IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OP LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS AT SEA
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathaniel John Holmes, of the Hall, Primrose
Hill Road, Regent's Park, London, Middlesex, Gentleman, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OP LIFE-SAVING
APPARATUS AT SEA."
Sealed the 18th September 1874, and dated the 21st April 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nathaniel John Holmes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 21st April 1874.
I, NATHANIEL JOHN HOLMES, of the Hall, Primrose Hill Road,
Regent's Park, London, Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS AT SEA," to be as follows:-
My improvements consist in the manner of constructing life-saving
apparatus, such as life boats or life buoys, so that when brought into
use it shall combine all the requirements and portability of a life boat
with that of a life buoy.

page_text: By means of my improved method of construction I am able to form
what I designate as a life-buoy boat. In principle this life-buoy boat
may be described as consisting of a series of separate and independent
air chambers, so constructed and disposed as to form a boat in the
manner hereafter to be described, the flotation powers of the series of
air chambers being calculated according to the intended carrying powers
of the life-buoy boat.
The form of the life-buoy boat which I find may be successfully
employed may be described to be more or less that of an ellipse, the
relation between the major and minor axis, or length and breadth of the
life-buoy boat being so adjusted as to secure efficient stability in all seas,
and a perfect immunity from danger of capsizing. This life-buoy boat
consists of a series of detached and independent air chambers disposed
and placed side by side in such a manner as to form the walls or sides
of the life-buoy boat. These air chambers are connected together by
means of upper and under boards framed and fitted to correspond with
the length and breadth of the life-buoy boat, and furnished with the
One side
necessary stays and parts to ensure perfect rigidity of form.
of the air chambers so disposed forms the interior lining of the boat, and
the opposite side of the air chambers the external or water side of the
boat.
In constructing the life-buoy boat it will be found advisable to give
to the air chambers a sufficient vertical depth to allow of a suitable
diaphram or bottom to be placed midway across the interior of the
boat, the bottom so formed being supported or otherwise secured by
stays arranged for that purpose. By adopting this form of construction
and disposition of the air chambers two boats are formed, one upon the
upper side, and the other upon the under side of the diaphram or
bottom; in either case the side of each boat respectively is formed by
the clevation of the air chambers above the diaphram or internal
bottom placed midway, thus whichever way the life-boat buoy falls into
the water it becomes a floating rescue buoy, into which one or more
persons can take refuge. When this disposition of the air chambers is
employed each of the reversible boats so formed may be furnished with
seats, and any other appliance necessary to navigate the life-buoy boat
in a heavy seaway.
The air chambers may be constructed of any suitable material to
combine the requisite lightness with security. Either metal sheets may

page_text: be employed or a water and air-proof combination of canvass, cork, and
india-rubber upon suitable frames. By this building up of the frame
of the life-buoy boat with separate air chambers any injury to one of the
air chambers will not imperil the safety of the life-buoy boat, and the
3 damaged chamber can be removed and replaced by another, or tem-
porarily removed for repair even while the life-buoy boat is in the
water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Nathaniel John Holmes in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th October 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NATHANIEL
JOHN HOLMES, of the Hall, Primrose Hill Road, Regent's Park, London,
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Nathaniel John Holmes, Her
special licence that I, the said Nathaniel John Holmes, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Nathaniel John
Holmes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS AT SEA,”.
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Nathaniel
John Holmes, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Nathaniel John Holmes, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
My improvements consist in the manner of constructing life-saving
apparatus, such as life boats or life buoys, so that when brought into
use it shall combine all the requirements and portability of a life boat
with that of a life buoy.
By means of my improved method of construction I am able to form
what I designate as a life-buoy boat. In principle this life-buoy boat
may be described as consisting of a series of separate and independent
air chambers so constructed and disposed as to form a boat in the
manner hereafter to be described, the flotation powers of the series of air
chambers being calculated according to the intended carrying powers of
the life-buoy boat.
The form of the life-buoy boat which I find may be successfully
employed may be described to be more or less that of an ellipse, the
relation between the major and minor axis or length and breadth of the
life-buoy boat being so adjusted as to secure efficient stability in all seas,
and a perfect immunity from danger of capsizing. This life-buoy boat
consists of a series of detached and independent air chambers disposed
and placed side by side in such a manner as to form the walls or sides of
the life-buoy boat. The number of these air chambers so to be placed
side by side is regulated by the required carrying capacity of the life-
buoy boat.
I find it advantageous to make each chamber of such capacity that it
will displace about 280 lbs. of water, and so be capable of supporting
two men of average weight. These air chambers are connected together
by means of upper and under boards framed and fitted to correspond
with the length and breadth of the life-buoy boat, and furnished with
the necessary stays and parts to ensure perfect rigidity of form. Onc
side of the air chambers so disposed forms the interior lining of the boat,
and the opposite side of the air chamber the external or water side of
the boat when the air chambers are put together so as to form the bond.
I find it advantageous to surround them with a suitable framing to fend
off a a shock in case of any collision.
In constructing the life-buoy boat it will be found advisable to give
to the air chambers a sufficient vertical depth to allow of a suitable
diaphram or bottom to be placed midway across the interior of the

page_text: boat, the bottom so framed being supported or otherwise secured by
stays arranged for that purpose. By adopting this form of construction
and disposition of the air chambers two boats are formed, one upon the
upper side, and the other upon the under side of the diaphram or
bottom; in either case the side of each boat respectively is formed by
the elevation of the air chambers above the diaphram or internal
bottom, placed midway; thus whichever way the life-buoy boat falls into
the water it becomes a floating rescue buoy, into which one or more
persons can take refuge. When this disposition of the air chambers is
employed each of the reversible boats so formed may be furnished with
scats and any other appliance necessary to navigate the life-buoy boat
in a heavy seaway.
The air chambers may be constructed of any suitable material to
combine the requisite lightness with security. Either metal sheets may
be employed or a water and air-proof combination of canvas, cork, and
india-rubber upon suitable frames. By this building up of the frame
of the life-buoy boat with separate air chambers any injury to one of the
chambers will not imperil the safety of the life-buoy boat, and the
damaged chamber can be removed and replaced by another, or tem-
porarily removed for repair even while the life-buoy boat is in the
water.
Having now described my Invention, I claim the construction of life-
saving apparatus such as is above described by forming and joining
together compartments made in the manner stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nathaniel John Holmes, have herc-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
Witness,
ALFRED JOHN TURNER,
Clerk,
8, Gt. Winchester Street,
London, E.C.
NATH. J. HOLMES. (L.S.)