the same, substantially
as described and set forth in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 20 of the drawings.
Sixthly. In lee framings or double or triple lee-framings, the general construction,
arrangement, combination and mounting of the parts substantially as described and
set forth in Figures 16, 17, 18 and 19.
Seventhly. The improvements in the construction of the between-deck fittings of
ships, substantially as described and set forth in the several figures of the
drawings.
Dated this 4th day of July 1893.
WILLIAM PARISH HOSKINS,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.