IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE-SAVING AND. SWIMMING APPARATUS
Year: 1882

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Adolph Isidor Rath of. Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Waterproof Manufacturer for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
LIFE-SAVING AND. SWIMMING APPARATUS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adolph Isidor Rath at
ر
the Office of the Cominissioners of Patents on the 20th July 1882.
ADOLPH ISIDOR RATH of Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Waterproof
Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE SAVING AND SWIMMING APPARATUS,"
My Invention consists of a Waterproof belt for Life saving and Swimming
purposes and is constructed in the following manner I make of waterproof
material to fit the waist of man or woman, a belt with one two or more chambers
or compartments perfectly air tight-Such chambers having a communication
with each other,-This belt being light and neat in appearance, may be worn at
any time, but should emergency require it, I have fixed to one of the front.
chambers an air Tube, with a screw or other stop valve mouth piece by which
such chambers may be instantly filled with air from the mouth and thus keep
the body held up buoyantly with the full use of both arms and legs for saving life
or swimming.
'
The whole of the body to below the arm pits is held above the water lt
likewise may
be used advantageously by learners for swimming

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Adolph Isidor Rath in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th January 1883.
ADOLPH ISIDOR RATH of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Waterproof
Manufacturer IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE-SAVING AND SWIMMING APPARATUS
"
"
My invention consists of a waterproof belt for life saving and swimming
purposes and is constructed in the following manner :—
I make of waterproof material to fit the waist of man or woman a belt with one,
two, or more chambers or compartments perfectly air tight such chambers having
a communication with each other. This belt being light and neat in appearance,
may be worn at any time, but should emergency require it, I have fixed to one
of the front chambers an air tube with a screw or other stop valve mouth piece,
by which such chambers may be quickly filled with air from the mouth and will
thus keep the body held up buoyantly with the full use of both arms and legs
for saving life or swimming. The whole of the body to below the arm pits
is held above the water. It likewise may be used advantageously by learners for
swimming.
•
In order to enable my Invention to be better understood I will proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1,.
is a front view of a belt made in two compartments and constructed according
to my improvements, the belt being shewn extended out lengthwise; figure 2, is
a plan of the same doubled in half; figure 3, is a plan of the belt inflated when
in a folded position but without being placed round the body; figures 4, and 5,
side elevations of figure 3; figures 6, and 7, end views of figure 3; figure 8, a plan
of the belt as it appears when fastened round the body of a person before inflation
and figure 9, plan of the same when inflated. The several figures are drawn to
a scale of about one third full size and similar letters in all the figures represent
similar parts.
The belt shewn in the drawing is what may be styled a double belt; the inner
or underneath belt a, is in one piece and is fastened by means of buckles and
straps b, c, (or by hooks) which remain fastened when the belt is worn ready for
use in case of an emergency and also when inflated as shewn in figures 8, and 9,
respectively; the outer or upper part or belt d, is connected to the inner belt a,
by pieces e, f, at top and bottom so as thereby to form two air tight chambers
communicating with one another at the back; the front ends of the outer belt are
fastened to one another by means of buckles and straps g, and h, (or by hooks) the
same as described for the inner belt a, and at the back by means of studs and
catches h¹, h², as shewn in figures 1, and 8.
When the belt is to be inflated the
buckles g (or hooks as the case may be) of the outer belt d, are unfastened and
the studs and catches h', h, at the back should also be undone. The belt may
then be inflated through the valve j, of the tube k, which opens into one of the
chambers of the belt. When inflated the valve is screwed tight and the belt will
have the appearance shewn in figure 9, if worn round the waist of a person-or if
not, the appearance shewn in figure 3.
The top and bottom parts e, and f, of the inflating portions or chambers attached
as hereinbefore described to the upper and lower parts of the belt are doubled
inwards when not inflated as shewn in figures 2, and 8, and when inflated each
chamber assumes a rectangular form in plan when the belt is not round a person's
waist as shewn in figure 3, and when round the waist of a person the chambers
assume somewhat the appearance shewn in figure 9, as herein-before described.

page_text: Having thus described my said invention and the best means I am acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details herein laid down and shewn in the drawing
but what I do claim is:-
The improved life saving and swimming apparatus hereinbefore described and
represented in the accompanying drawing.
In witness whereof I the said Adolph Isidor Rath have hereto set my hand
and seal this nineteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three
ADOLPH I. NAID
RATH
(LAN.)