CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ADAPTATION TO A PERSON OR PERSONS OF SELF-INFLATING AIR CAPACITIES FOR SAVING LIFE AT SEA
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Mansfield Lloyd at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd November 1875.
I, CHARLES MANSFIELD LLOYD, of Millbank Street, in the City of
Westminster, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ADAPTATION TO A PERSON
OR PERSONS OF SELF-INFLATING AIR CAPACITIES FOR SAVING LIFE AT SEA," to be
as follows:-
The Invention relates to a novel construction and arrangement of self-
inflating air-tight capacities and apparatus in connection therewith,
designed for being servicable as buoyant supports for saving life and
property when in the water.
Before entering on the description of my Invention I would remark
that enclosed air vessels or capacities of whatever description, when
used as mediums of buoyancy for floating articles of greater specific
gravity than water, have been long known; but peculiar shapes and
configurations of such vessels or capacities in combination with a ready
means of inflating them in cases of emergency are features of novelty,

page_text: with waterprool material, so that when closed or contracted the out
will be reduced to its minimum proportions for portability.
When it is required that the colapsed air vessels or capacities shall be
inflated suitable attachments are taken hold of which when pulled or
drawn out expands the framework to its full proportions, the interior of
which during such expansion is supplied with air through an inlet hole.
or valve, which when closed by a plug or valve establishes a medium of
buoyancy.
The valve for the entrance of air is so placed that an increased
expansion can be given to the air chamber from the lungs of the wearer,
or a supply of air for inflation may be obtained from a vessel con-
taining compressed air in connection with or separate from the bag or
receptacle.
This novel arrangement of expanding and contracting air capacity
and supply valve can be adjusted to the body of the wearer in
combination with ordinary apparel, or as air capacities employed for
other purposes; for example, when applying these air capacities for
attachment to the person I construct a boat-like framing, the sides of
which will colapse inward so as to form a line above the keel; this
framing when distended, so as to give length of beam sufficient for the
body, I cover with waterproof material in such a manner that the forc
and aft portions thereof are entirely enclosed, and form air-tight
capacities. The intermediate space between these capacities is left
sufficiently large for the entrance of the person, and is provided below.
with leggings and above with a contracting bag-like receptacle, so that
when the person of the wearer is placed therein with his legs below the
keel in the depending leggings, and the bag-like receptacle is contracted
or drawn so as to encircle the chest, the body intersects the fore and
aft portions of the boat as above described, and so forms a buoyant
support which can receive more or less inflation at the will of the
wearer.
This arrangement of colapsing boat may also be constructed to hold
several persons; according to this arrangement the rail or framing of
the boot share the dool
mondad
Provided with onteide

page_text: projecting air capacities, which when inflated not only form additional
mediums of buoyancy, but also serve as steadying side supports, which
prevents in a great measure the rolling of the boat.
A second application of the self-expanding air chambers I apply to
ladies' bathing gowns or other articles of wearing apparel. According
to this arrangement I adapt an expanding frame made of cane or other
light material to a vest or corset, which in its colapsed condition can bo
worn without any inconvenience, but in moments of danger is readily
expanded by drawing out the framework. In its expanded state the
article adjusts itself to the body in a manner which prevents submerssion
of the head.
Another arrangement of this novel form of self-inflating air capacities
consists in constructing separate air chambers with independent framing
and supply valves, the whole of which forms a bed or mattrass provided
with side loops or couplings for the attaching thereto of side stretchers.
This bed or mattrass is constructed, by preference, in three com-
partments, and is so arranged that when the two end compartments
only arc inflated, it will embrace the body so as to protect and support
it in an upright buoyant position in the water; or when fully inflated it
will form a raft in which state the side stretchers are inserted, and the
body is caused to rest thereon in a comfortable floating position.