A NEW AND USEFUL OR. IMPROVED LIFE-PRESERVING BERTH FOR NAVIGABLE VESSELS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Elbridge Foster, of the State of Connecticut, of the
United States of America, for the Invention of "A NEW AND USEFUL OR.
IMPROVED LIFE-PRESERVING BERTH FOR NAVIGABLE VESSELS."
Sealed the 28th May 1858, and dated the 7th April 1858.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Elbridge Foster at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration, on
the 7th April 1858, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law..
Amendment Act, 1852..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, BE IT KNOWN,.
that I, ELBRIDGE FOSTER, of the State of Connecticut, of the United States
of America, do hereby declare that I am in possession of: an Invention of
"A NEW AND USEFUL OR IMPROVED LIFE-PRESERVING BERTH FOR NAVIGABLE
VESSELS," and that the following is a correct description thereof, reference
being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters of reference
marked thereon.
The nature of my Invention consists in a movable and adjustable berth,
provided with one or more hinged or attached flaps or keels, and folding
inflatable air chambers, whereby the same may be used as a life preserver on
5 steam and other vessels.

page_text: To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my Invention, I will
proceed to describe its construction and operation.
.
Of the Drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the berth, showing its valve
openings; Figure 2 is a plan of the bottom, with its chambers inflated;
Figure 3 is a plan of the bottom, exhibiting the chambers as folded down
against it; Figure 4, a sectional view, with the chambers inflated; Figure 5,
a sectional view, with the chambers closed or folded; Figure 6, a view of the
supporting partitions and their fillets.
In making or performing my Invention I construct a frame or box (A) of
light wood, and about the size of a common berth, such as is generally used in
steam boats. On each side of the under part I attach by hinges or other
proper means a properly shaped board B, in order to form a kind of a keel,
which may be hinged so as either to fall from or fold down to the bottom of
the berth, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the latter Figure exhibiting it in the
proper position for the berth when not used as a life preserver. I next take
a suitable kind of waterproof cloth or material, and fasten it at its edges to
the-board B and the berth, or arrange it in the manner as shown in Figure 4,
the same forming, when expanded, an angular-shaped bag or cavity E along
the whole length of the keel, or nearly so. When the keels B are brought
out at right angles with the bottom, the angular-shaped cavity E will be
formed, and the air admitted into them through the valve openings c of the
bottom (see Figure 1). When the cavities or chambers are properly inflated
with air, the rotary stop or valve D applied to each opening c may be turned,
over the holes or valve openings c, in order to prevent any admission of water
to the keel cavity E through the said valve openings. Each bag, cavity, or
chamber having been filled with air, the sides B, B, cannot be pressed inwards
by the pressure of the water, neither can the bags collapse while the valve
openings c are closed, and the air does not escape; but as an extra precaution
a cross bar, spring, or other device may be properly attached, so as to prevent
the sides from falling inward when the chambers are inflated. In order that
the berth may be used as a bed, the valves may be opened for the escape of
the air; this will permit the sides to be folded down flat on the bottom, as
shown in Figures 3 and 5, and to be secured in place by a turn button F, or
any other proper device, and being now flush with the lower edge of the
front they will offer no impediment or obstruction to any berth which may be
below them.
The berth is made to slide into the usual recess between the upright
partitions H, H, and on fillets fastened to the sides of such partitions, and

page_text: when in place may be retained there by bolts G, or some other suitable
devices, which will enable it to be conveniently and easily taken out when
circumstances may require.
The advantage of these berths is, that a steam boat or other vessel can be
fitted up with them in the place of the present permanently fixed berths, and
without any material alteration of the general construction of such boat or
vessel and with a small advance of cost, and retaining all the present outward
appearance.
Each person when using this berth will feel confident that he is sleeping
upon that which will perhaps in case of accident be the means of his safety.
Each one of these berths when its air-tight chambers are inflated will bear up
one or more persons in the water and serve as a boat. Thus a few of these
life preserving berths may be sufficient for a whole ship's crew and passengers,
who, by means of them, would have a chance of being saved in case the
vessel should be wrecked. By attaching a rope to them when in the water
they may be made to form a flotilla, superior to any raft that could be con-
structed, and better than the ordinary boats, of which there is often a scarcity,
when a vessel is in danger of being wrecked or burned.
The form of the berth is such that it will not easily upset, but should such
accident happen, the berth would still retain its buoyant properties. Loops
and handles to hold on by when a person may be in the water can be attached
to the berth, and with such berths many lives and a great amount of valuable
property may be often saved.
In addition to the folding keels and air chambers applied to them and the
berths as described, such berths may be furnished with lateral flaps and
folding air chambers as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the former Figure
exhibiting a transverse section of the berth so made, and having its flaps
turned outward; Figure 8 represents them as folded. In these Figures, B
is the body of the berth; A, A, the lateral flaps; D, D, the air-tight cloth or
material used in the formation of the lateral air chambers C, C. The folding
keels and their air chambers are shown at E, E.
The addition of the lateral folding flaps and air chambers not only diminishes
the chance of the berth being overturned while in the water, but adds to the
buoyancy of it. If necessary, such a folding flap and air chamber may be
applied to each end of the berth.
What I claim as my Invention is the improved berth made with one or
more adjustable keels or boards and folding air chambers, so as to operate
substantially in the manner as herein described and for the purpose set forth,

page_text: such keels or boards and air chambers being applied to the bottom, sides, and
ends of the berth, or to such parts of the external surface of such berth as
circumstances may require.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my signature and seal, this
17th day of March, 1858.
ELBRIDGE FOSTER.
(L.S.)