AN IMPROVED DRESS OR GARMENT FOR SAVING LIFE IN SHIPWRECK OR OTHER SIMILAR EMERGENCIES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bristow Hunt, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED DRESS
OR GARMENT FOR SAVING LIFE IN SHIPWRECK OR OTHER SIMILAR EMERGENCIES."
A communication from abroad by Benvenuto Benedetto d'Alessandro, of Rome,
in the Kingdom of Italy.
Sealed the 5th January 1877, and dated the 21st July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bristow Hunt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st July 1876.
BRISTOW HUNT, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex>
Gentleman. "AN IMPROVED DRESS OR GARMENT FOR SAVING LIFE IN SHIPWRECK
OR OTHER SIMILAR EMERGENCIES." A communication from abroad by Benvenuto
Benedetto d'Alessandro, of Rome, in the Kingdom of Italy.
This Invention relates to an improved insubmersible dress to be used as a means
of saving life in shipwreck or other such emergencies.
This dress composed of caoutchouc or other suitable impervious material is so
formed as to cover the whole body, with the exception of the face and hauds, at
which points it is kept closed by elastic bands. Within the front and over the
breast are set semi-circles of whalebone sustained by a wooden stay piece, and so
arranged as to form with the impervious covering an air chamber of sufficient
capacity to sustain the body at the surface of the water. When so required the
air in this chamber can be renewed by raising the elastic band which surrounds the
face. The body is maintained in position in the water by means of straps of
webbing, one pair of which passing down from the back at the outside are looped
or otherwise secured to the feet. The dress is further provided with a waterproof
havresac of triangular shape, which, while serving as a support to the head and
shoulders, can be used for the storage of provisions and other necessaries.

page_text: .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Bristow Hunt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
January 1877.
BRISTOW HUNT, of Serle Strect, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "AN IMPROVED DRESS OR GARMENT FOR SAVING LIFE IN SHIPWRECK
OR OTHER SIMILAR EMERGENCIES." A communication from abroad by Benvenuto
Benedetto d'Alessandro, of Rome, in the Kingdom of Italy.
"
This Invention relates to an improved insubmersible dress to be used as a means
of saving life in cases of shipwreck or other such emergencies.
This dress composed of caoutchouc or other suitable impervious material is so
formed as to cover the whole body, with the exception of the face and hands, at
which points it is kept closed by elastic bands. Within the front and the breast
are set three semi-circles of whalebone sustained by a wooden stay piece, and so
arranged as to form with the waterproof covering an air chamber of sufficient
capacity to sustain the body at the surface of the water. When so required the air
in this chamber can be renewed by raising the elastic band which surrounds the
face. The body is maintained in position in the water by means of straps of
webbing, one pair of which passing from the back at the outside are looped or
otherwise secured to the fect. The dress is further provided with a waterproof
havresac of triangular shape, which, while serving as support to the head and
shoulders, can be used for the storage of provisions and other necessaries.
In the Figures of the accompanying Drawing, a represents the elastic band sur-
rounding the face; b, a second elastic band, maintaining the band a and the hood a¹;
c, elastic strap by which the sleeve is closed at the wrist. Within the body of the
dress is set a sustaining corsage consisting of three horizontal semi-circles of whale-
bone of about ten inches in length, spaced by about six inches from each other, and
braced by a vertical buse of about twelve inches in height. With this corsage is
combined a semi-circular leaf of wood or other light resistant material to prevent
expulsion of air from the dress under the pressure of the water; d is the belt sur-
rounding the waist; e, the havresac secured by the shoulder straps f,f; g, the
paddle;, a sail which may be set on the paddle g; i, web strap, which passing at
each side from the back of the dress to the feet is hooked to the latter when
the wearer is in the water; j,j, elastic straps by which the garment is tightened
round the ankles; x, iron rowlock for the paddle; 2, opening through which the
dress is put on and which is closed by the cords o, tightened over the stops p, p.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I declare that what I claim is, an improved insub-
mersible dress or garment for saving life in shipwreck or other similar emergencies,
constructed and arranged substantially as herein set forth and shewn in the Figures
of the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Bristow Hunt, have hereto set my hand
and seal, this Fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thou-
sand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
BRISTOW HUNT. (L.S.)