US1008653A - Combined swimming and life-preserving device. - Google Patents

Description

G. W. LEARMAN.

COMBINED SWIMMING AND LIFE PEP-SERVING DEVICE. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 10, 1911.

1 008 653 Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

GEORGE W. LEARMAN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

COMBINED SWIMMING AND LIFE-PRESERVING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 10, 1911.

Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

Serial No. 637,668.

Swimming and Life-Preserving Devices, of'

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in combined swimming and life preserving devices, all substantially as shown and described and particularly pointed out in the claims. 4

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1.

is a perspective view of a person resting afloat on a body of water and with my improved devices secured upon his hands and flexibly attached to his wrists. Fig. 2 is a cross section of the device in one of several possible forms thereof, and Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional elevations of modifications of the device, as hereinafter fully described.

The idea herein is to provide a device which has buoyancy to help sustain a person who is learning to swim or is cast adrift upon the water from a wreck and requires a life preserver as well as means to assist in propelling him through the water. The said device is therefore made to serve both these purposes, and to these ends the said device is constructed and adapted to be attached to or carried by or in the hand, the buoyancy thereof being sufficient to bear the person above the water and prevent drowning if used as one would naturally do in swimming.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I show a form of device consisting primarily of two cup-shaped parts a and 6, made of a light metal, say aluminum, and slightly tapered so as to slip or sleeve one part or member slightly over the bottom of the other and in such way or relation as to produce a pneumatic or air tight chamber 0 within the outer cup or member. Any sufiicient means may be added to the sleeving together shown to seal the device and prevent leakage in said chamber, and a band, guard or loop d is employed to slip over the hand and confine the device on the hand. Any suitable band or keeper d may be used for this purpose and the same is shown as fixed at one end to the open outer member I) and engaged over a hook it on the other side. In this instance the said keeper is shown also as having a light chain with links adapted to be taken up on said hook to suit the size of the hand, but other and permanently engaged keepers may be used. The bottom cup I) also, in some cases, promotes buoyancy by the amount of air it will hold, but this portion of the device really becomes a propeller to engage in the water and help to draw the person along. It has a like effect when the stroke is downward as that will naturally lift the person upward. The entire device therefore operates to sustain the person upon the surface of the water and prevent drowning, and the natural use of the arms and hands by an inexperienced swimmer to prevent sinking will make the device actively eifective even if the body assumes more or less of an upright position. An experienced swimmerwill find the device especially helpful when cast adrift and he is compelled to remain in the water for an indefinite period.

In Fig. 3 I show a modification wherein there are two member a and 6 considerably deepened as compared with Fig. 2 and having threaded engagement at their meeting portion indicated by 2. These parts are alike and interchangeable and to this end each has a relatively-smaller outer or top portion 3 adapted to screw within the larger lower portion 4 of the other member. Each member or part also has a sealed air chamber 0 in its top produced by inserting a diaphragm 6 therein next beneath its threaded top portion. A cup is thus provided in or by the lower member the same as in Fig. 2, while there is increased buoyancy in view of the plural number of superimposed air chambers.

In 4 I show a further modification in which the cup 6 is supplemented upon its top with cork or other light floating material 7 which, for buoyant purposes, will be substantially the equivalent of the air chambers in the other views.

Figs. 1 and 2 also show a loop or cord 8 attached to the device and adapted to be engaged about the wrist to prevent the device from being lost though it escape from the hand. Obviously another set of the devices may be attached to the feet or legs, if preferred.

' The chamber 0 may be compartmented and it may also be more or less filled with cork or the like, for buoyancy.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 4, I show the open cup 6 flared to bell shape to better grip the water and pocket air. The upper or closed part of each cup shown in the several figures is adapted to separably engage within the lower open part, but inFig. 3 the screw threads lock the parts together.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the class described consisting of an open approximately cup shaped part and a pneumatic chamber thereon, and a strap engaged with the said device to secure the same in using position.

i 2. A buoyant device to sustain a person in the water and promote swimming com.- prising an open flaring bottom member and an air tight chamber thereon and a loop adapted to hold said parts in using position.

3. A buoyant device for a swimmer, comprising open cups having hand loops and air-sealed chambers and constructed to be separably secured together.

4:. A buoyant propelling device for a swimmer, comprising cups having air-sealed chambers and hand loops and screw threads externally and internally at its opposite ends to look like cups together.

5. A device of the class described consisting of an open flaring metallic bottom member provided with hand loops attached to the side thereof and means secured upon the back of said member to make the same buoyant.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE" W. LEARMAN. Witnesses:

R. B. Mosnn, F. C. MUSSUN.

- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

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