..
BY
ATTORNEYS
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
HARRY HOUDINI OP BROOKLYN NEW YORK.
DIVER'S -SUIT.
Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 1 1921.
Application filed nine 30; 1917: Serial No.i177 971.
To all whom it may concern:
Be • it known that I HARRY HOUDINI a
citizen of the United States and a resident of the city of New York borough of Brook-
5 lyn in the county of Kings and State of New York have invented a new and Improved Diver's Suit of which the following is a full clear and exact description.
The invention relates to deep sea diving
l0 suits or armors and its object is to provide a new and improved diver's suit arranged to ` permit the diver in case of danger for any cause whatever to quickly divest him-self of the suit while being submerged and
15 to safely escape and reach the surface of the water. Another object is to enable the diver to put on or take off the suit without requiring. assistance. Another object is to prevent the diver when submerged from being
20 crushed by the pressure of the surrounding water in case the air supply gives out or the air line becomes fouled for any cause. A further object is to enable the diver to go quickly down to a greater depth and to
25 readily . rise therefrom without consuming as much time in effecting a "compressing or a decompressing action" as now required and practised. Other objects will readily appear from the description of the construe-
30 tion and use of the suit as hereinafter set forth.
In order to' accomplish the desired result use is made of upper and lower body sections adapted to incase the diver and manu-
35 ally controlled connecting means detachably connecting the said body sections with each other the said connecting means being located exteriorly and being adapted to be closed by the diver prior to submerging and
40 being adapted' to be opened by the diver while being submerged. Use is also made of a band of stiff material to hold the pliable material of which the suit is made out of crushing contact with the waist and. ab-
45 dot-lien of the diver.
A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which similar characters of reference mdi-
50 cate corresponding parts in all the views.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the diver's suit as applied.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged front perspective
view of the lower nortion of the upper body
55 section and the upper portion of the lower
body section and the connecting means for detachably connecting the body sections with each other.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the diver in the act 'of divesting himself of the 60 -suit while being submerged;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevation of the connecting means connecting the upper and lower body sections with each other;.
Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of the same ; 6 t
Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross section of the same on the line 6=-6 of Fig. 4; .
Fig. 7 is a perspective .view of the lower end of one of the trouser legs including the incasing means for the corresponding foot ; 70
Fig. 8 is a front perspective view of one of. the shoes in position; and
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the gauntlets for use on the arms and legs.
The diver's suit in its general construe- 75 tion consists of an upper body section 10 and a lower body section 11 the sections being made of an impervious pliable material such as rubber waterproof textile material or the like. The upper body section 10 is 80 in the form of a tubular coat provided with sleeves 12 terminating in integral hand in-casing means 13 preferably in the form of mittens as .plainly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The upper body section 10 is provided with 85 the usual metallic helmet 14 attached to a saddle 15 forming a breastplate back plate and shoulder portions and sectired to the material forming the body section 10 the said helment and saddle protecting the head 90 and upper portion of the diver's body in the usual manner. The helmet 14 is provided with the usual windows' 16 and is connected with an air supply pipe 17 for supplying air to the interior of the suit for breathing pur- 95 poses and for sustaining the pressure of the water when the diver is below the surface of the water.
The lower body section 11 is in the form
of trousers having legs 20 terminating in 100 integral feet incasing means 21 (see Fig. 7). In order to connect the lower end or waist of the upper body section 10 with the upper end or waist of the lower body section 11
the following arrangement is made: On the 105 lower end of the body section 10 is secured a band 25 of rubber or similar material provided in its outer face with an. annular groove 26 into which fits a metallic band 27. segmental or arched in cross section to render no
1 370 818
the band exceedingly strong. Onto this band fits the upper or waist. portion 28 of the lower body section 11 the said portion being provided exteriorly with a split me-
5 tallic b elt or band 30 convex in cross section to snugly press the upper portion 28 in firm
contact with the metallic band 27 with a . formed in the sides of the shoe 50 at the heel view to 'provide an air and watertight joint .52 thereof. The outer ends of the buckle between the upper and' lower body sections' strap 54 'extend. across the shoe o'er t`he in-
10 and at the same time firmly connect the said step and the ends of the stray are buckled body sections with each other. The split together as plainly indicated m Fig. 8. The belt or band 30 may be riveted glued or top of the shoe is provided with a split me-otherwise fastened to the upper portion 28- tallic band 57 around which passes a buckle of the lower body section 11 or held in place strap 58 to close the shoe at this' upper end
15 by loops 31 as plainly indicated .in Figs. 1 without however binding on the lower end and 2. The free ends of the belt 30 'are. of the corresponding trouser leg 20 thus al-adapted to be drawn together by an e#erior lowing the diver to slip his feet and the feet means under the control of the diver the said incasing means 21 out of the shoes when-exterior means being. preferably in the form ever it. is desired to do so while being sub-
2o of a lever 32 fulcrumed at 33 on one end of the merged or when divesting himself of the belt -.30 and' pivotally connected by a link' suit on board of a vessel or on land. 'In 34 with the other free end of the belt 30 at order to permit the - diver 'to `readily slip 35. The lever 32 is provided with a handle his feet out of the feet incasing means and 36 adapted to be taken hold of by the diver
25 for the latter to swing the leveir from the open position shown in Figs. 2' and 3 into the closed position shown in 'Figs. 1 4. and 5. or vice versa. By the arrangement described the upper portion 28 of the lower body
sec- tion 11 can be readily placed in register with the arched band 27 while the lever 32 and
link 34 are in open position and the diver that the weight of the soles 51 and the heels by swinging the lever 32. over from the left 52 of the shoes may be 'decreased to a eon-to the right draws the ends of the belt 30 to- siderable extent by the provision of .the
35 gether thus firmly seating and clamping the weights 46 on the belt 30 thus enabling the.100
upper portion 28 on the band 27. When it is diver to more. easily walk about. By pro-
desired to open the belt 30 ' with a view to . viding interchangeable weights 46the weight
disconnect the body sections from each other of the.diver's suit can be increased or dimin-
it is only necessary for the diver to take hold ished. according to the depth of the water in
40 of the handle 36 of the lever 32 and swing the latter back from the right to the left to .unclamp and free the waist 28 from the band 27 to allow of dropping the body section as shown in Fig. 3. The link 34 is pref-
45 erably made in sections 37 38 adjustably connected with each other by bolts 39 held on the sections 38 and engaging slots 40
formed in the sections 37. The opposite li at the forearms and the lower _portions faces of the link sections 37 38 are prof-
60 erably provided with ratchet teeth 41 . 42 to. prevent accidental slipping of the sections 37 38 one on the other. The belt 30 is provided with outwardly extending pairs of lugs 45 each pair containing .a weight 46
.55 between them the weight being fastened .in place by screws 47 enga&g the lugs 45 and screwing into the ends"af the weights 46. By the arrangement described the weights 46 can be-interchanged for heavier or lighter
60 weights.
e shoes 50 are provided with weighted soles 51 and similar heels 52 and the shoes are open along the median line of the front from the top to near the forward end as
e6 plainly indicated in Fig. 8. A buckle strap
53 is provided across the top of the front portion of the shoe and a buckle. strap 54 is held on the sole of the feet incasing means 21 (see Fig. 7) by passing through slits 55 formed in the sides of the feet incasing "70 means 21 and extending through .slits 56
75 80 85
out of the shoes the latter are provided_at the backs with' stiffening plates ' 60 secured 90 to the shoes at the heels 52 the backs. of the shoes and the metallic: bands 57 thus pre-venting the. rear portions of the shoes from collapsing onto the back of the diver's feet and thus holding the diver's feet against 96 slipping out of the shoes. It will be noticed'
which the diver is to go down at the time. ' 106
In order to prevent 'the air' within the diver's suit from 'inflating the hand inclosing means 13 and the feet inclosing means 21 use is made of gauntlets .70 of a stiff material and split lengthwise to permit of 110 conveniently placing the gauntlets exteriorly in position on the body sections 10 and-
of the legs' adjacent. ' the .shoes. 50.. The
untlets are provided with closing means 116 1 for drawing the gauntlets tightly shut on the arms and legs to prevent the air from reaching the inclosing means 13 and 21. The closing means 71 are preferably-in the form of snap levers extending over an ex- 120 terior grooved flange 72 formed on one side of the gauntlet 70 and fitting onto a correspondingly shaped ridge 73 formed on the other side of the untlet as plainly indicated in Fig. 9. By 'the arrangement de- 126 scribed the' diver can readily open the fastening devices 71-to divest himself of the gauntlets either when being submerged or when on land.
It is understood that the usual means for 130
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raising and lowering the diver and the means for signaling purposes are of. the usual construction.
` The upper and lower body portions while
5 in separated condition are donned separately that is the lower body portion 11 is preferably.donned first with the lever 32 in open position and then the diver slips the upper body portion over his head until the
10 saddle 15 rests on his shoulders and the head extends within the helmet 14 then the diver draws up the lower body portion until the waistband 30 registers with the waistband 27 of the upper body portion and
15 then the diver swings the lever 32 into closed position to firmly seat the band 30 on the band 27 and thereby form a tight joint as above described. It will be noticed that the helmet and saddle need not be detached
20 at all from the upper body portion unless for any special. reason it is desired to do so. The gauntlets 70 can be subsequently placed: in position but the shoes are preferably put on prior to donning the upper body sec-
25 -lion 10.
From the foregoing it will be seen that by
the arrangement described the diver himself
can readily don the suit when on land or on
board of a marine vessel without assistance
30 from other persons and when the diver is
submerged and becomes jammed at the bot-
tom of the ocean or river or that the air sup-
plygives out it is only necessary for the
diver to swing the lever 32 into open posi-
35 tion to allow the lower body section 11 to
drop down. (see Fig. 3) and step out and
then to divest himself of the upper body
section by bending over with outstretched
hands and quickly pulling back the upper
40 body to free himself of the upper body'sec- .
tion 10 aided by the resistance of the water
which rushes into the Said body section.
The diver can now rise to the surface of the
water completely free of the suit. By ac-
45 tug tests it has been proved that not only
a diver -but an . inexperienced person when
submerged can escape from the suit in less
than 45 seconds. It will further be noticed_
that by having the strong metallic band` 27
50 and the belt 30 at the waist and which parts-
form part of the connecting means for con-
necting the body sections 10 and 11 with
each other . a protecting means is provided
forprotecting the waist and abdominal por-
55. tion of the diver against the pressure of the
surrounding water and consequently less air
pressure within the suit is required. Thus
by reduction in' air pressure the. usual time.
consumed in effecting the "compressing or
60 decompressing action" is reduced to a mini-
mum. By providing the metallic band and
belt the danger of the "squeeze" either in
the diver falling down or being. blown up
is reduced to a minimum. By weighting the
65: suit at the connecting .means between the
upper and. lower body sections this weight is supported from the shoulders of the diver and a correspondingly lighter weight can be used on the shoes.
It is understood that when the diver is 70 incased in the suit and submerged with the sections connected with each other then es-cape of air from within. the suit and inflow of water from without is completely pre--vented. s 75
It is further expressly understood that as soon as the upper and lower body sections 10 and 11 are disconnected from each other while the diver is submerged most of the air escapes from within the. suit sections 30 and the surrounding water in volume rushes into the sections to exert a displacing action on the suit sections thus aiding-the diver to quickly extract and. free himself from the sections. 85
It is further understood that the improvements described apply equally well to a selfeontained diving suit without a supply of air from above.
In case a diver is down say to a high pres- 90 sure and it would be dangerous for him to come up quickly without recompression an-other diver' may take a helmet down to the diver in distress to allow the latter to escape from the suit insert his head into the extra helmet and be gradually brought to the surface. -
Having thus described my .invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent :-
1. A diver's suit comprising upper and lower body sections having air-tight and water-tight incasing means adapted to in-case the diver against the escape of air'from within the suit and against inflow of water when submerged the sections having their adjacent ends .-.in overlapping relation the lower section having means to allow the diver when submerged to step out of the lower section and the upper section having means to allow the diver when submerged to draw the upper portion of his body out of this upper section and } instantaneously- operable releasing and' automatic separable means at the said overlapping 'ends to-connect . the said ends with ' each other to form an air and water-tight joint between the said overlapping ends the said means having exterior' actuating. devices tinder the control of the incased diver to permit the latter; when submerged to open the joint and separate the overlapping ends to allow the diver to extract himself when-submerged Bided b
the inrush of the surrounding water in volume to exert a displacing action on the suit 125 sections.
2-'A diver's suit comprising an upper body section of pliable material and including incasing means for the arms: and hands
and a helmet having the-usual air supply a 130
95' 100 105 110 115 120
1 370 31.6
lower body section having legs and shoes rush of the surrounding water in volume to attached to the legs the waist of the said exert a displacing action on the suit sections. upper body section and the waist of the said 6.- A diver's suit comprising a coat pro-lower body section having coacting means vided with. a helmet and sleeves terminat- 60
5 forming an air and water-tight separable ing in hand incasing means trousers having joint the said upper body section having legs terminating in feet incasing means means to allow the diver to draw the upper bands of stiff material at the waists of the portion of his body including the arms and said coat.and trousers and adapted to over-hands out of the upper body section when lie each other and manually controlled 65
10 submerged and the said lower body section means to move the 'bands out of overlying having its legs and shoes provided' with relation to allow the coat and trousers to means to allow the diver when submerged separate automatically and permit the diver to step out- of the said lower body section to extract himself when submerged aided and exterior controlling means on the said by the inrush of the surrounding water in 70
15 joint to normally hold the joint closed volume to exert a displacing *action on the - against the . inflow of water the said con- said coat and trousers.
trolling means having an actuating member - 6. A diver's suit comprising a coat grounder the control of the diver to permit the vided with a•helmet and sleeves terminating diver when submerged to open the joint and in hand incasing means trousers having legs 75
20 separate the waists to allow the sections to terminating in shoes having means to per separate and the water to rush intothe sec- mit the diver to withdraw the feet while the tions to aid the diver in divesting himself - shoes are attached to the legs and manually . of the' said sections.
3. A diver's suit comprising an upper
25 body section of pliable material and including incasing means for the arms and hands and a helmet having the usual air supply a lower body section-having legs and shoes attached to the legs the. waist of the said up-
30 per body section and the waist of the said lower body section having coacting means forming an air and water-tight separable joint the upper body section having means to allow of being shed over the head of the
35 diver and the. lower- body section having means to allow the diver when submerged to step out- of the lower body section and exterior controlling means on the said joint to normally hold the joint closed against.the
40 inflow of water said controlling means having an actuating member under the control of the diver to permit the diver when sub-merged to open the joint and separate the waists to allow the sections. to separate and
45 the water to rush into the sections to aid the diver in divesting himself of the said sections. ' "
4. A diver's suit comprising sections adapted to incase the diver against the es-
5o cape of air within the suit and against in-flow- of water when submerged and manually releasing and 'automatically separable means allowing the said sections to be re-leased and automatically separating one
55 from the other to allow` the-diver to extract himself when submerged . aide$ by the in-
controlled exterior connecting and releasing means connecting the waists of the coat and 80 trousers to form an air and water-tight joint and capable of being opened by the joint
when submerged to allow. automatic separation of the coat and trousers.
7. A diver's suit comprising upper and 85 lower body sections provided- at the' waists with bands adapted to overlie. one the other one of the bands being annular -and the other being split a lever at one end of the said split. band and a. link connecting the. 90 other end of the said split band with the said lever.
8. A diver's suit comprising an upper' body section provided exteriorly at the waist with an annular band of a stiff material a 95 lower body section having an open or split band fitting the said band exteriorly a lever at one end of the said split band and a link on the other' end of the split band to permit of drawing the split band tight on 100 the annular band or releasing it therefrom.
9. A diver's suit comprising an upper body section provided exteriorly at the waist with an. annular band of a stiff material a lower body section having an open or split 105 end fitting the said band exteriorly a lever at one end of the split band to permit of drawing :the split band tight on the annular band or releasing it therefrom the links be- - ing made in sections adjustably fastened to- 110 gether.
HARRY HOUDINI..