Improvements in or connected with Ships' or analogous Berths.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 17th June, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Ships' or analogous Berths.
I, EDWARD ROWCLIFFE BILLINGTON, of Cambridge Street, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention has reference generally to ships' and analogous berths, and
certain parts of same, but it has special reference to cases wherein one berth is
disposed above another, such as in the case of ships' state rooms, and other analogous
circumstances; and has for its object, amongst other things, to provide improve-
ments therein, by which said berths may be neatly and effectually folded and stowed
out of the way when not required.
Under the present invention (which I will describe as applied to the case of a
ships' state room, or equivalent applications) a berth is supported and moved about
its ends, or in some cases one end, and adapted to be folded or stowed against a
bulkhead or bulkheads or other vertical surfaces.
In the drawings which serve to illustrate my invention, I shew some arrange-
ments and constructions of berths as suitable, and these I will now describe, the
same letters or figures of reference being used throughout to denote the same or
equivalent parts wherever they occur in the different figures. It is to be under-
stood, however, that the constructions shewn may be modified or equivalents used
without departing from the main or controlling features or characteristics of the
invention.
In Figures 1 and 2, 1 shew in elevation and plan respectively, a folding berth
operating and arranged according to this invention. This berth is adapted to move
upon hinges or supports, and to fold up end wise.
In the example the berth frame, a is divided in the centre, and each half is
supported or pivoted at b, about which pivots or supports the said two halves of the
frame move from the horizontal to the vertical plane and vice versa. The adjacent
ends of the frame, where they meet in the centre, are held apart and in position by
stretcher bars a', by which construction the supporting material constituting the
berth bottom is practically rendered continuous, as it may be carried to the
extreme end of each of the side frames of the berth. If the said supporting
material be of woven wire, or other kind held in tension, it would preferably be
stretched between the side bars of the berth frame, and not end for end as usual.
The halves of the berth above described are stowed, in the arrangement shewn
in the figure, in a case, consisting of sides c, and doors d and e hinged at d¹ and e¹,
respectively, the latter of such doors being adapted also to serve as an outer lee
rail to the berth; and it may be provided with means, such as a projecting part f, on
which the outer side bar of the berth frame will rest when lowered, the inside of
same being supported by a suitable projection f fastened to the surface or back
bulkhead; or, the halves of the berth frame may be otherwise supported. In lieu,
however, of making the enclosing front of said cases in two, they may be made in
one piece, that is, one door only is used, and it opens backwards towards the back
bulkhead or surface, to which they will be suitably fastened when open. In this
case, a suitable folding or other lee rail or rails will be mounted on the outside of
the berth frame.
The door (d) which moves towards and is held against the back bulkhead or
other surface, may, in some cases, be provided with silvered glass panels or centres,
on its inner side or both sides, so that when it is open or swung back and stands
along the back side of the berth when being used, it serves as a mirror to the state-
room.

page_text: Figure 3, which is a side elevation, shews a folding berth adapted to fold endwise,
but in which, in lieu of folding in halves at different sides, as that shewn in
Figures 1 and 2, the frame folds upon itself in halves about a hinge a², and then is
folded vertically against the bulkhead or other vertical surface, by moving it about
its hinged supports at pivots b. In this case, only one stowing case is provided,
and this may be provided with two doors d and e; or, a single door only, as above
specified, may be used.
In Figure 4 a slight modification of the folding berth as set forth with reference
to Figure 3 is shewn. This modification consists of hinging the two parts of the
berth frame a, so that one folds downwards about the hinge a2 and under the other
part in folding the berth up.
In the two modes of construction and stowing berths shewn and set forth with
reference to Figures 3 and 4, the berth frame may be supported, when in position
for use, by projecting brackets or stops on the bulkhead or other surface, or in any
suitable way.
By the above arrangement and mode of operation and construction of berth,
when applied to a state-room of a ship as the upper berth of two, arranged in the
usual relative positions, it can be folded neatly against the bulkhead or other surface
above one end, or both ends, of the berth below; and will occupy very little space
when so stowed and not required, giving thereby a clear space above the lower
berth to the roof of the state-room. Instead of folding upwards, as shewn in the
drawings, the berths may be folded downwards; in which case the berth case
would be brought downwards so that the frame would fold downwards into its case
or cupboard.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein described improvement connected with ships or analogous berths,
consisting in adapting said berth to be stowed endwise, against a bulkhead or other
surface or surfaces, and within a vertical space less than the full length of said
berth, namely, by constructing said berths in two or more equal or unequal lengths
hinged together, or separate, and adapting these parts to be stowed endwise
together, or separately, against said bulkhead or bulkheads or other surface or
surfaces.
2. The mode of constructing and stowing ships' berths set forth with reference
to Figure 1.
3. The mode of constructing and stowing ships' berths set forth with reference to
Figure 2.
4. The mode of constructing and stowing ships' berths set forth with reference to
Figure 3.
5. In ships' berths, a berth adapted to be stowed endwise in a vertical position
as described, and an inclosing case having a door in front of same, and adapted to
swing back against the back bulkhead or other surface, and provided with a mirror
on the inside, so that when opened it constitutes a mirror on the back bulkhead;
substantially as described.
6. A ships' or analogous berth adapted to fold or stow endwise in a vertical
position, and an enclosing case connected therewith with two doors hinged on the
opposite sides of said case, the lower one being adapted to move outwards and
serve as an outer lee-rail when the berth is in a position for use; substantially as
described.
Dated this 27th day of March 1802
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water-Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.