Improvements in Swimming Appliances.
Year: 1898

page_text: Camulada Can
Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1898
1000
hannond 0th Cont 1000
DIONAL DELICATION
Improvements in Swimming Appliances.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the Firm of A. M. & Wm. Clark, of 53,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute
of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communica-
tion to me by Patrick Andrew Devers, of Payette, in the County of Canyon, and
State of Idaho, United States of America, Banker), to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a novel swimming appliance which may be attached
to the ankle and foot of a swimmer and which, when so attached, will be auto-
matically contracted while the foot is being drawn towards the body and will
be expanded to secure a purchase upon the water when the foot is forced back-
ward in making the stroke.
The invention consists in a curved ankle plate provided with a stirrup or
straps by means of which it may be located upon the rear side of the ankle and
with a pair of light metal wings to which are secured webs located in a manner
to be specified.
The ankle plate is made of a light metal, preferably aluminium, curved to fit
the curvature of the ankle. A stirrup depends from the lower edge of the
plate and is slightly inclined forwardly. The ankle plate is secured in place by
means of a strap which is buckled round the leg. To the ankle plate are hinged
light metal plates or wings curved slightly at their rear edges to conform to
the curvature of the ankle plate, the lower edges of the wings being inclined.
To the rear of the ankle plate, just below the wings and extending about even
with the latter are pivoted ribs designed to retain the main web composed of of
a light flexible material fastened to the ribs and to the inclined edges of the
wings respectively. Fastened along one edge to the wings and along their inner
edges to the ankle plate, are secondary webs substantially of of triangular form,
positioned substantially at right angles to the wings when the latter are extended
to form, in conjunction with the lower edges of the wings and the main web, a
sort of pocket calculated to present the greatest possible resistance when the
foot is moved backward in making the stroke. When the swimmer is making the
breast stroke for instance, and is drawing the feet to-wards the body, the wings
and webs will collapse and will present the least resistance to the movement, but
when the foot is urged in the opposite direction, the resistance of the water will
cause the wings and webs to be extended and the greatest possible resistance will
be afforded and the purchase upon the water will enable the swimmer to make
rapid progress with a minimum expenditure of power.
1000
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.

page_text: I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the Firm of A. M. & Wm. Clark, of 53,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute
of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communica-
tion to me by Patrick Andrew Devers, of l'ayette, in the County of Canyon and
State of Idaho, United States of America, Banker), and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
This invention relates to a novel swimming appliance which may be attached
to the ankle and foot of a swimmer and which when so attached will be auto-
matically contracted while the foot is being drawn toward the body and will
be expanded to secure a purchase upon the water when the foot is forced back-
ward in making the stroke. With this object the invention consists in pro-
viding a curved ankle plate furnished with a stirrup or straps by means of which
it may be located upon the rear side of the ankle and with a pair of light metal
wings to which are secured webs located in a manner to be specified.
Referring to the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a sectional view shewing
the application of the invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device
detached, shewing the wings open. Figure 3 is a similar view, shewing the
wings closed.
Referring to the numerals on the drawings, 1 indicates a light metal, prefer-
ably aluminium, ankle plate curved to fit the curvature of the ankle and
2 indicates a stirrup depending from the lower edge of the plate 1 and slightly
inclined forwardly. 3 indicates a strap designed to be buckled around the leg
to secure the device in place. 4 and 5 indicate what may be termed wings con-
sisting of light metal plates curved slightly at their rear edges to conform to
the curvature of the ankle plate and hinged at their contiguous edges by hinges 6,
the lower edges of the wings being inclined as illustrated. 7, 8, and 9 indicate
ribs pivoted to the rear of the ankle plate just below the wings and extending
about even with the latter and designed to retain the main web 10 composed
of a light flexible material fastened to the ribs and to the inclined edges of the
wings respectively. 11 indicates the secondary webs of substantially triangular
form which are fastened along one edge to the wings and along their inner edges
to the ankle plate, the secondary webs being positioned substantially at right
angles to the wings when the latter are extended to form, in conjunction with
the lower edges of the wings and the main web a sort of pocket calculated to
present the greatest possible resistance when the foot is moved backward in
making the stroke. It will be observed that when the swimmer is making the
breast stroke, for instance, and is drawing the feet towards the body, the wings
and webs will collapse and will present the least resistance to the movement but
that on the contrary when the foot is urged in the opposite direction the resist-
ance of the water will cause the wings and webs to be extended and afford the
greatest possible resistance and the purchase upon the water will enable the
swimmer to make rapid progress with a minimum expenditure of power.
While the foregoing is believed to be an accurate description of the preferable
embodiment of my invention I do not desire to limit myself to the exact structural
details herein described, but reserve the right to change, modify, or vary them
within the scope of the protection prayed,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a swimming appliance the combination of an ankle plate, means for
securing the same on the ankle and foot, a pair of wings pivotally secured to the
plate, a plurality of ribs pivotally connected with the ankle plate, and a web
secured to the ribs and to the contiguous edges of the wings substantially as
described.
2. The combination with an ankle plate and hinged wings, of a main web
connected to the contiguous edges of the wings and secondary webs intermediate
of the ankle plate and wings respectively substantially as specified.
3. The combination with an ankle plate and hinged wings provided with
inclined lower edges, of a plurality of ribs pivoted to the ankle plate and located
intermediate of the wings, a main web secured to the ribs and to the wings
respectively, and secondary webs secured intermediate of the wings and ankle
plate substantially as specified.
4. The combination with an ankle plate, a stirrup, and securing straps, of a
pair of hinged wings, a main web intermediate of the wings, pivoted ribs secured
to said web, and secondary webs intermediate of the wings and ankle plate and
located substantially at right angles to the wings when extended substantially as
specified.
01
1 1
0 T1 1000
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.