US1752630A - Swimming catamaran - Google Patents

Description

April 1, 1930. M. M BROWN 7 SWIMMING CATAMARAN Filed May 1, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 1, 1930. M. M. BROWN SWIMMING CATAMARAN Filed May 1, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 1, 1930 MAURICE M. BROWN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SWIMMING CATAMARAN Application filed May 1, 1929 Serial No. 359,531.

and pleasure of those who can swim. It has for its object the production of a device of this character which shall be efiicient in action, impossible of reversal or capsizing, simple and easy to pack and carry, and finally which shall leave the learner or the swimmer entirely free and unimpeded in all movements, while perfectly supported from above in such manner as to keep the head and shoulders at a predetermined level with respect to the surface of the water.

I attain my object by providing a pair of hollow cylinders or floats which are placed parallel to each other and a suflicient distance apart to constitute a perfectibly stable catamaran. These floats are connected by a superstructure comprisingv risers and either converging or parallel horizontal frame members connecting the upper ends of the risers. If converging, then a suspension device is secured beneath the center point or crossing of the frame members, and its lower end is provided with a belt or strap to encircle the body of the swimmer beneath the arms, preferably with shoulder straps to keep it from slipping down. If the frame members are parallel, connecting the upper ends of corresponding 7 pairs of risers located fore and aft on the pontoons, then I provide a central runway or connecting rod between the transverse frame members and on this runway I provide a runner in the form of a ring or pulley which carriesa suspension device of substantially the same character as before. With the former construction, the swimmer is supported between the pontoons with room to turn and proceed in all directions and may be supplied with hand ropes leading to the front end or other parts of the pontoons, by which to direct the same as well as to enhance his own enjoyment and control of movements in the water. In the latter case, that is with the runway, the swimmer may turn back and forth and reverse his direction, but when swimming forward will always be ahead of the center, that is to say, abaft the bows of the two pontoons, which will thus be directed automatically so as to follow his movements and progress in any given direction he may choose to swim. In either case, I contemplate applying pull rods and hand ropes, side holds, and an overhead boatswains chair or seat supported on or from the superstructure, which may be occupied by the user of the device at will, the pontoons beingthen capable 3f propulsion by means of a paddle or pad- In addition to being used as a safety device, my pontoon apparatus constitutes a very efficlent game apparatus, particularly as I preferably construct it in knock down form so that it can be taken apart, packed and carried in a very small compass. It is applicable to such games as water polo, paddling and swimming races, surf-riding, and the like.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view, and Fig. 2 is an end elevation of my central support device.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the second form having an overhead runner on which the supporting device travels, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the sockets which I employ.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of a blank punched. out of sheet metal but not yet formed up into' the top support or center plate of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, and first to... Figs. 1 and 2, the numerals 1 and 2 designate two cylindrical floats or pontoons with tapered or conical ends 1 and 2. These pontoons may be constructed of galvanized iron,

pure copper, or other material, and may be painted appropriate colors. Each pontoon 9 carries a pair of sockets 3 and tlocated near its opposite ends, to receive the lower ends of the frame members 5 and 6. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 these frame members converge toward an overhead central plate 7 which has four sockets 8, 9, l0 and 11 to receive the ends of the four frame members. These frame members are preferably light tubing of any suitable metal and the sockets 3, at, 8, 11, etc. are provided with means'to hold the ends of the tubing rigidly and se curely when in use, and release the same when it is desired to knock down and pack the device. The socket shown in Fig. at is one of the base sockets 3 or 1, and has a base plate 12 carrying the circular socket member 13 to receive the end of the tubing 5 or 6. On one side the circular s cket is split and provided with clamping wings or flanges 11 which may be drawn together by any suitable means such as a bolt or screw 15. If desired, these clamping bolts or screws, and the nuts which cooperate with them, may have wings to enable them to be turned by the fingers without any tool, as indicated in Fig. 4. The sockets 8, 9, 10, 11 on the center plate 7 are of the same general character as that shown in Fig. 4, but lack the base plate 12, the sockets being directly secured to and preferably integral with the plate 7 itself a blank cut out of sheet metal and suitable for the formation of the plate 7 with its four sockets is shown in Fig. 5. The four wings 13 in this figure are formed up in the same manner as the clamping body 13 shown in Fig. 4. In the center of the plate 7 I secure an eye-bolt 16 with the eye below the plate. From this eye bolt a strap or chain 17 is suspended and at its lower end carries a ring 18 to which are secured opposite ends of a belt 19 with a suitable buckle or other equivalent device 20 for enabling the belt to be secured around the body of the user. This belt is preferably of the form shown in Fig. 3, with shoulder straps 21 to hold it in place well up between the arms, so that the ring 18 will always lie between the should-er blades on the back of the user. By this mode of suspension, the most inexperienced user, suchas a young child, may be safely trusted in the water with perfect confidence, as the head and shoulders are maintained constantly at a level which is predetermined by adjusting the length of the strap or chain 17 in any suitable manner, as by means of a turn-buckle or a snap hook or the like. In order to keep the swimmer steady and give him directive guidance of the pontoons, I provide ropes 22 with snaphooks 28 by which they are attached diagonally to rings on the sockets 13 and at the center end. on the ring 18 or duplicate ring 18 forming part of the suspension device. In (lisassen'ibling the device, these ropes may be unhooked, the strap or chain 17 may likewise be unhooked (having snaphooks at its upper and lower ends if desired), the tubing 5-6 may be taken out of the sockets 3-4 and 8. 9, 10, 11, the two pontoons placed close together, the other parts laid parallel with them and upon them, and the entire device may then be enclosed in a suitable carrying case of a size to go conveniently on the runningboard of an automobile. In assembling, the tubing 56 is inserted in the pontoon sockets 3--1 on both sides, and clamped. The center plate 7 is then put in position the ends of the tubes are inserted in the sockets 8, 9, 10, 11, and clamped, the suspension device 17 is hooked on to the ring 16 and the ring 18 or 18. If the ropes 22 are to be used they are then snapped in position as shown in Figs. 2 and (S, and the entire outfit is ready for use.

Referring now to Fig. 3, in this case the tubular frame members 5--6 are replaced by risers 5 -45 connected above the pontoons by horizontal frame members 25 and 26 which are connected at their middle points by a longitudinal runway or tube 27 secured in clamping sockets 2829 similar to the sockets 8, 9, 10, 11 and 13, in Figs. 1 and 1. In this case however, the sockets 28 and 29 are T-shaped, with tubular members secured permanently at the middle points of the tubes 25 and 26, and the clamping members 28 and 29 projecting therefrom. The suspension device 17 in this case is similar to that de-" scribed and shown in Fig. 2 as are also the belt 19, the shoulder straps 20 and the elevis or ring 18 for securing the belt to the suspension dcvice. In Fig. 3 however the ring 16 slides upon the rod or runway 27 and the upper end of the strap or chain 17 is snaphooked to this ring. With the construction thus described, it is obvious that the swimmer may swim backwards or forwards, the ring 16 traveling along the rods 27 according to his direction, and when he is at either limit of the travel of the ring, he will be either forward or aft of the midship section of the pontoons as indicated by the dotted lines 30 in Fig. If forward, and swimming in the direction of the arrow, he will draw the pontoons with him, and any deviation to the right or left will steer the prows in the same direction. It is to be noted that there should bea sufficient projection fore and aft of the pontoons beyond the sockets 34 in Fig. 3, to provide always a sufficient lifting power to keep the swimmers head and shoulders in proper position. In orther words, if the sockets 3 be placed too near the bow points 1 and 2 of the pontoons 1 and 2, there is danger thatthe said points will bury themselves in the water and the stern points will kick up, leaving the swimmer smothered in the foam. Toavoid any possibility of this occurring, I may pro vide hand ropes as shown at 31 on the insides of the pontoons, and may also provide ropes similar to the ropes 22 in Figs. 2 and 6 by means of which the swimmer can adjust his position and right the craft if it shows a disposition to nose-dive.

The assembling and disassembling of the apparatus in Fig. 3 is substantially the same as that of the apparatus in Figs. 1 and 2.

\Vhile I have described herein the best form of my invent-ion now known to me, together with the best mode of practicing the same, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I am not confined to any nonessential backwards or forward details, but contemplate all such changes and modifications as fall fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

What- I claim is:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a pair of light cylindrical tubular metal floats or pontoons, clamping sockets rigidly secured fore and aft upon said pontoons, tubular metal frame members or risers having their lower and outer ends clamped in said sockets, an overhead metal frame member comprising a longitudinal rod or runway with clamping sockets integrally secured upon it and adapted to receive the upper and inner ends of said frame members or risers, and a flexible suspension device depending from said overhead frame member with means at its lower end to secure it to a swimmer and a ring or traveler at its upper end adapted to travel on said rod or runway fore and aft.

2. The combination described in claim 1, in which the means for securing the flexible suspension device to a swimmer consists of a harness with the point of attachment at the back, whereby the swimmer is automatically held in the correct posture.

3. The combination described in claim 1, with handholds secured upon the inside of each pontoon, whereby the swimmer may control the position and movements of said pontoons.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

MAURICE M. BROWN.

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