Improved Portable Safety Boats.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 17th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 28th Sent., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Portable Safety Boats.
We JAMES MCHARDY of Zoffany House Chiswick Middlesex Scientific
Expert and WALKER GEORGE DE FORGÉS GARLAND of East Molesey Surrey
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention, which relates to improved portable safety boats, enables us to
produce a canoe or boat constructed, to some extent, if not entirely on the principle
of an unbrella.
By means of longitudinal supports, either jointed or continuous, we retain a
flexible cover in the required form.
The cover and the frame may be made together or separately.
The ends of the longitudinal pieces may be retained, either as if in a sack,
or by means of a standard provided with ring-joints and stops, or their
equivalents.
One or more flexible ribs may be so constructed as to fold into a portable
form. These ribs may be fitted into the longitudinal pieces in any convenient
manner, to give the desired shape.
At one or more points, and at convenient distances, a set of ribs radiating from a
hinged centre-piece, and connected with the longitudinal supports by suitable
fastenings may be used.
These ribs will act exactly on the principle of the distending stays of an
umbrella. When they are pushed into the working position, the longitudinal
frame will be forced out to the shape required. When released the frame will
collapse.
Any of the parts may be made telescopic, to compensate for differences of
dimensions in the folded as compared with the working position.
As above suggested, the cover may be made permanent with the frame, or
separate, as an overall to fix the frame.
upon
In any case we may duplicate the material, or add such material to it, as
shall enable us to provide such air gunwales or other parts, as shall render the
boat absolutely safe from sinking. We may likewise provide such hollow parts
inside or outside the boat as shall form a water-keel, or ballast-compartments.
The frame may be made to come to pieces or to fold up; or, it may be in any
way constructed to meet requirements, so long as we fulfil the conditions herein
set forth.
Dated this 26th day of September 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Portable Safety Boats.
We JAMES MCHARDY of Zoffany House Chiswick Middlesex Scientific
Expert and WALKER GEORGE DE FORGES GARLAND of East Molesey Surrey
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 :-
The leading feature of this invention in the flexible longitudinal pieces

page_text: which, not only, bend to the required position after the manner of the ribs of
an umbrella, but spring in such a way as to distend the waterproof cover. These
longitudinal pieces may be the full length, or any part of the length of the
boat they may form a skeleton-hull capable of receiving a water-proof cover:
they may be fitted into the cover like the joints of a fishing rod in the separate
loop-like compartments of the bag: they may be jointed in any way convenient,
for packing in short lengths. For example, if the pieces be, say, one third of
the length of the boat, some of them may be made to slide in their respective
loops and so give the desired spring and continuity: (in this case the gunwale or
the keel, or both, may be jointed like a fishing rod to maintain the required length
of the boat-frame.
As abovementioned the said longitudinal pieces may be in full length or jointed
or in several lengths. In full lengths they are retained at given distances one from
another by a set of narrow webs or by the water-proof cover itself. In either case
springs are supplied to compensate for contraction and expansion and also to admit
of the outer longitudinal pieces or gunwales engaging the transverse ribs herein-
after described. Any equivalents, such as straps and buckles, may be made to
fulfill the office of the said springs. If the longitudinal pieces be in several short
lengths they may be secured, as before described, so that, some being fixed and
others movable, a given point or line across the membrane or web of waterproof or
other material may be left free or made rigid according to the position of the
movable pieces. The longitudinal pieces are either gathered at the end by lacing
or hooking or permanently retained by a kind of sack.
Now if the said ends be so retained, i.e. if the ends of all the longitudinal
pieces riz. gunwales keel and any convenient intermediate pieces, be caught
up and fixed like the end of a skeleton boat, at their ends; and, if at suitable
intervals between the ends, (say at the middle and two other points between
the middle and the ends) all the said longitudinal pieces (i.e. gunwales keel and
intermediates) be controlled by transverse flexible ribbons of canvas, web or
their equivalents, so that, at the point of attachment of such ribbons, the said
ribbons will admit of the spreading apart of the said gunwales and intermediate
pieces in such a way that, the said parts may not be drawn apart to a greater
extent than that which will yield the desired dimensions, it is clear that the
ends of the boat will be formed in skeleton and that if transverse ribs of the
shape of the boat in section, be forced in and the gunwales and intermediate pieces
spread upon them and fixed in any convenient way, a frame of a boat will be
produced, capable of receiving a waterproof cover to complete its sustaining
power.
The distending ribs fold inwards either transversely or longitudinally and they
may be either fixtures with the longitudinal pieces or separately portable.
For cheap boats we prefer to use portable transverse ribs; for more expensive
boats we prefer to use fixed ribs radiating from a hinge-centre or crown (some
of them telescopic to compensate for difference of length in the folded as compared
with the extended position).
As may be readily understood the transverse portable ribs will fold out to
the required working position but the umbrella-like action of the radial ribs will
push the longitudinal pieces into position as the crown centre is forced into the
distending position. In any case, when the ribs are released the longitudinal parts
will come together in the straight, and may be carried as a long thin parcel, if in
continuous lengths and if in short lengths-the said short lengths being pushed
into coinciding positions-the frame will pack up in one third or any part of its
full length according to construction, the water-proof overall becoming an envelope
for the other parts.
The floor of the boat is so constructed as to secure the required longitudinal
rigidity but as it is not a leading feature in the invention it may be constructed in
any convenient way; as may also the seat and other accessory parts.
If to the waterproof overall he added such pneumatic chambers as may be

page_text: blown out with air the said boat may be secured against sinking, even when filled
with water.
If to the said cover be added such chambers as may be filled with ballast the
stability of the boat may likewise be secured. In the latter case such chambers
running along the outside of the boat may assume the offices of a keel, or bilge
keels, or both.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. I is a plan of the longitudinal pieces spread out on the flat, in which the said
longitudinal pieces are marked A.
The two outer pieces which may be called gunwales are marked B B. C is the
keel-piece. All these parts are retained by the webs D and the springs X, as
also at the ends by the webs E. The webs E may be laced together as suggested
by eyelet-holes or as beforementioned this said web may be simply in the form of a
sack which would retain all the parts in their required positions.
Fig. II is a modification of Fig. I, only one gunwale and two other longitudinal
lines of parts being shown. In this case the narrow webs are supplanted by a
supplimentary overall or the waterproof cover itself provided with a required
number of longitudinal loops like to the loops in a fishing rod cover.
The parts marked A are fixed in their respective loops.
The pieces marked A2 are free to slide-(longitudinally)-in their loops.
BB is the gunwale, provided with the ferrules indicated at Y Y. These ferrules
being removed and the parts A 2 pushed along to coincide in position with the
parts A the contrivance folds.
N.B. The keel-piece and the other gunwale-piece are jointed like the B B showing
gunwale jointed at Y Y.
Fig. III is explanatory of Fig. II.
The parts are here arranged as suggested for folding the contrivance A coincides
with A 2 consequently there is nothing to prevent folding in one third of the length
as the parts are retained by a flexible cover in which the loops-longitudinal-are
formed to retain the parts A and A 2. Of course the ferrules Y Y on BB Fig. II
should be disengaged to leave the three lengths of B B free to fold with A
and A 2.
Fig. IV shows an end view of the frame when laced up.
E is the said end view and the diagonal cross lines are laces used for the purpose
of bringing E E Fig. I, into the working position. This practically shows the
end of the frame ready to receive the waterproof cover-a skeleton prow of a
boat. This is stiffened by the insertion of an upright of any suitable kind.
Fig. V is a transverse section of Fig. I at the point D when the parts have been
forced into the working position.
A shows the sections of the longitudinal pieces secured in the web D as in
Fig. 1.
B B are sections of gunwales.
C is section of keel-piece.
D is the said web which retains all these parts and;
X X are small springs or the like for allowing play sufficient for adjustment.
Fig. VI is a similar section but in this the web D of Fig. V is purposely left
out in order to show clearly; A as the longitudinal pieces; and B B the gunwales;
and C the keel piece; as a means of giving form to the waterproof overall G G
which is shown also in section.
Fig. VII is a section of the same kind but of the modified construction for easy
folding into short length.
A is a set of pieces the same as A of Figs. II and III.
A 2 a set of sliding pieces the same as A 2 of Figs. II and III.
BB are sections of B B Fig. II.
C is a section of the keel piece.
GG is a false cover or, if practicable, the waterproof cover retaining all the

page_text: said pieces A, A 2, B B, and C, in longitudinal loops, as indicated, in which the
parts may be fixed or slide as required.
The parts not required to slide longitudinally may be in any manner attached
to the covering. As this figure is only explanatory of Figs. II and III and the
explanations relating thereto it will be readily understood as a logical consequence,
if we bear in mind that the regulation of the distances apart of the longitudinal
pieces (ie. the gunwales, the keel (if used) and such intermediate pieces as may
be used) may be, by means of a complete false cover, by means of the waterproof
cover itself, or, by means of simple straps, or webs, as shown at D Fig. I.
D Fig. V. and G Fig. VII.
Fig. VIII is a possible construction of a folding rib for forcing the frame work
into the working position.
F. F. F. are folding pieces hinged at M in such a manner that they may be
folded into the positions F 2 for portability.
If such a transverse rib be forced down upon the keel C C Fig. I and have the
gunwales, B B drawn up and sprung onto its extreme ends, it will bring the said
frame into the section described in Fig. V.
Fig. IX shows the umbrella-like distending contrivance hereinbefore mentioned.
A marks the usual longitudinal pieces for distending the cover G G (all in
section) in this case mounted with joints or hinges or the like at the points
marked R in which the telescopic pieces marked Z articulate.
P is a crown to which the said telescopic pieces are also hinged.
NN is a retaining web or the like which prevents the crown P from rising by
means of the extra telescopic pieces marked V V. The action is almost exactly
that of an umbrella the only difference being in the shape which is attained by the
telescopic construction of the stays.
This will be more clearly seen on referring to
Fig. X which shows a plan of the contrivance in which
BB show the gunwales.
RR the hinge joints.
ZZ the telescopic stays.
P the crown, to which Z Z are also hinged at
S S the hinge joints, not shown in Fig. IX.
W is a rod capable of forcing the crown R into the working position and causing
the parts to take up the desired shape.
O is a hole a book or the like at the end of the rod for fixing it at the working
point.
Fig. XI shows Fig. X in a working position. The lettering is all the same as
in Fig. X excepting B2 B2 which shows the frame drawn together as in Fig. IV
to form the end of the boat.
N.B. In this plan the gunwales only are shown.
O may be secured at the point of junction of B2 and B 2 in any suitable
manner; or, as is manifest W may be made permanent with the gunwale about the
point and the crown P may work upon W precisely as the crown of an umbrella
slides and catches upon the handle.
Fig. XII. is a section of a waterproof overall such as we have hereinbefore set
forth.
GG is the material in the working position: i.e. when the frame of the boat is
forced into it say as in Figs. V and IX.
H H H are possible air chambers which in this case may form pneumatic
gunwales for safety.
Similar air-bladders or chambers may be provided in any position, either filled
with air or cork or with any suitable light material.
I. I. I. are water keels or ballast compartments which may be conveniently formed
in the overall.
Fig. XIII is a sectional elevation of a possible form of the boat which, however,.
1

page_text: may be indefinitely varied. The dotted lines are an outline of the boat made on
plan Fig. I, when folded up for portability. In this case the parcel is the full
length of the boat because the longitudinal pieces are all continuous.
Fig. XIV shows how the boat may be rolled up if made according to
modification Figs. II, III, and VII. In this case the parcel will be just a little
longer than the longest of the detached lengths of longitudinal stiffening.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is;-
1. The longitudinal supports as herein described, capable of folding together
practically parallel one to another.
2. The frame set forth in Figs. I, II and III, capable of folding longitudinally
in the straight or, transversely, as well as longitudinally.
3. The folding ribs for distending the said frame particularly as set forth in
Figs. VIII, IX, X, and XI.
4. The air or other boyant parts in combination with our said frame, cover and
distending ribs as set forth in Fig. XII.
5. Water or ballast compartments (in any convenient shape) in a flexible boat
cover.
6. The application of tight or loose straight longitudinal pieces in the construction
of a portable boat.
7. The portable cover as herein described-each and all as especially described
and set forth by the drawings and specifications, and each and all without regard
to shape position or dimensions.
Dated this 16th day of April 1894.
JAMES MCHARDY,
WALKER GEORGE DE FORGÉS GARLAND.