US3204262A - Leg connection - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CALVIN A. GONGWER MMS.

A TTORNEY C. A. GONGWER LEG CONNECTION Sept. 7, 1965 Criginal Filed Feb. 10. 1961 Sept. 7, 1965 c. A. GoNGwER 3,204,262

LEG CONNECTION Original Filed Feb. l0, 1961 2 sheetssheet 2 INVENTOR. CALVIN A. GONGWER A TTORNE Y-S United States Patent 3,204,262 LEG CONNECTION Calvin A. Gongwer, Glendora, Calif., assignor to Aerojetglelperal Corporation, Azusa, Calif., a corporation of o Original application Feb. '10, 1961, Ser. No. 88,554, now f Patent No. 3,122,759, dated Mar. 3, 1964. Divided and this application Feb. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 348,233 7 Claims. (Cl. 9-301) This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 88,554, led February 10, 1961, now U.S. Patent 3,122,759 issued March 3, 1964.

This invention relates to swimmer propulsion devices and has for its object to provide a swimming device operating on a iisht-ail-like propulsion principle. Heretofore, swimmcrs aids have primarily been based upon the principle of enlarging the effective area of the hands and feet. It has been noted that the Australian Crawl utter kick is used by most swimmers, and it tends to be quite similar to the action of a tishtail. However, the swimmeris limited upon the endurance of the individual 'muscles used in this swimming stroke. Fin systems previously known in the art were adapted to be located and were operable at or near the feet of the swimmer. A principal objection of former devices was the unsatisfactory oscillation of the body, that is, the body wagged, rather than the tins.

The present` invention however eliminates this objectionable oscillation of the body by virtue of its novel construction. In its broadest aspect, the present invention comprises a plate adapted to be engaged to legs of a swimmer below the knee. A pair of tins are pivotally attached to an extension of the plate.

A principal feature of the present invention is the transverse reactions, of the tins which are perpendicular to the propulsive reactions, are directed through the approximate center of gravity of the body since the tins are positioned immediately adjacent to the torso. Therefore, the body maintains its attitude despite these transverse forces.

Another feature resides in the stabilizing wing that can be adjusted by the swimmer during use to aid in diving or surfacing.

Another feature residesjin the provision of a swimming device operablerby the lower body, leaving the arms free to perform work while underwater.

Other features and advantages not specifically nu- .merated above will be apparen-t after consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims. The preferred form which the invention may assume is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in whichz.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the present invention in use by a swimmer in a relaxed position;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the present invention similar to FIGURE 1 with the swimmer in a kick position;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a partial side elevation of the present invention shown with a swimmers foot holding the rear stabilizing wing in a diving attitude; and

FIGURE 6 is a partial side elevation of the present invention, similar to FIGURE 5, shown with the swimmers foot holding the rear stabilizing wing in a surfacing attitude.

A swimming device 10 incorporating the present invention is shown in FIGURES 1-4. Three principal elements form the swimming device 10 and constitute: the leg plate 12 straddled by the swimmer, the forward oscillating fins 14, 16 and a rear stabilizing wing 20.

3,204,262 Patented Sept. y7, 1965 ICS The plate 12 is generally flat and oblong in configuration and constructed from an upper portion 22 and a lower portion 24.A A plurality of bolts 26 are tixedly attached to the lower portion 24 of plate 12 and pass through a plurali-ty of passageways (not shown) in the upper portion 22. Wing nuts 28 are threadedly received by the bolts 26 and are positioned on opposite sides of the upper portion 22. Adjustment of the wing nuts 28 allow the upper portion 22 to be adjusted in relation to the lower portion 24.

The plate 12 has a plurality of projections 30, 32, 34, 36 extending laterally therefrom, the projections 30, 32 lying in one row and projections 34, 36 lying in a second row, thus providing a pair of rows of such projections. The position of the projections 30-36, as shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2, illustrate the support around the leg and calf of a swimmer. Padding may be provided around the projections 30-36 to Iavoid possible discomfort to the legs of the swimmer while in use. The projections 30-36 are adjustable by the wing nuts 28 to allow swimmers of diiferent leg sizes to use the same swimming device.

A ycurved rod 40 having a bifurcated end portion 42 is iixedly attached to the plate 12 by a plurality of rivets 44, or the like, and extends forwardly of the plate and lies in the plane of the plate 12. A pair of vanes 14, 16 are pivotally mounted on the forward portion of the curved rod 40 on the stub shaft 46 which extends in generally opposite directions from the rod as seen in FIGURE 4. Stub shaft 46 is xedly attached to the rod 40 and rotatively re-ceived by the vanes 14, 16. The plate 12 straddled by the swimmer, the projections 30, 36 on the plate and rod 40 constitute means for transmitting motion from the swimmer to the oscillating ns 14, 16.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES l and 2, a harness and coil spring arrangement is used to center the tins 14, 16. The ns are near the center of gravity of the swimmers body in FIGURE 1 to reduce to a minimum the waggle or other movement of the swimmers body in response to a component of force incident to oscillatory motion of the tins. The direction of this component is traverse or lateral to the direction of motion of the swimmer through the water. Although a spring is shown as a centering device in this embodiment, other components may be used, such as torsional springs acting on the ins 14, 16 and positioned between the tins 14, 16 and the rod 40. A U shaped harness 52 is pivotally attached to the iins 14,A 16 at pivot points 53, 54, respective- 1y. AA coil spring 56 engages the U shaped harness 52 at point 57 (FIGURE 4) and the eye bolt 581that is fixedly attached to the rod 40. Adjustment in tension of this spring to suit the strength and speed of a swimmer by Vvarying the amount of feathering action maybe provided by a turnbuckle or the like (not shown).

A stabilizing iin or wing 20 is provided in the rearmost portion of the plate 12. A link 60 is pivotally mounted on the plate 12 by a rivet, and is ixedly mounted to the wing. The link 64 is xedly attached to the Wing 20 and terminates in a pedal-like projection 66 which can be used by the swimmer to adjust the position of the wing 20. FIGURES 5 and 6 show the movement of the wing 20 from the diving to the surfacing position when manipulated by the swimmers toes or foot. A spring 68 engages the eye bolt 69 which is attached to the plate 12 and the eye bolt 70 whi-ch is attached to the wing 20. It is within the scope of the present invention to use either a stabilizing wing 20 which is stationary or to use -a wing which may be adjusted prior to putting the device in water. The purpose of the stabilizing wing is to hold the swimmers body in a level attitude. It is also conceivable that the wing may be completely removed and that the swimmer use his arms to stabilize the attitude of the body while swimming. Stabilization may also be achieved by conventional swim fins attached to the feet which may be tilted in much the same manner.

In operation, the swimmer straddles the device by placing a leg on each side of the plate 12 and inserting the lower leg and calf between the plurality of projections 30-36. The device is usually mounted while the swimmer is within the water of such a depth so that the device may be immediately used. The swimmer assumes the prone position as illustrated in FIGURES l and 2 and begins the swimming stroke which is as follows: the knees are dropped in relation to the torso forcing the ns 14, 16 downwardly in the water to the position seen in FIGURE 2. The forward edges of the pivoted ns 14, 16 lead the rear edges during downward movement thereof since the downward force exerted by the swimmer is transferred directly to the forward edges of the fins and the water resistance underneath the tins retards downward movement of the rear edges. This movement of the fins 14, 16 starts their feathering or oscillating stroke. When the swimmers legs are thereafter straightened causing the ns 14, 16 to move upwardly to the position in FIGURE l, the fins will be pivoted about the stub shaft 46 to -a position as shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 2, the water above the ns resisting upward movement of the rear edges of the tins. The spring 56 constantly urges the iins 14, 16 to the center position and aids in causing the fishtail or oscillating motion to reoccur and propel the body through the water. The arms of the swimmer may be held directly in front of the head with the hands extended to aid in directing the swimmer. The hands may be manipulated to act as vanes to cause yaw or roll. The feet may also manipulate the stabilizing wing 20, FIGURES 5 and 6, to cause the swimmer to dive or surface upon the will of the swimmer. The swimmer thereafter repeats the knee action stroke to cause the iishtail motion thereby propelling the body through the water.

It will be recognized that modifications may be made within the scope of this invention. For example, the device may be operated by using the hands rather than the legs to cause the oscillating iishtail motion of the ns. It is also possible to adjust the tension of the springs on the propulsive ns to gain maximum eiciency. It is also possible to remove the stabilizing n or wing entirely and allow the manipulation of the swirnmers arms to hold the body in 4a level attitude. My invention is not to be limited to the single embodiment illustrated, which is given for illustration rather than limitation, and is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A leg connection for constraining the legs of a primate body relative to a structure comprising a member adapted to be disposed between the legs and to extend longitudinally thereof, four slats each of which is substantially tangent t0 the Surface of each of vsaid legs at the following areas: back of the leg immediately below the knee bend, back of the leg immediately above the ankle bend, front of the leg immediately below the knee cap and front of the leg immediately above the ankle bend; said slats being attached to said member and extending laterally from the opposite sides thereof in a substantially perpendicular relation with respect thereto.

2. A leg connection according to claim 1 in which the said member between the legs is a plate in contact with the inner sides of said legs.

3. A leg connection according to claim 1 in which said member between the legs is split and adjustably restrained, said split isolating the slats which are substantially tangent to the front surfaces of the legs from the slats which are substantially tangent to the back surfaces of the legs.

4. A leg connection comprising two slabs in coplanar relation constrained by interconnecting rods to substantially one dimension of motion perpendicular to said slab lengths, one of said slabs having two substantially perpendicular projections extending right and left and contactable to the back of a pair of primate legs; the second ot said slabs having two substantially perpendicular projections extending right and left and contactable to` the front of said pair of legs.

5. A leg connection according to claim 4 in which said rods comprise linear members having linear positioning lock means constraining the relative position of said slabs.

6. A leg connection according to claim 4 in which said rods comprise a top and a bottom threaded rod screwed to restraining nuts which control the relative position of said slabs.

f 7. A leg connection comprising a longitudinally split v plate having a pair of elongate plate segments held together by a transversely extending top bolt and a transversely extending bottom bolt in adjustable relationship, one of said plate segments having a top and a bottom pair of slats for contacting the back surfaces of legs, the other of said plate segments having a top and bottom pair i slats for contacting the front surfaces of legs, both of said top pairs of slats being adapted to contact a pair of primate legs immediately below the knees, and both of said bottom pairs of slats being adapted to contact a pair of primate legs immediately above the ankle bend.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A LEG CONNECTION FOR CONSTRATINING THE LEGS OF A PRIMATE BODY RELATIVE TO A STRUCTURE COMPRISING A MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED BETWEEN THE LEGS AND TO EXTEND LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, FOUR SLATS EACH OF WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY TANGENT TO THE SURFACE OF EACH OF SAID LEGS AT THE FOLLOWING AREAS; BACK OF THE LEG IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE KNEE BEND, BACK OF THE LEG IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE ANKLE BEND, FRONT OF THE LEG IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE KNEE CAP AND FRONT OF THE LEG IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE ANKLE

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