IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-INFLATING SWIMMING AND LIFE BELTS, AND IN MATERIALS CONNECTED WITH THE SAME
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Callistus Augustus, Count de G. de Liancourt, of
21, Richmond Road, Dalston, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-INFLATING
SWIMMING AND LIFE BELTS, AND IN MATERIALS CONNECTED WITH THE SAME.”
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Callistus Augustus,
Count de G. de Liancourt at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th October 1874.
I, CALLISTUS Augustus, Count de G. DE LLANCOURT, of 21, Richmond
Road, Dalston, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-
INFLATING SWIMMING AND LIFE BELTS, AND IN MATERIALS CONNECTED WITH THE
SAME," to be as follows:-
My improvement on my previous Invention, Patent No. 909, 1874, in
the first place consists of a new position of internal unoxideable steel
spring coils free from one another and excluding soldering, which is

page_text: avoided by the extremities of the coils being inserted in hooks fixed on
the caps mentioned in my previous Invention.
My improvement on my previous Invention consists, secondly, of a
new tissue or bag woven especially by a new machine, ad hoc., which
leaves no imperfection whatsoever in the tissue, calculated by its lightness,
material, and degree of torsion to swell and render the bag perfectly
impervious to air or water.
5
My improvement on my previous Invention consists, thirdly, of a
certain compound of varnishes, which will resist friction for years and
the high temperature of 100 degrees, so as to make it the only swimming 10
and life belt for use in India and other hot climates.
My improvement on my previous Invention consists, fourthly, that
the plug has been strengthened and the action of the coils made perfectly
free, and balanced in their action.
1th. The bag passes first in an improved solution composed of soap, 15
resin, carbonate of soda, and common salt, mixed with a certain quantity
of water, then it is dried and calended. This composition imparts a
waterproof to the bag.
2th. The bag receives additional coatings with compound varnishes of
oxigenated oil made of animal & vegetable matters of a gummy 20
character.
The Inventor does not confine himself to the precise composition.
India-rubber is always carefully avoided.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Callistus 2
Augustus, Count de G. de Liancourt in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th April 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CALLISTUS
AUGUSTUS, Count DE G. DE LLANCOURT, of 21, Richmond Road, Dalston,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of October, in the year
8

page_text: of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto the said Callistus Augustus, Count
de G. de Liancourt, Her special licence, that I, the said Callistus
Augustus, Count de G. de Liancourt, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Callistus Augustus, Count de G. de
Liancourt, 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-INFLATING SWIMMING AND LIFE BELTS,,”
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Callistus Augustus,
Count de G. de Liancourt, 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, on or before
the Thirtieth day of April, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Callistus Augustus, Count de G. de
Liancourt, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
-
This new
self-inflating swimming belt" is constructed of two
metallic spiral spring coils inserted free in one another, and in contrary
ways to balance their springing power, covered with seamless tubes of
canvas, successively rendered three times impervious to air and water by
means of different new compounds of oils and varnishes and of a bath in
a new liquid, the whole keeping the bag supple in cold and warm
atmospheres of high pressure, thus forming a novel and perfect swimming
belt in any length and diameter, of any strength and resisting power,
defying fracture, puncture by pins or needles, capable of affording any
degree of buoyancy, and applicable to serve as a girdle to surround boats
to prevent them from capsizing. This swimming belt is self-inflating,
very reliable, not compressible, is round or flat, and excluding the
employment of india-rubber, it can be adjusted in a few seconds, does
not weigh generally more than one to one and a half pounds, is easily

page_text: put in the pocket being only two and a half or three inches in diameter,
it cannot get out of order, resists very long friction, and is very durable
and not requiring much care, and gives any degree of buoyancy that is
required. At the two extremities of the belt are caps in metal or wood.
On one cap is a ring to which a plug key is attached, and which when the
belt is extended round the breast is inserted in the hole that exists on
the cap of the other end. Then the outer water cannot penetrate in the
belt, and the belt is always sure and tight round the breast, and cannot
be thus secured without being shut up. This new self-inflating
swimming belt serves also as a base to the raft. The belt in that
case takes the form of a small skiff fixed on a frame, and on which
sthall places are arranged in which provisions can be kept for several
days. The "self-inflating swimming and life belt" being kept on deck
is always at hand, adapted to boxes containing papers, deeds, money, or
other valuables, it will keep them afloat for months and get the best
chance to be found on the coast when carried by the tide.
To every belt there is a string attached which the swimmer passes
over the head, so as to keep the apparatus steady under the arm pits.
This belt resists one hundred pounds pressure and a very high hot¸
temperature.
In witness whereof, I, the said Callistus Augustus, Count de G. de
Liancourt, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth
day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-five.