Improvements in Apparatus or Appliances for Supporting Persons in Water.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1887
Complete Left, 8th May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 8th June, 1888
Improvements in Apparatus or Appliances for Supporting Persons
in Water.
I FREDERICK GEORGE CHARLES WEIR, of 1 Dowry Parade, Dowry Square, Clifton,
in the County of Gloucester, Wine and Spirit Merchant do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide portable, simple, and efficient means for
the preservation of life at sea, and on inland waters.
According to my invention I provide receivers of curved form or shape alone or
combined with receivers of cylindrical form; these are connected together by cords,
hinges, or in any other suitable or convenient manner, with straps to pass over and
around the body of the wearer.
To prevent the liability of the curved and cylindrical vessels getting compressed
and by this means decreasing their buoyancy, and at the same time to give them
greater strength I divide the curved vessels into two or three separate compartments
and I place in the cylindrical vessels another and separate vessel, which may be of
corresponding cylindrical form, or with radiating arms thereon or therein, like the
spokes of a wheel, whereby they are prevented from expanding or contracting, while
their strength is thereby increased.
The internal and supporting structures may be composed preferably of metal, but
papier maché, wood, or other suitable material or a combination of same may be used
for the purpose.
The vessels are or may be curved or shaped so as to adapt themselves, with facility,
to the contour of the body of the wearer. One or several of the curved vessels may
be arranged for, or to fit on-to, the chest of the wearer with a cylindrical vessel for
the back, or the back vessel and the front vessel or vessels may be of curved shape.
The vessels are, or may be, covered with anti-corrosive composition, paint, or other
suitable or equivalent material. I prefer to connect the cords to a piece of india
ubber or other suitable material, for passing between the legs of the wearer, to avoid
friction.

page_text: The efficiency of apparatus or appliances constructed according to my invention is
very great, they are not expensive to manufacture and when not required for use they
occupy but very small space their condition is at all times self-evident and they can be
readily and cheaply proved or tested from time to time while they can be, with the
utmost facility, applied to the body.
The top support may be by a neck ring going over the head, or by straps on the
shoulders, or by other convenient means.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus or Appliances for Supporting Persons
in Water.
I, FREDERICK GEORGE CHARLES WEIR of 1 Dowry Parade, Dowry Square,
Clifton, in the County of Gloucester, Wine and Spirit 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 object of my invention is to provide portable, simple, and efficient means for
the preservation of life at sea, and on inland waters.
According to my invention I provide receivers of curved form or shape alone or
combined with receivers of cylindrical form, these are connected together by cords,
hinges, or in any other suitable or convenient manner, with straps to pass over and
around the body of the wearer.
To prevent the liability of the curved and cylindrical vessels getting compressed
and by this means decreasing their buoyancy, and at the same time to give them
greater strength I divide the curved vessels into two or three separate compartments
or I place in the cylindrical vessels another and separate vessel, which may be of
corresponding cylindrical form, or with radiating arms thereon or therein like the
spokes of a wheel whereby they are prevented from expanding or contracting, while
their strength is thereby increased.
The internal and supporting structures may be composed preferably of metal, but
papier maché, wood, or other suitable material, or a combination of same may be used
for the purpose.
The vessels are or may be curved or shaped so as to adapt themselves with facility,
to the contour of the body of the wearer. One or several of the curved vessels may be
arranged for, or to fit onto, the chest of the wearer with a cylindrical vessel for the
back, or the back vessel and the front vessel or vessels may be of curved shape. The
vessels are, or may be, covered with anti-corrosive compositions, paint, or other.
1

page_text: suitable or equivalent material. prefer to connect the cords to a piece of india
rubber or other suitable material, for passing between the legs of the wearer, to avoid
friction.
The efficiency of apparatus or appliances constructed according to my invention is
very great, they are not expensive to manufacture and when not required for use they
occupy but very small space their condition is at all times self evident and they can
be readily and cheaply proved or tested from time to time, while they can be with the
utmost facility, applied to the body. The top support may be by a neck ring going
over the head, or by straps on the shoulders or by other convenient means.
In order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will now proceed to further describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 shews in front elevation partly in section a curved vessel provided with
division plates or strengthening pieces constructed according to my invention, and is
such as would be applicable for home service such as bathing stations boating &c.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of same.
a, a, a are the compartments formed in the curved vessel by means of the division
and strengthening pieces b b.
Figure 3 is an elevation partly in section of one of the cylindrical vessels constructed
according to my invention and suitable for such purposes as mentioned with reference
to Figure 1, being provided with strengthening pieces b, which in this case preferably
assume the form of arms radiating like the spokes of a wheel, and Figure 4 is a
vertical cross section of same.
The number of radiating arms or spokes may vary in number according to circum-
stances as for example in accordance with the size of the apparatus; there may be
three, four, or even a greater or lesser number of such arms or strengthening pieces
and this remark equally applies to the strengthening pieces or division plates 6 in the
curved vessels shewn at Figures 1, and 2.
L
In cases where the apparatus is intended for transport and use on long voyages,
naval or military services, or other purposes where examinations and repairs would
be either impossible or inconvenient, I insert into each of the said vessels a hollow.
case preferably made of papier maché or other compressed pulp.
This arrangement of supporting structure is shewn at Figure 5 which is a vertical
longitudinal section of a curved metal vessel with the said supporting structure
inserted therein, Figure 6 being a horizontal section of the vessel and structure
shewn in Figure 5.
Figure 7 shews in sectional elevation a cylindrical vessel provided with the said
hollow case or structure of compressed pulp.
61 is the inserted hollow case or structure of a shape corresponding to that of the
outer vessel into which it is inserted. The said hollow case 6 when of the material
before mentioned is moulded in separate halves which are then joined together and
hermetically sealed, being painted, varnished, coated, or otherwise prepared, to resist
the action of water or change of temperature. In some cases it may be necessary to
make the internal structure of tin copper, or other suitable metal, I do not therefore
strictly confine myself to the use of compressed pulp although I have found it to
efficiently answer the purpose.
The object of curving the vessels shewn at Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6 is to cause them
to fit or to adapt themselves with ease to the body of the wearer although they might
be flat and in fact sometimes are when these curved vessels are applied both to the
chest and back of the wearer, in this case the back vessels may be flat, and the chest
vessels curved.
In applying the combined cylindrical and curved vessels as an apparatus or
appliance and means for supporting persons in the water I place the cylindrical vessel
at the back and the curved vessel on the chest of the wearer and connect the two by
cords or straps in the manner shewn in perspective at Figure 8 where c shews straps
for the neck of the wearer connected to the cylindrical and curved vessels aforesaid.
d, d are cords from the vessels to an india rubber tube or rod d³ for passing between

page_text: the legs and preventing friction thereon which would otherwise take place if simple
cords were used, at the same time it prevents any uncertainty in the manner in which
they are to be used. Other soft substances might be used but I have found india
rubber tubing to answer the purpose well. ee are cords for connecting the lower
ends of the receivers and for adjusting the position of same and for further securing
in position on the body of the wearer. The ends may be secured in a knot or by
buckles, clips, or in any other convenient manner. An apparatus similar to that
shewn at Figure 8 is at Figure 9 Sheet 2 shewn when secured on a person and
ready for use.
Instead of using a cylindrical vessel at the back and a curved vessel on the chest,
the apparatus or life saving appliance may be composed of a curved vessel such as is
shewn at Figures 1 and 2, on the chest and another on the back, or there may be two
on the chest and one on the back or even more if desired and in accordance with the
size of the appliances. The number used in no way affecting my invention although
in practice I have found the number and arrangements described and shewn in the
drawings to answer the purposes of my invention well.
The vessels should be coated with some non-corrosive material to resist the action of
salt water.
The buoyant or sustaining power of apparatus constructed according to my inven-
tion is very considerable; they are not expensive to manufacture and when fitted to
the body the limbs are quite froo for action in the natural way, while the arrangements
for securing the apparatus to the body prevent its position thereon changing or
shifting.
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 :-
First: In apparatus or appliances for supporting persons in water, the construction
of cylindrical and curved vessels with internal compartments and strengthening
structures whereby the same are prevented from collapsing and in other respects are
rendered more effective, all substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
with reference to Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Second The combination with such structures as those described and claimed with
reference to Figures 1 to 7, the arrangements and appliances for securing same to the
body of the wearer substantially as herein before described and illustrated with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Third The general arrangement of apparatus or appliances for supporting persons
in water constructed, arranged and acting substantially as set forth together with any
mere modification or modifications thereof.