Improvements in Apparatus for Swimming or Floating Purposes, such Apparatus being also Applicable for Saving Life.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 15th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 22nd Jan., 1889
Improvements in Apparatus for Swimming or Floating Purposes,
such Apparatus being also Applicable for Saving Life.
I, HERBERT JOHN ROBSON of Hillary Place, Leeds in the County of York, Surgeon,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to construct apparatus to assist persons in swimming
or floating in water, also such apparatus may be used for the purpose of saving people
from drowning.
In my improvements I construct a scarf of silk or other suitable material, lined or
covered with india rubber tissue or other light material which is impervious to water
and air. This scarf is made double and hermetically sealed at the joining, so that the
interior thereof forms a reservoir into which air can be blown, giving thereby great
buoyancy in water. A valve is employed through which when required air may be
blown by the user or others, and the scarf when in use and expanded or full of air is
passed round the neck, under the arm pits and round the chest, there the ends may be
fastened by simple and ordinary means. When not required for floating or swimming.
purposes it can be used as an ordinary scarf or folded up in a very small compass in
the pocket.
In order to make the apparatus complete I employ double gloves, which may be of
similar material to the above, these also form reservoirs or receptacles for air, and
when filled therewith give additional floating or swimming power which in. com-
bination with the scarf" will be found sufficient for the perfect safety of the user in
water.
י
1000
1
J. W. HARDING,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: improvements in Apparatus for Swimming or Floating Purposes,
such Apparatus being also Applicable for Saving Life.
I, HERBERT JOHN ROBSON of Hillary Place, Leeds in the County of York, Surgeon,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of my invention is to construct apparatus. to assist persons in swimming
or floating in water; also such apparatus may be used for the purpose of saving people
from drowning.
In the accompanying drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 shew arrangements of scarf. not
inflated. Fig. 3 shews the glove not inflated. Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a front
and side elevation shewing the glove inflated and applied to the hand, and Figs. 6
and 7 are respectively a front and back view of a man, shewing the scarf applied and
inflated, also the gloves.
In my improvements I construct a double scarf A as shewn at Figs. 1 and 2,
formed of india-rubber tissue or other light material which is impervious to water and
air, and hermetically sealed at the joinings, so that the interior thereof forms a
reservoir into which air can be blown by the user or others through a suitable tube B
in connection therewith, and which when expanded has great buoyancy in water.
The scarf A is covered with silk or other suitable material, so that it may feel warm
to the user, and at the same time protect the india rubber tissue, and prevent its over
inflation. A suitable stop valve C is employed in the tube B for closing the tube
when required, thereby preventing the exit of air. By enlarging the ends D of the
scarf A which comes over the chest as shewn at Figs 1 and 6, greater buoyancy is
effected at that part.
1
The scarf may be formed of any suitable shape in its length in accordance with the
conformation of the human frame.
The scarf when required to be used is passed round the neck, under the arm-pits
and round the chest as shewn at Figs. 6 and 7, the ends D of the scarf. and that
passing round the neck being secured together by tapes or other fastenings as
shewn at Fig. 6, after which air is blown therein through the tube B and the scarf
thus inflated.
In order to save time in applying or putting on the scarf, that part which passes
round the neck can be secured at E (Fig. 2) forming thereby a ring which can be
passed over the head and the ends fastened as above described.
5.
The scarf may be secured at any convenient point or position on the body.
When the scarf is not required for floating or swimming purposes, it can be used
as an ordinary scarf, or folded up in a very small compass in the pocket.
In order to make the apparatus complete I employ double gloves F as shewn at
Fig. 3, and applied to the hand as shewn at Figs. 4-and 5, such gloves being formed
of similar material to the scarf above described, and covered with suitable material, so

page_text: as to protect and prevent over-inflation; or the covering may be dispensed with when
desired.
The glove after being placed on the hand is inflated as shewn at Figs. 4 and 5 by
blowing air therein through tube G which is provided with a suitable stop valve H
for closing the tube when required, thereby preventing the exit of air. When filled
with air as above described additional floating power is obtained, which in combination
with the scarf above described, will be found sufficient for the perfect safety of the
user in water, and the danger of drowning thus prevented.
In order that either glove may fit either hand, I provide a slit J at each side in the
hand portion K, so that the thumb of either hand can pass therethrough, the fingers
at the same time passing through their openings or short finger stalls L. Instead of
the glove form, the part into which the hand is passed may be of the "mitten type'
for convenience of pulling on.
When required I provide full finger stalls in the gloves, webbed, for the purpose of
increasing the swimming power of the user.
The gloves may also be provided with finger stalls without the web above mentioned,
and lined inside and out with any suitable warm material, and used as ordinary
gloves.
It will be readily understood that the scarf and gloves described above, may when
preferred be used separately, and also that my improved apparatus may be applied
over the ordinary wearing apparel in cases of shipwreck or other accident on water to
which the person may be liable, and the danger of drowning thereby prevented.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The arrangement, and application of scarf A, and gloves F, constructed so as to be
capable of being inflated, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
J. W. HARDING.
Agent for the Applicant.