AN IMPROVED WATER- PROOF DRESS FOR, PROTECTING AND SAVING LIFE AT SEA, OR IN OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE A WATERPROOF DRESS MAY BE REQUIRED; AS ALSO IN THE APPARATUS TO BE ATTACHED TO OR USED WITH THE SAME FOR ASSISTING THE WEARER TO HOIST OR MAKE SIGNALS BY NIGHT OR BY DAY, AND TO INFLATE, PROPEL, AND GUIDE OR DIRECT HIMSELF AS DESIRED, THE WATERPROOFING PRINCIPLE OF WHICH BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1859

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Brough at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th October
.1859.
I, JOHN BROUGH, Machinist, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "AN IMPROVED WATER-
PROOF DRESS FOR, PROTECTING AND SAVING LIFE AT SEA, OR IN OTHER SITUATIONS
WHERE A WATERPROOF DRESS MAY BE REQUIRED; AS ALSO IN THE APPARATUS TO BE
ATTACHED TO OR USED WITH THE SAME FOR ASSISTING THE WEARER TO HOIST OR
MAKE SIGNALS BY NIGHT OR BY DAY, AND TO INFLATE, PROPEL, AND GUIDE OR
DIRECT HIMSELF AS DESIRED, THE WATERPROOFING PRINCIPLE OF WHICH BEING ALSO
APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES," to be as follows (that is to say):-
I make my waterproof dress of any suitable woven fabric or other material,
varying the shape according to the size or requirements of the wearer, whether
male or female, preferring to have the legs free, and not much increased in
bulk at the lower extremities, the legs and feet part being suitably lined and
protected in any suitable way, either with cork, india-rubber, gutta percha, or
other suitable strong material, more particularly for the part at the bottom of
the feet, the dress terminating at the top with a strong collar of metal or other
suitable material, and with a suitable gusset over the chest, which allows the
dress to be sufficiently extended for the wearer to readily pull it up over his or
her usual dress, or otherwise, as necessity may require, which, when on, the
gusset may be gathered in, and the dress closed over and buttoned up the front
by means of flys for that purpose. The arins terminate as the collar with

page_text: purpose
suitable rings, so that suitable waterproof gloves may be pulled over the hands,
the cuffs of which are to be so constructed as to be capable of being secured
to the rings around the cuffs or wrists of the dress; the head dress I also
purpose making water-tight, having a tippet or fall that comes tightly around
the face and chin to be united to the collar of the dress. This dress I
either making from suitable waterproof material, rendered so either before
being made up or afterwards, as convenient; but I prefer using a water-
The
proofing composition, the ingredients of which I will hereafter state.
sustaining principle may consist in the use of a cork waistcoat, which I prefer
using inside the dress, for the sake of warmth and protection against accidents
from contact with the spars and other floating bodies with which wrecked
vessels are encumbered, or the dress may be lined with tubes of india-rubber
or gutta percha, or air receivers may be fastened on the in or outside of the
dress, and inflated by the wearer as required, or the wearer may use the ordi-
nary or other suitable life buoy now in use; and in the front of the dress near
the shoulders, as also in the front or top of the cap, ventilators are applied,
capable of being opened or closed at the option of the wearer; and in con-
nection with this dress, I purpose using float boards or fius applied to the sides
of the legs of the dress, to assist in propulsion by the ordinary action of
swimming; as also to provide the wearer with a mast, boom, and bowsprit made
of metal tubes, tapered or otherwise, to slide one in the other, which I fit in
suitable receivers, the mast part being capable of being expanded and hoisted
from a socket at the back or otherwise, and held by a lanyard to the collar of
the dress, which may be made with a socket or rest for receiving it; and also
for attaching a boom for receiving a three-cornered sail, extending up to the
mast, and in the front I apply a bowsprit constructed in like manner, and
suitably fastened and held down in its position for carrying a foresail; thus
rigged, the wearer may beat to windward or get into the course of any
approaching sail, to which I purpose affording the means of attracting atten-
tion, by hoisting a flag or signal of distress, such as a small lantern, showing
the blue or usual distress signal, which light the wearer may be able to con-
veniently sustain six or twelve hours; and the manner of hoisting the light or
flag is by the principle of the lazy-tongs, the parts being made of cane with
suitable metallic joints, or by hoisting them to the mast head.
In the gusset of the dress in front, or by a detached bag, a can or cans of
water or spirits and other refreshments may be placed, and on either of the
sleeves of the dress I purpose attaching a small mariner's compass, that the
wearer may see the direction in which he may desire to go; thus equipped,
the wearer would be enabled not only to protect himself from drowning, in

page_text: case of shipwreck, but also to sustain bimself for many hours or even days
above water till rescued, or his equipment enables him to get ashore, as the
body would not only be protected, but even sleep may be taken without endan-
gering the wearer; and such a dress, with many of the appliances here named,
may be used with great advantage for fishing, crossing rivers, or exploring
lakes, and other purposes, in which case a small boat made of waterproof fabric
or or other material, may be used as an addition for carrying any additional
requirements, which boat may be so made and constructed as to be capable of
being folded up in a small compass, and either entirely empty or partially
inflated, so as to be no additional incumbrance, and the composition that I
purpose using for rendering my fabric waterproof consist of suitable propor-
tions of boiled oil, isinglass, soft soap, litharge, cod oil, salts of tartar, bees'-
wax, oil of cocoa nut, coach varnish, alun, and gum arabic in suitable propor-
tions, and with any desirable colouring matter mixed and applied in any
suitable way according to the nature of the article for which it may be
required, as in some cases two or more fabrics may be used; in that case I
prefer coating them with the solution, either on one or both sides, and placing
the fabrics together and passing them between rolls, which will not only compress
the two fabrics together, but also express or squeeze out any excess of the
waterproofing composition. Fabrics thus treated and submitted to a proper
heat in a suitable stove or hot-air closet, whether of one or more thicknesses,
will be found beneficial for many purposes, and may be used as a substitute
for leather for a variety of articles, as its pliable character will not subject it to
readily crack or peel off, which is important when such material may have
been used for boots or shoes, waterproof clothing bags, valises, mill banding,
packing for steam-tight or water joints, and a variety of other such like
purposes.