US295543A

US295543A - William geay

Info

Publication number: US295543A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1884-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 1901-03-25

Description

(No Model.)

W. GRAY;

, BODY PROTECTOR; 7 No. 295,543/ Patented Mar. 25, 1884.

UNITED STATES PATENT Creme.

WVILLIAM GRAY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALE TO WILLIAM W. TUCKER, OF SAME PLACE.

BODY-PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,543, dated March 25, 1884.

Application filed October 18, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM GRAY, of Hart; ford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and 5 useful Improvements in Body-Protectors, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, where Figure l is a view of my device as fastened to the person of a ball-player, and showing it in use. Fig. 2 is an edge View of my device, with partcut away to show the interior.

My invention relates to the class of devices used to protect the body of persons engaged in athletic sports from blows of the implements used, although it is equally well adapted for a like use in various other occupations.

It consists, mainly, of an air cushion of special form, made of any air-tight material, as indi-a-rubber cloth, the whole having transverse corrugations.

This device is particularly adapted for use by the catcher in baseball games, as his position, close behindthe batter, in manyinstances, with dead balls and swift pitching, exposes him to painful and dangerous blows from the ball unexpectedly turned from its course,-as

by a foul tip.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter a denotes the cushion as a whole, made of india rubber cloth or other equivalent material impervious to air, and having the transverse corrugations b, which render the cushion flexible in the direction of its length. This cushion is shaped to conform to the outline of the upper part of the body of the wearer, being broadest about the central part that covers the stomach, cut away at the upper part to allow free motion of the head and arms, and having the nar- 0 .rowedlower part, c, which projects downward,

and while in nowise impeding the movements of the wearer, protects him in all positions. The special function and utility of this part a are obvious by reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings.

A strap, d, fast to the upper edge of the cushion, serves to suspend it from the neck oia person, and the belt 6 holds it about the waist.

f, of the form and material common to aircushions, foot-balls, and the like. I

The protector, when not inflated, canbe readily folded into small compass for packing or. transportation, and it is easily and quickly inflated for use, as by blowing through the valve, opened for that purpose and then. closed.

I claim as my invention- 1. As a new article of manufacture, a bodyprotector of the within-described class, made of air-tight material, conforming in general outline to the part protected, and having a narrowed lower extremity, the whole provided with means for inflation and for securing it to the body of the wearer, all substantially as described.

2. As a body-protector, the air-cushion, of the within-described shape, having lateral corrugations, whereby the cushion is rendered flexible longitudinally, all substantially as def scribed.

3. In combination, the air-cushion a, having the transverse corrugations b and the narrowed lower extremity, c, the air-valve f, and the strap (1 and belt 6, all substantially as described.

WVILLIAM GRAY. Witnesses:

CHAS. L. BURDETT, EDWIN F. DIMocK.

The cushion is inflated by means of the Valve 50