US3533621A - Shoulder springboard device - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 13, 1970 M. H. CLARK snouwmz sramesomn DEVICE Filed July 28, 1967 INVENTOR United States Patent ice 3,533,621 SHOULDER SPRINGBOARD DEVICE Maurice H. Clark, 969 High St., Bath, Maine 04530 Filed July 28, 1967, Ser. No. 656,876 Int. Cl. A63b /18 US. Cl. 272-66 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An aquatic diving device worn on the shoulders of an adult to provide a diving platform or spring board for young people from which they are able to dive into the water including a harness to secure the device, toehold means to enable the user to climb to the platform and a spring propelling means to propel the user off of the platform into the water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an aquatic amusement device and more particularly to a shoulder spring diver device adapted to be worn on the shoulders of an adult from which a child may dive into water.

Because of more leisure time and expanded recreational facilities, people are taking active participation in sporting activities. This is particularly true with respect to water sports at pools, lake resorts and the ocean beaches. Diving facilities at the pools and lake resorts add to the enjoyment of the water. However, unlike the pools and lake resorts, the ocean beaches are not provided with diving equipment. Consequently children are often seen being picked up by adults and playfully tossed into the ocean surf in place of diving into the water from diving equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a shoulder spring diver which is adapted to fill the need for diving facilities for young children at the ocean beaches. The diver device is a lightweight harness structure, adapted to be worn on theshoulders of an adult, and includes a diving platform, formed of a flat surface at the shoulder level on the device from which a child may dive into the water. The device further includes steps integrally formed in the rearward portion of the diver to permit the child to climb to the diving platform at the adults shoulder level. A spring means is also provided to force the diving platform upward to add to the force propelling the child into the water.

Among the objects of the present invention are the provision of an aquatic amusement device adapted to be worn by an adult and used by a child as a diving platform; the provision of a diver device having integral propelling means to propel a user into the water; and'the provision of a diver device adapted to be worn on the shoulders having integral stepping means to enable the user to reach the diving platform area and dive therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention as it is normally used;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a detail of FIG. 1.

3,533,621 Patented Oct. 13, 1970 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, the diver device 10 is adapted to be worn on the shoulders of an adult person standing in water to form. a flat diving surface from which a child may dive into the water.

Structurally the device 10 is formed of a lightweight yet durable and firm material which is preferably buoyant in nature and able to withstand weights of up to 100 pounds. The device comprises a body section 12, shoulder supports 14 and a neck-support 16 which are preferably contoured to fit the wearer. The body section 12 and shoulder supports 14 are provided with loop holes 18 and hooks 20 which are adapted to engage a harness 22 which secures the device 10 to the wearer. A diving platform 24 is pivotally supported by pins 26 above the shoulder section 14 to form a substantially flat surface upon which a child may stand. The diving platform 24 is formed to fit around the neck support 16 so as to provide two foot support areas 28 and 30 having roughened surfaces to make them non-slippery. The diving platform 24 further includes a raised edge 32 which further reduces the danger of a childs foot accidentally slipping from the foot support areas 28 and 30.

The diving platform 24 is provided with cylindrical arcuate shaped posts 34 and 36 which are adapted to telescopically fit into arcuate holes 38 and 40 formed in the body section 12 of the device 10. As illustrated in more detail in FIG. 6, each hole is provided with springs 42 and 44 which include a flat bearing plate 46 interposed between the end of the spring and the arcuate post which acts as a bearing surface to provide pressure against the posts by means of the upward spring force. The holes 38 and 40 are provided with holes 48 and 50 to drain away excess water that accumulates therein.

The diving platform 24 may be secured against movement of the spring force by a wing nut 52 which is threadedly engaged with the body section 12 through a slotted extension 54 of the diving platform.

The body section 12 is provided with a plurality of steps 56 integrally formed in the rear of the device 10 which extend downwardly from the diving platform 24 to aid the user climbing onto the diving platform 24.

In operation the wearer of the diver device 10 is standing in the water. A child climbs up to the diving platform by means of the steps 56. The childs weight compresses the posts 34 and 36 into the holes 38 and 40 against the for of the springs 42 and 44. As the child dives forwardly from the diving platform 24, the tension on the springs 42 and 44 is released which adds a propelling force to the feet of the diver. The size of the springs may be varied to provide a stronger or weaker propelling force. The wing nuts 52 may be tightened against the slotted extension to eliminate the spring propelling force.

It will be appreciated that the above description is illustrative only and many structural modifications may be made to the specific embodiment described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An aquatic device worn by a first person to enable a second person to dive into water comprising a rigid surface providing a diving platform from which said second person may dive and means to support said diving surface on the shoulders of said first person, said support means comprising a body section fitted to the wearer, an extension adapted to fit over the shoulders of said wearer and means to secure said support means to said wearer, and means to propel said diving platform upwardly to aid a divers motion into the water.

2. The aquatic diving device of claim 1 wherein said propelling means includes a spring means mounted in said support section adapted to engage projections on said fiat diving surface whereby the momentary removal of a divers weight from said diving platform surface releases said spring means and forces said diving surface upwardly.

3. The aquatic diving device of claim 2 wherein said spring means are mounted in cylindrical cavities in said support sections and said projections on said fiat diving surface are cylindrical posts adapted to fit into said cavities and bear against said spring means.

4. The aquatic diving device of claim 3 including a means to drain said cylindrical cavities to prevent a buildup of water therein.

5. The aquatic diving device of claim 4 wherein said means to aid a user to mount onto said flat diving surface comprises a set of steps integrally formed in the support means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,526,417 2/1925 Goldsmith 22 3,146,461 9/1964 Kavanagh 22 1,273,687 7/1918 Stebbing 9-339 1,373,423 4/ 1921 Gruhl 27225 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner T. BROWN, Assistant Examiner

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