IMPROVEMENTS IN ADAPTING CERTAIN PARTS OF SHIPS' FURNITURE FOR USE IN SAVING LIFE
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Zell Cressy of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Captain, R.N. for an invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN ADAPTING
CERTAIN PARTS OF SHIPS' FURNITURE FOR USE IN SAVING LIFE.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Zell Cressy at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th March 1882.
JOHN ZELL CRESSY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Captain R.N. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ADAPTING CERTAIN PARTS, OF SHIPS' FURNITURE
FOR USE IN SAVING LIFE."
This Invention has for its object to adapt certain parts of ships' furniture so that'
they can be conveniently and efficaciously used for saving the life of persons in
danger of drowning.
The Invention consists in making or constructing bed or cot frames or bedding
supports whether for passengers, officers, or crew in a novel manner and so as to
be available as rafts or floating frames each of which will be capable of sustaining
several persons in the water. The improved bed or cot frame consists of a
rectangular open wooden frame, having strong corrugated wire. netting fixed
across it except at the middle, where there is an opening. Whilst the frame is in
use for supporting bedding the middle opening is crossed by straps or other.
crossing pieces arranged to be easily loosened. The frame is made sufficiently
buoyant by having cork fixed upon it, the cork being either in comparatively
large pieces fixed on separately, or in small pieces or granulated and held on by
canvas covers. The open wire netting by taking hold of the water will tend to
keep the frame steady, whilst it will not suffer such violent action from waves
as if the frame were provided with canvas or other close covering.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Zell Cressy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd September 1882.
JOHN ZELL CRESSY; of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Captain, R.N. IMPROVEMENTS IN ADAPTING CERTAIN PARTS OF SHIPS' FURNITURE
«
FOR USE IN SAVING LIFE."
My said Invention has for its object to adapt certain parts of ships' furniture, so
that they can be conveniently and efficaciously used for saving the life of persons
in danger of drowning.
My Invention consists in making or constructing bed or cot frames or bedding
supports whether for passengers, officers, or crew, in a novel manner, and so as to
be available as rafts or floating frames each of which will be capable of sustaining
several persons in the water. My improved bed or cot frame consists of a
rectangular open wooden frame, having strong corrugated wire netting fixed across
it except at the middle where there is an opening. Whilst the frame is in use for
supporting bedding the middle opening is crossed by cords or straps or other
crossing pieces arranged to be easily loosened.
The frame is made sufficiently buoyant by having cork fixed upon it in any
convenient way. The open wire netting by taking hold of the water will tend to
keep the frame steady, whilst it will not suffer such violent action from waves or
wind as if the frame were provided with canvas or other close covering.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to and representing modifications of my improved life-
saving apparatus.
Figure 1, on the accompanying sheet of drawings is a plan of the bed or cot
frame. Figure, 2, is an enlarged view of part of the wire netting which I prefer
to use. Figure, 3, is a side view of the frame with one half shown in section, and
figure, 4, is a transverse section. Figures 5, and 6, are a sectional side view and
a transverse section showing a modification of the manner of applying the cork.
In these drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
The bed or cot frame consists of a strong frame, 7, of wood which is not seen in
figure, 1, as blocks or pieces of cork, 8, are fixed upon its upper and under sides to
impart buoyancy or floating power to it. On the wood frame, 7, there are fixed
two pieces, 9, of strong wire netting, the wire being by preference of the corrugated
kind as indicated in figure, 2. An open space is left at the middle between the
two picces, 9, of wire netting and when the frame is in use for supporting bedding
or cushions this middle space is crossed by a lacing, 10, of cords or straps; but
when the frame is to be used as a float or raft this lacing, 10, is drawn out and
then the person using the float or raft can get into the middle space so as to be
supported in a convenient manner when in the water. At the sides of the middle
opening the rods, 11, forming the inner edges of the pieces, 9, of wire netting are
by preference covered with canvas so as to be less hard and rigid than the bare
metal.
The cork pieces, 8, may be fixed upon the frame, 7, by means of dowels or
wooden pegs or in any other convenient way. Or the cork may be applied in a
granulated form or in small pieces, a node of application which is indicated in
figures 5 and 6, and when the cork is in such granulated form or small pieces it
may be held upon the wooden frame, 7, in a sufficient and satisfactory manner by
means of canvas covers, 12.

page_text: Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated but that what I believe to be novel and original
and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the hereinbefore
in part recited Letters Patents is :-
The adapting of ships' bed or cot frames for use in saving life by constructing
them with open rectangular frames of wood rendered buoyant by the application
thereto of cork and having wire netting fixed across but so as to leave an opening
at the middle substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof I the said John Zell Cressy, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twentieth day of September in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-two.
JOHN ZELL CRESSY (L.S.)