Inflatable armbands

As water wings ( rare: Floating sleeves ) a flotation device made ​​of plastic or rubber is called, which is worn on the upper arms. Headliners two inflatable pillows for buoyancy. Thus, they are also easily recognizable from a distance, the buoyancy chambers are usually kept in bright orange. Water wings are available in various sizes. They are babies / toddlers, adolescents and adults, but mainly used by children between one and six years.

Background

The floating wing was invented in Hamburg by Bernhard Markwitz: 1956 was his three year old daughter fell into a goldfish pond and almost drowned. Thus, developed and produced Markwitz a swimming aid that should make swimming, especially for children secure than the hitherto usual floating rings made ​​of cork. A lottery win ( in the amount of 253,000 DM) gave him the necessary start-up capital.

It took until 1964 before the water wings had their final shape. Initially had the armbands only one air chamber and no check valves in the valves. Under the brand name " BEMA " ( for Bernhard Markwitz ) they have since sold over 150 million copies.

Almost simultaneously, in 1964, another variation of this so-called upper arm flotation device was invented in Australia. The inventor was Klaus Maertin approached from the same motives of this invention. His son Philip almost drowned. The buoyancy aid with the brand name " Floaties " spread as fast as the water wings in Europe. The most striking difference is the color, " Floaties " are held in Grell yellow with blue inscription and blue safety valves. The shape is different, the two air chambers are not opposite as in water wings, but behind each other up like two floating rings that are worn on the upper arm.

A similar flotation device was introduced in 1931 in the October issue of the magazine Modern Mechanix. This was made ​​of rubber, also consisted of two parts and was also worn on the upper arms. You 've ever had an air chamber, which could be inflated via a valve. On the beaches of Los Angeles as the " side wings " or "Water Wings" designated flotation device was unveiled to the public. Since inflatable swimming aids in the United States today generally considered to be unsafe and water wings hinder the movement of the arms, they are in the U.S., however, hardly still in use and there were long since been replaced by other swimming aids.