US2689357A

US2689357A - Swimming wings convertible to a beach ball

Info

Publication number: US2689357A
Application number: US385940A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick T Hornback
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-10-14
Filing date: 1953-10-14
Publication date: 1954-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 1971-09-21

Description

Sept. 21, 1954 F. T. HORNBACK 2,689,357

SWIMMING wmcs CONVERTIBLE TO A BEACH BALL 7 A p A 4 HA-.4 l8

F rederic/r 7. Hornbaclr INVENTOR.

Fig. 3 4

Patented Sept. 21, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWIMMING WINGS CONVERTIBLE TO A BEACH BALL Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in beach equipment, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herein described which, in one form, may conveniently function as swimming wings, while in another form it may be readily used as a ball.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, in its eflicient and entertaining operation, and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages Which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the invention in readiness for use as a beach ball;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the invention in readiness for use as swimming wings; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken substantially in the plane of the line 3-3 in Figure 1.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention is designated generally by the reference character I0 and embodies in its construction a pair of buoyant, semi-spherical members l2 which are preferably hollow and are adapted to be inflated through the medium of suitable valves [4, so that they possess buoyant characteristics.

The members l2 have fiat opposing faces 16 which are provided with re-entrant complemental pockets or recesses 18, and a flexible connecting member 20 extends between the members [2, as will be presently explained.

The member 20 is preferably in the form of two strap sections 20a which are adjustably connected together by conventional buckle means 22 and are provided at the ends thereof with forked or bifurcated portions 24, rigidly secured in the recesses I8 of the respective members I2.

It will be observed that the flat opposing faces l6 of the members 12 are equipped with coacting snap fastener elements 26. Also, flexible tapes 28 of non-elastic material may be provided in the respective members 12, the inner ends 30 of the tapes being secured to the sockets l8 while the outer ends 32 are secured to the members 12 adjacent the valves 14. The purpose of the tapes 28 is to assist the members I! in maintaining their correct, semi-spherical shape when infiated.

When the invention is to be used in the nature of swimming wings, the members [2 are sepa- 2 rated as shown in Figure 2 while the flexible connection element 20 extends therebetween.

However, when the invention is to be used as a beach ball, the flexible connecting element 20 is simply stored in the recesses or pockets l8 while the members l2 are brought together into abutting relation and the snap fastener elements 26 of the two members are engaged so as to sustain the members together, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

If so desired, the connecting element 20 may be disconnected at the buckle means 22 thereof and each portion 201; of the connecting element may be stored in the recess or pocket 18 of the associated member I2.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be restored to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. Swimming wings convertible to a beach ball, comprising a pair of buoyant semi-spherical members having flat opposing faces provided with complemental recesses, a flexible connecting element having opposite ends thereof secured in the recesses of the respective members, said element being receivable in said recesses when said members are in abutment to form a ball, and means separably sustaining said members in abutting relation.

2. The device as defined in claim 1, together with means for adjusting the length of said connecting element.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means comprise coacting snap fasteners provided on the fiat opposing faces of said members.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 together with means for inflating ,said members.

5. The device as defined in claim 1 together with transversely extending reinforcing tapes provided in the respective members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,026,519 Knoph May 14, 1912 1,043,367 Smack Nov. 5, 1912 1,116,393 Despot Nov. 10, 1914 1,234,826 Tortomasi July 31, 1917 1,677,083 Heminger July 10, 1928 1,955,053 Carbeck Apr. 17, 1934