New or Improved Appliance for Supplying Atmospheric Air to the Lungs when the Body is Immersed in Water, Foul Air, Gas, or other Suffocating or Injurious Medium, and which may also be Used for Supporting the Weight of the Body in Water.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 27th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 18th May,
1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Appliance for Supplying Atmospheric Air to the
Lungs when the Body is Immersed in Water, Foul Air, Gas, or
other Suffocating or Injurious Medium, and which may also be
Used for Supporting the Weight of the Body in Water.
I, HENRY SMITH, Experienced Practical Tailor, of 23 North Road, Egremont,
Cumberland, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object an appliance capable of being formed either
separately or arranged to form the lining, or be otherwise attached to ordinary
wearing apparel, and in which a quantity of atmospheric air may be stored either
for supplying to the lungs when the wearer is completely immersed in water, foul
air, smoke or other irrespirable or suffocating medium or for supporting the weight
of the body in water.
In the practical construction of my improved appliance as arranged to form part
of, or an attachment to ordinary wearing apparel, sew or otherwise.attach to the
inside of the garment or garments a flexible reservoir for containing a quantity of
atmospheric air, shaped preferably on its innermost side to fit those parts of the
body over which it extends, and constructed of waterproof holland, linen, canvas,
twilled silk or other suitable material lined throughout with thin elastic, or other-
wise treated to make it air proof where the material used does not in itself possess
this quality, and strengthened and held in position by shapely vertical stays sewn,
gummed or otherwise secured to the inner and outer walls thereof.
Attached to and communicating with the interior of this reservoir are two or any
other suitable number of inflators or bellows of any suitable construction for forcing
air into said receptacle shaped to fit that part of the body against which they
hang, which would be preferably beneath the arms, and the opening in which, for
the entrance of air, is connected with a tube or tubes leading to breast or other
pocket or opening in the garment.
Extending from the reservoir is also a tube for supplying the air contained in it
to the lungs, the outer end of said tube being fitted with a respirator of suitable
forin to fit over the mouth and nostrils and containing a valve operated by the
teeth for regulating the supply of air.
With an appliance as above described it will be understood that the wearer
before entering water, foul air, gas or other suffocating or irrespirable medium
can inflate the reservoir with a sufficiency of atmospheric air to support life for a
considerable period or for supporting the weight of the body in water.
When found desirable it will be perfectly understood that the reservoir may
either be divided into two or more compartments one or more of which may be
used to receive the vitiated air expelled from the lungs or it may be combined with
waterproof or gas proof under garments to protect the body or it may be otherwise
modified in shape and construction the better to meet the requirements of the
wearer.
Dated this 13th day of June 1894.

page_text: New or Improved Appliance for Supplying Atmospheric Air to the
Lungs when the Body is Immersed in Water, Foul Air, Gas, or
other Suffocating or Injurious Medium, and which may also be
Used for Supporting the Weight of the Body in Water.
I HENRY SMITH, Practical Tailor, of 23 North Road Egremont Cumberland
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 principal object of this invention is to be of use in saving life, in cases of
accident, from foul air, fire, or water. The first of these being aided by a large
suitable sleeveless ulster and cape inflated with atmospheric air from which the
wearer can breathe for a considerable time to enable him to descend a coal mine
after an explosion to give relief to the sufferers; the second by a fireman's tunic,
or a portion thereof, or other light suitable garment being similarly inflated and
available for the purpose of respiration that would enable a member of a fire
brigade to continue his serch for life without being compelled to retreat, in
valuable moments for an inspiration of fresh air; and the third by a suitable
garment affording the means for respiration and flotation, or the latter separately
to prevent drowning from accidents in sailing or skating.
The invention consists in the main of three distinct parts. (1st Part) A reservoir
made of holland, light linen or other light strong material and lined through with
light airproof material such as light mackintosh or air proofed silk or other closely
wooven fabric which may have been put through an india-rubber solution or a
similar solution to render it impervious to air and water. Or the reservoir may be
made of light mackintosh or other light rubber faced material alone when lightness
of weight is thought to be an essential consideration but care should be taken in
the latter to have those parts linen stayed upon which great stress may be brought
to bear and which might otherwise incur the liability of being injured.
This part of the invention being to store air for the purposes of respiration care
should be taken that the lining should not be put through any solution that would
contaminate it and render it unfit for breathing, nor when thin mackintosh is used
should the rubber side be inside. All seems should be sewn outside and strapped
over with pieces of impervious material one inch wide put on with india-rubber
and turps solution: or other flexibly adheasive solution generally used in water
proof garment making.
The reservoir may take divers forms for the better appropriating of it to the
requirements of the different uses to which the invention may be put; or two or
more may be joined together answering the purpose of one and its specific capacity
as herein after described.
In Diagrams 1, 2, & 3 I have shewn the way to produce a sleeveless ulster and
cape that will hold roughly speaking about fifteen cubic feet of air the pressure of
which is not much above one atmosphere which renders this invention quite safe
within itself. Whereas the invention announced by Dr. Haldane in his physio-
logical lecture to the British Association Aug. 14th '94 for holding condensed
oxygen gas for a similar purpose to which this garment will be put must be very
dangerous; for if in a receptacle we have fifteen cubic feet of atmospheric air we
have three cubic feet of oxygen to twelve of nitrogen, while Dr. Haldane's inven-
tion said to be about the size of a safety-lamp-say about three inches by twelve-
could not, think, hold one cubic foot of oxygen gas in which there are sixteen
such like columns without being extremely dangerous; and the nitrogen having to

page_text: make up four fifths of the volume of air for respiration being taken from the area
of an explosion in a coal mine, must be deleteriously vitiated with carbonic acid
gas which must needs render that or other inventions less valuable than one in
which the nitrogen and oxygen gases naturally combined can be stored at any time
atmospherically pure. What is more this invention can enrich the atmospheric air
taken into it by having a piece of flexible tubing put upon the sliding valve b. 50
as to connect it with the tap of a receptacle or vessel containing oxygen gas: or
the sliding valve could be fitted with a revolving screw to screw upon such tap, or
vice versa. Or the former could be simply dipped into such receptacle or vessel
after removing the plug, stopper, or cork from such. This provision also shows
how the invention could be refilled from a pipe in a colliery having atmospheric
air forced into it by a force-pump, or fan, from above. nay however be wrong
in the impressions concerning Dr. Haldane's invention, which I hope will not be
taken as acrimonious or personal towards a gentleman I believe to be eminent and
worthy.
Dia. 1 shows a system in roulette line from which the body part of such a
garment may be produced: the ordinary lines a. b. show inside back and forepart,
and the dotted, or ciphered, lines c. d. e. the outside back, side body, and forepart
of the same.
The system is drawn from a one-eighth scale and may be measured
up from point to point by such scale and reproduced by graduated inch tapos for
any size. Although the quantities here given need not be taken as absolute they
very nearly satisfy the requirements of this special garment and approximate the
circumferences of the outer and inner sides of the circular bottom facing with
which they must accord.
The circular bottom facing or rather one-fourth part thereof Diagram 3 is formed
from a right angle drawn by the square. Upon this is measured out from o to a
one half the diameter the garment is required to be at the bottom. The outside
curve b. is then swept from line to line by holding the tape at angle point o: the
inner curve c is got in a similar manner, apportioning the breadth to the bottom
facing as desired. This dia. also shows the way in which the collar d with an easy
outside edge may be produced adding on behind for extra length. This dia. has
been reduced to comply with conditions of the Patent Office in other respects.
Descriptive instructions anent the ulster need not be recapitulate for the
production and making of the cape (Dia. 2) since their application and adaptation
will be readily understood by the practical tailor; and the vertical stays and front
facings agreeing with the width of the circular facings and running out to nothing
the required distance up may likewise be left to his judgment. I may mention
that the cape will communicate at the back with the uister making the two
reservoirs into one receptacle.
(2nd Part).-The inflater (or inflaters,) shall consist of two light thin plates of
aluminium, or other light metal or substance hinged together and perforated round
the edges to allow leather or other airproof material to be sewn or rivited in
between them. It shall be fitted with a steel spring inside as subsequently refered
to to force a vacuum causing air to rush into it through a tube or tubes d leading
from the breast pockets or other convenient places and then may be pressed by the
wearer to fill the reservoir through a tube or tubes connecting the former with the
latter. Care must be taken after putting in tubes and sewing in leather to strap
over the sewing or rivits if necessary to prevent escape when the inflater is being
depressed. The leather attached the underside plate should protrude over it about
one inch to allow the inflater to be sewn upon the reservoir, preferably through its
double walls. A canvas stay may be here affixed through which to sew the
inflater. Having made the necessary connections with reservoir, I may repeat that
places of escape should be carefully strapped over as aforesaid.
Fig. 5 represents underside plate of inflater shewing steel spring a. which is
made convex inside to give it force. The ends should be slightly turned in or
should have small rollers fast upon them to prevent them scratching the inflater
when working. Represented by b. is a little spring or clip which holds down the

page_text: upper plate when the inflater is not in use and allows it to rise when pressed upon
by the finger. c, shows tube that connects inflater with reservoir the outer end of
which is fitted with a flap valve (this may be a small rubber ball, or a spindle,
valve) to prevent the return of the air. The flap should be inserted one quarter of
an inch inside of the tube since it would protect it when being raised and close it
by an opposite current of air. Or the flap having been arranged upon the top a
small tube could be screwed upon the other for that purpose. d. is a tube from
outside with a flap valve to open inside of the inflater to admit air and prevent its
return. The outer end of this tube (b. in Figs. 6, 7, & 8,) is fitted with a suitable
valve composed of two metal tubes one of which is provided with a thumb-screw
and slides within the other which has vertical slots upon its sides through which air
is admitted when the inner tube is withdrawn; or beth tubes could be provided
with slots and the air be admitted or shut off by revolving the thumbscrew: The
inside one must have a little pin rivited into it through the slot of the other to
prevent their separation.
It will be seen by the shape of the inflater here given that its weight and
dimensions diminish where its capacity is the least and rice versa. The inflater can
be reduced to any size required when lightness is a consideration, or it may be
enlarged to augment its capacity: and when used for the sleeveless ulster and cape
Fig. 8 it should be sewn upon the outside of the ulster and should be covered over
with a wedge shaped piece of lining to allow it free expansion. Whereas in other
garments its expansion may be limited to prevent unsightly creasing.
(3rd Part). The respirator Fig. 4 shall be made of aluminiuin or other fine
light metal and may be silvered over or gold plated when the appliance is used
in high-class tailoring; or it may be made from black vulcanite, or other light
strong substance. The spring a. opperated by the teeth regulates the supply
of air from the reservoir by raising or depressing a small lever arranged to
cover that end of the tube. This may be further assisted if thought necessary
by a drawvalve arranged on the tube below the respirator. This tube will be
seen in Figs. 6, 7, & 8, passing through pockets a into reservoir at e.
The spring would be better placed underneath instead of above as shewn, since
it is the lower jaw that moves the spring, and the distance between the upper
teeth and nostrils being a fixed quantity it would prevent ossilation betwixt
those two points when the spring was being opperated upon. The respirator
may take different forms or be modified in form to suit the special needs of the
garment to which it is applied, or the desires of the wearer.
When the respirator is meant to plug the nostrils from the outside air it
should be made to fit closely otherwise have springs attached each side to close
the nostrils upon it. These plugs through which air is intended to pass may
be a continuation of the respirator or may be parts attached thereto by flexible
tubing or other means. Other forms may be got without the plugs similar in
design to cigar holders &c. and may be provided with tweezers that could be
raised to close the nostrils. Or Fig. 4 can be so altered as to admit two tubes
one having a flap valve opening inwards and the other having one opening
outwards. when the invention is used to take back the carbonic acid gas from
the lungs and store it in another compartment to preserve the buoyancy of the
garment when the wearer is under water.
Having described the principal parts of this invention a further description.
of the development of its principle and mode of application may not be out of
place as supplementary to the above. The invention may be made up in the
form of a lady's bleuze for the purpose of being covered with a removable
outside of light summer washing material; or it could be covered by a sailor's
blouze, or put under a child's pinafore for purposes herein before expressed.
Two suitable styles of garment for those purposes and in which the appliance
may be permanently fixed are the Norfolk jacket and the sack covert coat,
Figs. 6 & 7 one or other of which allows considerable space for reservoir and
expansion of inflaters at the sides. The reservoir in these or other garments

page_text: should not extend beyond the chest line, and, when thought preferable to a -
plain edge, may have shapely pieces sewn between its inner and outer walls to
form an accordion fold to allow it to expand or depress without creasing. It
may be cut away one inch around the scyes, shoulders, and gorge leaving a single
linen to be serged round the scye or stitched round to the lining to hold it in
position, and at the same time allow space for ventilation; but this can be
optional. I may here remark that in the sleeveless ulster herein before described;
the reservoir need not extend upwards beyond the base line g for obvious
reasons. When thought advisable the reservoirs may be made to extend
through the sleeves-that is smaller ones may be connected to that of the
larger by tubing passing from one to the other through the back scye j. An
extension could likewise be made if wished for to the trousers by making a
connection between both reservoirs with flexible tubing emanating from inside
pockets of coat and outside pockets of trousers arranged closely opposite each
other; or the latter could be provided with independent inflaters hung upon the
hips. But this extension would be very rarely used.
Garments intended to prevent the body getting wet should be made from cloth
that has been put through a water-proof solution and the inside of coat should be
provided with a watertight catch made by closing two waterproof facings, one on
each inside breast through the edges of which a thin piece of flexible steel may be
inserted upon which small caps (or other means) similar to those upon a money
purse for securing the edges that have been closed can be rivited. Or two
facings f. as shown advanced in Figs. 6 & 7 arranged to fasten upon the chest line,
by hooks and eyes or other means attached underneath them, could then be folded.
twice upon themselves and being fastened down upon the outside would be
effective. These facings should be cut somewhat straight upon edges sewn upon
the chest line to prevent the other edges being too tight when folded. When
not in use they will be turned inside of lining plait which is fastened down to
the coat.
The watertight catch or fold must be encircled by the waist girdle g. attached
the inside of reservoir, so arranged as to buckle over it in front to further complete
the provision for the upper part of the body being kept dry.
The principal
object of this girdle however (assisted by small tabs, if necessary, buttoning upon
the trowsers) is to hold down the garment to the body when the wearer is in water,
therefore one must be attached the coat for that purpose even though the catch or :
fold be dispensed with.
The trowsers (being encircled likewise) should be made from cloth that has been
put through a water proof solution and should have a water proof wedge sewn
inside of fly, or a water tight catch or folding facings as described above may be
inserted. Each leg should be provided with a cuff sewn inside about six inches up
and should have a strap to gird it round the limb. (This provision also applys to
the coat sleeves.) All seems having been strapped inside as herein before described
together with the means here enumerated render the coat and trowsers completely
waterproof and watertight. These provisions should however be considered as
adoptive not as indispensible in every instance, unless in a long voyage at sea when
their requisition would be a preventitive to cramping.
It will be perfectly understood that this invention may be further assisted by a
head covering fitted with eyesights and mouth apperture &c. for the purpose of
screening the face from intense heat or protecting the eyes from smoke and which
may be girdled by the watertight catch or fold to keep that part of the body dry
in case of accident at sea. It may take the form of a smoking cap or turban,
or constitute the lining of an ordinary hat or helmet and may have vertical
strips of elastic put through it to roll it into position when disengaged from the
holdings of the coat.
I think it right to further describe the invention with reference to its being used
underneath water. As herein before in part referred to the reservoir may be
devided into two or more compartments one of which may be used to take back the

page_text: vitiated air from the lungs to keep up the buoyancy of the garment. This can be
accomplished thus-having breathed the air from one it can be blown through a
flap valve opening inside of tube leading to the other inflator which can be
depressed to force it into the other compartment. This use of the invention
requires a loaded skirt or flounce or other weights hung round the bottom of the
garment to reduce its buoyancy, and which may be wholly or partially discarded
when wishing to rise. To illustrate this suppose some of our Jack Tars confined
to the compartments of a sinking battleship provided with such special garments
they would presumably be enabled to live until they extricated themselves and
rose to the surface.
I firmly believe that if the crew of the illfated H.M.S. Victoria had been
provided with garments fitted as above described they possibly would not have lost
their valuable lives even though they had been carried down to some extent by
suction. Yet on the contrary this invention might fail in its purpose in depths
where it is said that if an empty bottle be sunk the cork will be either forced in or
the bottle broken by the great pressure of the water. Still experiments might be
made for such a laudable object to prove to what extent this invention might useful
in that respect.
Before I conclude it may be desirable to make further reference to the drawings
to prevent obscurity that may arise from omissions in the above description.
Dia. 1 is draughted to the size of 18 breast by what might be termed the every-
tailor's system and consequently requires no further explanation.
It will be seen at the beginning of this Specification that I did not intend
dilating upon Dia. 2: but a lingering inclination impels me to make some
observations. The intersection e Dia. 2 should rest upon shoulder line at i in
Dia. 1 at preferably half an inch less than half breast from h. Neck point of
fore part may be advanced half an inch upon neck line j k in the direction of K
and the lines drawn as shewn in Dia. 2; the inside of which correspond to the
measure taken round arms and chest, and the outside to that of the required capacity
of the reservoir. There are other systems I may say by able authors that would
be very suitable, but upon which I have refrained from trespassing. I may refer
to one in the West End System of Cutting Part 1 7th edition Plate 20 that would
do. But I think the forepart as described above being rather larger than the back,
and rounder betwixt fg provide for fulness to cover the prominent head, and
muscle of the humerus called the deltoid.
My principal object I may remind the reader has been to evolve and elucidate
the principles of this invention not to lay down absolute modes and quantities in
every instance with a pretension to accuracy. At in Figs. 6 and 7 is shewn a
little strap for strapping that portion of the garment below the belt to the body
when turned up. Another small strap is shewn at k. The reservoir is shewn by
the letter i.
I believe in conclusion that I have not gone beyond the precincts of practical
imagination in desiguing what I believe to be on the whole a light, portable, and
effective invention and what has long been a desideratum. There have been
attempts made previously to design garments to save life from drowning where the
professional pen has been more in evidence than the sartorial thus designing clumsy,
inflexible garments ignoring the elementary principles of tailoring, and which the
trade would not recognize.
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-
The sole right to make any kind of garment for either sex embodying the
principles of the aforesaid appliance-that is a reservoir or reservoirs of various
shapes and sizes being supplied with atmospheric air by two light inflaters attached
underneath the arms or in other convenient places and communicating the air to
the lungs when necessary through a tube at the end of which is a respirator.

page_text: I further claim the provisions as herein before mentioned to keep the body from
getting wet and cramping.
ՄԱՄՆԱ THIS I
ruary
Witness:
SARAH JAMES,
4, Crescent, Cleator Moor, Cumberland.
HENRY SMITH.