AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING THE EQUILI- BRIUM OF BEDS, SEATS, AND THE LIKE, CHIEFLY DESIGNED TO BE EMPLOYED IN SHIPS FOR THE PREVENTION OF SEA-SICKNESS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING THE EQUILI-
BRIUM OF BEDS, SEATS, AND THE LIKE, CHIEFLY DESIGNED TO BE EMPLOYED
IN SHIPS FOR THE PREVENTION OF SEA-SICKNESS." A communication from
abroad by Joseph Corduan, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of
America.
•
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st January 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS"
FOR PRESERVING THE EQUILIBRIUM OF BEDS, SEATS, AND THE LIKE, CHIEFLY
DESIGNED TO BE EMPLOYED IN SHIPS FOR THE PREVENTION OF SEA-SICKNESS.'
[A communication from abroad by Joseph Corduan, of Brooklyn, New York,
United States of America.]
This Invention has reference principally to an improved method of and apparatus
for supporting surfaces or articles used in steam and other ships for passengers to
sleep, recline, rest, or stand upon in order that such surfaces or articles shall preserve
their equilibrium notwithstanding the motion at sea of the steam ship or other
vessel in which such surfaces or articles are placed, thereby preventing passengers
from being sea sick. The said Invention may also be applied to sleeping carriages
on railways.
The said Invention consists,―
First. In a method of supporting such surfaces on flexible or elastic receptacles
containing water or an equivalent medium in order that the surfaces, such as berths,
seats, lounges, and similar articles which it is desired to keep in equilibrium shall
be deprived of motion by reason of their being so insulated, such insulation being
effected by the interposition between such surfaces and the remainder of the vessel
of the said flexible or elastic receptacles.
Secondly. In the several combinations and arrangements of apparatus hereinafter
described and referred to, as illustrative of the manuer in which I prefer to practise
such method

page_text: I will now proceed to describe the said Invention as applied to a bed, and it will
be readily understood that the Invention may be used with equal advantages in
connection with other articles.
I provide an elastic bag or receptacle nearly filled with water, and this bag
extends over the bottom of the berth. On the said elastic bag is placed a plate of
metal which serves as a rigid support on top of such elastic bag for the sleeping
surface or mattress. This plate does not extend up to the inner sides of the outer
frame or casing of the berth in order that the mattress placed thereon, and which is
of substantially the same superficial dimension, will not touch such sides during the
rocking or jarring motion of the steamship or sleeping carriage, the said elastic bag
or receptacle when filled or nearly so through a pipe provided for the purpose will,
by reason of its elastic character, tend to give the said plate and its mattress a level
position, no matter which side of the berth is elevated or depressed by the motion of
the steam-ship or sleeping carriage. I provide bifurcated rods carrying wheels which
impinge against vertical ways placed in the four corners of the berth-frame. Each
of these rods is surrounded by a coiled spring so that the jar of the movements of
the mattress plate against the sides of the berth-frame may be avoided and the cen-
trality of the mattress more perfectly preserved. A hole is provided and there is a
screw cap attached for the purpose of emptying the said bag of water, either partially
or wholly, when desired.
The bottom of the said clastic bag is composed of a plate of tin metal into which
the said pipe and the screw cap are tapped. By this construction the elastic
bag can be moved in or out of the berth-frame by first taking out the front of such
berth-frame. As the upper portion of the body is heavier than the lower portion
I place at about one fourth the distance from one end of the berth an clastic strap;
this strap is attached by its ends to opposite sides of the berth and passes under the
first named plate and partially supports the latter. By this arrangement the body
is better poised on the bed while the vessel is at rest.
Saloon floors of steam ships and other vessels may be supported or insulated in a
similar manner, and thus one of the greatest objections to a sea voyage, namely, sea
sickness, is overcome.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lako in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
July 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
FOR PRESERVING THE EQUILIBRIUM OF BEDS, SEATS, AND THE LIKE, CHIEFLY
DESIGNED TO BE EMPLOYED IN SHIPS FOR THE PREVENTION OF SEA-SICKNESS.'
A communication from abroad by Joseph Corduan, of Brooklyn, New York, United
States of America.
"
This Invention has reference principally to an improved method of and apparatus
for supporting surfaces or articles used in steam and other ships for passengers to
sleep, recline, rest, or stand upon in order 'that such surfaces or articles shall preserve
their equilibrium notwithstanding the motion at sea of the steam-ship or other'
vessel in which such surfaces or articles are placed and thereby prevent passengers
from being sea-sick. The said Invention may also be applied to sleeping carriages
on railways.
The said. Invention consists, first, in a method of supporting such surfaces on
flexible or elastic receptacles containing water or an equivalent medium in order that
the surfaces, such as berths, seats, lounges, and similar articles which it is desired to
keep in equilibrium shall be deprived of motion by reason of their being so insulated,
such insulation being effected by the interposition of the said flexible or clastic
receptacles between such surfaces and the parts of the vessel or carriage on which
they are placed, secondly, in the combinations and arrangement of apparatus
hereinafter described.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a plan of a berth constructed according to this Invention, and
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
a is the outer frame or casing of the berth rigidly attached to the steamer or
sleeping car; b is an elastic bag or receptacle nearly filled with water. This bag
extends over the bottom of the berth. On this elastic bag is placed a plate of
metal c, which serves as a rigid support on top of such elastic bag for the sleeping
surface or mattress d. This plate does not extend up to the inner sides of the outer
frame or casing a, in order that the mattress & placed thereon, and which is of sub-
stantially the same superficial dimensions, will not touch such sides during the
rocking or jarring motion of the steamship or sleeping car.
The elastic bag or recep-
tacle b when filled or nearly so through the pipe e, will, because of its elastic
character, tend to give the plate c and its mattress d a level position, no matter
which side of the berth is elevated or depressed by the motion of the steamship or
sleeping car ff. f, are bifurcated rods carrying wheels y, 9, 9, 9, which impinge
against vertical ways h, h, h, h, placed in the four corners of the berth-frame; each
of these rods is surrounded by a coiled spring i, so that the jar of the movements of
the mattress-plate c against the sides of the berth-frame may be avoided and the
centrality of the mattress more perfectly preserved; ; is a hole with a screw-cap
attached for the purpose of emptying the elastic bag of water, either partially or
wholly, when desired.
The bottom of the elastic bag is composed of a plate of thin metal k, into which
the pipe e and the screw-cap jare tapped. By this construction the elastic bag can
be moved in or out of the berth-frame by first taking out the front of such berth-
frame. As the upper portion of the body is heavier than the lower portion I place
at about one fourth the distance from one end of the berth an elastic strap 1;
strap is attached by its ends to opposite sides of the berth, as shewn at m, m, and
passes under the plate c, and partially supports the latter. By this arrangement the
body is better poised on the bed while the vessel is at rest.
this

page_text: Saloon floors of steamships and other vessels may be supported or insulated in a
similar manner, and thus one of the greatest objections to a sea voyage, namely, sea-
sickness, may be overcome.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it, under-
stood that I claim,-
First. The method of supporting a scat, bed, or mattress in steamships or other
vessels to prevent sea-sickness by placing such seat, bed, or mattress on a flexible
or elastic receptacle containing water or equivalent medium, substantially as
described.
Second. The combination of an elastic bag containing water with a plate placed
thereon for retaining a mattress or equivalent article, substantially as described.
Third. The combination of the elastic bag with the plate when such plato is pro-
vided at the four corners with rods, wheels, and springs for operating against
ways placed in the corners of the sides of the berth frame, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.