US634445A - Life-saving appliance. - Google Patents

Description

- Patented Oct. l0, I899. H. DE WILDE. LIFE SAVING APPLIANCE.

(Application filed Apr. 18, 1899.)

(No Model.)

IN VENTDI flu, aw

WIIAESSES' A ITURNEYS NITED STATE PATENT @rrrcn.

IIUBERT DE WILDE, OF GAND, BELGIUM.

LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,445, dated October 10, 1899. Application filed April 18, 1899. Serial No. 713,487. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HUBERT DE WILDE, merchant, a subject of the King of Belgium, residing at 66 Pcherie, Gand, in the Kingdom of Belgium, have invented new and useful Improvements in or relating to Life-Saving Appliances, (for which applications have been filed in Belgium on September 21, 1898, granted on September 30, 1898; in Germany on October 11, 18 98; in France on March 20, 1899; in England on March 21, 1899; in Denmark on March 25, 1899; in Italy on March 29, 1899; in Norway on March 27, 1899; in Spain on March 27, 1899, and in Sweden on March 30, 1899,) of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates to the construction of a life-saving collar or appliance made preferably of a floating or buoyant material, the parts being preferably of a particular shape in order to conform to the part of the body to which the device is to be applied, the invention also relating to means for rapidly applying and securing the appliance to the user.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of the component parts or buoyant bodies which together form the collar or appliance, showing the manner of stringing them on one or more cords or chains. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the whole of the collar and one way of closing the collar. Fig. 3 is a half-section of the collar on the line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a plan view of an appliance with a spring device for rapidly closing the ends of same, and Fig. 5 is a view of the spring-rod.

The component parts of the appliance may be of any suitable section; but it is preferable to give them the shape of four-sided pyramids, such a shape being accompanied by tWoadvantages. The first consists in their being easily adapted to the neck of the person, since the truncated apices of the pyramids easily fit within the space between the head and the shoulders, while a very strong surface toward the base is possible, resulting in a very great floating power, the latter being the second of the advantages which cannot be realized to such an extent by other shapes-such as,'-for instance, prismatic forms. The different parts are formed, preferably, from cork or any other substance which floats naturally, or they may be made hollow, say, of light metal, such as aluminium. The collar or appliance is formed by stringing a number of these parts A, according to the length required, on a cord or wire 0 c, passing through perforations Z in said parts, the lateral faces of which may be beveled or cutaway at B to allow of greater play or flexibility and to render the application of the device easier. The two end pieces A A are prevented from coming off by forming knots or the like on the cord 0 c at convenient distances apart. In order to avoid the several parts A being dis- -'placed as regards each other by turning around the cord 0 c',-they may be held in position by two strong cords m '12, passed, respectively, through perforations G and R, parallel to the cord 0 c, and terminating by a knot or in any other way at the extreme end parts A A, thus forming a flexible appliance.

Any rapid means of attachment of the device to the body of the user may be employed, such as a small flexible tie-chain D, as shown in Fig. 2.

One of the essential qualities of a life-saving appliance should be that of being rapidly and conveniently applied by the person in danger. A spring closing or seen ring device has therefore been devised, as represented in Figs. 4: and 5, which realizes every desideraturn and should insure its use by all maritime agencies as well as on life-saving stations The cord or wire on which the solid parts are strung is here replaced by a spring- Wire or a steel rod or strip bent into a .circle and provided in the middle with a helicoidal twist F, acting as a spring. The parts Aare strung over the ends of each of the branches 0 c, the middle pieces a at having a groove cut in them, so that they may fit closely around the coil F, so as to prevent any want of continuity in the appliance. Knobs or buttons, with rounded-off edges and screwed on the ends E E, serve to prevent the. parts from coming off. It is sufficient, therefore, for placing the collar or appliance in position to draw the extremities E E apart with the hands, so as to be able to pass the appliance around the neck or part to which it is to be applied. The action of the spring 1* will then close it as soon as released, thus forming an.

automatic lock or fastening.

The employment of the device as described above fully solves the question of life-saving appliances. As when applied to the neck the head alone is kept above the water, the body may remain immersed in the water as deeply as possible, which assures a maximum of the stability and also a maximum floating power.

Having now particularlydescribed and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is- 1. A life-saving appliance comprising a number of solid or hollow buoyant bodies having the shape of four-sided pyramids strung on a cord or wire and means for securing the appliance readily to the user, said means holding the pyramids with their bases directed radiallyoutward whereby the appliance presents a bearing surfacc to extend around the neck and inclining upwardly and outwardly substantially as described.

2. A life-saving appliance of the kind described in which a number of pyramid-shaped buoyant bodies are strung on a curved metal wire or strip having a central spring-hinge substantially as described.

3. In combination the series of buoyant bodies having the shape of four-sided pyra mids and means engaging the bodies at a plurality of points to prevent displacement of the bodies and to hold them with their bases directed outwardly, substantially as described.

In witness whereofl have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

HUBERT DE W ILDE.

\Vitnesscs:

F. PARETTE, GREGORY PHELAN.

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