An Improved Life-belt.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Life-belt.
I, ISIDOR STEINER, of 65, Tredegar Road, Bow, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Tailor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The belt consists of 24 pieces of cork of certain sizes (5 × 5 × 15 × 3 × 1,
2 x 2 x 13 inches) put in such a way to cover the upper part of the body that
when covered and lined (with a material that will resist water for some time)
should look like a garment, so that the putting on thereof may be familiar to every
person in time of peril, when instruction would lose time and increase danger.
It can also be made of 32 pieces to meet the American Board of Trade require-
ment. The advantages of such a belt are various and many. Not only does it
require no instruction, but it can be put on within half a minute's notice:
there is no danger of it slipping off as some belts have been known to do. It is
firm and keeps the head well above water and the arms perfectly free; further
the belt contains more cork and will therefore support the body much longer
than any belt or cork jacket yet employed by ship companies, it can also he
folded up in a small compass the belt fits everybody and will be a boon to
fishermen, lifeboat, and all seafaring men, it will also be at the service of
travellers, who depend on belfs which ship companies supply, since the price of it
will be no more than the inferior belts already employed by the companies.
Dated this 23rd day of October 1899.
I, ISIDOR STEINER, 65 Tredegar Road, Bow, London, Tailor, 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 lifebelt consists of pieces of cork of the required sizes which are covered
and lined with a material that will resist the water for some time, and adapted
to cover the upper part of the body. The shape or configuration of what I term
the lifebelt is as far as possible like an ordinary garment, with which persons
are familiar, so that a person in time of peril will naturally be able to readily
place the article in position around the body.
For purposes of illustration, I will now refer to the annexed drawings in
which:

page_text: Figure 2, plan view of same when folded.
a is the outer coverings which may be of any suitable material, preferably one
of a waterproof character, and between which the pieces of cork are secured as
shewn in any convenient manner, such as by sewing. The tapes 6 are secured in
any convenient manner at c and passed through the loops d also secured at any
convenient position. By this arrangement, the belt may be adapted to fit various
individuals, as it may be drawn tightly around the body and secured by tying
the ends of the tapes b, or the tapes may be provided with any convenient means
of attachment to carry out this object. It will be seen that the arms are left
free, and the belt may be put on very much in the same way as a jacket or coat,
and being secured around the wearers body, will maintain the head above the
water, and when folded as shewn in Figure 2, when not in use, it takes a size
which is in accordance with the requirements for packing or storing.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The lifebelt, substantially as described and illustrated herein and for the
purpose set forth.
2. A lifebelt, consisting of an outer casing or covering of suitable material,
preferably waterproof, between which pieces of cork are secured by means of
sewing or the like tapes or bands adapted to secure the belt upon the
person of
the wearer with sufficient tightness, the whole being shaped so as to provide
arm holes, and resemble an ordinary garment such as a jacket or coat, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated herein and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 16th day of November 1899.