IMPROVEMENTS IN COUCHES, BEDS, BERTHS, AND BUCH LIKE RESTS AND RESTING PLACES, AND IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING, MOUNTING, AND FITTING THE SAME AND CERTAIN PARTS THEREOF
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frederick Mayer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
June 1875.
I, FREDERICK MAYER, of No. 19, Salisbury Street, Adelphi, Strand,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
“IMPROVEMENTS IN COUCHES, BEDS, BERTHS, AND BUCH LIKE RESTS AND RESTING
PLACES, AND IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING, MOUNTING, AND FITTING
THE SAME AND CERTAIN PARTS THEREOF," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates principally, but not exclusively, to mechanical
apparatus for individually preventing, partially or entirely, sickness in
passengers at sea or in rough weather when on board ship, by forming
equilibrated couches, beds, and berths, and such like rests or resting
places, so that a person may recline thereon, and being properly adjusted
as to the position of his body for weight and the angle desired he may
be maintained in an horizontal position irrespective of the rolling or
pitching motions of the ship or vessel.
I prefer to mount a couch, bed, or other resting place within a frame,
which frame is mounted in connection with another frame by means of
trunnions or axes or by means of knife edge or other bearings, which

page_text: second frame may be in like manner mounted on, within, or upon
another frame, or upon a standard or framework in connection with or
secured to the ship or other vessel. The lowest or main supporting
frame has a depending arm upon which is mounted an adjustable weight
or counterpoise. The several frames have their bearings or supports at
right angles the one to the other in the manner of the "gimbal” of a
ship's compass.
In addition to the adjustable counterpoise or weight or weights, which
I prefer to mount and employ as described, I employ another adjustable
weight (or weights), which I so mount in connection with the couch,
berth, or other rest that it is (or they are) capable of being slid or
moved horizontally and secured in proper position, both longitudinally
and transversely, so as to effect a proper adjustment of the body in the
desired position, & so that the person may according to his stature and
build, and also in accordance with his comfort, assume any angular
disposition of the body more agreeable and comfortable to him, and
wherein he will be maintained parallel with the horizon irrespective of
the rolling or pitching motion of the ship.
By the employment of a spiral (or other) spring or springs below or
for supporting the main body of the apparatus, the shocks of the 1
uprising and the downsetting or "forging motion" of the ship will be
counteracted.
In like manner, springs, the tension or compression of which is capable
of being regulated, may be interposed between points of the bearing and
the born frames.
The central bearing and support of the whole apparatus may be a
sphere fitted in a socket (ball-and-socket joint like), or it may be a
sphere in two portions, the one connected with the vertical spindle and
the other resting in the socket or cup, and the two faces in contact may
be inclined so as to allow a partial revolution of the moveable portion, &
producing a vertical movement in reduction of the shock from sudden
changes of direction.
A like or similar arrangement or construction is adaptable to
ambulance waggons and such like purposes.