An Improved Arm or Foct-rest for Use in Railway Vehicles, Ships and other Places, applicable also for Supporting a Sick Person in Bed, for Closing Doors or for Holding them Open, for Tethering Animals in Stables and Kennels, and for Supporting Children when Learning to Walk.
Year: 1894

page_text: ate of Application, 14th Dec., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 27th Mar., 1995-Accepted, 13th July, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Arm or Foct-rest for Use in Railway Vehicles, Ships
and other Places, applicable also for Supporting a Sick Person
in Bed, for Closing Doors or for Holding them Open, for
Tethering Animals in Stables and Kennels, and for Supporting
Children when Learning to Walk.
I, CHARLES LARUE, of 108 Boulevard du Nord, Brussels, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
The object of the invention is an apparatus of small dimensions readily
capable of being adapted, either as a
fixture or as a movable apparatus,
to railway and other carriages and to cabins and decks of ships or other vessels,
for the purpose of enabling travellers and others to rest with ease and without
inconveniencing their neighbours. The apparatus may be also applied to other
uses; for example, by placing it near an invalid's bed to support him in a given
position; to close doors or to hold them open; to tether animals in stables,
kennels, &c. It can also be used to support children when learning to walk in
go-carts.
The apparatus is constructed with a box of cast iron or other suitable metal 'or
material. This box may be cylindrical, semi-cylindrical, oval, square, or of other
convenient form. The box is divided into three compartments by two thin divisions.
In the centre of the box is an axle. The compartment to the left encloses a
re-winding spiral spring, the centre compartment the brace or support, properly
so-called, and the compartment to the right the ratchet gear to fix the brace or
support to the desired length. The. brace or support can be made of webbing,
leather or other suitable material.
The axle, which traverses the box, is formed of a tube provided at the centre
with an opening through which the looped end of the brace or support is passed,
which looped end is firmly fixed by passing a rod or pin through it and through
the bore of the axle. The axle and the rod or pin are formed at one end with
notches within which a key can be placed for the purpose of obtaining a perfect
fixture:
The ratchet gear consists, as usual, of a ratchet wheel, a dog or pawl and a
pawl spring. The spiral spring is fixed at one end to the axle and at its other end
is held by a pin on the box.
To use the apparatus the end of a cord is seized to disengage the pawl or dog
from the ratchet wheel, and at the same time the free end of the brace or support
is also seized. By pulling the latter, it unwinds to the desired length and, in
doing so, winds up the spring, and when the desired length of brace or support is
obtained, the cord is liberated and the pawl again engages with the ratchet wheel.
For the reverse movement the cord is also pulled, the pawl is again freed from the
ratchet wheel and the re-winding spring, by unwinding and retaking its normal
position, rolls again the brace or support upon the axle:
The thin divisions have at their lower part a small notch to permit of the
passage of the two bands of the brace or support when the person using it
separates them, for example, to rest both arms at the same time 'on'the' said brace
or support..

page_text: The apparatus is placed in any convenient position for use, above the seats in
railway carriages or other vehicles, in the cabins and on the decks of ships, near
the bed of an invalid, and can be used with any kind of seat. It can also be used
to attach animals in stables, kennels, &c. In this case the cord for disengaging
the ratchet gear can be replaced by a button, and the brace or support by a tether
or leash.
The apparatus can be either fixed or movable. When used as a fixture it is
provided with ears, which can be cast with the back of the box if this latter is
made of metal, or they can be fixed thereto if the box is of wood or other
material. When arranged to be movable, use can be made of a bridge piece or
loop fixed to the back of the box, which loop is mounted on an iron or wood bar,
or a hook may be used hooking over the bar. Hooks for portmanteaus can also
be fixed on the box.
I can also construct apparatus with double accommodation by simply dividing
the central compartment into two parts each receiving a brace or support, the ends
of the box remaining the same, that is to say, the one containing the ratchet
gear and the other the re-winding spring; in this case therefore the box will have
four compartments.
In single or double apparatus the desired length of the support or supports
which is caused to emerge from the box, makes an easy and convenient suspension
to receive the arms, which relieves the fatigue occasioned by the weakness of the
body consequent on a long occupation of a seat.
To prevent the entrance of the free end of the brace or support within the box,
two small pieces of leather or other material can be placed near the double end
to prevent the latter from disappearing within the box, at the same time leaving
free a sufficient length to enable it to be again unwound.
I also may employ other arrangements of stop, especially by obtaining in the
fabric at the desired places, projections produced at the same time as the body
therecf.
All the parts are made interchangeable and they can be readily put together
by hand without the use of tools.
Dated this 14th day of December 1894.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Arm or Foot-rest for Use in Railway Vehicles, Ships,
and other Places, applicable also for Supporting a Sick Person
in Bed, for Closing Doors or for Holding them Open, for
Tethering Animals-in-Stables and Kennels, and for Supporting
Children when Learning to Walk.
I, CHARLES LARUE, of 108 Boulevard du Nord, Brussels, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Merchant, 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 object of the invention is an apparatus of small dimensions readily capable
of being adapted, either as a fixture or as a movable apparatus, to railway and
other carriages and to cabins and decks of ships or other vessels for the purpose
of enabling travellers and others to rest with ease and without inconveniencing
their neighbours.
The appparatus may be also applied to other uses; for example, by placing it
near an invalid's bed to support him in a given position, to close doors or to hold

page_text: My apparatus is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which :—
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section.
Fig. 2 a cross section on the line c. x. of Fig. 1
Fig. 3 a cross section on the line y. y. of Fig. 1, and
Fig. 4 a cross section on the line Z Z of Fig. 1.
Figs. 5 and 6 represent two methods of supporting the apparatus.
In all the figs. like letters indicate similar parts.
The apparatus is constructed with a box B of cast iron or other suitable metal
or material. This box may be cylindrical, semi-cylindrical, oval, square, or of other
convenient form.
In the
The box B is divided into three compartments by two thin divisions b b.
centre of the box is an axle A. The compartment to the left encloses a
re-winding spiral spring C, the centre compartment, the brace or support D,
properly so called, and the compartment to the right, the ratchet gear to fix the
brace or support at the desired length.
The brace or support can be made of webbing, leather or other suitable
material.
The axle A, which traverses the box, is formed of a tube provided at the centre
with an opening, through which the looped end of the brace or support is passed,
which looped end is firmly fixed by passing a rod or pin a through it and through
the bore of the axle A. The axle A and the rod or pin a are formed at one end
with notches, within which a key a¹ can be placed for the purpose of obtaining a
perfect fixture. The ratchet gear consists, as usual, of a ratchet wheel E, a dog
or pawle and a pawl spring el.
The spiral spring C is fixed at one end to the axle A and its other end is held
by a pin on the box.
To use the apparatus the end of the cord F is seized to disengage the pawl or
dog e from the ratchet wheel, and at the same time the free end of the brace or
support D is also seized. By pulling the latter it unwinds to the desired length
and, in doing so, winds up the spring C, and when the desired length of brace or
support is obtained, the cord F is liberated and the pawl e again engages with the
ratchet wheel E.
For the reverse movement, the cord F is also pulled, the pawl e is again freed
from the ratchet wheel, and the spring C; by unwinding and re-taking its normal
position, rolls again the brace or support D upon the axle A.
The thin divisions have, at their lower part, a small notch to permit of the
passage of the two bands of the brace or support when the person using it
separates them, for example, to rest both arms at the same time on the said brace
or support.
The apparatus is placed in any convenient position for use,-above the seats in
railway carriages or other vehicles, in the cabins and on the decks of ships, near
the bed of an invalid,-and can be used with any kind of seat. It can also be used
to attach animals in stables, kennels, &c. In this case the cord F can be replaced
by a button, and the brace or support by a tether or
The apparatus can be either fixed or movable. When used as a fixture it is
provided with ears b', as shown in Fig. 1, which can be cast with the back of the
box if this latter is made of metal, or they can be fixed thereto if the box is of
wood or other material.
leash.
When arranged to be movable, use can be made of a bridge piece or loop G
fixed to the back of the box B, which loop is mounted on an iron or wood bar H,
see Fig. 5, or a hook I may be used hooking over the bar H, as shown in Fig. 6.
Hooks K for portmanteaus can also be fixed on the box.
I can also construct apparatus with double accommodation by simply dividing
the central compartment into two parts, each receiving a brace or support, the
ends of the box remaining the same, that is to say, the one containing the ratchet

page_text: gear and the other the rewinding spring; in this caso therefore the box will have
four compartments.
In single or double apparatus, the desired length of the support or supports
which is caused to emerge from the box, makes an easy and convenient suspension
to receive the arms which relieves the fatigue occasioned by the weakness of the
body consequent on a long occupation of a seats
To prevent the entrance of the free end of the brace or support within the box,
two small pieces of leather or other material can be placed near the double end to
prevent the latter from disappearing within the box, at the same time leaving free
a sufficient length to enable it to be again unwound..
I also may employ other arrangements of stop, especially by obtaining in the
fabric at the desired places, projections produced at the same time as the body
thereof.
All the parts are made interchangeable and they can be readily put together by
hand without the use of tools:
When the apparatus is to be used for closing doors, the box B can be fixed to
the head of the door case at or near the lock.jamb, and the brace end D to the
door; a guide roller in this case can be used to prevent friction of the brace D
against the side of the opening in the box B, through which it passes. For
keeping a door open to any required degree, the box B can be fixed to the wall
in any convenient position beyond the door hinges, and the brace end D is attached
to the door, a guide roller being used for the brace as in the former case.
When the apparatus is used for supporting children when learning to walk, the
box can be fixed to a "go-cart" or to any other support, and the brace D, properly
adjusted in length, is passed round the child's chest under the arms.
When the apparatus is used for tethering animals, the box B is fixed to any
convenient fixture, and the brace D is attached to the collar or halter on the
animal.
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. An improved arm or foot-rest for use in railway vehicles, ships and other
places, applicable also for supporting a sick person in bed, for closing doors or
for holding them open, for tethering animals and for supporting children when
learning to walk, consisting of a box of any convenient form divided into three
compartments traversed by a hollow axle, in the centre of which is formed an
opening permitting the ends of the brace or support to be fixed thereto and held
in position by the insertion into the hollow axle of a pin or rod, this latter being
of the same length as the hollow axle, both having a key-way at one end for the
insertion of a fixing key, the brace or support being placed in the middle com-
_ partment of the box, and the end compartiments being occupied, one by a ratchet
gear permitting the brace or support to be unrolled to the desired length, the
other by a rewinding spring.
2. The combination with the apparatus claimed in Claim 1, of one or more
hooks placed at the upper part of the boxes, cast in one piece with the box or
made separately and fixed thereto by any convenient means, which may be used
for supporting portmanteaus or the hat racks usually found in railway carriages.
Dated this 27th day of March 1895.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.