US2195428A

US2195428A - Stabilizing platform

Info

Publication number: US2195428A
Application number: US192275A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick D W Searing
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-02-24
Filing date: 1938-02-24
Publication date: 1940-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 1957-04-02

Description

April 2, 1940.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 2, 1940- F. D. w. SEARING 2,195,428

STABILI ZING PLATFORM Filed Feb. 24, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I A ril 2, 1940. F. D. w. SEARING STABILI Z ING PLATFORM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 24, 1938 April 2, 1940- F. D. w. SEARING STABILIZING PLATFORM Filed Feb. 24, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 that the bracing members will not interfere with the folding of the tracks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mode of constructing wheel shanks pivoted to the wheels but rigidly fastened to platforms, and also to provide wheel shanks for the. front of chair to furnish support to the chair and to retain same in a fixed position, said supports being preferably T-shaped,,running transversely across and under the front of thechair seat.

In the'drawings accompanying this specification, one practicable embodiment of my invention is illustrated, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a view looking at this device from the side with a chair mounted on the stabilizer.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the stabilizer for the chair looking at the device from the top.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional viewv ofthe chair Fig. 6 is a view of the underside of the chair and footrest.

Fig. '7 is a view looking at this device from the front side with a set of bed springs with head and foot attachments mounted on the stabilizer, the showing being on a reduced scale.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken at about the plane of the line 2 2 in Fig. '7 of the bed springs with head and foot attachments mounted on the-stabilizer.

Fig, 9 is a plan View of the bed stabilizer looking at the device from the top.

Fig. 10 is a viewof the underside of the table attachment. I v Fig. 11 is a cross section through the middle cleat attached to the underside of the table attachment taken on line Il--ll of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a view of the underside of the desk attachment. v v a Fig, 13 is a cross section through the middle cleat attached to the underside of the desk attachment taken on line iii-l5 of Fig. 12.

Fig, v14 is a front view of a wheel having openings in the rim to accommodate riser or track flange. I

Fig. 15 shows the end view of a Set of tracks, one having a flange running transversely along the middle and one flat track without a flange.

Fig. 16 is an end'view of a set of tracks, one with a high flange on which the wheel runs without touching the base of the track, and one flat track without flange.

Fig. 1'7 is the end view of a set of tracks with upward slanting flangesides, to accommodate and retain wheels.

The form of the device illustrated herein comprises three super-imposed members or frames, the lowest of which is particularly designed for resting upon the flooring of the deck of a ship, although it may be otherwise supported, and the upper platform in the chair stabilizer is represented bya pair of longitudinallydisposed planks or members l2 and I3, in Fig. 2, and a pair of transverse members l4 and I5, in Fig. 2,

and is the chair supporting member of the device, the openings I6 and I! calculated to receive the side members of the back of thepchair, and the supports I9 and Zllextending upward from the front wheel shanks operating in conjunction with the back wheel shanks 2|,in Fig. 1, retain and hold the chair in a firm position as tomove- One purpose of my invention is to mount thistop frame supporting the necessary elements of a chair and footrest on two sets of wheels running'on'transversely disposed tracks to afford a universal adjustment so that the top platform of the chair which it supports will remain level despite the rolling and pitching of the ship in any direction. For purposes of greater stability and rapid resistance to boat motion and to avoid top-heaviness, and for the purpose of overcoming inertia of the parts and of friction of the rollers and their associated parts, and for the purpose of resisting oscillation due to body movements of the occupant of the chair, I attach to the top platform by, means of two folding levers, 22 and 23, Fig. 1, pivoted totwo right angle pieces 24 and 25, Fig. 3, and to two non-folding side levers 26 and 21, Figs. 1 and 3,'somewhat shorter than the folding levers, a counterpoise I61, Fig. 3, preferably in the nature of a heavy body whoseweight is approximately 30 to 40 lbs, and. is determined by the approximate weight of the person or body which is to be supported by the stabilizer.- The purpose of, using levers for fastening'theweight control to the top platform is to increase the effectiveness of the weight control by giving it a greater leverage pull in maintaining the top platform in a level position at all times againstbody motion and body' movements of theoccupant of the chair, and to give quick adjustment to boat motion.

Four species of tracks preferably of non-rust metal may be used, each and all of which will the track, the other track being of flat metal.

without the middle flange, Fig, 15, and the wheel on said flat metal track having no opening in its rim, the two wheels having the opening in the rim covering the flange track acting as guide wheels and providing means for retaining the wheels on the tracks, thus avoiding friction and jamming of the wheels in case the track members should get out of true alignment.

A second species of tracks and Wheels consists of having both tracks with a middle flange and both wheels to accommodate the flange on each track with more play room between the sides of the flange andthe sides of the opening in the rim so that bothtracks and both sets of wheels aid in retaining. the wheels on the track.

- A third species of wheels and tracks is, as in Fig. 16, wherein one set of wheelshave openings in the rim and the opposite set runs ona flat track, but the flange is of such height with respect to the opening in the rim of the wheel that the wheel runs on the flange and not onthe track, the opposite set or 'wheelsrun'ning on a. flattrack. 1 The fourth species of tracksland wheels are erably of metal-the width'of the track-supporting member and having up wardly sloping sides,

the two sloping sides being" considerably wider, apart than the Width of the wheels to runon it so as to allow considerable iplaywroom for the wheels between the sides .of the tracks, the said tracks being curved to fit "the .trackssupporting members and being fastened thereto by means .of screws running through the. bottomiof the track or through flanges extending from the bottom of the track. The chair to be mounted-on the stabilizer consists: of aback .28, seat 33, footrest 3G, andarms 31, Fig. l. The back of the'chairis piv'oted32,

Fig. 3, to the side member of the seat 33s0 that the seat fold-s upward. The arms of the chair are-pivoted 34 so that they also fold upward with the seat. The arms eachconsist of. twomembers, namely, the upright 35, which'is' pivoted to the seat of the chair at 36, and the top of the upright which is pivoted to the" front of the arms [3'1 by means of hingesthe footrest 39 being attached tothefront of the chair seat by means of hinges 38, Fig. 3 so that the footrest folds down and under the seat, and is s pported-when unfolded and in position'for use by two. supports,

preferably of metal, iiflypivoted to stripe tilias- .tened to the bottom of the chairand extending downward a suitable distance tocgivethe supports 39 a proper resistance tosustain-the footre'st 56. Theother ends of the supporting braces. 39 engage. the footrest 3B ata screw with around head M, Fig. 1, which moves in an opening t5 traversingthe length of the braces 39: up to the point of extreme end of the opening A5,-which.opening is curved to receive andfiretano' the'screw when the footrest is extended'for' use. The screw is locked in this opening-by means of a fla't strip, preferably of metal 52, pivotedto the end of the brace at 43, Fig. 5, having a small handle ilso that the strip 42 holds the's'crewin its position when the screw is. in the opening to accommodate it and the screw mayberelease'd by turning :the strip-d2 on its pivot and-the braces-39 permit the chair to be folded When'unlockedfby means of the screw 4! traversing the-opening'tfixalong the length of the brace. V 1

To thesiole members of the back of the chair are fastenedmetal braces 45', Fig. 3, which by contacting the underside'of the seat members,

limit the backward movement, of the chair t'o'a proper position, andsaid" braces 46' onreach side of the chair fit into the openings I6 and N, Fig. 2,

in the, top platform on each side thereof and limit the movement of the chair from' 'uside to side, and together with the TT shaped metal supports IBand 20, Fig. 2, in front-of'and under the chair, and the wheel shanks 2|", Fig. 1, look the chair in a true and proper position for use when same is unfolded and placedupo'n the top platform by a downward movement. Underneath the chair, and attached to the lower part of the arm of the chair member-.35; is a metal crossbar 50, Fig. 1, to give the'arms' proper rigidity.

The front part of the bottom of the chair is supported by two FT-shaped crosspie'ees I9 and Zilrising from and attached-t0 the wheel shanks of the front wheels, which TT-shap'ed'supports' are the right height to'give the bottom ofthe chair a proper slant-downwardfrom' the 'fron'tof the chair'tothe backsothatrthe chairis' held in I a fiired soouioto position, onetime weight or the personis properly balanced on the stabilizer; Y

" Dress or clothing guards 5| are attached to the under partoi each side i of. the. front of the chair immediately over the front track and have the same curve as the track;v Theseguards are for the purpose of keeping the clothing of the occupant of the chair from-contacting the tracks. i

i with the addition of the letter a to each of such numbers] H I The wheels I59 and I60','-Fig. 2, are setclose Iii together to lessen the tendency to oscillationg from body mo'veme'nt of the occupant of '.-the

chair, and also-so that the track support -I'I4a, Fig. '1, may be shortened so-that it does not rise to an inconvenient'height" in order to: ac'-: commodate th'eltwo close wheels I59, I60, Fig.2;

and also for the purpose of lowering the wheels I I59; I60, so that theydoznot'project'through the bottom of-the chair.; I The wheels IGI and I62 are set far enoughapart to' clausetadjustment -,to boat motion.- Thewheels' I63 and Itlare also-placed closer together than. thoseon; the

(opposite, track, I an( il ltifi, soas to lessen the tendency to oscillation' from body fmoveme'nts of the occupantof the chair and. also so that the. track support of wheels. I53 and 'lfil may be shortened, and access to the chair made more easy. v p Thebed consists of a setof springs 52', Fig.:.7, with end'brackets" at head Sandioot of springs" 53'. i Said brackets ar'eywithout legs andiengage' the springs 52 by means of projections from spring 54 iin bracket'openingsl55 and are fas tened to said springs by bolt 56'. The side memhereof the springs 52 rest'upon raised members 51 fastened tothe' topfplat'f0rm 58 and. bracedby braces 59, Fig. 9. In thetopl'if-saidv supportsreceiving projections, preferably metal bolts fas-J tened' to the'bottom of'the springs, one at BI and one on opposite side ofspringsfo'r the purpose of fastening the] bed springs to" their support in aproper position, having regard to the weight of a person occupying the said bed: and

the distribution of their weight ata'proper-bal ance. To give additional bracing to the bed springs and to facilitate placing them in proper position, side braceslili'and I03 are attached to i the supporting member EI'and similar braces porting member'fil, so that when the bed spririgs are placed upon the stabilizer, the bolt at St and also a similar bolton theopposite member of the bed springs fit into openings It! and" IE8} Fig. 9, and hold the bed in proper position as-to weight distribution one prevent movement to: ward the head/or foot of the'bed', and the four projecting members- Hi2, Iiltflii i and I05 hold the springs infirm position so that they cannot be moved sidewise, the bed being'thus held in] proper place and againstmovement in any 'direction' except upward, themotion used'fin taking the'fisprings off the stabilizer} e2; 63, Fig. 7, of; thefintermediateframe on tne' front: or loweritra'ck supporting member More The wheels; 1

running on the back track supporting member,

the

wheels

65 and 66 being sufficiently far apart to cause adjustment to boat motion- The

wheels

62 and 63 are set closev together to lessen the tendency to oscillation from body movements of. the occupant of the bedand also so that the track support 64, Fig; 7,' may be shortened so that it does not rise above the mat tress .on the'springs 52. The

wheels

61 and 68, Fig. 8', supporting the top platform at the foot of the bed are also placed close together to avoid oscillation and also to shorten the track 'II,

Fig. 8, so that it also will not rise above the mattress and will beof approximately the same height as the contiguous track support 64, thus making easy access to the bed. The back wheels 69 and 10 of the top platform are set wideenough out of an opening'to receive the end of said brake.

in the adjacent track support. These brakes, when set, fasten the top platform to the track I .supportsof the top platform, and the intermediate platform has brakes 80 and 8| fastened to the track supports of, the intermediate platform by round-headed screws and strips-of metal similar to brakes I4 and I5 on the topplatform. By moving the brakes 8iljand 8|, Fig. 9, the'same can be'moved into the opening in the track support connected with the base platform so that by the operation of the full set'ofbrakes; motion in all directions" is stopped and the bed can be used as anordinary bed at the convenience of I the occupant. Small handles '82, 83, 84 and 85a are attached to the brakes to facilitate their movement. In place. of the metal strips de-, scribed, ordinary bolts can be used when fastened in the place of the metal strips.

'I'heweight control I68 for the bed is supported by four levers, 85, 86, 81 and 88, the one opposite and parallel to 86, all of said levers being of the same length and fastened to the underside of the crosspieces 89 and 90, and extending downward at right angles to the crosspieces 89 and. 90. The ends of the levers have holes 9| containing a hook, and to this hook in each one of the ends of the levers are attached straps, preferably'of canvas,by means of snapbuckles on the end of the strap, and the other end of the strap is attached to an eyelet in the head of the weight by a snapbuckle attached to the other end of the said strap, the top of the weight control containing a depression so that the eyelets set therein do not project above the top rim of the depression, thus permitting the various weights to be piled one on top of the other when the various beds are taken down and folded up. The said levers greatly increase the effectiveness of the weight by giving it'a lever-' age pull from the ends of the levers andv make it quicker and more effective in overcoming friction and inertia and in holding the top platform level against boat motion and body movement of the occupant of the chair or bed. Bed clothing guards I58, preferably of metal are attached to the underside of the bed springs covering the r 2,195,428 set closer together than the wheels -65 and66- tracksat the head. of the bed on each side and at the foot thereof on each side. These guards have the same curve as the tracks they cover and are located about an inch above the track.

The method of supporting. the folding sides when unfolded and 'set for receiving the platforms is accomplished by having the bottom members of the bottom frame 92 and 93 of Fig. '7 project beyond the track support 64, and attachedto-track support 64 are two blocks or cleats 94.and 95, fastened to the track support 64 so that the edges of the

cleats

94 and 95 project slightly beyond the bottom of the track.

support 64 and when the track support is raised the

cleats

94 and 95 contact the projecting members 92 and.93 and hold the track support under ordinary pressure so that it inclines slightly inward. The track is then forced to an upright end of each track support so that all four corners of the bottom frame have braces similar to the two described. Thus the track supports are held in a firm and rigid position and are kept in true alignment, and wobbling under the weight of the occupant and from the motion of the boat is prevented. This'rigidity is further increased in the chair stabilizer by wooden braces I69, III) and III, Fig. 2, which are curved wooden or metal braces fastened .to the sides of the track supporting members, um and I55, Fig. 2, set into projecting screws I I2 and H3, and locked to said screws by hooks pivoted to the said brace I09,

and the hook part engaging an eyelet I51, Fig. 1, to prevent the bracefrom being knocked out of position, and similar means are used to fasten braces III) and III, Fig. 2. The bracing of the intermediate track supports I I4 and I58, Fig.

I 7, is obtained by placing the track supports on the supporting frame so that the supporting frame projects at H6 and Ill, Fig. 7, and by fastening to each of the folding track supports blocks H8 and II9,'said blocks projecting beyond the bottom of the track support so that block II8 contacts the projecting frame H6 and block I I9 contacts projecting frame II! so asto hold the track supports under ordinary pressure in a slightly inward ihclinedposition. Similar blocks are fastened to the other ends of each of the track supports and contact inlike fashion the projectmg platform. The track supporting members are then forced to, and held in a perpendicular positi'on by braces I20 and I2I, Fig 9, from the inside of said track supporting members pivoted to the bottom member of the intermediate platform at I22 and. I 23, and similar braces at other end of each track support, engage the track supporting members at the projecting screw heads I24 and I25, Fig. '9, and similar screw heads at other end of. each track support. Thus without interference with the movement of the platforms,

the upstandingtrack supports are held firmly and rigidly and in true alignment.

Brakes for the chair are provided for the purpose of holding the chair stationary when the boat is not rolling or pitching, so that the chair maybe used as an ordinary non-adjusting chair under such circumstances, at the will of the oc- .cupant. The brakes consist of three parts calculated to. prevent motion on the curved tracks in any direction. The brake for stopping motion on the curved tracks from one side to another of the person sitting in the chair consists of a single piece of metal I26, Fig. 3, pivoted on to the end of an upright piece of metal I21 set into the middle of a block 48, of either wood or metal, which block 48 is fastened to the bottom of the top platform at about the middle. The upright piece of material or metal I2'I, Fig. 3, has an oblong opening about inch long and about g inch Wide. When the upright piece of metal is placed in the middle of the .block of wood, a wire nail or other piece of metal is driven through the wood and through the opening in the metal so. that the upright piece of metal when used as a handle will cause the metal strip I23, Fig. 3,

to which it is attached to go forward and back as desired and when the metal goes forward, it penetrates into the side of the back track support at I28 and prevents motion from side to side of a person sitting in the chair. The metal strip I26 which penetrates the track support and which is pivoted to the uprightpiece of metal I21, runs along the middle of the opening of the block of wood 48, abovementioned, in which the brake is set, and is retained in its position by metal pieces set across the opening in the bottom of the wooden block. The brakes for stopping motion on the other two tracks consist of .two metal pieces I29 and I30, Fig. 4. The said strips, preferably of metal, I29 and I30, contain oblong openings through which round-headed screws fasten the strips to the back track supporting member which rests upon the intermediate frame. The said strips contain at the inner lower end metal projections about inch long I3! and I32 and about A inch in diameter, which are pivoted to upright pieces of metal i33' and I34, which upright pieces of metal are in turn pivoted to the back track supporting member of the intermediate frame Q35 by pivots 49, preferably round-headed screws driven through the oblong opening in or about the center of said upright strips I33 and I34, so that the upright pieces of metal I33 and I34 may be used as levers to force the metal strips into the sides of the upright track supports when the brakes are set, and to force them out when the brakes are off. These two brakes hold the intermediate platform from motion front and back and all three brakes when set hold the platforms locked against motion in any direction. Ordinary bolts may be used in place of the brakes described when fastened in place of the metal strips.

, Wheel shanks The wheel shanks I38 and I39, Fig. 8, are

pivoted to the wheels I51 and 68 respectively and are rigidly fastened underneath the frames at I43 and I41, and all the wheel shanks in both the chair stabilizer and the bed stabilizer are rigidlyfastened to the. platforms in like fashion and not pivoted thereto. The wheel shanks are so placed that it seems to be unnecessary to fold them down, and more satisfactory adjustment is claim and desire'to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a base for selfleveling shipschairs which include superposed frames each formed to provide pairs of oppositely disposed arcuate tracks of equal radiusfon the upper surfaces thereof, one track of. each pair formed by a smaller segment of arc than the other track of said pair, pairs of axleflmeans rigidly mounted on the frames the axles of each pair being spaced apart, wheel means on the axles rotatably engaging said tracks, the wheels of each pair of wheels on each track of lesser segment being mounted closer together than the wheels on the other track of said pair whereby said pairs of wheels on the tracks of less segments are more insensitive to motion than are the wheels on the other tracks.

' 2. In a device as claimedin claim 1 wherein the track positioned at the front of the chair is formed by a less are than the other track of said thereon are formed to provide flanged interen- FREDERICK D. W. SEARING.