MENTS IN AND RELATING TO SHIPS BERTHS
Year: 1884

page_text: I CHARLES JAMES Fox of Conway Street, Birkenhead in the County of Chester,
Master Mariner do bereby declare the nature of my said Invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND RELATING TO SHIPS BERTHS to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to certain improvements hereinafter more particularly
mentioned, and in ships berths, for use on board emigrant ships, troopships, and in
other cases, where a readily erected and stowed multiple berth is required.
My Invention provides a simple construction and efficient arrangement of berth
that combines compactness, durability, cleanliness, and neatness of appearance, and
also adınits a better ventilation than the ordinary construction of berth, and is
proof against the attacks of vermin, and affords no harbourage to insects, such as
bugs, lice, cockroaches and the like.
The essential feature in the construction of ships berths according to my
Invention consists in the use of a frame bar, preferably of galvanized iron tubing
suspended from the deck overhead by rope chain, or wire, and forming a suspended
frame bar from, or on which a number of cots, hammocks, or berths may be hung,
or stretched, so as to accomodate more than one person and as many persons as
convenient, thus forming a support for a multiple berth. Two, three, or more of
these frame bars are suspended from the same part of the deck one below another
so as to form supports for as many tiers of berths. The frame bars are so formed
and suspended from the deck as to allow of their being raised and triced up or
fastened speedily to the deck above, whenever required, for instance to allow free
passage along the deck below for cleaning purposes, or for the stowage of cargo, or
in the case of men of war for fighting the guns, drilling and the like.
The frame bars are steadied and made fast by suitable fastenings (so as will
allow of their being easily detached when required) to the ships side, bulkheads,
stanchions, or other part of the ship and the ropes, chains, or wires by which they
are suspended from the deck, or beams overhead may be made to unhook, or
unlash, so that the whole may be easily removed. When these frame bars are
detached from the sides, stanchions, or bulkheads, they will hang loosely by the
suspending ropes so that they can then be easily lifted and lashed, or secured by
ashings, or brackets to the deck above.
Instead of securing the frame bars to the perpendiculars as above mentioned,
horizontal frame bars at right angles may be used, thus forming a rigid suspended
frame, in which a number of cots, hammocks, or sleeping berths of any description

page_text: may be suspended and these frames may be steadied against any convenient
upright to prevent their swinging or by guys to the deck, or any convenient place.
I construct the frames so that they may be easily taken to pieces, folded up, or
telescoped one part into another, so that they may be stowed close to the deck,
between the beams, or wherever it may be desired to stow them. In constructing
a frame, I take a piece of tube and bend the ends round at right angles, or use
joints already bent. This forms one side of the frame, the other side being
similarly formed. The ends of the frame consist of shorter lengths of tubing, or
bar which fit into, or onto the bent ends, or joints of the side pieces. This allows
of the frame being rapidly put together, or taken to pieces, and when in use with
the cots, or like bedding for sleeping purposes, such cots, or bedding by being
suspended, or stretched between the sides of the frame serve to keep the parts of
the frame together.
In the further carrying out of my Invention, I use wire netting of a pliable
nature with a straight wire, or number of parallel wires so as to divide the netting
into a number of portions, so as to accomodate in each portion one person, each
end of the netting being provided with a wire, or rod having hooks, or other
fastenings for hanging the whole wire bottom onto the frame. Instead of using a
continuous wire netting to form a bottom for the multiple berths, each berth
bottom may be made independently and hung in the rectangular frame in like
manner to the continuous bottom.
In cases where the frames are suspended close to the ships side, or a bulkhead,
the side, or ends of the frame next to the ships side; or bulkhead may be fastened
to the, side, or bulkhead, so that when the frame is disjointed the side, or ends of
the frame will remain attached to the ships side, or bulkhead, and the other parts
can be stowed close to the deck, or wherever desired.
These frames according to my Invention are suspended from the deck above by
vertical wire. ropes or chains, or bars hooked to the deck. Stops, or holders are
provided at the required intervals on the suspenders to support the frames and are
so constructed as to allow the frames being stowed close under the deck.
The bed bottoms may be detached from all but one bar and then furled along it
so as to allow of neat stowage, or the suspenders of one parallel bar may be
unhooked from above and stowed in the same parcel with the opposite bar and bed
bottoms.
I use rigid wire netting, or perforated zinc as divisions between the berths, and
for foot and head boards when required.
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page_text: I CHARLES JAMES Fox, of Conway Street, Birkenhead in the County of
Chester Master Mariner do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SHIPS BERTHS and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :—
My Invention relates to certain improvements hereinafter more particularly
mentioned, and in Ships Berths, for use on board emigrant ships, troopships, and
in other cases where a readily erected and stowed multiple berth is required.
My Invention provides a simple construction and efficient arrangement of berth
that combines compactness, durability, cleanliness and neatness of appearance and
admits a better ventilation than the ordinary construction of berth, and is proof
against the attacks of vermin, and affords no harbourage to insects, such as bugs,
lice, coackroaches, and the like.
The essential feature in the construction of ships berths according to my
invention consists in the use of a frame bar, perferably of galvanized iron tubing,
suspended from the deck overhead by rope, chain, or wire, and forming a suspended
frame bar, from, or on which a number of cots, hammocks, or berths may be hung,
or stretched, so as to accomodate more than one person and as many persons as
convenient, thus forming a support for a multiple berth. Two, three, or more of
these frame bars are suspended from the same part of the deck, one below another
so as to form supports for as many tiers of berths. The frame bars are so formed
and suspended from the deck as to allow of their being raised and triced up, or
fastened speedily to the deck above, whenever required, for instance to allow free
passage along the deck below for cleaning purposes, or for the stowage of cargo, or
in the case of men-of-war for fighting the guns, drilling and the like.
The following is a description of my Invention, sufficient to enable others skilled
in the art to which it belongs to put the same into practice reference being had to
the accompanying two sheets of Drawings and to the letters and figures of
reference marked thereon, like letters and figures being used to denote the same, or
corresponding parts throughout the Drawings.

page_text: cord. The parts come down and are connected to the frame bar D and fastened by
the lashing in manner shown in front view at Figure 3 and back view at Figure 4.
This construction also forms the attachment for the partitions, or boards H which
separate the berths one from another and form the sides of the berth. The ends of
the partitions H are grooved on each side at h and ship between the_two_parts of
the suspender F, a sliding ring f being provided on the suspender F to keep the
parts together and when pressed down to secure the partitions H. A ring d is
attached to the frame bar D for each division board and serves to keep the
suspenders F and boards H in correct position. The lower frame bar D¹ is guyed
to the deck B by the lashings K, and in cases where the frame bars D D¹
butt against the ships side, they are secured thereto by the lashings J. L are
runner rods which are hung under the division boards H by the looped wires with
eyes c.
These runner rods L serve as the means for attaching the canvas, or other
berth bottoms M, which are made and connected as shown at Figure 5, namely the
edges of the berth bottom M have a rod, wire, or cord N hemmed into the berth
bottom M on each side. At intervals at each side, there are provided links P
which suspend the berth bottom M by embracing the rods L and Ñ as shown.
Instead of securing the frame bars D to the ships side, or perpendiculars as
shown at Figure 1, horizontal frame bars D arranged at right angles to each other
in manner as shown at Figure 7 may be used, thus forming a rigid suspended
frame in which a number of cots, haminocks, or sleeping berths M of any description
may be suspended, the frames being guyed, or steadied in any convenient manner
to prevent their swinging. In this case I construct the frame bars D so that they
may be easily taken to pieces, folded up, or telescoped one part into another, so
that they can be stowed close up to the deck A between the beams, or wherever
desired, when not in use. In constructing the frame D shown at Figure 7, I use
the bent elbows D2 into which the ends of the bar D ship. The side bars D being
of length to correspond with the number of berths required and the end bars Ď
corresponding to the length of the berth. This construction allows of the group of
berths being readily taken to pieces and put together, and when in use with the
cots, or like bed bottoms M and partitions H, the bottoms M. and partitions H serve
to keep the sides and ends of the frame together.
In the further carrying out of my Invention, I use wire netting of a pliable
nature with a straight wire, or a number of parallel wires so as to divide the
netting into a number of portions, so as to accomodate in each portion one person,
or by removing a division board H two berths can be thrown into one. The berth
bottom M either in continuous form, or in detached form is connected and
suspended in the manner before described and shown in reference to Figure 5.
In cases where the frames D are suspended close to the ships side, or a bulkhead,
the side, or ends of the frame next to the ships side, or bulkhead may be fastened
to the side, or bulkhead so that when the frame is disjointed the side, or ends of
the frame will remain attached to the ships side, or bulkhead and the other parts
can be stowed close to the deck, or wherever desired.
By the arrangement and combination and construction of parts of multiple
berths for ships as before described, I obtain a strong, simple and very light form,
in which the frame and multiple berths are steadied and made fast by simple
fastenings and which allows of their being easily erected and detached when
required; and connected either to the decks, bulkheads, stanchions, or other suitable
part of the ship, so that they unhook, or unlash and can be easily removed and
when detached from the ships side, stanchions, or bulkheads they will hang loosely
by the suspenders so that they can be easily lifted and lashed to the deck above,
the berth bottoms being either removed altogether, or detached and furled along
the frame bar so as to allow of neat stowage, the bars being stowed in the same
parcel, or separately.
When it is required to separate the berths, or groups of berths I use rigid wire
netting or canvas between the berths, or groups of berths and for foot and head
boards when required,

page_text: 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
I claim is:-
First In berths of the type herein described, the combination of substantially
rigid frames, or frame bars and pendent cords, rods, or their equivalents, whereby
the frames, or frame bars are suspended substantially as set forth.
Second In berths of the type herein described the combination of substantially
rigid frames, or frame bars, such as D pendant cords, rods, or their equivalents
such as F whereby the frames, or frame bars are suspended and partitions such
as H, whereby the berth bottoms are held, or suspended, substantially as set forth.
Third The combination of the recesses h of the partitions H with a double wire
pendant F, frame D and a securing device f, whereby the partitions are held and
secured, substantially as set forth.
Fourth The combination of lashings, or stays K and frames D, substantially as
set forth.
Fifth The combination of lashings, or stays J and frames D substantially as
described for the purpose set forth.
Sixth The combination of eyes e attached to the partitions H, rods L, suspending
links P and rods, or cords held in the berth bottom M substantially as described as
and for the purposes set forth.
Seventh The combination of a projection such as d with the frame bars D
substantially as set forth for purposes specified.
Eighth The arrangement and combination of the cords F with the frame bars D,
substantially as described and shown in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Ninth The combination and arrangement of parts constituting a group of
multiple berths, substantially as described and illustrated with reference to
Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Tenth The combination and arrangement of parts constituting a group of
multiple berths substantially as described and illustrated with reference to
Figure 7 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Dated this eighteenth day of October 1884.