Improvement in Buoyant Garments.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 7th Jan., 1899
Improvement in Buoyant Garments.
A communication by WILHELM CHRISTIAN MÖLLER, of Bragernas, Drammen,
Norway, Merchant.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, and 322. High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
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 buoyant garments. The object of the invention is
to provide buoyant wearing apparel equally adapted to be carried on board ship and
to serve for life saving purposes.
It has been endeavoured to find suitable forms and materials for garments
serving at the same time as wearing apparel and as buoyant life-saving means.
In order to be fully adapted for this double purpose the garments should have such
properties that they may be easily worn at all times, and not be destined for putting
on only in case of danger. For this purpose a buovant waist-coat made of rein-
deer hide has been constructed. Reindeer hair is known to be exceedingly light
and the hide with the hair on it accordingly possesses a great buoyant power, the
more so, as the water takes a long time to penetrate the hair in any essential
degree.
For the purpose of making the garment well adapted for general use it has been
given the form of a waist-coat, because in this form the comparatively stiff
material forms no obstacle to the free movement of the arms. The form of a
waist-coat is also advantageous for the reason, that the user may turn out which
ever side of the waist-coat he prefers. In wet weather it may be convenient to
turn in the haired side of the garment and have the inside of the same, which may
suitably be covered with a prepared stuff or cloth, turned out.
In order that the waist-coat may be easily buttoned, no matter which side of it
is turned outwards, instead of buttons there is used a special form of straps, loops,
or lacing shown in the accompanying drawings. Along the front edges of the waist-
coat there is provided a series of holes C. through which are threaded double
One button of each lace acts as a stop
Laces A carrying at each end a button B.
for the lace on the inside of the waist-coat, and over the other end button of the
said lace is buttoned a loop of the other lace. The laces are sewn together at
intervals, to form a row of loops, thereby enabling the garment to be more or less
closely buttoned.
When the waist-coat is to be turned inside out it is sufficient to draw the laces
through the holes, whereby the buttons fastened to their opposite ends will serve
tone

page_text: By the aforesaid invention there is thus provided a life-saving waist-coat which
is in all respects suitable and safe, and which at the same time forms a suitable
and nice looking article of dress.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. A life-saving or buoyant garment having the form of a waist-coat made of
reindeer hide and lined with waterproof cloth or other prepared material, so that
either side may be turned out.
2. A life-saving or buoyant garment as described provided with a special form of
fastening, consisting of straps or loops with buttons at both ends, substantially as
shown and specified.
1000