IMPROVED BOATS' FITTINGS APPLICABLE TO THE SAVING OF LIFE
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Le-Breton Bedwell, of Croydon, in the
County of Surrey, Paymaster in the Royal Navy, for the Invention
of "IMPROVED BOATS' FITTINGS APPLICABLE TO THE SAVING OF LIFE."
Sealed the 15th November 1872, and dated the 18th May 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Le-Breton
Bedwell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 18th May 1872.
:
I, FREDERICK LE-BRETON BEDWELL, of Croydon, in the County of
Surrey, Paymaster in the Royal Navy, do, hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVED BOATS' FITTINGS APPLICABLE TO THE SAVING
OF LIFE," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the application to boats of loose or detachable
thwarts or other seats, which from their construction will serve as life
buoys when the boat is capsized or swamped. These seats are fitted at
their under sides with blocks of cork or air-tight metal, or other cases, to
give them increased buoyancy, and they are further provided with life

page_text: lines or loops of small rope at their edges. When therefore the boat is
immersed the seats will be disengaged from the boat and will float upon
the water; and the lines which they carry will permit of their being
secured and used as life buoys by the immersed crew. The gratings
of boats may also be fitted similarly to the seats, and for the like
purpose...
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Frederick Le-Breton Bedwell in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 16th November 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
LE-BRETON BEDWELL, of Croydon, in the County of Surrey, Paymaster
in the Royal Navy, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-fifth 1
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and.
grant unto me, the said Frederick Le-Breton Bedwell, Her special
licence that I, the said Frederick Le-Breton Bedwell, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Frederick Le-
Breton Bedwell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at 2
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 "IMPROVED BOATS' FITTINGS APPLICABLE TO THE SAVING OF LIFE," upon 2
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Frederick Le-Breton
Bedwell, 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 a
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 Frederick Le-Breton Bedwell, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:
-
The object of my said Invention is to provide boats with seats, fittings,
or appliances, so fitted or secured thereto that it shall be requisite that
they should accompany such boats when putting to sea or taking the
water. These seats, fittings, or appliances, consist of loose or detachable
thwarts or other seats, which from their construction will serve as life
buoys when detached from the boat, as, for instance, when the boat is
capsized or swamped. These seats are fitted at their under side with.
cork or with air-tight metal or other cases to give them increased
buoyancy, and they are further provided with life lines or loops of
small rope at their edges. When therefore the boat is immersed the
seats will be disengaged from the boat, and will float upon the water;
and the lines which they carry will permit of their being secured and
used as life buoys by the immersed crew. The gratings, footboards,
backboards, hatchway covers, and all other loose fittings of boats may
also be fitted similarly to the seats, and for the like
purpose.
Additional floating seats or fittings may also be fitted in any boat
between the thwarts along the side of the boat, or elsewhere, in cases
where it would weaken the boat by having loose thwarts or otherwise.
If thought desirable one end of the life-saving fittings may be
attached to the boat by a lanyard fitted with a loop and toggle (or
button), so that a person when immersed may either' remain near the
boat or may detach the life buoy seat therefrom.
This Invention also provides that all or any of these moveable fittings
may be (if so desired) fixed temporarily in the boat in such a manner as
may be most suitable, in order to give additional buoyancy to the boat
instead of floating away independently.
The Drawings accompanying these Presents will by the aid of the fore-
going descriptive statements particularly describe and ascertain in what
manner the said Invention is to be performed or put in practice, the
nature of the said Invention having been particularly described and
ascertained by the said foregoing statements. The said Drawings show
three views, descriptive references to the same being written on the same
Sheet whereon the Drawings are placed.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and
object of my said Invention, and in what manner the same may be per-
formed or put in practice, I hereby declare that I claim, the Invention
of "Improved Boats' Fittings applicable to the Saving of Life," wherein
the adoption of the above described seats or fittings, which are requisite
for the use of boats, is a point or feature.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Le-Breton Bedwell,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of
November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-two.
Witness,
F. LE B. BEDWELL. (L.S.)
THOMAS MORGAN,
Secretary,
Inventors' Patent Right Ass"., Limited,
21, Cockspur Street,
S.W.

page_text: The moveable Fittings fitted to float independently of swamped Boat.
Do
Do
as fitted with lanyard, so as to float near the swamped Boat.
as secured to Boat, so as to give her additional buoyancy when swamped.
Toggle or button for attaching or detaching lanyard.