US1908420A - Float - Google Patents

Description

May 9, 1933. c. c. HARRIS ET AL FLOAT Filed May 6. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l ciw May 9, 1933 c. c. HARRIS ET AL 1,908,420

FLOAT Filed May 6, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 9, 1933 VUNIT.en errar-Es PATENT opl-*1GB CRL C. HARRIS AND HAROLD CADWEL'L, OF ORANGE, 'MASSACHUSETTS; SAID CADWELL'-ASSIGNOR TO SAID HARRIS i FLOAT Application filed May 6, 1932. .'Serial INU.. 99,698.

A AThe principal objects of'this invention are to provide a vfloat for sports use and safety purposes without cross rods, Aend rods, or textile covering; to provide a `construction which can be made at a very low cost and to provide a 4construction which will be strong, durable, light and inexpensive.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

1o Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan of a float constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an edge view as indicated by the arrow 2 in Fig. l;

' Fig. 3 is a perspective View ofthe central parts of the device separated to show the construction;

Fig. 4l is a view of the side rods and their l connecting features;

Fig. 5 is a plan showing a modification;

Fig. 6 is a separated perspective view of the same;

Fig. 7 is a plan of another modification,

and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view thereof on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

The ioat is designed to be used as a swimming iioat for use at bathing beaches for the assistance of the bathers to hold them up when swimming or, in larger sizes, it can be used as a raft and furthermore as a life preserver.

In the form shown on the rst sheet of drawings, the central main part of the device 10 preferably is constructed of balsa Wood or other very buoyant material. It can be made up of several pieces secured together by cement or any fastening devices that may 4.0 be desirable but is a unitary piece which will hold together in the water. It is intended to be covered all over with paint or other waterproof material to keep the water from getting into the grain of the wood and reducing its floating capacity and eventually causing the wood to deteriorate. Preferably it is made of rectangular shape with two central opposite V-shaped grooves 11 along its ends.

The float is provided with end bumpers 12 of pine or other wood, also preferably coverbumpers are'rounded preferably 4to ,avoid e ed with water-.proof paint or varnish. These Vtwo strips extend .along .theendsof the balsa w-ood and the grain is .at right 4angles tothe grain of ythe balsa wood. yThe .endsof these corners which might ,injure the .bathers and .at `the 'inner edge of each ,pieceisa ,continu- Vous V-shaped `projection 13 adapted .to lit within .the V-shaped grooves 11.

These ends serve as {bumpersto protect the fGc lighter andmore fragile balsa wood. Bythe use of the tongues or projections 1.3 .onthe pine ends 12 and by their projection into thegrooves 11 of .the-balsa wood, .the warping of Lthe balsa wood is prevented and further- 565 more the warping of the pine ends also is restrained. :For this .reason the 4article ,Will maintain a level andjflatsurface onfboths'ides under the severe conditions to which floats are subjected. A u'D Extending into recesses "14 ,inthe ends 12 and also Ain the'balsa Wood vpartl'Oare pins 15 of maple or .other strong Wood ha'ving heads 16 which are perforated togprovide for the ksupportof side rods 17 which .also `are 17.5

{formed off maple `or .the like. lThe pins k15 are fixed in place by maple dowe'ls 18 passing preferably all the way through thefpine ends and the bal-sa wood center. 'These side rods serve the usual purposeand also serve tto yr8.0 hold the device together.

By the use of ithese pins 15, .the cross `rods which extend clear through .the .float .inaccordance with my :previous {floats are eliminated. By covering all ,the Woodenpartswith the water-proof paint or varnish .the .necessity for using canvas 'isalsoelirninated The ornamentation, ifany, is secured by painting or varnishing the parts. Thefend .pieces ,not only strengthen the balsa wood centers .but also ser-ve as bumpers when .the lfloatengages some vother Ifloat vor stationary object. The Vbalsa wood center is water-,proof `as' .stated andhas a hardand durablesurface. A i

'In the form shown .infFigs .5 and 6,1the95 central pins 15 are omitted. It will beobvious that the side rods 17 `and ends .12 serve to Vhold the balsa woodcenter v10 .in position.

'Two pins 15 and .dowels 18 .are lused 'on yeach side. The ends 12 also.serve A,to strengthen 'i100 the balsa wood center 10 and as bumpers. Longitudinal dowels 20 may be used to prevent the center 10 from sliding out sideways.

In the form shown in Figs. 7 and 8 these features are all present, but for the balsa wood float is substituted a thin walled waterproof box 21. In this way a good light float is provided. In case of leakage the water can be drained out through an opening normally closed by a plug 22.

This float constitutes a compact device the Whole length of which is taken up by the wood and which is not provided with end rods located beyond the floating elements of the float. The side rods of course are spaced from the sides of the wood center and permit the bathers to grasp them and hold themselves up by means of the float. The pins are all driven in tight so that they will not be loosened by the use of the device or by its alternate wetting and drying out and the pins 16 are secured in place permanently.

Although we have illustrated and described only one form of the invention we are aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore we do not wish to be limited in this respect but what we do claim is:

l. As an article of manufacture, a ioat comprising a center of balsa wood, or the like, having horizontal grooves in its opposite ends and apair of end pieces of stronger wood extending throughout the said ends and having integral longitudinal proj ectionsV on their inner surfaces extending into and fitting said* grooves, for the purposes described.

2. As an article of manufacture, a float comprising a central portion of buoyant material and end pieces located in Contact with y the ends thereof and secured thereto, a series of pins extending into the ends of the end pieces and into the sides of the buoyant material, said pins having heads with perforations in alignment, side rods extending through said perforations, and means for permanently securing said pins in position.

3. As an article of manufacture, a float comprising a buoyant center having grooves in its opposite ends and a pair of end pieces of strong wood extending throughout'the said ends and having projections on their inner surfaces extending into and fitting said grooves, a series of pins extending into the ends of the end pieces and into the sides of the buoyant center and arranged in alignment along the sides of the float, said pins having heads with perforations in alignment, and side rodsextending through said perforations. e 4. As an article of manufacture, a float comprising a central buoyant portion and end pieces located in contact with the ends thereof and secured thereto, a` pair of pins on and having horizontal projections on theiry inner surfaces extending into and tting said grooves, side rods secured tothe opposite sides of the ends and spaced from the sides and in the plane of said center, and means for preventing the ends from movingsideways with respect to the center.

In testimony whereof we have hereuntoaffixed our signatures.

CARL o. HARRIS. HAROLD w. cADwELL.

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