Improvements in Swimming Equipments.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Swimming Equipments.
I PATRICK CURRAN, of Hoquiam in the County of Chehalis, State of
Washington, United States of America, Gentleman 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 improved appliances for the person of a swimmer and
has for its object to provide feathering paddle attachments for the upper and lower
limbs of a person, which will afford means to rapidly propel the wearer through
the water when the legs and arms are moved in a manner usual to the act of
swimming.
To this end, my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts,
as is hereinafter described and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the figures.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a swimmer equipped with the improved
attachments;
Figure 2 is an enlarged detached view of an appliance, which in duplicate is
secured to the hands and wrists of a swimmer ;
Figure 3 is an enlarged, detached side view broken away below, of one of a
pair of similar devices which in service are secured to the lower limbs of a
swimmer;
Figure 4 is an enlarged detached top view of one half portion of the device
shown in Figure 3, with the top paddle blade extended;
Figure 5 is a side view below, of the leg attachment shown in Figures 3 and 4;
and
Figure 6 is a broken transverse sectional view of some parts shown in Figure 2,
taken on the line 6-6 in said figure.
The appliance shown detached in Figure 2, and attached in Figure 1, consists of
a wrist-band A, provided with a buckle a, to permit its adjustment upon the part
Two
of the upper limb of the swimmer that it is to be removably secured upon.
looped bands B, of any suitable flexible inaterial, are secured at their ends upon
the wrist-band A, at such points as will dispose the bands properly separated to
permit their bights b, to engage the swimmer's hand between the fingers, as
indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2.
Any suitable number of encircling bands C, (two being shown) are secured
upon the looped bands B, in such a relative position, as will adapt them to
encompass the palm of the hand near the fingers, and leave the thumb free,
these connected bands forming a support and means of attachment for a feathering
paddle blade D.
As represented in Figures and 6, the blade D of the wrist and hand attach-
ment is formed of a thin plate of sheet metal or other rigid material adapted for
the purpose, and is given a length and width proportioned to suit the physique and
muscular strength of the wearer. The contour of the paddle blade D, is
preferably shaped as shown in Figure 2 by full and dotted lines, it having
nearly parallel side edges, and the outer corners rounded, the edge nearest to
the hand when in service, being rule hinge jointed at d, to a leaf plate E,
Figure 6.
,
The leaf plate mentioned is secured upon a base-plate F, that in turn is affixed
to the bands C and wrist-band A, longitudinally, so that the paddle blade D, will
be held projected longitudinally of the hand and near its outer edge when the
attachment is in position. The hinged connections d, between the leaf plates E

page_text: and paddle blades D, is such as will allow the joints to flex and the blades to fold
inwardly toward the palms, when the arms and hands of the swimmer are retracted
after having made the usual sweeping stroke, the outward swinging movement or
stroke of the upper limbs causing the blades D, to rock outwardly from the fourth
fingers and lie in planes substantially coincident with that of the extended hands
when strckes are made with them, said position of the blade D being shown by
dotted lines in Figure 2.
As a device of the form and construction described is provided for each hand of
a swimmer, it will be apparent that a considerable increase of area is thereby
afforded for these members, that will enable a person wearing the same to effect
a more rapid progress through the water, the flexure of the blades D, as stated,
causing them to feather in one direction, while the rule joints d, provided therefor,
retain them in a spread condition when a stroke is made.
Equivalents for the hand attachments just described are furnished for the lower
limbs to increase the effectiveness of strokes given by said members in the act of
swimming, one of which is shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, detached, and in place and
duplicated in Figure 1. These similar appliances consist each of two base plates
or blocks G, whereon a set of paddle blades I, are rule jointed to each block on
the side that will be outermost when in position for service.
As shown in Figure 4, the preferred form for the series of blades I, is sub-
stantially semicircular, with a nearly straight edge nearest the blocks G, whereon
they are rule joint hinged as at h, a sufficient distance being allowed between the
blades to insure effective service and permit them to flex freely.
The blocks G are preferably made of durable wood, and have longitudinally
extending strips H, of cork or other light material, secured upon their side edges,
said strips being proportioned in area to the weight of other parts, so that their heft
will be compensated for, while. any excess of buoyancy is avoided, as this would
endanger the wearer of the appliances.
A loop band J, is furnished for each leg appliance, which band is shackled as
at i, to the lower ends of the blocks G, by its ends, a sufficient length being
afforded to its doubled portion to allow the blocks to be located each side of the
leg above the ankle joint when in place, the bight of the band being placed in the
hollow of the foot near the heel. A proper number of straps m. are secured by
their ends to the edges of the blocks G, and furnished with buckles n, to permit
their adjustment for securing the blocks and parts attached thereto upon the lower
limbs of the swimmer, the upper strap of each attachment being located imme-
diately below the knee, and the lower strap around the ankle.
To compensate for the added weight of the attachments placed upon the hands
of the swimmer, and also to give buoyancy to the upper part of the body, a life
preserver M, of any approved pattern is preferably worn upon the body, as indicated
in Figure 1; this is not a part of the improvement and may be dispensed with if
thought unnecessary.
When a bather is equipped with the improved appliances that have been
described, the speed of progressive movement will be greatly increased, and
without excessive exertion a long distance may be travelled, the speed of strokes
being diminished and the floatage increased by employment of the novel attach-
ments.
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 1
claim is,―
1. In a swimmer's equipment, a pair of similar paddle blades.attachable to the
hands, and that feather in one direction of movement, and project as lateral wings
from the hands when moved oppositely, substantially as described.
2. In a swimming equipment, an appliance for each hand, comprising a blade
hinged with a rule joint to a base-plate, and removably secured to the wrist and
hand, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. In a swimming equipment, an attachment for each hand, comprising a wrist-
band, looped straps secured by their ends to the wrist-band, encircling bands on
the looped straps, a base-plate thereon, and a paddle blade secured to the base-
plate by a rule jointed hinged connection that will allow the blade to feather when
moved in one direction, and project as a wing from the hand when oppositely
moved, substantially as described.
4. In a swimming equipment, a pair of similar attachments for the lower limbs,
each having a series of folding blades that lie flat when the limb is retracted, and
project when the limb is forcibly extended, substantially as described.
5. In a swimming equipment, an attachment for each lower limb, comprising
two base blocks, float strips thereon, a loop band loosely joined to the lower ends
of the base blocks, securing straps for the blocks, and a set of feathering paddle
blades for each base block that are rule jointed in series thereon, substantially as
described.
Dated this 11th day of January 1892
PATRICK CURRAN.