Buoys – rafts – and aquatic devices – Water skimming or walking device – Water walking device
Patent
1986-09-15
1988-03-15
Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices
Water skimming or walking device
Water walking device
441 77, A63C 1503
Patent
active
047310391
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a pair of floats with a foot holder for one foot on each float, to be used for walking on water.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Floats which can hold a person above the water have long been known. They have the drawback, however, that they are quite large and heavy and thus are expensive. Also, it is very difficult for less skilled persons to keep their balance and to propel themselves. Normally they can move only by using rods or sticks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention however discloses an apparatus for walking on water which allows for better balance and is also an improvement relative to forward movement capacity. The invention is comparable in use and in cost to skis. This object is achieved by the invention in that the arrangement of the foot holder and/or the mass distribution are asymmetrically transverse to the foot holder, so that when the float is loaded the force of buoyancy is greater on the inside edge than on the outside edge.
As small as possible a contact surface for the foot should be aimed for in practice, because that improves the stability. The invention provides for this in all embodiments, especially when hollow cavities are present and are open at the bottom. This allows for a high but narrow construction, which allows walking, somewhat as though on skis.
Several advantages can be attained according to the configuration of the aforementioned cavities. First of all, the air enclosed in the cavity provides buoyancy. A check valve or flap or the like can be formed with a top opening of one particular cavity opening only downward on the inside in connection with a check valve. Thus, even when a vacuum pressure occurs in the hollow cavity during movement, air can flow into the cavity from above through the check flap, but then cannot escape from there upward. The hollow cavities therefore allow the slip resistance to be influenced, as a result of their configuration alone or in combination with guide and/or propulsion members which reach into the water. Normally, one aims only to keep the slippage or flow resistance very slight in forward direction, but it is then much greater in reverse direction. Thus, one foot must be used to propel a float in forward direction, while the float supporting the other foot provides a support to the rear.
The aforementioned cavities could also be configured as nearly but not completely closed on the bottom. Then, the cavity is filled with water during use and this water volume is dragged along and aids in stabilization and improves certain dynamic properties.
In another practical embodiment, hollow cavities can be so configured that water enters at the front and is discharged at the rear during movement. That can be attained by means of flippers or the like. Thus, it is not possible for water to flow through the cavity in the opposite direction, from the rear forward, in the same manner as from the front to the rear.
In one preferred practical embodiment, each float is of a construction essentially similar to that of a catamaran. Both body parts serve as side guides--hereinafter called side guide parts--and also form the sides of one or more hollow cavities. The side guide parts should in turn provide buoyancy and be rather long and high, but narrow, in order to act as side guides to prevent transverse sliding as much as possible.
Both side guide parts are preferably connected by a cover part covering them as well as other connection elements and held at a certain distance. Partitions or inserts which limit the cavities at the front or rear could also serve as connection elements. The front and/or rear surfaces of the partitions and inserts are preferably configured as tilted or provided with bevels to facilitate sliding forward, while a resistance counters the tendency to slide to the rear.
The foot holder also preferably serves as a connection element between the two side guide parts. This member preferably has essentially the shape of a shoe in lengthwise cross section.
In the top area of the fl
REFERENCES:
patent: 1693867 (1928-12-01), Reinwald
patent: 3566427 (1971-03-01), Davis et al.
patent: 3833956 (1974-09-01), Meehan
patent: 3835494 (1974-09-01), Dougherty
patent: 4296511 (1981-10-01), Wright
Peters Jr. Joseph F.
Salmon Paul E.
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