US1661499A - Aquatic device - Google Patents

Description

E. 'PROTEAU AQUATIC DEVICE Filed July 19, 1926 1 INVE/VTOR W [LIZABETH P307010 Patented Mar. 6, 1 928. i

AUNITED earnerA Fat-Q3 ELIZABETH r w rnan, or nmnoors, Bnrrrsn conumnrn, cannon.

AQUATIC nr'vrcn.

.Arplicati gtlci July 19,

My invent on r ates] t improvem nt in aquatic devices, the objects fQf which are par icularly adap ed L fer ins r t or amusement purposes. Theobjects of the invention are toprovide a semi-submersible structure upon which a person may be supported in a swimming position and upon which he may propel and steer himself through the water. I 7

Further Qbjficts are to provide means i'vhereby the Qdevicemaybe shortened or exended su'i pe sons of di eren u e, and forvarying the buoyancy of the device to acco n'imodateithe varying weightpojf the users, and toprovide means for collapsing the device for convenience in packing and carrying. l

The invention consists essentially of a frame suninountging ,a keel from which a propelling mechanism and a rudder is mounted and a pair ofexpansible floats for the frame, as vill be more fully described in the following specification, in which 2-.-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure. V I

The numeral 1 indicates a keel or centre member, having adjacent'its opposite ends, pivotally connected to it, a forward and a rear transverse member, indicated by the numerals 2 and 3 respectively. The forward member 2 is upwardly curved at its outer ends so as to lie well below the breast of the user and to permit of freedom of arm movement.

Extending from the ends of the member 2 to the correspondin ends of the member 3 is a pair of side ro s 4 which'are slotted at their extremities as at 5 and are connected to the members 2 and 3 by thumb bolts 6 extending through said slots. Extending between the side rods 4 are straps or lengths of webbing 7 which are of such length as to provide conjointly a support conforming to the shape of the body so that each strap will support a proportionate weight and that the users body will be comfortably disposed when lying outstretched thereupon.

Adjacent the forward end of the side rods a pair of inflatable floats 8 are connected which are held in place under the rods by straps 9. The floats are preferably of rubher or other distensible material so that they may be inflated to any desired size to provide the necessarybuoyancy,for any user and to maintain the device at a suitable angle when in use to providefor its convenient operation.

The floats are provided with suitable valves 10 to permit of inflation or deflation as required. i r V The numeral 11 indicates a stripofmetal bent back ,uponit self to form a hearing tor a rudder post 12, the ends of the strip being slotted as at .13 to permit of itsbeing adjustablysecured by a pair, of bolts and thumb nuts to the rear. extremity of the keel 1.

At the lower end of the rudder post 12 is a rudder 15 and at its upper end is a yoke 16 which is adapted to lie in a convenient position for operation the users feet.

The numeral 17 indicates a propeller shaft suitably journalled below the'keel 1 as at 18 and19atth e rear end of "which apigopelher 20 is fitted. I

Th orwar end f t Pr pe sh is fitted with bevel pinion 21whi'ch is driven by a suitably journalled bevel gear 22 on ya shaft 23, which shaft is fitted with a pair of hand cranks 24.

Having thus described the several parts of my invention I will now briefly explain its use.

The rudder position is adjusted as to length by" sliding the strip 13 lengthwise along the keel 1 and securing it when adjusted by tightening the nuts 14;.

The device is then set in the water, wherein it assumes an acutely inclined posi tion., The user then lies face down upon the straps 7, grips the hand cranks 24 and places his feet upon the yoke 16.

(ill

As he turns the cranks, the propeller is resistance to propulsion is reduced to a mlnimum.

After withdrawing the device from the water the floats 8 may be entirely deflated, and by loosening the bolts 6 the transverse members 2 and 3 turned about their pivot pins, thus disposing the side rods 4 parallel IOU ins

to and in close proximity to the keel 1, so that the device can be reduced to compact form for carrying or storage.

hat I claim as my invention is:

1. An aquatic device of the character described comprising a central keel member, a body supporting frame including trans versely extending" end members intermediately pivoted to the keel member and projecting laterally beyond the sides of said member. side members extending between correspondin; extremities of said end members, fastening means connecting said side and end members together in such manner as to enable said members to be rigid y cured in rectangular formation or to be adjusted by turning movement of the end members to dispose all of said members above and in substantial parallelism with the keel member and flexible body, supporting means carried by the side members adapted to support a body thereon in the operative position of the side members.

2. An aquatic device of the character described comprising a heel member, a propeller shaft journallcd in bearings carried by the underside of said keel member,handle means carried by the forward portion oi" said heel member. a drive connection between said handle means and the propeller shaft. :1 rudder carried by the rear end of the keel member and including; a foot operable control member. a bod} support carried by said heel member and including transversely extending end members intern'iediatcly secured to the upper surface of the keel member and projecting laterally beyond opposite sides of said heel member, the forward end mcn1- her being curved to dispose the extremities thereof in a plane above that containing the extremities of the rear end member, side members connecting eorrespomling extremities of said end members and thereb supported to incline upwardly toward the for ward end of the keel member flexible body supporting straps eatendin between and connecting said side membe s, and buoyant; means carried by said body supportin frame.

3. An aquatic device ol the character described including a central lit'tl member and a body su 'iporting frame having transverse -end members intermediately pivoted to the heel member and projeetino latcrall beyond either side of said member and side members connecting the corresponding terminal portions oi the end members and secured thereto by a slot: and pin connection. one of the end members of the frame being bowed upwardly at: its extremities to dispose the side members at an inclination and said l'ramc bein; provided centrally with means forming a body supporting surface.

Dated at; Kamloops this 2nd day of .luly

ELIZABETH PRt )'l' l!) Al

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