Improvements in Swimming and Life-saving Appliances.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 13th Jan., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Swimming and Life-saving Appliances.
We, LOUIS GUILLOT, of 35, Rue des Vinaigriers, and VICTOR PINGUET, of 34,
Avenue de Clichy, both in Paris, in the Republic of France, Inventors, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of this invention is a life preserver, which enables a person pro-
vided with it, to remain under water as long as he likes, either in a vertical or
horizontal position.
And in order that our invention may be thoroughly understood, we now proceed
to describe the accompanying drawing thereof, reference being had to letters and
figures marked thereon.
Fig. 1, is a front view of the collapsing apparatus.
Fig. 2, is a vertical section of the same collapsing.
Fig. 3, is a vertical section of the apparatus filled with wind.
The apparatus has the shape of a cuirass or a sleeveless habit. It is made
entirely of indiarubber; in two parts 1, and 2, the former, when put on the back,
being in front of the body, the other one on the back; these two parts are tied
together by a seam 11, on each side: each of the parts cut sloping or slanting
in such a way, as to prevent after the uniting of the said parts, openings 9, for
the passage of the arms, and an opening 10, for the passage of the head. when the
apparatus is put on. Each of the two parts 1, and 2, is composed of two pieces of
indiarubber 3, and 4, tied together by seams and forming an air-chamber; it is
furnished with a retaining valve 5, arranged in the interior of its exterior wall
or partition, uniting with a tubulator 6, which traverses or crosses said wall, pro-
jecting on the outside, is screwed on it, in order to fix thereon a tube 7, which at
its end is furnished with a plug mouth, analogous to these used for compressed
air-cushions.
The apparatus is first of all put on the back of the person using it, and the said
person swells or puffs successively the two chambers 1, and 2, breathing or re-
spiring in the mouths 8, the corresponding tubes 7. The unbreathed air, once
entered in the aforenamed chambers, is retained therein by the stop valves 5.
The two chambers being swelled or puffed up, the person clothed with the
apparatus, can float on the water in a vertical position, and can go in
he may desire by making use of his hands as oars.
any direction
The vertical position being liable to become fatiguing by a protracted stay
in the water; if the person provided with the apparatus empties one of the two
air chambers, he can keep in the water in an horizontal position, head above
water a position which enables him equally to swim in the ordinary manner.
this end, each of the two chambers has an emptying valve 12.
To
The apparatus above described is of the greatest utility for sailors, passengers
and bathers; it can be carried on the person, in the emptied state, during a whole
assage without inconvenience, and it only requires one minute for swelling or
buffing it, thus enabling it to guard against all danger.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. A life preserver in the form of a sleeveless habit, or an indiarubber cuirass,
with two air chambers, one placed behind the other, each of these chambers
having a stop valve tied or looped to a swelling tube furnished with a plug cushion.
and an emptying valve. The apparatus put on by a person using it, and swelled
by the said person, breathing thus by means of the swelled tubes, enables him to
maintain a vertical position in the water, and the emptying of one of the two
chambers enabling him to keep an horizontal position in the water.
2. In the above claimed life preserver under No. 1. the arrangement of two air
chambers 1, and 2, of stop valves placed in the interior of these chambers, and each
having a screwed tube, on which is fixed a swelling or puffing tube 7, of a cushion
plug placed at the end of each of these tubes, and of a valve 12, arranged in each
of the air chambers 1, and 2, for emptying at will one of the two chambers, or
of both of them, for arranging the apparatus, or keeping it on the body like an
'ordinary dress, all as described above and shewn in the annexed drawing.
Dated this 9th day of December 1899.
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, London, W., Agent for the Applicant.