IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SHIPS' SLEEPING BERTHS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO. OTHER PARTS OF SHIPS AND THEIR FURNITURE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lako, of the Firm of Haseltino, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SHIPS' SLEEPING BERTHS, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO. OTHER PARTS OF SHIPS AND THEIR
FURNITURE" A communication from abroad by David Huston, of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th October 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SHIPS'
SLEEPING BERTHS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PARTS
OF SHIPS AND THEIR FURNITURE." [A communication from abroad by David
Huston, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.]
This Invention relates chiefly to a self-levelling sleeping berth for ships or
vessels, in which the bed bottom shall at all times remain in a horizontal plane
independently of the motion of the vessel in pitching or rolling, thereby removing
the causes which induce sea sickness and promoting the case and comfort of the
occupant of the berth; and the said Invention comprises the suspending of one or
more berths from a swinging frame supported thereover at a single point, so as to
be, together with the borth or berths suspended therefrom, capable of a universal
movement in all directions, thus constantly preserving the equilibrium of the berth
or berths as the vessel pitches or rolls, suitable guides being employed for keeping
each berth in its proper position during the various movements of the vessel; and
the said Invention also consists in certain details of construction to be hereafter
described.
In practising the said Invention I provide a casing, within which the berths are
located, which casing is constructed with longitudinal berth boards. Two

page_text: rectangular frames, upon which the bed bottoms of the berths are secured, are
These frames are suspended
loosely connected at their corners by suitable rods.
by rods hooked into eyes from the four corners of a metallic frame having four
arms extending up from the top of its front and rear sides, and terminating in a
plate supported on a conical projection rising from a hanger bolted firmly to the
under side of the top or ceiling of the casing. The point of the said projection
enters a socket in the plate, and the latter is kept from being thrown off the point
of suspension during the movements of the vessel by a screw which extends
through the the casing nearly down to the top of the said plate immediately
over the point of suspension, which is located slightly in front of a point over the
centre of the supporting frame to compensate for the excess of weight of the upper
portion of the body of the occupant of the berth.
Instead of the said rods, cords or wire ropes may be employed, and these rods,
cords, or wire ropes may be provided with snap hooks. A ball-and-socket joint
may be substituted for the aforesaid conical projection and socketted plate.
To each side of the casing is secured a vertical guide, the two guides of one side
'being placed in line with each other.. Each guide is provided with a longitudinal
central slot for the reception of a bolt or pin extending from the end piece of the
frame upon which the bed bottom is placed; the face of each guide is curved to
correspond with the arc in which the adjacent end of the frame moves.
Each of the said pins passes through the end of the frame, and is provided at its
inner end with a screw thread, over which turns a clamping nut, by which the pin
is held in place; a head being formed on the pin outside the frame, between which
and the head is an india-rubber spring. On opposite sides of the head are secured
friction rolls, which bear upon the curved face of the adjacent guide on opposite
sides of the aforesaid slot, and serve to reduce the friction between the surfaces in
contact, the roll being forced against the guide by the spring, the tension of which
is regulated by the said nut.
When the berth is unoccupied it is held immovable by bolts or other locking or
fastening devices, which are withdrawn when the said berth is occupied; and these
locking or fastening devices may also be used at the will of the occupant to secure
the berth and hold it immovable while getting in or out.
It is obvious that this Invention may be applied to ships' tables, chairs, and
settees, and also to the floors of state rooms.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
April 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SHIPS'
SLEEPING BERTHS, WHICH LMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PARTS OF
SHIPS AND THEIR FURNITURE." A communication from abroad by David Huston,
of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
This Invention relates chiefly to a self-levelling sleeping berth for ships or
vessels, in which the bed bottom shall at all times remaiu in a horizontal plane
independently of the motion of the vessel in pitching or rolling, thereby removing
the causes which induce sea sickness and promoting the ease and comfort of the
occupant of the berth; and the said Invention consists in suspending one or more
berths from a swinging frame supported thereover at a single point, so as to be,
together with the berth or berths suspended therefrom, capable of a universal
movement in all directions, thus constantly preserving the equilibrium of the berth
or berths as the vessel pitches or rolls, suitable guides being employed for keeping
each berth in its proper position during the various movements of the vessel; the
said Invention also consists in certain details of construction herein-after described.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a self-levelling berth constructed in accordance
with my Invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the centre of the same.
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section enlarged on the line y, y, Figure 2.
A represents the casing within which the berths are located; and a, a, the
longitudinal berth boards; C, C, are two rectangular frames, upon which the bed
bottoms c of the berths are secured, the two frames being loosely connected at their
corners by rods & which hook into eyes e, e¹. These frames C are suspended by
rods hooked into eyes g, g¹, from the four corners of a metallic frame E of the
form seen in Figure 1, having four arms h extending up from the top of its front
and rear sides and terminating in a plate G supported on a cone or conical pro-
jection i rising from a hanger H bolted firmly to the under side of the top or
ceiling of the casing A.
The point of the projection i enters a socket or recess k in the plate G, and the
latter is prevented from being thrown off the point of suspension during the move-
ments of the vessel by a screw Z, which extends through the top of the casing
nearly down to the top of the plate G immediately over the point of suspension,
which is located a little in front of a point over the centre of the supporting frame E
in order to compensate for the excess of weight of the upper portion of the body of
the occupant of the berth, and thus ensure his being properly balanced.
Instead of the rods d, f, cords or wire ropes may be employed, and these rods,
cords, or wire ropes, may be provided with snap hooks, to allow of their being
attached and detached.
To each side of the casing A opposite the centre of the end of each of the
frames C is secured a vertical guide I, the two guides of one side being placed in
line with each other, as seen in Figure 1. Each guide is provided with a longi-
tudinal central slot w for the reception of the outer end of a bolt or pinm extending
out from the centre of the end piece n of the frame C upon which the bed botttom
is placed, the face of each guide being made to correspond to that of the opposite
one, in which the adjacent end of the frame moves. These guides I serve to main-
tain the berths in their proper position within the casing A and yet allow of their
free movement in all directions. Each pin m passes through the end n of the
frame and is provided at its inner end with a screw thread, over which turns &

page_text: clamping nut by which the pin is held in place, a head q being formed on the
pin outside the frame, between which and the head is a rudder spring 7, which
surrounds the pin and is compressed by the nut 2. On opposite sides of the
head q are secured friction rolls 8, which bear upon the face of the adjacent guide I
on opposite sides of the slot w and serve to reduce the friction between the
surfaces in contact, the rolls being forced against the face of the guide by the
expansion of the spring r, the tension of which is regulated or adjusted to com-
pensate for wear by means of the nut p; and by this construction the longitudinal
play of the berths and the rattling of the parts are entirely avoided.
When the berth is unoccupied it is held immovable by bolts t or other locking or
fastening devices, which are withdrawn when the berth is occupied; and these
locking or fastening devices may also be used at the will of the occupant to secure
the berth and hold it immovable while getting in or out.
It is evident that this Invention may be applied to ships' tables, chairs, and
settees, and also to the floors of state rooms, without departing from the spirit of
my Invention.
By thus suspending the berths from a swinging frame E supported above the
samo at a single point they are free to move in all directions as the vessel pitches
forward or rolls to one side, and consequently the balance or equilibrium of the
berths will be preserved, and they will thus be maintained in a horizontal posi-
tion when occupied independently of the vessel's motion, and all liability to sea
sickness and all danger of being thrown out of the berths in heavy weather are
thereby avoided.
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 understood
that I do not claim the curved guides shown in the accompanying Drawing, but I
claim,―
First. One or more berths suspended from a swinging frame E supported upon
the cone of the bracket to allow of a movement in all directions in combination
with the screw stop to prevent the frame from being thrown from the point, and
suitable guides for keeping the berth or berths in their proper position, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. In combination with the frame C and guide the pin or bolt with its
head friction rolls and nut, and the spring operating substantially in the manner
and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
TTM TAD
THE