Floating Structure.
Year: 1887

page_text: 1887
Date of Application, 22nd Sept.,
Complete Left, 23rd May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 27th July, 1888
Floating Structure.
We, GEORGE SPARROW, of 10, Park View Villas, Plymouth, in the county of
Devon, Surveyor to the Board of Trade, and WILLIAM SAMUEL KELLY, of
11, Walker Terrace, Plymouth, aforesaid, Shipowner, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in a frame for use as a bath and is designed for attachment
by hinges, slides or other suitable mechanical device or devices to the side of a ship,
pontoon or other floating structure.
The floor or bottom of the bath consists of a framework supporting a grating and
connected by rods to a framework or platform constituting the top of the bath and
from which platform bathers enter and leave the water. At the sides and ends tho
structure is enclosed by rope or wire netting.
The bath, which is open at the top, is attached, as aforesaid, to a ship, pontoon or
the like and is connected by means of steel or other ropes to a winch or other suitable
winding appliance whereby it may, at will, be folded up and made to assume an
approximately vertical position.
The bath is so placed on the side of the ship, pontoon or other floating structuro
to which it is attached that when lowered into position for use, the depth of the
water therein is always uniform and independent of the draught of the ship, pontoon
or other floating structure.
Protection against sharks is also afforded.

page_text: A Folding Bath for Use at the Side of a Ship, Pontoon, or other
Floating Structure.
GEORGE SPARROW of 10 Park View Villas Plymouth in the County of Devon
Surveyor to the Board of Trade and WILLIAM SAMUEL KELLY of No. 11 Walker
Terrace Plymouth aforesaid Shipowner 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 :-
We illustrate our invention by the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is
a side elevation in detail showing the Bath open. Figure 2 is a transverse section of
same when folded.
The object of our invention is to afford shallow & safe sea or river bathing to
non-swimmers from a vessel in any depth of water and at the same time to avoid having
cumbrous baths permanently extended from the ships-side (most undesirable in a
crowded harbour or in rough water).
To carry our invention into effect we have a firm grated wooden flooring B at the
desired depth, with a strong broad platform C a suitable height over the water from
which bathers can plunge, with a net-work of rope or wire G surrounding the bath
to prevent bathers being carried away into deep water. The jointed radius rods E
connect the top & bottom platforms at their outer corners. The weight of the Diving
platform C thus connected prevents the flooring B when once in position from rising
by its own floating power. The hinges D at top & bottom of Bath connect it with
the vessel A by being fastened to strong fore & aft bilge keels specially bolted to the
vessel to carry those hinges. Steel ropes F lead to the lifting gear.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is,
1. To attach a bath of any desired depth to the outside of any floating vessel either
permanently or otherwise thereby securing safe bathing for non swimmers combined
with a continuous flow of pure water.
2. The folding up of a bath so attached to a vessels side when not in use by means
of the hingeing described.
3. The bath & folder apparatus to be constructed in such a manner as to be entirely
independent of the depth of the vessel to which it is attached.
Dated this Twenty-first day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred & eighty eight