A Safety Belt for Bathing or Swimming Purposes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 2nd May, 1895-Accepted, 22nd June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Safety Belt for Bathing or Swimming Purposes.
I, HERMANN PRAGER-BAUER of No. 39 Zeltweg, Zurich, in the Swiss
Confederation, Musician do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an improved safety belt adapted to be tied round the
body, and consisting of air chambers; the object being, in case of danger, to
protect persons who can swim as well as those who cannot; the applicability of the
invention in bathing establishments, on sea voyages, &c., being obvious.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which one form of it is represented in Figure 1 as particularly
applied for purposes of bathing or for the convenience of persons wishing to learn
to swim.
The belt proper a, supplemented by flaps d of sailcloth, coarse canvas or other
suitable material to avoid immediate contact between the air chambers and skin,
and also in order to relieve the body from undue pressure exercised by the said air
chambers, has these air chambers b attached to it by means of bands c and suitable
buckles or fasteners in such a manner that the chambers are connected both with the
belt and with each other, while at the same time they are made removable separately
or independently of each other. Their number is optional, six chambers being
shown in the drawing by way of example.
Figure 2 shows an air chamber of this class fitted with a.
Figure 3 represents one unprovided with any such device.
closing device, while
The cover with its screw thread fis adapted to be screwed on to the thread f
formed on the body of the chamber, which is also provided with a groove in which
an elastic ring is embedded in such a manner that it projects somewhat beyond the
edges of the groove so as to constitute a species of washer or damp-proof packing
when the chamber is closed by its cover or lid e being placed over and screwed
down upon it. Any slipping of the air chambers from the band c is prevented by
a small bent or indented portion of the lid e, and also by the ribs n which besides
fulfilling this purpose, serve in conjunction with other ribs m to add to the strength
or rigidity of the thin sheet metal or other material of which the chambers are
constructed. By means of the bands or straps r, 1 and the belt is buttoned,
buckled or otherwise fastened to the body.
It will be found convenient to construct air chambers of such a size that two,
three or more may be inserted into one another, the inner chambers, or the inner-
most chamber, being in that case intended for use in case of emergency only, viz.:
when the person carrying them finds him or herself fatigued or exhausted and
unable to continue swimming; or such inner chambers may be utilized as
receptacles for restoratives, food, etc.
On sea voyages the additional belt shown in Fig. 4, and also fitted with air
chambers and adapted to be attached to the back, will, in conjunction with the
belt represented in Fig. 1, be found a valuable auxiliary means to avert danger
from shipwrecks or drowning. This additional belt his adapted to be fastened to
the main belt a by its tie-bands or straps k and k³, whilst the bands and may in
that case he dispensed with so as to enable persons in peril to assume the complete
belt more readily. The complete safety device thus fitted together should be kept
in readiness for immediate use on sea voyages, and may for this purpose be passed

page_text: oosely over the clothes before starting, a water-proof cloak or similar upper
garment being preferably placed over the whole for protection from cold and
dampness. The air chambers, while in use, may also be employed for packing
away documents of importance and other valuable articles of small weight.
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 :-
A safety belt for swimming or bathing purposes, mainly consisting of a series of
air-chambersb adapted to be tightly closed and inserted into each other.
Dated this 7th day of August 1894.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
A Safety Belt for Bathing or Swimming Purposes.
of
I, HERMANN PRAGER-BAUER, formerly of 39 Zeltweg, Zurich, now
16/18 Seehofstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland, Musician, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to a belt to be fastened round the body, consisting of small
watertight air chambers or boxes, the object of the invention being to prevent
sinking in the water.
The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawing.
On the straps & the air chambers or boxes a are fastened by means of strings c.
The air boxes a can be made to open or not to open, or boxes that open can be used
in conjunction with boxes that do not open. It is always advisable to employ in
each belt one or more boxes that open as these boxes can be used in the case of
imminent exhaustion or the like in the water for the purpose of supplying food or
invigorating substances. Such boxes are also suitable for preserving light articles
of value, documents and the like, the boxes may be either fastened to the belt or
removable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
A safety belt for bathing or swimming purposes, constructed with watertight air
chambers or boxes substantially as described.