Improved Swimming and Life-saving Device.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1896-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by HANS HECKLER, of Frankfort on the Main,
Merchant.]
Improved Swimming and Life-saving Device.
I, WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, C.E., of 62 Saint Vincent Street, in the City of
Glasgow, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The present invention relates to life-preservers or apparatus having sufficient"
buoyancy to support a human body in the water.
The shape of the apparatus described below is such that a person may place it
around the body as a garment and tighten it by means of belts and straps.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the inner side of the garment open,
Figure 2 represents four separate air chambers of the form of the respective
parts of the garment, and which may be attached to the latter between the stuff
and lining.
Figure 3 is a cross-section through the mouthpiece and valve employed to fill
the air-chambers with air.
Life-preservers filled with compressed air now in use are generally of such con-
struction, that the buoyancy is totally lost when the apparatus is punctured in
only one place, as the apparatus is generally provided with only one air
compartment.
In my life-preserver I have arranged separate air-chambers, which are filled
separately by corresponding tubes, so that a puncture in one or the other place
will not perceptibly affect the buoyancy of the apparatus.
My apparatus has the shape of a jacket with holes for the passage of the arms,
so that the latter may be free. The air chambers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 are prefer-
ably formed by a rubber hose, rolled up in flat coils or in any other desirable
flattened shape, so that the garment remains substantially flat and does not hinder
the free motion of the human body. Small rubber tubes a are connected to the
inner side of each of the air receptacles, the other ends coming all together to the
mouthpiece 6 which will be described below with reference to Fig. 3.
I is a belt secured to the lower edge of the garment, intended to be securely
tied or strapped around the waist of the wearer, who pushes his arms through the
openings n, n; and button-holes with buttons placed on the edge are used to close
A strap m is
the apparatus upon the body in the ordinary well-knowu manner.
fastened to the rear, which is passed between the legs and secured on buttons in
the front. Thus a persou swimming in the water is well supported in the garment
when inflated.
o, o, are receptacles or satchels for any kind of signalling apparatus such as a
whistle, or for stimulants.
In order to protect the apparatus against hurt or damage in consequence of daily
wear, the air chambers may be divided into several separate parts, four for
instance, two breast and two back pieces, Fig. 2, which are sewed between the
stuff and lining of the jacket, each of the four carrying a rubber tube a.
Each of the rubber tubes a is secured with its free end upon a metal nipple c,
Fig. 3, which is screwed into a cylindrical body d of metal, wood or any other

page_text: substance. A sleeve e is screwed over said body, having on its top a screw-
threaded projection or socket f, into which the mouthpiece is inserted, carrying
at its lower end a valve plate h, by which the openings in the block can be closed.
The mouthpiece b' is provided with diagonal opposite perforations 62, so that the
air pressed in from the mouthpiece will pass into the sleeve e, and as indicated by
arrows, will follow through the nozzles c to the tubes a, and thereby inflate the
air receptacles 1, 2, 3, &c. By then screwing down the mouthpiece into its
6
socket the plate h will cover up the openings and the air will be prevented from
escaping from said receptacles. To limit the play of the mouthpiece when screwed
in or out, a circular groove k is turned into it and a screw-pin inserted in the
socket f, enters into the said groove.
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 [
claim is :-
A life-preserver in shape of a garment, having a lining made of. separate ends
of, hose or like air chambers, forming one piece (Fig. 1) or several pieces (Fig. 2),
each provided with an inflating tube, in combination with a mouthpiece, having
nozzles screwed into openings of a block (d) enclosed in a sleeve with a screw-
threaded socket in its top plate, said openings in the block being covered by a
valve-plate, secured to the end of a hollow transversely perforated screw stem,
through which air is blown to inflate the air chambers, substantially as described.
Dated this 14th day of. July 1896.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agents,
62 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents for the Applicant.