IMPROVE- MENTS IN SWIMMING AND LIFE BELTS
Year: 1884

page_text: I CALLISTUS AUGUSTUS COUNT DE GODDE DE LIANCOURT, of Charterhouse
Square, London, E.C. do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SWIMMING AND LIFE BELTS, to be as follows:-
Although folding life belts have been made for many years, it is a well known
fact that very few persons avail themselves of their use, in consequence of their
structural defects, bulky form, and unreliability.
A good swimming and life belt should fulfil the following conditions :-It must
be of light weight-occupy but a very small space, when folded-it must be
always ready for use:-self adjusting:-air and water tight:-cheap-durable;
and not liable to get out of order.
The object of my invention is to provide swimming and life belts possessing
these advantages.
In the Specification filed with my previous application and for which Letters
Patent were granted to me, N° 3599-, I described my life belts as being covered
with seamless tubes of canvas, rendered impervious to air and water by means of
various new compounds of oils and varnishes, and of a bath of a new liquid,
and such swimming and life belts were also mado self-inflating.
Instead of such covering mentioned and described in my said Specification,
I now use a covering composed of two thicknesses of cotton, or other suitable
material, caused to adhere together by means of a thin intermediate coating of
india rubber.
The internal springs and the remaining parts of the invention are formed as in
my said former Specification No 3599-
By the use of this material the belts are rendered capable of enduring much
rough usage without being rendered inefficient, and such covering admits of their
being packed away in a very small space, and also removes the objections hitherto
existing against their almost universal adoption by Travellers.
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: I, CALLISTUS AUGUSTUS COUNT DE CODDE DE LIANCOURT, of Charterhouso
Square, London, E.C. do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN SWIMMING AND LIFE BELTS," and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
Although folding life belts have been made for many years, it is a well known
fact that very few persons avail themselves of their use, in consequence of their
structural defects, bulky form, and unreliability.
A good swimming and life belt should fulfil the following conditions :—It must
be of light weight:-occupy but a very small space, when folded-it must be 1
always ready for uso:-self adjusting-air and water tight:-cheap-durable;
and not liable to get out of order.
•
The object of my invention is to provide swimming and life belts possessing
these advantages.
In the Specification filed with my previous application and for which Letters 1
Patent were granted to me, No 3599-74, I described my life belts as being covered
with seamless tubes; of canvas, rendered impervious to air and water by means of
various new compounds of oils and varnishes, and of a bath of a now liquid, and
such swimming and life belts were also made self inflating.
Instead of such covering inentioned and described in my said Specification,
I now use a covering composed of two thicknesses of cotton, or other suitable
material, caused to adhere together by means of an intermediate coating of india
rubber.
The internal springs and the remaining parts of the invention are formed as in
iny said former Specification No. 3599-
By the use of this material the belts are rendered capable of enduring much
rough usage without being rendered inefficient, and such covering admits of their
being packed away in a very small space, and also reinoves the objections hitherto
existing against their almost universal adoption by Travellers.
And in order that my said invention may be more fully described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 shows the life belt closed and uninflated; being secured in such position
by straps or cords, ready for use. Figs 2 and 3 are end views, and Fig. 4 shews
the belt, extended and inflated, a portion of the outer covering a being omitted to
shew the arrangement of the internal springs. bb are two rings or collars to which
the material a is united and made air and water tight. c is an air valve which is
kept open.until the belt is required for use, and which valve is closed after inflation
and previously to using the belt. d d are two staples, and e is a spring hook,
which is used to unite the two ends, in combination with a short strap where
necessary, when the belt is passed round the neck or waist. f is the outer spring,
and g (shaded black) is the inner spring. These springs are fitted to the inner
portions of the two rings bb, and to the covers or diaphragms which are also fitted
to such rings.
5

page_text: It is obvious that suitable cords straps and other convenient additions may be
added, to prevent the belt from falling lower than the arm pits, when applied to
the body.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my snid
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is
The manufacture and use of swimming and life belts constructed and arranged
in the manner substantially as herein before described and shewn on the drawings.
Dated 27th Feb 100
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicant.