Improvements in Apparatus for Swimming or Propulsion in Water.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 9th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 12th May, 1900
[Communicated from abroad by MARCUS WILLIAM LOWINSKY, Gentleman, of the
Club, Buluwayo, South Africa.]
Improvements in Apparatus for Swimming or Propulsion in Water.
I, AUGUSTA JOSEPHINE ROSE LOWINSKY, Gentlewoman, of 19, Upper Phillimore
Place, Kensington, in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:
Various apparatus have heretofore been proposed for the purpose of enabling
a swimmer to utilise his muscular power to as great an advantage as a velocipede-
rider does, but none that have hitherto become known have proved perfect in
practice.
Now the object of this invention is so to construct an apparatus for swimming
or propulsion in water, that the user may be enabled to derive all the advantages
of swimming, considered as mere pleasure, as a hygienic exercise, or a swift
means of locomotion; and obtain a much greater speed than could heretofore be
attained.
In carrying this invention into practice I construct the apparatus as follows:
I provide a light frame of such size as to accomodate the upper part of the
user's body. The edges of this frame at the front and sides will be raised and
fitted with a buoyant rim made say of cork, or consisting of hollow metal or the
like. From the rear portion of the frame extends a rod tube or the like to which
is adjustably fitted the driving gear hereinafter described: The construction
of the frame may be varied within very wide limits, what is essential is, that it
should comfortably receive the body of the user (whether laying with the face
downwards toward the water, or upwards,) and be light enough to buoy the
swimmer. In general appearance it will resemble one half of a small boat, or a
cradle or carriage-body with the rear portion open. At the part where the keel
would be in a boat is fixed the rod, tube or the like hereinbefore referred to.
The rod or tube carries the driving gear, this may be fixed in any convenient
manner, it is however preferable to attach it by a sleeve and set screw or equiva-
lent device so that it may be adjustable in order to accommodate various persons.
The driving gear consists of a pair of pedals connected by chains and chain wheels
or other intermediary gearing with a paddle wheel, or a screw, the latter being
preferable in most cases. In order to balance the apparatus a float is fitted at
or near the rear end and this takes the weight of the driving mechanism. At à
convenient point a rudder or steering device is fitted, to enable the whole to
be guided. This rudder or steering gear is by cords, rods, or the like connected
with the front of the device and a handle or yoke is fitted in a convenient position
whereby the steering gear is controlled. In some cases it will be advantageous
to make the float at the rear of convenient material and shape to serve, not only
for supporting the rear end of the apparatus,, but also to serve as the rudder or
steering device.

page_text: In swimming with this apparatus the user lays down upon it places the feet
on the pedals and by causing these to travel round, turns the screw, paddle-
wheel or the like and thus propels the apparatus (and with it himself) through
the water.
L
In order to reduce the weight the front part may be only a fairly large breast
pad, and in some cases the steering gear may be omitted, the motion being guided
by the hands and arms only, as is practised when swimming unaided by any
apparatus.
It will be understood that, in order to prevent access of the water to the more
delicate parts of the mechanism, these may be enclosed in a casing, somewhat
after the manner of the "gear-cases" used on velocipedes. The screw or paddle
may also be protected by being surrounded by a cage or screen of wire so as to
prevent flotsam or jetsam being entangled in it.
If desired two or more of these apparatus may be combined, either side by side,
or tandem fashion.
BERNHARD DUKES,
226, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Swimming or Propulsion in Water.
I, AUGUSTA JOSEPHINE ROSE LOWINSKY, Gentlewoman, of 19, Upper Phillimore
Place, Kensington, in the County of London, 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:—
Various apparatus have heretofore been proposed for the purpose of enabling
a swimmer to utilise his muscular power to as great an advantage as a velocipede-
rider does, but none that have hitherto become known have proved perfect in
practice.
Now the object of this invention is so to construct an apparatus for swimming
or propulsion in water, that the user may be enabled to derive all the advantages
of swimming, considered as mere pleasure, as a hygienic exercise, or a swift
means of locomotion, and obtain a much greater speed than could heretofore be
attained.
:
In carrying this invention into practice I construct the apparatus as illustrated
in the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an elevation showing the apparatus driven by chain gear.
Figure 2 shows the same driven by a spur gear and a rod.
Figures 3 and
(on a smaller scale) show modifications.
In each case I provide a light frame A of such size as to accommodate the upper
part of the user's body. The edges of this frame at the front and sides will be
raised and fitted with a buoyant rim A¹ made, say, of cork, or consisting of hollow
metal or the like. In the form shown in Figures 1 and 2 a rod tube or the
like B extends from the rear portion of the frame at its lower part, to which is
adjustably fitted the driving gear hereinafter described. The construction of the
frame may be varied within very wide limits, what is essential is, that it should
comfortably recoive 'the body of the user (whether laying with the face down-
wards toward the water, or upwards,) and be light enough to buoy the swimmer.
As shown in Figures 1 it will resemble one half of a small boat, or a cradle or

page_text: carriage-body with the rear portion open. At the part where the keel would be
in a boat, is fixed the rod, tube or the like B hereinbefore referred to.
The rod or tube carries the driving gear, this may be fixed in any convenient
manner, it is however preferable to attach it by a sleeve C and set screw Cor
equivalent device so that it may be adjustable in order to accommodate various
persons. The driving gear consists of a pair of pedals D D connected by chains E
and chain wheels E or gearing Ea Es with a paddle wheel, or a screw. F, the
latter being preferable in most cases. In order to balance the apparatus. a float G
is fitted at or near the rear end and this takes the weight of the driving mechanism.
At a convenient point a rudder H or steering device is fitted to enable the whole
to be guided. This rudder or steering gear is, by cords, rods, or the like H' con-
nected with the front of the device and a handle or yoke is fitted in a convenient
position whereby the steering gear is controlled. In some cases it will be advan-
tageous to make the float at the rear of convenient material and shape to serve,
not only for supporting the rear end of the apparatus, but also to serve as the
rudder or steering device.
In Figures 2, 3 and 4 the frame is shown as completely passing round the
apparatus and in this case the float G may be dispensed with.
In swimming with this apparatus the user lays down upon it, places the feet
on the pedals and by causing these to travel round, turns the screw, paddle-
wheel or the like and thus propels the apparatus (and with it himself) through
the water.
In order to reduce the weight the front part may be only a fairly large breast
pad, and in some cases the steering gear may be omitted, the motion being guided
by the hands and arms only, as is practised when swimming unaided by any
apparatus.
It will be understood that, in order to prevent access of the water to the more
delicate parts of the mechanism, these may be enclosed in a casing as shown in
Figures 3 and 4 somewhat after the manner of the "gear-cases" used on veloci-
pedes. The screw or paddle may also be protected by being surrounded by a
cage or screen of wire so as to prevent flotsam or jetsam being entangled in it.
Moreover the screw may be placed in various positions, as will be seen in the
drawings.
If desired two or more of these apparatus may be combined either side by side,
01' tandem" fashion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention 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:-
1. An apparatus for swimming or propulsion in water, consisting of a frame,
a portion of which is buoyant and driving gear operated by pedals, the whole
so arranged that the body is immersed in the water or partly immersed, as is the .
case in swimming without any apparatus, constructed and operating as set forth
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. An apparatus for swimming or propulsion in water consisting of a frame A
floats A¹ (with or without floats G) a screw or the like, pedals actuating the screw,
and a steering device, all combined and operating as set forth and shown in the
drawings.
BERNHARD DUKES,
226, High Holborn, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.