IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LIFE-SAVING RAFTS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LIFE-SAVING RAFTS." A. com-
munication from abroad by Thomas Bartlett Griffith, of Carver, Massachusetts,
United States of America, Gentleman.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th October 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF LIFE-SAVING RAFTS." [A communication from abroad by Thomas Bartlett
Griffith, of Carver, Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman.]
An effective life-raft should be buoyant, portablo, flexible, not liable to damage
adaptable to any required purpose, and not liable to tip over in a rough sea or
otherwise; moreover it should be cheap and capable of carrying persons in such a
manner that each can be of assistance to the others.
These requirements or conditions are fulfilled in a raft constructed according to
this Invention, which is carried into practice as follows, that is to say :—
I provide a series of cross-bars, made of cork battened between two surfaces of
light wood, or of cork enclosed in canvas, which bars are attached to cach other by
ropes upon which are strung a series of cork floats, and each of the spaces between
the bars and cork-strung connecting ropes is of sufficient size to receive one person.
The ropes are left long enough at one end to act as lanyards to secure the raft to
the ship's side, so that one raft may be used as a ladder while the others are taking
their freight, and then the ladder raft can be cast off.
This improved raft is further provided with life lines and foot ropes, if desired;
also life-belts, contained within each section or compartment, and adapted to
embrace the body of the occupant, and made of cork enclosed in canvas or battened
between wood, and fastened to one of the cross-bars. These belts are provided
with ropes by which they can be tied about a person, and opposite the open portion
of the bolt, upon the next adjacent slat, there may be placed a cushion of cloth or
cork, enclosed in canvas, to break the sharp edge of the cross-bar.

page_text: It is desirable in some instances that each cross-line or compartments be separated
by a transverse section not adapted for use in receiving persons. The said raft
may be inade with as many compartments as desired.
As the said improved raft is flexible it may be rolled up and stowed in a small
space, so as to be convenient for use at a moment's notice, and being made principally
of cork and light wood it can receive no damage to its buoyancy. Its construction
renders it capable of being made of a size to suit any purpose for which it may be
required. With the addition of an india-rubber blanket the whole body may be
kept out of the water. Non-extinguishable lights, such as are now used to ignite
by contact with water may be attached to the said raft, so that its position may be 1
known at any time, and light given to enable people-to secure themselves to the
raft in the dark.
The said raft is suitable for either smooth or rough water. It is practically
indestructible by time, and its construction is simple and inexpensive.
It may be used to take off people from a wreck during a severe storm without
endangering the lives of the rescuers. It may have a number of eyes arranged at
one end with lanyards at the other, and I may use any buoyant material in lieu of
cork, and any other suitable connecting material in place of the ropes.

page_text: April 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF LIFE-SAVING RAFTS." A communication from abroad by Thomas Bartlett
Griffith, of Carver, Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman.
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of life-saving rafts,
It is desirable that such rafts to be effective should be buoyant, portable, flexible.
not liable to damage, and adaptable to any required purpose, that they should not
capsize in a rough sea or in any emergency, should be cheap, and capable of
carrying persons in such a manner that each can be of assistance to others. These
requirements or conditions are fulfilled in a raft constructed according to this
Invention.
In the accompanying Drawing,-
Figure 1 is a plan of a raft constructed according to this Invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on the line x, x, Figure 1; and
Figure 3, a transverse section on the line y, y, Figure 1.
My improved raft consists of a series of cross bars or portions a¹, a², a³, a², a³, aª³,
which preferably are made of cork, battened or confined between two surfaces of
light wood, although they may be made of cork enclosed in canvas, or of any other
material and in any other desirable manner. These cross bars or portions are
united to each other by the longitudinal ropes b, or other flexible connections, in
such a manner as to form a series of spaces or compartments & between the cross-
bars and the longitudinal ropes or other connections, and each space should be of
sufficient size to receive the body of a person in an upright position. The inter-
mediate space f may or may not be utilized as compartments for holding persons
as desired.
The longitudinal ropes or connections b carry a series of cork floats c strung
thereon, as represented, or fastened thereto in any other desirable manner; or in
lieu of the cork floats any buoyant material fastened thereto may be employed.
This improved raft is further provided with lanyards b at one end, which pre-
ferably are formed by securing the ends of the connecting ropes to a ring g, as
shewn in Figure 1, which ring serves to secure the raft to the ship's side, so that it
can be used as a ladder, while other rafts or life boats are taking their freight.
The lanyards also serve as life ropes and for use in lashing the raft together when
rolled up, and for various other obvious purposes.
The said raft may also have rings upon the end opposite that having the
lanyards, which rings may be fastened in any desirable manner either to the
longitudinal ropes or to the cross bars at that end of the raft.
The said raft is further provided with life lines h, fastened to the cross bars,
substantially as represented, with the foot ropes m, if desired, and with life belts n,
which are made in the ordinary form of the belt life preserver, and which are con-
tained in the sections or compartments, and are fastened either to one of the cross
bars or to one of the ropes, and are adapted to the body of the occupant.
· A raft such as is shown in Figure 1 is capable of supporting in the compartments &
nine persons.
While it is desirable that each cross line of compartments be separated by a
transverse section not adapted for use in receiving persons, yet I do not confine
myself to this construction, but may utilize all the sections for receiving persons if
desired, and a raft may be made with as many compartments as necessary.

page_text: The said raft can be rolled up and stowed in a small compass on deck, or it may
be secured to davits so as to be ready for use at a moment's notice, and when made
of cork or light wood it can receive from age or disuse no practical diminution to
its buoyancy. Its construction renders it capable of being made of a size to suit
any purpose for which it may be required.
Non-extinguishable lights, such as are now used to ignite by contact with water,
may be attached to the said raft so that its position may be known at any time.
The said raft is suitable for either smooth or rough water, and its construction
is simple and inexpensive.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,-
First. In a life raft the combination and arrangement of parallel, or substantially
parallel, cross bars or portions of buoyant material, and longitudinal connecting
lines carrying cork or other buoyant material, forming the compartments d, each
of which is adapted to receive a person, substantially as above set forth and for the
purposes specified.
Second. In a life raft the combination of a series of transverse buoyant bars and
flexible buoyant connecting lines, forming the compartments d, with the life belts n
contained in or connected with each compartment, substantially as above set forth
and for the purposes specified.
Third. The combination in a life raft having the compartments & of the said
compartments with the foot lines m, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
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DANT TATT