Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 17th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 18th Jan., 1887.
I, ERIC STUART BRUCE Gentleman, of Wilton House, Pitt Street, Kensington,
London, W. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for saving life from drowning at
night time by the illumination of a life buoy by means of one or more electric incan-
descent lamps. The object of the invention is to prevent the breakage of the lamp or
lamps attached to the life buoy when it is thrown into the water & subjected to the
violence of the waves or even dashed against rocks. I place my lamp or lamps within
a ball made of material that is waterproof & translucent such as oiled or varnished
cambric, indiarubber oiled silk etc which ball is inflated with air. The apparatus for
closing the mouth of the ball contains the terminals which convey the electric current
to the lamp or lamps within the ball. I fix the lamp or lamps in the centre of the air
ball. The incandescent lamp is made with a glass loop at the top so as to be easily
suspended, the bottom of the lamp is attached to the terminals mentioned above. The
air ball containing the lamp or lamps is attached to the life buoy, the current to light
the lamps is supplied by means of a portable battery primary or secondary which
remains on the land ship or pier, a circuit of flexible wire being attached to the
battery terminals of the ball A.
ERIC STUART BRUCE.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Saving Life from Drowning
at Night.
I ERIC STUART BRUCE Gentleman of Wilton House Pitt Street Kensington,
London W. 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for saving life from drowning at
night time by the illumination of a life buoy by means of one or more electric incan-
descent lamps. The object of the invention is to prevent the breakage of the lamp or
lamps attached to the top of the life buoy when it is thrown into the water & sub-
jected to the violence of the waves or even dashed against rocks. I place my lamp or
lamps within a ball made of a material that is waterproof & translucent such as oiled
or varnished cambric, indiarubber, oiled silk etc. which ball is inflated with air. The
apparatus for closing the mouth of the ball contains the terminals which convey the
electric current to the lamp or lamps within the ball. I fix the lamp or lamps in the
centre of the air ball. If preferred the terminals which convey the electric current
can be introduced by means of a suitable apparatus at the top of air ball. The incan-
descent lamp is made with a glass loop at the top so as to be easily suspended, or kept
in position, the lamp is attached to the terminals mentioned above. The air ball con-
taining the lamp or lamps is attached to the life buoy, the current to light the lamps is
supplied by means of a portable battery primary or secondary, which remains on the
land ship or pier or which can be placed on the life buoy itself, flexible wire being
attached to the terminals of both battery & air ball.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein, A is the air ball
inflated by means of an ordinary air cushion mouthpiece a. a. This is made either of
ebonite or of brass or other suitable metal, in which case the wires b & terminals c
are insulated. B is the electric incandescent lamp suspended by cord e from f to d.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
& in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is.
The combination of electric lamp or lamps & inflated translucent air ball attached
to a life buoy, the lamps being placed within the air ball substantially as described &
shewn in the drawings.