Improvements in Life Saving Garments and Swimming Appliances.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Life Saving Garments and Swimming Appliances.
We, HIRAM DOUGLAS LAYMAN, FANNIE LAYMAN, and FLORENCE WILHELMINA
PARPART, Manufacturers, all of 624, West 25th Street, New York, N.Y., U.S.A.,
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;-
This invention relates to life-preservers and the like; the objects in view
being to produce an inflatable air-tight garment for encasing the upper portion
of the body of a person, said garment to be made of rubber or rubbered-cloth or
other water-tight textile material; to form the same in independent sections con-
veniently arranged in accordance with the shape of the garment and whether
designed for use by men or women.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and
the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a view, showing the invention designed as a corset.
Fig. 2 is a detail view of one section of the same.
Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line x-x of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a view showing the life preserver designed as a swimming vest
together with a propelling means, which may or may not be connected thereto.
Fig. 5 is a detail of the vest.
Fig. 6 is a view showing the life-preserver designed as a life-guard's jacket.
Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures of the
drawings.
In constructing any one of the several garments to be described, each of
which, as will appear, is composed of a plurality of air-tight compartments or
sections, ordinary friction cloth is employed. Two layers 1, 1, of this friction
cloth are placed together, their sticky or adhesive sides being outward; and at
intervals are arranged what we term reeds, which are nothing more than strips
of friction cloth. These reeds indicated as 2, are applied at intervals to the
adhesive sides of the friction cloth and consequently adhere thereto. To the
exterior of the thus far constructed section, is applied the exterior covering 3, 3
which adheres to the adhesive sides of the inner linings 11 heat being employed
to cause a firm cementing together of these parts. These exterior covers may
be silk rubbered, or any other suitable textile material. From this construction
it will be, observed that when inflated the article will have a ribbed appearance,
as shown, in that the points where the reeds are located will not expand as
readily as the remaining portions and hence appear contracted.
It is obvious that numerous garments may be thus constructed, and by reason
of the use of the reeds, said garments will be greatly strengthened, maintain a
better shape and the article itself is enhanced in appearance.
In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 there is illustrated the invention as applied to a life
preserving corset, which in all respects resembles an ordinary corset it consisting
[Price &d l

page_text: of the two sections 4 4 having the usual gores 5 laced at the back as at 6 and
secured at the front as at 7. An inflatable section, such as described and par-
taking of the general contour of the corset section is located in each of said
corset-sections, the same being shaped to fit between the several gores, so as not
to interfere with the comfort of the wearer. Each air-tight section is provided
with an ordinary inflating tube 8 by which the corset-sections may be expanded
or collapsed when not in use. The corset is to be worn like an ordinary corset,
and is capable of supporting a person in the water. It may be worn for pleasure,
as when bathing, or as when boating, to be used in case of accident.
In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing, we have illustrated the invention as designed
as a swimming vest for men. The vest comprises a back section 9 and two
side sections 10 each being cut out to form arm holes 11. Below these arm
holes, the adjacent edges of the back section and the two front sections may be
provided with eyelets 12, whereby the back and front sections may be laced
together by lacing cords, 13. Lacing studs may be located on the two meeting
edges of the front sections, and a cord 14 employed for closing the front of the
vest. Each of the sections may be provided with an inflating tube 15, by which
each vest section may be inflated or collapsed when not in use.
The vest described may be worn on the outside or inside of an ordinary bathing
or swimming suit, is not at all unsightly, and in fact would hardly be noticed.
If desired folding swimming paddles 16 may, by means of spring hinges 17,
be connected to the opposite sides of the vest at points slightly above and a
little to the front of the hips of the wearer. The tendency of the springs is to
return the paddles to the front after each backward stroke, and the folding
blades 18 are designed to fold or close as the paddles moved forward and to
automatically open when swung backward. Each paddle lever may be provided
with an eye 19 into which may be engaged removably a snap hook 20 attached
to the end of a strap 21 at whose rear end stirrups 22 are located and designed
to be engaged by the heels of the swimmer. By this construction the swimmer
may employ the paddles as well as his hands and feet as a propelling means,
and, thus be enabled to swim very rapidly.
In Fig. G is illustrated an ordinary appearing jacket 24, such as ordinarily
employed by life-guards. The interior of this jacket is provided at its inner
side or lining with a series of buttons 25 located respectively at each edge or fly
of the jacket and at the centre of the back section. Within the jacket and
conforming somewhat to the shape thereof is a life preserver composed of in this
instance, two sections 26 constructed as heretofore described. These sections
have arm holes 27 to conform to those of the jacket and at their outer edges
have button holes 28 formed in flies 29 by means of which the outer edges of
the sections may be buttoned to the inside of the jacket. Similar flies 30 are
formed at the two rear or inner edges of the two sections, the same having
button holes for overlapping and fastening to the central series of buttons on
the inside of the jacket. The jacket being closed and buttoned or
otherwise fastened in the usual manner has the ordinary appearance, and the
inflated lining will be a great protection to those engaged in this very dangerous
work.
Other styles of garments constructed on this general principle will readily
suggest themselves, but we deem that we have shown a sufficient number of
styles to show the general application.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is;-
-
1. A jacket, vest, or other garment constructed to be applied to the upper
portion of the person, the same consisting of independent airtight sections, and
an inflating tube for each of the same.
2. A jacket, vest, or other garment constructed to be applied to the upper

page_text: portion of the person, the same consisting of an internal airtight lining, and
an external textile lining or external covering, the two being cemented together.
3. A jacket, vest, or other garment constructed to be applied to the upper
portion of the person, the same being constructed in independent sections con-
nected together, and each section consisting of an internal airtight lining, and
an external textile cover cemented to the exterior of said lining.
A. A life preserver or the like adapted to be inflated the same consisting of
an internal lining of airtight material, a series of reeds applied thereto, and an
external lining or cover cemented to the said internal lining and reeds.
5. A swimming jacket, comprising a back and opposite front sections, the
same being airtight and each provided with inflating tubes, and means for
loosely connecting the sections together whereby they may be adjusted to suit
.
different persons.
6. A swimming jacket composed of a back and opposite front airtight sections,
each of said sections being provided with flies having eyelets or studs, and lacing
cords for the same, together with inflating tubes for each of said sections.
7. The combination with a swimming airtight garment, of folding paddles
connected thereto springs for throwing the paddles in one direction, straps con-
nected to the paddles, and stirrups connected to the opposite ends of the straps
and adapted to engage the feet of the wearer.
8. A swimming vest consisting of a back section and opposite front sections
adjustably connected thereto, each of said sections being inflatable and provided
with an inflating tube, in combination with opposite paddles, springs for swing-
ing the paddles automatically forward, and operating straps terminating at their
rear ends in stirrups for engaging the feet of the wearer at their front ends
connected to said paddles.
Dotal this 17th dore of Santambar 1800
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.