A DUNEDINITE'S PATENT.

Evening Star, Issue 11683, 15 February 1902, Page 7

A DUNEDINITE'S PATENT.

At the invitation of Mr John, Hanna (of Dunedin) a number of persons assembled in the Corporation Swimming Baths at Aberdeen on December 26 to witness a demonstration of the capabilities of a new and improved life-saving belt which he has patented. Mr James Donaldson, a local swimmer, gave an exhibition of swimming in the pond, and also swam with the old regulation life-saving beit. That belt consists of longitudinal strips of rigid cork, enclosed in a waterproof casing. The objection to it is its want of flexibility, and the impossibility of a person with one on having the perfectly free use of Lis arms. Another serious objection js that it is sometimes apt to slip down the body; and it is stated that instances have been reported In which persons have been found drowned with the life-belt attached to the lower part of their limbs and feet. In the new; patented belt all those objections have been obviated. In the fix’s! place the maximum of flexibility hats been imparted to the belt by the fact that the patentee, instead of using strips of solid cork, employs a large number of round corks, two inches in length by one and a-ha'f inches diameter. These are stitched into the canvas in narrow longitudinal sections, each separate cork having a compartment to itself. The result is to impart • to the jacket extreme flexibility, so that the wearer fan move his arms and legs both in and oat of the water with the greatest possible ease. Further than that, a person could worn- the racket at his employment on board a ship without impeding bis movements, and take an oar and row, or climb the rigging of a ship. But besides this, a most important featuie is the facility wills which it can be put on, and the impossibility of the belt slipping: down the body. This is accomplished by means of shoulder straps attached to the jacket, which come close up to the neck, and allow the most perfect freedom for the movement of the shoulders and aims. The balance is perfectly adjusted to both shoulders. and the buoyancy is-equal on both sides. By a very simple armncement, and by the pulling of a string, knotted at flic end. the jacket can be instantly laced and tied either in front or behind. The belt: covers loin to 19in of the spine, and i- loin in depth on the chest, and is so easily adjusted that a swimmer, as was demonstrated by Mr Donaldson, can put it on while in the water within five seconds. The weight of the jacket, is 4^lb when cry. and. when soaked. While Mr Donaldson was in the centre of the pond the belt was thrown to : him by Mr Hanna, and the swimmer pat. if on "with the greatest of ease and with, the utmost rapidity, and swam around the pond. Tie also took u off whDe in the. water, and generally demonstrated its buoyancy, flexibility, and efficiency. It was> stated by Air Hanna that the Harbor Board! of Otago adopted the bolt for use by themen employed in their beats after the first exhibition of it. The difficulty was "o supply the jackets in sufficient number, as- : a duty of 25 per cent, is imposed on imported cork, although the manufactured jacket is admitted free. The experiment was watched with much interest, and those! E resent were much impressed with the -capailities of the bdt.—‘ Daily Journal.’