US2898611A - Swimming aid - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 11, 1959 J, MOONEY 2,898,611

SWIMMING AID Fild Feb. 18, 1958 dkmmw United States Patent SWINHVIING AID John F. Mooney, Sonora, Calif.

Application February 18, 1958, Serial No. 715,986

1 Claim. (Cl. 921) This invention relates to swimming aids; my main object being to provide a device, adapted to be attached to the legs of a swimmer, by means of which the swimmerwhen using the legs in the usual propulsive mannerwill have a greatly increased forward thrust over what is ordinarily the case, and the swimmers speed will be correspondingly increased.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose which does not interfere with substantially normal walking of the swimmer when out of the water.

A further object of the invention is to arrange the speed increasing features of the device so that they do not put any uneven tiring strains on the legs of the swimmer, and thus enable the wearer to better swim relatively long distances without the leg muscles becoming tired.

The wearer of my improved swimming aid is therefore better adapted to serve as a life saver in case of need,

' besides enabling him to undertake under-water activities,

such as exploration and photography, and in salvaging operations.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a swimming aid which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a practical and reliable swimming aid, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claim.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side view of the device as mounted on the leg of a swimmer; the leg being shown in a retracted position with the flippers or fins closed or folded.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, but shows the leg extended, and the flippers in the open or unfolded position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged front view, showing a flipper in a closed or folded position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a flipper in an open position, and as mounted on one of the leg-embracing pieces.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, the device comprises a pair of bodies, one for each leg L, and indicated generally at 1. Each such body, which is preferably made of light plastic, comprises separate front and rear sections 111 and 1b, respectively, shaped to conform to the leg and extending substantially from the knee to the foot. The sections are detachably connected together by any suitable means, preferably adjustable, such as clips 2 of conventional form. The front body section 1a is Patented Aug. 11, 1959 formed with a sandal or slipper 3 which prevents the body from possibly slipping up or turning on the leg, and

also protects the foot.

Mounted on the body sections 1a and 1]) at the front and back thereof, or in opposed order, are the flippers or fins which are the feature of this invention, and which are generally indicated at 4. Such flippers, of which there are preferably four-two on each body sectionand the elements on the body sections cooperating therewith, being of identical form, a description of one such flipper, and its cooperating body elements, will suflice for all.

Each flipper 4 comprises a central rigid stay or rib 5, side ribs 6, and a flexible membrane 7 secured to and extending between the various ribs. The ribs are swivelly connected or pivoted at their their inner end to the body by suitable means, such as indicated at B. The pivots for the side ribs 6 are arranged so that they diverge from each other somewhat when the flipper is opened out or extended, and then diverge considerably from the body 1, as shown in Fig. 2, and the membrane 7 is taut, as shown in Fig. 4.

However, when the flipper is folded or retracted against the body 1, as shown in Fig. l, the side ribs 6 converge toward their outer end somewhat and the membrane is slack, as shown in Fig. 3. This feature enables the flipper when in operation to have the maximum area exposed to the water for propulsive purposes, while being more out of the way, or generally closer to the body 1, laterally thereof, when in folded position, so that they do not interfere with walking. The body 1 is formed with a suitably contoured lateral rib-like stop 9, for each flipper, disposed immediately above the hinges 8, considered when the leg is upright, and positioned so that the ribs 5 and 6 will engage such stop when the flipper is fully opened or extended to the most desirable angle for the best action.

A smaller lateral rib-like stop 10 is mounted on or formed with the body in position for engagement by the ribs when the flipper is folded or retracted, so as to maintain said flipper spaced from the body 1 sufficiently to enable the water to rush under or behind the flipper when a backward movement of the leg is started.

The various flippers, being distributed on the body 1 so as to be both in front of and behind the leg of the swimmer, as shown and described, the pressure generated by the action of the flippers is equalized, and the muscles of the legs do not become tired. while I have shown four flippers as being used, a greater or lesser number may be mounted on the body 1 as may be desired.

It should also be mentioned that the stops 9 and 10 are solid or integral with the body 1, so that they cannot get out of working order, and positive action of the flippers is insured at all times.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a swimming aid as will substantially fulfill the objects of the invention, as

It will be obvious that claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired.

A swimming device comprising a first member having a front leg portion and a foot portion, a second member, said members shaped in conformity with the shape of the leg and foot of a wearer, means detachably securing together said members whereby said front leg portion and said second member are adapted to encase the leg of a wearer and the foot portion is adapted to encase the foot of said wearer, and flippers pivotally attached to said front leg portion and to said second member for swinging between extended and retracted positions, said front leg portion and said second member having stop means thereon for limiting the pivotal displacement of said flippers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Classen Sept. 10, 1901 Smith Oct. 18, 1910 Ajello July 14, 1925 Haines Aug. 18, 1925 Wener July 27, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 16, 1935 France Dec. 23, 1931 France Dec. 19. 1955

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