US1788480A - Art and apparatus of buoyant garments - Google Patents

Description

im 13, w31,

H. BQND ETAL,

ART AND APPARATUS OF BUOYANT GARMENTS Filed Aug. 19. M929 Him BUN@ Lizmsiw 5.5mm

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Patented lan. 13, 1931 insana g isi-ares lParar vreis HrLn Bonn .ann ELIZABETH noNnQor MnMrHrs, 'rnnnnssnn ART AND APPAnArpsorfBUoYAnr saaivinnrsk Application. filed Augus'tvl), 1929. Serial No. 386,399.

'l` his invention relates to improvements in devices designed for facilitating swimming, 'and-to the art of producing suchldevices, and

l more particularly to buoyant garments sus- 6 ceptible of variable buoyancy. i The essential object 'in vievv isthe combining-of maximum efficiency With greatest simplicity. A l fr Y 'y VAmong other and more detailed objects are 10 the reduction ofthe garment to the formlof a belt; the formation of such belt in amanner toadapt it to .fit personsof 'diierentgirth Without variation in the actual overall length of they garment the rendit-ion of the buoyancy y of the belt variable by the demountable application and removal of buoyant elements thereto `and therefromgand the provision of means for facilitating-ease and readiness of y application and Vremoval `of such elements 0 While effectively providing against dislodgnient or displacement of the buoyant elements y duringuse. Y

lith these and othei objects in view as will in part be hereinafter stated and inpart become apparent, the 'invention comprises both the art of forming abuoyant garment andthe produc-t ofsuch art, whereby a's-imple and c flicieiitapparatus is produced Which may be easily and quickly donned fand removed', and may likewise Lhave its buoyancy varied according to the effective displacement i required Whether relative tothe proportional displacement of the user or tothe degree of the eiiiciency of thc user in svvimming.

The `invention also comprisescertain novel steps'and combinationsof steps of the art of garment construction, and certain'novel constructions, combinations, ,andV arrangements 4U of parts ofL garments aswill behereinafter made apparent and be subsequentlypointed cut in the appended claims..

` ln the accompanying drayvingsQ-f-` i Figure l is a perspective vicrvV ofan ern- `4 5 bodiment of the features ofthe invention produced by the iniprovedart andv shown as applied and ,ready for use. l y

Figure 2 is an enlarged section taken trans versely through the belt and glongitudinally through one of thebuoyant elements, the `sec` gitudinaledges With a marginal binding oi" tion being takenapproximately on the median line of the buoyant element. y

Figures 3 and l are end views of the belt vdetached and Vseen on a reduced scale with terial, the netted material-being prcferredfor yits lightness "1 of Weight and its physical strength'. The strip is preferably provided with selvage or like finish along` its longitudinal'edges, and Where such selvage is'not initially present, an appropriate finish in l substitution thereof should beinade along the edges ofthe strip. The end edgesv of the strip YWill/ordinarily bevravw and require finishing'to the equivalentl'of a selvage. The strip of netted `or othermaterial must be `ofap- 'proxiiat'ely the length requiredlfor the fin? 'islied belt, and should little more than ltwice the Width thereof.

The strip is first provided along itsflonpreferable limply flexible material, which may consist merely of'a heavy, strong" selvage or of theadditionof a bindingl strip of tape. When tape isused, that commonly employed for-binding garments maybe utilized, or, Whenit is desired to increase the elasticity lon'gitudinally, of the belt, a special tape may be employed Vof the character of fabric commonly used asl surgical bandages possessing a degree of elasticity inherent incident to the concatenation of the threads ofthe 'fabric Without employment of rubber orv like elastic. The tape or lilre binding material is preferably s eWed to thebeltforming faby ric, but may be otherwise secured thereto 'as wf' Y proximate contact' with the edge of the first folded part, so that the thus folded' belt-'-V forming strip will beapproximately one-half of its original unfoldedwidth. Then, the thus folded strip is secured by a series of transversely located lines of stitching or other appropriate securing means spaced` apartr longitudinally of the belting to provide a series of transversely located pockets. each closed at both ends. and open only at the place of the selvaged edges or binding tapes. Said binding tapes being of lesselasticity than the netted fabric of the belt produce a limiting strap causing the expression of greater elasticity at the opposite side or vface of the pockets along the line of said strap'. The result in the finished article is that the free area enclosed by the belt, when the strap produced by the tape is exterior. of the belt, will be considerably less, as seen in Figure 3, than when the .said strapis encircled the pockets, as seen in Figure 4. y

It is clear that the method of folding of the belt-forming fabric and the cross stitching thereof will result in the formation of a series of pockets, as above stated, each of which has a relatively longsect-ion prefer'- ably amounting to almost the whole length of the pocket, and a preferably comparatively short opposing section, the selvage binding tape demarking the .limits of said sections. Of course, other proportions in the lengths of the pocket sections may bel provided when and as found desirable.v llccessibilitj,L to the pocket sections is afforded by the nonattachment of the adjacentedges of the marginal tapes. j Y

When the belt fabricris thus completed, it remains only to provide detachable attaching means for the ends of the belt to vcomplete the same. Such attaching means may be any appropriate type of buttons, buckles, hooks and eyes, or other detachable fasteners, as, for example, snap fastenersof the glove-button or automobile-curtain type. Appropriate tape or other binding is preferably secured to the ends of theY belt for stabilizing purposes, but the use of such tape .is largely a matt-er of. choice.

VVhen thus completed, thepockets 'of the belt are designed and adapted to demountably receive buoyant elements or units which may be inserted longitudinally between the stitching ofthe fabric A are'finislied by the selvage'oi" ming' begins and progresses, less and less buoyancy will be required, and decreasing buoyancy may be produced by removal of successive buoyant eleinents,care being preferably exercised to alternately removefrom approximately opposit-e portions to maintain substantial equilibrium.

. Of course, the belt may, and in most instances will be, preferably constructed in sections, three sections being preferred, one for the back and one foreach side at the front with Athe-separable ends occurring between the two-front side sections. Other desirable` details may beemployedas found preferable,

some'of which will be specifically pointed out withVV reference vto the accoinpanyin drawings in which A indicates the beltfabric folded-at l, 1, to provide the double thicknessand producethe pocketsections- Q, 2 and 3, 3, resulting fromrthe transverse lines of l, l. The longitudinal margins tapes 5, 5, providingthe access opening 6' to the pocketsections, 2 and 2. The terminal edges of thefabric A are preferably bound by appropriate Vtapes 7, 7, which tapes carry the detachable securing' means indicated -in the drawings as snap fasteners 8, 8.Y The belt formed of such fabric is preferably divided at B', B into a back section C, and front side sections D, D, the baeksectioii being connected tothe side sections-by appropriate straps v9, 9-preferably of elastic material, such Vas garterelast-ic or the like, so Vas to provide desirable give and conformity to body contour and movements. -VVVithineach pair of pocket'secti ons 2 3 is inserted a demountable buoyant element l0, each consisting preferably .of an Vimpervious tube filled with 'kapola or other appropriate buoyant substance l1. The tube ofeach buoyant element may be' of'thin lrubber and is sealed at both ends, as at' l2, l2, to-prevent access of moisture to; the contained buoyant` substance.

Other substance may be `substituted for kapok, but kapok has been found superior for v-most Apurposes because of its capacity toV remain -distended and' occupy large areas with comparatively small bulk ot material. lts capacity also toresist saturation in case of rupture of one of the impervious tubes is a A further reason for` it-suse. It is not desirable which are, so far as the present invention is openi concerned, known structures. lt is desirable,

however, that tbc and shape ol each buoyant element l0 be proport'oiied to adapt the ele-.nient te the respective pocket scc ions 2 and 8 and to application and removal thereto and therefrom through the access open-A iniis 6. Y

`ln operation, the several pockets being lille-:l with the demountable buoyant ele* niente, tlifl belt is applied to the person ci the user a iter the manner indicated in Figure l, and the fastening devices 8 are secured to connect the ends of the belt together. Vlhe structure is then ready for use. ItA is preferable to apply the belt after the manner shown in Figure l with the strap comprised or the tapes?) oiiterinostyso that the access es 6 will be exposed. Thus, when one learning to swim and using` one of the belts, tinus that lie has acquired a certain degree of eiiiciencv and desires to test his progress, be may insert a finger criiingers through an @peni Y' 6 an il sufficiently coingriress the upper part ot.' the buoyant. element l0 to withdraw the upper end thereof through the respectivo opening' 6, and'tlien Withdraw the vWhole ing; Apropfirtionately decreased, the user Will `lind .necessity -to exercise his swimming slrill a pronortioiiately greater extent.r `ll e niay thus prr ,y withdrawing a buoyant unit l() occasionally Jfrom time to time, until all of tlie buoyant elements have been reinoved.` Naturally, bet-ore lie has actually reached the buoyant unit. he will probably discardthe entire belt, but there will be many stages between total inability to sWiin and such proficiency qs ena-bles discarding the belt7 all et which stages will lind appropriate adaptation by such varied displacement of the beltV as ref. aired to keep the student or swimmer up to bis swimming' ability.

lt should beunderstood that While the arinr-nt ot the belt, as shown inFigure l.,V has been expressedv asgffrelerreiil, it is natuf preferred for some purposes only. It is to be observed that Wlien'tliefparts arethus arranged, the free spaceencircled by the beltV will correspond in yany given size of beltto the space seen in Figure 3; Whereas iii' the irirth oli the user ie 2greater and no larger belt be available by reversing tl e sides or laces ot the belt and causing* the strap made up oi the tapes toappear at the inside, a 4greater girth Will be accommodated, as clearly seen in Figure et. rlhis mode oit' application, hoivf over. po t' sses the drawback that one must reach in e the belt to find access to an openfi 6 for withdrawing a buoyant element l0.

be removed use.

when the belt is not actually in Y provide Y .securing the 'folded portions to the baseportion. mit element. The belt displacement be-i;

tially. uniform-Width pockets,

This can bedone or ineither manner ol use, 'we buoyant element or buoyant elements may possessing substantial .equivalency 'v'vithirap'-y K parelto-includeja beltcr beltinsiz llllliat is claimed isf.H i

ric to cause itsedg'es'lo approach eachother with one fold oi' greater Widtliftlian the other and With; .heiapproacliing.edgesarranged to provide an access opening therebetween, and

securing' 'thegtolded` portionsito'tlie base portionotttlie fabric transversely of the strip Y`de the fabric'inte pockets each having a relatively "long section and' a relatively ,short sect-ion. f, v auf. f `1' 1 i' Q2. ln the art of constructing-variably buoyant articles of apparel, folding aostrip volf fabric torcauszitsedgesto api-cach each other with one told of greater Width than the .other and ivitli the apprcachngedges arranged to access openingtl-ierebetvveen, and

tion of divide the fabric into a` series of unitorin-Widtli pockets, tively long' the fabrictransversely of the strip to each having a relasection anda relativelyshort secln the Vart of constructing variably buoy- `ant articles of apparel, folding'V a strip of falo-V ric to cans-sits edgesto approach eahch other Ywitli'one told of greater Width than the other and with the approaching; edges arranged to provide an access *opening therebetween, and stitching vthe folded portions to vthe ba. e portion of the fabric in a series of, transverse lines dividing'V the fabric into a-series of substanveach having a relatively long section and a relatively short section.

substantially 4. .fin articlecl apparel coinprisinga series of fabric poclret's each having al relatively long section and a relatively short-section and formed with ran access openingat the placeV of meeting ci the sections;

5. An article of apparel comprisingl a seriesy ofl fabric pockets eacli having a relatively *long section anda relativelyshort section and torined with an access opening at the place ol meeting 'of the sections, there being; a suflicient nuinber or said pockets and the pockets eingunited edgewise to produce a strip havinfr;` its longitudinal dimension perpeiidicular to the longitudinal dirnensionoit thepoclrets.'

6. il V.variably buoyantarticle oic apparel coniprising` a series ol pockets each closed at both ends, and each oie said pockets having a lateral opening; intermediate the ends for the introductionV and removal of a buoyant element.

7. A variably` buoyant,article'oi` apparel comprisingl a series'of pockets or" somewhat elastic fabric. and abinclinp,V strap interinef diate the ends ot the pockets of less elasticity than the fabric of the pocket-sand connect king` the pockets together. y

. 8. A variably vbuoyant article of apparell iii comprising a series of pockets of somewhat elastic fabric, anda binding strap intermediate the pockets of less elasticity than `the fabric of the pockets connecting the pockets together, said strap comprising a plurality of strips of niaterialspaced to provide open ings into the pockets. t Y

9. ,A Variably buoyant belt comprising a strip of somewhat elastic fabric having its m margins folded upon itself to a substantially meeting conditionfandlines off-stitching atcaching the folded portions to the base fabric to produce a Vseries of transversely arranged pockets open only at the place of approach l5 of the margins ofthe original fabric toward each other. y v

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures. Y Y

HILL BOND.

:gg ELIZABETH S. BOND.

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