AN IMPROVED LIFE-PRESERVING GARMENT OR APPLIANCE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Wentworth Brewster, of St. Stephen's Club, in
the City of Westminster, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED LIFE-PRESERVING
GARMENT OR APPLIANCE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Wentworth Brewster
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th May 1881.
FRANCIS WENTWORTH BREWSTER, of St. Stephen's Club, in the City of
Westminster. "AN IMPROVED LIFE-PRESERVING GARMENT OR APPLIANCE."
This Invention relates to the manufacture of an improved, simple, and convenient
garment or cape, which while being most durable will be effective for saving or
preserving life in the water, the appliance having such sustaining or supporting
power that the wearer will be supported in the water for an indefinite time.
The Invention consists principally in making a flexible cape or similar garment
to be put or worn on the shoulders, of any suitable fabric or material, in the linings
of which will be inserted and secured graduated or radiating columns or rows of
corks, which are tapered in such a manner that on fitting and securely arranging
and hanging the columns close (or nearly so) together all round the bottom of the
shoulder piece or upper part of the garment a perfectly fitting cape is formed of
a power equal to sustain or support in the water the person of the wearer that
the shoulder piece portion is made to fit. It is intended to make the garment of
all sizes.
Or instead of cork being inserted in the linings any other similarly buoyant
material or substance may be inserted in the same way in graduated or radiating
columns or rows; or small air vessels made of thin metal or other suitable material
may be inserted in lieu of the cork or other buoyant material; or a combination
thereof may be used if desired, so long as the main feature of the Invention is
preserved, which is the making of a life saving or preserving garment in the form
of a cape or small cloak; the interior of which is formed with graduated or
radiating columns or rows in which the buoyant materials or small air vessels are
inserted and securely enclosed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Francis Wentworth Brewster in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th November 1881.
FRANCIS WENTWORTH BREWSTER, of St. Stephen's Club, in the City of
Westminster. "AN IMPROVED LIFE-SAVING GARMENT OR APPLIANCE."
This Invention relates to the manufacture of an improved life-saving cape, cloak,
jacket, or other similar garment intended to cover or surround the upper part of
the body, the same being of a most simple construction, convenient to and
available for general wear, and of elegant appearance, and effective for its intended
purpose.
The object of the Invention is to provide such a garment as will obviate the
inconveniences attendant upon vests, coats, or other life-saving garments as
hitherto manufactured. The most approved examples have hitherto been made of
india-rubber and inflated with air, and being necessarily waterproof they greatly
impede perspiration and ventilation, and are at all times very oppressive and
unhealthy in use and inconvenient in wear, and a slight accidental puncture
renders their inflated air-chambers useless, and being made of india-rubber they
are liable to be quickly destroyed by contact with grease or oil. Moreover in such
garments the number of separate air-chambers does not usually exceed six, and
these cannot be worn inflated on account of the above referred to inconveniences,
and they require to be filled at the time of emergency when the least attention can
be given to them. Various other life-saving garments have heretofore been manu-
factured, but they are none of them available for general wear as they are not
sufficiently flexible to the form, are too cumbrous, and have no facility for free
ventilation. Among these I would mention the close fitting sleeveless jacket or
coat, the upper part of which is filled with wedge-shaped cork and is provided with
a wedge-shaped projecting buoyant part or cape described in the Specification of
the United States Patent of Richards, No. 212,40279; the double jacket lined with
cork of varying thickness secured to au intermediate lining enclosed and secured
between the outer linings by sewing, and provided with a similarly cork-lined
extending cape described in the Specification of the British Letters Patent of
Richards, No. 37777; the form of corset or stays made as a special bathing
garment and consisting simply of vertical rows of corks secured between two fabrics
by vertical rows of stitching, the corks in each row not being separately enclosed,
described in the Specification of the British Letters Patent of Crisp, No. 2974,
and the double annular sack specially adaptable to the limbs of the user, and which
is filled with air, ground cork, or other buoyant material, described in the
Specification of the United States Patent of Ormsbee, No. 149,5137.
A life-saving cape, or equivalent garment made according to my Invention, is
at all times ready for immediate use, and is available for general wear as an
ordinary garment or for an emergency, and its make is such as to allow of free
perspiration and of perfect ventilation in the summer and yet to afford the desired
protection against inclement weather in the winter; it is also very flexible to
the form of the wearer, and is convenient in wear and of elegant appearance.
I desire that it should be understood that the principle or system upon which
the garment is composed or put together (and which forms a peculiar feature of my
present Invention) is of course also applicable to the manufacture of buoyant
garments such as vests, which are or may be specially intended for use only in the
water. In the former case the outside of the cape or garment may be trimmed
to suit any fancy or taste, in the latter case such trimmings would not be required.
The cape or similar garment is intended to rest entirely on the shoulders and its
weight is therefore almost imperceptible to the wearer, and it would be of

page_text: inestimable benefit should he or she by shipwreck or accident be suddenly immersed
and unable to save himself or herself by swimming, as it will support bim or her
in the water until assistance arrives.
The improved system of manufacture is illustrated on the accompanying
Drawings as adapted to different shapes of garments; Fig. 1 illustrates the inside
view of a cape; Fig. 2 illustrates the outside of a jacket, but not as yet provided
with trimmings which give it an ordinary, or usual, or any desired appearance;
and Fig. 3 represents the outside of a waistcoat, vest, or corset, each being
provided with suitably arranged fastenings for securing the garment to the
wearer.
The system of manufacture or of putting the parts together will be best under-
stood on reference being had to the centre part of each Fig., where the detail is
clearly delineated and apparent and as the whole of the garments actually appear;
but it has been considered unnecessary to confuse the Drawings by repeating this
detail all over each Fig.
In carrying ny Invention into effect I first enclose the corks I separately in
lateral rows of any required length. In making such shaped garments as are
illustrated in Figures 2 & 3 I use cylindrical corks, and in making such shaped
garments as are illustrated in Fig. 1 I use tapered corks and make each succeeding
row of a less length, and fit it with corks of a smaller and gradually decreasing
diameter but equal in number in all the rows.
Each of such lateral rows consists of a strip of any suitable cloth or fabric
which is doubled, and then stitched across at equal distances forming a succession
of cases or pockets, into each of which a cork is inserted, the openings then being
sewn up. In strips of different lengths, but intended for enclosing the same
number of corks, as in Fig. 1, the distances between the cross stitchings vary.
When the corks are thus separately enclosed in lateral strips or rows the upper
and lower edges of each strip present a series of curves or scallops projecting
opposite the lines of sewing, and the projecting curves or scallops of one strip are
then overlapped upon the projecting curves or scallops of another intended to be
the next adjacent strip, and these overlapping parts are rivetted together with
metal eyelets 2. When a series of strips are thus connected the corks in the lateral
rows also assume radiating rows as in Fig. 1, which gradually taper or decrease in
diameter from the outermost to the innermost lateral row or vertical rows, as in
Figs. 2 and 3, of an equal diameter. This method of separately enclosing the corks
allows of the garment taking readily to the form of the wearer, and the making
the lateral rows separately and uniting them by eyelets as described allows of
perfect flexibility and of free ventilation when worn as an ordinary garment, and
it renders the connection very strong and not liable to be quickly worn or to come
apart.
When enough of these strips to give the required floating power and to form the
required garment have thus been connected, the upper edge of the upper strip, as in
Fig. 1, is similarly rivetted to the lower edge of a small cape 3, made to fit on and
round the upper part of the body between the coat-collar and the level of the seams
of the shoulders where the coat-sleeves join the coat.
I do not however limit myself to this method of making the cape or other
garment, as, for example, an equivalent method would consist in firstly enclosing
the corks (separately) in radiating or vertical rows and in uniting these rows or
strips laterally.
Instead of radiating, tapered, or vertical cylindrical rows of corks being used
any other suitable buoyant material may be used and similarly enclosed and
arranged, and where greater lightness and an increase of buoyancy is desired
tapered or cylindrical air-tubes or vessels of any suitable material and shape may
be used instead of the columns of corks, and in this form the cape would be exempt
from the objections herein before pointed out in regard to other inflated garments,
because the number of independent compartments in the improved cape being
much more numerous (fifty, or many more being used if required), the puncturing

page_text: or damaging of a few would not be of any material moment, and these tubes or
vessels being permanently charged with air the cape or other garment is at all
times ready for use and for an emergency. The general appearance of the garment
whether composed of or lined with the columns of corks or of air-tubes does not
differ. For ladies' use the exterior of the cape, or of the jacket, or other equivalent
garment may be trimmed to suit any desired fancy, and for gentlemen's use it may
be made as a flounced cape of any suitable cloth or fabric.
In Fig. 1, 4 represents a strap connected to the cape by chains 5, and by which
the cape may be secured to the waist; 6 represent light metal chains or other
suitable fastenings to secure the cape round the arms; and 7 other chains for
securing the front of the cape to the strap 4 at 8; 9 represent buttons and button-
holes by which the front edges of the cape are fastened together; the cape may
however be secured by other suitable fastenings.
In Fig. 2 the jacket is shown in a fully extended form with the seams, uniting
the edges 10 of a bordering 11 unpicked. When these seams are sewn up armholes
are enclosed at 12; at 13 pockets may be placed.
In Fig. 3, 14 are shoulder straps, and 15 buckles for fastening the same; 16 are
laces for securing the garment at the front to the wearer, and for adjusting it as
required according to the conformation of his or her figure. These laces may also
be adapted to the jacket illustrated in Fig. 2.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together
with the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I would remark in
conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore_claim
as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent
is,―
The manufacture of an improved life-saving cape, cloak, jacket, or other similar
garment intended tn cover or surround the upper part of the body by separately
enclosing corks or buoyant air tubes in strips, rows, or columns, and by then con-
necting such strips, rows, or columns by means of metal eyelets, substantially as
herein before described and as illustrated on the accompanying Drawings; and
according to which improved method of manufacture the hereinbefore mentioned
advantages as regards flexibility to the form, convenience in wear, and freedom of
perspiration and of perfect ventilation, and great durability and strength of
construction are fully attained; the garment as thus manufactured being then
fitted with trimmings, when it will be available at all times for general wear and
ready for any emergency as regards accidental immersion in water, or being left
untrimmed if not required also for general wear.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Wentworth Brewster, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of November, in the year of
our Lord Oue thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
Witness,
CHARLES AUBREY DAY,
F. W. BREWSTER. (L.S.)
Office for Patents, Trade Marks, & Designs,
95, Navarino Road, Dalston Rise,
London.