 |
|
|
|
|
|
 Title: |
US4264994:
Articulated flippers for hands and feet, with a surface variable during swimming
[ Derwent Title ]
|
| Country: |
US United States of America
|
| |
| Inventor: |
Carbone, Giovanni M.; Messina, Italy
|
| Assignee: |
None
|
| Published / Filed: |
1981-05-05
/ 1978-07-05
|
| Application Number: |
US1978000921992
|
| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
A63B 31/04;
A63B 31/11;
A63B 31/16;
Core:
A63B 31/00;
IPC-7:
A63B 31/10;
|
| ECLA Code: |
A63B31/04; A63B31/11; K63B31/14;
|
| U.S. Class: |
Current:
441/056;
441/064;
Original:
009/309;
009/308;
|
| Field of Search: |
009/309,301-308
|
| Priority Number: |
|
| Abstract: |
The present invention concerns articulated flippers for hands and feet, with a variable surface during swimming, for use by an amateur or a professional, as well as for subaqueous swimmers. These flippers can be used for different swimming styles, such as crawl, swimming on one side, etc. Shoes of various types which are to be put on the feet, and gloves or mitts which are to be put on hands, are used with ribs connected in a hand articulated-joint connection to the shoes and prolongations provided on four fingers of the gloves. The ribs, connected in articulated-joint connection to the shoes or wooden-shoes, and the prolongations for the fingers, support a cartilagineous surface which can open and close during swimming, thus allowing a variation of the friction surface with the water.
|
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
McAulay, Fields, Fisher, Goldstein & Nissen ;
|
| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Blix, Trygve M.; Sotelo, Jesus D.
|
| INPADOC Legal Status: |
None
Family Legal Status Report
|
| Family: |
Show 4 known family members
|
First Claim:
Show all 26 claims |
What is claimed, is:
1. An articulated flipper arrangement, said arrangement comprising a first assembly for use on the foot of a swimmer and a second assembly for use on the hand of a swimmer: said first assembly comprising:
- (a) a shoe to be worn on the foot of the swimmer including a forward toe portion and sole portion, said sole portion being aligned with the bottom of the swimmer's foot and said forward portion being disposed in front of the swimmer's foot, said forward portion having a predetermined size and shape;
- (b) a flipper assembly comprising a first flexible membrane and at least two flipper ribs, said first membrane being supported on said ribs;
- (c) a flipper support comprising a base with a first side being sized and shaped to receive and conform to said forward portion of said shoe, a raised edge extending upwardly from said base and along said first side, guide means operable to receive and secure said rib to said flipper support, and means to pivotably secure said rib to said support thereby to pivotably mount said flipper assembly to said flipper support;
- (d) connecting means connecting said flipper support and said shoe, with said base first side and said shoe forward portion in engagement;
- (e) spring means disposed between said flipper assembly and said flipper support normally biasing said flipper ribs into substantially parallel alignment with said shoe sole portion;
- (f) first reinforcing edge means disposed along and reinforcing the outer and inner periphery of said first membrane;
- (g) tensioning means provided on the sides of said shoe sole portion to fix and tension said first reinforcing edge means; and, said second assembly comprising:
- (h) a second membrane for each hand of the swimmer, to cover each hand, except for the thumb;
- (i) prolongation means for engagement with all of the four fingers of each hand, said prolongation means engaging only the third and second phalanx of said fingers;
- (j) means for fixing said prolongation means to said second membrane;
- (k) second reinforcing edge means disposed along and reinforcing the periphery of said second membrane;
- (l) means for fixing said second reinforcing means to said prolongation means; and,
- (m) means for fixing said second membrane to the wrist of the swimmer, whereby said first and second assemblies cooperate when worn by the swimmer to increase the rate of propulsion of the swimmer through the water.
|
| Background / Summary: |
Show background / summary
|
| Drawing Descriptions: |
Show drawing descriptions
|
| Description: |
Show description
|
| Forward References: |
Show 7 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
|
