IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE RAFTS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Frederick Parratt, of 27, Victoria
Street, Pimlico, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE
RAFTS."
Sealed the 7th April 1854, and dated the 8th November 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Frederick
Parratt at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 8th November 1853.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK PARRATT, of 27, Victoria Street, Pimlico, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE
RAFTS to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of a new combination of air-tight flexible
vessels, made by preference of vulcanized india-rubber, combined with
spars and netting or like open work or fabric, the flexible vessels being
strengthened with canvass and netting. For this purpose four or more
flexible air and water tight tubular vessels are used, generally four, and
they are combined together end to end in such manner that they will
form a lozenge-shaped outline of hollow tubes, and they are kept
extended to the greatest length by spars fixed thereto, and when out of
use the tubular sides will pack close up to the central or longitudinal
spars, but when in use a transverse spar or spars holds the two sides of

page_text: the raft to the greatest breadth. The whole area enclosed by the
tubular outline is covered with netting or open work or fabric, so as to
offer holding surfaces for persons, and yet be open for the free passage
of water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Frederick Parratt in the Great Scal
Patent Office on the 8th May 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
GEORGE FREDERICK PARRATT, of 27, Victoria Street, Pimlico, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George Frederick Parratt, Her special licence
that I, the said George Frederick Parratt, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Frederick Parratt, my
exccutors, 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
LIFE RAFTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
George Frederick Parratt, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, 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 George Frederick Parratt, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):

page_text: This Invention consists of a new combination of air-tight flexible
vessel, made by preference of vulcanized india-rubber, combined with
spars and netting or like open work or fabric, the flexible vessels being
strengthened with canvas and netting. For this purpose four or more
flexible air and water tight tubular vessels are used (generally four), and
they are combined together end to end in such manner that they will
form a lozenge-shaped outline of hollow tubes, and they are kept
extended to the greatest length by spars fixed thereto, and when out of
use the tubular sides will pack close up to the central or longitudinal
spars, but when in use a transverse spar or spars holds the two sides
of the raft to the greatest breadth. The whole area enclosed by the
tubular outline is covered with netting or open work or fabric, so as
to offer holding surfaces for persons, and yet be open for the free
passage of water.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed
to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1, is a plan; Figure 2, a side view; Figure 3, a longitudinal
section; and Figure 4, a transverse soction of a life raft constructed in
accordance with my Invention. a, a, represents a long spar, or it may
be several smaller spars, connected together by cords or otherwise. b,
represents another spar placed at right angles thereto, and firmly
lashed or held by bands of metal, or by ropes or cords, as convenience
may suggest. At either extremity of the spar or spars a, a, are metal
rings c, c, slidden on, having eyes or lugs to which the one end of each
tubular air-tight vessels d, d, is affixed; their other ends, which are
towards the centre of the raft, being securely attached to the upright
spars e, e, the upper end of the spars e, e, having rings f. f, placed
thereon, carrying a lug or lugs with eyes by which to attach the ropes or
cords g, g, to the standards c', c', of the rings or ferrules c, c; and to the
cords g, g, nets h, h, are attached at their upper side, the lower sides
of such nets being attached to the air-tight flexible tubes or vessels d, d,
as shewn. The lower ends of the upright spars e, e, likewise carry rings
or ferrules i, i, with lugs or eyes by which the ropes or cords j, j, are
attached to the eyes or lugs of the rings a', a', of the spar or spars a, a.

page_text: The upright spars e, e, have strong chocks e, e, fixed thereon, as shewn
by the transverse section, Figure 4, between which the extremities of
the transverse spar b, b, enter; and the uprights may be further held,
if found requisite, by bands or straps k, k, and keys 1, 1, the bands k, k,
passing around the uprights e, e, and embracing the ends of the spar b, b,
and the keys passing through holes in the bands k, k, and corresponding
holes in the ends of the spar b, b. Or, if preferred, instead of using the
keys 1, and bands k, cords or ropes may be substituted in lieu thereof
as the means of keeping the ends of the spar b up close to the upright
spars e. m; is a cord or rope by which the upper ends of the upright
spars e, e, are drawn and held together, and which, by acting against
the cords or ropes j, j, which attach the lower ends of the uprights e, e,
with the rings a', a', of the longitudinal spar or spars a, a, give great
additional stiffness to the parts. n, n, is network which forms a bottom
to the raft, but allows of a free passage through the water. Additional
stretchers or thwarts o, o, may be placed at intervals, or they may be
made with projections o', o', to enter thimbles p, p, let into the ropes 4, 9,
that surround the air-tight tubes d, d, and so form seats and stretchers
or thwarts, if thought desirable, and provision may be made for receiving
a mast or masts in the longitudinal spar or spars,
Having thus described the nature of the Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that I make no
claim to any of the parts separately, nor do I confine myself to the
details. But what I claim is, the combination of apparatus into a life
raft herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Frederick Parratt, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
GEORGE FREDERICK PARRATT. (L.S.)
Witness,
FRED HARRIS.