AN IMPROVED WAIST OR OTHER BAND OR BELT FORMED OF ROPE, LINE, OR CORD, SO AS TO RENDER THE ROPE, LINE, OR CORD AVAILABLE FOR LIFE-SAVING AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Smith Comrie at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th November 1880.
JOHN SMITH COMRIE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
"AN IMPROVED WAIST OR OTHER BAND OR BELT FORMED OF ROPE, LINE, OR CORD,
SO AS TO RENDER THE ROPE, LINE, OR CORD AVAILABLE FOR LIFE-SAVING AND
OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention has for its object the forming of a considerable length of rope,
line, or cord, of hemp, or other suitable material, into an improved waist or other
band or belt in such a manner that the rope, line, or cord may be easily and
quickly available for life-saving and other purposes when required.
In carrying out the Invention a convenient length of rope, line, or cord, of hemp,
or other suitable material, is folded into six portions, four of which are equal in
length; the other two portions are terminated by the two ends of the material, and
these ends are of unequal length. One of these ends is arranged so as to be
shorter and the other end longer than the four equal portions of the material. At
one end of the length thus obtained by folding there will be three bights or
bends formed by the six portions or strands, as they may be called, and each of
these three bights or bends are placed and held on hooks or catches formed for
The strands are next
them on a small plate of brass or other suitable metal.
plaited or interwoven into a three-ply or common plait by hand or otherwise in a
well known manner. When the plaiting operation reaches the short free end of
the material the longer free end is doubled and both. ends are brought together,
the next plait formed being made to cross and hold the ends and prevent them
from becoming loose. The doubling of the longer free end of the material forms
a bight or bend which is made to correspond with the two already formed at that
end, and on the completion of the plaiting operation these three bights are placed
on and held by hooks or catches formed on another small plate of brass or other
suitable metal. This small plate is formed with hooks or catches for engaging with
parts on the small plate, hereinbefore referred to as holding the bights of one end of
the band or belt, the two forming a convenient catch or buckle for fastening the band
or belt round the person. One of the small plates may be formed of a larger size

page_text: than the other so as to extend over and cover the smaller one, and it may have on
it a book or suitable catch and guide pieces for conveniently carrying a lamp or
lantern when required, as, for example, when skating.
The improved band or belt forms a neat and convenient mode of carrying a
length of rope, line, or cord, for use in cases of emergency, as, for example, in
drowning accidents, or when otherwise required, as the band or belt, by taking off
the bights from the hooks or catches of the buckle-plates, can be quickly unplaited
and reconverted into a length of rope, line, or cord. Suitable marks may be made
on the rope, line, or cord where the bights or bends occur, to assist in reforming it
into a band or belt after having been undone. The improved band or belt is
particularly applicable for the use of persons when skating, but it is obvious that
it is advantageously applicable for use on other occasions, forming a useful
equipment for soldiers, boatmen, mountaineers, tourists, sportsmen, and others. In
some cases the two free ends of the material, formed into a band or belt, may be
arranged to extend from it to any required length for attaching articles thereto, or
for conveniently altering the size of the band or belt.
The rope, line, or cord may be dyed or colored, and in some cases the six portions
of the folded material may be dyed or colored of different hues, so as to give when
plaited an ornamental effect to the band or belt.