Pool Lap Counter

Abstract

This invention is an inexpensive, easy-to-use, and easy-to-manufacture device that can be placed on the edge of a pool so that a swimmer can use it to count laps without significantly disrupting the swimming. The invention is lightweight and portable so that one person can carry it around, place it on the pool before swimming laps, and remove it afterwards.

Claims

1) An apparatus for counting swim laps, comprising: a horizontal plane for resting parallel to a pool deck; a vertical plane for resting parallel to a pool side; and one or more sliding counters attached to said vertical plane;

2) The apparatus of claim 1) including one or more weights attached to said horizontal plane.

3) The apparatus of claim 2) including soft padding on the bottom of at least one of said one or more weights.

4) The apparatus of claim 1) including one or more feet attached to form a right angle to said vertical plane.

5) The apparatus of claim 4) including soft padding on the side of at least one of said one or more feet.

6) The apparatus of claim 1) where said sliding counters are attached using screws through vertical slots in said vertical plane to allow adjusting the height of said sliding counters.

7) An apparatus for counting swim laps, comprising: one or more right-angle brackets in parallel to each other; one or more sliding counters connected to one side of said right-angle brackets; weights on one end of said right-angle brackets; and feet on the other end of said right-angle brackets, said feet at a right angle to the brackets.

8) The apparatus of claim 7) where said sliding counters are attached using screws through vertical slots in said right-angle brackets to allow adjusting the height of said sliding counters.

9) The apparatus of claim 7) including: soft padding where said apparatus makes contact with a pool deck; and soft padding where said apparatus makes contact with a pool wall.

10) An apparatus for counting swim laps, comprising: An extended J-shaped piece; and one or more sliding counters connected to the vertical plane of said extended J-shaped piece.

11) The apparatus of claim 10) where said sliding counters are attached using screws through vertical slots in said vertical plane to allow adjusting the height of said sliding counters.

12) The apparatus of claim 10) including: a weight on the horizontal plane of said extended J-shaped piece; soft padding underneath said horizontal plane of said extended J-shaped piece; and soft padding on the vertical portion of the lip of said extended J-shaped piece.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which:

[0008] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention manufactured from discrete parts.

[0009] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention where the base is manufactured as a single piece.

[0010] FIG. 3 shows the invention in use in a swimming pool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] Embodiments of the invention are directed to an apparatus for allowing a swimmer to count laps while swimming. Embodiments of the invention make use of a basic knowledge of mechanical engineering.

[0012] The present invention is a mechanical system for allowing a swimmer to count the number of laps that the swimmer swims in a pool.

[0013] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the lap counter manufactured from discrete parts. Duplicate parts are used but are given a single number to indicate that they are identical. Lap Counter 100 consists of two Shelf Brackets 101 aligned in parallel such that the tops of the brackets form a horizontal plane that is parallel to the Pool Deck 105, and the sides of the brackets form a vertical plane that is parallel to the Pool Wall 106. For extra sturdiness, there can be more than two Shelf Brackets 101.

[0014] Attached to the Shelf Brackets 101 are one or more Sliding Counters 102, each with numbered pieces that can be slid left and right to indicate the number of laps swum. One Sliding Counter 102 can be used to count laps while a second Sliding Counter 102 can be used to count tens of laps and so on. If the Sliding Counters 102 are strong enough, they can be mounted directly onto the vertical portion of Shelf Brackets 101 with a screw on each end that goes through a hole in Sliding Counter 102 and a corresponding hole in Shelf Bracket 101. The screw can have a wing nut or other type of nut on the back to be tightened to be held in place. In this way, the Sliding Counters 102 provide the means of holding the Shelf Brackets 101 together. If the Sliding Counters 102 are not sufficiently strong, metal or other kinds of strips can be placed behind Sliding Counters 102, with corresponding screw holes, to provide additional strength. Also, a strip of metal or other strong material (not shown) can be placed diagonally between Shelf Brackets 101 as a brace against twisting. Shelf Brackets 101 can have vertical slots rather than screw holes so that the height of Sliding Counters 102 can be adjusted by the user such that Sliding Counters 102 are above Water Level 107 or below Water Level 107 as desired.

[0015] Weighted Feet 104 are attached to Shelf Brackets 101 to weigh down the back of Lap Counter 100 and thus keep the device from sliding into the pool. Right-angle Counter Feet 103 are attached to the device to keep Lap Counter 100 away from the Pool Wall 106 so that the device will not scrape against Pool Wall 106 or Pool Ledge 108 that may extend beyond Pool Wall 106.

[0016] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the Lap Counter 200 where the Counter Base 201 is manufactured as an extended J-shaped piece that has attached to it Back Weight 202 to weigh down the back of Lap Counter 200 and thus keep the device from sliding into the pool. Back Weight 202 can be an integral part of Counter Base 201 or a separate piece that is attached to Counter Base 201. Counter Lip 203 keeps Lap Counter 200 away from the Pool Wall 106 so that the device will not scrape against Pool Wall 106 or Pool Ledge 108 that may extend beyond Pool Wall 106.

[0017] Attached to the Counter Base 201 are one or more Sliding Counters 102, each with numbered pieces that can be slid left and right to indicate the number of laps swum. Sliding Counters 102 are mounted directly onto the vertical portion of Counter Base 201 with a screw on each end that goes through a hole in Sliding Counter 102 and a corresponding hole in Counter Base 201. The screw can have a wing nut or other type of nut on the back to be tightened to be held in place. Counter Base 201 can have vertical slots rather than screw holes so that the height of Sliding Counters 102 can be adjusted by the user such that Sliding Counters 102 are above Water Level 107 or below Water Level 107 as desired.

[0018] Optionally, Counter Base 201 can have a Padded Wall Strip 204 attached to Counter Lip 203 to keep it snug against the Pool Wall 106 without scraping it. Similarly, Counter Base 201 can have a Padded Deck Strip 205 attached to the bottom of Counter Base 201 to keep it snug on top of the Pool Ledge 108 without scraping it.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows the lap counter in use in a swimming pool. Lap Counter 100 or Lap Counter 200 sits on the edge of the pool at one end of Swimming Pool 300. When Swimmer 301 reaches the end of the pool where Lap Counter 100 or Lap Counter 200 sits, Swimmer 301 slides the next number on the Sliding Counters 102 of Lap Counter 100 or Lap Counter 200 to indicate that another lap has been swum.

[0020] In the preceding description, numerous details are set forth. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.