IM- PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SAVING LIFE FROM DROWNING
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Kate Jessie Abercromby Maxwell King, of 5, Moscow
Terrace, Victoria Park, in the County of Middlesex for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SAVING LIFE FROM DROWNING."
Sealed the 13th June 1879, and dated the 14th December 1878
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Kate Jessie Abercromby
Maxwell King at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th
December 1878.
KATE JESSIE ABERCROMBY MAXWELL KING, of 5, Moscow Terrace, Victoria
Park, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SAVING
LIFE FROM DROWNING."
This Invention relates to an improved construction of umbrella or parasol so as
to render it capable of supporting a person in case of his or her sudden immersion
in the water for a sufficient length of time to permit of assistance being rendered
so as to escape drowning.
For this purpose I prefer to make the umbrella or parasol of full size, and
preferably of any suitable waterproof material, and then line the top of the umbrella
or parasol internally, in a somewhat similar manner as ladies' parasols and sunshades
are lined, with a suitable lining, or otherwise form a bag of suitable size and shape
within the umbrella or parasol. I take care so to secure the same to the covering
or framework of the umbrella or parasol itself that it is impossible for the air confined
therein to escape when the umbrella or parasol is opened.
In order also to prevent the air escaping around the socket slide when the
umbrella or parasol is opened, I affix a strong belt or washer of gutta percha, india
rubber, or other suitable substance in a convenient position on the lower end of the

page_text: stick of the umbrella or parasol. I also affix in any convenient manner a corre-
sponding belt or washer around the inner circumference of the socket slide itself so
that when the same is pushed up in order to open the umbrella or parasol such two
belts or washers butt closely against each other and are firmly held in position by
means of any suitable spring. By this means the space around the socket slide
becomes hermetically sealed, and so totally prevents the leakage of the air there-
through.
The operation of my Invention is as follows:-Upon a person becoming
suddenly in danger of immersion, by expanding the umbrella or parasol when so
constructed and holding firmly on to it, it will be found to possess sufficient buoyancy
to support the person so immersed until assistance arrives.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Kate Jessie Abercromby Maxwell King in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 14th June 1879.
KATE JESSIE ABERCROMBY MAXWELL KING, of 5, Moscow Terrace, Victoria
Park, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SAVING
LIFE FROM DROWNING."
The object of this Invention is to provide an effective and inexpensive appliance
for supporting a person or persons immersed in the water so as to prevent them from
drowning.
For this purpose I construct or place an air tight chamber within an umbrella,
sunshade, or parasol, and such air tight chamber is furnished with a valve which opens
and closes automatically with the umbrella, sunshade, or parasol in such a way that
when the umbrella, sunshade, or parasol is opened the air chamber is likewise
expanded and filled with air. When such air chamber is fully expanded the valve
immediately and automatically closes, thus effectually confining the air therein, and
thereby sufficient buoyancy is imparted to the umbrella, sunshade, or parasol to
enable it to support several persons.
When the umbrella, sunshade, or parasol is being closed, such air valve opens
automatically and allows the air to escape, thus allowing the air chamber to collapse
so that it is concealed within the covering of the umbrella or other article.
And in order that my said Invention may be better understood and readily carried
into effect, I will now, with the aid of the accompanying Drawings, wherein similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, proceed more particularly to describe
and ascertain the same.
Figure 1 of such Drawings shews a view of an umbrella when expanded fitted
with my improved apparatus, and
Figure 2 shews a view of such umbrella as it appears when partially closed.
In constructing umbrellas, sunshades, or parasols according to my Invention I
preferably form an airtight bag of any suitable waterproof material, and of a con-
venient size and shape so as to permit of its fitting into the upper part or dome of
the umbrella, sunshade, or parasol, as shewn in the accompanying Drawing at A', A²,
A, A, and I connect such bag or air chamber with the framework of the umbrella
or other article in such a manner that it opens and closes simultaneously with the
umbrella, sunshade, or parasol itself.
In order to allow of the rapid inflation and exhaustion of such air chamber during
its expansion or contraction, I make the runner of the umbrella frame, indicated
at B in the accompanying Drawings, with an annular aperture or port hole C of
suitable size, and in order to close such port hole so as to prevent the air from
escaping when the air chamber is fully expanded I fit around the stick or runner
an elastic ring, cup, or washer made of india rubber or any other suitable material in
such a manner that when the runner B is pushed upwards in order to expand the
umbrella or other article, as shewn in Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings, the
base of the runner presses closely against such ring, cup, or washer D, and so
completely closes the annular port hole C and confines the air in the air chamber so
that it cannot escape.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I claim as my improvements in
apparatus applicable to saving life from drowning,—
Firstly. The fitting within the dome of an umbrella, sunshade, or parasol an 'air
tight chamber, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before set forth
and described,

page_text: Secondly. The forming an annular or other suitably shaped aperture or port hole
in the air chamber of the umbrella so as to allow of the air passing rapidly in and
out of such airtight chamber at the same time as the umbrella, sunshade, or parasol
is opened or closed, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Thirdly. The fitting a suitable elastic ring, cup, or washer around the stick or
runner for the purpose of sealing the air chamber, substantially in the manner
herein before described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Kate Jessie Abercromby Maxwell King, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
KATE J. A. MAXWELL KING. (L.S.)