US2707789A

US2707789A - Pontoon water skates

Info

Publication number: US2707789A
Application number: US354725A
Authority: US
Inventors: Marvin W Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-05-13
Filing date: 1953-05-13
Publication date: 1955-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 1972-05-10

Description

y 0, 1955 M. w. BROWN 2,707,789

' PONTOON WATER SKATES Filed May 15, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 40 4/ INVENTOR) Marvin W Brown. 7 BY HTTORNEYS.

May 10, 1955 M. w BROWN 2,707,789

PONTOON WATER SKATES Filed May 13, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 .I II

INVENTOR, Marquz M Brown,

P BY A aw wm m HTTORNEYS- y 10, 1955 M. w. BROWN 2,707,789

PONTOON WATER SKATES Filed May 13. 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 HTTORNEYS.

May 10, 1955 M. w. BROWN 2,707,789.

PONTOC/JN WATER SKATES Filed May 15, 1953 v 6 Shets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR,

margin W. Brown,

HTTORNEY y 0, 1955 M. w. BROWN 2,707,789

PONTOON WATER SKATES Fil ed May 15, 195:5

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HTTGRNEY5P PONTOON WATER SKATES Marvin W. Brown, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application May 13, 1953, Serial No. 354,725

9 Claims. (Cl. 9-21) This invention relates to individual travel on water such as may be useful for fishermen, life guards, Navy and Coast Guard personnel and for the playing of water sports. For convenience, the invention may be termed a water ski.

One of the important objects of the invention is to in straight lines by the provision of keel-like structures carried by the device.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide fin-like structures for a device of this kind whereby movement of the leg toward the rear of the body will cause engagement of the fins in the water and propel the user forwardly.

A fifth important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be tied to a similar device to prevent unwanted lateral spreading of the user's legs.

atent O Fig. 14 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of two devices, showing particularly two straps 31a.

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of two hand pontoons.

Fig. 16 is a transverse sectional view, line 16--16 Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view, showing the straps and the other parts.

In each form of the invention herein disclosed there is provided an outer casing for hull of waterproof fabric 10 formed to take a definite shape when fully expanded. This hull has its lower part of general boat-like form as shown at 11, in Figs. 2 3, and 6 and arising from this lower part 11 is an upstanding pair of side members 12 which meet together at the forward and after ends as shown at 13 in Fig. 8, the meeting portions being vertical in position and these meeting portions are expanded at their lower ends to make transverse pockets 14. This hull member is provided on each side of the portions 12 with a slit 15 which, when in use, is held closed by a lacing 16 in the manner of the usual football. Within the hull casing 10 is located a pair of elastically inflatable bags 17 conforming in shape to the half section interior form of the hulls 10 as shown in Fig. 7, the lower parts of these bags joining in a vertical line as shown at 18. The inner portions of the hull body 10 are spread apart as at 19 to form a shuttle shaped opening 20. The end portions of the hull and the inflation bags overhang the secure the lower parts of the users legs to such platforms.

A seventh important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be collapsed for transportation and inflated for use.

portions 19 as at 21 and 22, the arrangement of the part 21 being such as to provide a space 23 for the forward end of the users foot.

Resting on the bottom of the opening 19 and extending forwardly and aftward beneath the parts 21 and 22 ber and carrying ring 28 engageable around the leg L o the user and secured thereto by strap means 29. I

These devices are intended to be used in pairs and in spaced side by side relation. In order to provide for limiting the distance between the devices of a pair of hulls, plates '30 are secured to the lower part of each hull section and carry rings 31, the plates 30 being located amidships of the device. Several plates 32 are located on the forward and after ends of the hull member at each side thereof and carry grab irons 33 so that in certain uses With the above and other objects in View, the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particu- 5K larly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of ref- I erence indicate like parts, and- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of the device.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77.of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of one modification of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of a second modification of the invention.

of the invention the hands of the user may grip these irons when he crouches and reaches either forward or backward.

At the top of the structure each side portion 12 is joined toward the center by Wide elastic straps 34 and towards the ends these sides are similarly joined by elastic straps'35. In order to inflate the inner bags, suitable valves 36 are provided, there being one of these valves for each of the inflation bags.

in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 8, there is secured to the underside of the hull member 10 a transverse plate the hull fabric. On the shaft 39 between the hinge eyes 5 38 are fitted hinge eyes 42 extending from which are curved propulsion blades 43, these blades having their concave sides positioned toward the rear of the hull. Extending from the convex side of each blade is a fin I member 44.

' Fig. 11 is a detailed view showing a modified manner of supporting thefins and keel structures.

Fig. 12 is a detail showing further modification of the fin and keel structures.

Fig. 13 is a top .plan view of several of the devices fastened together by means of straps 31a.

Stops 45 are carried by the plates 37 forwardly of the blades43 and these stops, tolimit forward movement of the blades 43, engage in the angle of the blade and the top .ofthe keel member. By this means when the foot .is

swung forwardly the blades 43 assume the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1,. but when the foot is swung rearwardly, the blades assume the full line position. Thus, the keel members 44 do not operate with rearward movement of the leg as shown in the full line position of Fig. 1, but depend vertically from the blade in the dotted line position as the users foot moves forward.

In the form shown in Fig. 9, the plates 37 are replaced by a diagonally disposed plate 46 and the blades 47 and keel member 48 are carried by diagonally disposed shaft 49.

In the form shown in Fig. diagonally disposed plates 50 are attached to the bottom of the hull and carry diagonally disposed shafts 51, whereon are mounted blade members 52 and keel members 53. Stops 54 are provided for the same purpose as the stops 45. Fig. 11 is a detailed side elevation showing the appearance of one of the propulsion devices illustrated in Fi g. I, when the blade 52 is in vertical position for pushing the hull 10 to the right and it will be noted that the keel member 53 in this case, as shown in Fig. 12, does not extend directly fore and aft of the hull, but at an angle thereto so that when the blade 52 folds up toward the bottom of the hull, this blade compensates for the lateral thrust just effected by the diagonally disposed blade 52.

In Fig. 13 a series of the pontoons are shown in top plan, secured together by straps 31a. These straps 31a are better shown in side elevation in Fig. 14. This hookup of Fig. 13 forms a large life-preserver or raft.

A pair of small hand pontoons 33b are shown in Fig. 15, provided with straps 31c, and with buttons 31d or the like, to permit each attachment and removal. The straps are most useful when a person wishes to use the pontoons for assistance in balancing and gaining an upright position on the water. They might also be useful to give an expert extra buoyancy needed when helping someone else. Without straps, the hand pontoons may be used like any football or handball.

Obviously, when it is desired to transport these devices, they are deflated and the deflated portions are collapsed toward the platform 24, thus making a compact bundle for shipment or other transportation. Of course, when the devices are to be used they must be again inflated, which can be done by any type of pump such as is used in inflating automobile tires.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of this invention without departing from the material principles thereof. It is not therefore desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described. but it is wished to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

What is claimed, is:

I. In a device of the kind described, a body inflatable to boat shape, a pair of propulsion devices attached to the under side of said body, said body having an outer member of waterproof fabric and an inner member of cxpansible balloon-like material holding the outer member in shape upon expansion by inflation, said body having a lower portion segmento-circular in cross-section extending from end to end of the body, said inner member having a lower side resting on the bottom of the body and an upper side spaced above said lower side and having a pair of hollow sides extending upwardly from the lower portion said inner and outer members forming a cushioned foot supporting surface. and means adapted to secure a users foot to said body.

2. In a device of the kind described, a body inflatable to boat shape, a pair of propulsion devices attached to the under side of said body, said body having an outer member of waterproof fabric and an inner member of expansible balloon-like material holding the outer member in shape upon expansion by inflation, said body having a lower portion segmento-circular in cross-section extending from end to end of the body. said inner member having a lower side resting on the bottom of the body and an upper side spaced above said lower side and having a pair of hollow sides extending upwardly from the lower portion said inner and outer members forming a cushioned foot supporting surface, said sides being in contact at their forward and after ends and laterally spaced at their central portions, and means adapted to secure a users foot to said body.

3. In a device of the kind described, a body inflatable to boat shape, a pair of propulsion devices attached to the under side of said body, said body having an outer member of waterproof fabric and an inner member of expansible balloon-like material holding the outer member in shape upon expansion by inflation, said body having a lower portion segmento-circular in cross-section extending from end to end of the body, said inner member having a lower side resting on the bottom of the body and an upper side spaced above said lower side and having a pair of hollow sides extending upwardly from the lower portion said inner and outer members forming a cushioned foot supporting surface, said sides being in contact at their forward and after ends and laterally spaced at their central portions, and means adapted to secure a user's foot to said body, said means including a platform resting on the lower portion of the body and having its end portions extending beneath the contacting side portions at each end of the body and further including foot engaging straps carried by said body and leg straps supported from said sides.

4. In a device of the kind described, a body inflatable to boat shape, a pair of propulsion devices attached to the under side of said body, said body having an outer member of waterproof fabric and an inner member of expansible balloon-like material holding the outer member in shape upon expansion by inflation, said body having a lower portion segmento-circular in cross-section extending from end to end of the body, said inner member having a lower side resting on the bottom of the body and an upper side spaced above said lower side and having a pair of hollow sides extending upwardly from the lower portion said inner and outer members forming a cushioned foot supporting surface, means adapted to secure a users foot to said body, each propulsion device extending across said body and hinged thereto to swing between vertical and horizontal position rearwardly from its hinge.

5. In a device of the kind described, a body inflatable to boat shape, a pair of propulsion devices attached to the under side of said body, said body having an outer member of waterproof fabric and an inner member of cxpansible balloon-like material holding the outer member in shape upon expansion by inflation, said body having a lower portion seginento-circular in cross-section extending from end to end of the body, said inner member having a lower side resting on the bottom of the body and an upper side spaced above said lower side and having a pair of hollow sides extending upwardly from the lower portion said inner and outer members forming a cushioned foot supporting surface, said sides being in contact at their forward and after ends and laterally spaced at their central portions, and means adapted to secure a users foot to said body, each propulsion device extending across said body, and hinged thereto to swing between vertical and horizontal position rearwardly from its hinge.

6. In a device of the kind described, a body inflatable to boat shape, a pair of propulsion devices attached to the under side of said body, said body having an outer member of Waterproof fabric and an inner member of expansible balloon-like material holding the outer member in shape upon expansion by inflation, said body having a lower portion segmento-circular in cross-section extending from end to end of the body, said inner member having a lower side resting on the bottom of the body and an upper side spaced above said lower side and having a pair of hollow sides extending upwardly from the lowerportion said inner and outer members forming a cushioned foot supporting surface, said sides being in contact at their forward and after ends and laterally spaced at their central portions, and means adapted to secure a users foot to said body, said means including a platform resting on the lower portion of the body and having its end portions extending beneath the contacting side portions at each end of the body and further including foot engaging straps carried by said body and leg straps supported from said sides, each propulsion device extending across said body and hinged thereto to swing between vertical and horizontal position rearwardly from its hinge.

7. In a device of the kind described, a body inflatable to boat shape, a pair of propulsion devices attached to the under side of said body, said body having an outer member of waterproof fabric and an inner member of expansible balloon-like material holding the outer member in shape upon expansion by inflation, said body having a lower portion segmento-circular in cross-section extending from end to end of the body, said inner member having a lower side resting on the bottom of the body and an upper side spaced above said lower side and having a pair of hollow sides extending upwardly from the lower portion said inner and outer members forming a cushioned foot supporting surface, means adapted to secure a users foot to said body, each propulsion device extending across said body and hinged thereto to swing between vertical and horizontal position rearwardly from its hinge, and a keel member extending forwardly from the front face of the blade.

8. In a device of the kind described, a body inflatable to boat shape, a pair of propulsion devices attached to the under side of said body, said body having an outer member of waterproof fabric and an inner member of expansible balloon-like material holding the outer member in shape upon expansion by inflation, said body having a lower portion segmento-circular in cross-section extending from end to end of the body, said inner member having a lower side resting on the bottom of the body and an upper side spaced above said lower side and having a pair of hollow sides extending upwardly from the lower portion said inner and outer members forming a cushioned foot supporting surface, said sides being in contact at their forward and after ends and laterally spaced at their central portions, and means adapted to secure a users foot to said body, each propulsion device extending across said body, and hinged thereto to swing between vertical and horizontal position rearwardly from its hinge, and a keel member extending forwardly from the front face of the blade.

9. In a device of the kind described, a body inflatable to boat shape, a pair of propulsion devices attached to the under side of said body, said body having an outer member of waterproof fabric and an inner member of expansible balloon-like material holding the outer member in shape upon expansion by inflation, said body having a lower portion segmento-circular in cross-section extending from end to end of the body, said inner member having a lower side resting on the bottom of the body and an upper side spaced above said lower side and having a pair of hollow sides extending upwardly from the lower portion said inner and outer members forming a cushioned foot supporting surface, said sides being in contact at their forward and after ends and laterally spaced at their central portions, and means adapted to secure a users foot to said body, said means including a platform resting on the lower portion of the body and having its end portions extending beneath the contacting side portions at each end of the body and further including foot engaging straps carried by said body and leg straps supported from said sides, each propulsion device extending across said body and hinged thereto to swing between vertical and horizontal position rearwardly from its hinge, and a keel member extending forwardly from the front face of the blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 986,979 Hellman Mar. 14, 1911 1,533,023 Meredith Apr. 7, 1925 1,695,191 Keene Dec. 11, 1928 1,714,352 Echola May 21, 1929 1,719,059 Krupka et al. July 2, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS 186,437 Switzerland Sept. 15, 1936 400,436 Italy Dec. 16, 1942 558,815 Germany Sept. 13, 1932 584,076 France Jan. 29, 1925