A Novel Platform, Berth, Cot, Couch, Chair, Store Closet, or Ambu- lance for Cabin, Saloon, Hold, or Deck Use, for the Prevention or Amelioration of Sickness at Sea, and Restful Transport by Land, and for other purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1899-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Novel Platform, Berth, Cot, Couch, Chair, Store Closet, or Ambu-
lance for Cabin, Saloon, Hold, or Deck Use, for the Prevention or
Amelioration of Sickness at Sea, and Restful Transport by Land,
and for other purposes.
We, HARRY JAMES HITCHINS and ATHOL MAYHEW, both of 7, Leicester Street,
Leicester Square, London, W., Gentlemen, 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:
-
Our invention relates to adjustable platforms, berths, cots, couches, chairs,
store closets, ambulances and the like, & is designed to prevent or ameliorate in
such appliances the physical & optical effects conducive to sea-sickness, and to
suffering during the sea or land transport of the wounded or ailing. Our
invention relates further to the safe stowage of fragile articles on board a ship,
and to the maintainance of a true plane from which marine artillery may be
sighted and fired independent of the motion of the sea-this Specification being
for improvements on the Letters Patent granted us A.D. 1896, No. 1047, for the
like purposes.
Our improved invention consists in the strengthening of the
carrying frame or frames from which our platform, berth, cot, couch, chair, store
closet, ambulance and the like are suspended, by the introduction of a transverse
rod which, bisecting the frame, forms at once one of the pair of axles or pivots
on which the platform, berth, cot, couch, chair, and the like swing, and a rigid
brace or tie to prevent the side of the frame bulging or "yawing" under the
weight of the carrying vessel and its contents: further in the automatic control
of the supporting frame or frames and the carrying vessel by the application to
each or all of suitable "give and take" springs, axle checks, counterweights,
rubber or elastic packing, or the employment of pneumatic or hydraulic brakes
or regulators, so as to prevent undue deflection of the said frame or frames and
the carrying vessel in restricted spaces at sea and vibration by land; further in
the introduction below the bed or matrass of the berth, cot, or couch of a locker
for the stowage of clothes, linen, and such requisites as are immediately necessary
to a traveller on a voyage; further in the control of the locking or steadying
apparatus attached to the berth, cot, couch etc. so that it may be actuated by the
occupant of the berth cot or couch from within; further in a novel arrangement
of the saloon or deck couch or chair whereby it is made to fold or collapse for
convenient stowage when not in use; further in the fitting of the saloon and
deck couches or chairs with pneumatic holders or suckers, at their underframing
or feet, so as to obviate any screwing to the deck and to facilitate rapid and firm
fixing in any desirable place; and finally in a simple arrangements of the blinds,
curtains, or translucent screens surrounding the berth, cot couch, chair, ambulance
and the like so that the optical effects which are held to be conducive to sea-
sickness may be covered from the sight of the occupant of the berth, cot, etc. at
the same time that light and air are secured.

page_text: And in order that our invention may be the better understood we now proceed
to describe the same, reference being had to the drawings hereto annexed, giving
examples of our devices, and to letters and figures marked thereon.
..
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a berth cot, or couch, in a cabin, or state-
room, of a ship, with the method of attaching the supporting and deflecting frame
to the containing vessel and the sides of the cabin. The bearings or plummer
blocks," on which the right angle axles of the supporting frame turn, are adjust-
able. The positions of six controlling pneumatic brakes, or regulators, are also
shown, working in pairs, and affixed, as to two pairs, to the lateral axles of the
supporting and deflecting frame and the sides of the cabin, and, as to one pair,
to the roof of the berth, cot, or couch, and to the ceiling or beams of the cabin
or state-room. The method of working the locking or steadying apparatus of
the cot from within, is also given; together with the position of the translucent
screens & curtains.
Fig. 2 is a plan of same.
Fig. 3 is an elevation and section of a pair of pneumatic brakes or regulators,
as attached by cross heads to the lateral axles of the supporting and deflecting
frame, and the sides of the cabin or state-room.
Fig. 4 is an elevation and section of a pair of pneumatic brakes or regulators
as attached to the roof of the berth, cot or couch and the ceiling or beams of a
cabin or state room.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a deck or saloon chair, with its supports and
deflecting rings, and showing the pneumatic suckers or holders attached to the
under framing of the chair supports, so as to obviate any screwing of the same
to the deck. Similar brakes or regulators can be applied to the deflecting rings
of the chair to the ones controlling the berth, cot, or couch. An arrangement
of sight screens is also given to shut off external objects from the occupant of
the chair.
Fig. 6 is an elevation showing chair supports and deflecting rings folded flat
when not in use.
Fig. 7 is a section of a pneumatic sucker or holder as attached to the
underframing of the supports of the chair.
"
61
on which
In Fig. 1, A is the berth, cot, or couch, with its translucent screens and cur-
tains A A. BB is the supporting and deffecting frame, having a transverse
bisecting rod or brace C. 1) are the bearings or plummer blocks
the cot and the transverse bisecting rod turn. EE are the lateral axles of the
supporting and deflecting frame, turning on the bearings or
FF, attached to the sides of the cabin or stateroom.
plummer blocks,"
GG are two cross heads,
securely fastened to and turning with the lateral axles EE, and actuating the
four pistons H H working in the four pneumatic cylinders I I. JJ are brackets
holding the heads of the cylinders to the sides of the cabin or stateroom. KK are
two pistons and pneumatic cylinders working, as to both pistons and cylinders,
on ball and socket joints, attached, as to the cylinder ends, to the roof of the
berth, cot, or couch, and, as to the piston ends, to the ceiling or beams of the
cabin or stateroom. L shows the position of the locker under the matrass or
bed of the cot and M M M gives the method of working the locking or steadying
apparatus by means of cords running over friction rollers to the fixing and
releasing lever N.
In Fig. 2 A is the berth, cot, or couch. BB is the supporting and deflecting
frame. C is the transverse bisecting rod or brace. D) are the bearings or
"plummer blocks on which the berth, cot or couch turns. EE are the lateral
axles of the supporting and deflecting frame, turning on the bearings or
plummer blocks," II, attached to the walls of the cabin. GG are the two
cross heads, fastened to, and turning with, the lateral axles EE. H H indicate the
positions of the two pneumatic cylinders, with ball and socket joints, as attached
to the roof of the berth, cot, or couch, and I shows the adjustable balance weight
running beneath the berth, etc. and the whole length of it.

page_text: In Fig. 3 A is the crosshead actuating the pistons BB. C shows the method
of attaching the cup-shaped washer ) to the piston head. EE are the cylinders.
FF are the screws regulating the air escapement from the cylinders. GG shows
how the heads of the cylinders are attached to the wall brackets H H.
In Fig.
A A are the cylinders. BB the pistons. C and D the washer, and
attachment to piston. EEEE are the balls at the ends of the pistons and
cylinders. FFFF are the sockets in which the balls work. GG are the air
escapement screws. H is the roof of the berth, cot, or couch, and I the ceiling,
or beam, of a stateroom or cabin.
In Fig. 5 A is a folding chair with its adjustable balance weight A A. Bare
rigid rods which suspend the chair from the outer deflecting ring, CC. DD is
the inner deflecting ring. Both these rings are pivotted at right angles to each
other, the outer ring working on a third or fixed ring, E, secured to the dome-
shaped chair supporter, FFFF. Gis a right angle underframe secured to
the legs of the chair supporter, and lined beneath with corrugated india-rubber.
HHH are four pneumatic suckers or holders to secure adhesion of the under
frame to the deck. I shows the method in which a screen is run round the
supporters of the chair so as to cut off external objects from the line of vision.
In Fig. 6 is shown the supporter of the chair and the deflecting rings swung
round and dependant so as to flatten one within the other.
AA shows the pivotting of the two deflecting rings at right angles to each
other, & B the transverse bisecting rod. Fig. 7 shows a section of the pneumatic
sucker or holder as attached to the underframing of the chair supports.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:
1st. The combination in an adjustable swinging platform, berth, cot, couch,
chair, store-closet or ambulance, of one or more supporting and deflecting frames
or rings axled or pivotted at right angles to each other; one such frame or ring
being strengthened by a transverse bisecting rod or brace substantially as
described and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6.
2nd. In combination with an adjustable platform, berth, cot, couch, chair store
closet or ambulance swinging on two pairs of axles or pivots at right angles to
each other of automatic brakes, stops, checks, or regulators to prevent undue
deflection and vibration of the supporting frame, frames, or rings in restricted
places, substantially as described.
3rd. In combination with an adjustable platform, berth, cot, couch, chair, store
closet or ambulance swinging on two pairs of axles or pivots at right angles to
each other, of hydraulic or pneumatic brakes or regulators substantially as
described and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 & 4.
4th. In combination with a berth cot or couch swinging adjustably a locker or
receptacle for the stowage of clothes, linen and the like, substantially as described
and illustrated in Fig. 1.
5th. In combination with a berth, cot, couch or chair swinging adjustably of
a locking or steadying apparatus substantially as described and illustrated in
Fig. 1.
6th. A chair & supports for saloon or deck use, swinging adjustably on two
pairs of pivots, and so contrived that it may be secured to the deck of a ship
without screws or the like, and will fold flat when not in use, substantially as
described and illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 & 7.
7th. A supporting and deflecting frame, frames, or rings, axled or pivotted
at right angles and a carrying vessel controlled by automatic brakes or regulators
that will swing to all points of the compass and any degree of a ships deflection
provided sufficient space be given for the oscillations of the frame, frames, or
rings, and the carrying vessel.
8th. A platform, berth, cot, couch, ambulance and the like swinging adjustably

page_text: from axled or pivotted frames or rings and controlled by brakes or regulators
substantially as described in Figs. 1, 2, 3 & 4.
9th. A swinging and folding chair and supports with pneumatic suckers or
holders substantially as described & illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 & 7.
31st May 1899.
HARRY JAMES HITCHINS,
ATHOL MAYHEW.