IMPROVEMENTS IN SWIMMING BELTS AND LIPE PRESERVERS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward-Smyth, of Brixton, in the County of Surrey,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SWIMMING BELTS AND LIPE
PRESERVERS."
Sealed the 15th March 1859, and dated the 15th September '1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Smyth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th September 1858.
I, EDWARD SMYTHI, of Brixton, in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SWIMMING BELTS AND
LIFE PRESERVERS," to be as follows:-
In carrying out the first part of this Invention, it is proposed to employ a
hollow inflated belt or float, of an ordinary exterior form, composed of
vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable air-proof material or fabric, and
provided with suitable bands, straps, or other contrivances to attach it to the
body. This part of the Invention applies to the method of and apparatus for
inflating the belt or float. The ordinary plan is to inflate the belt or float
through a tubular aperture closed. by a slide or .by a screw top; either of
these fastenings renders it often difficult and dangerous to further inflate the
float when the wearer is.in the.water, especially if the hands are engaged or
entangled (as. in swimming, or in holding, up others, or being grasped by
others, as in the case of a wreck). In order to remedy this defect and to
.

page_text: allow of the inflation being much more easily and readily effected in the first
instance, it is proposed to employ a short tubular aperture as usual, the
entrance being closed by a self-acting valve opening only inwards. By the
use of this self-closing valve it will be evident that the inflation either in or
out of the water will be much more readily effected, both hands being left
quite at liberty. For expelling the air when required, a separate opening
must be provided in the mouth tube (or elsewhere), and closed either by a
slide, a screw cap, or a tap.
In carrying out the second part of this Invention, it is proposed to employ
several separate belts or floats of any convenient size and form, each inflated
by a separate flexible tube, the other or mouth ends of these tubes being
braced side by side to each other, and to the mouthpiece of a float worn by the
person in charge of the compound float now being described (so that the
orifices are within easy reach of the mouth, in a similar manner to the
pandan pipes). The conducting tubes are of different lengths, and are each
provided, with a self-closing valve or tap at the end next the float in addition
to a valve or other contrivance at their respective mouth apertures. In case
of wreck, a ship's officer or other person possessing such a compound float,
and having previously inflated the particular float attached to his own person,
could by inflating the remaining floats or belts in succession, be instrumental
in saving the lives of others who may have been precipitated into the water,
and who could hold them or attach them to their bodies. Each of such
belts, and its respective tube, might be of a distinctive colour, so that the
wearer might see at a glance through which orifice to inflate any particular
belt required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Smyth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th March 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
SMYTH, of Brixton, in the County of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Edward Smyth, Her special licence that I, the said Edward Smyth, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward

page_text: Smyth, 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
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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN SWIMMING
BELTS AND LIFE PRESERVERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Edward Smyth, 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 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 Edward Smyth, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Drawings, that
is to say:
In carrying out the first part of my Invention I propose to employ a hollow
inflated belt or float of an ordinary exterior form, composed of vulcanized.
india-rubber or other suitable air-proof material or fabric, and provided with
suitable bands, straps, or other contrivances, to attach it to the body. This
part of my Invention applies to the method of and apparatus for inflating the
belt or float. The ordinary plan is to inflate the belt or float through a
tubular aperture closed by a slide or by a screw top; either of these
fastenings renders it often difficult and dangerous to further inflate the float
when the wearer is in the water, especially if the hands are engaged or
entangled (as in swimming, or in holding up others, or being grasped by
others. In order to remedy this defect and to allow of the inflation being
much more easily and readily effected in the first instance, I propose to employ
a short tubular aperture as usual; the entrance being closed by a self-acting
valve opening inwards. By the use of this self-closing valve it will be evident
that the inflation either in or out of the water will be much more readily
effected, both hands being left quite at liberty. For expelling the air when
required, a separate opening must be provided in the mouth tube (or elsewhere),
and closed either by a slide, a screw cap, or a tap; or by modifications of the
mouth tube, as hereafter described, the same aperture may be employed for
both purposes.
In carrying out the second part of this Invention, it is proposed to employ
several separate belts or floats of any convenient size and form, each inflated

page_text: by a separate flexible tube, the other or mouth ends of these tubes being
braced side by side to each other; and to the mouthpiece of a float worn by the
person in charge of the compound float now being described (so that the
orifices are 'within easy reach of the mouth in a similar manner to the
pandaan pipes). The conducting tubes are of different lengths, and are each
provided with a self-closing valve or tap at the end next the float; in addition
to a valve or other contrivance at their respective mouth apertures: In case
of wreck, a ship's officer or other person possessing such a compound float, and,
having previously inflated the particular float attached to his own person,.
could by inflating the remaining floats or belts in succession, be instrumental
in saving the lives of others who may have been precipitated into the water,
and who could hold them or attach them to their bodies: Each of such
belts and its respective tube might be of a distinctive colour, so that the
wearer might see at a glance through which orifice to inflate any particular
belt required. *
In order more clearly to describe my Invention, and to illustrate the same.
more in detail, I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings, representing:
various modifications thereof, and have marked the same with figures and
letters of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation:
thereof.
Figure 1 represents in section a mouth tube for inflating a life belt or float
made according to the first part of my Invention, and of the simplest form,.
but which requires a separate aperture for expulsion of the air.. A is the
tube, having an internal annular projecting ledge or collar B, which supports
the valve C; this valve inay be made of any suitable form and material, so
constructed as to open' only inwards, but perhaps the most simple way of-
forming such valve is by making a concentric cut in a circular piece of kid,
india-rubber, or other suitable material, as shewn in the detached view, the.
centre part forming the valve, and the uncut portion the hinge, the outer rim.
being cemented or otherwise attached to the collar B. D-is a short cylinder,
fixed in the upper part of the tube above the valve, and having a taper hole,
the upper end of which is closed by a piece of fine wire gauze or perforated;
plate E (see also iletached view), which will prevent the admission of dirt or
the splashing of water, but not impede inflation; (or for this purpose the said
upper end may be covered by a lid or a slide moveable even by the mouth.)
It will be evident that upon blowing into this tube, the valve will open.
inwards and admit the air into the belt or float, but upon ceasing to blow; the i
reaction of the float acting upon the internal air will instantly close the valve;
and no air will be lost, whilst the float can at any time be further-inflated by

page_text: blowing more air through the tube. (This reaction would be increased by the
presure of the water.) I may here remark that, if thought desirable, the
self-closing action of the valve 'may be assisted or produced by means of a
slight spring or by a magnet, in which latter case the valve would have to be
of thin steel encased in kid or other pliant non-insulating material.
principal advantages derived from the use of a self-closing valve for "such'
purposes are as follows:-
The
Firstly, the process of inflation is rendered more rapid and simple (and can"
indeed be effected or at least begun whilst the float is being tied across the
body), for the float is always ready for instant inflation, it being only necessary
to blow through the mouth tube, whereas in the common floats at least one
hand is required for the additional purposes of unscrewing the cap previous to
inflation, and (perfectly) re-screwing it afterwards.
Secondly, as in my Invention attention is not required to secure the air in
the float, it follows that air already driven in will not be lost in case the
process of inflation (whether in or out of the water) should be clumsily
performed, or be interrupted either by accident or of necessity, as in the case".
of a ship's officer giving orders.
Thirdly, if further inflation when in the water is desired, either for the
support of the wearer or of those who may be clinging to him, or whom he
may desire to save, he has simply to apply his mouth to the tube, and to blow
into the float. All the danger and difficulty attending the further inflation of
the present floats are avoided, and his hands are not required for the purpose,
but remain wholly at liberty for swimming or for supporting without delay the
persons by whom his own life would have been 'imperilled had he been only
provided with a float of ordinary construction.
In using the form of tube and valve hitherto described, it is necessary to
provide a separate aperture for the expulsion of the air, which aperture may
be closed and opened in any convenient manner, as time and safety are no >
object when expelling the air; but if it be preferred to have only one opening
for both purposes of inflation and expulsion, the object may be attained by a
slight modification in the construction and arrangement of the details, as
shewn in the following Figures:-
"
In Figure 2 the cylinder D, instead of being fixed in the upper end of the
tube A, is screwed therein, and when in the position there shewn the valve will
act in precisely the same manner as described with reference to Figure 1, but -
when unscrewed slightly as shewn in Figure 3, the valve will open outwards
for the expulsion of the air. After expelling the air, and before putting away

page_text: the float, the cylinder D should be screwed down again, as shewn in Figure 2,
and it will then be always ready for reinflation.
.
In the modification shewn in Figures 4 and 5, this readjustment after
expulsion of the air is not required, as the cylinder D is always returned to its
original, position by the coiled spring a, a, and has to be raised and held during
the expulsion of the air, as shewn in Figure 5.
Another modification of Figure 4 can be made by dispensing with the
valve C, and with the covering at the top of the cylinder, and substituting for
the former a perforated plate, F (see Figure 6), the perforations being ranged
in a circle round the aperture in the lower side of the cylinder, shown by the
dotted circle. The bottom of the cylinder should be covered with a washer of
leather or other material, and it will be evident that the valve will always
remain closed except whilst, either for inflation or expulsion, the cylinder is
drawn out (as in Figure 5), an operation which could be effected by the teeth
if neither hand should be at liberty.
If two sides of the float are made rigid, and one or both are furnished with
loops or strings by which they can be drawn asunder, the float may thus be
made wholly or partially self-inflating (a saving of time and exertion, as the
air will rush in through the valve to fill the partial vacuum caused by drawing
the two parts asunder, and will be secured in the float as before.
Figure 7 illustrates the construction of my improved compound float. It
consists of several independent-floats so connected as to admit of their employ-
ment by a ship's officer or any one person for the preservation of others, in the
event of want of time or other circumstances preventing their distribution
among and their employment by the others before being compelled to leave a
sinking or burning ship.
.
A, A, represents an ordinary life belt or float, the mouth tube B of which
is to be provided (by preference) with a self-closing valve. On each side of
this tube are other mouth tubes C, C, similarly provided, and each connected
to a separate float D, D, D, of suitable form and material, by a flexible tube
E, E, E. A self-closing valve may, be employed at or near the junction of the
tubes and the floats D, D, D, and an arrangement should be made by which
these floats (when inflated) could be easily disengaged from the main float A.
A person intrusted with this compound float, and having the float A attached
to his body, could readily inflate the floats D, D, D, and could assist persons
in the water in securing themselves to these floats.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, for
"Improvements in Swimming Belts and Life Preservers," together with the

page_text: manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I would remark in con-
clusion that I claim as my Invention,-
Firstly, the application or adaptation to either single or compound swimming
belts, life preservers or floats of a self-closing valve, admitting of further
inflation without the use of the hands, whether such self-closing action is
produced solely by the reaction of the air, or is assisted or produced by a
spring or magnet.
And, secondly, I claim the construction of a compound float or life preserver,
substantially in the manner and for the purposes above particularly set
forth, and described with reference to Figure 7 in the annexed Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Smyth, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
5 Witness,
BRISTOW HUNT,
Sol. & Patent Agent,
1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn.
EDWARD SMYTH. (L.S.)