An Improved Lifebelt.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 4th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 9th May. 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Lifebelt.
JAMES THOMAS MCMAHON Surgeon 146 Wandsworth Road London S.W.
JOHN WILKINS COPPIN Writer 146 Wandsworth Road London S.W. do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
It is an invention for enabling the wearer to keep afloat in the water by
means of a ring or belt of india rubber or other material, capable of being
inflated by atmospheric air or carbonic acid or other gas. The novelty claimed
for it is, that when attached to the person either round the neck or waist it can
instantly be inflated whether the wearer be in the water or not by the simple
pressure of the fingers on a spring or valve. In the band or attached to it is a
small cylinder of metal containing either compressed atmospheric air or chemicals
which when brought into combination will produce a gas of any kind, and which
when liberated fills out the ring or belt. To the swimmer or bather it furnishes
instantaneous means of safety in case of cramp or being carried beyond one's depth.
It can be worn over or under ordinary dress by either sex, and is invaluable to
persons boating or yachting, and to all travellers by water. It can be made to be
inflated when required by the mode now in use-inflation by blowing through the
mouthpiece of the tube in the belt-in addition to the method for which a Patent
is now sought as above described.
The vessel in, or attached to, the band containing the compressed air or gas or
material for producing the same may be of any size pattern or shape, and to
contain air or gas sufficient for one inflation only or for several.
It may be a permanent or removable portion of any sort of dress used by
swimmers or bathers of both sexes.
Dated this Fourth day of July 1890
JAMES THOMAS MCMAHON.
JOHN WILKINS COPPIN.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Lifebelt.
We, JAMES THOMAS MCMAHON, of 146 Wandsworth Road, London, S.W.,
Surgeon, and JOHN WILKINS COPPIN, of 146 Wandsworth Road, London, S. W.,
Writer, 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 :-
The object of our invention is to manufacture improved life belts, to enable the
wearers to keep afloat in the water.
Our invention consists of a ring or belt formed of any suitable elastic material,
and rendered fluid-tight by means of india-rubber or otherwise, and capable of
being inflated by atmospheric air, or carbonic acid, or other suitable gas. In the
belt, or attached thereto by any suitable means, a small metallic cylinder is fitted,
containing compressed air, or gas. Or it may contain suitable chemicals, which,
when brought into combination, will produce a permanent gas. This gas, when
liberated, inflates the belt.
We sometimes add to this method of inflation the ordinary method by blowing
through a mouth-piece attached to an inflating tube.
The metallic vessel above described may be of any size, pattern, or shape, and
1 Price 40 1

page_text: may be formed to contain air or gas sufficient for one inflation, or for two or more
inflations.
When the belt is attached to the person, either round the neck or waist, it can
be instantly inflated, whether the wearer is in the water or not, by the pressure of
the finger on a spring or valve. It can be worn under or over the ordinary
dress by persons of either sex. It may also form a permanent or detachable
portion of any kind of dress, used by swimmers or bathers of both sexes.
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:
The combination of a fluid-tight life belt and a metallic vessel to contain com-
pressed air or gas, or chemicals for the formation of gas, substantially as and for
the purposes hereinbefore described.
Dated th Al 1001
WILLIAM JORDAN,
120, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
WILLIAM JORDAN,
120, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.