Improvements in Devices for use in Swimming.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by HARRIETT ADALINE FARNAM, of Chicago,
Illinois, United States of America.]
Improvements in Devices for use in Swimming.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co. Patent Agents
of 45 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, 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 :—
The object of the present invention is to provide a device in the nature of a life
preserver, which may be employed to great advantage as an aid to professional
swimmers as well as to unskilled persons in sustaining themselves in the water.
To these ends my invention consists in certain features of novelty that are
hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved device when expanded and secured to
the hand.
Figure 2 is a front view of the same when collapsed.
Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same when expanded.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the improved device in its preferred form
expanded.
Referring to the drawing, a represents a block of wood or other material, pre-
ferably oblong in shape, to the top of which is attached a strap 6 for the reception
of the hand as clearly shown in Figure 1. The part a forms the base to which the
other parts may be attached, directly, if desired, but I prefer to secure to its under-
side a metallic plate e having lugs c¹ thereon to which are pivotally secured bows or
ribs d made of light but strong metal, preferably crimped or corrugated longi-
tudinally for the purpose of securing maximum strength with a minimum weight.
A covering e of canvas, silk, rubber or other suitable material is secured to the
ribs d in such a way as to become stretched like the cover of an umbrella when
the frame is expanded as shown by Figures 1, 3 and 4, while at the same time it is
free to assume the position shown by Figure 2 when the frame is collapsed.
Figure 4 represents the preferred form of the device, in which the part 6 is
wider than in the other figures and is provided with an opening 6 for the reception
of the thumb of the wearer. This construction enables the base to be placed
farther back on the hand, instead of beneath the palm as shown by Figure 1.
Hinged to the part a at a¹ is a supplemental base or wrist piece f having a strap f¹
for fastening it to the wrist. I prefer this form of the device as it is not likely to
become accidentally detached from the hand, while at the same time the fingers
project slightly through the fastening loop, enabling the wearer to grasp objects.
Moreover the clasping of the forward end of the base enables it to be held more
firmly.
The ribs are free to expand to the fullest extent permitted by the covering, but
their movement in the opposite direction (closing) is so limited as to insure their
opening at the proper time. This may be accomplished by providing the ribs
with shoulders d for limiting their movement, or any other convenient stopping
device may be used.
In operation, in the act of thrusting the hand in the direction indicated by the
arrow in Figure 3 the resistance of the water to the movement of the web e causes
it to expand and in so doing open the frame, while a movement in the reverse
direction, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 2 in a similar manner causes the
frame to collapse.
The improved device is simple, durable and cheap and enables the user to swim

page_text: or sustain himself in the water with the utmost ease. It is especially desirable as a
substitute for, or in connection with an ordinary life preserver.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invenion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a swimming device the combination of a rigid base, the ribs & hinged
thereto and having shoulders d for limiting their closing, a web secured to and
covering said ribs and limiting their opening, and means for attaching said base to
the wearer, substantially as set forth.
Second. In a swimming device, the combination with a collapsible web-covered
frame, of a rigid prehensible base to which it is secured, and a strap for attaching
said base to the hand, said base being of such size and shape as to enable its being
grasped with the hand to which it is strapped substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination, in a swimming device, of a rigid base, a collapsible
web-covered frame, attached thereto, means for securing said base to the hand, a
wrist piece hinged to the base and extending along the wrist and a strap for
securing said wrist-piece to the wrist, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 20th dox of Santamber 1891
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.