IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DIMINISHING THE EFFECTS OF THE OSCILLATION OF VESSELS, AND FOR PREVENTING SEA SICKNESS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes
and Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the
Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DIMINISHING THE EFFECTS OF THE
OSCILLATION OF VESSELS, AND FOR PREVENTING SEA SICKNESS."-A com-
munication from abroad by Lorenzo Dow Newell, of Paris, in the.
Empire of France.
Sealed the 15th July 1870, and dated the 19th January 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 19th January 1870.
с
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent
Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DIMINISHING THE EFFECTS OF
THE OSCILLATION OF VESSELS, AND FOR PREVENTING SEA SICKNESS," a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Lorenzo Dow Newell, of Paris, in the
Empire of France, to be as follows :-
This Invention relates to apparatus for diminishing the effects of the
oscillation of vessels, and for preventing sea sickness, and consists in.

page_text: supporting a hollow frame of wood, iron, or other suitable material on
pivots affixed to pillars or supports in any suitable part of the vessel.
Inside the said frame and supported by other pivots placed on two of
'the arms thereof (the axial line of these said pivots being at right angles
to the axial line of those before mentioned) is suspended a circular couch
or sofa, the sectional form of which is that of a hemisphere or basin, the
*said frame and couch being so suspended in relation to each other and to
the vessel that oscillation is reduced to a minimum, thus preventing the
unpleasant feeling consequent on the rolling and other movements of a
vessel at sea. The cabins in which these couches or sofas are intended to
be placed are not large enough to contain more than one, the said cabins
being entered by a sliding door in the partition near one corner of the
apartment, a corresponding door in the couch or sofa turning up on a
binge to admit the person therein; another corner of the apartment is
used for washing and other necessary purposes, the remaining corners
and spare spaces on the partitions being employed for luggage, wearing
apparel, and other articles; windows may be placed in the partitions, and
a table fixed in the centre of the circular couch during meals or at other
times, and boards or other supports may be placed across a part of the
seat for resting the legs when required; and alhough I prefer to place
each of these said balanced couches or sofas in a separate state cabin, yet
two or more my be arranged in the general cabin or in other parts of
the vessel if desirable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent 2
Office on the 19th July 1870.
J
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 3
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, Her special licence
that. I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors, administrators, 3

page_text: and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR DIMINISHING THE EFFECTS OF THE OSCILLATION OF VESSELS, AND FOR PRE-
VENTING SEA SICKNESS," a communication to me from abroad by Lorenzo
Dow Newell, of Paris, in the Empire of France, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the.
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to bo
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to apparatus for diminishing the effects of the
oscillation of vessels, and for preventing sea sickness.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings a hollow frame a of wood,
iron, or other suitable material is suspended on pivots 6 affixed to pillars
or supports in any suitable part of the vessel. Inside this said frame a
and supported by other pivots c placed on two of the arms thereof (the
axial line of these said pivots being at right angles to the axial line of
those before mentioned) is suspended a circular couch or sofa d, the
sectional form of which is that of a hemisphere or basin, the said frame a
and couch & being so suspended in relation to each other and to the
vessel that oscillation is reduced to a minimum, thus preventing the
unpleasant feeling consequent on the rolling and other movements of a
vessel at sea. The cabins e in which these couches or sofas d are intended
to be placed are not large enough to contain more than one, the said
cabins being entered by a sliding door f in the partitions near the corner
of the apartment, a corresponding door g in the couch or sofa turning up
on a hinge to admit the person therein, another corner h of the apart-
ment is used for washing and other necessary purposes, the remaining

page_text: corners and spare spaces on the partitions being employed for luggage,
wearing apparel, and other articles. Windows may be placed on the
partitions and a table fixed in the centre of the circular couch during
meals or at other times, and boards or other supports may be placed
across a part of the seat for resting the legs when required, and although
I prefer to place each of these said balanced couches or sofas in a
separate state cabin, yet two or more may be arranged in the general
cabin or in other parts of the vessel if desirable.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Inven-
tion, I claim the improved apparatus for diminishing the effects of the
oscillation of vessels and preventing sea sickness, as herein described and
shewn on the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of July, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.