An Improved Portable Apparatus_for Saving Life at Sea and for Swimming Purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Feb., 1893-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1893
TROYIDIONAL DI MILIONTION
An Improved Portable Apparatus_for Saving Life at Sea and for
Swimming Purposes.
J, CHARLES FRATTINI, of 1% Rue de Chaillot, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to a portable apparatus for saving life at sea and for
swimming purposes.
It has chiefly for its object to enable persons traveling by sea to have constantly
upon them an invisible apparatus of small size placed under their clothes so as not to
interfere at all with the movements of such persons even when it is not in use.
This apparatus is always ready for any emergency and its inflation with air is
effected in a few seconds.
The improved apparatus comprises two bags or pockets fitting under the arms.
These bags or pockets are made of india-rubber and provided with a cover of
extensible fabric or material which enables them to be expanded to a certain limit.
When they are not inflated the air bags or pockets are extremely thin. They
are held under the arms by means of straps crossing each other at the back and
passing over the shoulders. The tubes with which the two bags or pockets are
provided enable the latter to be inflated at the moment of the danger, and the
comparatively considerable space which they then occupy will suffice not only for
the person to keep his head above the water but also part of his body.
In order to enable my improved apparatus to be readily understood I have
represented it in the accompanying drawing by way of example.
Figure 1 represents my apparatus inflated and attached to a person.
Figure 2 is an elevation of my apparatus before its inflation.
Figure 3 represents a side view of Figure 2 showing how thin the apparatus is
in this state.
Figure 4 represents a perspective view of one of the inflated air bags or pockets.
Figure 5 represents a section of the air admission pipe and valve and also the
device for the discharge of the air.
My apparatus comprises in principle two bags a a¹ made of vulcanized india-
rubber and covered with an extensible fabric presenting in its norinal state the
form shown in Figure 2. One of the extremities of each of the bags or pockets a a¹
carries a flexible tube and a valve c arranged in the interior of the apparatus, the
said tube terminating in a mouth-piece d for facilitating the inflation. Near the
flexible tube b is provided a metallic tube e pierced with orifices f for allowing the
passage of the air contained in the bag or pocket when a screw plug 9 is turned in
one direction. For the inflation of the bags or pockets this plug 9 must of course
be turned in the other direction so as to close the orifice of the tube e.
I may
replace this device for the discharge of air either by a cock or other means adapted
for the same purpose.
Near the air introduction and discharge tubes is fixed a band i of soft fabric
terminating in a loop; through which passes another band k of soft fabric provided
with buckle 1. This band & connected for example with the bag or pocket a is
fixed at the extremity opposite to the air introduction and discharge tubes of the
bag or pocket a' and vice versa.
As above stated each bag or pocket is provided with a cover of extensible fabric
adapted to augment its strength and limit its size when it is inflated, in order to
give it the form represented in Figures 1 and 4. This cover is preferably made of
hosiery consisting of strong and thin threads, such as for example floss-silk.

page_text: After the fabric has been cut to the desired diniensions it is sewed around
the india-rubber bag or pocket, which is then inflated by means of the tube b,
whereupon the bag or pocket and its cover are caused to adhere to one another by
means of a glutinous substance.
When the air discharge orifice is subsequently opened the bag or pocket, on
the air being let out, will carry with it the fabric, the meshes of which become
smaller, so that the apparatus will again assume the flat and thin form which
it must present when it is not in use (Figure 3).
The soft bands & connected at their point of intersection m hold the parts of the
apparatus under the arms without interfering with any movement of the person
who carries it.
Under these circumstances it is sufficient in case of danger to carry between the
lips the mouthpieces d of the tubes placed within reach of the hand on each side
of the breast, and to blow air into the apparatus, which expands immediately and
assumes the form represented in Figures 1 and 4. The side of the apparatus
corresponding to the front part of the body is larger than the part situated on the
opposite side, so that the person sustained in the water has the face turned a little
rearwards, which prevents the water reaching his mouth.
When all danger is removed it is sufficient to turn the plug g for rapidly removing
the air from the apparatus which then assumes its normal form.
Dated this 7th day of May 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Portable Apparatus for Saving Life at Sea and for
Swimming Purposes.
1, CHARLES FRATTINI, of 1 Rue de Chaillot, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Mechanical Engineer, 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 :-—
My invention relates to a portable apparatus for saving life at sea and for
swimming purposes.
Its chief object is to enable persons travelling by sea to have constantly upon
them an invisible apparatus of small size placed under their clothes so as not to
interfere at all with the movement of such persons even when it is not in use.
This apparatus is always ready for any emergency and its inflation with air is
effected in a few seconds.
The improved apparatus comprises two bags or pockets fitting under the arms.
These bags or pockets are made of indiarubber and provided with a cover of
extensible fabric or material which enables them to be expanded to a certain limit.
When they are not inflated the air bags or pockets are extremely narrow. They
are held under the arms by means of straps crossing each other at the back and
passing over the shoulders. The tubes with which the two bags or pockets are
provided enable the latter to be inflated at the moment of danger, and the
comparatively large space which they then occupy will suffice not only for
the person to keep his head above the water but also part of his body.
In order to enable my improved apparatus to be readily understood I have
represented it in the drawing, left with my Provisional Specification in which
Figure 1 represents my apparatus inflated and attached to a person.
Figure 2 is an elevation of my apparatus before its inflation.
Figure 3 represents a side view of Figure 2, showing how thin the apparatus
is in this state.

page_text: Figure 4 represents a perspective view of one of the inflated air bags or
pockets.
Figure 5 represents a section of the air admission pipe and valve and also the
device for the discharge of the air.
My apparatus comprises mainly two bags or pockets a a' made of vulcanized india-
rubber and covered with an extensible fabric presenting in its normal state the form
shown in Figure 2. One of the extremities of each of the bags or pockets a a¹ carries
a flexible tube b and a valve c arranged in the interior of the apparatus, the said
tube terminating in a mouth-piece d for facilitating the inflation. Near the
flexible tube b is provided a metallic tube e pierced with orifices f for allowing the
passage of the air contained in the bag or pocket when a screw plug g is turned in
one direction. For the inflation of the bags or pockets this plug 9 must of course
be turned in the other direction so as to close the orifice h of the tube e.
I may
replace this device for the discharge of air either by a cock or other means adapted
for the same purpose.
Near the air introduction and discharge tubes is fixed a band of soft fabric
terminating in a loop through which passes another band k of soft fabric provided
with buckle 1. This band connected for example with the bag or pocket a is
fixed at the extremity opposite to the air introduction and discharge tubes of the
bag or pocket a¹ and vice versa.
As above stated each bag or pocket is provided with a cover of extensible fabric
adapted to augment its strength and limit its size when it is inflated in order to
give it the form represented in Figures 1 and 4. This cover is preferably made of
hosiery consisting of strong and thin threads, such as for example floss-silk.
After the fabric has been cut to the desired dimensions it is sewed around the
indiarubber bag or pocket, which is then inflated by means of the tube b, where-
upon the bag pocket and its cover are caused to adhere to one another by means
tance.
of a glutinous
When the ai
the air being let
smaller, so that the
must present when it
harge orifice is subsequently opened, the bag or pocket, on
will carry with it the fabric, the meshes of which become
paratus will again assume the flat and thin form which it
not in use (Figure 3).
The soft bands k connected at their point of intersection m hold the parts of
the apparatus under the arms without interfering with any movement of the person
who carries it.
Under these circumstances it is sufficient in case of danger to carry between the
lips the mouth-pieces d of the tubes placed within reach of the hand on each side
of the breast, and to blow air into the apparatus, which expands immediately and
assumes the form represented in Figures 1 and 4. The side of the apparatus
corresponding to the front part of the body is larger than the part situated on
the opposite side, so that the person sustained in the water has the face turned
a little rearwards, which prevents the water reaching his mouth.
When all danger is removed it is sufficient to turn the plug g for rapidly
removing the air from the apparatus which then assumes its normal form.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The special construction of apparatus for saving life, of a shape adapted
to fit under the arms, designed to hold the person above water; this arrangement
having for its object to enable the person to carry the apparatus upon him when
it is uninflated the said apparatus remaining invisible and not interfering with the
movements of the person carrying it.
Second. The construction of an indiarubber pocket a of a form adapted to fit
under the arms covered with an extensible fabric fixed upon the said pocket
after its inflation in order to ensure to this pocket a suitable degree of elasticity.
Third. The combination of an indiarubber pocket a in a form adapted to fit

page_text: under the arms, covered with au extensible fabric, with an arrangement enabling
it to be filled or emptied of air at will.
Dated this 3rd day of February 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.