US1468938A - Swimmer's emergency aid - Google Patents

Description

sept. 25,1923. 1,468,938-

A. C. CARAMORE SWIMMER S EMERGENCY AID Fied Aprii 25. 1925 @www f Patented sepeas, 1923.

tl ETE S Y ANTHONY c. enamoran, or JnMAIoai-NEWYORK.

swim/[nefs EMERGENCY Ain..

Application med april 25, 1923; j serial No. esmas.

To all whom. t may concern.'

Be it known that ANTHONY C. CARAMORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamaica, in the county of Queens and State of New York, has invented certain new and useful Improvements `in Swimmers *mer-l gency Aid, of which the following is a speciiication. f Y

This invention has reference to Van emergency aid for swimmers, and is designed to support a disabled swimmer in Ythe water until he has sutiiciently recovered, orv the support will sustain him in the water until help reaches him.

In accordance withA the invention, the device comprises a container having a strap capable of being fastened around the waist of a swimmer in a manner to oier no resistance or` impedance to they swimmers movements.

The arrangement is such that when an emergency occurs to a' person in the water, such as cramp or exhaustion, or anyV other accident that may happen to the swimmer that willresult in disabling him, he is able to seize a ring at the endort a ripper tape, and by a firm downward pull rips or severs a water-proof covering from a chemical container, so that water gains access to the chemical in the container to immediately generate gas which intlates a buoyant gas holding chamberV to keep the swimmer afloat until Vhelp reaches him, or until he can reach land. Y f

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming `part of this specification with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing in the drawings, but may be ychangedand modified, so long as such changes and inodiiioations mark no inaterialdeparture from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure l'- -is a `face view of the emergency aid structure.

Figure 2-is a side elevation thereof. Figure 3-is a detailed'view of the chemical container, and

Figure 4-is a longitudinal vertical section through the device, Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a buoyance chamber l, whichl may be constructed of cotton 'abricor other 'appropri-V ate material with an expanded upper end 2, anda lowerV central dependent extension 3, the part 3 being'of narrowed coniiguration` simulating a Vtail extension. VtTit-hin the upper widened portion 2, and extending into the tail continuationgB is anf approprieV ate container "4, designedv tollenclo'se anVV amount of material, such, for instance, as.

calcium carbide, which'when subjected to the action of water will generate a large volume of gas, the container 4 being lodged on the lateral expansion 2, and extending down into the tail extension 3.

At the upper end of the container'` 4 is an eye 9, constituting a linger hold for Vsustaining'the device, the weight oitr theA chemical contents of the container 4 being insuflicient to disturb frictional engagement of the container within the body 1 ofthe structure. Y Y 1 Surrounding the container 4,7Y and under riding Ysaid container is alband or web 7,

having its terminals joined together be-L neath the container 1. The container 4V is perforated at numerous places as indicated at 8, to'admit water to the interior, of the containenunless provision be made for cone trary action, which may be brought about 'by rendering thecovering for the container temporarily water-proof by' a coatingk of paraiiin or some other suitable material.

When the device'is in operative condition; the casing 5 is so arranged as to shield thel contents of lthe chemical container 4,from

.accessof water, untilit be desired that such condition should be established, at which time, .a pull on Vthe band 7 will rip the casing', so thatwater may find ready access to the contentsv of the container 4, through the perforations 8 whereupon the water will immediately reach the contents of the casing 4 and generate'acetylene gas or some other gas by the chemical reaction caused by the access of water thereto. Y 7.

The portionV 2 of the structure is made quite large so as to exert such buoyancy when the device is submerged in water, as to readily'sustain the human body in such position that the head is well above the surface of the water, sothat the body cannot sink even though the person supplied ywith the device is disabled. In order to sustain the container 4, the eye V9 is .connected by an additional strap 10 to the main portion 2.; of the structure, and the band 7V is conion tinued below the teil portion 3, and is connected to a ringl 1l, thus permitting the wearer oi the device to exert a pulling force upon the berndv 7 to surely rupture or pull apart the band 7, and thus expose. the perforations 8 to access of Water and permit the: generation of gas which will immediately find its Way into the lateral-expansion 2 of the container l, at e high point in the device to exert :i buoyant tendency und'thus sustain the head of the disabled person Well above the Water level to assist the person in reaching zi point of safety 0r Sustain the person for as long' e time, as may he necessary to permit a rescue.

The operation of the device when in use is Wholly automatic, requiring only the ripping of the band 7 from connection with the structure toy admit the access of Water to the gas generating chemical within said container.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

In e device'of the class described, a container having an expanded upper end to house gas, e receptacle for a gas producing chemical responsive t0 the action of Water, said receptacle having perforations, e ripping bend for exposing the interior of the receptacle to the action of Water and-'excluding the Water therefrom until the band is ruptured, and means-attached to the ripping bend operable for rupturing thesame to permit eccess of Water to the contents of the container.'

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ANTHONY C. A CARAMORE.

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