MICHAEL KISPÉTER
Patented June 22, 1915
Be it known that I. Michael Kispéter, a subject of the King of Hungary, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful improvements in Life-Saving Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.
This invention relates to life saving apparatus and its object is to provide means whereby the life of a person dropping from an aeroplane or airship either over land or over water may be saved.
I attain my object by means of an outfit consisting of a life jacket, lined with airtight inflatable cushions, a spring helmet removably attached to the jacket and a parachute fastened to the body over the jacket, adapted to be opened and shut at the will of the wearer thereof.
In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a partly sectional, partly elevational view of my device in operation, showing a person fitted out therewith. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a part of the device. Fig. 3 is a plan of part of my device, partly broken away. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line a-a of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line c-c of Fig. 4, on an increased scale. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of another detail.
The same reference characters refer to the same part throughout the several views.
Referring more particularly to the drawing, J is a jacket
substantially of the shape of an ordinary coat, having two side tails
j
Over the jacket J is strapped a parachute P consisting of two
parallel cylindrical hoops p
The ribs R are halfround metal bars, having a concave portion from
r
The stays S are flat bars of light metal, forked at their outer ends
and carrying between the prongs s
The clasping device of the cover of the parachute consists of a
metal clasp C of the form shown in Fig. 7 suitably fastened on the
fabric at a convenient distance from one edge of same, having a
hinge c
H is a cylindrical metal helmet having a solid rubber lining h
It will be readily understood from this description of my invention that a person falling from the air, equipped with my life saving apparatus, will first open the parachute by means of raising slightly the hands slipped in the straps over the ribs, the rest being done by pressure of the air against the lower surface of the fabric covering the parachute. Should the person fall into water, the air-cushions will keep him or her afloat and should the respective person fall on land and the parachute not assure a descent smooth enough to prevent a violent impact with same, the impact will considerably be reduced also by the air cushions. Should the person fall head foremost the sides of the helmet will break on contact with the soil and the resilient means contained in the helmet will mitigate the concussion.
While I have thus shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it is understood that I do not wish to be limited to its mechanical details and may resort to alterations and modifications which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.
What I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:
1. A life saving apparatus, for aeronauts, comprising, in combination, a jacket lined with air-tight inflatable cushions, a parachute adapted to be easily opened and closed, removably attached to the body over said jacket, and a helmet supported over the head of the wearer by means of supports attached removably to the shoulder and back portions of said jacket, resilient means in said helmet, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. A life saving helmet, comprising, in combination, a cylindrical body portion closed at the top, said top lined at the inside with resilient material, a helical spring between two metal plates within said cylindrical body, projections of the lower of one of said plates piercing the sides of said cylindrical body, adapted to be fastened to the shoulder portions of a life saving jacket, and to support said helmet just above the head of the wearer, and a prolongation of the material covering said helmet adapted to be removably fastened to the back portion of a life saving jacket, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto fixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.
MICHAEL KISPÉTER.
Witnesses:
ALEXANDER DENES,
ABADAR HAMBURGER.