IMPROVEMENTS IN MARINE SAFETY STANDS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Ediss Harris, of 44, Anne's Road, South Hackney,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MARINE
SAFETY STANDS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Ediss Harris at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th July 1877.
ROBERT EDISS HARRIS, of 44, Anne's Road, South Hackney, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MARINE SAFETY STANDS."
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus for preserving glass and other
wares used at meals on board steam and sailing ships at sea. It consists of a small
gimbal or stand carrying frames, cups, or holders to receive the glass or other
articles.
The stands can be used at the breakfast, dinner, or tea table; and are attached to
what sailors term the fiddles, thereby economising the table space and again
bringing into requisition the room taken up by the fiddles.
The principal articles that the stands are intended for are tumblers, wine glasses
of all kinds, tea and breakfast cups, decanters, sauce bowles, and bottles. They are
made to swing by means of the gimbals or pivots; this promotes great convenience,
adds comfort to the passengers, and saves money for the owners.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Ediss Harris in the Great. Seal Patent Office on the 8th
January 1878.
ROBERT EDISS HARRIS, of 44, Anne's Road, South Hackney, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MARINE SAFETY STANDS.'
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus for preserving glass and other
wares used at meals on board steam and sailing ships at sea. It consists of a small
gimbal stand carrying frames, cups, or holders to receive the glass or other
articles.
The stands can be used at the breakfast, dinner, or tea table, and are attached to
(what sailors term) the fiddles, thereby economising the table space, and again
bringing into requisition the room taken up by the fiddles.
The principal articles that the stands are intended for are tumblers, wine glases
of all kinds, tea and breakfast cups, decanters, sauce bowls, and bottles. They are
made to swing by means of the gimbals or pivots; this promotes great convenience,
adds comfort to the passengers, and saves money for the owners.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 2 is a similar view of a safety stand for a wine glass.
Figure 3 is a stand for a coffee cup.
And Figure 4, a stand for a tea cup.
The stands, Figures 1 and 2, are shown in their places upon the fiddle or guard, 2
which is commonly employed on board ship to prevent plates and other articles
slipping off the table.
Each of the stands consists of a fork-like standard with a stem at the bottom to
fit into a hole bored to receive it in the fiddle.
The prongs of the standard carry at their upper ends the pivots of a swinging 3
frame adapted to fit the glass or cup which it is intended to hold.
The frame may be weighted at the bottom to aid it in maintaining the article
which it holds in an upright position, and to make it conform freely to the roll of
the ship. If however the pivots work freely, it is not necessary that the frames
should be weighted.
.
Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, show stands similar to those already described, but without
any weight added at the bottom of the swinging frame to keep it upright, the
weight of the frame itself and of its contents being deemed sufficient for this
purpose.
These stands are most conveniently made in metal, but they may be of other
materials.
Figure 9 shows a double stanchion stand with arms and rings with rolling
gimbals for a tumbler and wine glass.
Figure 10 shows a double stanchion stand with rings fixed to a rolling axis
passing through the heads of the stanchion; this stand also is adapted to carry a
tumbler and a wine glass.
Figure 11 shows double rings with rolling and pitching gimbals; these may be
applied to any of the stands above described.
The swinging frame may, if desired, be adapted to receive a smaller article
than will fit it by inserting temporarily an inner ring, as is indicated by Figure 12.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of per-
3

page_text: forming the same, I would have it understood that I claim my improved marine
safety stands, substantially as heroin described, and as illustrated by the annexed
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Ediss Harris, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
R. E. HARRIS. (L.S.)