U.S. patent number 3,664,290 [Application Number 05/088,396] was granted by the patent office on 1972-05-23 for aquatic recreation device.
Invention is credited to Arthur F. Finn.
United States Patent |
3,664,290 |
Finn |
May 23, 1972 |
AQUATIC RECREATION DEVICE
Abstract
This aquatic recreational and exercise device is intended to be
propelled over the surface of a body of water, and is
part-spherical in shape having open ends and being of such
dimensions that a person can stand, walk or run within it. The body
of the device is formed of an annular series of buoyant segments
each having an external outwardly extending paddle, and the device
is propelled along and over the water by the operator walking or
running within it in the direction he wishes to go, while a
modification would allow for powered operation. An annular buoyant
member is attached at each open end of the part-spherical body to
provide stability.
Inventors: |
Finn; Arthur F. (Vienna,
VA) |
Family
ID: |
22211129 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/088,396 |
Filed: |
November 10, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
441/66;
441/78 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B
1/047 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B63B
1/00 (20060101); B63B 1/04 (20060101); B63b
035/72 () |
Field of
Search: |
;115/20,.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Farrell; Andrew H.
Claims
I claim:
1. A recreational and exercise device constructed and intended to
be propelled along the surface of a body of water by its own rotary
movement, comprising a central section formed of a plurality of
elongated buoyant members connected in side-by-side relation to
form an open-ended annular buoyant body which is part-spherical in
external shape and of sufficient internal size to accommodate a
person in standing position, each of said members having an
external radially outwardly extending paddle connected thereto and
disposed axially of the body, and a doughnut-shaped buoyant member
attached to each end of the body and being concentric
therewith.
2. A device according to claim 1, in which each of the buoyant
members is hollow and inflated.
3. A device according to claim 1, in which each of the buoyant
members is filled with buoyant material.
4. A device according to claim 1 in which at least the central
section is formed of transparent material.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1 and 1A are diagrams illustrating and explaining the
operation of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device provided by the
invention;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 2, and
FIG. 4 is an end view of the device showing the way in which it is
used.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The principle of operation of the device provided by the invention
is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 1A wherein the circle A represents
the part-spherical device supported on the surface B of a body of
water. The axis of the device is indicated at C and it will be seen
that in FIG. 1 this axis is parallel to the surface B. In this
condition a counter-clockwise force applied to the body A about
axis C in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 will cause the body
to rotate and, because of the friction at the interface between the
device and the body of water, to roll straight ahead over the
surface of the body of water in the direction of the arrow E of
FIG. 1. If the axis C of the device is tilted to an angle with the
surface of the body of water, as shown in FIG. 1A, the moments
acting on the system will cause the device to turn in the direction
of the arrow F as it moves over the surface of the body of water,
which is in the direction in which the axis of the device tilts
toward the body of water, which is to the left with respect to the
position of the operator.
In its preferred form, which is illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4,
the aquatic device provided by the invention comprises an annular,
open-ended device of such internal dimensions that a human being
can stand upright inside it and walk or run on the annular internal
surface, and being of such axial length that it has lateral
stability when floated on the surface of a body of water. I have
found that good results may be obtained with an internal diameter
of 7 feet and an overall axial length of 6 feet including the end
stabilizers which are described hereafter.
The device comprises an annular open-ended central part 2 within
which the operator stands, walks, or runs, and which comprises an
annular series of hollow, inflated sections or segments 4 each of
which extends axially of the device, adjacent segments being
connected along their side edges at 6 to form an annular unitary
structure. The number of segments in the ring may vary, and
consequently the radial size of the individual segments may vary,
but I have found that a maximum internal diameter of approximately
4 inches for each segment provides good results. The segments may
be individually or simultaneously inflated by any known and
suitable means.
Means are provided by the invention for increasing the propulsive
effect of the walking or running movement of the operator. Such
means comprise a plurality of paddles 10 which extend radially
outwardly from the central part 2 of the device. In the preferred
embodiment of the invention, which is disclosed in the drawings,
these paddles comprise hollow members the interior of each of which
communicates with the interior of the segment 4 to which it is
attached in order that the paddle and the segment may be inflated
simultaneously. As shown in the drawings, the paddles are much
shorter than the segments and are positioned in circumferential
alignment midway between the ends of the central part 2 of the
device. Any number of paddles may be provided within the scope of
the invention. I have found that good propulsive results are
obtained by providing a paddle on every third segment, and such an
embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the drawings.
Means are provided by the invention for providing additional
stability to the central part of the device which has been
described. Such means comprise the two doughnut-shaped rings 20,
22, one of which is provided at each end of the device and each of
which is connected to the annular end of the central section 2 by
any suitable means such as heat sealing. These stabilizer rings are
hollow and may be inflated individually or simultaneously with the
other parts of the device, as desired, and within the scope of the
invention.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention all of the parts are
formed of transparent material, such as a strong synthetic plastic
film material, in order to give good visibility to the operator. It
will be apparent that for this purpose it is most important that
the central section 2 be transparent, and within the scope of the
invention other parts may be formed of opaque material.
While it is contemplated that the device will be powered by the
walking or running motion of the operator, it is also within the
scope of the invention to utilize some prime mover such as an
electric or gasoline engine or motor to cause rotation of the
device and consequent moving over the surface of a body of
water.
In the foregoing description the various parts of the device have
been described as hollow and inflated for use, but it will be
understood that within the scope of the invention some of the parts
may be filled with any one of a number of known buoyant materials
such as any one of the known foamed rubber or plastic materials,
the only requirements being that the device be stable and buoyant
in water and that the central section be transparent.
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