A New or Improved Life Saving Belt.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1899-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Life Saving Belt.
I, FLORIAN KRAJCA, of 225, Kaiserstrasse Karlsruhe, Baden, in the Empire of
Germany, Tailor, 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 a new or improved life saving belt particularly
applicable in case of danger of drowning, and the distinguishing characteristics
as compared with those heretofore in use are:-Its great simplicity and easy
adaptation for use.
By means of its convenient fastenings and lightness of make it is possible,
that it can be worn always by ships' passengers, without the least inconvenience,
so that it can immediately be put into use in case of a sudden or immediate
danger. The requisite time for filling the air bags or reservoirs of this life
saving belt, being but very short, consequently a person provided with this
apparatus (in case of a sudden accident) can put it into action even when in the
water.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will now describe same
with the aid of the accompanying drawings which illustrate life saving belts
constructed in accordance with my invention in which Figure 1 is a view of
the same with pump for supplying air and Figure 2 a view showing a modified
form of a similar belt.
a is a belt made for instance of indiarubber or other suitable material, bare
the shoulder straps. These make it possible that the belt need not be buckled
c and c¹
round very firmly whereby great convenience in wearing is attained.
are the air bags or reservoirs, one of which is fastened to the back and the other
to the front or chest part of the belt a. d and dare tubes provided with valves
by means of which the air bags or reservoir and c¹ can be inflated either by
the use of an air pump e (Figure 1) which can force air at the same time or
separately through said tubes d and into the air bags or reservoirs e and c¹
or separately by the wearer, the tubes and being provided with mouth
pieces for that purpose as shown in Figure 2.
Should by misadventure one of the air bags or reservoirs become leaky, the
apparatus will still act inasmuch as the two valves are independent of one
another and the other bag or reservoir can in spite of this still be filled with
air. By the use of the one air bag or reservoir at the front and the other at the
back of the belt the upper part of the body, from the chest upwards, is held above
the surface of the water.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
A life saving belt consisting of a belt to be buckled round the chest, provided
La strans haring on the back and breast parts an air bag or reservoir

page_text: each provided with a valve, such air bags or reservoirs being supplied with air
or inflated by means of an air pump connected therewith or by means of the
mouth, substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of August 1890
Per W. H. Beck,
F. KRAJCA,
Agent, 115, Cannon Street, London, E.C.,