A Novel Platform, Berth, Cot, Couch, Ambulance or Chair, for Cabin or Deck Use, for the Prevention of Sickness at Sea and for Restful Transport by Land, and for other purposes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 13th Nov., 1396-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Novel Platform, Berth, Cot, Couch, Ambulance or Chair, for
Cabin or Deck Use, for the Prevention of Sickness at Sea and
for Restful Transport by Land, and for other purposes.
ATHOL MAYHEW of Ivy Lodge 18 Streatham Place London S.W. Journalist
and HARRY JAMES HITCHINS of 7 Leicester Street Leicester Square Londou
W.C. Theatrical Manager do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention is so devised that both the physical and optical effects conducive
to sea sickness and to suffering during the land transport of the wounded or ailing
are counteracted and overcome in one and the same contrivance.
Firstly, we counteract the rolling or tossing of a vessel in a sea, or the swaying
or jolting motion of conveyance on shore by attaching our platform berth, cot,
couch, ambulance, or chair, to or suspending it from three deflecting rings or
frames of any desirable shape or dimensious. These rings or frames lie horizontally
one within the other supported by and working on pivots, screws, bolts, or bearings,
so arranged that the axis of one ring or frame works or swings at right angles to
that of the other. To the inner ring or frame is suspended, or attached the platform,
berth, cot, couch, ambulance, or, chair whilst the outer ring is rigidly fixed to any
desirable support or supports. When the platform, berth, cot, couch, ambulance,
or, chair, is attached to instead of suspended from this swinging support, these
rings or frames need not entirely surround or environ that which they uphold.
Space may be cut away through the inner & middle rings or frames equal to
close on one fourth of the shape they assume, and at any one place between the
supporting pivots, screws, bolts, or bearings.
The uninterupted space thus obtained may be employed to the utmost advantage
either for ingress or egress. Further, the rings or frames may be made of any
strength according to the weight they have to bear, even to upholding or supporting
tons, by reason of the solidity by which they may be turned, moulded, forged, or
cast, and on account of the distribution, of the weight upon the rigid outer ring or
frame. Moreover the great substance or diameter that may be given to the
supporting pivots, screws, bolts, or bearings uniting both the swinging rings or
frames, forms an additional source of strength. The rings or frames as described
work with enough "play" within each other to allow of a deflection sufficient to
counteract the rolling or tossing of a ship in the heaviest sea.
When desirable, the swinging rings or frames have their opposing sides covered
with rubber, or any suitable elastic packing so as to control any undue freedom of
"play."
In unusually rough weather the steadiness of the platform, berth,
cot, etc., etc., might be further ensured by a suitable application of "give and take"
springs or by pneumatic, or hydraulic stops or checks arranged as occasion might
require.
Secondly, in order to overcome those optical effects which are held to be as
conducive to sea-sickness as the motion of a vessel itself and to counteract any
undue swinging or jolting during land transport, we entirely surround our
platform, berth, cot, couch, ambulance, or chair, with an arrangement of translucent
screens, blinds or shutters which may be set at such an angle by means of pivots,
hinges, tapes, or cords, that all external objects are shut off and at the same time
an abundance of light and air are secured. Thus arranged our platform might

page_text: assume the dimensions of a state room, or cabin, of itself, or it might be enlarged
to a false deck so slung within its upholding rings, or frames as to be always on
an even plane. Such platform or swinging deck should also form an invaluable
base, for the true sighting and firing of marine artillery, as it would be entirely
independent of the motion of the sea.
3000
ATHOL MAYHEW.
H. J. HITCHINS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Novel Platform, Berth, Cot, Couch, Ambulance or Chair, for
Cabin or Deck Use, for the Prevention of Sickness at Sea and
for Restful Transport by Land, and for other purposes.
We, ATHOL MAYHEW, and HARRY JAMES HITCHINS of 7 Leicester Street,
Leicester Square, London, W. Gentlemen, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the sume is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to platforms, berths, cots couchés, ambulances, chairs, and
the like, and is designed to prevent in such appliances the physical and optical
effects conducive to sea-sickness, and to suffering during the sea or land transport
of the wounded or ailing.
Firstly, we counteract the distressing physical effects produced by the rolling or
tossing of a vessel at sca, or by the swaying, or jolting motion of conveyance on
shore, by suspending our platform, berth, cot, couch, ambulance, or chair, in such
manner, that whatever the movements of the carrying vessel, conveyance, or
supports, the platform, berth, cot, couch, or chair will tend to maintain a horizontal
position by the action of two combined supporting frames, pivotted to one-another,
and to the rigid supports by two pairs of pivots at right angles to one another.
'Secondly in order to overcome those optical effects which are held to be as
conducive to sea-sickness as the motion of a vessel itself, and which is also held to
be optically painful to the ailing from undue swinging, or jolting during land
transport, we entirely surround our platform, berth, cot, couch, or chair &c., with
an arrangement of translucent screens, blinds or shutters, which may be set to such
ai angle that all external objects are covered from the sight of the occupant of
the couch, or chair &c. whilst an abundance of light and air are secured.
Thus arranged, our platform, might assume the dimensions of a state room or
cabin of itself, or it might be enlarged to a false deck so slung as to be always
upon an even plane.
Such platform, or swinging deck would also form an invaluable base, for the true
sighting, and firing of marine artillery, as it would be entirely independent of the
motion of the sea.
And in order that our invention may be the better understood we now proceed to
describe the same, reference being had to the drawings hereto annexed, giving
examples of our devices, and to the letters and figures marked thereon.
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a conch, cot, or berth, surrounded by screens,
blinds or shutters, and its supports.
Fig. 2 is a plan.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a chair and its supports.
Fig. 5 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the chair.
In Figs. 1, 2, & 3, A is the couch or cot, covered by louvres B, and side shutters
or blinds B', and mounted in pivottable bearings C C; in a surrounding frame D.

page_text: The said frame D is also mounted by pivotable bearings E E at right angles to the-
frame pivots, on the standards F F fixed to the deck; or alternatively suspendel
from the vertical beams or ceilings of stateroom or cabin.
We find it imperative to place the pivoted supports C C in such a position, an
to add an adjustable weight G under the cot or couch to properly balance the
same with an occupant therein, when lying in a comfortable position, and it is.
obvious that such a balanced cot or couch will maintain a horizontal position
whatever the deflection of the rigid supports, provided that such deflections are-
about either of the axes of the two sets of pivotable bearings C C and E E at
right angles to one another.
To facilitate the entry of the occupant into the cot or couch we provide means
to steady or lock the cot in a fixed position, such lock or steady pieces being.
removed when the occupant is comfortably placed and balanced in the cot.
One mode of such steady pieces is shown by us in the form of hand-lever rests H,
attached to the floor by standards H'. The steady rests H may be lifted and.
locked in the quadrant H" to engage under the base of the cot, and afterwards
may be lowered out of the way. Alternatively we may use bolts in the standards F. F..
which may engage into or underneath the cot or couch.
In Figs. 4, 5, and 6, K is a deck or lounge chair, pivotably supported at L L on
the frame M, which latter is pivotably supported at N N on two rigid supports P. P.
either to the deck or floor, or alternatively to any overhead or side beam or-
support.
An adjustable balance weight Q is also adapted to this chair, to give any
required position of balance to the occupant.
Part of the inner or outer frames of support can be cut away, if desired, so long
as the support for the two sets of pin attachments at right angles to one another
are retained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven--
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. The combination in an adjustable swinging platform, cot, berth, couch.
ambulance or chair of two carrying frames, pivotted at right angles to one-another,
to render the position of the occupant of, or of the object placed, on such.
platform etc., as stable as possible, under considerable deflections or joltings of the
supports, dependent upon the relative position of the floor, ceiling or wall,.
substantially as described.
2nd. In a swinging cot, berth, ambulance, or chair &c. the combination with.
pivotted supports at right angles to each other, of shutters, blinds or translucent.
shades, fixed to and moving with the said cot, berth, or chair &c. to shut out from.
the view of the occupant, the external objects, moving relatively to said cot or
chair &c. substantially as described.
3rd. The combination with a platform, cot berth, ambulance, or chair &c..
swinging adjustably on two pairs of pivots at right angles to each other, of steady
rests or bolts to temporarily fix or lock the same, for the more convenient entry of
the occupant, and an adjustable balance-weight to adjust the balance in any
desired position of the occupant, substantially as described.
4th. A swinging, cot, couch, or ambulance &c., and supports substantially as-
described and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, & 3.
5th. A swinging chair and supports substantially as described and illustrated in.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6.
FELL & JAMES,
1 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicants..