US1114466A - Swimmer's foot-paddle. - Google Patents

Description

J. W. GOODENBERGER.

SWIMMERS FOOT PADDLB.

APPLICATION FILED 11110.23, 191a.

Patented Oct 20, 1914 2 SHEETS'SHBETI 3mm- JW. 60 Maybe/ hr.

. wi/fnawom J..W. GOODENBERGER.

SWIMMERS FOOT PADDLE.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 23, 1913' 1,1 14,466, Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

1 WGOOdGIQbQIgZH.

QRM'MMM I a Y Wu THE NORRIS PETERS 50., PHOTO-LITH- Y. WASHINUYON. n

UNITED srA'rns lgENT oFFion J OHN W'. GOODENBERGER, OF AKRON, OHIO.

SWIMMERS FOOT PADDLE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Oct. 20, 1914;

Application filed December 23, 1913. Serial No. 808,481.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, JOHN W. GoonnN- BERGER, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at Akron, in the county of Summit kle and will operate to give the drive of the swimmers legs a greater bearingsurface in the water. I

An important object of the invention is to provide a paddle of the character described which is secured to the ankle of the wearer by a novel form of securing means and which employs means for holding the paddle normally in an inclined angular position relative to the longitudinal axis of the device whereby the desired operation of the paddle is permitted on the drive stroke of the swimmers legs. v

Another important object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is simple as to construction, consists of few parts and which may be cheaply manufactured.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanyin drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a this application.

With reference, to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention as it isreduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the devicefshowing the paddle in extended position, Fig. 2 is a per 'SIDGOtIVG view showing the device attached to the foot of the swimmer, Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the paddle in normal position. Fig. 4 is a top plan view showing the paddle in extended position. and'Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing the part of spring for holding the paddle in partially extended normal position. Referring to the drawings by characters of reference the numeral 1 designates as an entirety a rectangular wing or paddle which.

is provided with an extension ear 2 intermediate the ends and along one longitudinal edge to provide for the hinging of the pad die 1 after a manner which will i be later more fully described. The paddle or wing 1 is formed of some suitable type of light sheet metal. Asa means for attaching the paddle 1 to the foot of the swimmer, there hasbeen pro:

vided an L-shaped support; designated 3 as an entirety. .This 'L-shaped support 3 is formed of some suitable light strap metal and is provided intermediate its longer arm with an approximately U-shaped integralframe designated 4: as an entirety. -The body portion of this frame is integral centrally of its ends with the longer arm of the L-shaped support 3 and the frame 4 is disposed at rightangles to the longer 'arm in a horizontal plane. The inner ends of the arms 5 and 6 of the frame 4 are enlarged as at 7 and have inserted centrally therethrough a hinge pin 8 that extends across the frame. The extension 2 on the paddle 1 is recessed centrally of its side edges as at 9 to produce a pair of tongues 10 which are bent about the pin 9 and thus hingedly secure the paddle 1 to the L-shaped support 3. v

Mounted onthe' central portion of'thepin 8 is a coil spring 11 having its respective terminals. 12 and13 disposed for engagement with the longer arm of the L-shaped support 3 and the under face of the paddle 1.- The spring 11 is positioned in sucha way that the paddle 1 is normally disposed in angular spaced relation to the longer arm of the support 3. It has been found preferable to provide a light spring in this connection so that upon the withdrawing movement or up-stroke of the swimmers legs the spring will permit inward movement of the paddle 1 relative to the longer arm 3' and thus prevent impeding of the swimmers movement.

The portion of the longer arm of the L- shaped support 3 which extends above the U-shaped frame 4 is curved outwardly so that when the'support 3 is fitted so that the longer arm is in engagement with the side of the foot, ankle and lower portion of the leg, it conforms to the shape of the leg and provides a reliable and comfortable fitting. This extended curved portion which for the sake of clearness is designated by the numeral 1a is provided with a curved integral adapted to fit snugly about the rear of the heel of the wearer. The bottom of the heel of the wearer is adapted to engage the shorter arm 18 of the support 3 when the device is in assembled position as will be clearly seen with reference to Fig. 2 in the drawings.

Formed integral with the free end of the arm 18 is an upstanding heel plate 20 that is disposed in the same position as the longer arm of the support 3 and adapted to engage the side of the swimmers heel when the device is in assembled position as illustrated in Fig. 2. The heel plate 20 is provided with an offset portion 21 that is provided with an angularly disposed longitudinal slot 22. A suitable foot strap 23 is inserted through the slot 22 on the ofiset portion 21 and through a slot 2 formed in an car 25 that is formed on one edge of the longer arm of the support 3 at a point approximately centrally of its lower end and the point where the frame 4; is formed thereon. This strap 23 is adapted to surround the top or instep of the wearers foot and may be provided with a suitable adjusting buckle 26.

To'secure the device to the foot the swimmer places his heel upon the arm 18so that it is wedged'between the longer armof the support 3 and the heel plate 20 and in bearing'engagement with the heel plate 19. The strap 23 is then secured after-the manner described across the instep of thewearers foot and the strap 17 is secured in a similar manner about the lower portion of the swim mers leg.

In operation, upon the thrusting or working. stroke of the swimmers leg, the paddle 1 which is normally disposed in a position in angular relation to the longer arm of the support 3 and so that it will readily move outwardly and engage the water, is moved outwardly upon the stroke. to a position approximately at right angles to the longs;

arm of the support 3 and to the leg of the wearer. The arms 5 and 6 which extend to a point approximately centrally of the ends ofthe paddle 1, engage the paddle and prevent its movement in one direction.

It will be readily seen that upon the operation of the device after the manner described, the swimmer may be readily propelled through the water.

It will be apparent that the device, when used after the manner described, affords the use of the swimmers hands since it is necessary to only slightly more the legs to keep above the water.

It is apparent that the device may be employed to great advantage in saving persons from drowning since the wearer may easily keep afloat and have the use of his hands.

In reduction to practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment is the most efficient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. A swimmers foot paddle comprising a paddle, an L-shaped support adapted to be secured to the foot of the wearer, means for securing the support to the foot of the wearer, a U-shaped frame integral with the longer arm of the support, said paddle being hingedly secured to the U-shaped frame adjacent the inner end thereof beneath the arms of said frame, and spring means for normally holding the paddle in a divergent plane relative port.

2. A swimmers foot paddle comprising a support adapted to be secured'to the foot of the wearer, a U-shaped frame on said support, a rectangular paddle hingedly secured to said frame beneath the side arms thereof and a coil spring carried by said frame and having its terminals engaging the support and paddle respectively, for holding the paddle in a normal outwardly inclined plane relative to the support. I

3. A swimmersfoot paddle comprising a support adapted to be removably secured to the foot of thewearer, a frame integral with the support, means for securing the support to the foot of the wearer, a rectangular paddle hingedly secured to said frame beneath said frame, said frame being disposed at right angles to the support and adapted to limit the movement of the paddle to a position of right angular extension and to the longer arm of the supwith the support and extending outwardly at right angles thereto, a rectangular paddle I hingedly secured to and beneath said frame,

said L-shaped support having its longer arm curved outwardly adjacent its upper terminal to conform to the contour of the swimmers leg, a rectangular cross plate having longitudinal slots in each end formed integral with the upper end of thelonger' arm of the support, saidplate being curved'to conform to the contour of the swimmers leg,

strap adapted to surround the swimmers leg inserted through theslots in the cross plate, the shorter arm of, said L-shaped support having a pair ofheel plates formedintegral therewith disposed at right angles thereto and to each other andfa securing strap se-v cured to one of said ears and to the longer arm' of the support adaptedto it over the instep of the wearers foot,

In testimon whereof I aifixmy signature I p in presence 0 two witnesses. I g a I JOHN W. GOODENBERGER. Witnesses: 1 p X I C. E. HUMPHREY,

F. E. SHANNON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained Ior flve centse ach, 'by addressingthe Commissioner of Iatents, I

. Washingtom'D. G. I g I p i

Images