AN IMPROVED BATHING APPARATUS, ADAPTED ALSO FOR SAVING LIFE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Browne, of the Firm of Browne and Company,
Patent Agents, of 5, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED BATHING APPARATUS, ADAPTED
ALSO FOR SAVING LIFE." A communication from abroad by Ignace Lippacher
and Louis Grandon d'Hervillo, of Paris, in the French Republic.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Browne at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th August 1876.
ALEXANDER BROWNE, of the Firm of Browne and Company, Patent Agents, of
5, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex. "AN IMPROVED
BATHING APPARATUS, ADAPTED ALSO FOR SAVING LIFE." A communication from
abroad by Ignace Lippacher and Louis Grandon d'Herville, of Paris, in the French
Republic.
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus for bathing, This apparatus is
intended for sea and other water baths, and is especially adapted for persons
unable to swim, and consequently cannot go beyond their depth without an
assistant.
This improved apparatus is constructed in such a way that the person taking the
bath may easily walk backward or forward, or in any direction.
The improved apparatus consists,--
First. Of a floating body, the exterior of which is in the form of a boat, so as
to cut through the water, and is made of cork, copper, india-rubber, gutta percha,
or other suitable thin metal or material. The said floating body is made in pieces,
so as to be capable of taking it apart quickly to be packed in a case, and take up
but little space when it is required to remove it from one place to another.
Secondly. In special machinery for moving the said apparatus when in the
water, and which consists of a screw propeller placed either in front or at back of
the floating body aforesaid, which during its rotation moves either to the right or
left to change the direction of the apparatus. The said screw propeller is worked
by means of a crank and pullies, but it is to be understood that the screw may be
rotated by means of gearing lever, chains, or other suitable mechanical contrivance.
The apparatus may be propelled by means of a little sail.

page_text: This Invention may be better understood by reference to the Drawings accom-
panying this Specification.
Figure 1 shews a perspective view of the improved apparatus for bathing con-
structed according to this Invention.
Figure 2, a longitudinal elevation.
Figure 3, a plan.
Figure 4, a longitudinal section of the said apparatus through the line 1, 2, at
Figure 3.
Figures 5 shew an elevation, a front view, and a plan of the screw with the
mechanism for transmitting motion attached thereto.
Figure 6 shews another arrangement of the screw.
Figure 7 shews the screw raised when out of action to prevent damage when
launching the apparatus.
In all the Figures similar letters are used to denote corresponding parts.
a, floating body constructed of any suitable material, and in pieces connected
together by the keys or screws b; c, door to enter at the middle of the floating
body a when the apparatus is in the water; the said door swings on the hinge d.
The dotted lines at Figure 3 shew the position of the door when open. d, bottom
or foot step constructed of wood, cork, or other light material to support the person
using the apparatus; e, network, attached to the bottom & and floating body a;
g, rods to prevent the bottom d from coming to the surface of the water; h, plank
to hold the pulley i fastened to the floating body a by the screw ¹; j, bench to
sit upon, and made moveable to enable persons to enter at the middle of the
floating body a; k, lockers to hold provisions of any description; 1, screw mounted
on a vertical shaft m. This screw is rotated by means of the pullies n and o and
cord 1", and may be turned either to the right or left by means of the levers and
cords 1.
The levers are worked by hand by means of a spring lever 8, which
regulates the movement of the screw (either to the right or left) by means of the
graduated quadrant t in order to steer the apparatus. The screw worked as above
acts as a propeller and rudder at the same time. u, clamp to prevent the cord p
from coming off the pullies n; the clamp u is shifted by means of the lever v
while the cord is being put on the pulley; x, an awning.
To the sides of the floating body cords may be attached to enable several persons
to hold on by, while the person in the middle works the scrow to move the apparatus
in any required direction.
An apparatus constructed as above will be found useful on board vessels or
on coasts as a life saving apparatus, as from its construction there will be no
fear of its becoming submerged, whatever length of time it may be in the water.
y, straps to put the feet in.
In Figure 5 the screw in turning can be moved in the direction of the arrow's
flight 1 to alter the direction of the apparatus.
In Figures 6 and 7 the movements of the screw are the same as described, with
the exception that the screw is suspended from a point 2, and can be raised in the
direction of the arrow 3 to assume the position represented at Figuro 7.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by 4
the said Alexander Browne in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
February 1877.
ALEXANDER BROWNE, of the Firm of Browne and Company, Patent Agents, of
5, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex.
"AN IMPROVED
BATHING APPARATUS, ADAPTED ALSO FOR SAVING LIFE." A communication from 5
abroad by Ignace Lippacher and Louis Grandon d'Herville, of Paris, in the French
Republic.

page_text: This apparatus is intended for sea and other water baths, and is especially
adapted for persons who are unable to swim, and consequently cannot go beyond
their depth without an assistant.
This improved apparatus is constructed in such a way that the person taking the
bath may easily proceed forward or backward, or in any direction.
The improved apparatus consists,—
First. Of a floating body, the exterior of which is in the form of a boat, so as to
cut through the water, and is made of cork, copper, india-rubber, gutta percha, or
other suitable thin metallic or other material capable of being taken apart quickly
to be packed in a case, and take up but little space when it is required to remove
it from one place to another.
Secondly. In special machinery for moving the said apparatus when in the water,
and which consists of a screw propeller placed either in front or at back of the
floating body aforesaid, and which during its rotation moves either to the right or
left to change the direction of the apparatus. The said screw propeller is worked
by means of a crank and pullies, but it is to be understood that the screw may be
rotated by means of gearing levers, chains, or other suitable mechanical contrivanco.
The apparatus may be propelled by means of a little sail.
This Invention may be better understood by reference to the Drawing accom-
panying this Specification.
Figure 1 shews a perspective view of the improved apparatus for bathing con-
structed according to this Invention.
Figure 2, a longitudinal elevation.
Figure 3, a plan.
Figure 4, a longitudinal section of the said apparatus through the line 1, 2, at
Figure 3.
Figure 5 shews an elevation, a front view, and a plan of the screw with the
mechanism for transmitting motion attached thereto.
Figure 6 shews another arrangement of the screw, which is made to raise and
lower, as shown at Figure 7, for preventing the screw from touching the bottom
when dragging the apparatus on shore or landing.
In all the Figures similar letters are made to denote corresponding parts.
a is the floating body constructed of any suitable material, and in pieces con-
nected together by the keys or screws b; c is the door to enter at the middle
of the floating body a when the apparatus is in the water. The said door swings
on the hinge d. The dotted lines at Figure 3 shew the position of the door when
open; d, bottom or foot step constructed of wood, cork, or other light material to
support the person using the apparatus; e, network attached to the bottom d and
floating body a; g, rods to prevent the bottom & from coming to the surface of the
water; h, plank to hold the pulley i fastened to the floating body a by the screw h¹;
j, bench to sit upon, and made movable to enable persons to enter the middle of the
floating body a; k, lockers to hold provisions of any description; L, screw mounted
on a vertical shaft m. This screw is rotated by means of the pullies n and o and
cord p, and may be turned either to the right or left by means of the levers and
cords T.
The levers are worked by hand by means of a lever S with spring and
stop tooth; this lever regulates the movement of the screw (either to the right or
left). The lever is kept in position by letting the stop tooth enter one of the
notches of the graduated quadrant t. The angle which the screw is placed in thus
serves to steer the apparatus. The screw worked as above acts as a propeller and
rudder at the same time. u, cramp to prevent the cord p from coming off the
pulleys n. The cramp u is shifted by means of the lever while the cord is being
put on the pulley; 2, an awning.
To the sides of the floating body cords may be attached to enable several persons
to hold on by, while the person in the middle works the screw to move the apparatus
in any required direction.
An apparatus constructed as above will be found useful on board vessels or on
coasts as a life saving apparatus, as from its construction there will be no fear of

page_text: '
its becoming submerged, whatever length of time it may be in the water. y are
straps or slippers to put the feet in.
In Figure 5 the screw in turning can be moved in the direction of the arrows to
alter the direction of the apparatus.
In Figures 6 and 7 the movement of the screw is the same, with the exception
that it only oscillates at one point 2 in the direction of the arrow 3, and assumes
the position represented at Figure 7.
A screw may be arranged both at stem and stern, or instead of a screw or paddle
may be arranged on each side, and worked independently.
And having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of this Invention, I
declare that I do not limit myself to the exact details or configuration shown; but
I claim,-
Firstly. The general arrangement of bathing apparatus here shewn and
described.
Secondly. A floating body made of cork, india-rubber, gutta percha, metal, or
other material of suitable floating configuration having the outward form of a
boat, and with parts detachable for transport, as and for the purposes set forth.
Thirdly. The application to such floating body of a screw or equivalent rotary
mechanism, at the same time serving as rudder, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Browno, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
TRATYE