An Improved Belt or Buoyant Device, applicable also for use as a Seat or the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 21st Feb., 1891.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
An Improved Belt or Buoyant Device, applicable also for use as a
Seat or the like.
I, FRANCIS WENTWORTH BREWSTER, of Regent Street, in the County of
London, Manufacturer of Life Saving Appliances, do bereby declare the nature of
the said invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved device which is so.constructed and applied.
as to be equally applicable for the purposes of a connected double cushioned or
padded seat or hassock and of a life-belt or analogous buoyant device composed of
front and back buoyant pads connected by shoulder straps between which the head
is placed and by side cords or the like by which the device can be instantly drawn
and secured about the body of the wearer.
Both of the said pads are made of a squared formation and of dimensions suitable
for their intended purposes of utility. They are composed of an enclosing casing
or envelope made of canvas or of other suitable textile or analogaus pliable material
(preferably rot-proof) and which is stuffed or padded with any suitable light
buoyant and non-absorbent substance suitable also to sit upon such as the material
known as <
elastic-cork," or compressed reindeer or other hair or suitably prepared
pith, which material is secured in position by stapled and clinched pins inserted
through the pads or by any other suitable means such as buttons.
The top opposite edges of the pads (as regarded when in use as a life-belt)
are connected by shoulder straps which converge at the centre of one pad but
are placed apart on the other pad, such straps being made of a length about
equal to the depth of the pad, which will permit of the pads being placed
about the body with the connected edges respectively adjacent to the front and
back of the body of the wearer, and of the one pad being disposed endwise or
sideways relatively to the other when desired to be used as a seat, so that both
pads will then lie in the same plane either with the top of one adjacent to the
bottom of the other or with the side of one adjacent to the side of the other.
At opposite edges of one side of each pad the enclosing fabric is continued,
doubled back and sewn or otherwise suitably secured to the body part of the
pad, so as to form at each such edge a tubular extension running longitudinally
of the pad, and at upper and lower parts the line of sewing may be extended
back towards the pad to provide for the insertion of eyelets or the like through
which the aforesaid cords or the like are passed leaving the tubular extensions
free and unimpeded throughout their length.
When it is desired to use the device as thus formed as a seat or the like
the pads are turned and laid in the same plane as aforesaid, with their tubular
edge parts in line, and are secured in alignment by inserting at each side a
removable rod, lath or the like (which can be jointed at the centre like a
fishing rod) through the tubular side edges of both. Or the said eyelets may
be inserted through the tubular extensions, in which event the top and bottom
edges of the pads may, in like manner as aforesaid, be formed with like tubular
extensions, in which event the pads may be laid side by side and connected by
rods, laths or the like as aforesaid. When it is desired to use the device as a
life-belt, it is only required to withdraw the said rods, when the belt can be
given a partial turn, placed over the head and around the body and secured by
pulling and tieing the said cords. If it be desired also to use the device as a
hassock then half the length of each rod will suffice to secure each side together,
and I make suitable tubar attachments on the under parts or sides of the pads
to reciprocally receive these half rods either singly or two together. By having

page_text: the rods jointed in the middle with a sliding tube, and attaching them to the
upper edges when distended and in use as a cushioned seat, the pads can
conveniently be brought into a position to be used as a seat and back cushion
combined.
When turned and laid in the same plane as aforesaid these cushioned life-
belts are particularly suitable for forming a range of seats round a ship's saloon
where they can be placed in two tiers at about right angles forming seat at
back either in two rows or in pairs as forming seat and back cushion, and when
so used it will not be necessary to secure the pads by rods as aforesaid. If it
be intended to use the life-belts, when used as seats exclusively in this manner,
it will not be necessary to form them with the said tubular extensions for
receiving such rods.
Dated this 28th day of March 1890.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Belt or Buoyant Device, applicable also for use as a
Seat or the like.
I, FRANCIS WENTWORTH BREWSTER, of Regent Street, in the County of
London, Manufacturer of Life Saving Appliances, do hereby declare the nature of
the said 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 an improved buoyant device adapted for the several
purposes of a double cushion life-belt, a deck hassock, a flat seat cushion and a seat
and back cushion.
On the accompanying drawings the device is represented in Fig. 1, in perspective
view as in condition for use as a life-belt. In Figs. 2 and 3 in elevation as in use as
a deck hassock. In Fig. 4, as a flat seat cushion. In this fig., its under side (not
that which will be sat upon) is represented, and its attachments are displayed and
distended in detail in order that their nature and arrangement may be clearly com-
prehended. Fig. 5, represents a section through the plane indicated by the line a-b,
Fig. 4. Fig. 6, represent end and perspective views of the device in use as a scat
and back cushion, and Fig. 7, represents a perspective view of the device in use as
a life-belt.
The device is composed of front and back buoyant pads 8, connected at the
adjacent top edges by shoulder straps 9, (between which the head of the wearer is
placed, vide Fig. 7) and at the opposite side edges by cords 10, or the like, by which
the device can be suitably drawn and secured about the body of the wearer, and
adapted at the adjacent top and bottom edges with tubular hinge-like parts
permitting of the top and bottom opposite edges being respectively connected
together by removable rods.
Each of the pads 8, is composed of an enclosing casing 11, made of canvas or
other suitable textile material (preferably rot-proof) and stuffed or padded with
kilned or roasted cork known as "elastic cork," or with any other suitable light
buoyant and non-absorbent substance 12, suitable also to sit upon, which material is
secured in position by stapled pins 13, inserted through the pads and clinched,
vide Fig. 5, or by other suitable means.
The shoulder straps 9 are connected to the top adjacent edges of the pads (as
regarded when in use as a life-belt, ride Figs. 1, and 7,) and are sewn to projecting
tabs 14, they converge at the centre of one pad but are placed apart on the other
pad, vide Fig. 1. The straps are made of a sufficient length to permit of the pads
being placed about the body of the wearer with the connected edges respectively
adjacent to the front and back thereof. Along the aforesaid top edges, and at the
bottom edge of the side of each pad adjacent to the wearer of the life-belt, the

page_text: enclosing fabric 11, is continued, doubled back and sewn or otherwise suitably
secured to the body part of the pad, as at 15, so as to form tubular or looped
extensions 16, along each such edge.
At each of the side edges of each pad, also at the side thereof adjacent to the
wearer of the life-belt, the fabric 11, is similarly continued, doubled back and sewn
or otherwise secured to the body part of the pad, as at 17, but the ends of the
tubular parts thus formed may be sewn or otherwise closed across, and at opposite
intermediate parts eyelets 18, are inserted, through which the aforesaid cords 10, or
the like are rove.
When it is desired to use the device as a seat or the like, the pads 8, are placed
end to end in the same plane, vide Fig. 4, (but with the side there represented,
downwards) with their tubular edge parts 16, in line, and are secured in alignment
by inserting a removable rod, or the like 19, through the series of the tubular
parts 16.
If it be desired to use the device as a seat and back cushion, the pads may be
turned about the hinged connection and placed in a suitable supporting frame 20,
vide the end elevation Fig. 6, or they may be placed endwise in such frame in two
tiers so as to attain the same result, vide the perspective view Fig. 6.
If it be desired to use the device as a hassock, the pads, connected as represented
in Fig. 4, are closed together and the adjacent bottom edges secured together in
like manner as aforesaid relatively to the adjacent top edges by inserting a like
rod 19, through the looped parts 16, at the opposite bottom edges, one of the
cords 10, being passed around and secured by one of the rods 19, and the other.
cord 10, being likewise passed around and secured by the other rod 19, vide Figs. 2
and 3.
When it is desired to use the device as a life-belt, it is only required to withdraw
the rod or rods 19, when the belt can be freely placed over the head and around
the body and secured by pulling and tieing the said cords 10, vide Figs. 1 and 7.
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 :-
1. A buoyant device adapted for the several purposes of a double cushion life-
belt, a deck hassock, a flat seat cushion and a seat and back cushion, constructed
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. A buoyant device composed of front and back buoyant pads 8, connected at
the adjacent top edges by shoulder straps 9, and at the opposite side edges by
continuous fastening cords 10, or the like each connecting both of the pads, and
adapted at the adjacent top and bottom edges with tubular hinge-like parts 16,
adapted to be connected by removable rods 19.
Dated this 16th day of December 1890.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.