US993402A

US993402A - Life-preserver.

Info

Publication number: US993402A
Application number: US58950510A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jacob Elforrest Prescott
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1910-10-27
Filing date: 1910-10-27
Publication date: 1911-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 1928-05-30

Description

Patented May 30, 1911.

J. E. PRESGOTT.

LIFE PRESERVEB.

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APPLICATION FILED 00T. 27, 1910. 993,402.

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EN EE0 JACOB ELFORREST PRESCOTT, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

LIFE-PRESERVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, i911.

Application led October 27, 1910. Serial No. 589,505.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB Enronnnsr PRESGOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Preservers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in life preservers.

It is designed to provide a life preserver adjustable to fit persons of any size or iigure; also to provide a life preserver the buoyant elements of which are so distributed as to keep the head of the wearer upright and above the water; also to provide a life preserver which will be practically indestructible; and also to provide a life pre* server some of the buoyant elements of which may be removed without materially affecting its eiiicieney.

In the dra-wings herewith accompanying and forming a part of this application, Figure l represents a plan view of the life preserver in extended position, the under arm straps being shown longer in proportion than in actual use and the waist tie straps being detached from the front of the preserver to permit it to be extended its full length, it being understood that in actual practice the ends of said tie straps are not detachable, but are' always in place in the holding loops; Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary longitudinal section showing the buoyant elements and the manner of their attachment to the base; Fig. 3 is a fragment of the cover used for holding the buoyant elements upon the base, the dotted lines showing the manner of folding the cover; Fig. t is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the structure of the life preserver; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the life preserver in position.

Same letters of reference indicate like parts in all the gures.

In said drawings A represents a base to which the buoyant elements are secured and consists of any suitable iieXible material. It is provided with a head receiving opening B near the center thereof which may be eX- tended through to the front end, as seen at B. To the base at each edge is secured a series of buoyant elements C placed side by side and secured thereto by a flexible covering D which passes around three sides of the buoyant elements and is stitched or otherwise secured to the base between each two of said elements. The covering has the ends folded against the end of the buoyantelements, as seen at E, and stitched to the base, as seen at F. rlhe outer surfaces of the buoyant elements are left free, so that the life preserver can be folded at any point back upon itself. The series of buoyant elements, one series on each side, are spaced apart from each other a suitable distance, leaving a portion of the base H centrally positioned uncovered. 'The base is preferably substantially rectangular, and is by reason of the uncovered portion H and the flexible character of the base capable of being folded sidewise as well as endwise.

Centrally attached at each side of the preserver are arm` straps l forming loops through which the arms pass, the position of the arm straps being such. that the arms are absolutely unhampered thereby. Secured to the base, one on either` side of the head receiving opening, are tie straps J positioned so that when the life preserver is in position the tie straps can be knotted and thus secure the two sides of the front of the life preserver together ata point near the neck. At the end of the back. one on each side, are tie straps K, the free ends of which pass through openings or loops L formed in the ends of the front of the life preserver, terminating within the head receiving opening and adapted to be knotted in front, as seen at N, Fig. 5, and these waist tie straps, by reason of their freely registering through the loops, can be made to adjust the front portion of the life preserver to figures of varying size and form. The tie straps K should terminate in enlarged ends M, so that they can not be accidentally detached but will always be in ready position for use.

The buoyant elements may be of any suitable material, and are preferably rectangular. They may be made of cork, hollow wood, metal, or any suitable material. The life preserver at the front is divided into two part-s extending from the head receiving opening downwardly to the end so as to enable it to be readily put on and adjusted, the parts being adapted to be drawn together by the tie straps, as before described, and the lower ends being movable laterally on the straps. The buoyant elements are spaced apart slightly from the edge of the base, as seen in Fig. t, so that the free edge can extend outwardly a distance sufficient to permit stitching to the base.

To operate the life preserver, place it over the head, the head passing through the opening B, the ends then dropping freely into the position shown in Fig. 5, the arms being passed through the loops. Tie straps J are then knotted and tie straps K are drawn together and knotted, the free ends of the life preserver being moved laterally thereon to assume the position most comfort-able to the wearer.

I claim:

l. A life preserver comprising a flexible base, two series of parallel horizontally positioned buoyant eleinentslattached thereto, one series at each side of the base, the two series being parallel and being separated laterally from each other by a wide uncovered portion ofthe base, a head receiving opening in the base positioned between the two series of buoyant elements, and means for securing the life preserver to the body.

2. A life preserver comprising a flexible base, two series of parallel horizontally positioned buoyant elements attached thereto, one series at each side of the base, the two series being parallel and being separated laterally from each other by a wide uncovered portion of the base, the outer surface of said buoyant elements being unsupported, whereby the life preserver is capable of being folded endwise at any point, a head receiving opening in the base positioned between the two series of buoyant elements, and means for securing the life preserver to the body.

3. A life preserver comprising a flexible base, two series of parallel horizontally positioned buoyant elements secured to one side thereof, one series at each side of the base, the two series being spaced apart from each other a distance substantially twice the thickness of said elements, whereby the life preserver can be folded endwise midway its ends and sidewise between the two series of buoyant elements, and a head receiving opening in said base extending from a point at or near the center thereof to the end of the front of the base.

t. A life preserver comprising a flexible base, two series of parallel horizontally positioned buoyant elements attached thereto, one series at each side of the base, the two series being parallel and spaced apart from each other a considerable distance and held together by the intervening web of the base, a head receiving opening in said intervening web extending from a point midway the ends of the base to the end of the front portion thereof, and means for securing the life preserver to the body.

5. A life preserver comprising a flexible base, two series of parallel horizontally positioned buoyant elements attached thereto, one series at each side of the base, the two series being parallel and spaced apart from each other a considerable distance, a head receiving opening in the base between the two series of buoyant. elements, said opening extending from about the center of the base to the end of the front portion thereof, dividing the front of the base into two portions, and two tie straps, one end attached to the life preserver near the 'bottom of the back, the other end adapted to have sliding engagement with the front portion of the life preserver, the free ends terminating in said opening.

6. A life preserver comprising a flexible base, two series of parallel horizontally positioned buoyant elements attached thereto, one series at each side of the base, the two series being spaced apart from each other, a head receiving opening in the base positioned between the two series of buoyant elements, arm straps one on each side of the base, neck tie straps secured to the base adjacent said head receiving opening, and waist tie straps secured to the base near the botto-m of the back, one on each side, the free ends having sliding engagement with the front of the base, the ends terminating in said head receiving opening.

JAC 0B ELFORREST PRESO OTT.

Vitnesses CHARLES L. FosTER, MARY C. PAGE.

Copies;I of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.