AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING, PROTECTING, AND PROPELLING THE HUMAN BODY IN WATER
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Farrell Remfry, of Riches Court, Lime
Street, in the City of London, Merchant, for the Invention of "
AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING, PROTECTING, AND PROPELLING THE
HUMAN BODY IN WATER,"
Sealed the 24th November 1857, and dated the 11th June 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Farrell Remfry
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th June 1857.
I, GEORGE FARRELL REMFRY, of Riches Court, Lime Street, in the City of
London, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING, PROTECTING, AND PROPELLING THE
HUMAN BODY IN WATER," to be as follows:-
This apparatus consists, firstly, of an annular shaped bag or cushion to fit
round the neck, having a flat broad edge on its outer circumference, furnished'
at intervals with eyelet holes, through which is passed a strong cord to form
loops passing beneath the armpits of the wearer, the two ends of the
cord being tied in front of the chest. Two cords, affixed to a similar flat
broad edge of the inner circumference of the bag or cushiou tie it round the
neck under the chin. While uninflated the apparatus is very portable, and
may be carried in a coat pocket. It may be worn as a waterproof cape,
protecting the shoulders and upper part of the person from rain; &c. The
bag or cushion is readily inflated with air by a mouthpiece in the usual
Price 1

page_text: manner, either before or after it is placed on the person. When filled with
air the apparatus will support the wearer and one or two other persons in
the water.
Secondly, to protect the wearer from waves striking the face, a water-
proof cap is placed over and encloses the mouth and nostrils, and is held
in its place by an elastic band, which passes over the ears round the back
of the head. This cap permits the wearer to breathe freely, but prevents
any water being forced into the nose or mouth.
Thirdly, the body, being thus supported and protected in the water, may
be propelled in any required direction by means of revolving vanes or
screw propellers on the outer end of a spindle, the inner end of which is
secured by a loop to the front of the inflated cushion. A cranked handle on
the axis of a driving wheel, turned by the hand, gives rapid motion to the
propeller, which draws the body forward in whatever direction it is pointed.
A small compass may be affixed to the apparatus to enable the traveller to
guide himself in the right direction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Farrell Remfry in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th December 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
FARRELL REMFRY, of Riches Court, Lime Street, in the City of London,
Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of June, 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
George Farrell Remfry, Her special licence that I, the said George Farrel
Remfry, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said George Farrell Remfry, myexecutors, 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 lawfullymight make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING, PROTECTING, AND PROPELLING THE HUMAN
BODY IN WATER," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George
Farrell Remfry, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing

page_text: 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 George Farrell Remfry, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
This apparatus consists, firstly, of an air-tight annular shaped bag or
cushion to fit round the neck, having a flat broad edge on its outer cir-
cumference, furnished at intervals with eyelet holes, through which is passed
a strong cord to form loops passing beneath the armpits of the wearer, the
two ends of the cord being tied in front of the chest. Two cords, affixed to
a similar flat broad edge of the inner circumference of the annular bag or
cushion, tie it round the neck under the chin. While uninflated the apparatus
is very portable, and may be carried in a coat pocket. It may be worn as
a waterproof cape, protecting the shoulders and upper part of the person
from rain, &c. The bag or cushion is readily inflated with air by a mouth-
piece in the usnal manner, either before or after it is placed on the person.
When filled with air the apparatus will support the wearer and one or two
other persons in the water.
Secondly, to protect the wearer from the waves striking the face, a
waterproof cap is placed over and encloses the mouth and nostrils, and is
held in its place by an elastic band, which passes over the ears round the
back of the head. This cap permits the wearer to breathe freely, but
prevents any water being forced into the nose or mouth.
Thirdly, the body being thus supported and protected in the water, may.
be propelled in any required direction by means of revolving vanes or
screw propellers on the outer end of a spindle, the inner end of which is
secured by a loop to the front of the inflated cushion. A cranked handle
on the axis of a driving wheel, turned by the hand, gives rapid motion to
the propeller, which draws the body forward in whatever direction it is
pointed. A small compass may be affixed to the apparatus to enable the
traveller to guide himself in the right direction.
And in order that the same may be more fully understood, reference is
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon, that is to say:-
Figure 1 is a plan view of an annular, or horse-shoe shaped, air-tight bag

page_text: or cushion made of some suitable textile fabric combined with caoutchouc or
some other air and water-resisting material, and surrounded by a broad flat
edge in which there are eyelet holes at a, a, a, for the reception of a cord b,b.
If preferred, rings or loops may be attached to the edge in lieu of eyelet
holes. A knot is tied in the centre of the cord at 6* to keep it in its place,
and at the part c the cord is passed through a piece of india-rubber tubing
to prevent by its softness and elasticity any unpleasant chafing of the armpits
of the wearer. At the end of the india-rubber tube there is a knot c²,
which, when drawn tight, is secured in position by a hook c³. On the inner
circumference of the edge of the bag, eyelet holes (or rings) at d, d, serve for
the attachment of two cords e, e. A mouthpiece is inserted at f, through
which the bag or cushion can be inflated at pleasure, either before or after
it is placed upon the person. While uninflated it forms a waterproof cape,
protecting the shoulders and upper part of the person from rain, &c. When
it is to be used as a life-preserver for supporting the human body in water,
the ends of the cords e are tied under the chin of the wearer, drawing the
inner circumference of the bag tight round his neck; the person's arms are
passed through the loops of the cord b, c, bringing the part c under his
armpits, and the ends of the cords bare tied in front of the chest, as shown
in Figure 2, which represents a man supported in the water by the
buoyancy of the inflated cushion.
Figure 3 is a waterproof cap or covering to protect the respiratory organs
from the waves; it is so formed as to envelope the nose and mouth of the
wearer, and is held in its place by an elastic band h, which passes over the
ears round the back of the head. To facilitate the operation of breathing
there is a slot or opening shewn by the dotted line i, i, but to prevent the
entrance of water it is covered by the flap i, k, . In order to protect the
entire person from being wetted, I use an envelope formed of a waterproofed
textile material, as shown in Figure 4, having a single opening at the upper
part large enough to receive a person wearing their ordinary apparel. When
placed on the person the envelope is contracted closely round the neck of the
wearer by the draw strings 1, 1, and the hood is next drawn closely round
the face by the draw strings m, m. When worn in conjunction with the
mouth-piece, Figure 3, every part of the person is covered and protected
from the water except the eyes, as shown by Figure 10.
Figure 5 is a propelling apparatus that may be used in conjunction with
the supporting apparatus, herein-before described, and shown at Figure 1. It
consists of a frame or holder n, n, carrying in suitable bearings a shaft or
spindle o, o, at the outer extremity of which there are two or more inclined

page_text: or screw-shaped vanes p, p. Q is a toothed driving wheel furnished with
a handle at H, and taking into and driving a pinion P on the shaft or
spindle o. The wheel Q is mounted upon an axle on the upper part of a
cross-stay, which is held to its work by a ring or bearing which surrounds
the vane shaft o. R is a rest or abutment which is pressed against the chest
of the perso sing it, and may be attached by a hook or loop to the front
of the inflated air bag, Figure 1. The position of the rest Rensures the
propeller shaft being held in a direction upwards, without which precaution
the revolution of the vanes would tend to pull the user under water. The
user grasps the frame at n* with his left hand, turning the handle H with his
right, when the rapid revolution of thevanes or propellers draws him forward.
On turning the handle H in the opposite direction,a retrograde motion would
be the result. The frame or holder n is continued up beyond the rest R to
a point C for the suspension of a portable compass, by which a shipwrecked
person might shape his course when out of sight of land.
Figure 6 is a back view, and Figure 7 a plan view, of a more simple form
of propeller, consisting of two thin wooden blades or propellers s,s, attached
to a band S furnished with a strap and buckle, by which it can be fastened to
the legs or arms, or to both. The blades s, s, are attached to the band S by
a flexible joint, so as to vibrate freely through the arc s, t, as shown by the
dotted lines in Figure 7, but are prevented from opening wider by the stay
v, V. When buckled on the arms and legs (as shewn in Figure 2) their
action is as follows:-When the limbs are moved forward the blades s, s,
collapse into the position shewn by the dotted lines t, t, Figure 7, and are
unresisted by the water; but when moved backward the vaness, s, open to
their full extent, and present a large resisting surface to the water, by
which means rapid propulsion is effected.
Figure 8 is a view, in an expanded state, of an apparatus which may be
advantageouslyemployed for sailing in the water when the wind is favorable;
it is formed like a square umbrella, with four ribs w, w, kept extended by
four stretchers x, x, sliding upon a handle H2, jointed at y and z, so as to be
capable of being bent into the angular position shewn. The lowermost
stretcher is attached, when in use, by a loop and hook to the handle H' at z.
The covering is permanently affixed to the ribs w at the points w², but the
four corner extremities are attached to the end of the ribs by books taking
into loops; loops are also placed at the centre on the outside of the covering,
to which the corners can be hooked up when disengaged from the ends of the
ribs. By this arrangement the available surface may be diminished in
proportion to the strength of the wind, one or more corners being reefed, as

page_text: required. I, I, are two stay irons, hooked at their outer ends for attaching
them to eyelet holes (or rings) on the front edge of the air-bag (at g,
Figure 1) to steady the apparatus, and relieve the arms of the user of a
portion of the strain. When out of use the apparatus shuts up like an
umbrella, in which state it is shewn by Figure 9.
Figure 10 shows a person equipped with the envelope, Figure 4; mouth-
piece, Figure 3, supported in the water by the air bag, Figure 1, and
propelled by the wind acting on the sail, Figure 8, the lowest corner of which
is reefed.
And having now described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is, the
improved apparatus for supporting, protecting, and propelling the human
body in water, substantially as herein-before described, and shown in the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Farrell Remfry, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
GEORGE FARRELL REMFRY. (L.S.)
Witness,
W. BADDELEY, Patent Agent,
Islington.