An Anti-capsizing and Life-saving Appliance for Small Boats.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd July, 1894-Accepted, 25th Aug., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Anti-capsizing and Life-saving Appliance for Small Boats.
I, WALDEMAR VON RÜDIGER of 39 Sophienstrasse, Halle on the Salle in the
Empire of Germany, Railway Station-master, 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 present invention relates to a simple and cheap device which can be
easily applied to skiffs boats canoes etc. for the purpose of preventing the-or
lessening the risks of-capsizing (upsetting) of the same or if such capsizing or
upsetting has already taken place of affording opportunity to the persons in the
water of keeping themselves above water by holding on to the device.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which :-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view, and
Fig. 2 is a section on the line x-x of Fig. 1.
On each of the two sides of the boat two bands or arms terminating in loops b
are mounted so as to be movable about hinges a and carrying at their ends the
tubes e made of any suitable water-tight material and closed at their ends.
These tubes are provided at d with valves for the purpose of inflating the tubes
with air and are advantageously situated around that part of the side of the boat
where the latter has the greatest width or beam.
The tube is fastened to the side of the boat by means of the following
arrangement:-
Bent clips or bands are attached by hinges e to the top edge of the side
(i.e. just below the gunwale) and are provided at their ends with weights g for
the purpose of keeping the tubes c close up against the side of the boat while the
latter is in its normal upright position. The length of the arms or bands b is
made such that the said bands are situated at a sufficient distance below the top
edge of the side of the boat to prevent them from becoming damaged by the oars.
This arrangement serves to prevent or lessen the risk of capsizing or upsetting
of the boat but if such capsizing or upsetting should however take place the
weights g will sink and swing together with the bands f outwards about the
hinges e in such a manner as to release the tubes c which will then float on the top
of the water and thus allow of the persons thrown into the water by the capsizing
of the boat catching hold of the tubes c and keeping themselves above water so
as to save themselves from drowning or sinking.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with a boat of tubes such as c made of water-tight material
arms or bands such as b capable of rocking about hinges a and adapted to hold
said tubes to the outside of said boat below the gunwale hands or clips such as ƒ
also hinged to the outside of the boat and capable of rocking about said hinges e
weights or weighted ends such as g adapted to normally keep said tube c pressed
close against the side of the boat and to release said tube in case of the capsizing
of the boat substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before
described.

page_text: 2. The arrangement and construction-and combination with the outside of a
boat of a device or appliance of the character and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and illustrated by way of example in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1894.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.