US462291A

US462291A - Combined chair and life-preserver

Info

Publication number: US462291A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1891-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 1908-11-03

Description

(No Model.)

I. S. ALLEN. COMBINED CHAIR AND LIFE PRESERV ER.

No. 462,291. Patented Nov. 3, 1891.

IRA S. ALLEN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

COMBINED CHAIR AND LIFE-PRESERVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,291, dated November 3, 1891.

Application filed June 24, 1891. $erial No.397,287. (N model.)

I To all whom Lt nut/y concern.-

Be it known that LIRA S. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of \Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Chairs and Life-Preservers; and I 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 accompany ing drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a combined chair and life-preserver especially designed for use on boats; and it consists in a certain construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully set forth, the essential features of which being pointed out particularly in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide means that will afford a light and portable chair and one that in case of accident may be readily employed as a life-preserver. This object is attained by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a central transverse section with the seat and back removed. Fig. is a plan view also with the seat and back removed. plication of the device as a life-preservcr and the position of parts when adjusted to a person.

Referring to the letters and figures of reference, A designates the side frames of the base or body portion of the chair, upon the outer face of which a thin panel B is secured, all of said parts being formed of light wood. The side frames A of the chair are connected by the front and rear cross-pieces G and are provided with the capping-pieces I), (see Fig. 2,) having curved inner edges 4, forming a cen' tral annular opening E therethrough, as shown in Fig. 8. The straight portion of the inner edges of said capping-pieces D do not meet, but are connected by the flexible straps I). These side frames A of the body of the chair are entirely covered with rubber cloth F or other suitable covering impervious to water,

Fig. a is a view showing the 8L1).

said rubber on the inner face of said frames being drawn from the bottom thereof to the inner edges of the capping-pieces D, forming an air-chamber I-I between said rubber cloth and the inner face of the panel B of the frames, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby the bodyof frame of the chair is rendered buoyant and the wood-work thereof is protected from moisture. Located across the inner face Of the side frames A, at the bottom thereof, is a shield cl, that prevents the rubber covering being broken in at that point.

I designates the seat of the chair, to which the back K is attached. Said seat is detachably secured to the top of the body portion of the chair by means of the straps a, adapted to engage the pins or buttons 0, secured in the side panels B thereof. The depending flange or shoulder d at the front edge of said seat embraces the top portion of the body of the chair, and the depending rear ends 6 of the uprights h of the back pass between the projecting points i of the sides B at the rear, whereby the seat and back are securely retained in place.

To employ this improved device as a lifepreserver, the seat and back are removed by disengaging the straps to from the pins 0. The body of the chair is then placed over the head of the person, the head passing through the central opening E in the top thereof, the arms passing through the openings above the crosspieces 0, and the flexible straps b at the front and rear of the chair-body resting upon the shoulders, as shown in Fig. 4:, by means of which the apparatus is securely attached to the person, permitting the free use of the arms and having sufficient buoyancy to support the head above the water.

This improved device serves the double purpose of a chair and life-preserver without occupying any more space on the boat than the ordinary chair, and may be readily and quick- 1 y employed as a life-preserver when desired.

\Vhile I have shown and described the airspace in the frame of the ehair,I do not wish to limit myself to this construction to effect the buoyancy of the chair-frame, as cork or like substance maybe used within the frame of the chair for this purpose without depart ing from the spirit of my invention.

chambers, the seat and back detachably mounted on said frame, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination, with a buoyant chairframe having means of attachment to the body of a person, of the seat and back detachably coupled thereto, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IRA S. ALLEN. WVitnesses-z E. S. WHEELER, R. B. WHEELER.