Improvements in Folding Boats.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 6th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Boats.
ERNEST CUTHBERT FECTOR JAMES Esq. Wellington Club S.W. late
87th Fusiliers do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My boats are made with folding up frames with special hinges which allow the
gunwales to fold up inside the ribs, & they are kept open by a hinged floor, and by
special hinged struts which are hinged to the gunwales & ribs of these boats so as
to be always in position & can be lengthened if required.
These boats are covered with a flexible material which may be either single or
double rendered waterproof by a special composition.
Dated this 11th day of January 180º
ERNEST C. F. JAMES.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Boats.
ERNEST CUTHBERT FECTOR JAMES Esqr. Wellington Club, London S.W.
late 87th R. I. Fusiliers 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 :—
My boats are made with folding up frames with special hinges which allow the
gunwales to fold up inside or lap over the ribs and they are kept open by a hinged
floor and by special hinged struts which are hinged on to the gunwales and ribs so
as to be always in position and which can be lengthened if required.
My boats are covered with a flexible material which may be either single or
double rendered waterproof by a special composition.
Fig. 1 is a midship section of a boat which is open.
A. A. are stem and keel, and are two pieces of wood bent up at stem & stern
see Fig. 2, the canvas or other flexible material is put between them and then they
are bolted or screwed together.
The longitudinal ribs G' and gunwales G are bent into necessary shape, and
are made with two pieces of wood, the canvas represented by the dotted lines H H
is put between the ribs G', but outside and then between the gunwales G: if
necessary more than two pieces of wood may be used for the keel gunwales or ribs,
and more than two ribs may be used.
B in Figs. 1 & 3 is my special hinge when open. It is a metal plate (such as
galvanized iron or steel) with four holes at the corners, through which are bolted
four bent pieces of metal which again are bolted or screwed on to the gunwales and
ribs, the two pieces of metal on ribs may be bolted to back of metal plate see B' in
Fig. 2 which also shews my special hinge when boat is folded up for stowing, the
gunwale G folds inside or laps over the rib G'.
My special hinge is bolted to a block of wood J in Figs. 2 & 3 by a bolt with
ring at end, the canvas or other covering comes outside the block J and between
stem pieces A.
Fig. 4 shews block J on stem A, it is made smaller at the bottom to allow the
canvas covering of boat to fold down.
In Fig. 1. I is the thwart with slots cut at both ends to fit on to my special
hinged struts C. C. the thwarts rest on a rod of metal on the struts.
E. E are the metal hinges for floor boards see also E in Fig. 2. The hinges are
kept together by a metal ring.

page_text: D. D in Fig. 1 are the floor boards open. D. D in Fig. 2 shew them closed
when boat is folded up.
C. C in Figs. 1 & 5 are my special hinged struts, they are made of metal and
are fastened by a hinge both to the gunwales and ribs and they have a joint in
them which allows them to open and shut with the boat. The upper part is made
with a bend outwards so that they open with a snap, and the upper part acts as a
lever when opening, and stretches the canvas at the sides tight. There are two
holes at joint to enable them to be lengthened if required.
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. I claim the constructing of boats in the manner represented in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
and before described as regards the jointed framework and the arrangements and
combinations whereby the same is made to open and shut as required.
2. I claim the special hinges represented in Figs. 1, 2, 3 by B.
3. I claim the special hinged strut represented in Figs. 1 & 5 by C.
Dated this Thind dow of Antohan 1000
ERNEST C. F. JAMES.