AN IMPROVED APPLIANCE TO THE FOOT TO ASSIST IN SWIMMING
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Imray of N° 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of AN IMPROVED
APPLIANCE TO THE FOOT TO ASSIST IN SWIMMING Communicated to him
from abroad by La Societé P. Garcet et Nisius of Paris France
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Johu Imray at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd October 1882.
JOHN IMRAY of N° 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in the County
of Middlesex "AN IMPROVED APPLIANCE TO THE FOOT TO ASSIST IN SWIMMING "
[Communicated to him from abroad by La Societé P. Garcet et Nisius of Paris
France
This invention relates to an appliance, cheap, light and easily put on the foot to
assist in swimming. A rectangular board about the length and breadth of the
foot has fixed on its upper surface a sock into which the foot is inserted and
secured by lacing. To the under surface of the board are hinged two other
rectangular boards of such breadth that when folded against the upper board they
project beyond it at each side. The inner edges of these boards are sloped so that
when the boards are turned back on their hinges these edges butting against the
upper board prevent the boards from turning so far as to be perpendicular to the
upper board. In the act of swimming, when the foot is propelled backwards the
hinged boards fold close against the foot board presenting an enlarged propelling
surface, but in the return stroke of the foot the boards turn back from the foot
board so as to offer little or no resistance. The appliance is useful for walking on
saud, a dovetail wedge being inserted between the sloped edges of the hinged
boards so as to keep them folded close against the foot board.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Imray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd April
1883.
28
JOHN IMRAY of No: 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in the county
of Middlesex 'AN IMPROVED APPLIANCE TO THE FOOT TO ASSIST IN SWIMMING
A communication to mo from abroad by La Societé P. Garcet et Nisius of Paris
France
This invention relates to an appliance, cheap, light and easily put on the foot to
assist in swimming. A rectangular board, about the length and breadth of the
foot has fixed on its upper surface a sock into which the foot is inserted, and
secured by lacing. To the under surface of the board are hinged two other
rectangular boards or flaps of such breadth that, when folded against the upper
board, they project beyond it at each side. The inner edges of these flaps are
sloped, so that when the flaps are turned back on their hinges, these edges, butting
against the upper board, prevent the flaps from turning so far as to be perpendicular
to the upper board. In the act of swimming, when the foot is propelled backwards,
the hinged flaps fold close against the foot board presenting an enlarged propelling
surface, but in the return stroke of the foot, the flaps turn back from the foot
board so as to offer little or no resistance. The appliance is useful for walking on
sand, a dovetail wedge being inserted between the sloped edges of the hinged flaps,
so as to keep them folded close against the foot board.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings are perspectives shewing the
swimming appliance attached to the foot, Fig. 1 shewing it as used in walking,
Fig 2 shewing it in the act of propulsion and 6ig 3 shewing it with its flaps
folded back during the retreat of the foot. Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sections
shewing respectively the flaps folded forwards and backwards. Fig. 6 is a perspectivo
view of the wedge piece which can be inserted between the flaps to keep them
folded out when the appliance is used for walking over the sand, and fig. 7 is a
perspective view of one of the hinges by which the flaps C are jointed to the
board A. On the board A is fixed the sock B into which the foot is inserted, and
secured by lacing or otherwise.
Having thus described the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents, I
claim,
The construction of an appliance to the foot to assist in swimming, the said
appliance consisting of a board A having attached to it a sock B for receiving
the foot, and having jointed to it the two flaps C C, substantially as herein
described
In witness whereof, I the said John Imray have hereunto set my hand and
seal this second day of April in the year of our Lord, one thousand,
nicht kundund and nights thro