Improvements in Life-saving Seats and Cabin Equipment for Use on Board Ship.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 7th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 13th Jan., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Life-saving Seats and Cabin Equipment for Use
on Board Ship.
I, JAMES GEORGE WILLCOX ALDRIDGE No. 2 Clyde Terrace, Bevois Hill
Southampton in the County of Hampshire, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE SAVING SEATS AND CABIN
EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON BOARD SHIP to be as follows :-
The Invention refers principally to a seat which shall replace the ordinary camp
stools and deck chairs and be available for saving life.
The first part of my invention relates to the form of the seat.
It may be either round, hexagonal or other suitable shape on the top and is made
up of separate triangular prisms all connected which fit together when closed forming
the required shaped seat.
A back fastened on the outer side of the seat is so arranged as to turn or slide up
and converting it when required into a deck or saloon chair.
These seats may be opened out full length to make up as a sofa or bed, the end
prisms being elevated to form a pillow.
If made sufficiently large, they can be used as settees.
A number of these seats can be connected to form a raft.
The second part of my invention refers to the construction of the seat.
For buoyancy the triangular prisms are made of a light framework, preferably
of wood or cane but metal may be used, and covered with a waterproof covering.
This framework may form the foundation of the seat or a separate framework may
be formed into which the triangular prisms slide, and are fixed. A netting of
suitable material is attached to the seat frame as a safeguard against injury to
the waterproof covering and is advantageous when the seat is used as
or bed.
a sofa
The top of the seat is stuffed to form a cushion but the whole or portion of the seat
may be so stuffed if preferred.

page_text: The third part of my invention has reference to the general arrangement for use as
a life saving appliance.
To affect this, the triangular prisms are connected by life lines which encircle the
seat when closed and loop down and also by springs, which open the seat to its full
length when it is unfastened.
A lock is fastened to one side and a strap from the other side is connected through
he lock.
When required as a life saving appliance by grasping the strap or lock handle and
throwing the seat overboard it frees itself and expands to its full extent.

page_text: CUMI LETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Life Saving Seats and Cabin Equipment for Use
on Board Ship.
1, JAMES GEORGE WILLCOX ALDRIDGE of No. 2 Clyde Terrace Bevois Hill
Southampton in the county of Hampshire, Civil Engineer 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 :-
The seat is mainly composed of triangular prisms or segments hinged together on
the outer side and when shut together form the required seat the shape of it being
governed by the number and exact shape of each prism.
The size and shape of these prisms are also regulated according to the purpose for
which the equipment is required.
The deck seat is supported by legs which are preferably made to turn back or slide
up, and when used as a life belt the seat as above described is turned inside out and
in that form can be placed round the body elastic fastenings being provided on the
inside for holding the belt in its place-Shoulder straps are also provided which
cross over each shoulder.
When used as a chair a back is fixed on one or more frames to slide or turn up.
A low back may also be fixed to the deck seat.
When used as a sofa or bed the back of the chair is pushed or turned down and the
seat opened out to its full length inside downwards while the two end prisms are raised
to form a pillow or head rest.
If made sufficiently large the seats may be utilised for settees.
The equipment is also available for the purpose of a raft either alone or when a
number are connected together.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings
Fig. 1 represents the equipment folded to form a chair.
دو
2 shews it opened out as a life saving appliance.
3 as a sofa or bed.
4 as a deck seat.
22
Fig. 5 as a portable seat.
Fig. 6 shews Figs. 4 or 5 as a life belt round the body.
The following letters refer to all the figures.
A The Triangular frames of the equipment.
B The Triangular prisms sliding in frames.
C Protective netting.
D Cushions.
E Sliding back to chair.
F Shoulder straps.
G Small supports for end prisms.
H Automatic fastening.
I Life lines.

page_text: The triangular prisms which are the chief means of buoyancy are made of a light
framework of wood cane or other suitable material, india rubber sheeting or other
waterproof material being tightly stretched over it and all joints being cemented
metal fastenings being avoided in the prisms where possible.
These prisms are preferred hollow but may be filled in with any suitable material
impervious to water.
The prisms slide into a similar stronger framework which form the main frame of
the equipment.
This framework may be made to answer both purposes but separate frames are
preferred.
A netting of suitable material is stretched upon the seat frame where required as a
protection against injury to the waterproof covering and is also advantageous when
the appliance is used for other purposes herein named.
The triangular frames or prisms are all connected by hinges preferably of strong
tape and a metal spring is sometimes inserted to stiffen the equipment when opened
out full length.
Stuffed cushions are provided on one end of each triangular frame and form the
top of the seat or a separate cushion may be provided.
The seat is encircled by life lines which loop down.
For special purposes such as a sofa or bed the hinges may be made to lengthen or
the top and bottom portions of the frames may slide so as to obtain the necessary
length or more than one may be used for the same purpose.
The seat is provided with an automatic lock which is either an eccentric roller or
other suitable fastening so that on throwing the seat overboard the strap frees itself
and the appliance opens to its full length.
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 :-
1. The arrangement of triangular frames hinged together so as to form a seat or
cabin equipment substantially as described.
2. The construction of triangular prisms with a covering of waterproof material
substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
3. The arrangement and construction of seats and cabin equipment substantially as
described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this Fifth day of December 1887