Menus for Facilitating Swimming·
Year: 1898

page_text: Menus for Facilitating Swimming·
I, ROBERT JOHNSTON, 22, Napierston Terrace, Jamestown, Alexandria, in the
County of Dumbarton, North Britain, Railway Signalman, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
1
This invention relates to means for facilitating swimming. It consists of an
umbrella shaped appliance made of ribs covered with waterproof or canvas cloth,
which is secured to each hand by means of a strap or elastic loop It is in the
shape of an inverted umbrella the crown of which is hinged to a round or other
shaped piece of wood or other material which lies in the palm of the hand.
When the hand is drawn through the water in one direction it closes the canvass
and when the hand is drawn in the other direction it opens the canvass and
gives a grip upon the water. A similar appliance is strapped to the legs of the
swimmer, only in this case a half umbrella portion is used which is hinged or
pivoted to a board which is strapped to the side of the leg; that is to say the
hinged ribs assume a semi circular shape when the canvass is expanded by a
thrust of the leg against the water.
00
1000
Means for Facilitating Swimming.
I, ROBERT JOHNSTON, 22, Napierston Terrace, Jamestown, Alexandria, in the
County of Dumbarton, North Britain, Railway Signalman, 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 means for facilitating swimming. It consists of an
umbrella shaped appliance made of ribs covered with waterproof or canvas cloth,
which is secured to each hand by means of a strap or elastic loop. It is in the
shape of an inverted umbrella the crown of which is hinged to a round or other
shaped piece of wood or other material which lies in the palm of the hand.
When the hand is drawn through the water in one direction it closes the canvas
and when the hand is drawn in the other direction it opens the canvas and
gives a grip upon the water. A similar appliance is strapped to the legs of the
017

page_text: swimmer, only in this case a half umbrella portion is used which is hinged or
pivoted to a board which is strapped to the side of the leg; that is to say the
hinged ribs assume a semi circular shape when the canvas is expanded by a
thrust of the leg against the water. Or the hinged portion may be flat thus form-
ing a V or wedge shape when expanded.
But in order that my said invention may be more readily understood and easily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accom-
panying drawings in which,
Fig. 1 is a side view of the hand appliance when in its extended position, a
portion of one of the arms or ribs and the canvas covering being removed.
Fig. 2 is a side view complete of the appliance when in its closed position.
Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1 of the appliance as constructed for the
foot and
Fig. 4 is a view, in the direction of the arrow, of Fig. 3 with a portion of the
board removed.
The hand appliance, as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, consists of four arms A pivoted
at a to a block B in any convenient way and covered with canvas or other suit-
able material C, the formation of the arms and the means by which they are
pivoted to the block, in combination with the canvas covering enabling the appli
ance to assume the position shewn in Fig. 2 upon a stroke in which it is desired
to offer little or no resistance to the water. A strap D elastically connected by d
to the block B serves to retain the appliance firmly upon the hand.
The foot appliance may consist, as shewn in Figs. 3 and 4, of a board E to
which the arms F, say three in number, supporting the canvas covering C, are
hinged. The said board, when the appliance is in use, occupies a position to the
outside of the leg and is provided with soft pads e to prevent it injuring the foot
of the swimmer and also with a strap G which passes around the ankle, the said
strap having an extension 9 arranged to pass below the sole of the foot to keep
the appliance in position. A second strap G¹ is also passed around the leg at a
higher position than the strap G.
Side flaps c of canvas preferably connect the two outer canvas supporting arms
with the flat board and a flexible stay H is arranged to prevent undue straining
of the hinges.
When in its closed position the canvas portion lies flat or almost flat against
the board. In Fig. 4 the canvas portion is shewn in a half open position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:―
The appliance for facilitating swimming, constructed and operating in the
manner as hereinbefore described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of T1 1808
JOHNSONS,
Petitioner's Agents, 115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.
JOHNSONS,
Petitioner's Agents, 115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.