Improvements in Life Saving Apparatus or Appliances.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Life Saving Apparatus or Appliances.
We, ROBERT ARCHER, of Victoria Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, Draper, and
GEORGE GENT, of Inver House, Roundhay Road, Leeds, in the County of York,
Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of our invention is to provide rowing and other boats with suitable
life saving appliances, whereby in case of such boats upsetting or meeting with
other accidents, the occupant or occupants thereof will be kept afloat until help is
forthcoming, and thus numerous deaths caused by drowning may be avoided.
According to our invention we construct the cushions of rowing and other
boats in such a manner that when immersed in water they readily float on the
surface, whilst when employed in the boat they serve the same purpose as cushions
hitherto have. The outside covering of such cushions may be made of canvas, linen,
unbleached calico, or any other suitable material, preferably formed to the shape
of the seats of a boat, such covering being divided into fluted sections or pockets.
These sections or pockets are filled with cork, preferably divided into small pieces,
such as cubes, shavings, or parings; and the covering to the cushions may be oiled
or painted to render them impermeable, besides making them attractive to the eye.
Looped cords, straps, or other suitable devices are attached to the cushions in
order to give a better hold for the person when in the water, as without these cords
the cushions are liable to slip from the grasp.
The above described cushions are not tied or otherwise fixed to the seats,
consequently, upon the boat being upset, the cushions and occupants are thrown
out, whereupon such cushions are seized by means of their cords and passed or
folded round the person in the water, thus keeping him or her afloat.
Waistcoats may be constructed in a similar manner to the above described
cushions, and when such waistcoats are not in use, they may be rolled up to form a
pillow in a ship's berth, thus always being ready to hand in case of need.
Dated this 13th day of December 1892.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Life Saving Apparatus or Appliances.
We, ROBERT ARCHER, of Victoria Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, Draper, and
GEORGE GENT, of Inver House, Roundhay Road, Leeds, in the County of York,
Commercial Traveller, 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 object of our invention is to provide rowing and other boats with suitable
life saving appliances, whereby in case of such boats upsetting, or meeting with
other accidents, the occupant or occupants thereof will be kept afloat until help is
forthcoming, and thus numerous deaths caused by drowning may be avoided.
According to our invention we construct the cushions of rowing and other boats
in such a manner that when immersed in water they readily float on the surface,

page_text: whilst when employed in the boat they serve the same purpose as cushions hitherto
have.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood we will proceed to describe
same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters refer to
like parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a section of a boat showing cushions constructed according to our
invention fitted to the seats of same.
Figures 2 and 3 shew respectively section and plan views of a cushion con-
structed according to our invention and drawn to a larger scale than the previous
figure.
The cushions A Fig. 1 are divided into sections A¹ Figs. 2 and 3, and the outside
covering B of such cushions A may be made of any suitable material such as
canvas, linen, or unbleached calico. The sections A' are formed by dividing the
covering B into pockets which are then filled with cork, preferably divided into
small pieces such as cubes, shavings or parings, and the covering or coverings B
may be oiled or painted to render them impermeable or watertight, besides making
them attractive to the eye.
Looped cords C are attached to the cushion in order to give the person a better
hold thereon when in the water, or the cushion may be provided with a loop D and
straps or tapes E E' to fasten the said cushion A to the person in time of danger.
The cushions A are placed on the seats F of the boat, the said seats F being
provided with ridges or rims G which key or retain the cushions A in their proper
positions without permanently fixing same. Should the boat be upset, the cushions
and occupants are thrown out into the water, whereupon such cushions are seized by
means of their cords and placed around the person or persons in the water who are
thus kept afloat until the arrival of assistance.
As will be gathered from an inspection of Figures 2 and 3, the cushion A may
be folded up at the joints A2, when a pillow is readily formed; and when the
cushions are required of a flatter and less soft construction solid blocks of cork may
be conveniently employed in their construction.
Waistcoats may be constructed in a similar manner to the above described
cushions, and when such waistcoats are not in use, they may be rolled up to form
a pillow in a ship's berth, thus always being ready to hand in case of need.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :
1. In life saving apparatus or appliances, the cushion A baving pockets A¹ for
holding divided or other cork, and fitted with cords or straps C D E and E¹
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. The general arrangement, construction, and combination of the various parts
forming our improved life saving apparatus or appliance substantially as and for
the purposes set forth together with any mere modification or modifications thereof.
Dated this Seventh day of September 1893.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicants.