Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 16th Sept., 1887.
A communication from abroad by THE LEDUE TULE IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, of San
Francisco, California, one of the United States of America.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE of No.11 Wellington Street Strand London in the
County of Middlesex Patent Agent 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 :-
This invention relates to a new and useful life-preserver as an article of manufacture;
and it consists in a suitable band, belt, mattress, or garment, constructed wholly or in
part of the dried stalks or stems of what is commonly known as tule or tule-grass.
It also relates to the employment of the same material in the construction of life-
rafts, and to certain details of construction.
This tule is a large club-rush or sedge of the order Cyperaceae, and known
scientifically as Scirpus validus.
It grows in marshy places, and while found in several portions of the United
States, is particularly abundant in California, where it grows to a great height, and
its stems attain considerable diameter. These stems are very pithy, and when dried,
become very light and buoyant, whereby they are well adapted for the purpose of a
life-preserver.
They are not of such a loose texture as to become water-soaked, and will remain on
the surface of the water for an indefinite time. These properties are more character-
istic of the foot and lower portions of the stems, the upper portions being more like
ordinary reeds, rushes, or straw.
The economy of this material recommends it; and its abundance and extreme
lightness make it preferable to cork.
"The accompanying drawings illustrate the manner in which it is proposed to
use it.
Figure 1 represents a bunch of the stems.
Figure 2 is a view of the ordinary form of life-preserver, the casing or outside
fabric of which incloses a number of the tule bunches.
D
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page_text: Figure 3 is a perspective view, showing the bunches tied with wires and central
cords.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the same.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a raft made of this material.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of one end of one of the cylinders.
To form a life-preserver, the bunch A is made up of a number of tule stems, cut
into lengths and tied together at each end. These stems, before being thus bunched,
are thoroughly dried or seasoned. They would be sufficiently stiff of themselves
when firmly tied, but in order to insure the rigidity of the bunch, we may use a
central core a, made of some buoyant material, such as light wood, but this is not a
necessity.
The completed life-preserver B, as shown in Figure 2, is made up of an outside
casing of canvas, oil-cloth, or other fabric sewed up to form a bag, into which the
bunches A are packed.
Cross seams divide the bunches, or sets of bunches, and provide for the joints or
bends of the article.
The straps F are of usual form.
We do not confine ourselves to this particular form of life-preserver, as we may
make it in the form of a garment or of a mattress.
As shown in Figures 3, and 4, we tie the ends of each bunch separately in some
manner, as by a copper wire passed around and twisted tightly; but we prefer to do
the tying of each bunch at the same time, and by the same wires by which the bunches
are united to form the life-preserver.
The wires C, which should be of copper to resist the action of the water, are passed
outside of one bunch and inside the next, and so on, crossing each other, or interlacing
between the bunches. They are twisted, as shown, at each crossing, by which means
they are tightened on the bunch, and hold it together, even without the assistance of
a separate wire.
The life-preserver, as a whole, should consist, as in ordinary cases, of two or more
portions jointed in such manner as to render the whole flexible enough to pass around
and conform itself approximately to the body.
We have here shown it as composed of halves, which are separated at one end and
united at the other by means of copper rings D, joining the wires C.
We could, of course, divide it otherwise, and join the divisions by rings in the same
manner, if it should be deemed advisable to do so.
The centers of the bunches should also be joined; and though this might be done
by wires, as in the case of the ends, we prefer to use strips E of some fabric, such as
canvas or strong duck.
These strips pass in and out between the bunches, and cross each other, as in the
case of wires C. Their ends e are left loose, and form the straps by which the life-
preserver is tied when in position.
To the strips E, are secured the crossed shoulder-straps F, which pass upward
between the bunches, and under the wires C, which act as guides to carry them past
the bunches.
By thus securing the bunches, we are enabled to dispense with the usual canvas-
covering found on life-preservers.
The bunches are as securely held together as if confined in a covering, and the
preserver is that much lighter, without diminishing its coefficient of displacement.
The life-preserver can be made at less cost, and will be made as effective as
required.
In the construction of the life-raft, we take the round pithy stock of the tule and
bind or unite them together in cylindrical masses of sufficient diameter, as shown in
Figures 5, and 6, which may be from three to eight or ten inches, the cylinders being
made from five to thirty feet in length.
The reeds, after being firmly bound into the cylindrical shape, are then covered with
an exterior coating of any suitable or desirable material. We have found that canvas,

page_text: stitched tightly around the cylinders and afterwards painted with some water-proof
paint, is very suitable for the purpose.
After these cylinders A have been formed, we take three or more of them and unite
them side by side in parallel lines by a rigid unyielding frame-work G. Over this
frame-work and around the cylinders, may be placed longitudinal strips of wood H,
which are secured by straps I, passing over and around the whole, and secured with
bolts or rivets J, so as to unite the whole firmly together.
Upon the top and bottom of the outer cylinders are fixed larger wooden strips K,
having holes made through them for the attachment of life-lines L, as shown, so that,
which ever side up the raft may fall in the water, these lines will be in readiness to be
seized by any person coming near the raft.
The ends of the cylinders may be either cut straight off, or they may be made
conical, as shown in the drawings.
In either case it will be desirable to protect these ends by a metallic cap of the same
shape as the end, which may be applied before the canvas is put on, and will thus
protect them from injury from rough usage.
By this construction we are enabled to produce a raft having a great buoyancy and
extreme lightess; the weight of a raft of twenty feet in length not exceeding two
hundred and seventy five pounds, and being easily handled by two men.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me from
abroad I declare that what I claim is ;—
1. As a new article of manufacture, a life-preserver, made of the bunches A of the
dried stems or stalks of tule, substantially as described.
2. A life-preserver, constructed of a number of independent bunches A of the dried
stalks or stems of tule-grass or other rushes, reeds, or halms of similar buoyant
nature, said bunches being uninclosed or uncovered, the interlacing wires C, by which
the bunches are tied or woven together, and the rings D, by which the wires are
jointed, substantially as described.
3. The life-preserver, consisting of the uncovered bunches A of tule, the wires C
binding their ends together, and the fabric-strips E, joining their centers, together
with suitable tying and shoulder-straps, substantially as described.
4. The life-preserver, consisting of a number of uncovered bunches A of the lower
or foot-portion of the dried stalks or stems of the tule-grass, (Scirpus validus,) said
bunches being tied or united together, and the whole having suitable tying and
shoulder-straps, substantially as described.
5. In a life-raft, the cylinders formed of tule-reeds bound together, and a
flexible covering surrounding said cylinders, the metallic end-pieces fitted to the
cylinders, the longitudinal strips secured to the cylinders, and to an intermediate
frame, whereby the two are rigidly secured, and the transverse straps surrounding and
riveted to the cylinders and frame, substantially as described.
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