An Improved Swimming Appliance..
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 27th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 31st Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Swimming Appliance..
I, JOSEPH ELLIOT RedHead, Foryd, Rhyl, North Wales, Steamboat Agent,.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A sock, manufactured of duck, canvas, or other similar material, with elastic
webbing inserted on sides or front of sock, to facilitate drawing on and off, & fitting
to the foot, with buttons, buckles, or other fastening above ankle.
The wings made of same material as sock, or rubber, or partial rubber, are
attached to each side of sock on the inner or upper edge from the heel in an
upward curved, or angled line, extending to toe joints, the outer or lower edge,
which may be strengthened by piping or hemming from heel to toe joints which is
unattached, being of sufficient length to allow of the wing becoming bulged out
with the resistance of the water caused by the striking out of the leg, the drawing
up of which each stroke causes the wing to flatten or partially flatten on foot.
For heavy work in walking there is attached an extra layer of material on
the sole.
January 10th 1801
JOSEPH ELLIOT REDHEAD.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Swimming Appliance.
I, JOSEPH ELLIOT REDHEAD, Foryd, Rhyl, North Wales do hereby
declare the nature of this invention 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 sock or shoe for use when swimming & consists in
providing the sock or shoe with collapsing or folding wings or flaps, for giving a
greater bearing surface to the sock or boot when the wings or flaps are distende 1
in the act of swimming; as when the sock or shoe is moved in the one direction
the wings or flaps become distended & when moved in the opposite direction the
wings or flaps become collapsed.
Referring to the annexed drawing,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sock or boot constructed according to my
invention.
Figure 2 plan view of the underside of same.
a is the body of the boot or sock which may be made of suitable material such
as rubber & canvas. b, b, are the wings or flaps which are sewn to the body a at e
or otherwise fixed thereto. In Figure 2, the flaps b, b, are shown in their extended
position. dis an elastic for facilitating the drawing on of the sock or shoe. It
will be seen that by the use of the above on the feet of a swimmer, a greater
propelling surface is obtained when striking out with the feet, & upon the return.
stroke the flaps or wings will collapse against the sides of the boot or sock.
The flaps or wings may be made of any suitable material.

page_text: Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
A sock or shoe for use when swimming having wings or flaps which are distended
or collapsed according to the direction of motion, for the purpose of increasing
the bearing surface of same in oue direction of movement, substantially as
described.
E. EATON,
Agent for Applicant.