IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS BUOYS, LIFE BUOYS, SHIPS FENDERS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Bolivar Davis, of Southampton,
Dealer and Chapman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SHIPS BUOYS, LIFE BUOYS, SHIPS FENDERS, AND OTHER SIMILAR
ARTICLES."
Sealed the 7th February 1853, and dated the 1st October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bolivar
Davis at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 1st October 1852.
I, WILLIAM BOLIVAR DAVIS, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS BUOYS, LIFE BUOYS, SHIPS.
FENDERS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," to be as follows:--
This Invention consists in making ships buoys, life buoys, ships-
fenders, and other similar articles of a wicker or canc framework,
within which are enclosed cork shavings, water-tight air vessels, and
other similar buoyant materials, properly protected from the action of
water.
Various plans may be devised for carrying out the object of the
Invention; but as these must vary in some measure, according to the
nature of the article to be made, and the object for which it is intended

page_text: to be employed, I will briefly describe the mode of making a few of the
principle articles to which the Invention is applicable. For a life buoy
I construct a hollow framework of wicker, cane, or some other light and
clastic or yielding material, and of any suitable form and dimensions,
and inside this I place either air vessels or cork shavings or some
other buoyant material, enclosed in bags to protect them from the
action of the water. The light framework may, if required, be covered
externally with painted canvas or some other material, but this con-
:stitutes no part of the Invention.
A life buoy in the form of a belt may be made of a number of lengths
of bamboo or other cane, the ends of which are to be sealed up in any
convenient and suitable manner, and the pieces so prepared should be
arranged. in a row and enclosed in a canvas covering or case long
enough to fasten round the body of the wearer. In place of cane,
hollow tubes of tin or papier maché may be employed, but cane is
preferable, as being the cheapest article. The tubes or cane should be
from one inch to three and a half inches in diameter, but smaller cane
may be employed, when they should be fastened together in small
bundles. Ships buoys and fenders are made upon precisely the same
principle as that first described, that is, of wicker or wire work. The
mooring cable or rope whereby they are held passes through the centre,
and the mooring rings or swivels are affixed thereto.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Bolivar Davis in the Great Seal Patent
.. Office on the 1st April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM BOLIVAR DAVIS, of Southampton, Dealer and Chapman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-

page_text: cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Bolivar Davis,
Her especial license that I, the said William Bolivar Davis, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Bolivar Davis, 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 terin therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS BUOYS, LIFE BUOYS,
SHIPS FENDER, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Bolivar Davis, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and scal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and to cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Bolivar Davis, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):.
My Invention of Improvements in Ships Buoys, Life Buoys, Ships
Fenders, and other similar Articles, consists in making or constructing
these articles of a wicker or cane framework, within which are en-
closed cork shavings, water-tight air vessels, and other similar buoyant
materials, properly protected from the action of water.
the
Various plans may be devised for carrying out the object of
Invention; but as these must vary in some measure, according to
the nature of the article to be made, and the object. for which it
is intended to be employed, I will briefly describe the mode of
making a few of the principal articles to which the Invention is
applicable. For a life buoy 1 construct a hollow framework of
wicker, canc, .or some other light and elastic or yielding material,
and of any suitable form and dimensions, and inside this I place

page_text: either air vessels or cork shavings or some other buoyant material,
enclosed in bags to protect them from the action of the water. The
light framework may, if required, be covered externally with painted
canvas or some other material, but this constitutes no part of the
Invention.
The simplest form of life buoy constructed in this manner is shewn in
the accompanying Drawings at Fig. 1, which is an external view of a
life buoy made in a circular form. The buoy is constructed of wicker
or basket work, inside which is placed cither cork shavings or other
- light and buoyant materials, or an air vessel made of some waterproof
material; a sectional view of this air vessel is shewn at Fig. 2. The
-vessel, being placed inside the wicker work, is not so liable to injury as
if left unprotected by such a material. The wicker work is covered
over externally by waterproof cloth or canvas, or other impervious
inaterial, and is provided all round with cords, as shewn in the Drawing:
so that when the life buoy is thrown to any person in the water the
person so immersed may easily lay hold of the buoy.
Fig. 3, is a plan view of another form of life buoy, constructed in
precisely the same manner as the circular buoy shown in Fig. 1, but
of somewhat different form. It is, moreover, intended that this buoy
shall be used as a canoe or life boat, in which any person may
venture into a rough sea or surf for the purpose of saving the lives
of others. To this end the life buoy is provided with paddles or
oars, as shewn in the Drawing, for the purpose of propelling the
buoy through the water. The buoy is provided all round with
cords or ropes to enable persons in the water to support themselves,
and the buoy is made of such a capacity as to support with ease ten
or twelve persons in the water. The bottom of the buoy is open, and
it is provided with two seats or straps made of some flexible material,
and on or within which the rower is to place himself.
A life buoy in the form of a belt may be made of a number of lengths
of bamboo or other cane, the ends of which are to be sealed up in any
convenient and suitable manner, and the pieces so prepared should be
arranged in a row, and enclosed in a canvas covering or case long
enough to fasten round the body of the wearer. In place of cane

page_text: hollow tubes of tin or papier maché may be employed; or, if preferred,
short lengths of tube made of gutta percba or india-rubber, and properly
secured at both ends, may be used; but for all cases where economy
of construction is required cane is preferable as being the cheapest
article, and least liable to injury. The tubes or cane should be from one
inch to three and a half inches in diameter; but smaller cane may be
employed, when they should be fastened together in small bundles..
:
Fig. 4, is a longitudinal vertical section of a life belt constructed in
this manner. a, a, a, a, are the hollow tubes or pieces of cane cut to the
required length, and having their ends sealed up by means of some
waterproof cement, for the purpose of excluding the water, and thereby
rendering them buoyant. For this purpose the bamboo cane, fron
being hollow, will be found the best, and these pieces of cane or short
tubes are enclosed and properly secured between pieces of canvas, and
covered over with some waterproof fabric b, b. The belt so made is'
provided with buckles and straps c, c, or other suitable fastenings at
each end, whereby the belt may be secured round the waist of the
wearer. A supporting strap d, d, is also attached to the upper part of
the belt, and when passed round the neck of the wearer will prevent
the belt from slipping downward and inconveniencing the wearer.
Ships buoys, anchor buoys, and ships fenders may be made upon the
principle already described in reference to Figures 1, and 2. Figures
5, and 6, represent two ships buoys or anchor buoys constructed of
strong wicker work, inside which are placed buoys made of some water-
proof material, and containing cork shavings, air vessels, or some other
buoyant substance. A strong wrought iron rod passes through the
buoy from end to end, and is: provided at each extremity with strong
iron rings or swivels, whereby the buoy may be secured. Figures 7,
and 8, are external elevations of two ships fenders constructed in like
manner, but further protected on the outside with lacing or net work of
strong cord or rope, as is usual with these articles.
Having now described my Invention, and the best means with which
I am acquainted for carrying out my improvements, I would observe,
in conclusion, that I do not mean to limit myself to the precise details
herein shewn and described, as they may perhaps be varied without

page_text: departing from the nature and object of my improvements; nor do I
intend to claim the exclusive right to the employment of air vessels,
cork shavings, or other buoyant materials in the construction of life
buoys, except when applied and combined in the manner herein shewn
and described. But that which I consider to be new in the above
described improvements, and therefore wish to claim as the Invention
secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid, is, constructing ships
buoys, life buoys, ships fenders, and other similar articles of a framework
composed of basket or wicker work, inside which are placed air vessels,
cork shavings, or other buoyant materials, which are thereby protected
from injury.
17
I also claim the use, in the construction of life. belts or swimming
belts, of short lengths of cane, or short tubes made of metal, papier
maché, india-rubber, gutta percha, or other suitable material, secured
between a canvas or other covering, and further protected by a water-
proof outer covering, as shewn and described. .
In witness whereof, I, the said William Bolivar Davis, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of March, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness,
JNO. H. COOKSEY,
Merchant,
Southampton.
WILLIAM B. DAVIS. (L.S.)