US1253034A - Life-buoy. - Google Patents

Description

T. S. HEYWARD.

LIFE BUOY.

APPLICATION FILED JULYZY. I917- SHEET 1.

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Patented Jan.

3 SHEETS zmm T. S. HEYWARD.

LIFE BUOY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27. m7.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

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, THOMAS SAVAGE HEYWARID, OF BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

[0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS SAVAGE HEY- WARD, a citizenof the United States, residing at Bluffton, in the county of Beaufort and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Buoys; and I do hereby 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.

The present invention relates to improvements in life buoys, and has for an object to provide an improved life buoy which will hold the person of the wearer in an erect position in the water and will sustain the head well above the surface.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved life buoy which will form a protection for the wearer against the buffeting of the waves and the attacks of sharks; and which will form a cushion to absorb shocks and jars incident to contact with vessels, piers, rocks, or other rigid objects.

A further object of the present invention resides in providing an improved life buoy which will be-of simple construction and of economical manufacture, and which will form a neat, attractive and compact article of manufacture.

With'these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel details of construction and combinations of parts more fully hereinafter disclosed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which similar reference symbols indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a life buoy constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3'is a rear view of the improved buoy.

Fig. 4is a horizontal sectional view taken on .the line 4-4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of a modified form of the improved buoy.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the form of buoy shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a further modified form of the invention in the ex. p nd d ondition in readiness for use Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 27, 1917.

LIFE-BUOY.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

Serial No. 183,169.

Fig. 8 is a similar view of the device collapsed; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another modified form of the life buoy.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and for the present to Figs. 1 to 4, the improved life buoy is shown to be made up of an elliptical base ring 1, a circular neck ring 2, and a cap piece 3, horizontally spaced apart and held together by a rear column 4 and a pair of front posts 5 and 6.

The elliptical shape of the base ring 1, with the flattened front and rear portions, affords free movement to the arms of a swimmer, and permits one to propel himself at a rapid rate through the water without substantial interference from the adjacent parts of the buoy. These flattened portions of the base ring 1 offer a minimum of resistance to the passage of the body through the water.

Depending from this base ring 1 are shown a series of eyes 7 provided for the attachment of straps for holding a waterproof garment or cage to receive and inclose the lower part of the body and legs of the wearer. This base ring 1 is designed tofit about the trunk of the body and beneath the arms, which are extended out between the base ring and neck ring 2. The intermediate ring 2 will be of the required size and shape to fit about the neck of the wearer and to support the headin an erect position, with the effect of forming a pillow or support which will sustain faint or sleeping persons. Above the intermediate neck ring 2 the cap piece 3 is formed with an inner cavity 8 of a shape to fit the top of the head of the wearer, in which position said cap piece 3 will supply an excellent protection.

This improved protector may be con structed of cork or other solid buoyant material; but where it is manufactured of hollow collapsible material, such as rubber, it will be provided with an inlet valve 9 through which air may be introduced to inflate the same. The hollow form is the one here illustrated, as will be seen by more particular reference to Fig 4, and in such case the rings 1 and 2, cap piece 3, column 4, and posts 5 and 6 combine to furnish commumeating chambers containing fluid under pres sure, which has a highly efiective sustalmng power when placed in the water.

' t will be obvi that f desirab f ii i) shield with goggles may be attached to the cap piece 3 or other part of the buoy, to pro tect the wearer from the elements and at the same time permit him to observe his surroundings.

Referring more particularly to the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the buoy is, in this instance, made up of a collapsible material adapted to fold down flat, so as to make a neat and compact package, and which dispenses with the cap piece. In this form of the invention the base ring or body sustaining member 1-O- may be of substantially the shape of the base ring 1, shown in Figs, 1 to 1, but is divided, as indicated at 11, to permit of opening out to receive the body of the wearer. This divided part 11 is connected together by the strap 12 engaging through the buckle 13 held on the strap 14-; although other means may be provided for this purpose. It is obvious that the base ring 1, in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 4;, may also be divided in this manner, and may be attached by the buckle and strap, or other suitable means.

The neck ring 15 is formed in one piece with the base ring 10, there being openings 16 in any suitable number cut out of the material between said base ring and neck to receive the arms of the wearer. These openings 16 are separated by posts 17 which form communicating channels between the base ring 10 and neck ring 15. The device is inflated through the valve stem 18. 7

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, 20 designates the body-encircling ring and 21 the neck-engaging ring, which, in this instance, may be of solid buoyant material, and such that the upper neck ring 21 may be allowed'to descend within the larger body-encircling ring 20, for which see Fig. 8. y Y

.For.the purpose of allowing a tree movement of the rings 20 and :21, to facilitate their collapse and expansion, they are connected by flexible strips 22,0f canvas or other appropriate material.

In the collapsed condition disclosed in Fig. 8, the lite buoy is readily portable, and occupies an exceedingly small compass, which will recommend it for packing and tl'lllSPOltZtthlll.

Coming finally to Fig, 9 of the d 'awings, the neck ring 25, *ap piece 26,1'earpillar 2 7, and posts 28 and '29 are all of a construc- .tion similar to that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to a ofthe present drawings, and hereinbefore more fully described.

This n'iodification of the invention, however, differs from that form shown in Figs. 1 to -1- in dispensing with the particular construction of the body ring and substituting therefor a pair of slings 31 and 3-2, which depend from the neck ring '25 in a position to receive the arms of the wearer, which are thrust between the branches of such slings. These slings 31 and 32 arepreferably joined at their lower ends by a belt or strap 33, which passes about the chest of the wearer and forms a convenient means by which the device is prevented from becoming detached from the person of the wearer. I

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of constructon and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention, and therefore 1 do not wish to be limited to such features except as may be required by the claims.

I claim;

1. A life buoy including a body engaging member, a cap piece, a rear pillar connected between said body engag1ng member and cap piece, and posts also connected between said cap piece and body engaging member, substantially as described.

A life buoy comprising a body engaging member, a head support ng member, a cap p1ece,,a rear column holding sald head supporting member and cap piece in spaced 1- relation from each other andtrom said body engaging member, and front posts connected between said members and cap piece, snbstantially as described.

.3. A life buoy comprising a base ring adapted to fit about the body, a neck ring above said base ring and adapted to surround the neck of the wearer and support the head, and a cap piece above'said. neck ring having a cavity for receivingth upper part of the head, substantially as described.

at. A life buoy including a base ring, a neck ring, a cap piece, andvconnections between said cap piece, neck ring, and base ring, said parts being constructed of hollow inflatable material adapted to receive a buoyantfluid,- substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I afli x my signature.

TI-IOMASSAVAGE HEYWARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for vfive cents each, by addressing the .Qomniissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. a i

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