Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1888
Specification Accepted, 29th June, 1888
I, JAMES ALFRED ASHWORTH, of Yonkers, in the County of Westchester, and State
of New York, one of the United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to bo
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention consists in a life-preserving chair, which when unfolded can be used
on a vessel or steamer as an ordinary chair, but which in case of an accident to the
vessel can be folded up and employed as a life-preserver and which is so constructed.
that it will support several persons in the water; and my invention will be hereinafter
more fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
in which similar letters and figures refer to similar parts.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my life-preserving chair, showing the same unfolded
in position for use as an ordinary chair.
Figure 2 is a central vertical longitudinal view of the chair, in its unfolded
position.
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the chair folded up as it appears when used
as a life-preserver.
Figure 4 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the chair when folded for use as a
life-preserver; and
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a slight modification of my improved chair, showing
it constructed without a back.
A, A, indicate the inner-and B, B, the outer legs of my improved life-preserving
chair, the said inner legs being centrally pivoted to the outer legs as shown, the pairs
of legs being connected near their upper ends by the cross-bars, C, D, respectively,
and being connected near their lower ends by the ordinary rungs, E, F.
Upon the rear cross-bar, C, just inside of the upper ends of the outer legs, are
pivotally mounted towards their lower ends, the side-rails, G, G, of the chair-back;
these rails extending up for the required distance, and being connected at their upper
ends by the cross-bar, H, which thus completes the frame of the chair-back proper :
while the lower ends of the back-rails, G, G, are extended down some distance below
the pivotal point, G¹, and are connected together, a short distance below the said point
by the cross-brace, I.
The back and seat of the chair are formed of a single piece of preferably water-proof
material, K, in one or more pockets of which the buoyant material, usually, cork, is
confined and secured. This cover of water-proof material, K, is secured around the

page_text: top cross-bar, H, of the frame of the chair-back, by a row of stitches, L, and a second
row M, is stitched across a small space below this first row, and the cork or other
buoyant material is secured within the water-proof covering between this second
row M, and a row, N, of stitches a short distance above the lower end of the back, the
buoyant material being secured in one or more pockets as desired, according to whether
the cork is in one or more pieces; and some stitches below this lower row, N, of
stitches, a second row, O, is stitched immediately above the cross-bar, C, of the seat,
leaving hetween these two rows of stitches the slack- or hinge-portion, P, for the purpose
hereinafter specified.
The covering K, is again stitched across at, Q, immediately below the cross-bar, C,
and another row of stitches, R, is stitched across the covering some distance in front
of this row, Q, forming between these two rows of stitches, Q, and R, the slack or
hinge portion, S, as shown more clearly in the sectional views. The forward end of
the covering material is stitched firmly around the forward cross-bar, D, of the seat, and
a short space back of this forward row, T, a second row, U, of stitches is stitched,
forming at the forward end of the seat the hinge or slack-space, V, and between the
rows R, and U, in the body of the seat-portion of the covering material is confined
or secured in one of the pockets the buoyant material or cork; as shown in the
sectional views of the drawing.
In ordinary use, on the deck, or in the saloon of a steamer, the chair is unfolded into
the position shown in figures and 2 of the drawings, in which position the lower
ends, G2, G3, of the back-rails which are bevelled or pointed, rest in notches, A2, A3,
in the upper side of the inner legs, at that point, thus holding the chair in its open
position, for use as an ordinary easy chair; and at the same time, the outer ends of the
lower cross-bar, 1, rest in the recesses, B2, B2, formed in the lower sides of the outer
legs, B, near the upper ends of the same, thus additionally bracing and strengthening
the chair in its open position under the weight of the person sitting upon it, as will be
readily understood.
To the outer side of one of the back-rails, near the center of the upper part of the
same, is pivotally secured one end of a strap or band, W, which may be of the same
water-proof material as the covering of the back and seat, and which when not in use
is passed loosely around the back of the chair-back and has the loop or ring, X,
at its free end hooked over the button, Y on the other back-rail, on the other side of
the same.
In case of any accident to the steamer or vessel, the chair can be instantly converted
into a life-preserver by folding the back forward over the seat, as shown in figures 3
and 4, of the drawing, when, owing to the slack or hinge portions at the rear end of
the seat and the lower end of the back, the cork back and seat can be folded closely,
flat, down upon and against each other as clearly shown in the sectional view, figure 4,
of the drawing, and the chair is then secured firmly in its folded position by passing
the strap, W, around under the seat and hooking the loop or ring at its free end over
the button, Y, when the chair will be held tightly together in its folded position, no
matter to what extent it may be tossed about by the waves, or how roughly it may be
handled either by handling in throwing overboard or while in the water. When thus
folded it will be seen that the side-rails, of the back form a convenient grasp or hold
for the hand of any person in the water, and that the legs themselves form a convenient
means for grasping the life-preserver from either side, while the projecting ends of the
legs and also of the lower ends of the side-rails of the back form an exceedingly con-
venient means for seizing the life-preserver when at a little distance from the body-
portion thereof, as will be readily seen.
My invention can also be constructed without the back in the form of a folding stool,
as illustrated in figure 5, of the drawings, in which form the back-rails, G, G, extend
only from the rear cross-bar of the seat down to the notches in the rear ends of the
inner legs.
From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,
the construction, operation, and advantages of my invention will be readily under-
stood. It will be seen that my improved folding life-preserving chair is simple in

page_text: construction and can be manufactured at a small cost, and at the same time it is
exceedingly convenient and efficient in operation. It can be employed, as described
as an ordinary casy chair on the steamer or vessel, and in case of an accident forms a
perfect and exceedingly effective life-preserver; one chair being capable of supporting
several persons in the water. The water-proof covering (which is, of course stitched
all along its longitudinal edges) can be finished in an ornamental manner so as to
prosent a neat and handsome appearance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. The combination, with the hinged legs, the inner pair of which are formed with
the notches in the upper side of their rear portions, of the water-proof material forming
the seat and having the buoyant material secured within it, and the pivoted braces;
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination, in the life-preserving chair, of the centrally-pivoted legs, having
the cross-bars at their upper ends, the inner legs having the rear notches, the back-
frame having the projecting lower ends, and the water-proof material forming a back
and seat and having the buoyant material secured within it as described; substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The combination, in a life-preserver, of the centrally-pivoted legs having the
cross-bars at their upper ends and the inner legs being formed with the rear notches,
the back frame having the projecting lower ends, and the water-proof material forming
the back and seat, having the slack or hinge portions, and having the buoyant
material secured within it as described; substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
4. The combination, in a life-preserving chair, of the centrally pivoted legs having
the cross-bars at their upper ends and the inner legs having the rear notches, the back
frame having the projecting lower ends, the water-proof material forming the back and
seat, having the slack or hinge portions, and having the buoyant material secured within
it as described, and the strap pivoted at one end to the back frame and having the loop
or ring at its free end adapted to engage with the button on the opposite side of the
back frame all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a life-preserving chair, the combination with the centrally pivoted legs, the
outer legs having the recesses in their lower sides near their upper ends, of the back
frame having the lower ends of the side rails extending down below their pivotal
point and connected by the transverse brace rod, the ends of which engage with the
said recesses of the outer legs; the water-proof material forming the back and seat
and the buoyant material secured therein; substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
6. In a life-preserving chair, the combination with the centrally pivoted legs, the
inner legs having the notches formed in the rear portions and outer legs having the
recesses formed in their lower sides near their upper ends, of the back frame having
the lower ends of its side rails extended down their pivotal points and connected by
the transverse brace-rod the ends of which engage with the said recesses of the outer
jegs, the water-proof material forming the back and seat and the buoyant material
secured therein; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 25th dor of Mow 1000
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.