IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE RAFTS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, ALFRED HAMLYN WILLIAMS, of 135, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN LIFE RAFTS, to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to construct life rafts in such a manner that they
shall form, when folded up, seats, and to so arrange the same that they can be
instantaneously opened out to form life rafts.
For the purposes of my Invention the raft is composed of a suitable number of
portions, by preference four in number and rectangular in shape, which are hinged
together in the direction of their length. Two of these portions are constructed as,
or provided with, air tight cases or chambers, or as cases or chambers rendered
buoyant by being filled with cork, or other buoyant material. These two portions
are hinged on opposite sides to another or third portion forming a framework
between them, and upon which framework they fold when converting the raft into
a seat. Or this framework may be made in two portions and hinged in the centre
80 as to fold up and lie between the two air-tight cases or chambers when the
apparatus is closed or folded to form a seat. To one of these first mentioned air-
tight chambers or portions a framework is attached to form a back to the seat, and
to the other air tight chamber or portion, a framework, forming the fourth portion,
is hinged, and forms the seat proper; it lies over the two aforesaid air tight
portions, when the raft is folded into seat form.
To secure the raft in its open position I prefer to use spring quadrants, but
transverse bars or rods, or other suitable fastening contrivances, may be used for
the purpose
In some instances the framework between the two air tight or buoyant portions
may be arranged to receive a folding contrivance, or contrivances, like that
described in the specification of my British Patent, N° 3683, dated 27 July 1883.
Dated this 13th day of December 1884.

page_text: I, ALFRED HAMLYN WILLIAMS, of 135 Fenchurch Street, in the City of London,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
LIFE RAFTS, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had
to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say :-
The object of my Invention is to construct life rafts in such a manner that they
shall, when closed or folded up, form seats, and to so arrange the same that they
can be instantaneously, opened out or unfolded, when it is desired to form said
rafts.
I proceed with reference to the accompanying drawings to describe my Invention
fully, fig. 1. being a perspective view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a
raft constructed according to my Invention, and shown in its closed or folded
form as a seat, and fig. 2 a perspective view shewing the same open and ready for
use as a raft.
For the purposes of my Invention the raft is composed of a suitable number of
portions which are hinged together in the direction of their length. Two of these
portions A A¹ are constructed as air-tight cases or chambers or are constructed as
framings or casings containing air tight cases or chambers, or cases or chambers
rendered buoyant by being filled with cork or other buoyant material. These two
portions are hinged at a*, on opposite sides to another or central portion B forming
a framework between them, and upon which they fold when converting the raft
into a seat, as shewn in fig. 1. The portion A, is provided with a framework a,
which forms a back to the seat, and the other portion A¹, is provided with a frame-
work a¹, hinged thereto at a³, and forming the seat proper. This seat lies over
and upon the two aforesaid portions A, A1, when the raft is folded or closed, but
when the same is open or unfolded the portion a¹ forms an extended surface on
the water. If desired the back a and the seat proper a¹ may be dispensed with.
ffare quadrant pieces formed with stops f*, and secured at one end to the
portion a', forming the seat proper; they are capable of travelling in guides f³.
These stops fx limit the extent of opening of the said portion a¹.
To secure the raft in its open position I prefer to use spring quadrants, but
transverse bars or other suitable fastening contrivances may be used for the
purpose.
If it be desired to render watertight the interior space which is formed when
the seat is opened out to form the raft, I can provide a folding contrivance of
canvas, or other waterproof material, and arrange the same in such a manner as to
open up, on the apparatus being opened or unfolded and which will thereby
constitute a water tight compartment, and will fold up, on the apparatus being
converted into a seat.
One or more of the air tight cases or chambers may be constructed as tanks for
water, food, &c, and be provided with hinged lids.

page_text: The casings, containing the air tight chambers, instead of being hinged may be
so arranged as to be slidden or drawn out.
I may also provide a folding contrivance, or folding contrivances, at the bottom
of the apparatus, like that described in the specification of my British Letters
Patent, No 3683, dated 27th July 1883, and shewn in the drawings accompanying
the same.
Having now described my Invention and in what manner the same may be
performed I declare that what I claim is
The construction and arrangement of life raft in the manner substantially as
herein described and shewn in the drawings so that the same when not in use for
life saving purposes may be folded to form a seat, in the manner specified.
May prompt 200
ERNEST DE PASS, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
68, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the Petitioner.