Learn-to-Swim Training Device

Abstract

A swim training flotation device system includes two oblong inflatable bags connected to a belt worn about a swimmer's waist. The swim training flotation device allows swimmers to move from a vertical position to a horizontal position and from a prone position to a supine position without adjustment of the device. In addition, the device does not inhibit a swimmer's arm stroke and the device promotes a neutral swimming position.

Claims

1. A device to be worn by a swimmer during swimming instruction, comprising: a belt configured to be worn around a waist of the swimmer; a first oblong shaped bag being connected to said belt and extending outwardly from said belt; and a second oblong shaped bag being connected to said belt, extending outwardly from said belt, and opposing said first oblong shaped bag.

2. A device to be worn by a swimmer during swimming instruction, comprising: an oblong shaped bag having a meridian; and a leaf for connecting to a belt segment, said leaf extending medially from said meridian, said leaf having a hinge being connected along said meridian.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein: said oblong shaped bag has a length; and said hinge has a length equal to one half of said length of said oblong shaped bag.

4. The device according to claim 2, further comprising a further leaf for connecting to a further belt segment, said further leaf extending medially from said meridian, said further leaf having a hinge being connected along said meridian.

5. The device according to claim 2, further comprising a belt segment for wearing around at least a part of a waist of the swimmer, said belt segment being connected to said leaf.

6. The device according to claim 5, further comprising: a further oblong shaped bag having a meridian; and a further leaf being connected to said belt segment, said further leaf extending medially from said meridian of said further leaf, and said leaf having a hinge being connected along said meridian of said further oblong shaped bag.

7. A device to be worn by a swimmer during swimming instruction, comprising: a first oblong shaped bag having a meridian; a second oblong shaped bag having a meridian; a first leaf extending medially from said meridian of said first oblong shaped bag, said first leaf having a hinge being connected along said meridian of said first oblong shaped bag; a second leaf extending medially from said meridian of said first oblong shaped bag, said second leaf having a hinge being connected along said meridian of said first oblong shaped bag; a third leaf extending medially from said meridian of said second oblong shaped bag, said third leaf having a hinge being connected along said meridian of said second oblong shaped bag; a fourth leaf extending medially from said meridian of said second oblong shaped bag, said fourth leaf having a hinge being connected along said meridian of said second oblong shaped bag; a first belt segment interconnecting said first leaf and said third leaf; and a second belt segment being interconnecting said second leaf and said fourth leaf.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein said first leaf, said first belt segment, said second leaf, said third leaf, said second belt segment, and said fourth leaf form a belt configured to be worn around a waist of the swimmer.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said belt has a buckle and said buckle allows said belt to adjust to a circumference between sixty centimeters and one-hundred-thirty centimeters.

10. The device according to claim 5, wherein said belt segment adjust from nineteen centimeters to forty-one centimeters.

11. The device according to claim 7, wherein: said first belt segment has an adjustable length; and said second belt segment has an adjustable length.

12. The device according to claim 5, further comprising: a first snap clip part being disposed on said belt segment; and a second snap clip part being disposed on said leaf, said second snap clip part complementing said first snap clip part and being releasably connectable to said first snap clip part.

13. A method of adjusting the device according to claim 11, which comprises: placing said first leaf, first belt segment, said third leaf, said fourth leaf, said second belt segment, and said fourth leaf around a waist of the swimmer; tightening said adjustable length of said first belt segment and said adjustable length of said second belt segment until said first leaf, first belt segment, said third leaf, said fourth leaf, said second belt segment, and said fourth leaf fit snugly around the waist of the swimmer; and aligning said meridian of said first oblong shaped bag to be coplanar with a medial section of a torso of the swimmer while aligning said meridian of said second oblong shaped bag with the medial section of the torso of the swimmer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0036] FIG. 1A is a top elevational view of a learn-to-swim training device according to the invention.

[0037] FIG. 1B is a top elevational view of the learn-to-swim training device shown in FIG. 1A shown with a buckle unbuckled and air valves in an extended position.

[0038] FIG. 2A is a top front right perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1A with the floats deflated.

[0039] FIG. 2B is bottom rear left perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 2A.

[0040] FIG. 3A is a top front right perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1A with the buckle closed and the floats inflated.

[0041] FIG. 3B is a bottom rear left perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1B with the buckle closed and the floats inflated.

[0042] FIG. 4A is a front elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1A being worn by a swimmer in an upright position.

[0043] FIG. 4B is a front left perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1A being worn by a swimmer in an upright position.

[0044] FIG. 4C is a left perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1A being worn by a swimmer in a prone position.

[0045] FIG. 4D is a left perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1A being worn by a swimmer in a supine position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0046] A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below and is shown in the figures of the drawing.

[0047] FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B show the parts of the swim training flotation device system 1. The swim training flotation device system 1 includes a first oblong shaped bag 10 and a second oblong shaped bag 10, each of which is inflated by mouth through a respective valve 11. It is the unique shape of the oblong shaped bag 10 and the way each oblong shaped bag 10 is attached to the belt 20 by hinges 22 that enable the user (who is not shown in FIGS. 1A-1B) to rotate three-hundred-sixty degrees (360°) while each oblong shaped bag 10 remains in a horizontal position, and also to assume a vertical position effortlessly and without each oblong shaped bag 10 twisting or preventing such movements. Hinge 22 includes two flaps 221 that connect to the respective oblong shaped bag 10 along seam 220. Belt 20 is threaded through eyes 222. Belt 20 has an adjustable length. Belt 20 includes dorsal belt segment 200 and ventral belt segment 201. Clip 23 adjusts the length of the dorsal belt segment 200, which ranges from nineteen to forty-one centimeters (19-41 cm). Ventral belt segment 201 is connected to hinges 22 by adjustable belts that connect to snap clip 23. Together, the ventral belt segments 201, once joined by clip 23 are also adjustable from a measurement of nineteen to forty-one centimeters (19-41 cm). Together, dorsal belt segment 200 and ventral belt segments 201 make the device usable for children and adults with waist or torso measurements from approximately sixty to one-hundred-thirty centimeters (.sup.˜60-130 cm) circumference. Buckles 26 are used to cinch the belt 20.

[0048] Each inflatable oblong shaped bag 10 is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material but may also be made of textile or other waterproof materials. Each oblong shaped bag 10 is created by sealing two identically shaped pieces 100 and 101 of the material, except that dorsal piece 100 has a valve 11. The edges of the two pieces 100 and 101 are heat-sealed, sewn, or otherwise fused together in an oval shape, leaving two seams 220 unfused as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B. While preferred size and relative dimensions are shown and described, the preferred size should not be read as limiting the scope of the invention to only those dimensions. As shown in FIG. 1B, the clip 21 includes a male clip part 231 and a female clip part 230.

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 1A-1B, the length of the seams 220 is longer than the width of the medial portion of the flaps 221.

[0050] FIGS. 4A-4D show the swim training flotation device system 1 when in use by swimmers 30. The inflated oblong shaped bags 10 lie at the sides 31R and 31L of a torso 32 of the swimmer 30. When the swimmer 30 uses the swim training flotation device system 1 and the swimmer 30 is actively swimming, the torso 32 rises to such an extent that the two oblong shaped bags 10 are lifted mostly (i.e. more than 50%) out of the water and offer very little or no impedance to swimmers motions of the arm 33 of the swimmer 30 or the directional progress as seen in FIGS. 4C and 4D. When in the vertical position, the oblong shaped bags 10 will be at the sides 31R and 31L of the torso 32 as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

[0051] The shape of each oblong shaped bag 10 and the shape and relative dimension of the hinges 22 by which the oblong shaped bags 10 attach to the belt 20, the swimmer 30 is able to rotate from a prone position (FIG. 4C) to a supine position (FIG. 4D) without any adjustment to the oblong shaped bags 10 or belt 20.

[0052] As the swimmer 30 gains confidence in the water, the amount of air in the oblong shaped bags 10 can be gradually lessened until the swimmer 30 has confidence to swim without the swim training flotation device system 1.

[0053] Unless otherwise mentioned the reference numbers are used consistently throughout the figures.