IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR SUPPORTING PERSONS IN WATER."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick George Charles Weir, of Clifton, in the
County of Gloucester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR
APPLIANCES FOR SUPPORTING PERSONS IN WATER."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick George Charles
Weir at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th April 1878.
FREDERICK GEORGE CHARLES WEIR, of Clifton, in the County of Gloucester.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR SUPPORTING PERSONS IN
WATER."
The primary object of the Invention is intended for the preservation of life at sea
and for use in cases of emergency, although it may be used at other times, while
bathing, for example. It occupies when rolled up a very small space, and when
opened for use is with great facility adjusted and secured to the body of the
wearer.
The essential feature in the Invention is an hermetically sealed vessel of cylindrical
form, preferably made of tin or other suitable material, but it may be made of any
other desired form, or in one or more parts, as found most convenient, or according
to the purposes to which it is to be applied, and filled with compressed air if thought
desirable. This vessel is preferably covered, say with linen, india-rubber, or other
suitable material, and secured to a piece of similar material by straps or bands, or in
any other convenient way. The material to which the vessel is secured is provided
with arm or shoulder pieces for supporting the same, and below the vessel with
bands for securing the same round the waist, and with bands for passing round and
for securing same to the legs of the wearer.
By these improvements the apparatus is kept in much the same position when
Devine 677

page_text: fitted to the wearer, as it cannot move up or down, or in any direction more than is
allowed by the play of the straps or bands.
B
The apparatus when applied to a person's body presents the appearance of a
jacket.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederick George Charles Weir in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 15th October 1878.
FREDERICK GEORGE CHARLES WEIR, of Clifton, in the County of Gloucester.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR SUPPORTING PERSONS IN
WATER."
The primary object of this Invention is intended for the preservation of life at sea,
and for use in cases of emergency, although it may be used at other times, while
bathing, for example. It occupies when rolled up a very small space, and when
opened for use is with great facility adjusted and secured to the body of the
wearer.
J
The essential feature in the Invention is an hermetically sealed vessel of cylindrical
form, preferably made of tin or other suitable material, but it may be made of any
desired form, or in one or more parts, as found most convenient, or according to tho
purposes to which it is to be applied, and filled with compressed air if thought
desirable. This vessel is primarily coated with anti-corrosive paint, or any other s
solution found desirable, to give increased durability and security, then preferably
.covered or enclosed, say with linen, india-rubber, or other suitable material, and
secured to a piece of similar material by straps or bands, or in any other convenient
way. The material to which the vessel is secured is provided with shoulder pieces
for supporting the same, and above and below the vessel with bands for securing the
same round the breast, waist, and with bands for passing round and for securing
samo to the legs of the wearer.
And in order that my Invention may be more fully understood I will proceed to
further describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Figuro 1 is a side view of the apparatus constructed according to my Invention;
Figure 2 is a front, and Figure 3 is a back view of same; and Figure 4 is a section
through the line A, A, of Figure 2.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the Figures.
a, a, are the cylindrically-shaped sealed vessels; b is the covering thereto. Each
vessel is kept separate and distinct from one another by cords c secured by buttons d, 3
as best seen at Figure 4, or completely sewn through, attaching closely the covering
back to front between the cylinder so as to yield more readily to the action of the
body; e is the back, and f the front piece, with aperture therein at gy for the head
of the wearer to pass through; h, h, aro straps passing under the arms; 1, 1, waist
straps; k, k, leg straps. These straps are preferably provided with toggles at the 4
end for keeping the straps in position when extended, by which it would be always

page_text: perfect for immediate use; this as regards the breast and waist and the leg straps to
be more convenient for securing same to loops, and with, when necessary, adjustable
buckles; m, m, are the side, and n, n, the bottom loops.
By these arrangements of straps the apparatus is kept in much the same position
when fitted to the wearer, as it cannot move up or down, or in any direction more
than is allowed by the play of the straps or bands.
The apparatus when applied to a person's body presents the appearance of a
jacket.
When removed from the body the hermetically sealed vessels come close together,
and consequently the apparatus when packed goes into a comparatively small space.
The vessels may be placed vertically, as shown in the Drawings, or horizontally, but
in practice I find a vertical position the better of the two. I find five vessels on each
side a convenient number; however, it must be understood that I do not limit myself
to this number, as they may be, according to circumstances, less or more. I call the
apparatus the "seamen's safety."
Having now described the nature of iny said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, the employment in or connected
with apparatus for supporting persons in the water of hermetically-sealed vessels
onclosed or contained in material capable of being adjusted to and secured by straps
to the borly, all substantially in the manner described, and illustrated by the accom-
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick George Charles Weir, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
FREDERICK GEORGE CHARLES WEIR. (L.S.)