IMPROVE- MENTS IN LIFE BUOY APPARATUS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Wallwyn Shepheard, of the Grange, Windermere,
in the County of Westmoreland, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LIFE BUOY APPARATUS."
Sealed the 2nd January 1880, and dated the 25th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Wallwyn Shepheard
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th July 1879.
ARTHUR WALLWYN SHEPHEARD, of the Grange, Windermere, in the County of
Westmoreland, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE BUOY APPARATUS."
The object of the Invention is to afford increased facilities to persons in the water
and others for ascertaining the exact locality of floating life buoys.
The life-buoy may be of circular or ring shape formed of cork with a covering of
india rubber, cloth, or other suitable material, or it may be otherwise formed to
float on the surface of the water, and it is provided in the usual way with hanging
cords or other appendages for the convenience of persons holding on to it, to aid
their floatation.
To the opposite sides of the life buoy I swing on pivots a frame of an arched
form or other suitable shape at or about its centre, with a staff rising therefrom to
carry a flag or other suitable indicating signal for day use, with or without a signal
light for night use, and a bell to create an audible signal. This frame is arranged
to turn on the pivots provided therefor for convenience of stowage, and its ends are
provided with weights to cause the opposite parts or ends with the signal apparatus
attached to assume a vertical position when the life buoy is in the water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Arthur Wallwyn Shepheard in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd January 1880.
ARTHUR WALLWYN SHEPHEARD, of the Grange, Windermere, in the County of
Westmorland, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFE-BUOY APPARATUS."
My improvements in life buoy apparatus consist of the arrangements hereinafter
more particularly described, whereby the addition of a frame attached thereto by

page_text: copper or brass swivel bolts, and weighted so as to take a vertical position when in
use as hereinafter described, and carrying a flag or other suitable indicating signal
for day or night use, with a bell to create an audible sound and indicate to the
persons or vessel the position of the buoy, so as to guide them in their proper
course.
The object of my Invention being to afford increased facilities to persons in the
water and others for the better ascertaining the exact locality of the life buoys
when floating.
The life-buoy may be of a circular or ring shape and may be made of cork or
any other suitable material, with a covering of india rubber, cloth, or other
suitable material, or it may be otherwise formed to float on the surface of the
water, and it is provided in the usual way with hanging cords or other appendages
for the convenience of persons holding on to it and to aid their floatation. To the
opposite sides of the life buoy and at or about the extremities of the diameter
thereof I swing on copper or brass swivel bolts a light iron or steel frame of an
arched form or other suitable shape, with a staff rising therefrom 'to carry a flag or
other suitable indicating signal for day use, and with or without a signal light for
night use and a bell to create an audible signal. This frame is arranged to turn on
the pivots provided for the purpose for the convenience of storage, &c.; its ends are
provided with weights to cause the opposite parts or ends with the signal apparatus
attached to assume a vertical position when the life buoy is in the water. The
above mentioned method of fixing the buoy within the frame also enables the buoy
to turn and come over the head of the person who seizes one side of it, and thus
places the user within the apparatus without trouble or exhaustion.
In order that my Invention may be easily understood, and to facilitate its
practical adoption, I have accompanied these presents with Drawings which I will
now describe.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a diagram of the life buoy and attendant apparatus and shows the
apparatus as it would be when on board ship. A is the lamp or light; B, the flag
furled; C, the bell; D, the staff to which the flag and light are attached; E, the
iron or steel frame attached to the buoy and to which are fixed the staff D, and
bell C; F, the weights by which the apparatus is raised to the vertical position
when floating; G, the buoy; H, the swivel bolts or pivots by which the apparatus
is attached and on which it acts; I, the ropes attached to the buoy.
Figure 2 shows the buoy with attendant apparatus in action, the letters of
reference being the same as those in Figure 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same may be performed or carried out into
practice, I hereby declare that I claim the addition of the arched frame fixed to the
life buoy by copper or brass swivel bolts together with the attendant apparatus
attached thereto, and herein described and set forth as constituting my said
Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Wallwyn Shepheard, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty second day of January, in the year of our
1
Witness,
ARCHIBALD HAMILTON,
M.D.,
Windermere.
ARTHUR WALLWYN SHEPHEARD. (L.S.)