US4055174A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Swimming system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-12-22
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Granted: 1977-10-25
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Expires: 1995-12-22
Abstract
Abstract A swimming system for maximum efficiency in water has a single foot fin with a large fluke and two foot openings leading to foot pockets separated by a cushion. A series of water directed openings extend rearward and outward from a line above the toe portions of the pockets diagonally through the fluke to a line near a tip of the fluke on a rearward portion of the fin. A fastening surrounds the fin near instep areas of the foot-receiving pockets. A leg sheath has a corresponding lower fastening, a cushioning divider between legs and an achilles cushion above a heel portion to streamline the sheath. A reinforced upper waist band fastens to a jacket portion with hand openings which overlie hand fins formed of flat circular plates with finger and palm cutouts mounted between two pieces of synthetic dolphin skin. The helmet with an annular neck encircling cushion completes the streamlined entire body covering with a synthetic dolphin skin exterior. A blow-hole rearward of a neck portion of the helmet has a raised forward edge to promote air entrapment in a snorkle which leads through the annular cushion to a mouthpiece. A water-tight snap seal covers a forward opening in the mouthpiece. Nostril blocks are provided in a nose cavity. Eyes are encircled by seals which support curved lens for removing water distance distortions. Tubes lead from eye areas to the mouthpiece for pressure equalization. Screened ear holes permit pressure equalization and hearing.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth W. LeVasseur
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:49
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B31/00; A63B31/08; A41; A41D; A41D7/00; A41D2400/00; A41D2400/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
Swimming apparatus comprising a helmet, viewing means in the front portion of said helmet adapted to lie over the eyes of a swimmer the helmet having an annular cushion means generally surrounding a neck area of the helmet for forming a streamlined curve between a top of a head and shoulders of the wearer, the helmet further defining a blow-hole in a rearward portion of the helmet, a mouthpiece mounted on the front portion of the helmet below said viewing means and adapted to cover the mouth area of a swimmer, snorkel tube means leading forward from the blow-hole forward through the annular cushion to the mouthpiece, the snorkel tube means having a first open end connected to the blow-hole and a second open end connected to the mouthpiece and a neck surrounding fastening means being connected to a lower surface of the helmet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
Swimming apparatus comprising a helmet, viewing means in the front portion of said helmet adapted to lie over the eyes of a swimmer the helmet having an annular cushion means generally surrounding a neck area of the helmet for forming a streamlined curve between a top of a head and shoulders of the wearer, the helmet further defining a blow-hole in a rearward portion of the helmet, a mouthpiece mounted on the front portion of the helmet below said viewing means and adapted to cover the mouth area of a swimmer, snorkel tube means leading forward from the blow-hole forward through the annular cushion to the mouthpiece, the snorkel tube means having a first open end connected to the blow-hole and a second open end connected to the mouthpiece and a neck surrounding fastening means being connected to a lower surface of the helmet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The swimming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the blow-hole comprises an opening in the rearward surface of the helmet with a raised forward edge portion around the opening in the direction toward the top of a head portion of the helmet, whereby eddy currents are formed around the blow-hole for insuring and promoting air communication with the blow-hole, and for preventing filling of the snorkel tubes with water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The swimming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an opening in said mouthpiece communicating with the surrounding atmosphere, a water-tight snap seal over said opening whereby the wearer may breathe forwardly and may orally communicate through the opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
97 words
The swimming apparatus of claim 1, wherein said viewing means comprises goggles having sealing means extending around an area which corresponds with an eye area of a wearer, and having lens means fitted on the sealing means and being formed with vertical and lateral curvatures for promoting correct vision underwater, and further having tubes leading from areas within the seals to the mouthpiece for equalizing pressures in the lens area, and wherein the helmet further has a blockage beneath a nose cavity for stopping nose passages whereby blowing through the mouth pressurizes an interior of the helmet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The swimming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a jacket portion, the jacket portion having a body trunk portion with a waist opening and with a head opening connected to the neck fastening means on the helmet, and with a jacket opening fastenings means extending from the head opening to the waist opening, and having arm portions terminating outwardly in overlapping means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The swimming apparatus of claim 5, further comprising hand fin means having a wrist band portion for underlying the overlapping portion, and having first and second slick skin layers for respectively overlying and underlying hand, palm and finger portions, and further comprising a fiberglass reinforcement blade having a generally circular confirmation mounted medially at edges of the first and second slick skin portions, and extending outward therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The swimming apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a hand covering having a wrist portion for underlying the overlapping portion, and having a hand covering extending outward from the wrist portion, the hand covering having a palm portion and having separate finger covering portions, and a flexible web means extending between the finger portions and terminating outwardly adjacent tips of the finger portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising an upper fastening means encircling the neck opening of the jacket portion, and generally overlying the shoulders and back of the jacket portion, and dipping downward in front of the neck opening, a second complementary neck surrounding fastening means for connecting to the upper fastening means, the second complementary neck surrounding fastening means being connected to a lower surface of a helmet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
The swimming apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a leg receiving sheath having a waist opening, a reinforcement band mounted about the periphery of said waist band of said leg sheath, a first waist fastening means mounted exteriorly on the reinforcement band of the leg sheath, and a second complementary fastening means mounted interiorly on a lower edge of the jacket portion and fastened to said first waist fastening means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a foot fin first fastening means on the fin and second fastening means, the second fastening means being mounted along an inner surface of a lower edge of a leg receiving sheath, the leg receiving sheath comprising a slick skin having a longitudinal opening for inserting legs, and having a leg divider centrally longitudinally mounted on an interior of the skin for cushioning and separating legs, the leg receiving sheath having a hip receiving portion and having an upper reinforcement band surrounding an upper edge of the hip receiving portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
The swimming apparatus of claim 10, further comprising first fastening means mounted on the fin and encircling and surrounding the fin in a substantially continuous line passing from a forward point on a center of an upper surface of the fin, rearward and downward over a toe area of both foot-receiving pockets and downward around an underside of the fin in an area corresponding to a instep area of the foot-receiving pocket, so that the fastener is forward of a heel portion of the foot-receiving pockets.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The swimming apparatus of claim 9, wherein the leg receiving sheath further comprises a generally triangular shaped cushion having a smooth outward streamline configuration mounted in a lower rearward portion of the sheath for cushioning the legs and streamlining the sheath in the portion of the sheath configured for overlying achilles tendons above rearward heel areas of a wearer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-10-24 | 1981-04-25 | 1981-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-24 | 1985-04-25 | 1985-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-24 | 1989-04-25 | 1989-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |