US136749A

US136749A - Improvement in life-preserving mattresses

Info

Publication number: US136749A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1873-03-11
Anticipated expiration: 1890-03-11

Description

HANNAH B. MOUNTAIN. Life-Preserving Ma ttrssb No. 136,749, PatentedMarch11,1873.

her 270 eydt AM PH07ULIIH06RAPHIG so. u mas-game's Manges) UNITED [STATES PATENT OFrIo E.

HANNAH MOUNTAIN, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

'IMPROVEME NT IN LIFE-P RESERVING MATTRESSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 136,749, dated March 11, 1873.

To an whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HANNAH B. MOUN- TAIN, of the city and county of New York, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Preserving Mattresses, of which the following is a specification: A

The invention relates to mattresses for marine purposes, and to serve as life-preservers whenthrown into the water; and my invention therein consists in uniting the sack receiver or support for the occupant to the buoyant sections by central and end connections in a way tocause the sections to maintain horizontal positions upon the water while the sack is pendent therefrom by the weight of the occupant whatever their position may be when thrown overboard, thus making them reversible to right them by the weight within the connected sack. 1

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of a lifepreserving mattress embracing my inven tion. Fig. 2 represents a cross-section of the same.

The mattress is made of any buoyant material in two longitudinal separate sections, A A, which, when used as a bed, as shown in Fig. 3, are closed with their edges together, so as to fit within the berth. The lifepreserving feature consists in uniting the sections by a sack or receiver, B, for the person or persons in a manner to allow the sections to be separated a sufficient distance to enable the person or persons to stand, kneel, or sit within the sack between the sections. The sack, in this way, forms a chamber, 0, in the middle of the mattress, having its end'D closed even with the top of the bed to form guards, and prevent the occupants being thrown out at the ends. Its connection with the bed sections is made by securing its longitudinal edges to the bottom in the middle lengthwise thereof at E, and at the ends at F, so as to form a kind of pivotal connection for each section, and to maintain the latter in horizontal positions upon the water, while the sack is pendent from the under sides thereof, as the sack, by reason of the weight of the occupant, must pull directly from the center of the length of each section; and hence the latter must remain level, and thus afford greater safety to the occupants.

This method of connectionalso renders each section reversible with respect to the sack, so that, when thrown into the water, it matters not if it should be bottomside uppermost, the sack will always be in position to receive the person, whose weight will at once sink the sack, and turn the sections upon their center connections. No care, therefore, need be 'taken in launching it in time of danger, and the person may jump upon it and find safety between the vertical walls of the sections supporting the body laterally, while the hands are entirely free to grasp stay-cords Gr secured along the edges of the sections.

I prefer to make the sections of cork shavings; but they may be of any character that will cause them to serve the purpose of a floating support so long as the safety-sack receiver is used in connection therewith.

The sack may be of any suitable depth, with the bottom straight; and its ends may be of less depth forchildren, or to form a seat.

As abed the sections may be reversed so as to bring its opposite edges to the center for equal wear.

If desired, each section may be covered with a soft bed of suitable material, so that its edges will project over those of the mattress, and thus form a close-covered joint when the sections are brought together, and avoid the inconvenience of the center seam.

This soft covering is basted on, and can be removed for renovating, and again secured when desired.

By this sectional mattress and the connected sack the occupant can lie down upon the sections, holding on to the stay-cords; while in rough seas the sack oflers security between the floating walls of the connected parts. I

It is obvious that the mattress may be provided with pockets in any suitable way to hold provisions and water when used as apre server. a

The mattress has a cord, H, attached to one end by which to hold it when thrown 0ver= board, and to be towed, it necessary It can the occupant, and be reversible with the sack be made of anysize and shape which may be pendent therefrom, as described. 1 .7 deemed best, and of any material, whether wa- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set (er-proof or not. my hand.

Having described my invention, I claim HANNAH B. MOUNTAIN. The sack or receiving attachment B, united to the sections centrally, substantially as de- Witnesses: scribed, whereby the sections willassume and A. E. H; JOHNSON, maintain horizontal positions by the weight of t J W, HAMILTON JOHNSON.