Theme of the week!

[Chiefdreams]

http://www.digitaldragon.cc/box.jpg
Guess what it is.

[RicknMel]

The worlds largest accordian? :p

[Rommel_1891]

The washer ate his pants again... ;)

[GMan]

I know exactly what that is. It's for looking out the conning tower of a submarine--while underwater! :D

No, just kidding. I have no idea. But with the skree, it looks water related, like for a kayak or similar application.

Good find, CD.

[theBlackman]

I would say an individual life boat/flotation device. Circa 1860-1920.

The straps hold it on. The device is accordioned and stepped into like a pair of waders. The handles 37/38 are used to raise it up.
20/22 is a gum rubber dam to seal the waist.

The valves in front (24/28) are intake and exhaust valves to allow the outside air exchange. The tab 30 is a flap valve that allows air to exit, but not enter. The swing gate 26 is a manual gate that is opened to allow air in when the device is raised.

I suspect the device is raised to seat just under the arms when fully extended and in use.

I could be wrong of course but it looks very much like devices invented near or after the Titanic tragedy.

[Squid]

For those really, really severe cases of dysentry? :D

How about a weight loss machine?

Squid

[bravus]

We took the kids to see Spy Kids 2 last night (and it's highly recommended - really! For the young, and the young in the head - and those who *know* that sword fighting skeletons are *meant* to be done in cheesy, jerky stop-motion animation (even if they're probably CGI...) Now, where was I?) and they had personal flotation devices that could be cousins of these.

Presumably you'd need some fairly serious ballast at the bottom to keep them up the right way: the centre of balance is all wrong as shown above. Possibly even a lead weight on a rope a couple of feet long, for real stability.

I have to admit that it does also look like a kind of 'going to the bathroom in private in public' device! Particularly as the legs inside it seem rather naked...

Bravus

[yubetcha]

Originally posted by Chiefdreams

Guess what it is.

I know what that is. This is given to a man when he leaves the poker table :D

[Zaccheus]

Looks like a Jump Suit to me.
:D

[Grey Mouser]

Human Slinky Kit. Beta version...

[Whatz His Name]

An individual's portable Port-a-potty?

You know... camping gear for the shy people. This allows them to squat in the woods in private. :D

[BrokenArts]

Keeping mouth shut on this one........;) :p :D

[littlek]

I don't think the device will extend past the waist. The accordian effect is more for kneeling. I think this because of the way it fits around the waist and the length of the shoulder straps. Plus the arrows to the right of the picture indicates this. So this leads me to believe that this is a thermal regulated, beta tested....

Cranberry picker

[Hawklette]

I agree with the port-a-potty. LOL!!!:D

[Sneak]

It's a Customized Potato Sack Race Utility Vehicle for the Modern Age! ;)

Am guessing items 24 and 26 are a bell like on a bycycle handle so you can signal all competitors to get outa the way! Ha! :)

Now which is the Hands Free Cell Phone and CD Player? :D

[Peter Smith]

Great one, Chief!

I think it is a human powered air pump. What the air is used for, I don't know. Could be a fancy blacksmith's bellows, an organ, or a fog horn. Anything.

Item #44 could be a check valve that lets air into the bellows but not out. Item #26 could be a valve to open and close a hole (#24), either for bypassing the pumping action or for connecting a hose to it. Item #28 could be a transistor radio that the dope who is working the mechanism listens to. :)

The life raft and underwater theories don't fly, IMHO, because the buoyancy is at the feet, and the person would tip upside down.

[Chiefdreams]

Thanks all for helping out. Here is the answer!
http://www.digitaldragon.cc/zero.jpg

[Zaccheus]

OMG!

That's too funny.

And I always thought an invention had to be useful to be able to patent it!

Hmm, I wonder what I could patent ...

[ChangelingJane]

Originally posted by Zaccheus
Hmm, I wonder what I could patent ...

I think I'm gonna try getting a patent for glow-in-the-dark black paint!

[RicknMel]

Originally posted by RicknMel
The worlds largest accordian? :p

Hey...I was right!! ...kinda ;)

...so was Peter... kinda :D

[Huntress]

Now that I'm frockling and squeezing myself around in space...he'd better damn well come up with the mate at the top...ahhhh

so I can breathe too? :D Too funny...

Ta and Good Hunting~and nice to see you Chief :)

[Peter Smith]

LOL.:) It's amazing what people will come up with. I guess NASA wasn't too interested. I can think of 100 other ways to exercise in space that don't involve getting suited up in a bellows. That includes tearing the bellows into tiny pieces with your bare hands and jettisoning it out of the air lock.