AN APPARATUS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY IN CASES OF SHIPWRECK
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Felix Fontenau, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris,
in the Empire of France, Gentleman, for the Invention of "AN
APPARATUS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY IN CASES OF
SHIPWRECK."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Felix Fontenau at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th
April 1860.
I, FELIX FONTENAU, of No, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire
of France, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN APPARATUS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY IN CASES OF
SHIPWRECK," to be as follows:-
This apparatus is composed of a strong barrel, or case of suitable form and
dimensions in wood, metal, gutta percha, or other matter, provided at any
required point with a port closed at will by a cover. At each end of this
barrel or case are fixed one or more round bars of iron serving as holdfasts.
An iron rod is also fitted to one of the ends in such a way as to be easily raised
when required, to serve as staff for a small signal flag, in sheet metal. In the
opposite end is countersunk an inoxidable plate, with the name of the vessel,
the port to which she belongs, &c. The whole of the apparatus should, of
course, be thoroughly water-tight. It may, if so required, be divided into
compartments. The float, thus arranged, is employed for the reception of

page_text: valuable objects of all sorts, cash, jewels, papers, letters, &c., or may serve as
magazine for a supply of victuals, or even liquids.
When the ship is abandonned, the required number of floats thus charged
are taken in tow by the boats, the tow lines being so arranged as to give way
of themselves in case of the sinking of the latter. In this case the apparatus
may still serve as life buoy to one or several men, who may cling to the hold-
fasts above mentioned. Should all the lives be lost, the apparatus will
continue to float for an almost indefinite length of time, and may be recognised
from a considerable distance by the signal flag with which each is provided.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Felix Fontenau in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th September 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FELIX
FONTENAU, of No. 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Felix Fontenau, Her special licence that I, the said Felix Fontenau,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Felix Fontenau, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "AN
APPARATUS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY IN CASES OF SHIPWRECK,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Felix Fontenau,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument 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 Felix Fontenau, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say) :-
This apparatus is composed of a strong barrel or case, of suitable form and
dimensions, in wood, metal, gutta percha, or other matter, provided at any
required point with a port closed at will by a cover. At each end of this
barrel or case are fixed one or more round bars of iron, serving as holdfasts.
An iron rod is also fitted to one of the ends in such a way as to be easily
raised when required, to serve as staff for a small signal flag, in sheet metal.
In the opposite end is countersunk an inoxidable plate, with the name of the
vessel, the port to which she belongs, &c. &c. The whole apparatus should,
of course, be thoroughly water-tight. It may, if so required, be divided into
compartments. The float thus arranged is employed for the reception of
valuable objects of all sorts, cash, jewels, papers, letters, &c., or may serve as
magazine for a supply of victuals, or even liquids.
When the ship is abandoned, the required number of floats thus charged are
taken in tow by the boats, the tow lines being so arranged as to give way of
themselves in case of the sinking of the latter. In this case each apparatus
may still serve as life buoy to one or several men, who may cling to the hold-
fasts above mentioned, or to cords stretched along the sides and secured at
each end. Should all the lives be lost, the apparatus will continue to float for
an almost indefinite length of time, and may be recognised from a con-
siderable distance by the signal flags fitted to each.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents a single float, constructed
as above described. A is a barrel strengthened by metallic hoops; B, port
closed by a cover or stopper, provided with a caoutchouc or other waterproof
packing; C, signal flag in sheet metal, or other indestructible matter, mounted
on a moveable metallic staff at one end of the barrel; D, iron bar or holdfast
fixed to each end of the barrel; E, cords stretched along the sides and secured
to each end of the barrel, also serving as holdfasts. Figure 2 represents a pair
of barrels constructed as above, connected by two spars F, F, the extremities
of which are lashed to the iron bars D, D, thus forming a species of raft. A
cord stretched from each barrel along the spars serves as extra holdfast in case
of need.
While on board ship these floats should be placed on the deck, so as to be
ready for launching in case of emergency, and may serve during the voyage as
water-butts, or as lockers for miscellaneous articles.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner
of carrying it into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the form, dimensions, and general details above laid down, as these

page_text: are necessarily subject to modifications according to circumstances; but what
I claim is, the construction and arrangement in substance as above described,
of a float apparatus, serving on board ship as water-butt or locker, and in
cases of emergency as buoy or raft for the preservation of life and property.
In witness whereof, I, the said Felix Fontenau, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
FELIX FONTENAU. (L.s.)