Improvements in Life Belts.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 15th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1894
Improvements in Life Belts.
We, SOPHUS HEINRICH OCTAVIUS VON BAUDITZ of No. 11 Slagelsesgade
Copenhagen, Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Danish Army and HANS
RASMUSSEN of No. 16^ Strandvejen Copenhagen Gentleman, both in the
Kingdom of Denmark do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This life belt for mariners and other persons, who travel on the water is
constructed according to the latest scientific principles.
The fabric of which the belt is made, is by preference of "nankeen" so-called,
a strong fabric so woven, that it does not rend by very strong exertions or move-
ments, is light and soft and very durable. It is impregnated with a solution in
rain-water of equal parts by bulk of alum and acetate of lead oxyde, the com-
position is left to stand till both the parts are completely dissolved and then
filtered whereby the noxious sediment is removed. By this impregnation the
fabric is rendered completely impermeable to moisture, rain and spray from the
The fabric is by preference left in the solution for 12 hours and then
taken out, shaken without being pressed and dried in the open air.
sea.
Upon the belt-shaped piece of fabric prepared as described are sewn rows of
cork pieces of half cylindrical shape with the flat side towards the human body
so that it shall not press against it, the cork pieces not being longer or broader
than to admit of the utmost necessary flexibility. The cork is impregnated in
the same way as the fabric in order that it shall not rot and is then moreover
impregnated with melted paraffin to cover the small pores in the cork, which
assists in increasing the power of flotation, as the cork thus cannot in any way
suck up the water, if the saving-apparatus should be in the water for a long time.
The rows of cork bodies run vertically above the waist, but have a horizontal
direction in the fore parts or flaps below the waist so that the man can sit down
on the bottom of a craft, without feeling any pressure, which however is especially
owing to the excellent construction, according to which it is cut, being in the
form of a sleeveless jacket or waistcoat having the cork pieces of decreasing
depth up towards the arm holes and shoulders and down towards the waist.
The life belt should be strapped on as firmly as possible by means of straps
across the front.
As compared with this life-saving apparatus no other has yet appeared which
unites so many excellent qualities: for it bears a fully dressed man with his sea-
boots on, it can be put on in less than half a minute without help, it does not
hinder rowing or other labour, is very strong can bear to lie in store during a
long time without losing its power of flotation, is warm in cold weather and
cool during the summer months, as it keeps out the sun's rays.
It also protects
against violent shocks of the waves or against ships and boats' sides and clips.
The apparatus has 77% more carrying power than is prescribed in the English
Board of Trade Law of 1871.
It is now adopted for use with the torpedo vessels in the Royal Danish Navy.
Dated the 28th day of June 1893.

page_text: Improvements in Life Belts.
We, SOPHUS HEINRICH OCTAVIUS VON BAUDITZ of No. 11 Slagelsegade,
Copenhagen, Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Danish Army and HANS
RASMUSSEN of No. 16ª Strandvejen, Copenhagen, Gentleman, both in the
Kingdom of Denmark, 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 life belt for mariners and other persons who travel on the water is con-
structed according to the latest scientific principles, and so as to meet all practical
requirements.
The fabric of which the belt is made is by preference "nankeen " so called, a
strong fabric so woven that it does not rend by very strong exertions or movements,
being also light and soft and very durable. It is for the purpose of this invention
impregnated with a solution in rain water or distilled water of equal parts by bulk
of alum and acetate of lead oxyde; the mixture having been left to stand till both
these parts are completely dissolved, and then filtered whereby the noxious
sediment is removed. By this impregnation the fabric is rendered completely
impervious to moisture, rain and spray from the sea. The fabric is by preference
left in the solution for about 12 hours and then taken out, shaken without being
pressed and dried in the open air.
Upon the waistcoat shaped piece of fabric or belt prepared as described are sewn
rows of cork pieces of half round shape with the flat side towards the human body
so that it shall not press against it, the cork pieces not being longer or broader
than to admit of the necessary flexibility. The cork is impregnated in the same
way as the fabric in order not to rot, and is then moreover impregnated with
melted paraffin to cover the small pores in the cork which assist in increasing the
power of flotation because the cork thus prepared does not absorb the water even if
the belt should remain in the water for a length of time.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 represents a life belt constructed according to this invention,
Figure 2 is a vertical section of a row of cork pieces from the shoulder to the
waist, and Figure 3 a horizontal section.
The rows A of cork bodies run vertically above the waist, while the rows B of
cork bodies run in a horizontal direction in the flaps in front and behind below the
waist, so that the man can sit down on the bottom of a craft without feeling any
pressure which however is especially owing to the excellent construction according
to which it is cut, being in the form of a sleeveless jacket or waistcoat having the
cork pieces of decreasing depths up towards the arm holes and shoulders and down
towards the waist as indicated by Figure 2. The height of the cork pieces in the
flap rows B is also made decreasing towards the ends. It will be seen that the
waistcoat consists of two thicknesses of the fabric, the outer one D Figure 2
passing over and between the cork rows where it is stitched to the inner
thickness E. The two thicknesses are also united by stitching all along the edges
of the waistcoat. The life belt is provided with straps C and should be strapped
on as firmly as possible. It may be provided with a spring hook F for attaching a
life line having a wooden handle at the end for floating the line.
As compared with this life saving apparatus no other has yet appeared which
unites so many excellent qualities for it bears up a fully dressed man with his
sea boots on; it can be put on in less than half a minute without help; it does not
hinder rowing or other labour; it is very strong; it permits of swimming and of
floating on the back; it may be kept lying in store during a long time without
losing its power of flotation; it is warm in cold weather and cool during the summer

page_text: The
months as it keeps out the sun's rays; it also protects the wearer against violent
shocks of the waves or when thrown against ships' and boat sides and cliffs.
apparatus has 77 per cent. more carrying power than that prescribed in the British
Board of Trade Law or Regulation of 31st March 1871.
It is now adopted for use with the torpedo vessels by the Royal Danish Ministry
of Marine and by other authorities, after severe trials in one of which the belt
supported a burden of 18 pounds of iron in salt water for 24 hours.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A life belt made in the form of a waistcoat of fabric provided with rows
of pieces of cork so arranged as to permit free use of the arms substantially as set
forth.
2. A life belt as shewn on the drawing made in the form of a waistcoat to be
fastened by straps and made of nankeen treated in the manner described provided
with vertical and horizontal rows of pieces of cork of sections described and shewn
and treated in the manner described.
Dated this 15th day of December 1893
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.