US117977A - Improvement in combined life-boats and bed-bottoms - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

oHAELEs BTGENBACE, oE LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 117,977, dated August l5, 1871.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES BTGENBACH, of the city of Louisville, county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented av certain new and useful improvement in a life-boat and bedbottom combined, for the use of steam-boats, ocean Steamers, and other similar purposes, of which the following is a specification:

rlhe irst part of my invention consists in a box made of wood, corresponding in lsize and shape with that of the bed or mattress under which it is used, with the ends beveled on the under side similar to an ordinary flat-boat, the seams of which are secured in such a manner as to be rendered water-tight, and when in use it is placed in the bottom of the berth and made to form the bottom on which the mattress rests, and is held in its place by the ends resting on pieces projecting from the sides of the room in which it is placed, without any kind of fasten ing, so that it may be easily removed in order to be ready foruse as a life-boat at a moments warning'. The second part of my invention consists in two small boxes or chambers, made of wood, metal, or any other suitable material, in shape nearly foursquare, and in size and length to correspond with the depth and length of the iiat part of the bottom of the boat in which they are used, leaving sufficient room ,under them for the oars, which are secured to the under side by passing the handle through an eyebolt in the box, which is also made to answer as a row-lock when in use; these last-named boxes are hung by hinges to the inside of the top of the boat, so that they will turn out over the edge in order to act as a iioat to buoy up the boat, and also as bearings to prevent its turning over, and, in order to make them more efiicient, they are filled with numerous airtight boxes, made of metal, rubber, or any suitable material, made to it the inside of the box or casing neatly, so that, in case of damage to one or more, the remaining number may not be affected to such an extent as to cause disaster. These boxes may be held in their places in the casing by any device suitable to the purpose 5 but in order to hold the casings in their places when turned out there are small boards, hung by lhinges to the bottom of the boat, made wide enough to extend as high as the boxes or casings when turned up, and of sufficient length to ll the' space between the boxes or casing, thereby preventing them from turning, and, when not in use, these boards are folded down on the bottom of the boat, the airbox chambers folding' down on top of them; there is also an air-box chamber attached to the back of each of these last-named boards, with an airtight box inserted similar to those at the sides, and when the boards are raised up in position they rest on a iiat piece across the end of the boat, the side chambers being kept in position by resting against the end of the boards, thereby forming a complete boat, in which persons may stand and operate the oars without danger of turning over 5 one of these last-named boards being provided with a iiag-staif and signal-flag, to be used in cases of disaster. The above description of my invention has been almost wholly confined to its use as a life-boat, but in order to be used as a bed or mattress-bottom, it is only necessary to turn the air-chambers down on the inside, and they will form a plane even surface on the top for the edges of the mattress to rest on, the remaining or central part resting on springs secured to the under side of the mattress, the lower ends resting on the bottom of the box or boat without fastenings. The object of my invention is to provide -a cheap and easily-to-beoperated device that will answer as a bed-bottom for the mattress and can be easily converted into a life-boat in case of disaster, as a means of safety always at hand, and ready for use at a moments warning.

Having thus fully described the nature and object of my invention, a more complete understanding of which may be had by reference to the drawing, Figure4 l is a view of the boat when folded up to be used as a bed-bottom. Fig. 2 is a view ofthe same when prepared to be used as a life-boat. Fig. 3 is a view of the mattress, showing the spiral springs on the under side.

A is the boat. B B B B are theair-box casings, all of which are made of wood, metal, or other suitable material, into which the numerous air-boxes areinserted. C C are theboards forming the end of the boat,to prevent the side casin gs from turning in, and to which the end air-casings are attached. D D are the oars for operating the boat. E is the flag-staff. F is the signal-nag. G is the keel or center-board of the boat, which is made of metal or other material and hung to the bottom by hinges so as to fold down closely,

and is keptin its place by the pawl H turned against it-,\vl1ieh holds it securely against the block I on the opposite.

Having thus fully described the drawing, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the lower portion A, hinged boxed sides B B, and ends C C having hinged boxes, all constructed and arranged substantially as described a-nd forming a folding boat and bed-bottoni, for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination With the folding boat and bed-bottom herein described, the mattress J provided With springs projecting from its under side, for the purpose specified.

3. The hinged keel G, paWl H, and stop I, in combination with a folding life-boat, substantially as described.

CHARLES BUTGENBAGH.

Witnesses:

E. F. HUYGK, P. MGGARM.

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