US1767651A - Swimming appliance - Google Patents

Description

June 24, 1930. J. w. CUTHBERTSON SWIMMING APPLIANCE Filed July 5, 1929 Y yfrY Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES Aren't FFHCE ARTHUR L. ERIGKSON, OF TUB-LOCK, CALIFORNIA SWIMMING APPLIANCE Application filed July 5,

My invention relates to a swimming appliance and has for its principal object, the provision of a. relatively simple and practical device that may be conveniently applied to the calf portions of swimmers legs, for the purpose of materially aiding the swimmers forward movement through the water, or to enable the wearer of the device to easily maintain an upright position by the treading movement of the legs.

Further objects of my invention are, to

provide a swimming appliance that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, capable of being easily and quickly applied for use and which appliance automatically swings into open position for impingement against the water as the leg to which the device is attached is moved or kicked rearwardly or downwardly and which device automatically closes or folds against the leg as the same is drawn forwardly or upwardly. With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a swimming appliance of my improved construction and showing the same applied to the leg for use.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the appliance looking in the direction indicated by v the arrow 2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the device with the swinging blades or vanes in open position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the end portion of one of the adjustable straps utilized in my improved swimming device.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a practical embodiment of my invention, 10 designates a strap or elongated plate, preferably of thin light sheet metal and the length and shape of this strap or plate is such that it will set against the side portion of the calf of the leg from a point just below the knee to a point just above the ankle.

1929. Serial No. 376,225.

Secured in any suitable manner to the upper and lower ends of this plate are flexible straps 11, preferably of woven fabric which may be an inch and one-half or two inches in width and of such length as to encircle the leg just below the knee and just above the ankle. One end of-each strap is folded double, as illustrated in Fig. 4 to form a plurality of double thickness tabs 12, the thicknesses of material being stitched to each other to form said tabs and each tab has seated therein two or more metal or composition eyelets 13. The opposite end of each strap is folded double and seated there in are two or more eyelets 14 and passing through the latter and adapted to engage through the eyelets seated in any one of the tabs 12, are flexible ties 14?, preferably tapes of suitable length. 1

The'provision of a plurality of the tabs 11 enables the appliance to be snugly fitted upon legs of different sizes. I

Secured in any suitable manner to thelower one of the straps 11, at the point where it overlies the lower end of plate 10, is one end of a flexible strap 15, preferably woven fabric, of such length as to pass downwardly on the outside of the foot of the wearer, thence beneath thefoot and thence upwardly against the inner side of the foot and over the inner portion of the ankle and carried by the upper end of the outer portion of this strap is a suitable tie 16, preferably a tape of such length as to be passed once or U twice around the wearers limb just above the lower one of the straps 11 and this strap and tie are effective in wearing the lower portion of the appliance in proper position upon the foot and leg.

Connected by suitable loops or hinges 17 to the plate 10 are plates or vanes 18, preferably circular discs of light weight metal and which are arranged to swing from open positions in planes at right angles to the plane occupied by the plate 10 to'closing positions, directly against and substantially parallel with said plate 10. There are, preferably, three of these vanes and connecting the outer edge of the upper vane with the corresponding edge of the intermediate vane are small connecting members or tie rods 19, preferably wires and in like manner tie rods or wires 20 connect the outer edge of the intermediate plate with the corresponding edge of the lower plate, thus providing means for bringing about simultaneous swinging movement of all of the vanes or plates.

Secured to the outer edge of the lower one of the vanes 18 are the upper ends of flexible members 21, preferably light weight chains and the lower ends thereof are connected to the lower corners of the plate or strap 10.

These chains function as stops to limit the upward swinging movement of the vanes 18 and when said chains are extended to their limit the vanes 18 occupy positions substantially at right angles to the plane occupied by plate 10, as illustrated by solid lines in Ill) Figs. 1 and 2.

In order to increase the eifectiveness of the vanes while the same are in use and particularly while impinging the water, said vanes are'shaped so as to produce under faces that are slightly concave.

\Vhen my improved swimming appliance is applied for use the straps 11 are, by means of the ties 14, secured around the leg between the knee and ankle and'stra'p 15 is positioned beneath the foot with the free end of said strap secured around the leg by means of the tie 16.

In the use of the appliance the swimmer draws the lower portion of the leg toward the body and the plates or vanes 18 engaging the water during such movement will automatically swing inward against the plate 10, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1

and in such position sald plates or vanes will 7 be drawn forwardly with the leg with practically little or no resistance.

After the leghas been drawn to its limit of movement toward the swimmers body a quick rearward movement or kick will cause the vanes to automatically swing outward into open positions at right angles to the plate 10, as illustrated 'by solid lines in Figs. 1 and 2 and the impingement of the vanes against the water during this rearward movement w ll materially assist the swimmer in his forwardmovement through the water. up

By assuming a substantially upright position in the water and alternately moving the legs upwardly and downwardly a swimmer mayretain such upright position for an indefinite period of time and by moving the legs forwardly simultaneous with their upward and downward movements the swimmer may practically walk forward through the water.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an appliance that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and which will materially aid and assist the movements of a swimmer in moving for wardly through the water or while occupying a substantially upright position.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved swimming appliance may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claim.

I. claim as my invention:

In a swimming appliance, a plate, a plurality of vanes hinged to said plate for vertical swinging movement, straps secured to the ends of the plate and adapted to pass around the swimmers leg, one end of each strap being folded upon itself and secured so as to provide a plurality of tabs, eyelets seated in said tabs, eyelets seated in the op posite end of the strap and ties adapted to.

pass through said eyelets.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

JAMES w. on'rnnnrrson.

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