US1472330A - Waterproof garment - Google Patents

Description

1,4723% w. L. FRY

WATERPROOF GARMENT Filed Dec. 14, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A (FEM M7, 4 M.

6] vwewiiov @ct. 30 1923. EA'ZZBEQ 1 W. 1.. FRY

WATERPROOF GARMENT Filed Dec. 14, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented @ct. 39, 1923..

HE SITES WALTER L. FRY, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK.

we rnarnoor' GARMENT.

Application filed December 14, 1918.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WALTER L. FRY, a citizen of the .United States, and a resident of New Rochelle, in the county of Westchester and State of New Yorlnhave invented an Improvement in Waterproof Garments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to waterproof protective garments, and more particularly to such as are adapted to serve as lifesaving suits which, in conjunction with any suit able buoyancy-imparting means, are designed and intended not only to keep the persons using the same afloat in the water, but also to protect such persons from exposure to cold and dampness and to keep them dry.

It is the object'of the present invention to provide garments of the character specified which will be simple and economical-in construction, easy and expeditious to apply, and convenient and efficient in use.

For purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the garment in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a similar View of the same in position on the wearer but partly open;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the garment from a different angle;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the garment in extended position;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the garment being put on;

Fig.6 is a detail view of the neck portion;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are detail views showing the clamping device.

While various materials may be employed for making the device of my invention, I prefer to use a light weight rubberized or similar waterproof material, which serves also as an eflicient insulator to conserve the heat values of the body of the user while wearing the garment, whereby I am enabled to prevent exposure to cold and dampness.

In one of its preferred forms, here shown by way of example merely, the life-saving device of my invention comprises a unitary, waterproof garment consisting of a trunk portion 1 having body-fitting shoulder portions i, arm portions 2, and leg portions 3. Preferably the leg portions 3 are provided with foot-receiving portions 5, while arm portions 2 are provided with the mittens or Serial No. 266,674.

other hand-receiving portions 6. Or, if desired, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the arm portions, here indicated by reference character 2, may be provided with the elastic, selfsealing wrist-pieces 6.

In the form here illustrated, the garment may be associated with buoyancy-impart ing means,which may or may not be made a part of such garment. For example, as here shown, I may use an ordinary life -'prcserver, put on under or over the garment, and attached or unattached to the same, here shown as attached under the garment, in order to give the garment the desired degree of buoyancy. As here shown, a life-preserver 7 is illustrated attached, as by means of the strips 8, to the body of the user under the garment.

Attached to the trunk portion 1, as by means of the waterproot'ed scams or joints 9, is a body-admitting portion 10, comprising, preferably, a tubular, upwardlyprojecting member sufliciently large in cross section and having a body-admitting opening 11 of suflicient 'size to freely admit the body of the wearer of the garment. For the purpose of subsequently closing the body-admitting opening 11 of the member 10, after the user of the garment has put the same on, I provide any suitable closing means, such as the clamp 12, for example.

In order to render the body-admitting portion 10 of the garment watertight, I prefer to have the upper edge along the inner side of the portion 10 adhesive, as at 12 preferably by having the rubber or similar coating on this part of the garment of a gummy or sticky consistency. This renders the opening of the body-admitting portion self-sealing, especially in co-operation with the clamp 12. The body-admitting portion 10 is, however, readily opened again by exerting a moderate pull on the folds of the same.

As already stated, the bodyndmitting )ortion 10 extends substantially upwardly, that is, longitudinally of the garment as a whole and collinearly with the same. This is a distinctly advantageous feature, greatly facilitating the application of the garment and rendering the construction of the same simple and economical.

Associated with the body-admitting por tion 10, is a neck portion 13 provided with a head aperture 14:. The material of the neck portion 13 is made of a heavy material of comparatively little elasticity adjacent the body-admitting portion 10, as at 18. On

the other hand, the material immediatelyj adjacent the aperture-M is made of a light weight material of comparatively great elasticity, so that a snug, watertight fit about the neck of the wearer is thus readily ob-' tained, Without any tendency to stifle or choke the wearer. Furthermore this construction of the neck portion '13 enables such neck ortion to readily accommodate itself t0 ne'c s of different sizes, so that the numposel prefer to make the member 13 of comparatively thick rubber of little elasticity, while the member 14 is made of thin rubber of comparatively great elasticity. Preferably, also, a hood is provided to shield the head of 'the wearer, said hood 22 being attached by means of joints 17 to the neck portion 13 0f the garment A'.

I provide, also, lapel or'flap portions 20 which are so disposed that when the garment has been applied,'on closing the flaps, as by means of straps 21, the suit will snugly fit the body and will have a neat, compact appearance, and will properly protect the portion lO-provided with the aperture 11.

The manner of using the garment described above will be substantially clear from the foregoing description, The gar ment is put on by passing the body through the aperture 11 of the body-admitting portion 10. This is renderedeasy and convenient by the longitudinal disposition of the body-admitting portion 10. After the trunk, arm and leg portions have been properly applied, the head of the wearer is passed through the neck portion 13. The clamp 12 is then applied to the gathered folds of the portion 10, and portion 10 itself 7 is given a few turns and folded up, so as to take up but little room, preferably, against the chest of the wearer. Theflaps 20 are then drawn in and strapped together, after which-the hood 22 may be put on.

It is, of course, to be understood that my invention is not-to be limited to the specific embodiment thereof herein shown and described for purpose of illustration only. It

is alsoto be understood that as shown by the dotted lines indicated by reference characters 10', 10 in Fig. 1, the body-admitting portion 10 is joined to the trunkportion 1 along the 'lines 10, 10", so that the joint designated by reference character 10 will .lie across and on top of the shoulders of the wearer. 'Thisioonstructio-n is of considerable practical importance .lnenabling the gar-g ti-ously. What I claim is:

ment'to beapplied conveniently and expedie 1. A unitar "water roof arment comprising.- trunk, leg, arm, and shoulder-fitting portions, and a body-admitting portion attached to said "trunk portion, said body= admitting portion comprising a hollow, tubular member attached'to said trunk portion so as to normally extend substantially longitudinally of. the garment, the inner surface of said body-admitting portionbeing substantially adhesive adjacent to the bodyadmitting opening of said portion, to thereby provide a substantially self-sealing closure when the garment is in position on the wearer.

2. A unitary waterproof garment com prising trunk, leg, arm, and shoulder fitting portions, and a body-admitting portion at: tached to. said trunk portion, said body-admitting portion comprising a hollow, tubua lar member attached to said trunk portion so as tonormally extend substantially longitudinally of the garment, said body-admitting portion being provided' with a neck portion adjacent to the back of-the trunk portion, the inner surface of said body-admitting portion being substantially adhesive adjacent to the body-admittingopeningof said portion, to thereby. provide a'substantially self-sealing closurewhenthe garment 1s in position on the wearer.

3. A unitary waterproof garment: comprising trunk, leg, arm, and sh oulder-fitting paratively great elasticity, the inner surface of said body-admitting portion being substantially adhesive adjacent to the body-ad.-

portions, and a body-admitting portionattached to saidtrunk portion, said body-ad mitting opening ofsaid portion, to thereby provide a substantially self-sealing closure when the garment is in position on the wearer.

Ill

4. A unitary waterproof garment comprising trunk, leg. arm, and shoulder-fitting portions, and a body-admitting portion at tached to said trunk portion, said body-admitting portion comprising a hollow, tubusisting of a base portion of comparatively little elasticity and a neck-fitting portion of comparatively great elasticity, the inner surface of said body-admitting portion being substantially adhesive adjacent to the body- 1 admitting opening of said portion, to thereby provide a substantially self-sealing closure when the garment is in position on the wearer.

5. A unitary waterproof garment comprising trunk, leg, arm, and shoulder-fitting portions, and a body-admitting portion attached to said trunk portion, said body-admitting portion comprising a hollow, tubular member attached to said trunk portion so as to normally extend substantially longitudinally of the garment, said body-admitting portion being attached to said trunk portion on a line which liesalong and on top of the shoulders of the wearer when the garment is in position.

6. A unitary waterproof garment comprising trunk, leg, arm, and shoulder-fitting portions, and a body-admitting portion attached to said trunk portion, said body-admitting portion comprising a hollow, tubuar member attached to said trunk portion so as to normally extend substantially longitudinally of the garment, said body-admitting portion being provided with a neck portion adjacent to the back of the trunk portion, said body-admitting portion being attached to said trunk portion on a line which lies along and on top of the shoulders of the wearer when the garment is in position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this th day of December 1918.

Y WALTER L. FRY.

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