IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPs' BERTHS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Lumsden Morice, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Sail-maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPs'
BERTHS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Lumsden Morice at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th August 1879.
JOHN LUMSDEN MORICE, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Sail-maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS' BERTHS."
This Invention has for its main object to provide means whereby berths on
board ship, more especially for the use of emigrants and troops, may be so con-
structed in a cheap, simple, and efficient manner that the said berths may be easily
placed in position when required, and readily removed and stowed away to make
room for cargo or goods when necessary.
In carrying my said Invention into practice I proceed as follows:-
First. I make use for each set of berths of stanchions or supports placed about
six feet apart, extending from the lower to the upper deck and secured in position
in any of the ordinary or well known manners now in use, and I connect the said
stanchions to the sides of the ship or vessel by means of head and foot boards
hinged or otherwise secured in position. The said boards are provided or fitted
with stays or tie rods passing from one of the said boards to. the other, in order to
prevent bending or warping when in use.
Second. I secure a web or length of canvas to the side of the ship or to any
suitable support, and to a bar or holding piece secured across the front of the said
stanchions or supports by lacing, hooking, or in any other convenient manner, and
I divide such length of canvas into separate portions by means of boards, netting,
or dividing pieces fitting between the head and foot boards and attached, secured,

page_text: or fitted thereto. The said length or web of canvas is also secured to the head and
foot boards.
Third. I divide the bottom row of berths into four by three dividing pieces, so
constructed and hinged that the central dividing piece may be turned into position
to form a table, and the other two dividing pieces arranged to form seats. The
central dividing piece is preferably constructed with ledges to prevent the articles
thereon sliding off when it is used as a table.
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Fourth. When the lower set of berths are constructed and arranged substantially
as set forth under the above third head I provide the head or foot board or both
with a door or doors, which may be opened to allow of the seats being reached
when necessary.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Lumsden Morice in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
February 1880.
JOHN LUMSDEN MORICE, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Sail-maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS' BERTHS."
This Invention has for its main object to provide means whereby berths on
board ship, more especially for the use of emigrants and troops, may be so con-
structed in a cheap, simple, and efficient manner that the said berths may be easily
placed in position when required, and readily removed and stowed away to make
room for cargo or goods when necessary.
In carrying my said Invention into practice I proceed as follows:-
First. I make use for each set of berths of stanchions or supports placed about
six feet apart, extending from the lower to the upper deck and secured in position
in any of the ordinary or well known manners now in use, and I connect the said
stanchions to the sides of the ship or vessel by means of head and foot boards
hinged or otherwise secured in position. The said boards are provided or fitted
with stays or tie rods passing from one end of the said boards to the other, in order
to prevent bending or warping when in use.
Second. I secure a web or length of canvas to the side of the ship or to any
suitable support, and to a bar or holding piece secured across the front of the said
stanchions or supports by lacing, hooking, or in any other convenient manner, and
I divide such length of canvas into separate portions by means of boards, netting,
or dividing pieces fitting between the head and foot boards, and attached, secured,
or fitted thereto. The said length or web of canvas is also secured to the head and
foot boards.
Third. I divide the bottom row of berths into four by three dividing pieces, so
constructed and hinged that the central dividing piece may be turned into position
to form a table, and the other two dividing pieces arranged to form seats. The
central dividing piece is preferably constructed with ledges to prevent the articles
thereon sliding off when it is used as a table.
Fourth. When the lower set of berths are constructed and arranged substantially
as set forth under the above third head I provide the head or foot board or both
with a door or doors, which may be opened to allow of the seats being reached
when necessarv
Fig. 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2, a front view; Fig. 3, a plan view at the
line A, A; all of berths constructed and arranged in accordance with my
Invention.
First Part. a, lower deck; b, upper deck; c, side of ship or vessel; d, d,
stanchions or supports placed about six feet apart, and held in position by the
cleats e on the lower deck, and by passing through the cross pieces f secured to the
upper deck beams g. The upper ends of the said stanchions or supports are first
passed through the openings in the pieces f, the lower ends are then allowed to fall
into the cleats e. The said stanchions or supports may be secured to the upper and
lower decks in any well known or desired manner; ½, head and foot boards con-
nected to the stanchions or supports a, d², by the hooks and eyes or hinges i, and
to a second set of stanchions or to the ship's side c; j, strengthening pieces or ties
connecting the head and foot boards together. Bulkheads may if desired be
substituted for the head boards.
Second Part is a web or length of canvas attached to the side of ship or to the
board at one end and to the bar m at the other. The bar m is secured in position

page_text: at the front by the cleats n. The said length of canvas is divided into berths by
the boards o, or by netting, or other suitable dividing pieces. In some cases the
canvas bottom is replaced by rigid material. The canvas is secured to the head,
foot, and dividing boards as well as at the front and back supports.
Third Part. p, p, are side dividing pieces held in vertical position by bolts g,
and capable of being turned into the position shown by the dotted lines so as to
form seats; 7, central dividing piece hinged to the raised portions of the head and
foot boards, secured in position by the bolt t, and capable of being turned as shown
by the dotted lines, so as to form a table. The front partition board u is also
hinged and is made to fall down, as shown, and serve as a table when necessary.
Fourth. The foot board h is provided with a door w.
More than one door may
•
be constructed if desired.
Having now described and illustrated the nature of my said Invention in such
manner that others will be enabled to carry the same into effect, I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to details of construction; but what I
claim is,
First. Constructing and combining, stanchions, tie pieces, and head and foot
boards, arranged substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.
Second. Constructing, arranging, and combining the bottoms, sides, and ends of
berths, substantially as set forth.
Third. Constructing and arranging dividing pieces for berths, operating sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. Head and foot boards, or both, for berths, constructed substantially as
and for the purposes set forth."
In witness whereof, I, the said John Lumsden Morice, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
JAMES JOHNSON,
Patent Office,
4, Clayton Sqr.,
L'pool.
JNO. L. MORICE. (L.S.)