IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SAVING LIFE AT SEA
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hicks, Tower Station, 57, Pevensey, East-
bourne, in the County of Sussex, Mariner Coastguard, for the
Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SAVING LIFE AT SEA."
Sealed the 7th August 1874, and dated the 12th February 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hicks at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th February 1874.
I, JOHN HICKS, Tower Station, 57, Pevensey, Eastbourne, in the
3 County of Sussex, Mariner Coastguard, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SAVING LIFE AT SEA," to be
as follows:-
This Invention consists in the construction of improved apparatus for
saving life from shipwreck at sea, such apparatus being of the nature of
a life raft or wreck lifeboat, and possessing the important qualities of
simplicity, lightness, facility of preparation for use, and economy in the
cost of construction.

page_text: The apparatus or life raft is composed of air-tight tubes of any desired
length, and respectively secured together at each end by means of screws
or other contrivances. The said tubes are formed of thin battens or
strips of wood, or cork and wood, or iron, cork, and wood combined,
arranged so as to have a double thickness throughout, the same being 5
constructed in watertight sections or compartments, and coated with
marine glue. The tubes thus formed are then covered with canvas and
cork, and coated with paint or with any other composition calculated to
make them thoroughly water-tight.
A wooden platform is constructed of as light a form as possible, and 1
attached or secured to the upper portion of the tubes, which are arranged
parallel to each other, and at such distances and in such numbers as are
necessary to obtain sufficient buoyancy, and a similar platform is attached
or secured to the lower portion of such tubes.
The platforms are respectively covered with a strong rope netting, 1
which is adapted to support the persons who are on the apparatus, and
the space between the respective upper and lower platforms, allowing
the water to run between the same, and thus to give stability to the
apparatus.
Around the edges of the apparatus a ridge rope and netting combined 2
are attached by means of stanchions which will swing in any direction
for the purpose of affording protection to the persons who may be on the
apparatus, and of preventing them from being washed off the same.
! The apparatus herein-before described can be stowed away on board
ship, so as to occupy very little space, or may be employed as seats, and 2
can be put together and launched with the gratest facility, and when so
launched is absolutely unsinkable.
One great advantage possessed by the apparatus is that it is equally
available for use even if launched bottom upwards.
Masts and sails and oars may of course be provided and properly 3
secured to the apparatus, as will be well understood.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Hicks in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th August 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HICKS, of Tower Station, 57, Pevensey, Eastbourne, in the County of
Sussex, Mariner Coastguard, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Hicks, Her special
licence that I, the said John Hicks, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Hicks, 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 "IMPROVED Apparatus
FOR SAVING LIFE AT SEA," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said John Hicks, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 John Hicks, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say:-
My said Invention consists in the construction of improved apparatus.
for saving life from shipwreck at sea, such apparatus being of the nature
of a life raft or wreck lifeboat, and possessing the important qualities of
simplicity, lightness, facility of preparation for use, and economy in the
cost of construction.
The apparatus or life raft is composed of air-tight tubes of any desired
length, and respectively secured together at each end by means of screws

page_text: apparatus, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before set forth
and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hicks, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.