IMPROVE- MENTS IN FLOATING OR LIPE-PRESERVING COATS OR GARMENTS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Estève Deville, of Rue Blanche, No. 95, Paris,
in the Empire of France, Proprietor, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FLOATING OR LIPE-PRESERVING COATS OR GARMENTS."-A com-
munication by Jean Louis Vergniais, residing at No. 23, Rue Neuve,
Sainte Catherine, Paris, Civil Engineer.
Sealed the 15th August 1863, and dated the 17th February 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Estève Deville at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th
February 1863.
I, ESTEVE DEVILLE, of Rue Blanche, No. 95, Paris, in the Empire of
France, Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FLOATING OR LIPE-PRESERVING COATS OR GARMENTS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to a combination of parts whereby a person unable
to swim may be supported in the water above the arm-pits and in a vertical
position without the possibility of sinking, even supposing he should endeavour
to do so. These parts, which are two in number, consist, 1st, of a tunic having
a skirt formed of two thicknesses of material united together as herein-after
described, the intervening space being filled with from four to five pounds'
weight of cork cut up in small pieces; 2ndly, of the ballast, varying in weight
from two to eight pounds, which is placed on the legs above the ankles. The
tunic or body and skirt thus padded with cork will support the body out of
the water. The ballast being placed near the feet keeps them down, and
maintains the body in a vertical position, as in diving dresses. It is well

page_text: known that from 1 to 2 pounds of cork is sufficient to support a man's body
in water and prevent his sinking to the bottom, whereas this improved tunic
is made to contain, for greater security, about 4 pounds of cork for a man of
ordinary size, and five pounds' weight for a large man. The tunic is composed
of two thicknesses of material, connected together by cotton tapes of about an
inch in width, the edges of which are sewn to the fabrics at distances of about
1 inches apart, so as to form about 25 cells between the two thicknesses. The
skirt is similarly composed with a suitable number of cells, and as these cells
have no communication with those of the body of the.dress, the skirt should be
only about 9 or 10 inches in length, so as not to impede the movements of the
wearer and allow of his sitting down. The body part and skirt are made
separately, and strongly sewn together by two tapes, with which they are
bordered and forming a belt. The two parts being thus prepared, the cork is
introduced into the cells at the top to fill the body, and at bottom of the skirt
the two cells under the arms of both body and skirt are left vacant, in order
that the dress may be folded as small as possible. After having completely
filled the cells with cork, I close up the openings by bordering them with a
strong woollen tape and then sew through the tunic at intervals, in order to
divide the cells in the manner of quilting wadded garments, whereby to
prevent the escape of the whole of the cork in any one cell should a rent be
made in the garment; what little might be lost in this way would be quite
imperceptible, as the quantity of cork above stated is sufficient for two persons.
The tunic thus completed is worn over the ordinary dress, and hooked or
buttoned in front by means of four or five straps and buckles or buttons; it is
also furnished with shoulder pieces forming arm-holes, through which the arms
are passed. The cork should be cut up in scraps of from th to ths of an inch
in length; its preparation requires much care in order to obtain the greatest
regularity possible in the size, so that it may well pad the cells and impart
suppleness to the dress, the whole weight of which should not exceed 4
pounds in weight. Its cubic volume is only a hundredth part of a cubic yard,
which is equivalent in weight and bulk to an ordinary cloak. The ballast to
be used in combination with this improved dress should be little over two
pounds in weight, half for each leg. It consists of shot contained in india-
rubber anklets or garters covered with a suitable material forming a circular
case; one of these garters is worn on either leg above the ankle, and will be
sufficient weight to preserve the vertical position of the wearer. The ballast,
as also the tunic, should be worn over the ordinary shoes and clothes.
.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Estève Deville in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th August 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ESTEVE
DEVILLE, of Rue Blanche, No. 95, Paris, in the Empire of France, Proprietor,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
Oue thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Estève Deville, Her special licence that I, the said Estève Deville, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Estève
Deville, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLOATING OR
LIFE-PRESERVING COATS OR GARMENTS," a com". by Jean Louis Vergniais, a
person resident at No. 23, Rue Neuve, St. Catherine, Paris, Civil Engineer,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Estève Deville, 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 per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Estève Deville, do hereby declaro
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 Invention relates to a combination of parts whereby a person unable to
swin may be supported in the water above the arm-pits in a vertical position
without the possibility of sinking, even supposing he should endeavour to do
so. These parts are two in number, and consist, 1st, of a tunic having a
skirt formed of two thicknesses of material united together, as herein-after
described, the intervening space being filled with from four to five pounds'
weight of cork cut up in small pieces; 2ndly, of the ballast, varying in weight
from two to cight pounds, which is placed on the legs above the ankles. The

page_text: water.
tunic or body and skirt thus padded with cork will support the body out of
The ballast being placed near the feet keeps them down and main-
tains the body in a vertical position, as in diving dresses. It is well known
that from one and a half to two pounds of cork is sufficient to support a man's
body in water and prevent bis sinking to the bottom, whereas this improved
tunic is made to contain, for greater security, about four pounds of cork for a
man of ordinary size, and five pounds' weight for a large man. The tunic is
composed of two thicknesses of material connected together by cotton tapes of
about an inch in width, the edges of which are sewn to the fabrics at distances
of about one and a quarter inches apart, so as to form about twenty-five cells
between the two thicknesses. The skirt is similarly composed with a suitable
number of cells, and as these cells have no communication with those of the
body of the dress, the skirt should be only about nine or ten inches in length,
so as not to impede the movements of the wearer, and allow of his sitting
down freely. The body part and skirt are made separately, and strongly sewn
together by two tapes, with which they are bordered and which form a belt.
These two parts being thus prepared, the cork is introduced into the cells at
the top for the body and at the bottom of the skirt; the two cells under the
arms of both body and skirt are left vacant, in order that the dress may be
folded as small as possible. After having completely filled the cells with cork,
I close up the openings by bordering them with a strong woollen tape, and
then sew through the tunic at intervals, in order to divide the cells in the
manner of quilting wadded garments, whereby to prevent the escape of the
whole of the cork in any one cell; should the garment be torn, what little
might be lost in this way would be of little consequence, as the quantity of
cork above stated is sufficient to support two persons. The tunic thus completed
is worn over the ordinary dress, and booked or otherwise fastened in front by
means of four or five straps and buckles or buttons; it is also furnished with
shoulder pieces forming arm-holes, through which the arms are passed. The
cork should be cut up in scraps of from one thirty-second to one-eighth part
of an inch in size; its preparation requires much care, in order to obtain the
greatest regularity possible in the size, so that it may pad the cells well and
detract little from the suppleness of the dress, the whole weight of which
should not exceed four and a half to six pounds in weight. Its cubic volume
is only a hundredth part of a cubic yard, which is equivalent in weight and
bulk to an ordinary cloak. The ballast to be used in combination with this
improved dress should be a little over two pounds in weight, one half being
applied to each leg. It consists of shot contained in india-rubber anklets or
garters covered with a suitable material forming a circular case; one of these

page_text: garters is worn on either leg above the ankle, and will be of sufficient weight
to preserve the vertical position of the wearer. The ballast, as also the tunic,
should be worn over the ordinary clothes and shoes.
.
Observations. The principal object of this Invention has been not simply
to form a swimming dress, but a means for saving life and protecting the
wearer in all kinds of accidents, such as in case of shipwreck, contusions,
cramp, fainting, and otherwise. This improved dress is not liable to fracture
or tear to any extent, and is not injured by blows, from which it protects the
wearer, and it affords every security for the wearer being rescued under all
circumstances. In cases of fainting, the head is prevented from falling into
the water. The dress is besides very supple, and permits of free movement of
the body. In cases of imminent danger, where a whole ship's company and
passengers are provided with these dresses, they may be put on instantaneously,
when they will be free and with less fear to carry out any orders given under
such circumstances. In cases of shipwreck there will be the certainty of not
perishing immediately, and the hope of being saved, as by its means succour
may be awaited. There will thus be less disorder and confusion on board ship
at such a juncture, and the orders will be executed without delay. This
improved dress may be folded up and placed in a travelling bag, and from its
suppleness may be used as a pillow or chair cushion; it may also be spread
out and placed under a mattress. The dress may be made of any kind of
fabric, whether of wool, silk, linen, hemp, or cotton; it may also be suitably
ornamented, and serve as a coat resembling an ordinary wadded garment.
This floating dress is even equal to the support, if necessary, of as much as
eight pounds of ballast for each person. I may, instead of shot, introduce
gold, silver, or jewellery into the anklets before described, and as the tunic is
arranged to carry these eight pounds, a person might save a similar weight in
articles of value, as above. In long voyages india-rubber pockets may be
applied to the tunic, which may contain flint and steel, tinder, a knife, a small
hatchet, fish hooks, twine, a small net, bow string, revolver, powder, and shot,
and other articles of first necessity in cases of landing on a desert shore. This
tunic may also be used for swimming, and in sea or river bathing.
These improvements may be further adapted to ladies' bathing dresses, so
as to enable them to float by the addition of a lining thereto furnished with cells
containing cork. Thus arranged all danger in sea or river bathing disappears,
and would, instead of being a cause of apprehension to ladies, become a real and
healthful pleasure. The tunic, whether for male or female wear, may be easily
adapted to persons of various sizes without difficulty, for which purpose a band
of india-rubber fabric or india-rubber tapes are sewn either inside or outside the

page_text: hollow cells which are reserved under the arms, in order to fold up the dress.
These cells may be each about two and a half to three inches in width, so that the
dress might be taken up or widened some five to six inches, and so permit of
its being worn by persons of different sizes.
The principle of the Invention (apart from the necessary details) is that of
having a supple dress, which I obtain by introducing cork cut up or sawn into
minute pieces. The form and arrangement of the tunic may be varied as
required, according to the purpose to which it is to be applied, and whether
for male, female, or children's wear, without excluding any form of dress,
the tunic serving simply as an example to illustrate the Invention. This is
also the same as regards the anklets containing the ballast, which may be
made of any suitable fabric or of leather instead of india-rubber, as before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Estève Deville, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
E. DEVILLE. (L.S.)