The Life Raft That Works Either Way Up

The object is "to improve the raft described and claimed in my Letters Patent of the United States numbered 226,264, and dated April 6, 1880, so that it may be more readily used." The improvements consist "in making the ends of the floats of the raft with a bevel upon both sides, attaching the railings by hinges so constructed as to be erected securely upon either surface, and in forming doors and stoppers for the water and provision compartments that may be opened upon either side", sometimes with a double railing, "so that in the event of its being overturned in the water it can be instantly used without any delay in righting or adjusting it." The floats A are "flat rectangular metallic floats, having both sides of the ends beveled", joined by hinges B, some with chambers C and stoppers D for provisions. Bars E hook across to hold the floats in one flat plane. Hinges G "capable of turning in both directions" carry a grated railing H with an upper rail J and rowlocks K; hinged gates L at the ends complete the enclosure. Seats rest on the gratings, and a flag-staff stands in rings on one gate. Folded, railings and gates lie parallel with the floats.

Tie four capped PET bottles side by side into two pairs, and join the pairs along their length with loops of paracord through holes in two strips of plywood, so the pairs fold flat on each other like Beasley's hinged floats. Fix a light dowel rail to each long side on small hinges so it can be swung up on either face. Float it in a bath or pond, load it with weights until the bottles are awash, and compare with the notebook. Flip it over, swing the rails, and load it again: it should carry the same either way up.

**Maria E. Beasley** of Philadelphia filed on 17 January 1881; US 258,191 is dated 16 May 1882 and improves her US 226,264 of 6 April 1880. She claims hollow metal floats hinged to fold, with bevelled ends that ride either way up, and railings hinged to stand above either face. **Honest limits.** Float sizes, raft mass and the reserve in the notebook are examples; real life-saving equipment must meet maritime standards.