Improvements in or relating to Life Belts or Buoys.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 8th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 4th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Life Belts or Buoys.
I, THOMAS HARDING ROBSON of 3, Akenside Street, Bootle in the County of
Lancaster, Master Mariner do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to life buoys or belts and is designed to avoid the defect
so objected to in the ordinary cork belts or buoys, namely, that they are liable to
soon wear out and thus become useless.
In carrying my present invention into effect, I form my improved life buoy
hollow and inflate it with air or gas. The material of which it is made may be
zinc, brass, or any other suitable material, and it is provided with an inflation valve
through which air or gas can be pumped or otherwise passed into the buoy. This
valve is preferably flush or nearly flush with the buoy so that it does not project
from the buoy and may be formed so that it can only be opened by a special key
and thus prevent the valve being tampered with. Buoys of this kind are vastly
more durable than the ordinary cork life buoy or belt, which are so liable to wear
out, and thus are often found to be useless at times of emergency when they, are
most required. I may, if desired, attach a socket to the buoy in which a flag or
other distress signal can be inserted. The signal could be formed, for example, of
a telescopic tube, which can be folded up in a very small space or drawn out and
inserted in the socket with a flag at the top so that a signal of distress could more
readily be seen than from the surface of the water. The buoy can be hung
on hooks or brackets when not in use and provided also with means for holding
a signal.
Deted this 5th day of May 1894
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Life Belts or Buoys.
I, THOMAS HARDING ROBSON of 3 Akenside Street, Bootle in the County of
Lancaster, Master Mariner, 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 :-
This invention relates to lifebuoys, and is designed to avoid the defect so objected
to in ordinary cork buoys, namely, that they are liable to soon get sodden and wear
out, and thus become useless.
Originally I proposed to form my lifebuoy hollow and inflate it with air or gas,
providing it with an inflation valve through which air or gas could be pumped or
otherwise passed into the buoy. After the experiments I have made I have found
that this inflation is unnecessary and indeed absolutely useless, and I therefore
dispense with the inflation valve aforesaid, simply forming my lifebuoy hollow and
of corrugated metal.

page_text: The invention will be best understood from the following description, reference
being had to the accompanying drawing, in which,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my lifebuoy, and the bracket for holding the
same when not in use;
Figure 2 a vertical section of the buoy.
In these A is a lifebuoy of the ordinary contour, but formed of corrugated metal
and hollow, and B a bracket for holding same when not in use. The latter is
formed with cross pieces C having at their extremities hooks D adapted to clip the
buoy, and so arranged that in the case of a ship sinking the buoy will disengage
itself automatically from the hooks. E is a socket or shelf attached to the bracket
for holding a night signal. This night signal may be coupled by a cord to the
buoy so as to be inseparable from it, or I may if desired attach a socket to
the buoy itself, in which a flag or other distress signal can be inserted.
signal could be formed for example of a telescopic tube, which can be folded
up into a very small space or drawn out and inserted in the socket, with a flag
at the top, so that a signal of distress could more readily be seen than from
the surface of the water.
This
Lifebuoys of this kind are vastly more durable than the ordinary cork lifebuoy
or belt, which is so liable to wear out, and thus often are found to be useless
at times of emergency when they are most required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The improvements in lifebuoys which consists in forming them hollow and
of corrugated metal, whereby greater durability is obtained and the defects
so objected to in the ordinary cork buoys are avoided, substantially as described.
2. The use in combination with a lifebuoy, of a bracket provided with hooks
for holding the buoy when not in use, and with means for holding a night
signal, substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. The general arrangement and construction of parts substantially as set
forth.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents.