Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 24th Apr.. 1897
1, JOHN EDGAR MAUND 3 High Street Hereford Grocer. 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 consists of a pair of water-tight india rubber seamless trousers.
lined with wool covering the whole of the feet, like a fisherman's high topped
wading boots up to the forks, then joined to that (the top of the said trousers) is.
an india rubber bladder (the same material as the inner tube of a pneumatic bicycle
or a football). The bladder comes tight up under the arms, braced tight round
the chest, with crossed straps over the shoulders to keep it up. You are in the
centre of the bladder, which is covered with an outer cover consisting of a kind of
mackintosh material (water-tight) so cut as to form the shape of a pear, but larger
at the top, of course the outer cover being so cut forces the said bladder into the
said shape when blown up, both the outer cover and the bladder (or air tube) are
joined to the top of the india rubber trousers and to the strap tightly drawn round
the chest. The inflator or air pump is the same as those used for blowing up
bicycles and the like with air valve only on a larger scale, to ensure quick blowing
up. The valve is in front of the suit attached to the bladder through the outer
cover, and when blown up is right in front of you on the top. The pump is also
attached to the outer cover by means of a clip, and screwed on the valve so as not
to get lost, but be always in readiness. At the back of the suit, sewn to the outer-
cover, is a hood like the hood of a lady's mantle to draw over the head with sleeves
in and button down in front of you to keep you dry in stormy weather. There are.
several pockets in the outer cover of the suit, for a brandy flask, biscuits, sustaining.
chocolate, lamp and night pistol for attracting the attention of any passing vessel
on the sea. When in the water you will always be upright, in a standing position..
The air which is all round you blows the bladder (the one side) tight against your
body and the other side of the said bladder tight against the outer cover, forming.
the necessary aforesaid shape. A cord is supplied for letting yourself down into
the water from the sinking vessel also a small grappling iron attached to string on
a reel, for clinging to any floating wreckage, or in the case of drifting ashore.
When only half blown up the suit will keep you afloat on top of the water, then
you can do the remainder at your leisure, the air pump always being at hand. Of
course your arms are bound to be spread out over the blown up suit, at the same
time they are at liberty in case the air should slowly leak out. When deflated,.
the suit being of thin and light material throughout, will roll up and go in a.
very small compass, the price of which will be in rench of everyone travelling by
sea. The whole of the suit is in one piece, and the only way of putting it on, is.
slipping yourself through the top of the bladder, draw the strap tight round the
chest and blow up.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will now refer to the
annexed drawings in which :-
Fig. 1 is a front sectional elevation of my invention in position.
Fig. 2 plan view of my invention the figure of the wearer being removed.
a is a casing or air chamber of air tight material of the shape shewn and which.
is enclosed in the outer covering 6 and which terminates in the leggings or spaces c-
for the reception of the legs of the wearer. d are straps or the like which are for

page_text: the purpose of securing the suit to the wearer and engage in the buckles e. f is an
inlet nozzle or pipe containing a suitable valve for allowing the entrance of air to
the air chamber, which is closed when required by a screw cap or the like and to
which a pump or inflator of any suitable or well-known construction may be
attached when required to inflate the casing or air chamber a.
The pump used for inflation may be attached to the suit by means of any
convenient form of clip or attachment secured to the suit or outer covering,
the pump being carried in such a position as to be readily accessible by the
wearer.
It will be seen that when inflated and worn by an individual that the individual
will be maintained in an upright position in the water.
When required I provide a hood or cape shown in Figure 1 by the dotted lines g
having sleeves and which may be secured by buttons h or otherwise fastened round
the wearer for the purpose of keeping the wearer dry in wet weather. Pockets or
receptacles are also provided in the outer cover for holding required articles such
refreshments or other articles, signal lights and the like.
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:-
1. The combined construction and arrangement of the various parts substantially
as described and illustrated herein.
2. In life saving suits, an inflated air chamber provided with a valve for purposes
of inflation, having a central aperture for the reception of the body of the wearer ;
in combination with the outer covering having spaces for leggings for the reception
of the legs of the wearer; an outer jacket attached to said outer covering;
receptacles for the reception of desired articles; straps or the like for securing
said suit to the body of the wearer; clips or fastenings for securing a pump in
position for purposes of inflation; all in combination and substantially as described
and illustrated herein.
Dated this 5th day of December 1896.
E. EATON,
Agent for Applicant.