US1810556A - Water wings - Google Patents

Description

June 16, 1931. F. FENTON 1,810,556

WATER WINGS Filed Sept. 5, 1929 Inueniw'.

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FRANK BENTON, GE AKEQN, OHIO, ASSIGN'OR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO MILLER RUBBER CGTv'IPANY ING, OF WILMINGTOI\T,,IDELAWAEE, A CORPORATION OF DELAYVABE WATER wines Application filed. September 5,1829. Serial No. 399,546.

My said invention relates to improvements in Avlad or water wings.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, sucharticles have usually been made of cloth which requires wetting prior to inflation to The invention also aims to provide an ar ticle which will be strong and durable and adapted, as a swimming appliance-or aid, for adults as well as children.

VVith'these and other objects in view, the invention comprises thenovel article hereinafter described and defined by the ap pended claim.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a plan view of two halves or sections of a set of water wings before being so united.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a die used for forming the sections. 7 V

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 33 of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing the two sections superposed and ready for die cutting or seaming together. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the completed article prior to inflation. I

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional detail through one of the inflating tubes, and,

Fig. 7 is a perspective-viewof the article inflated and ready for use.

15 In the production of this article, two sheets of; thin uncured rubber stock are properly aligned to pass under or be subjected to the action of a suitably shaped die member 1, theshape of which is shown-diagrammatically in Fig. 2 by the action of which they are cuttog-ether on a line to give the proper contour'to form one half of a set of water wings, but leaving open the neck portion 2, and the air filling tube 3 thereof, for purposes hereinafter referred to.

t will be understood that the two wings or sections are identical, and therefore cut by the same die member, and that a description of one isalso a description of the other. Each half member or section has the neck portion 2 and the wing or enlargement 4, which will fit snugly under the users arm in support of the body when used in the water. I V i i After the halves or sectionslhave been died out and inspected, two of them are placed one upon the other in proper alignment so that their neck )ortions 2 are brought'together and are then subjected to a pinch blunt die cut across. the neck near the open end thereof whereby the halves are united on the line (z-?).

This, when the two sections are opened out flat; i. e., one removed or unfolded from the other, produces the complete wings as shown in Fig. 5, except for the closure members for the valves, which are later inserted, after the article has been vulcanized.

In Fig. 3, the neck portion 2 is shown enlarged and exaggerated to indicate the two sheets A and B forming the article, and clearly illustrates the open end neck 2 and the filling tube opening 3.

In F ig. 4, the halves are shown as aligned under the blunt die member 5, of straightedge form, ready to be out together to complete the article, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

InFige 6 is shown a cross section of the air filling tube 3, which is provided with the ordinary closure means, used in various inflatable rubber articles and toys, consisting ofa short length of semi-hard rubber tubing 6 of small diameter, which may be readily forced into the thin rubber tube 3 and securely held thereon by iriction.

Into this tube 6a short length filler pin or plug 70f similar material to the tubing is pushed to make an effective closure in retaining the air pressure blown into the wings, when used- F ig. 7 illustrates approximately the shape the inflated article assumes When ready for use, the user placing the neck portions 2 across the chest and the arms thereover to permit the enlarged portions or Wings 4 to float upon the Water to assist and support the persons body in the act of swimming, or floating.

By forming the tube portions 3 simulta neously 'With the sections, I greatly simplify the process of forming and applying the inflating means, and by the method of dieing or pinch cutting the sheets together, and making them Wholly of rubber, I produce a sanitary article, one that is air tight at the start, and is strong and durable, and is extremely eeonomical o'f manufacture.

Having thus describedmy invention, What I claim is:

A device for assisting swimmers, said device comprising a pair of impervious inflatable rubber air chambers, and an inflatable pectoral yoke member inte ral therewith, said yoke member comprising non-eommunieating extensions of said air chambers joined by a die-cut seam.

In testimony whereof, I ailix my signature.

FRANK FENTON.

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