US1091909A

US1091909A - Life-saving apparatus.

Info

Publication number: US1091909A
Application number: US77140213A
Authority: US
Inventors: George F Birmingham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1913-06-03
Filing date: 1913-06-03
Publication date: 1914-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 1931-03-31

Description

G. F. BIRMINGHAM.

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE a, 1913.

1,091,909; Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

` CDLUMBIA PLANounArH CO.. WASHINGTON. n.4:

UNFD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. BIRMINGHAM, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS.

Application filed J' une 3, 1913.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. BIRMING- HAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life- Saving Apparatus; and l do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a safety device for swimming pools, and has for its principal object to provide a false bottom for a swimming pool, which may be raised to the surface of the pool in order to save a person in danger of drowning.

In accomplishing this object, l have provided improved details of structure hereinafter described, and illust-rated in the accompanying drawings, wherein z- Figure l is a .perspective view of a swimming pool equipped with a safety device constructed according to my invention, the pool being shown as of graduated depth, although the apparatus is adapted for use with those of other construction. Fig. II is a longitudinal section of the parts shown in Fig. I. Fig. IH is a detail perspective of a corner of the safety device showing its connection with a supporting cable.

Referring more in detail to the parts:- l designates a swimming pool of ordinary construction, and shown as having an inclined bottom 2, in order that the pool may have varying depth. Located adjacent the pool, preferably at the ends thereof, are supporting devices, illustrated as davits 3, having shafts d, journaled therein and provided with windlasses 5; each shaft being preferably provided with actuating mechanism 6, and preferably with a motor 7, so that the shafts may be revolved separately. Each shaft 4 is preferably provided with a pair of windlasses 5, and fixed on each windlass is a cable 8, .which is adapted to hang freely within the end of the pool and support the safety device.

The preferred construction of the safety device comprises a channel iron frame 9, which is sufficiently smaller than the pool Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

Serial No. 771,402.

to enable the frame to ride freely therein, but which lies sufficiently close to the side edges to prevent the body of a person passing between the edge of the frame and the wall of the pool; the top of the frame being covered with heavy wire mesh, or cross-rods 10, through which the water may pass freely when the device is being lowered or raised, but which will support a person thereon.

The ends of the frame 9 are set in from the ends of the pool a greater distance than the sides, and hingedly connected with each end of the frame is a hanger 1l, also preferably constructed ofy channel iron of the same width as that used in the main frame, each end hanger being connected with the cables 8 at that end of the tank so that when the davit shafts are revolved, the cables will wind on the windlass and elevate the frame, and vice-versa; it being apparent that when the frame is set on the bottom of the pool the end hangers will drop down on their hinged means, but when the cables are wound. on their windlasses, the end hangers will be swung up to form stops at the ends of the frame.

ln using the device, presuming the parts to be assembled and constructed as described, with the frame on the bottom of a pool, should a person sink in the pool, he may be easily and quickly rescued by lifting the false bottom through the windlass construction, so that his body is brought to the surface of the water without delay, or should a person unable to swim go beyond his depth in the pool, the bottom may be lifted in order to save him from drowning.

It is apparent that by lhaving separate and independent supports at opposite ends of the pool, that the cable at each end may be wound independently, so that the low end may be raised to a level with the other, and both ends then raised together.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. A safety device for swimming pools, comprising a. false bottom adapted for support above the main bottom of the pool, hangers hingedly connected with opposite ends of said false bottom, and independent lifting devices connected with the respective hangers.

2. A safety device for swimming pools, comprising a false bottom adapted for support above the main bottom of the pool7 In testimony whereof I atxmy signature hangers hiigpdlly connected with opposite in presence of tvvo Witnesses.

ends of sai a se bottom, and independent w lifting devices connected with the respec- GEORGE F BIRMNGHAM' tive hangers, and adapted for projection lVtnesses: 1 above the false bottom, When the latter is C. C. GRAVES, lifted, for the purpose set forth. ARTHUR W. CAPS.

Copies ot this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents;4

' Washington, D. C.