US2159972A - Swimming device - Google Patents

Description

May 30, 1939. A. LARSON SWIMMING DEVICE Filed Sept. 19, 1938 Fiq.4

INVENTOR. BY Arr/d Larson Patented May 30, 1939 UNITED sTArEs PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved swimming device for increasing the effective area around the hands, which may readily be dropped so that it may hang down- 5 ward from the wrist to enable the life-guard to take hold of someone or an object, and which may readily be replaced while in the water.

The invention is a baffle plate curved to form a scoop adapted to be placed in the palm of the in hand with the 'fingers held. in straps on the back, and with the end freely held to the wrist.

Similar devices have been provided with means on the inside or front by which they may be attached to the hand, or with straps on the back through which the hands may be placed, however, it has been found desirable to place the hand on the back of the device and anchor it with the fingers in individual loops, and with an additional loop around the wrist so that it is positively held in position, and, at the same time, as such a device would prevent a life-guard or other person rescuing someone or gripping an object in the water, it has also been found desirable to readily withdraw the thumb and fingers and permit the device to drop so that it is suspended from the loop at the wrist.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to improve swimming devices of this type so that they may be positively held in position upon the hand, and also so that they may readily be released so that they may be dropped to hang from the wrist.

Another object is to provide a paddle or scoop adapted to be attached to the hands for swimming which may readily be dropped by one hand, and then replaced by one hand while the wearer thereof is in the water.

Another object is to provide means for mounting a bafile plate on the hands so that the hand pushes against the plate, driving it through the water.

A further object is to provide means for securing bafile plates on the hands of a swimmer by which the devices may be constantly held in position.

And a still further object is to provide a swimming device which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these ends in view the invention embodies curved metal plates slightly larger than the hands, with finger and thumb loops on the back, and a wrist strap on one end.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken 55 in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 device.

Figure 2 is a view showing a side elevation of one side of the device. V

Figure 3 is a view showing a cross section through the intermediate part of the device.

Figure 4: is a detail showing a longitudinal section through a part of the back of the device, illustrating'a recess therein for accommodating the heel of the hand.

Figure 5 is a detail showing a section similar to that shown in Figure 4 of an alternate design in which the end of the plate is rolled.

Figure 6 is a detail showing an alternate design in which a section through the rear portion of the device is illustrated, and in this design the edges are reinforced with beads which may a run continuously around the device.

In the drawing the device is shown as it may be made, wherein numeral l indicates the body of the device, numeral 2, the finger straps, numeral 3, the thumb strap, and numeral 4, the strap at the wrist.

The body of the device may be shaped as shown, and is preferably of such a size that it is slightly larger than the hand, and the intermediate part thereof is curved upward as shown at the point 5, forming a concave surface at the front, which is adapted to hold the water and provide the maximum amount of driving force. The hand is positioned directly on the back of this plate which places a hand in such a position that it pushes the plate through the water, and the hand is held by placing the tips of the fingers through the loops 6 in the strap 2, and with the tip of the thumb in the loop I of the strap 3. These straps are shown riveted to the plate I by rivets 8 in the finger strap and 9 in the thumb strap, however, it will be understood that the straps may be attached to the device in any manner, or loops of this type may be formed by any means. The inner end of the device is narrowed down, and the strap 4 is attached to the end by rivets l0, and it will be noted that this may buckle around the wrist, and the end of the plate may be curved downward as shown at the point I l in Figures 2 and 4, or the end of this plate may be rolled around as shown in Figure 5, forming a bead l2 with a band 13 extending therethrough, so that, when the device drops downward, the edge at the end thereof will not scratch or hurt the wrist. These beads, which may also be formed as shown in Figure 6', may run continuously around the edge of the device, and may be made as shown in Figure 6 in which the plate is indicated by the numeral l4 and the I is a View showing the back of the beads at the edges by the numerals l5 and IS. The edge of the plate may, however, be formed in any manner, and any means may be provided for reinforcing the plate or holding the device around the wrist.

It will be understood that other changes may be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention. One of which changes may be in the shape of the device as this may be made of any other design, another may be in the use of other means for individually holding the ends of the fingers and thumb, and still another may be in the use of any other material for the plate instead of the metal as shown and described.

The construction will be readily understood from the foregoing description. In use this device may be provided as shown and described, and, whereas one device is illustrated for the right hand, it will be understood that a similar device will be provided for the left hand, and, as hereinbefore stated, these devices may readily be installed by placing the tips of the fingers and thumb in the loops with a strap around the wrist, and the cooperation of these parts makes it possible to obtain a firm grip as the device is firmly held in position upon the hand; whereas, at the same time, by buckling the hand up, the tips of the fingers and thumb may readily be withdrawn from the loops so that the entire device will drop downward and hang from the wrist. This makes it possible for a swimmer to catch or grip an object in the water, and is particularly adapted for life-guards so that they may rapidly swim to a person, then drop the devices and use their hands to assist the person, and then readily replace the device in the same manner to provide greater buoyancy or force for taking the person in.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

An attachment adapted to be used on the hands for increasing the propelling power of a swimmer comprising a curved concave plate attached to the wrist of the swimmer, and with the hand positioned on the back or convex surface thereof, means holding the hand in position on the plate comprisingindividual loops for the tips of the fingers and thumb, with the said tips of the fingers and thumb adapted to be readily inserted in and removed from said loops, and in combination therewith an additional loop at the end of the plate providing the attaching means at the wrist, and formed of a relatively flexible strap adapted to be placed around the wrist, said device further characterized by an indentation adapted to receive the heel of the hand, and also in that the rear edge of the plate is curved downwardly, providing a smooth surface engaging the wrist when the tips of the fingers are withdrawn from the loops and the plate drops downward, in which position it is suspended from the wrist.

ARVID LARSON.

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