An Apparatus for Facilitating Progress in Swimming.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application. 27th Jan., 1899
Complete Specificat on Left. 27th Oct., 1890-Accepted. 29th Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Facilitating Progress in Swimming.
I, BENJAMIN ANDERSON DOUGHERTY, 1st Grade Officer, H.M.'s Indian Marine,
commanding H.M.L.M.S. "Comet," at Baghdad, in Turkish Arabia, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The apparatus for improvements in swimming, as illustrated in the annexed
drawing, consists of a light steel band, bent round the ankle, the ends meeting so as,
on the fore part, to form a spring, the bracket P with hinge as at II with wing or fin
as at W, being rivetted or otherwise secured to said steel band, is let into in the
form of a top of a spring side boot, C itself being composed of india rubber cloth,
with buckles and two straps as at S and S to bind the apparatus tightly to the ankle.
the whole of which, is then secured to the ankle by a strap and buckie, as represented
by s, in the drawing passing under the foot, part of the wing being purposely left
open, in the drawing, to show the fastenings.
The wing is composed of a steel wire as shown at A, A, fastened to the hinge
at B B, the steel wire from B round to B being covered with silk, thus forming the
foot wing or foot fin.
At D D, on the strap under the foot, thin silk cords R R, are attached to A A to
assist in relieving the hinge of strain at B B, when working,
When attached to the leg in swimming on the upward motion of the foot, the
wing W, falls close into the foot; on the downward motion, the wing W assumes
a horizontal position, from which the extraordinary propelling force is derived enabling
a man to swim as fast as he can walk with ease, two wings being attached to each foot,
as represented at W, one inside and the other out.
Dalad this 921 of Ureamber 1880
B. A. DOUGHERTY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Facilitating Progress in Swimming.
1, BENJAMIN ANDERSON DOUGHERTY, 1st Grade Officer, H.M.'s Indian Marine,
commanding H.M.J.M.S. "Comet." at Baghdad in Turkish Arabia, 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, reference
being also had to the drawing accompanying my Provisional Specification:
The apparatus for improvements in swimming, as illustrated in the annexed
drawing, consists of a light steel band, bent round the ankle, the ends meeting so as
on the fore part to form a spring, the bracket P with hinge as at H with wing or fin
as at W, being rivetted or otherwise secured to said steel band, is let into in the
form of a top of a spring side boot, C itself being composed of india-rubber cloth
with buckles and two straps as at S and S to bind the apparatus tightly to the ankle,
the whole of which, is then secured to the ankle by a strap and buckle, as represente i
hy s in the drawing passing under the foot, the wing part being purposely left open,
in the drawing, to show the fastenings.
8
The wing is composed of a steel wire, as shown at A. A, fastened to the hinge
at B. B, the steel wire from B round to B being covered with silk, thus forming the
foot wing or foot fin.
At D. D on the strap under the foot thin silk cords, straps or equivalents R. R,
are attached to A. A, to assist in relieving the hinge of strain at B. B when
working

page_text: The elastic portion of the apparatus encircling and fitting closely to the ankle of
the swimmer is fitted with a small valve and being air and water tight can thus be
inflated to a sufficient extent to float the apparatus.
When attached to the leg in swimming on the upward motion of the foot,
the wing W falls close into the foot; on the downward motion, the wing W
assumes a horizontal position thus increasing the propelling power and enabling
a man to swim as fast as he can walk with case, two wings being attached to the
foot, as represented at W one inside and the other out.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The improved apparatus for facilitating the progress in swimming sub-
stantially as herein described and shown.
Dated this 18th day of October 1890.
Dated this 18th day of October 1890.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.