An Improved Swimming and Life-saving Device.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Feb., 1895
An Improved Swimming and Life-saving Device.
I, HANS HECKLER, of No. 14, Stallburgstrasse, Frankfort on the Main, in the
German Empire Merchant 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 forming the subject of this Specification is intended to afford
persons in the water a reliable means of protection from drowning.
The improved device is represented by way of example in the accompanying
drawings in which :
Figures 1, 3, 4, and 5 show the apparatus in the various positions which it is
capable of assuming when in use; and
Figure 2 is a perspective view, of the same.
The improved devices consists of a species of armour of air and water tight
material, the front part a and the back b of which, are constructed in the shape of
air cushions communicating by flexible tubes c.
Both parts are connected at the lower end by a thigh-belt d and at the upper end
by two shoulder straps or braces h. The thigh-belt adheres to the body similarly
to an ordinary bathing hose so as not to interfere with the wearer's freedom of
motion. Means for readily disconnecting the safety apparatus, such as buttons i,
or buckles, may be provided either at the front end of the thigh-belt d, or at the
front ends of the shoulder straps h, where they join the main front piece a.
former case the device, when required for use, may be drawn over the upper part
of the body, while in the latter case (as illustrated in the drawings) the person
requiring the aid of the safety device must step into it and draw it up from
below.
In the
On the upper side of the front part a, a flexible tube g is arranged, whereby
both the front part a and the rear portion b may be inflated. To inflate this
flexible tube, a mouth piece g', adapted to be closed and opened as required by
means of a suitable valve, is employed.
Side by side with the main flexible tube g, another flexible tube e is arranged,
the end of which is provided with a small reservoir adapted to receive highly
compressed gas. The connection between such reservoir and the second flexible
tube e may be controlled by any suitable cut off device such as f¹.
may be closed by means of the valve f2.
The reservoir f
This safety device may be put on beforehand in an uninflated condition, by
persons starting on a sea voyage, it being placed directly over the underclothing;
or, if preferred, it may be over the upper garments (in which case it is not, of
course, assumed beforehand, but only in case of imminent danger), care being
taken, in either alternative, that access to the flexible tubes g and e is made as easy
as possible.
ર
In
For swimming purposes the arrangement is simply inflated with the mouth.
case of accidents, where sufficient time for this purpose is not available, it is
sufficient to place the closing device in the position (or turn on the tap or valve)
which will enable compressed gas to flow into the inflatable apparatus.
It has been found by a number of tests, to which this life-saving arrangement
has been submitted, that the air, according to the position of the wearer, is forced
through the flexible tubes cc, either into the front part or into the back piece of
the inflatable armour, so that the wearer is enabled, without any special effort, to
swim face downward or, upward, or to stand erect in the water; the peculiar

page_text: arrangement of the straps and belts ensuring the maintenance of the apparatus on
the body in a firm and convenient position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
7
Swimming and life-saving apparatus, consisting of two air cushions, such as a
and b, fitting the chest and back of the user, respectively, and connected on the
sides by flexible tubes, such as cc, which in their turn are connected by shoulder
straps or braces' at the upper end, and by a thigh-belt d at the lower end; two
flexible tubes, such as g and e being attached to the front part or cushion 'a, one of
which, g, is provided with a mouthpiece g¹ controlled. by a valve, so that
the whole arrangement may be inflated by the wearer himself through - the
medium of the said flexible tube, g, while the second flexible tube is fitted with a
closing or a cut off device, such as f, and a reservoir f for compressed gas, so
that, in case of distress or danger, the air cushions a and b may be inflated with
such gas.
"
Dated this 23rd day of February 1895.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings,, London, W.C., Agents.