IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-LEVELLING TABLES, CATTLE PENS, AND OTHER ARTICLES FOR USE ON SHIP-BOARD
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris
A commu-
and Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-LEVELLING TABLES,
CATTLE PENS, AND OTHER ARTICLES FOR USE ON SHIP-BOARD."
nication from abroad by Isaac Francis Dobson, of Boston, in the State of
Massachusetts in the United States of America, Insurance Agent.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th October 1880.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
"IMPROVE-
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent.
MENTS IN SELF-LEVELLING TABLES, CATTLE PENS, AND OTHER ARTICLES FOR USE
ON SHIP BOARD." [A communication from abroad by Isaac Francis Dobson, of
Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, Insurance
Agent.]
This Invention relates to improvements in dining tables used upon ocean
steamers and passenger vessels, and it consists in a certain novel arrangement and
construction whereby the tables and the chairs connected with the same will
remain in a horizontal position, unaffected by the rolling or pitching of the vessel,
promoting the comfort of the passengers at meals, and preventing the sliding of
dishes and other articles upon the table.
These tables may be used for other purposes as well as for meals, such as
writing, card, and other tables.
The tables can also of course be made singly or in sections.
A spreader or hanger consisting of a horizontal pole or bar is connected by
oblique chains with the deck beams by means of eyes fastened in the beams and
hanger, or in any other suitable manner. The table top is fixed to a frame formed
of vertical posts, horizontal stringers, oblique braces and cross beams, and the table
is suspended from the deck beams by the before mentioned hanger and oblique
chains, and by rods hooked into eyes in the hanger and frame of the table, the

page_text: platform of the table is provided with leaves, which, moving on hinges, may be
turned up and fastened when the table is not in use, thus occupying less space; the
chairs revolve upon posts, dovetailed at the bottom into slides attached to the
platform of the table, thus preventing the chairs from drawing out and allowing
them to slide inward towards the centre of the table when not in use, so that the
platform leaves may be turned up and fastened, or allowing the chairs to slide
outward for use as desired. A bell crank lever operates a locking slide in one
direction, and springs above them act in the contrary direction to fasten the table;
the slides have a recess at the ends into which a comb or clutch in the floor of the
cabin enters, and when the handle of the lever is thrown forward and the said
slide forced downwards by the aid of the spring above it, the table is fastened and
kept in place amidships when not in use. A rod connects the slides at each end,
and aided by the springs above operates to fasten the table amidships by means of
the bell crank lever as described. Instead of the oblique chains, oblique rods with
eyes may be used and turn buckles to raise and lower the table if desired. A rod
passing through the ends of the hanger and the end posts of the table fastened by
nut and screw, may be used for additional support of the weight of the table if
desired. The operation of the table is as follows:-The table is fastened to the
floor of the cabin, by the means described, until the passengers are seated, then by
throwing back the lever and securing it in a keeper in the edge of the table, the
table is disconnected from the floor, and the table and seated persons are not
subjected to the motion of the vessel. The weight of the persons on the platform of
the table, and of the articles on the table, preserves it in equilibrium, and all lateral
motion or rolling of the vessel will be compensated by the swing of the table,
suspended as described, so that the table will remain in a horizontal position. The
pitching or fore and aft motion of the vessel is compensated by the operation of the
oblique chains as the vessel pitches forward and the table swings in the same
direction to find its level, the forward chains shorten and raise that end, and the aft
chains lengthen and lower the other, and so vice versd as the vessel falls by the
stern; thus the table and seated persons remain comparatively at rest unaffected by
the fore and aft or lateral motion of the vessel.
This fore and aft motion is obviated by the peculiar method of attachment by
the oblique chains or rods. It is evident that glass racks, shelves, and other
articles may be suspended in the same manner with advantage. The principle of
this method of hanging a table or platform may be used in building stalls for the 3
transportation of animals across the water with great benefit to them, the constant
motion of the vessel at sea, pitching and rolling, obliges them to keep their legs
braced, to counteract the motion of the vessel, they cannot eat with comfort or lie
down, they lose strength and weight.
By the use of the present Invention they will not be effected by the motion of 4
the vessel and can be carried comfortably.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Soal Patent Office
on the 26th April 1881.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SELF LEVELLING TABLES, CATTLE PENS, AND OTHER ARTICLES FOR USE
ON SHIP BOARD." A communication from abroad by Isaac Francis Dobson, of
Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, Insurance
Agent.
This Invention relates principally to improvements in dining tables used upon
ocean steamers and passenger vessels, and it consists in a certain novel arrangement
and construction, whereby the tables and the chairs connected with the same will
remain in a horizontal position, unaffected by the rolling or pitching of the vessel,
promoting the comfort of the passengers at meals, and preventing the sliding of
dishes or other articles upon the table. These tables may be used for other
purposes as well as for meals, such as writing, card, and other tables. The tables
can also of course be made singly or in sections. The Invention is also applicable
to other articles used on shipboard.
And in order that the said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front view of the table and chairs suspended from the deck beams;
Figure 2 is a cross section of the same showing the position of the chairs and
platform when not in uso; Figure 3 is an end view showing the chairs and platform
in position for use, and the bell crank lever, spring, and slide, for fastening the
table to the floor of the cabin. The same letters of reference indicate like parts in
all the Figures. A represents the spreader or hanger connected by the oblique
chains a, a, with the deck beams B, by means of eyes fastened in the beams and
hanger, or in any other suitable manner; C is the frame of the table with its
vertical posts, horizontal stringers, oblique braces and cross beams, suspended from
the deck beams by the hanger A, oblique chains a, a, and rods b, b, hooked into eyes
in the hanger and frame of the table; D is the platform of the table with its
leaves G, which, moving on hinges, may be turned up and fastened when the table
is not in use, thus occupying less space; E represents the chairs which revolve
upon posts, dovetailed at the bottom into slides e, e, attached to the platform of
the table, thus preventing the chairs from drawing out, and allowing them to slide
inward towards the centre of the table when not in use, so that the platform
leaves G may be turned up and fastened, or allowing the chairs to slide outward
for use as desired; F is the bell crank lever which operates the slide f, f, by the
aid of springs above them to fasten the table; the slides have a recess at the ends
into which a comb or clutch g in the floor of the cabin enters, and when the handle
of the lever is thrown forward and the slide f forced downwards by the aid of the
spring above it, the table is fastened and kept in place amidships when not in use.
A rod S extending lengthwise of the table, and just above the platform, passing
through curved bearings c, c, at each end of the frame, to which rod the bell crank
lever F is attached by a shoulder, screw, and nut, or in any other convenient
manner, connects the slide f. f. at each end, and aided by the springs above operates
to fasten the table amidships by means of the bell crank lever as described.
Instead of the oblique chains a, a, oblique rods with eyes may be used and turn
buckles to raise or lower the table if desired. A rod passing through the ends of

page_text: the hanger A, and the end posts of the table fastened by nut and screw, may be
used for additional support of the weight of the table if desired.
The operation of the table is as follows:-The table is fastened to the floor of the
cabin by the means described, until the passengers are seated, then by throwing
back the lever F, and securing it in a keeper in the edge of the table, the table is
disconnected from the floor and the table and seated persons are not subjected to
the motion of the vessel. The weight of the persons on the platform of the table,
and of the articles on the table, preserves it in equilibrium, and all lateral motion
or rolling of the vessel will be compensated by the swing of the table, suspended as
described, so that the table will remain in a horizontal position. The pitching or
fore and aft motion of the vessel is compensated by the operation of the oblique
chains a, a; as the vessel pitches forward and the table swings in the same direction
to find its level, the forward chains shorten and raise that end, and the aft chains
lengthen and lower the other, and so vice versa as the vessel falls by the stern;
thus the table and seated persons remain comparatively at rest, unaffected by the
fore and aft or lateral motion of the vessel. This fore and aft motion is obviated
by the peculiar method of attachment by the oblique chains or rods a, a. It is
evident that glass racks, shelves, and other articles may be suspended in the same
manner with advantage. The principle of this method of hanging a table or
platform may be used in building stalls for the transportation of animals across the
water with great benefit to them; the constant motion of the vessel at sea, pitching
and rolling, obliges them to keep their legs braced to counteract the motion of the
vessel, they cannot eat with comfort or lie down, they lose strength and weight,
By the use of the present Invention they will not be affected by the motion of tho
vessel and can be carried comfortably.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the mode in which the
same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,-
First. The combination of the oblique chains a, a, the spreader or hanger A, the
drop rods b, b, and a dining table or other article, all constructed and attached as
described, whereby both the lateral and the fore and aft motions of the vessel are
compensated, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The combination of the table and chairs, or other articles, the oblique
chains a, a, the spreader A, and the drop rods b, b, all constructed and attached
as described, as and for the purpose set forth.
Third. The combination of the table and chairs, or other articles, the oblique
chains a, a, the spreader A, drop rods b, b, the bell crank lever F, and slide f
with its spring, all constructed and attached as described, as and for the purpose
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of April, in the year of our