US1116582A

US1116582A - Life-saving apparatus.

Info

Publication number: US1116582A
Application number: US71369112A
Authority: US
Inventors: Peter M Freely
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1912-08-06
Filing date: 1912-08-06
Publication date: 1914-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 1931-11-10

Description

P. M. FREELY.

LIFE SAVING APPAflATUs.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 6, 1912.

1,1 16,582. Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

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LIFE SAVING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED ATHLG, 1912.

1,1 1 6,582. Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

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PETER M. FREEIIY, on NEW YORK, n. Y.

LIFE-SAVING- APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

Application filed August 6, 1912. Serial No. 713,691.

To all whomit may concern: c

Be it known that 1, PETER M. FREELY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in life saving apparatus adapted for use especially 011 ships at sea, and the pri mary object of the invention is to provide relatively simple apparatus of this kind which is capable of being put into use quickly and without requiring skill on the part of the user and which when occupled by the user will assume a correct position upon entering the Water and will float in the water in a horizontal position with the occupant in a reclining position, that part of the apparatus which protects or incloses the upper portion of the occupants body being turned upwardly or extended angularly with respect to the body of the apparatus and having an opening through which the occupant may enter and leave the apparatus aswell as receive air for breathing,

the apparatus being collapsible so that it may occupy a relatively small space when not in use, and when expanded or opened, a framework serves to maintain the apparatus in proper form.

. Another object of the invention is to provide a hood for the opening through which the user may enter and leave the apparatus, this hood embodying two collapsible sections, means being provided for securing both of the sections in expanded position, thereby closing completely the opening in the apparatus and thus protecting the 00- cupant from stormy weather or the entrance of water, and means being also provided for holding one of the hood sections in expanded condition to protect the occupant without, however, completely closing the opening in the apparatus.

In the accompanying drawing :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a life savlng apparatus constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment oi the invention, the apparatus in this figure bemg shown e) panded to indicate the manner in which it is to be used; Fig. 2 is a perspectlve view showing the apparatus in collapsed form and 1n condition to be stored; Pig. 3 rep-,

resents a central longitudinal section of the apparatus showing the same expanded and with both sections of the hood closed; Fig. i represents an enlarged section of the collapsible hood and the adjacent portion of the apparatus, one of the hood sections being shown expanded and the other hood section being shown collapsed; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. i, but showing both hood sections collapsed; Fig. 6 represents an enlarged section 011 the line 66 of Fig, 3.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

Life saving apparatus embodying the present invention is particularly adapted for the use of passengers or other persons float in a position thatwill be most comfortable for the occupant. In that form o'l the invention shown, the apparatus embodies a collapsible structure composed of a body section 1, leg sections 2, an upturned c section 3 to accommodate the upper portion of the body and the head of the occupant, and a hood section 4: which may be opened or closed as conditions may re quire. The body section is provided with a suitable number of annular ribs 5 which extend circumferentially of the body portion and with their axes arranged longitudinally of the apparatus, these ribs being preferably of graduated diameters with the larger ribs toward the upper end of the apparatus to enable the ribs to telescope when the apparatus is collapsed. The leg sections 2 are also provided with annular ribs or hoops 6 which extendcircumferentially of the leg sections with their axes in parallelism and arranged longitudinally of the apparatus, these ribs or hoops for the leg sections being also preferably graduated in diameter toenable them to telescope when the apparatus is collapsed. The bottoms of the leg sections are closed by the end walls 7. The section 3 which is adapted to accommodate the upper portion of the body and the head of the occupant is curved or extended at an angle upwardly with reenable the occupant to lie in a reclining position with his head and shoulders at the proper elevation. In order to maintain the angular portion 3 of the apparatus in proper curved or angular form, it is p1:o-.

vided with a suitable number of substan tially rigid ribs or hoops 8, which are arranged in radiating relation and are "secured together at their apices by an angle iron, bracket or equivalent device 9, to provide for the pivotal movement requisite to enable the structure to be expanded and collapsed. The relatively rigid ribs or hoops for the different sections of the ap paratus are covered by a casing 10 of flexible waterproof material which permits the apparatus to be folded or collapsed easily, although when the apparatus is expanded, this casing will effectually exclude water, especially when the ribs or hoops are arranged at the inner side thereof, as shown.

The apparatus is so constructed that it will float in the water in a substantially horizontal position as shown in Fig. 3, the: angularly extending portion 3 of the apparatus being upturned to prevent the en-i trance of water to the apparatus and to supply air to the occupant. However, to prevent sinking of the apparatus should the' same leak, a float 11 may be provided, that shown in the present instance being in the form of an annular air tube which is SG', cured around the upper portion of the angul larly directed extension portion 3 of the api paratus, with its axis preferably in alinement with the axis of the aforesaid up-.

turned extension 3.

However, to exclude water from this open-1 ing and to protect the occupant from the weather, the hood 4 is provided. This hood is composed of two structurally

independent sections

12 and 13, which are each preferably in the form of a quarter of a sphere and composed respectively of flexible waterproof coverings lei and 15 secured at their lower edges and sides by a supporting frame 16, and semi-circular ribs 17 and 18 are provided which maintain the hood sections in proper form. These ribs 17 and 18 for the hood sections are pivotally connected at the opposite. sides of the opening to brackets 19 provided at diametrically opposite" points on frame 16 whereby either or both of the hood sections may be expanded and collapsed as may be desired. WVhe'n the hood sections are collapsed, they lie within the float or air chamber 11. When both hood sections are expanded, they completely close the top of the section 3 and they may be retained in closed position by a lacing 20 which may cooperate with lacing studs 01' hooks 21 on the adjacent ribs 17 and 18 of the respective hood sections. This lacing may be readily applied and removed by the occupant within the apparatus. In some instances, it may be desirable or necessary to collapse one of the hood sections and to expand the other into the position as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. In order to retain the hood sectionin expanded position, a member 22 preferably constituted by a cord or strap is used, this member being secured tothe outermost rib 17 at one end and being fastened at its opposite end to the angle iron 9 which latter serves to retain the ribs or hoops 8 in proper position. The hood is supported in proper position by the frame 16 which surrounds the upper end of the section 3, this frame cooperating with a complemental frame 23, and a set of toggle braces 24 are interposed between the frames 16 and 23. These braces serve when expanded and locked to retain the frames 16 and 23 in separated relation, and, when unlocked, and

folded they permit this part of the apparatus to be collapsed into compact form. The

toggle braces are pivotally connected at their ends to the frames 16 and 23 respectively and are pivotally connected at their centers, the toggles moving in a direction parallel 'to the wall of the casing or covering material while being expanded and folded.

I claim as my invention 1. Life saving apparatus of the character described embodying a flexible casing adapted to inclose the body of the occupant and 3 comprising a longitudinal section adapted The extension 3 serves as a support for the l shoulders and upper portion of the body ofi the occupant, and is open at the top whereby the occupant may enter and leave the apparatus and also obtain air for breathing.

to occupy a horizontal position in the water, an upturned portion extending 'atan 1..

said upturned portion, an annular complemental frame connected to said upturned portion below the first-named frame and having a pivotal connection with the latter, devices between said frames for expanding and collapsing them, and a hood consisting of front and rear structurallyindependent sections connected along their Tl lower edges; to said first-named frame and adapted to be expanded or collapsed either singly or together.

2. Life saving apparatus of the character described embodying a flexible casing adapted to inclose the body of the occupant and comprising a longitudinal section adapted to occupy a horizontal position in the Water, an upturned portion extending at an angle to the longitudinal section, and a.

hood connected to said upturned portion; in combination with an annular float encircling said upturned portion and secured thereto.

3. Life saving apparatus of the character described embodying a casing adapted to inclose the body of the occupant, and a hood consisting of structurally-independent complemental flexible sections connected to the upper end of said casing and adapted to be expanded or collapsed either singly or together, means for connecting said sections together when both are expanded, and means for supporting the rear section in expanded position when the front section is collapsed.

4. Life saving apparatus of the character described embodying a collapsible structure comprising connected body and leg sections, an upturned section connected to the body section and extending at an angle therefrom, and a hood connected to said upturned section and consisting of a pair of structurally-independent sections adapted to be expanded or collapsed either singly or to gether; in combination with an annular float encircling said upturned section and connected thereto, said upturned section being provided with radiallyarranged annular ribs having a common pivotal connection to permit them to be swung together, said leg and body sections being provided with circumferentiallyarranged annular ribs of graduated diameters, whereby they may be telescoped, and said hood sections being arranged to lie within said upturned section, when the apparatus is collapsed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PETER M. FREELY.

Witnesses: J osnrrr V. LAFFAN, HARRY SEGIEL, 2nd.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0."