Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 19th Apr., 1887.
I, Louis GRÜNFELDER of Belfort, in the Republic of France, 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 consists in a dress designed for the support of persons swimming in
the water.
Referring to the annexed drawings, the improved apparatus consists, for use as a
swimming apparatus, of an impermeable suit A an airtight belt of peculiar form B
and a pair of plates bd to be affixed to the feet. The impermeable suit covers the
body from the feet to the neck, the sleeves and the collar being so adapted as to
prevent the entrance of water. The belt B is a girdle of impermeable fabric treated
with caoutschouc and is adapted to be filled with an amount of air necessary for keeping
the person wearing it, afloat; it has almost the shape of the stem and bows of a ship.
To render it completely watertight, it is coated on its whole inner surface with a layer
of caoutchouc of a thickness corresponding to the pressure the apparatus is intended
to sustain this layer of caoutchouc must naturally be thicker for use at sea, than for
use on rivers. This air girdle is provided with a tube D of the same fabric serving
for the introduction of air, a water-tight closing preventing the escape of air.
The foot plate bd, made of wood or any other suitable material and having an
elliptic shape may either be tightly fastened to the feet of the trousers in which case
it is so constructed as to stand over from the rim of the trousers 2 to 3 centimètres at
the sides, and 4 to 5 centimètres in front and behind, or may be attached to the foot
of the wearer as shown in the drawing, in which case the lower ends of the trousers
are secured at the ankles.
It is obvious, that the capacity of the air girdle must be in proportion to the weight
of the person wearing it.
The most favorable position of the swimmer is such that his body forms to the
horizontal line, an angle of 75 to 90°, when at rest, and 15 to 30° when swimming.
In these positions he has a free view and unimpeded use of all his limbs, only the
feet being moved for swimming.

page_text: The whole apparatus is so constructed, that the centre of gravity of the body with
the apparatus is under the belt so that the swimmer cannot upset.
For bathing the suit A may be replaced by the usual bathing garments, to which
the belt and the foot plates may be secured.
As a safety device, the apparatus is so constructed as to allow of an easy movement 5
of the arms.
A pocket attached to the apparatus serves to carry victuals.
A hood serves to protect the shipwrecked person from the waves.
Fig. 1 shows a person wearing the whole apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a view of the apparatus from above.
Fig. 3 a plan of the foot plate.
Fig. 4 a person swimming in the apparatus.
Fig. 5 a bather carrying the girdle.
Fig. 6a modified form of girdle.
1 do not confine myself to the particular form and construction of the parts as 1
herein before described."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :
The combination of the parts constituting a swimming or safety-apparatus
substantially as illustrated and described.
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