Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1889
Specification Accepted 11th May, 1369
I, SAMUEL PEMBERTON, of Alpena, in the County of Alpena, and State of
Michigan, United States of America, Railway and Marine Engineer 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 Belts and has for its object to provide a Life Belt.
which may be easily and securely fastened to the body, and will be simple in
construction and effective in use.
This invention consists in a Life Preserver constructed and arranged as hereinafter
described and claimed.
Reference is to he had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
specification in which similar letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding
parts throughout.
Fig. 1. is a back view of the invention laid out straight. Fig. 2 is a front view
thereof folded around as it would be around the body.
In the construction of this invention the several parts are formed of rubber or
other suitable water-proof material which is capable of being inflated. Two belts
or bands a are employed, connected at the rear and also at tho ends by vertical
bands b c.
The upper band is formed with shoulder straps d. The lower belt is
smaller or narrower than the upper belt. By this arrangement when the life
preserver is attached to the body the upper belt will encircle the body beneath the
arms. The lower belt will encircle the body at a point about nine inches below the
upper belt. The upright connecting band 6 will be on the back, while the uprights c
attached at the ends will come in front.
e
The belts are adjusted by the straps g and are fastened by springs k and eyes s.
The belts a, a, b, c are inflated by air passing through the bulb which is supplied
with a valve at each end. When the bulb is relaxed the inner is closed and the
outer valve open; when the bulb is pressed the inner valve is open and the outer
one closed.
When the belts are inflated the inner valve is kept closed by the pressure
of air from within.

page_text: To prevent any possible admission of water or leakage of air, this end is
accomplished by screwing the cap o, or the outer re-acting valve is locked by means
of the thumb screw o. When it is desired to exhaust the air, this is done by
turning the thumb screw at v. It will thus be seen that a simple and effective life
preserver is provided, which can be easily and speedily secured to the body and
inflated.
I do not desire to limit myself to the specific construction and arrangement of
parts herein set forth, as they may be varied without departing from the essential
features of the invention.
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
1st) A Life Belt consisting of two hollow belts, connected together at the back
by a hollow belt and also at each end by a hollow belt. A hollow bulb with a thumb-
screw in the end for locking the supply valves when the belts have been inflated.
The bulb communicating directly with the upper belt, by which air is forced into and
through all the belts substantially as described.
2nd A Life Belt consisting of hollow belts, the upper one of which is provided
with shoulder straps, also a discharge valve and a thumb screw for locking the
discharge valve when the belts have been inflated, substantially as described.
3rd) A Life Belt consisting of an inflatable harness by a combination of hollow
belts connected together, having a hollow bulb with valves for inflating the belts and
a thumb-screw for locking the valves; also a discharge valve with thumb-screw for
locking the same, upper belt provided with shoulder straps, belts provided with spring
hooks and eyes for fastening around the body, and straps whereby the belt may be
adjusted substantially as described.
n