A Flexible Cork Life Saving Jacket.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 9th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 14th July, 1894"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Flexible Cork Life Saving Jacket.
JOSEPH LAIDLER 18 D'Arcy Street Sunderland Blacksmith JOSEPH WILLIAM
ELLIOTT 28 Hendon Road Sunderland Butcher do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
A jacket with sleeves, to tie up close under the chin, with cork round the waist
and on the arms, with two rubber bands inside the waist cork to make it flexible,
also with portable cork cape front and back, also with hood attached to jacket
collar back, with respirator for mouth and nose to prevent wind & weather or water
splashing into mouth or nose.
Dated this 11th day of December 1893.
JOSEPH LAIDLER.
JOSEPH WILLIAM ELLIOTT.
We JOSEPH LAIDLER, of 18, D'Arcy Street, Sunderland, Blacksmith, and
JOSEPH WILLIAM ELLIOTT, of 28, Hendon Road, also in Sunderland, Butcher,
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:―
Our invention relates to an improved life-saving jacket, and has for its object
to provide a life-saving device that shall be more efficient in its results than those
heretofore in use, whilst at the same time the peculiar construction of the jacket
will enable the wearer to go about his ordinary duties on board ship or the like,
without inconvenience.
A further object of the invention is to place the wearer, when in a rough sea,
beyond the risks of being rendered unconscious through the water dashing against
his mouth and nose and into his ears.
And in order that the said invention may be the more readily understood, we
have shown same upon the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings,
wherein :
Fig. 1 is a back view of the jacket, shewn opened out, and
Fig. 2 a perspective view shewing the jacket in actual use.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like letters of reference indicate corre-
sponding parts in both figures.
a is the jacket, comprising in its construction a body part composed of linen,
canvas or other suitable material, having a number of vertical pockets a' formed on
the outside thereof, and arranged entirely around same, which pockets are
designed to receive and hold strips of cork of suitable length and thickness, the
mouths of the said pockets being sewn or otherwise closed when the cork is
enclosed.
The jacket also comprises sleeves b formed of the same material as the body of
the jacket, which sleeves are provided near the shoulders, with a number of
pockets 6 similar to, though of course smaller than the body-pockets, and filled
with lengths of cork in the same manner as the beforementioned pockets.
D

page_text: Attached to the back and front of the jacket, preferably below the chest and
shoulder-blades, we also provide four segmental pieces of cork c, two for the front
and two for the back, which segments of cork are sewn in or otherwise covered
with linen, canvas or other material, and are flexibly attached to the back and
front of the jacket in the position shown in such a manner that when not in the
water, the segmental pieces of cork will be flat against the wearer's body, but upon
entering the water, the buoyant action of the latter will raise them to a horizontal
position, as shewn in Fig. 2.
Attached to, or formed integral with, the back of the jacket we provide a water-
proof or other hood d, which in use, would be pulled over the wearer's head and
fastened thereon by means of the tapes d' passing under the chin.
To protect the wearer's mouth and nostrils, we further provide a respirator d
formed of any suitable elastic material, having a hook d³ engaging with an eye d'
on the hood d, for the purpose of adjusting the said respirator across the wearer's
mouth and nostrils, so as to prevent the water dashing into his mouth and up his
nostrils, the hood performing the same service for the ears.
The jacket can be provided if desirable with two or more india-rubber or other
elastic straps fastened around the inside of same, to render the jacket closer
fitting.
Tapes e are provided at the neck, chest and near the lower end of the jacket as
also is a hook e¹ engaging with an eye near the bottom corners of the jacket for
the purpose of fastening same around the wearer. A large single tape g is also
fixed midway at the back of the jacket to pass around and fasten the same
securely around the wearer's waist.
If desirable, the jacket can be used without the segmental pieces of cork c and
the hood d and respirator d.
The dimensions of the various parts going to make up the jacket and also the
sizes of the various pieces of cork to increase its buoyancy can of course, be
varied to suit the different classes of wearers, but the dimensions &c., approved of
by the Board of Trade, are as follows:-
13 pockets filled with solid cork. Dimensions of pockets: length, 11 inches,
breadth 24 inches; thickness 2 inches. Six of the pads are 2 inches to 3 inches
shorter under the arms. Length of the jacket when closed, 32 inches; length of
jacket when stretched out, 55 inches.
On each sleeve are 3 pockets of 6 inches x 1 inch x 1 inch dimensions.
A tape strap fitted around the middle of the jacket so as to adapt it to size of
the body, besides tapes at top and bottom.
Buoyancy after 24 hours immersion, 19 lbs.
Attached to the jacket is a hood to tie under the chin; attached thereto is a
portable respirator to protect the mouth from the weather. The jacket can also
be fitted with cork capes to back and front.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A life-saving jacket, consisting of a body-part having a number of closed
pockets around same, containing strips of cork and two sleeves provided with
similar cork-containing pockets the whole fastened around and held closely and
securely against the wearer by outside tapes and a hook and eye, and interiorally
placed elastic straps substantially as described and illustrated.
2. In combination with a life-saving jacket such as above claimed, segmental
pieces of cork, flexibly attached to the back and front thereof, whereby they can
lie close against the jacket when not in the water, and rise to a horizontal position
when immersed in same, substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated.
3. In combination with the life-saving jacket above claimed a hood attached to,
or formed integral with, the back of the collar, and having an elastic respirator

page_text: capable of being adjusted across the wearer's mouth and nostrils, substantially as
and for the purpose described and illustrated.
Dated this 9th day of March 1894.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.