IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING SEA SICKNESS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Ashe, of Birkenhead, in the County of Chester,
Bachelor of Medicine, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR PREVENTING SEA SICKNESS."
Sealed the 10th July 1863, and dated the 17th January 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Ashe at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th January
1863.
I, ISAAC ASHB, of Birkenhead, in the County of Chester, Bachelor of
Medicine, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING SEA SICKNESS," to be as follows:-
My improvements in apparatus for the prevention of sea sickness are
applicable both to suspended and balanced chairs, couchos, and other supports
for the person; and the object thereof is to cause such chairs, couches, and
other supports for the person to retain or remain in practically one desired
position, and counteract the rolling and pitching motions of a ship at sea, as
well as to render several parts or portions of the apparatus employed simple in
construction, compact when stowed away, easily fitted up for use, either on
the deck or in the cabins, and readily removable. To any fixed or stationary
part of a ship I attach, at one point only, a suspender of rope, chain, or other
flexible material, and to the lower end thereof in any convenient way I secure
a chair, couch, or other support for the person, either with or without the
intervention between the point of attachment and the chair, couch, or other

page_text: support for the person of a ball-and-socket joint, or a ball and ring, or washer
joint. But for convenience of use I prefer to employ portable vertical
standards formed to fit into sockets in or secured to the deck or to the cabin
floors. These standards have each a branch or several branches at or near
the top thereof, which curve or bend outwards or laterally from the stem, and
from each branch is suspended a chair, couch, or other support for the person,
the ball-and-socket joint, or ball and ring, or washer joint intervening between
the point of attachment to the branch and the article or articles suspended.
On the top of a pedestal or standard secured in a socket in or secured to the
deck or cabin floors, as above mentioned, or fastened in any other way, I place
a ball-and-socket joint, or a ball and ring, or washer joint, and on the top of
the joint I balance and secure a chair, couch, or other support from the person,
say, by the bottom thereof, either with or without the intervention of springs.
On the legs of the support for the person or on a platform formed thereon, I
place washers or rings of metal of sufficient weight to keep the centre of
gravity of the support for the person below the point at or on which it is
balanced.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Isaac Ashe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th July
1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ISAAC
ASHE, of Birkenhead, in the County of Chester, Bachelor of Medicine, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Isaac Ashe, Her special license that I, the said Isaac
Ashe, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Isaac Ashe, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING SEA SICKNESS," upon. the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Isaac Ashe, my executors or administrators, by an instru-

page_text: ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Isaac Ashe, do hereby declare the nature
of my 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) :-
:
My improvements in apparatus for the prevention of sea sickness are
applicable both to suspended and balanced chairs, couches, and other supports
for the person, and the object thereof is to cause such chairs, couches, and
other supports for the person to retain or remain in practically one desired
position, and counteract the rolling and pitching motions of a ship at sea, as
well as to render several parts or portions of the apparatus employed simple
in construction, compact when stored away, easily fitted up for use either on
the deck or in the cabins, and readily removable. To any fixed or "stationary"
part of a ship I attach, at one point only, a suspender of rope, chain, or other
flexible material, and to the lower end thereof in any convenient way I secure
a chair, couch, or other support for the person, either with or without the
intervention between the point of attachment and the chair, couch, or other
support for the person of a ball-and-socket joint, or a ball and ring or washer
joint. But for convenience of use I prefer to employ portable vertical
standards formed to fit into sockets in or secured to the deck or to the cabin
floors. These standards have each a branch or several branches at or near the
top thereof, which curve or bend outwards or laterally from the stem, and from
each branch is suspended a chair, couch, or other support for the person, the
ball-and-socket joint, or ball and ring, or washer joint intervening between the
point of attachment to the branch and article or articles suspended. On
the top of a pedestal or standard secured in a socket in or secured to the deck
or cabin floors of a ship, as above mentioned, or fastened in any other way, I
place a ball-and-socket joint, or a ball and ring, or washer joint, and on the
top of the joint I balance and secure a chair, couch, or other support for the
person, say, by the bottom thereof, either with or without the intervention of
springs. On the legs of the support for the person, or on a platform formed
thereon, I place washers or rings of metal of sufficient weight to keep the
centre of gravity of the support for the person below the point at or on which
it is balanced.
In order that my said improvements may be clearly understood, I have

page_text: hereunto attached a Sheet of explanatory Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side
elevation of a metal stem, suitable for securing to the deck or cabin floors of
a ship, or placing in a socket in the same, with two curved branches pro-
ceeding therefrom, from one of which a chair depends by the intervention
of a flexible rope, whilst to the other a ball-and-socket joint. is secured to
support a similar chair, of which only part of the framework is shewn; Fig. 2
is a vertical section of a ball-and-socket joint suitable for use in the arrange-
ment shewn in Fig. 1, or in any suspending system; Fig. 3 is a vertical
section of a ball and ring or washer joint, also suitable for any suspending
system or arrangement; Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a chair balanced on the
top of a pedestal suitable for securing in or to; the deck or cabin floors. of a
ship; and Fig. 5 is a vertical section, drawn on an enlarged scale, of the ball-.
and-socket joint fitted to and shewn as part of Fig. 4.
and
In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 like letters indicate the same parts. a represents the.
stem or standard with branches or arms b; c the suspender of rope, to which
the rigid framework d of the chair e is attached; the same letter. (d) shewsi
the part of the chair frame coupled to the other branch or arm; f the ball,.
g the socket, with the connections h broken off; i the ball, and j the
ring or washer with the connections h, also broken off, the lower one termi-
nating at its upper end in two screwed rods l, which pass, through the ring or
washer, and keep it in its place by two screwed nuts m. The ball and socket.
are shewn fitted and formed in the usual way, and the ball of the ring: or.
washer and ball joint has part thereof cut away, whilst there is a large
bearing surface of such ring or washer on the ball. The point of suspension
may be from the deck beams, or from any other "fixed" part of a ship or s
other navigable vessel. In Figs. 4 and 5 the same letters indicate like parts..
m* represents the pedestal or standard, on the top of which is formed the ball
partly surrounded by the socket n, secured under and to the bottom of the
chair, of which is the seat, p the back, and q the legs; r; the platform for
supporting the circular metal rings or washers t, which may be cast or other-
wise formed in segments, and fitted together into rings, or washers on the
platform. When the ball and ring or washer joint is used in this arrangement,
as well as when it is used with or in the suspending system, the bearing
surface of the ring or washer may be reduced. to, say, a blunt edge, and the
ball may be lengthened outwards at the upper end, and somewhat resemble a
cone in form. Spiral or other springs attached to the bottom of the chair and.
to the pedestal or standard might be used, but I have found the weights, when
placed as above mentioned, a sufficient balance.
Having now set forth the nature and particulars of my said Invention in

page_text: such manner that those acquainted with nautical apparatus may be able to
carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to all the details laid down, as many modifications may be made without
departing from my improvements; but what I claim as of the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly, suspending a chair or other support for the person on board ship
from one point, as herein described and for the purpose set forth.
Secondly, between the point of suspension and the chair or other support
for the person, or at the point of suspension, and attached to the same, the use
of a ball and socket, or of a ball and ring or washer joint, as herein described,
and for the purpose set forth.
Thirdly, the use or employment of portable stems or standards with branches
or arms projecting outwards, or radiating therefrom, to fit into or otherwise
attach to the decks or other parts of a ship to support a chair or other rest
for the purson on board ship, a convenient form being shewn on the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, and its uses set forth in this Specification.
Fourthly, balancing or supporting a chair or other rest for the person on
board ship on one point, as herein described and for the purpose set forth.
And, fifthly, the use or employment of counterbalancing rings or washers
of metal on the legs or lower parts of a chair or other support for the person,
as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isaac Ashe, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
(Signed)
ISAAC ASHE. (L.S.)
In the presence of
(Signed)
FRANCIS J. HEATH, S.I.,
Of Castleblayney,
County of Monaghan,
Ireland.