Improvements in Ships' Berths and Ships' Furniture.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 10th Feb., 1890-Accepted, .15th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships' Berths and Ships' Furniture.
I, HENRY HERMAN CHILTON of Alexandra Street, Wolverhampton in the County
of Stafford, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has reference to, that class of ships' sleeping berths and furniture,
which fold or turn up, and turn down, for the purpose of economising space, when the
same are not in use.
The object of my said invention, is to simplify the construction of the said articles,
and consists 1st, in the mounting of ships berths, 2ndly, in the construction of the
bracket bearings of the same, and 3rdly, in the lee-rail and fittings thereof, which
are so jointed, connected and arranged, that the said rail admits of turning inwards
upon the top of the bed, or depending vertically downwards from the frame,
and when in the latter position, the berth is adapted to be used as a sofa, or
lounge.
Heretofore, the joint centres, or the pivots of turn-up berths, have been disposed in
a line with, or above (at the inside end) the plane of the borth-frame, which consists
of side and end bars, 'rods or other lengths, joined together at their ends, preferably
by chilled castings.
According to the first part of my invention, I mount and attachedly connect
the sides of the inner end of the berth frame, to the upper inside parts of opposite
disc or wheel bearings, enclosed within straps, which are pivotedly suspended from
points above the berth frame; so that the connection of the berth frame with the
bulk heads or partitions of a cabin is made, by a swinging frame, which is adapted
to be drawn together by screws or otherwise, which draws the said strap around the
periphery or edge of the disc, or wheel, in a manner that any stiffness required in
the moving parts can be attained, and by such stiffness, the berth frame when
folded or tilted against the bulk head, is retained there however a ship may roll;
and further, by supporting the inner ends upon swinging joint centres, arranged above
the berth frame, and with the outer end of the said frame affixed by stops or bracket
connections, the motion of the rolling of a ship may be lessened.
The bearing disc instead of being circular, may be made 'elliptical, and with a
suspended strap or girdle, drawn to, by a spring or other yielding connection; so that
the berth frame is perfectly free to inove on first folding, but becomes stiff when fully
folded.
As a modification of this form of my invention, I mount the inner ends of berth
frames, upon wheel, disc, or boss bearings, which work within half bearings, slotted
on their inner bearing edges; so that the berth frame turns upon the said disc
bearings, as joint centres.
Instead of employing complete discs, half discs or sectors may be employed with
like effect.
According to another form of my invention, 1 mount the berth frame near its
opposite end, upon opposite and depending supports, which terminate in joint centres
or pivot axes, which take their bearings within open or closed top bearing brackets,
secured to the end walls or partitions of a cabin.
:
Thus, the berth frame, or the underside inner end thereof, is mounted upon opposite
and upright supports, which elevate the berth frame a distance above-the joint centres,
upon which it turns, on folding and unfolding.
..
The lee-rail of the berth, which is adapted to fold inwards, hang downwards, and
take an upright fixed position, consists of a frame of bars, jointed at its lower part to

page_text: the front rail of the berth frame, and with the middle part of the said frame, butt-
jointed to the height at which the bed clothes lie upon the frame.
The ends of the lee-rail, which are elevated at the two ends, have snugs or studs,
which respectively take into the slots of closed' bottoin slotted brackets, affixed to the
end walls of a cabin, in a line with the lee-rail.
The aforesaid lee-rail brackets form the means for keeping and holding the
lee-rails erect, and in a rigid condition, and also for supporting the front of the
berth frame.
When the lee-rail is hanging vertically downwards, the stud ends engage with the
slots of slotted brackets, affixed to the sides or fixed walls of the cabin; and further,
the bearings of the fulcrum brackets as aforesaid, may be made closed or open at
top, or open only on one side.
On a berth frame requiring to be folded or raised, its fore part is first lifted, and
the lee rail end snugs removed from the lee-rail brackets, when the berth frame can
be turned up to the back of the cabin, or the bulk head, and when so folded, the
plane of the frame leans slightly to the said back or bulk head, and with the bedding
resting upon; or being supported by a rail, or a cross rail, on the inner side of the
frame.
To admit of the inner ends of the berth frame lying close to the back of a cabin, I
may give to the berth frame, a sliding movement, by making the bearing brackets
carry the joint centres, which pass and rest within longitudinal slots, horizontally
directed from the bases of the supports; so that when a berth frame requires to be
tilted, it is first drawn outwards, and with the loop like bottoms of the supports drawn
over the joints, which then allow the inner end of the berth frame to turn inwardly,
and describe the arc of a circle about the joint centres as aforesaid.
The undersides of the berth frames may be provided or looped up with a cushion,
so that when the berth frame is folded, the said cushion forms a back or rest to lean
against.
Dated the 4th day of May 1880
HENRY HERMAN CHILTON.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships' Berths and Ships' Furniture.
I, HENRY HERMAN CHILTON, of Alexandra Street, Wolverhampton in the County
of Stafford, 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:―
My invention has reference to that class of ships' sleeping berths and furniture,
which fold or turn up, and turn down, for the purpose of economising space, when the
same are not in use.
The object of my said invention, is to simplify the construction of the said articles,
and consists 1st in the mounting of ships' berths, 2ndly in the construction of the
bracket bearings of the same, and 3rdly in the lee-rail, and fittings thereof, which are
so jointed, constructed and arranged, that the said rail, admits of turning inwards
upon the top of the bed, or depending vertically downwards from the frame, and
when in the latter position, the berth is adapted to be used as a sofa, or lounge.
Heretofore, the joint centres, or pivots of turn up berths, have been disposed in a
line with, or above (at the inside end) the plane of the berth frame, which consists of
side and end bars, rods or other lengths, joined together at their ends, preferably by
chilled castings.
According to the first part of my invention, I mount and attachedly, connect the
sides of the inner end of the berth frame, to the upper inside parts of opposite disc

page_text: or ring bearings, enclosed within straps, which are pivotedly suspended or hung from
points above the berth frame; so that the connection of the berth frame with the
bulk heads, or partitions of a cabin is made, by swinging bearing devices, whose
straps are adapted to be drawn together, by screws, which contract the said straps
upon, the periphery or edges of the discs, or rings, as aforesaid.
The berth frame, when folded back, or tilted against the bulk-head, is retained
there by the change of position and the lowering of its centre of gravity, and further,
the supporting of the inner ends, upon swinging joint centres, so arranged that the
motion of the berth frame is such, that the rolling of a ship is partially neutralized
by the berth frame, tending to constantly preserve a horizontal condition.
The bearing disc, instead of being circular, may, be made elliptical, and with a
suspended strap or girdle drawn to, by a spring, or other yielding connection; so that
the berth frame is perfectly free to move on first folding, but becomes stiff when
fully folded.
As a modification of this form of my invention, I mount the inner ends of berth.
frames, upon wheel, disc, or boss bearings, which work within half bearings, slotted
on their inner bearing edges; so that the berth frame turns upon the said disc
bearings as joint centres.
Instead of employing complete discs, half discs or sectors may be employed with
like effect.
According to another form of my invention, I mount the borth frame near its
inner end, upon opposite and depending supports, which terminate in joint centres or
pivot axes, which take their bearings within open or closed top bearing brackets,
secured to the end walls or partitions of a cabin.
Thus, the berth frame, or the undersido inner end thereof, is mounted upon opposite
and upright supports, which elevate the berth frame a distance above the joint
centres upon which it turns, on folding and unfolding.
The lee-rail of the berth, which is adapted to fold inwards hangs downwards, and
takes an upright fixed position, consists of a frame of bars, jointed at its lower part,
to the front rail of the berth frame, and with the middle part of the said frame,
butt jointed to the height at which the bedclothes lie upon the frame.
The ends of the lee rail, which are elevated at the two ends, have snugs or studs,
which respectively take into the slots of closed bottom slotted brackets, affixed to the
end walls of a cabin in a line with the lee rail.
The aforesaid lee-rail brackets form the means for keeping and holding the lee-rails
erect, and in a rigid condition, and also for supporting the front of the berth
frame.
When the lee-rail is hanging vertically downwards, the stud ends engage with
the slots of slotted brackets, affixed to the sides or fixed walls of the cabin; and further,
the bearings of the fulcrum brackets as aforesaid,, may be made closed or open at top,
or open only on one side.
On a berth frame requiring to be folded or raised, its fore part is first lifted, and
the lee-rail end snugs removed from the lee-rail brackets, when the berth frame can
be turned up to the back of the cabin, or bulk-head, and when so folded, the plane
of the frame leans slightly to the said back, or bulk head, and with the bedding
resting upon or being supported by a rail or a cross rail on the inner side of the
frame.
To admit of the inner ends of the berth frame lying close to the back of a cabin,
1 may give to the berth frame a sliding movement, by making the bearing brackets.
to carry the joint centres which pass and rest within longitudinal slots, horizontally
directed from the bases of the supports; so that when a berth frame 'requires to be
tilted, it is first drawn outwards, and with the loop like bottoms of the supports,
drawn over the joints, which allow the inner end of the berth frame, to turn inwardly
and describe the arc of a circle about the joint centre aforesaid.
The undersides of the berth frames, may be provided or looped up, with a cushion,
so that when the berth frame is folded, the said cushion, forms a back or rest to lean
against.

page_text: Figure of the accompanying drawings represents in front elevation, a turn-up
folding ships sleeping borth, constructed and arranged according to one form of my
invention.
Figure 2 represents a top side plan of the same, exhibiting the inner end
connections, with the sides of a cabin, and from which it will be seen, that the said
berth frame, is hung at its inner end or opposite sides, to the said cabin walls, by
swinging and super-pivoted connections, whilst the outer opposite sides, or front
rail of the frame, are or is supported upon rest brackets.
Figure 3 represents a transverse vertical section of the said ships' berth upon the
dotted lines A B.figure 2, thus exemplifying the suspending means, which admits
of a berth framing, on being folded, changing the position of its centre of gravity,
and thereby retaining the said framing in the position in which it was first placed,
irrespective of the rolling of a ship, and further, the lee-rail connection, shows how
the same is jointedly connected to the berth frame's outer side to admit of the
lee rail passing into the gaps of the rest brackets.
Figure represents the said berth frame, in its tilted or folded position.
Figure 5 shows one end of the berth framing, partly in section, and partly in
elevation, in order to exhibit the swinging and jointed connection, and how the
lec-rail rod, is covered or faced with leather, to prevent the naked iron from coming
in contact with a person entering or leaving the berth.
Figure 6 represents the ring joint of the swinging connection, fixedly connected to
the berth frame.
Figure 7 represents a plan of the same.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in figures 1 to 7 both
inclusive, of the drawings.
a is a berth frame, consisting of lengths of angle iron, connected together by
rivetings, although the same may be united, and formed into a rectangular shaped
frame, by chilled castings, or by other means.
The sides a² of the inner end of the said berth frame, are connected to the side
walls 62, of a cabin b, of which the bulkhead is 63, by super-pivoted and swinging
connections c, each consisting of a disc or ring c² fixedly connected to the two
opposite sides a²,.of the inner end of the berth frame, and encircled by a divided,
jointed, and adjustable strap 3, which admits of being drawn upon the periphery of the
said disc or ring, by an adjustable screw ct, which takes through the plain eye of a lug
of the upper half of the strap, and into a screwed hole, formed within a lug on the
lower half of the strap:
This upper half of the strap, is mounted and swings upon an outstanding stud d², of
a stud attachment plate d, affixed to the opposite sides of a cabin.
e, is the Ice-rail, pivotedly connected at e³, by supporting arms or rails e³, to the
front angle framing a' of the berth framing a, and which berth framing, may be made
up of rods, tubes, or other lengths, other than angle framing. The ends of the
lec-rail, which is covered or faced with leather, engage with, and rest upon
the bottoms of gaps f, of rest brackets f, fixedly secured to the opposite cabin
walls.
To fold or tilt the berth, or to change its position from that represented at
figures 1, 2, and 3, to that shown at figure 4, lift or raise the front of the berth
frame, and with it, the lee-rail, from the rest-brackets, until it rests against the bulk
head.
It is now impossible for the berth, to fall forward, owing to the rolling of the ship,
in consequence of the inner (in figure 4, the lower) end being disposed at a greater
distance from the said bulk head, than the upper or outer end. It will be
obvious, that the relative position of the two ends, remains constant or unchanged.
When the berth is required to be used, it is only necessary to pull the same
downwards, and. make the ends of the lee-rail, engage within the recesses or gaps
of the rest brackets.
Figure 8 represents in transverse vertical section, a fold-down ships' sleeping berth,
constructed according to another part of my invention..

page_text: Figure 9 represents the same, in its turned down or folded position.
Figure 10 represents one end of the framing, and its connections.
The same letters of reference, indicate corresponding parts in figures 8 to 11, both
inclusive.
a is a berth frame, pivoted at its opposito inner ends at c, to brackets d, whose
middles have hollow bearings d², wherein the pivots or trunnions of the said joints c,
take and turn.
The front end of the berth framing, has a swivelly connected leo-rail e, with
supporting rails e³, jointed at e³, to the front framing a. The ends e, of this
said rail, engage and rest within gaps f", of rest brackets, fixedly secured to the two
opposite walls of a cabin.
To fold down the berth, slightly lift the fore part of it, until the lee-rail ends have
been lifted above the tops of the gaps of the brackets, when the turning of the same
aside, admits of the berth frame, folding down by gravity, into the position as shown
at figure 9.
To use the berth frame for sleeping purposes, raise the same upon its joint centre,
into an horizontal position, then connect the lee-rail ends, with the rest bracket, when
the same is in a position for use.
Figure 11 represents the said berth framings combined, to form a single article of
furniture, viz.: a couch. To accomplish this, supplementary brackets g, below the
rest brackets, are rendered necessary, in order to form the outward support to the
lower berth frame, which now constitutes a lounge.
By constructing a folding down berth, above a told-up berth, the latter can be either
folded against the former, or the former can rest in a fold down position, whilst the
latter rests in a horizontal position, with the ends of its lee-rail, engaging within the
gaps g, of the supplementary rest brackets, g.
When the lower berth, which is a folding up berth, requires to be used as a lounge,
as represented, the lee-rail has to have its position changed, from an erect, to a
depending position, so that no rail obstacles shall be presented to the front of the
berth.
The advantage is thus taken of the depending position of the rail, to support the
front of the berth when so used.
The berth frames, are upholstered consistent with the class of berth, and are prefer-
ably provided with distensible sackings.
The application of my invention to other ships' furniture, differs in no essential
respect from its application to that of ships' berths, and a lounge, as herein set
forth.
In the strap connection, I wish it to be observed, that I do not confine myself to the
particular details of construction as shown, so long as the centres of motion, carried by
the berth frame, turn within bearings, which are pivoted above or below, the said
centres of motion.
The lee rails, instead of being made continuous from one end of the berth frame to
the other, a portion of the same may be cranked, so that the one part shall lie without
the plane of the other part, and form no impediment to a person getting in or out of
a berth. In this form of lee-rail, the rest brackets of the downwardly cranked side,
is at a less elevated position to that of the other side. I may also observe, that the lee-
rail may be made permanent or folding, and employed only as a front to the frame,
and not as a rest for the berth, as herein before described. In this case, I provide the
opposite front sides of the berth frame, with fixed studs, which engage with the gaps
of swinging rest brackets, that is, brackets jointed above the supports of the berth,
so that when the frame is required to be folded up, or turned down, the
brackets admit of turning aside, for the releasing of the studs of the berth as aforesaid,
from them,

page_text: To prevent the possibility of the weight of a person on the inner side of the berth,
tilting the same, I provide a safety means in the form of, either a threaded loop or
loops on the lee rail, which when in its or their locked positions, pass or passes over a
collar on a fixed part of the bracket framing, or I may employ a bolt or sliding block,
suitably fitted to either the front or rear of the framing, and when in use, the shoot or
other movable part takes into or engages with a fixed attachment, carried by the bulk
head, or other part of the cabin.
To prevent the clothes and bedding from slipping down, consequent upon the
folding of the berth frame, I provide the said inner end of the berth frame, with
suitable rails or uprights.
To prevent the lateral displacement of the berth, when used as a lounge or soat, I.
secure the same in an affixed position, by a taper block, drawn up between the bulk
head, and the framing.
Or I affix the said berth by a bolt, directed from the front framing into the lee-rail,
when the latter is disposed in the aforesaid position.
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 Mounting or supporting ships' berths, or furniture, or the opposite inner
sides of the framings of ships' berths, or furniture, upon pivotedly hung straps, and
disc or ring connections, whereby the berth frame admits of readily being folded,
and retained in its said folded position, substantially as described and set forth in
figures 1 to 7.
Secondly-Supporting berth frames, or the fronts of them, when in use, from the
lee rails, or extensions of them, which engage with rest brackets, or the gaps of rest
brackets, affixedly connected to the sides of a cabin, substantially as described and set
forth.
Thirdly The construction, mounting, and supporting of ships'-berths, and
furniture, by means, substantially as described and set forth in figures i to 7.
Fourthly The combination with a ships' berth or furniture, of swinging rest
brackets, or supports, as described.
:
Fifthly The construction, arrangement and combination of parts of ships
berths, and their supporting brackets, as described and set forth in figures 8, 9,
and 10.
Sixthly The combination with a folding ships' berth, or the combination with
a turn down upper berth, and a turn up lower berth, of a supplementary rest
bracket 9 g, whereby a lounge or couch (with or without a back) is formed, sub-
stantially as set forth in figure 11.
Dated this 8th day of February 1890.
HENRY HERMAN CHILTON.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.