US1856632A

US1856632A - Buoyant bathing belt

Info

Publication number: US1856632A
Application number: US254661A
Authority: US
Inventors: George E Haines
Original assignee: L H GILMER Co
Current assignee: L H GILMER Co
Priority date: 1928-02-16
Filing date: 1928-02-16
Publication date: 1932-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 1949-05-03

Description

May 3, G E HA|NE$ 1,856,632

BUOYANT BATHING BELT Filed Feb, 16, 1928 @im mu w 111 W E. I L

M ""llmin IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented May 3, 1932 UEED STATES PATENT OFFEOE GEORGE E. I -IAINES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO L. H. GILMER COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY BUOYANT BATHING BELT Application filed February 16, 1928. Serial No..254,661.

My invention is a flexible tubular bathing belt of impermeable fabric normally held in pleats or folds extending longitudinally of the belt so as to provide a sightly or ornamental girdle of narrow width adapted for supporting or confining a garment at the waist line and expansible by inflation to form a buoyant belt for floating the wearer in the water.

In its preferred form, the fabric ends are firmly held in pleat-ed or folded position by the engagement therewith of straps or band sections having thereon fastening means such as a buckle. The pleated ends of the fabric are preferably embedded in the straps and vulcanized or cemented thereto. The fastening means preferably comprises a buckle mounted on one strap and frictionally engaging the other strap so that the circumference of the belt is readily variable.

The characteristic features and advantages of my improvements will more fully appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings illustrating embodi- 5 ments of my invention.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a belt embodying my invention with the casing of the buoyant section folded in longitudinal pleats; Fig. 2 is a perspective view thereof; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the belt with the buoyant section expanded by inflation; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the connected ends of the belt; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the belt and inflating valve; Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view through the folded casing adjacent to its juncture with one of the straps; Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view illustrating a modified form of pleat or fold; Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of a further modified form of pleat or fold; Fig. 9 illustrates the appearance and a suitable position of the belt when used for sustaining or conr fining a garment; and Fig. 10 illustrates the appearance and a suitable position of the belt when inflated and used as a life preserver.

As illustrated in the drawings my improved belt is preferably made of a strip i1npermeable material, such as rubber or rubberized fabric, cemented together along its longitudinal edges to form a hollow casing or tube 1, which, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9 is folded longitudinally of the length of the belt to form

pleats

2, 3 and 4:, which are retained normally in folded position and have their ends closed by blocks or

pads

5 and 6 of the

straps

5 and 6, the longi: tudinal seam of the tube being preferably concealed between the pleats. The straps are preferably made of rubber or rubberized fabric so that the ends of the pleats may be embedded and vulcanized therein. It will, however, be understood that the ends of the tube may be otherwise sealed and the pleats retained in folded position by snaps, bands, etc.

The strap 5 has a buckle 7 secured thereto by a rocking clamp 8, the buckle being provided with the slots 9 and 10 for the passage of the strap 6 for connecting the ends of the belt together in readily adjustable relation.

A valve 11 is set in the wall of the pleat 2 and the passage of air therethrough is controlled by a rotary stem 12.

Instead of forming pleats of the accordion type as shown in cross section in Fig. 6, the tube may be folded as a box pleat, as shown in cross section in Fig. 7 in which the plications 13 are tucked between the outer laminae 14 and positioned in such relation by end fastenings such as 5, 6. Or the pleating may consist of a simple fold consisting of plications 15 and 16 as in Fig. 8. The tube may be suitably creased or pressed so as to cause it to normally retain its folded form when deflated either during the manufacture of the fabric or after completion of the belt.

As shown in Fig. 9, the pleated belt may be readily passed through loops on a garment to support or confine the latter, and the garment loops aid in maintaining the folded relation of the tube walls. Or the belt may be inflated, as shown in Fig. 7, to form an expanded bladder and used as a life preserver or aid in floating or swimming.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A buoyant bathing belt having a hollow section with exposed pleats extending longitudinally of the length thereof, means cbmprising blocks of hardened plastic tending toretain said pleats in folded relation, and means whereby said hollow section may be inflated to expand said pleats.

2JA buoyant bathing belt having a hollow section With external plications folded from each edge and extending longitudinally of the length thereof and having straps fixed to the folded-ends of said hollow section, said 10 hollow section being adapted for inflation between said straps to form a buoyant belt.

3. ,A buoyant bathing belt comprising a longitudinally pleated hollow section having ends embedded in folded relation in and sealed by end members, said end members tending to'retain said belt in pleated-position, and means for detachably coupling together said endmembers.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set 7 go my name this 13th day of February 1928.

GEORGE E. HAINES.