Improvements in Garments for Saving Persons from Drowning.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar.. 1890
Complete Specification Left, 23rd May, 1890-Accepted, 28th June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Garments for Saving Persons from Drowning.
I, BERNHARD KEMPNER, of 743 Commercial Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Waterproof Garment Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to manufacture improved life-saving garments, for
enabling the wearers to float in water, and to save persons from drowning.
My invention is applicable to garments for men, women and children.
In manufacturing such garments as ladies jackets or gentlemen's vests, I cut the
outer and inner portions of the same in such a manner that pleats or overlaps are
formed, such pleats being so placed as to be out of sight in ordinary wear, or so
arranged that they appear ornamental, or otherwise impart the appearance of forming
part of the general design or fashion. These pleats may be secured in their places,
and temporarily prevented from the opening out, by means of elastic webs, or other
analogous means for retaining the same in position.
The garment is formed of double material, both air and water proof, and capable
of being inflated by the wearer. When so inflated, the pleats yield to the pressure,
and allow the garment to expand; the elastic or other webs yielding or breaking to
disengage the same. The space for air extends to the front, sides and back, so as to
equalise the support imparted to the immersed portion of the body.
An elastic inflating tube is fitted inside the garment, and is so attached to the air
chamber that the tube retains its full area, when the wearer is inflating the air
chamber, and can be applied to the mouth without unfastening the garment.
suitable valve is fitted to the tubo.
A
In order to prevent the garment rising up under the arms, and incommoding the
wearer, I provide and fit a waist belt to the garment, so that the lower portion may.
be confined to the waist, and thereby retain the garment in a proper position, and
allow the free use of the arms, when the person is floating in the water.
1000
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Garments for Saving Persons from Drowning.
I BERNHARD KEMPNER, of 743 Commercial Road, in the County of Middlesex
Waterproof Garment Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to manufacture improved life saving garments, for
enabling the wearers to float in water, and to save persons from drowning.
My invention is applicable to garments for men, women and children.
In manufacturing such garments as ladies' jackets or gentlemen's vests, I cut the
outer and inner portions of the same in such a manner that pleats or overlaps are
forined in the outer portions, such pleats being so placed and arranged as to be out of
sight in ordinary wear, or so arranged that they appear ornamental, or otherwise
impart the appearance of forming part of the general design or fashion. The pleats
may be secured in position, and temporarily prevented from opening out, by means of
elastic webs, or other elastic or fragile connections intended to break on inflation; but
such connections may be dispensed with.
The garment is formed of double material, both air and water proof, and capable of

page_text: being inflated by the wearer. When so inflated, the pleats yield to the pressure, and
allow the garment to expand; the elastic or other webs (if any) yielding or breaking
so as to disengage the same. The space for air extends to the front, sides, and back,
so as to equalise the support imparteil to the immersed portion of the body.
An elastic inflating tube is fitted inside the garment, and is so attached to the air
chambers that the tube retains its full area, when the wearer is inflating the air
chambers, and can be applied to the mouth without unfastening the garment. A
suitable valve is fitted to the end of the tube. The air chambers communicate with
each other.
In order to prevent the garment rising up under the arms, and incommoding the
wearer, I provide and fit a waist belt to the garment, so that the lower portion of the
garment may be confined to the waist, and thereby retain the garment in a proper
position, and allow the free use of the arms, when the person is floating in the
water.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings; such drawings illustrating
the application of my invention to a gentleman's vest; from which drawings the
application of the invention to other garments for ladies gentlemen and children will
be readily understood. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1. is an elevation of a vest as manufactured for gentlemen. Fig. 2. is an inside
view and Fig. 3 is a section of a similar vest.
a is the inner material of the vest. is the outer material. c c are the pleats, which
fold up close to the inner material a, in ordinary wear. d is an elastic rubber tube, fitted
with a screw or other suitable valve, for inflating the air spaces e e. This tube dis
fitted so as to be in a line with, or parallel to the inner material a, so that when
applied to the mouth for inflation, the full area of the tube is utilised. In ordinary
wear the tube usually assumes the position d' (shown by dotted lines) in Fig. 2, ready
for immediate use, f is a belt, secured to the vest by means of loops gg, or other
suitable means.
This belt keeps the vest in position and prevents the inflated portions
from rising up under the arins and inconveniencing the wearer. 1 are the arm
holes.
I do not confine myself to any particular number or form of air pockets or spaces,
as, with obvious modifications, the invention may be applied to ladies' and children's
jackets, vests, and other clothing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is -
1. In the manufacture of garments for saving persons from drowning, the com-
bination therewith of pockets or air chambers, the outer covers thereof being made
to fold back, when uninflated, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
by the drawings.
2. In combination with garments as aforesaid, the application and use of a belt f,
held to the garment by loops gy, or equivalent devices, substantially as and for the
purpose herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
3. In combination with garments as aforesaid, the application and use of an elastic
tube d fitted with a screw or other suitable valve; the tube being so fitted that its full
area is utilised when inflation is being effected, substantially as herein before described
and illustrated by the drawings.
4. The general arrangement and combination of the several and respective parts,
together forming my improvements in garments for saving persons from drowning,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated 23rd May 1890.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.