US994136A

US994136A - Swimming device.

Info

Publication number: US994136A
Application number: US58404110A
Authority: US
Inventors: John A Edwards
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1910-09-27
Filing date: 1910-09-27
Publication date: 1911-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1928-06-06

Description

J. A. EDWARDS.

SWIMMING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1910.

' 9491 36 Patented' June 6,1911.

ATTORNEYS JOI-IN A. EDWARDS, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

SWIMMING DEVICE.

saisies,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 6, 1911.

Application filed September 2'?, 1910. Serial No. 584,041.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented a new and Improved Swimming Device, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to swimming devices, and more particularly to a device comprising` a plurality of floats, a frame-work arranged upon and supported by the iioats, and adjustable means attached to said frame-work for supporting a swimmer in 'f the water.

rIhe object of this invention is to provide a device of the class described, simple and serviceable in construction and inexpensive to manufacture, which can be employed to support a person in the water, and which is so constructed as to allow the free use of the swimmers limbs at all times.

rFhe invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter, and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of my invention, showing the manner in which it supports a swimmer; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section of one of the floats.

Before proceeding to a more detailed description of my invention, it should be understood that great difficulty has been encountered in constructing a suitable device for teachinga person how to swim. To obviate this difficulty, I have constructed a device which, as before described, consists of a plurality of floats, having a frame-work arranged thereon, and adjustable means secured to the frame-work for supporting a person in a natural swimming position in the water, while allowing him free use of his limbs. In this way, my invention does away with the necessity of another person assisting the swimmer, and allows the latter to practice to better advantage the different strokes used in swimming. It might also be stated that my device can be used in both rough and smooth water, and would be of assistance to the user in rescuing another 'person from drowning.

In the specific form shown in the drawings, I provide a'plurality of hollow floats 1, preferably rectangular in form and made of any suitable material, such as tin, galvanized sheet metal, or the like. Each float has a projection 2 on its upper face, provided with a suitably threaded opening 3. Supported by the lioats is a frame-work consisting of uprights 4 having their lower extremities 1a threaded and adapted to be received in the threaded openings 3 in the floats, side members 5, end members 6, and a cross member 7. These several members have their extremities suitably threaded, so that by the use of angle couplings 8, into which these ends may be screwed, there is constituted a rigid frame-work supported by the iioats, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The front end member 6 and the cross member 7 are each provided with an eye 9, while the rear end member 6 is provided with two eyes 9a. Adapted to be removably attached at the eyes are adjustable hangers 10 constructed of some suitable material, such as leather or the like, and having snap catches 11 at their extremities.

Before using my device, the swimmer places a band 12 of suitable material, having an eye 13, about his head, a band 14: about his waist, having an eye 15, and two bands 16 one around each leg just above the knee, and having eyes 17. Vhen the swimmer is ready to go into the water, he positions himself between the floats, and attaches the snap hooks 11 at the lower extremities of the hangers 10, to the eyes of the leg, waist and head bands, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, he can then assume the usual swimming position between the floats.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a device of the class described, a plurality of floats, a frame-work arranged upon said floats, and means movably secured to said frame-work for supporting a swimmer.

2. In a device of the class described, a plurality of floats, a frame-work carried by said fioats, and adjustable means attached to said frame-work for supporting a swimmer, at .different parts of his body.

, 3. In a device of the class described, a plu- In testimony whereof I have signed my ralty of separate floats, an upright mountname to this speoicaton n the presence of ed on each float, frame members arranged two subscribing Witnesses.

upon and connected to said uprights, and JOHN A. EDWARDS. adjustable hangers secured to said members Witnesses:

and arranged to support a swimmer in the WV. J. CONNIFF,

Water. CLARENCE CRAIG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.