Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1887.
Complete Left, 8th Sept., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 11th Oct., 1887
I, FREDERICK GREGSON of Springfield Place Bradford in the County of York
Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
-
The invention has for its object a novel construction of life preserver or float which
is capable of ready application and inflation when required for use and in its normal
or non-inflated condition is capable of being folded or rolled so as to occupy only a
small space thereby enabling it to be carried about the person ready for use at any
moment of emergency.
For this purpose I construct a bag of waterproof material such as
"Macintosh"
or india rubber, gutta percha or other waterproof substance covered, or in combination
with silk, cotton, flax or other suitable material. I form this bag with three holes,
through the centre one of which the head is passed and through each of the others
an arm so that the life preserver when in position on the person extends across the
top of the shoulders, over the chest and back, around the neck and under and around
each arm.
The life preserver or buoy is also provided with a tube fitted with a tap or valve
by which means the preserver or buoy may be readily inflated by the wearer blowing
into the tube and when sufficiently inflated the air will be retained by means of the
tap or valve.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Life Preservers or Buoys.
I, FREDERICK GREGSON of Springfield Place, Bradford, in the County of York,
Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The invention has for its object a novel construction of life preserver or float which
is capable of ready application and inflation when required for use and in its normal
or non-inflated condition is capable of being folded or rolled so as to occupy only a
small space thereby enabling it to be carried about the person ready for use at any
moment of emergency.
For this purpose
construct a bag of waterproof material such as Macintosh
or india rubber, gútta percha or other waterproof substance covered or in combination
with silk, cotton, flax or other suitable material. I form this bag with three holes,
through the centre one of which the head is passed and through each of the others
an arm so that the life preserver when in position on the person extends across the
top of the shoulders, over the chest and back around the neck and under and around
each arm.
The life preserver or buoy is also provided with a tube fitted with a tap or valve by
which means the preserver or buoy may be readily inflated by the wearer blowing
into the tube and when sufficiently inflated the air will be retained by means of the
tap or valve.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully to
describe the same
Figure 1 is a front view of a life preserver or buoy constructed according to my
invention and showing the same inflated and in position for use.
Figure 2 is a plan thereof and
Figure 3 is a front view of the life preserver or buoy before inflation.
Figures 4 and 5 are vertical sections respectively on the lines 1. 1. and 2. 2. of
Figure 2.
In all the figures of the drawings like parts are marked with similar letters of
reference.
a represents the body of the life preserver or buoy which is formed of a ring or
tubular shaped bag of waterproof material such as "Macintosh" or india rubber,
gutta percha, or other waterproof substance covered or in combination with silk,
cotton, flax or other suitable material.

page_text: In the body a of the life preserver or buoy, I form three holes or apertures, one bat
the centre through which the head of the wearer is passed and one b¹ at each side
thereof through each of which an arm of the wearer is passed so that when in
position for use the life preserver or buoy extends across the top of the shoulders of
the wearer, over the chest and back, around the neck and around each arm, no ties
or other fastenings being required to retain the same in place.
The life preserver or buoy shown in the drawings I have arranged in two water-
tight chambers or compartments divided centrally by a partition c extending all
around the buoy whereby in the event of one of the chambers or compartments
becoming accidentally perforated the other will retain sufficient air to ensure the life
preserver or buoy having sufficient floatative power for the purpose intended.
The several thicknesses forming the body of the life preserver or float may be
cemented together on the shoulders as indicated by the letter a' for the purpose of
increasing the strength of the life preserver at that part, air ways a' being left in
order to permit a proper flow of air from one part thereof to another.
Both the inner and outer compartments of the life preserver or buoy are provided
with a flexible tube d fitted with a tap or valve e by which means the preserver or
buoy may be readily inflated by the wearer blowing into the tube d through the tap
or valve e and when sufficiently inflated the air will be retained by means of the tap
or valve e. The tap or valve e will also permit of the escape of the contained air
when the life preserver or buoy is not required for use. Instead of placing the tap or
valve e at the outer end of the tube d it may be arranged at the inner end thereof
close to the life preserver or buoy whereby in the event of the tube d becoming
injured the air will still be retained within the life preserver or buoy.
The life preserver or buoy is furnished on the front with a small pocket f to receive
the outer tap or valve e and if desired with a turn down flap g to cover and protect
the tube d. The inner tube and tap or valve lie between the chest of the wearer. and
the buoy and are thus fully protected against injury.
If desired the partition c and second inflating tube d and tap or valve e may be
dispensed with.
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. A life preserver or buoy formed of a ring or tubular shaped bag a of waterproof
material provided with three apertures b. therein and an inflating tube d and
valve e substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
2. A life preserver or buoy formed of a ring or tubular shaped bag a of waterproof
material, provided with three apertures b. 66 therein, partition c, inflating tubes d,
valves e, pocket and flap g, substantially as herein shown and described and for the
purpose stated.