IM- PROVED APPLIANCES FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY IN WATER AND FACILITATING SWIMMING
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Anthony Strong and Joseph Strong, junior, both of
Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVED APPLIANCES FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY IN WATER AND FACILITATING
SWIMMING."
Sealed the 9th September 1876, and dated the 12th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Anthony Strong and Joseph
Strong at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th June 1876.
ANTHONY STRONG and JOSEPH STRONG, junior; both of Barrow-in-Furness, in the
County of Lancaster. "IMPROVED APPLIANCES FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY IN
WATER AND FACILITATING SWIMMING."
The object of this Invention is to sustain or support the body of a person in
water who is not able to swim, by means of cuffs or armlets herein-after described,
which are placed on the arms of the person using same. And it may be used to
facilitate the acquisition of the art of swimming through the water.
The Invention mainly consists as follows:-The armlets or cuffs, which are made
to stretch from the wrist to the elbow, or, if desired, from the wrist to the shoulder,
are made of suitable waterproof material, such as india-rubber, cork, skins, and
such like. The armlet encircles the arm of the person, and when required for use
air is blown into the compartment or compartments by means of valve arrange-
ments communicating with the air chamber or chambers forming the armlet or cuff.
The armlet or cuff is preferably constructed as follows:-The cuffs or armlets
are made of suitable material, as, for instance, cork, rubber, cloth, or other material.
The inner portion of each is so formed as to be open at either end to admit the arm
of the person using same, and to this is stitched or otherwise secured the outside
piece or pieces of elastic material. The space formed between the inner and outer
surfaces being an air chamber, which is inflated by means of air blown into the com-
partment through suitable valve arrangements attached to the outside portion of
the armlet or cuff, which is in communication with the space forming the air
chamber; or the cuffs or armlets are constructed so that more than one air chamber
may be used, which in the case of three compartments have corresponding outsido
pieces of light water material suitably shaped, and these are suitably joined
together, so that in the case of three being used in each armlet they form a shape of
[Price 6d.]

page_text: armlet or cuff for encircling the arm. Each of these three pieces forms a separate
cell or air-tight compartment.
By the use of this latter arrangement should one cell become damaged or useless
the other cells or air-tight compartments are in perfect condition.
The exterior surfaces of the cuffs may be formed of any suitable fibrous material
secured to the waterproof material in any available manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Anthony Strong and Joseph Strong in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 12th December 1876.
ANTHONY STRONG and JOSEPH STRONG, junior, both of Barrow-in-Furness, in the
County of Lancaster. "IMPROVED APPLIANCES FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY IN
WATER AND FACILITATING SWIMMING."
The object of this Invention is to sustain or support the body of a person in
water who is not able to swim, by means of cuffs or armlets, such as hereafter
described, which are placed on the arms of the person using same.
And it may
be used to facilitate the acquisition of the art of swimming through the water.
The Invention mainly consists as follow:-Armlets or cuffs are made so as to
stretch from the wrist to the elbow, or, if desired, from the wrist to the shoulder, being
made of suitable waterproof material, such as india-rubber, cork, skins, and such
like. The armlet encircles the arm of the person, and when required for use air is
blown into the compartment or compartments by means of valve arrangenients
communicating with the air chamber or chambers forming the armlet or cuff.
The armlet or cuff is preferably constructed as follows:-The cuffs or armlets are
made of suitable material, as, for instance, cork, rubber, cloth, or other material.
The inner portion of each is so formed as to open at either end to admit the
arm of the person using same, and to this is stitched or otherwise secured the
outside piece or pieces of elastic material. The space formed between the inner
and outer surfaces constitutes an air chamber, which is inflated by means of air
blown into the compartment through suitable valve arrangements attached to the
outside portion of the armlet or cuff, which is in communication with the space
forming the air chamber; or the cuffs or armlets are constructed so that more than
one air chamber may be used, which in the case of three compartments have
corresponding outside pieces of light waterproof material suitably shaped, and these
are suitably joined together, so that in the case of three being used in each armlet
they form a peculiarly shaped armlet or cuff for encircling the arm. Each of these
three pieces forms a separate cell or air-tight compartment.
By the use of this latter arrangement should one cell become damaged or useless
the other cells or air-tight compartments are in perfect condition.
The exterior surface of the cuffs may be formed of any suitable fibrous material
secured to the waterproof material in any available manner.
Having thus far described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention, and
incidentally intimated in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in
practice, we will now proceed (aided by the accompanying Drawings) to further and
particularly describe and ascertain in what manner the same is to be performed or
carried out in practice, that is to say :-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents in elevation one form of our improved cuff or armlet fitted
on the arm of the person using same; Fig. 2, side sectional elevation of cuff or
armlet; Fig. 3, transverse elevation of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, side sectional elevation of a
modified form of our arrangements; Fig. 5, transverse sectional elevation.
In these Figures (1, 2, and 3,) a is the air-tight compartment or compartments

page_text: formed of waterproof material; b, tube having communication with the compart-
ment or compartments a, through which the air for inflating the armlet or cuff is
blown or forced, said tube being governed and controlled by a valve of suitable con-
struction. The valve shewn consists of a tube encircling tube b, which when the
air is required to be confined in the compartments of the armlet or cuff is drawn
over the opening through which the air is forced or blown. c, opening or orifice
for admission of the arm of the person using the cuff or armlet. The ends cl
of the armlet or cuff are preferably made of elastic material so as to yield when
the armlet is being applied, and when in position same securely holds the armlet
in position between the wrist and the elbow of the person. The cuff or armlet is
composed of suitable waterproof material, both externally and also the portion
fitting over the arm of the person, and may be in one or more picces, so as to form
the shape (when inflated) shown in the Drawings, though other shapes may be adopted,
as found desirable. The tube is held down when not required in the position
shewn in Fig. 1, or, if desired, it may be left in the position shewn in Figure 2. In
Figure 3 the armlet is shewn divided into four compartments, being separated by
divisions as shewn. In Figures 4 and 5 a modified form of our arrangements is
shewn, where in lieu of the air-tight compartment or compartments (u, Fig. 1,) cork
or other suitable material is introduced which serves a like purpose as the cuff
shewn in Figures 1 to 3. d represents the cork or other suitable material, which
is covered by waterproof or other material, leaving, as in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the
orifice or opening for admission of the arm of the person using same. The armlet
or cuff is shown applied between the wrist and the elbow, but it is evident it may
be so formed as to extend from the wrist to the shoulder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out
in practice, we hereby declare that we claim the Invention of "Improved Appliances
for Supporting the Body in Water and Facilitating Swimming," substantially as the
same is herein-before set forth and described and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Anthony Strong and Joseph Strong, junior,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eleventh day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
T. BOND,
Duke St.,
Barrow.
ANTHONY STRONG. (LS.)
J. STRONG, JUNIOR (L.S.)