US20050266745A1

US20050266745A1 - Finger web swimming aid

Info

Publication number: US20050266745A1
Application number: US10/852,230
Authority: US
Inventors: Shao-Hua Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-05-25
Filing date: 2004-05-25
Publication date: 2005-12-01
Also published as: JP3107935U

Abstract

A finger web swimming aid embodying fingerstalls and web membranes molded to form one integral body therefrom, and wherein the web membranes are connected between side walls of each of the fingerstalls. The fingerstalls provide ends of each of tubular members allow for the first joint of each of the user's fingers to expose therefrom. Ribbed edges are configured on outer edges of each of the web membranes, which enhance strength and allow for easy removal thereof. Furthermore, a plurality of grooves are further defined on surfaces of each of the web membranes, and which provide the web membranes with a moderate degree of concavity, and functions in coordination with flexing of the fingers of the user. In particular, when necessary, easy removal of at least one finger of the three center fingers from the fingerstalls is effectuated, and which thereby facilitates manipulative movements therewith.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structural design of a finger web swimming aid, and more particularly to the finger web swimming aid that provides for easy wearing on fingers of a swimmer, thereby enabling the swimmer to realize enhancement to paddling motive force by means of web membrane connections between side walls of fingerstalls, while still maintaining dexterity in movement of the fingers of the swimmer.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
A conventional web-fingered glove 10 (see FIG. 8) primary provides usage for when swimming and diving, thereupon providing functionality similar to that of flippers by means of membranes 102 connected between each of fingerstalls 101. Accordingly, upon a swimmer wearing the web-fingered glove 10 on a hand, paddling motive force of the hand of the swimmer is thereby enhanced.
However, because of hindrance resulting from thickness of the web membranes 102, and, moreover, because the fingerstalls 101 are of a complete finger-type structure and fitted onto the fingers, therefore, upon a user wearing the web-fingered glove 10 on the hand, concerted movement between the fingers is impeded thereof, moreover, hindrance in dexterity of the fingertips results there because. Hence, when the user wishes to perform various movements underwater, the web-fingered gloves 10 must be temporarily removed in order to benefit movement of the hands, and upon requiring assistance in swimming movement, the web-fingered gloves 10 are put on again. The web-fingered gloves 10 having such a mode of usage not only results in putting on and removing of the web-fingered gloves 10 time consuming, moreover, because the web-fingered gloves 10 are made from water impermeable rubber material, after the gloves 10 have come in contact with water, a substantial friction force between the rubber material and the hand results thereof, which makes putting on and removing of the gloves 10 extremely difficult. Furthermore, when the swimmer is underwater and meets with an emergency situation, because the gloves 10 are difficult to readily remove to allow the hands to cope with the emergency, therefore hidden worries arise for the swimmer over misgivings concerning safety aspect of wearing the web-fingered gloves 10.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a structural design of a finger web swimming aid embodying two portions structured so as to comprise fingerstalls and web membranes molded to form one integral body therefrom, and wherein the web membranes are connected between side walls of each of the fingerstalls. The fingerstalls provide for the fingers of a user to insert thereinto, and whereby ends of each of tubular members of the fingerstalls allow for the first joint of each of the fingers to expose therefrom. A plurality of grooves are further defined on surfaces of each of the web membranes, whereby configuration of the grooves is such to provide the web membranes with a moderate degree of concavity, thereby providing the web membranes with flexing functionality to function in coordination with flexing of the fingers of the user.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide the structural design of the finger web swimming aid that enables, when necessary, at least one finger of the three center fingers to be removed from the fingerstalls, and which thereby facilitates manipulative movements therewith.
Yet another objective of the present invention Is to provide the structural design of the finger web swimming aid having ribbed edges configured on outer edges of openings of the tubular members of the fingerstalls, and, moreover, walls of the fingerstalls are adapted to assume a taper form extending from the ribbed edges and in direction of extremity of the fingerstalls, thereby facilitating action of putting on and removing of the finger web swimming aid when in usage.
To enable a further understanding of the said objectives and the technological methods of the invention herein, the brief description of the drawings below is followed by the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an elevational schematic view according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional, structural schematic view according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional schematic view of a fingerstall according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional schematic view of a web membrane according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 4 according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the web membrane in a flexed state according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a finger web in use according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of a conventional web-fingered glove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, which show a structural design of a finger web swimming aid of the present invention primarily structured to comprise fingerstalls 1 and web membranes 2 molded from soft rubber material so as to form one integral body therefrom, and wherein:
The fingerstalls 1 provide tubular members for fingers to be placed thereinto, and ribbed edges 11 are configured on outer edges of openings of the tubular members of the fingerstalls 1, moreover, walls of the fingerstalls 1 are adapted to assume a taper form extending from the ribbed edges 11 and in direction of extremity of the fingerstalls 1 (see FIG. 3). Furthermore, angle of each of the tubular members are configured to conform with angle of each finger of a user, and length of each of the fingerstalls 1 are configured so as to correspond with length of each of the fingers of the user, and whereby first joint of each of the fingers of the user are exposed and protrude from an extremity of each of the fingerstalls 1 respectively when wearing the finger web.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the web membranes 2 comprise sheets connected between side walls of each of the fingerstalls 1, and molded so as to form an integral body therewith. Ribbed edges 21 are configured on outer edges of each of the web membranes 2, and a plurality of grooves 22 are further defined on front and rear surfaces of each of the web membranes 2, whereby configuration of the grooves 22 (see FIG. 6) is such to provide the web membranes 2 with a moderate degree of concavity, thereby providing the web membranes 2 with flexing functionality to function in coordination with flexing of the fingers of the user.
According to aforementioned structural members, the fingerstalls 1 are so deployed such that an angle of each of the fingerstalls 1 corresponds with an angle of each finger of the user; moreover, the web membranes 2 are connected between each of the fingerstalls 1, and molded so as to form one integral body therewith. Hence, when a swimmer wears the finger web on the fingers, such a structural assembly realizes enhancement to paddling motive force of the hand of the swimmer.
Referring to FIG. 7, which shows the hand wearing the finger web swimming aid of the present invention, wherein length of each of the fingerstalls 1 are configured so as to correspond with length of each of the fingers of the user, moreover, walls of each of the fingerstalls 1 assume a taper form, and whereby first joint of an extremity of each of the fingers of the user are exposed and protrude from each of the fingerstalls 1 respectively when wearing the finger web. Hence, when the user is wearing the finger web of the present invention, the user is still able to exploit dexterity of the fingertips to carry out various manipulative actions (for instance, to cock a water jet, unfasten objects, and so on.)
In addition, the plurality of grooves 22 defined on the front and rear surfaces of each of the web membrane 2 assume a radiating form that outwardly extends from junctures between the fingers as center to the outer edges of the web membranes 2, wherewith, when spreading apart and merging together the fingers, enables the membrane surfaces of the web membrane 2 to realize easier coordinative and dexterous flexing therewith (see FIG. 6). In addition, because thickness of portion of the web membranes 2 having the grooves defined thereat is relatively thinner, therefore the ribbed edges 21 configured on the outer edges of the web membranes 2 increases strength of the entire web membranes 2 therewith, and thus the web membranes 2 will not easily tear apart at the portions having the grooves 22 defined.
Furthermore, during actual usage of the finger web of the present invention, a clearance A results (see FIG. 7) between each of the web membranes 2 and the juncture between each of the fingers, and whereby formation of the clearances A ensures resistance against stroking water by the hands is not too great. After the user has worn the finger web swimming aid for a prolonged length of time, because of not having to bear too great a resistance against stroking the water, the user will not experience fatigue and aching in the arms. Furthermore, because of the ribbed edges 11 configured on outer edges of the openings of lower ends of each of the tubular members, in general usage, openings of each of the fingerstalls 1 can employ functionality of the ribbed edges 11 to afford a propped open state, thereby facilitating action of putting on and removing the finger web swimming aid when in usage.
In conclusion, the structural design of the finger web swimming aid assuredly achieves unhindered free dexterous movement of the fingers when the user wears the finger web swimming aid, and, moreover, achieves anticipated functionality to assist propelling the swimmer forward. Hence, advancement in effectiveness has been realized, moreover, means to accomplish such are of an innovative nature, and which conform to important conditions required of a new model. Accordingly, an application for a new patent is proposed herein.
It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1-2. (canceled)

3. A finger web swimming aid for a plurality of fingers of a user comprising:

a) a plurality of fingerstalls, each of the plurality of fingerstalls is a tubular member having a first ribbed edge on a first end thereof and an outer periphery tapering inwardly from the first end toward a second end thereof, each of the plurality of fingerstalls having one of the plurality of fingers of the user inserted therein, a first joint of one of the plurality of fingers protruding outwardly from the second end of each of the plurality of fingerstalls; and

b) a plurality of web membranes, one of the plurality of web membranes is located between two adjacent fingerstalls of the plurality of fingerstalls, each of the plurality of web membranes having:

i) a second ribbed edge located between the second end of two adjacent fingerstalls of the plurality of fingerstalls;

ii) a plurality of first grooves formed on a first surface; and

iii) a plurality of second grooves formed on a second surface opposite the first surface, one of the plurality of first grooves aligning with each of the plurality of second grooves,

wherein the plurality of fingerstalls are integrally formed with the plurality of web membranes.

4. The finger web swimming aid according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of fingerstalls and the plurality of web membranes are molded from a soft rubber material.

5. The finger web swimming aid according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of first grooves and the plurality of second grooves radiate outwardly from a first edge to a second edge of each of the plurality of web membranes.