A' NEW DESCRIPTION OF LIFE PRESERVER, ADAPTED ALSO TO THE PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Banks, of the Town of Northampton, in the
County of Northampton, for the Invention of "A' NEW DESCRIPTION OF
LIFE PRESERVER, ADAPTED ALSO TO THE PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY."
Sealed the 3rd September 1857, and dated the 3rd March 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Banks at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd March
1857.
I, JOHN BANKS, of the Town of Northampton, in the County of Northampton,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW DESCRIPTION OF
LIFE PRESERVER, ADAPTED ALSO TO THE PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY," to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists in so constructing a life preserver as that it forms
a chest or box, capable of containing clothes, &c. thereby serving a double
purpose.
The following is the principle of construction of the above mentioned.
new life preserver:-The lid of the above mentioned chest or box is con-
structed in two parts so as to be readily removed and connected together by
a joint. The drawers of the chest or box are also made to come entirely out,
and the aforesaid lid of the chest, when removed from the top thereof, is made
to fit over or upon the top of the said drawers, and is rendered water-tight by
being firmly but easily screwed down on an india-rubber lining, secured to the
top edge of said drawers. These two drawers are each constructed with a

page_text: semi-cylinder, which when brought together form an entire hollow cylinder
intended to receive the human body when said drawers are in use as a float
or life preserver. The aforesaid drawers are connected together on one side
by a permanent hinge, and on the other by a pin, which can be drawn in and
out at will to enable the two parts of the said drawer or drawers to be easily
opened wide enough to receive the human body, and then as easily secured by
means of the said pin. Two straps are to be provided which are to be placed
over the shoulders so as to prevent the apparatus from slipping down before
it is actually immersed in the water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Banks in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd September 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BANKS, of the Town of Northampton, in the County of Northampton, send
greeting.
. . . .
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Banks, Her special licence that I, the said John Banks,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Banks, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein. expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A NEW
DESCRIPTION OF LIPE PRESERVER, ADAPTED ALSO TO THE PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Banks, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, 'the said John Banks, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described. and ascertained in and by the following.
statement thereof, that is to say:-.
My Invention consists in so constructing a life preserver, as that it forms a
chest or box, capable of containing clothes, &c. thereby serving a double
purpose. The following is the principle. of construction of the above-men-
tioned Invention:-The lid of the chest or box is constructed in two parts
connected together by a joint, or it may be in one piece. The drawers of said
chest or box are also made to come entirely out of same; and the aforesaid
lid of the chest, when removed from the top thereof, is made.to fit over or upon
the top of said drawers, the junction of such parts being rendered water-tight
by being screwed down upon an india-rubber lining, fixed to the top edge of
the aforesaid drawers, or said drawers may have lids fixed thereto, as. at Fig. 5.
These two drawers are each constructed with a semi-cylinder, so that when
said drawers are brought together they shall form an entire hollow cylinder
which is intended to receive and encompass the human body when said
drawers are in use as a life preserver. The aforesaid drawers are connected
together on one side by a permanent linge, and on the other by .a pin or hook
catch, which can be drawn in and out at will to enable the two parts of the
said drawers to be easily opened wide enough to receive the human body, and
afterwards closed. There are straps attached to the aforesaid semi-cylinders
which are intended to be passed over the shoulders of a person to prevent
the life preserver from slipping down before same is actually immersed in
water.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now.
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Drawing
hereunto annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of reference marked
thercon respectively, as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shews my newly invented life preserver as it would appear when
adapted to the human body; Figure 2 the life preserver open; Figure 3, the
same closed, and as it would appear if the lid of the chest at Figure 4 were
affixed thereto; Figure 5 exhibits my above mentioned newly invented life
preserver, constructed somewhat differently to that before described, the lid in
this case being exhibited raised and permanently hinged to the drawers or
buoyant parts of the life preserver. At each of the foregoing figures I employ
similar letters of reference to denote corresponding parts in so far as such parts

page_text: A is a chest or box constructed with a false bottom, beneath which fits the
drawers B, B, which are hinged together as at a, Figure 2; C, C, is the lid
of the chest or box A, said lid being formed in two parts hinged together at b,
or they may be formed detached and separate from each other, and be attached
temporarily to the chest or box A by any convenient means. When it is
required to convert the said chest or box into a float or life preserver, it is only
necessary to remove the drawers B, B, and lid C, C, and connect said lid to
the top of the drawers by the locks D, D, at the back and front thereof, or by
hooks or other suitable catches or fastenings, if the life preserver is made as
at Figs. 2, 3, 4. The space formed by the semi-cylinders E (which may be
of zinc, as also the lining of the compartments G, G), when the life preserver
is out of use, serves as a receptacle for a hat or other article of dress or
property. The circular openings are filled up by pieces of wood H, H, one of
which is exhibited detached at Figure 6, said pieces being each formed with a
tongue c, c, which fits into a corresponding groove formed in the lid c, and
bottom respectively; I, I, are extra lids for affording additional protection
to the contents of the compartments G, G.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my said
Invention of "A New Description of Life Preserver, adapted also to the
Preservation of Property," together with the best means I am acquainted with
for carrying the same into practical effect, I hereby declare my Invention to
consist in and I claim a new description of life preserver, of the con-
struction above particularly described, set forth, and represented.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Banks, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this First day of September, in the year of our Lord,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
Tuo' BANKS,
Abington Street, Northampton.
JOHN BANKS. (L.S.)