Marine propulsion – Oscillating propelling means – Fishtail motion propelling means
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-12
2003-02-25
Basinger, Sherman (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Oscillating propelling means
Fishtail motion propelling means
C114S315000, C440S026000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06524145
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices for propelling a swimmer through water using body strength.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There have been propulsion devices available for several years that have several common features in that fin-like members are used to propel the device.
Keivanjah (U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,056) provides a water craft in which the operator is seated. Fins on an H-shaped frame are cam actuated to propel the craft.
Hildebrandt (U.S. Pat. No. 943,074) discloses a boat propeller that includes a cam mounted on a rotary shaft that causes a vertically positioned caudal fin to move from side to side.
Gongwer (U.S. Pat. No. 3,204,699) includes a swimmer propulsion device that attaches to the swimmers lower legs. A leg plate is straddled by the swimmer, from which a curved rod extends forwardly. A pair of oscillating fins is pivotally attached to the curved rod, the fins being positioned beneath the swimmer's lower torso, when the swimmer is horizontal.
Baulard-Caugan (U.S. Pat. No. 4,193,371) provides a swimmer propulsion device with a vertically oriented fish tail member on two arms that are in turn mounted on two additional arms, to which are attached foot stirrups. Pushing one of the stirrups causes the arm linkage to push the tail in one direction, and pushing the other stirrup causes the arm linkage to push the tail in the other direction.
McGowan (U.S. Pat. No. 3,440,994) includes a swimmer propulsion device having a vertically positioned tail fin that is pushed left and right by using alternate feet to push on opposite ends of a pivot bar that is rigidly attached to the tail fin.
Coulter (U.S. Pat. No. 227,491) discloses a sculling-propeller for boats that provides hand operated controls for moving a rear-mounted fin-like blade.
Only some of the foregoing are for swimmers, and of those that are for swimmers, the devices require large structures with a large number of parts in relatively complicated arrangements. None provides a swimming device that has a high-degree of integration with the contours of the swimmer's body, nor do any provide an unobtrusive, yet effective means of oscillating horizontally positioned flukes. Furthermore, no prior art devices allow the swimmer's feet to simultaneously contribute to the means for moving the flukes.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention is a swimmer propulsion device that is streamlined in shape for integration with the contours of the swimmer's body, the device including an unobtrusive and effective means of oscillating horizontally positioned flukes, using the combined force of both the swimmer's feet.
The device includes a harness for the swimmer that has a flexible tail assembly and a frame with ratcheting pedals that simultaneously rotate a driver. This rotation causes one of three driver apexes to be forced against, and to displace, the tail assembly while simultaneously tensioning a propulsion band. The propulsion band snaps the tail assembly downward when the driver apex continues to move such that it is no longer displacing the tail assembly. This downward movement of the tail assembly and its flukes propels the swimmer forward.
A flexible spine is included in the tail assembly, with the individual vertebra in the spine being resilient, such that the displacement of the tail assembly by the driver apex deforms the vertebrae. Upon release the vertebrae return to the undeformed shape, thus adding to the downward force on the tail assembly.
A swimmer propulsion device is provided, comprising: a harness to be affixed to the body of the swimmer; a frame extending from the harness toward the feet of the swimmer; a tail assembly having: a flexible spine; and a tail member; a foot-powered driving assembly having: at least one foot pedal to be attached to the swimmer's foot, the at least one foot pedal having a forward position and a rearward position; and a driver rotatably attached to the frame and ratchetably rotated by a rearward push on the at least one foot pedal, the driver having at least three apex members, the driver being spaced from the tail assembly such that two of the apex members are proximate the tail assembly; and at least one resilient propulsion member attached to the tail assembly and the frame, such that, as the at least one foot pedal is being pushed rearwardly, the driver is rotated causing one of the apex members to singularly bear upon the tail assembly, the single apex member displacing the tail assembly such that the tail member moves from a first position to a second position, the displacement of the tail assembly placing the at least one propulsion member in tension, the continued rotation of the driver causing the single apex member to rotate beyond the perpendicular position against the tail assembly, the propulsion member tension then causing the at least one propulsion member to contract and pull the tail assembly such that the tail member is brought from the second position to the first position, the at least one foot pedal being ratchetably movable to the forward position.
In one embodiment, each apex member has a roller, the roller being the portion of the apex member that bears upon the tail assembly.
In one embodiment, the tail assembly has a generally longitudinal groove, the groove receiving and laterally constraining the single apex member as the single apex member bears upon the tail assembly.
In one embodiment, the number of pedals is two and the number of propulsion members is two, the pedals being attached for simultaneous movement from the forward to the rearward position.
In one embodiment, the number of pedals is two, each pedal being independently ratchetable and pushable, such that the driver is rotated by pushing either of the pedals.
In one embodiment, the number of pedals is one, the pedal being adapted for simultaneous pushing by both swimmer feet.
In one embodiment, the spine further comprises a first vertebra and a plurality of vertebrae, each of the vertebrae plurality being successively and partially encompassed by another of the vertebrae, and a resilient cord extending through the vertebrae such that the vertebrae are aligned and secured, the vertebrae being resilient such that, as the tail assembly is displaced by the single apex member, the vertebrae are deformed, and as the single apex member rotates beyond the perpendicular position against the tail assembly, the vertebrae return to the undeformed state, thus causing a displacement of the tail assembly such that the tail member is moved toward the second position.
In one embodiment, the vertebrae having decreasing widths in a direction horizontally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tail assembly.
In one embodiment, the vertebrae having decreasing heights in a direction vertically perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tail assembly.
In one embodiment, the harness has at least one dorsal fin.
In one embodiment, the at least one dorsal fin is detachable.
In one embodiment, the tail assembly has at least one dorsal fin.
In one embodiment, the at least one dorsal fin is detachable.
In one embodiment, the tail member has at least one dorsal fin.
In one embodiment, the at least one dorsal fin is detachable.
In one embodiment, the tail member is flexible.
In one embodiment, the tail member has two flukes.
In one embodiment, the tail member flukes have at least one thickened edge.
In one embodiment, the tail member flukes have at least one reinforced edge.
In one embodiment, the harness further comprises a first back member and a second back member, the second back member being coupled to the first back member, the frame being attached to the harness second back member.
In one embodiment, the second back member is slidably coupled to the first back member.
In one embodiment, the harness further comprises a first back member and a second back member, the second back member being coupled to the first back member, the tail assembly being attached to the harness second back member
Basinger Sherman
Gray George S.
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