Improvements in Means for Holding Boats in Upright Position.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Means for Holding Boats in Upright Position.
I, PERCY RICHARD JULIUS WILLIS, of Fairfield, Kingston-on-Thames, in the
County of Surrey, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (a communication to me from abroad by Thomas Emerson, of 73,
Thames Street, Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.A., Manufacturer), to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide simple and efficaceous means for
holding boats in upright position instead of permitting them to rest upon one
side, when out of the water, as is usual.
The invention comprises a suitable base, which may consist of a board, or
two weights may be employed. Eyes are secured at each end of the base, or
in each of the weights, and project upwardly. A spiral spring is provided and
has its ends drawn out straight, and formed with a hook at opposite ends of the
spring.
In operation, one hook is inserted in the eye of the base, and the opposite
hook adjusted over the edge of the boat; one of the devices being arranged at
each side of a boat to be held upright.
In an alternative form of the device, the eyes in the base or weights are pro-
vided with links through which a hook on a shank is inserted. The upper end
of the shank has a series of perforations arranged longitudinally thereof. A
hook, adapted for adjustment over the edge of the boat, has a hinged extension
on its shank, adapted to be passed through any one of the perforations afore-
mentioned according to the height of the boat, and then be bent over upon
said shank where it can be retained by a sleeve slidable on the shank and over
the hinged extension. Other means for securing the extension may be em-
ployed, as, for instance, a staple projecting from the shank through a slot in
the extension, and a pin passed transversely through the staple.
Improvements in Means for Holding Boats in Upright Position.
I, PERCY RICHARD JULIUS WILLIS, of Fairfield, Kingston-on-Thames, in the
County of Surrey, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (a communication to me from abroad by Thomas Emerson, of 73,
Thames Street, Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.A., Manufacturer), and in in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the folowing statement:―
This invention relates to devices for holding small boats in an upright position;

page_text: and the object thereof is to provide an improved device of this class and by
means of which a small boat--such as a row-boat, life-boat, or other boat of
the kind may be upheld so as to rest at 'all times on the keel thereof.
Reference being had to the drawings;
Figure 1 is a part section of a boat to which my improved device is applied.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the device.
Fig. 3 is a part section of a boat to which an alternative improved device is
applied.
Fig. 4 is, an enlarged front elevation of the alternative device.
A indicates a part section of a small boat to which my device is applied,
and which, as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, consists of a spiral spring B the ends
of which are extended and terminate as to the lower end in a hook C, and as to
the upper end in a hook or grip D. The hook C engages with an eye-bolt E
fixedly attached to a weight F, and the hook or grip D engages with the gunwale
of the boat, as clearly indicated in the drawings.
: The method of the application of the device is as follows:-
The boat is temporarily supported in an upright position whilst two of the
weights Fare placed on each side of it, and at such distance from the keel as
-the contour of the boat readily indicates. The hooks C are entered into engage-
ment with the eye-bolts E and by upwardly distending the spiral springs B the
hooks or grips are passed over the gunwale of the boat and retained there
by the tension of the spiral springs B.
In cases where. it is intended to use my device for different classes of boats,
the height of which from the keel to the gunwale may vary more than is within
the useful scope of the action of the spiral springs B, I divide the upper extension
of said springs and screw-thread the extremities so obtained the one with a
right-handed and the other with a left-handed thread as at G, G.
To engage
these extremities I introduce the right and left handed nut H which, being
perforated, as at H¹, can be manipulated by any suitable pin or bar and the
total length of my device thus extended or shortened as may be requisite.
In the alternative form shewn in Figs. 3 and 4 I provide a tie plate I, having
at its lower end a hook J and adjacent to its upper end slots or openings K.
three of which are shewn and any number of which may be employed. I also
provide a supplemental tie-plate L with the lower end of which is pivotally
connected at M a hook N, which has at its lower end a downwardly directed
loop ().
The supplemental tie-plate L has at its extreme upper end a hook, or
grip and adjacent to the same end it is provided with a sliding sleeve P, the
movement of which is limited by a chain Q suitably attached to said sleeve and
the supplemental tie-plate L. In place of this sliding sleeve P I may employ
a staple or projection fixed to and outwardly extending from the supplemental
tie-plate L and adapted to pass through a corresponding slot in the hook N,
and to be fixed in such position by a hook or pin or other common contrivance.
For use with this form of my invention I preferably provide the eye-bolt E
of the weight F with a link or ring R.
In operation the hook at the lower end of the tie-plate I is passed through
the link R. and the hook D is connected with the gunwale of the boat, after
which the hook N is passed through one of the slots or openings in the upper
end of the tie-plate I and folded upwardly being retained in position by the
sliding sleeve P being passed over it. The object of having three or more slots
in the tie-plate L is to provide means for adjusting the device to boats of different
heights, as will be readily understood.
Though I describe the application of two of my devices to each side of a boat
it will be apparent that any desired number thereof may be employed and
though I describe the use of weights as hold-fasts for my device yet it will be
readily understood that the eyebolts mentioned may be directly connected to
any permanent or semi-permanent structure such as the deck of a vessel or
floor of a boat-house, landing stage or platform,

page_text: My improvement is simple in construction and operation, durable, and cheap
to manufacture, and well adapted to accomplish the result for which it is intended,
but it will be apparent that changes in and modifications of the construction
herein described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
1 claim is:-
-
'
The hereindescribed means for holding boats in upright position, said means
consisting of a spiral spring having one end terminating in a suitably shaped
hook or grip adapted for engagement with the gunwale of a boat, and its other
end formed with a hook adapted for engagement with an eye-bolt fixedly
attached to a weight or permanent fixture, all substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
(2) The hereindescribed means for holding boats in upright position, said
means consisting of a spiral spring having one end formed with a hook, adapted
for engagement with an eyebolt fixedly attached to a weight or permanent
fixture, and its other end screw-threaded for engagement with one interiorally
screw-threaded end of a turn-buckle or nut, a hook suitably shaped for engage-
ment over the gunwale of a boat and its lower end screw-threaded to enter
the nut or turn-buckle aforesaid, all substantially as described and illustrated
and adapted to operate as set forth.
(3) The hereindescribed means for holding boats in upright position, said
means consisting of a plate having a hook at its lower end adapted for engage-
ment with a weight or permanent fixture and a series of transversely formed
openings arranged longitudinally of its length, a supplemental tie-plate formed
with a hook or grip adapted for engagement over the gunwale of a boat and its
lower end pivotally attached to a hook formed near the pivot having a down-
wardly directed loop adapted for engagement in any one of the series of openings
aforesaid and a sleeve reciprocable upon its supplemental plate and adapted to
bind said plate and hook together and prevent disengagement of the latter,
all substantially as described and illustrated and adapted to operate as set
forth.
Tatal
141
Walam 1000
P. R. J. WILLIS,
Applicant.