IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO BERTUS FOR PASSENGERS, AND PENS, STALLS, OR BOXES FOR ANIMALS ON SHIPBOARD, TO RETAIN THEM IN A LEVEL POSITION AND TO PREVENT SEA-SICKNESS."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Calvin Thompson, of Brooklyn, in the County of
Kings, and Stato of New York, in the United States of America, but at present
of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO BERTUS FOR PASSENGERS, AND PENS,
STALLS, OR BOXES FOR ANIMALS ON SHIPBOARD, TO RETAIN THEM IN A LEVEL
POSITION AND TO PREVENT SEA-SICKNESS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Calvin Thompson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th April 1878.
JOHN CALVIN THOMPSON, of Brooklyn in the County of Kings, and State of New
York, in the United States of America, but at present of 23, Southampton Buildings
in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO BERTHS FOR
PASSENGERS, AND PENS, STALLS, OR BOXES FOR ANIMALS ON SHIPBOARD, TO RETAIN
THEM IN A LEVEL POSITION AND TO PREVENT SEA-SICKNESS."
The Invention has for its object improvements in or applicable to berths for
passengers, and pens, stalls, or boxes for animals on shipboard, to retain them in a
level position and to prevent sea-sickness.
For this purpose I fix posts between two decks, and to each pair of these posts I
hang, centre, or pivot a dividing partition or a cross bar or frame, to each side of
which I pivot or hang a berth, or a pen, stall, or box, such berths, pens, stalls, or
boxes being pivotted or hung at a point above the centre of gravity thereof, and of
the persons or animals occupying the same.
The centres or pivots on which the dividing partitions or cross bars or frames aro
hung are supported on springs, and the berths, pens, stalls, or boxes are connected
together in pairs.
By these means I cause the weight of the persons or animals to act as counter-
balance weights, and by such means, combined with the arrangements described, I
cause the berths, pens, stalls, or boxes to be retained in a horizontal or level position,

page_text: however much the vessel may pitch or roll; whilst by mounting the dividing par-
titions or cross bars or frames on springs, I modify or nullify the recoil or returning
force in a vertical direction.
If desired the parts of the stalls, pens, or boxes can be hinged together to enable
the same to be folded together when not required for use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Calvin Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th October 1878.
JOHN CALVIN THOMPSON, of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, and State of New
York, in the United States of America, but at present of 23, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO BERTHS FOR
PASSENGERS, AND PENS, STALLS, OR BOXES FOR ANIMALS ON SHIPBOARD, TO RETAIN
THEM IN A LEVEL POSITION, AND TO PREVENT SEA-SICKNESS."
The Invention has for its object improvements in or applicable to berths for
passengers, and pens, stalls, or boxes for animals on shipboard, to retain them in a
level position, and to prevent sea-sickness.
For this purpose I fix posts between two decks, and to each pair of these posts
I hang, centre, or pivot a dividing partition or a cross bar or frame, to each side of
which I pivot or hang a berth or a pen, stall, or box, such berths, pens, stalls, or
boxes being pivotted or hung at a point above the centre of gravity thereof, and of
the persons or animals occupying the same.
The centres or pivots on which the dividing partitions or cross bars or frames are
hung, are supported on springs, and the berths, pens, stalls, or boxes are connected
together in pairs.
By these means I cause the weight of the persons or animals to act as counter-
balance weights, and by such means, combined with the arrangements described, I
cause the berths, pens, stalls, or boxes to be retained in a horizontal or level position,
however much the vessel may pitch or roll; whilst by mounting the dividing par-
titions or cross bars or frames on springs I modify or nullify the recoil or returning
force in a vertical direction.
If desired, the parts of the stalls, pens, or boxes can be hinged together to enable
the same to be folded together when not required for use.
And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an end view of a pair of passenger berths; Figure 2 is a side view;
Figure 3 is an end view, and Figure 4 is a cross section of a pair of pens, stalls, or

page_text: view: Figure 6 is an end view; Figure 7 is a cross section of a pair of cattle pens,
stalls, or boxes also constructed according to my Invention, and having the parts
thereof hinged together to enable the same to be folded together when not required
for use, but arranged to provide against the rolling motion only of the ship or
vessel.
In all the Figures like parts are marked with similar letters of reference.
a, a, are posts or uprights fixed between two decks; to each pair of these posts
hang, centre, or pivot at a' a dividing partition or a cross bar or frame b, to each
side of which at b₁ I pivot or hang, as represented at Figures 1 to 4, a passenger
berth c, or a cattle pen, stall, or box c, such berths, pens, stalls, or boxes being
pivotted or hung at a point sufficiently above the centre of gravity thereof, and of
the persons or animals occupying the same.
The centres or pivots on which the dividing partitions or cross bars or frames b
are hung are supported on springs d, and the berths, pens, stalls, or boxes are con-
nected together in pairs. Antifriction rollers e are applied, as shown, to ease the
motion, and as represented at Figure 2; the weight of the pens, stalls, or boxes may
be partly carried by rollers or wheels running on rails g.
By these means I cause the weight of the persons or animals to act as counter-
balance weights, and by such means, combined with the arrangements described, I
cause the berths, pens, stalls, or boxes to be retained in a horizontal or level posi-
tion, however much the vessel may pitch or roll, whilst by mounting the dividing
partitions or cross bars or frames on springs I modify or nullify the recoil or returning
force in a vertical direction.
In the modification represented at Figures 5, 6, and 7, the pens, stalls, or boxes c
are not pivotted to the dividing partition or frame b, as above described, but are
rigidly connected thereto, the various parts of the pens, stalls, or boxes being hinged
together, as shown, in order that when not in use they may be folded together, as
represented at Figure 7, and thereby occupy less space.
In the modification above described it will be seen that provision is made only
against the rolling motion of the vessel, which in many cases will be found to be
sufficient.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,-
First. Pivotting or hanging passenger berths, or pens, stalls, or boxes for animals
in pairs, one to each side of a pivotted dividing partition or cross bar or frame,
supported on springs, each pair of berths, pens, stalls, or boxes being connnected
together in manner and for the purpose, substantially as herein shown and
described.
And, Secondly. I claim the employment of a pivotted dividing partition cross bar
or frame mounted on springs carrying a berth, pen, stall, or box on each side
thereof, which may be either pivotted thereto, as shown and described, with respect
to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, or fixed rigidly thereto, and have the parts thereof hinged
together in manner and for the purpose substantially as herein shown and described
with respect to Figures 5, 6, and 7.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Calvin Thompson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.