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 shifting between a prone position and a supine position during swimming instruction, comprising: a belt configured to be worn around a waist of the swimmer; a first bag being connected to said belt and extending outwardly from said belt, said first bag being connected to said belt along a first seam, said first seam being configured to align longitudinally along a left side of a waist of the swimmer; and a second bag being connected to said belt, extending outwardly from said belt, and opposing said first bag, said second bag being connected to said belt along a second seam, said second seam being configured to align longitudinally along a right side of the waist of the swimmer; said first bag rotating posteriorly by buoyancy about said first seam when the swimmer moves to the prone position; said first bag rotating anteriorly by buoyancy about said first seam when the swimmer moves to the supine position; said second bag rotating posteriorly by buoyancy about said second seam when the swimmer moves to the prone position; and said second bag rotating anteriorly by buoyancy about said second seam when the swimmer moves to the supine position.

2. A device to be worn by a swimmer shifting between a prone position and a supine position during swimming instruction, comprising: a first oblong shaped bag having a meridian; a second oblong shaped bag having a meridian; and a belt for encircling a waist of a swimmer being connected to said oblong shaped bag, said belt including a first flap, a second flap, and a belt segment, said first flap being configured to overly a right part of the waist of the swimmer and being connected to said belt segment and said first oblong shaped bag, said first flap extending medially from said meridian, said first flap having a first seam being connected along said meridian and being configured to run longitudinally along the right part of the waist of the swimmer; said second flap being configured to overly a left part of the waist of the swimmer and being connected to said belt segment, and said second oblong shaped bag, said second flap extending medially from said meridian, said second flap having a second seam being connected along said meridian and being configured to run longitudinally along the left part of the waist of the swimmer; said first oblong bag rotating posteriorly by buoyancy about said first seam when the swimmer moves to the prone position; said first oblong bag rotating anteriorly by buoyancy about said first seam when the swimmer moves to the supine position; said second oblong bag rotating posteriorly by buoyancy about said second seam when the swimmer moves to the prone position; and said second oblong bag rotating anteriorly by buoyancy about said second seam when the swimmer moves to the supine position.

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

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein said belt further includes: a further belt segment being connected to said first flap and said second flap.

5. 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.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said belt segment adjusts from nineteen centimeters to forty-one centimeters.

7. A method of adjusting a device to be worn by a swimmer shifting between a prone position and a supine position during swimming instruction, which comprises: providing a device including: a belt configured to be worn around a waist of the swimmer; a first bag being connected to said belt and extending outwardly from said belt, said first bag being connected to said belt along a first seam, said first seam being configured to align longitudinally along a left side of a waist of the swimmer; and a second bag being connected to said belt, extending outwardly from said belt, and opposing said first bag, said second bag being connected to said belt along a second seam, said second seam being configured to align longitudinally along a right side of the waist of the swimmer; said first bag rotating posteriorly by buoyancy about said first seam when the swimmer moves to the prone position; said first bag rotating anteriorly by buoyancy about said first seam when the swimmer moves to the supine position; said second bag rotating posteriorly by buoyancy about said second seam when the swimmer moves to the prone position; and said second bag rotating anteriorly by buoyancy about said second seam when the swimmer moves to the supine position; placing said belt around the waist of the swimmer and clipping said first clip part to said second clip part; and tightening said belt around the waist of the swimmer while aligning said first seam longitudinally on the left side of the waist and aligning said second seam longitudinally on the right side of the waist.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first bag is oblong shaped.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first bag is connected to said belt by said first seam and only said first seam.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0051] FIG. 1A is a front side view of a buoy of a learn-to-swim training device according to the invention if worn by a swimmer in a prone position.

[0052] FIG. 1B is a rear side view of the buoy shown in FIG. 1A.

[0053] FIG. 1C is a front side view of the hinges.

[0054] FIG. 1D is an exploded left side view of the learn-to-swim device.

[0055] FIG. 1E is an exploded front side view of the learn to swim device.

[0056] FIG. 1F is an exploded rear side view of the learn to swim device.

[0057] FIG. 1G is top side view of a flap of a hinge.

[0058] FIG. 2 is a top side view of the device with the buoys shown moving between two positions.

[0059] FIG. 3A is a partial front side view of the device.

[0060] FIG. 3B is an exploded partial front side view of the device shown in FIG. 3A when inflated.

[0061] FIG. 3C is an exploded partial front side view of the device shown in FIG. 3A when deflated.

[0062] FIG. 4A is a top side view of the device when a user is in a vertical position.

[0063] FIG. 4B is a front side view of the swimmer wearing the device while in a vertical position.

[0064] FIG. 4C is a front side view of the device when a user is in a supine position.

[0065] FIG. 4D is a right side view of a swimmer wearing the device while in a supine position.

[0066] FIG. 4E is a front side view of the device when a user is in a prone position.

[0067] FIG. 4F is a right side view of a swimmer wearing the device while in a prone position.

[0068] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a drowning swimmer according to the prior art.

[0069] FIG. 6A is a right side view of a swimmer floating naturally in a prone position according to the prior art.

[0070] Fight 6B is right side view of a swimmer floating naturally in a supine position according to the prior art.

[0071] FIG. 7 is a right side view of a swimmer wearing the device while in a supine position.

[0072] FIG. 8A is a right side partial sectional view of a swimmer according to the prior art.

[0073] FIG. 8B is a right side view of the swimmer shown in FIG. 8A while wearing the device.

[0074] FIG. 9A is a front side partial sectional view of a swimmer according to the prior art.

[0075] FIG. 9B is a front side view of the swimmer shown in FIG. 9A while wearing the device.

[0076] FIG. 10A is a left side view of a swimmer wearing a prior-art device while in a prone position.

[0077] FIG. 10B is a left side view of the swimmer shown in FIG. 10A while in a vertical position.

[0078] FIG. 10C is a left side view of the swimmer shown in FIG. 10A while in a supine position.

[0079] FIG. 11A is a right side view of a swimmer wearing the invention while in a prone position.

[0080] FIG. 11B is a right side view of the swimmer shown in FIG. 11A while in a vertical position.

[0081] FIG. 11C is a right side view of the swimmer shown in FIG. 11A while in a supine position.

[0082] FIG. 12A is a right side view of a swimmer in a vertical position with a device according to the prior art.

[0083] FIG. 12B is right side view of the swimmer shown in FIG. 12A with a device according to the invention in a neutral position.

[0084] FIG. 12C is right side view of the swimmer shown in FIG. 12A with a device according to the invention in a forward position.

[0085] FIG. 12D is right side view of the swimmer shown in FIG. 12A with a device according to the invention in a rear position.

[0086] FIG. 13A is a rear side view of the swimmer shown in FIG. 12B.

[0087] FIG. 13B is a rear side view of the swimmer shown in FIG. 13A while wearing a device according to the prior art.

[0088] FIG. 13C is a rear side view of the swimmer shown in FIG. 13A while wearing a device according to the prior art.

[0089] FIG. 14A is a right side view of a swimmer in a vertical position with a device according to the prior art.

[0090] FIG. 14B is right side view of the swimmer shown in FIG. 14A with a device according to the invention in a neutral position.

[0091] FIG. 14C is right side view of the swimmer shown in FIG. 14A with a device according to the invention in a forward position.

[0092] FIG. 14D is right side view of the swimmer shown in FIG. 14A with a device according to the invention in a rear position.

[0093] FIG. 15 is a right side view of a swimmer in a prone position wearing a device according to the prior art.

[0094] FIG. 16A is a right side view of a swimmer in a prone position wearing a device according to the invention.

[0095] FIG. 16B is a right side view of a swimmer in a prone position wearing a device according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0096] A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below and is shown in the figures of the drawing.

[0097] FIGS. 1A-1G show the parts of the swim training flotation device system and how it is constructed. and worn. The swim training flotation device system includes a first oval shaped piece 1, which is made of PVC, TPU, or other non-porous textile or material, with an inflation valve 0, welded to the surface that will enable the bag or float to be inflated by mouth or deflated once it is welded to a second oval 2, are welded or joined together at the same time with two identically shaped pieces, 3 & 4 along the long axis of the conjoined ovals as shown at point 1234. Once the four pieces are joined it will create an oval bag, or float, with two flaps, 3 & 4 forming a hinge along the connecting seam 1234, that will allow the bags or floats 12, to rotate one-hundred eighty degrees (180?) or to swing like a bar-door, as shown as the Top View in FIG. 1. and FIG. 2. The unique shape of the hinge pieces, outlined in red in 3 & 4, with one end formed to match the arc shape of the oval pieces 1 & 2. The length of his arc is twice the width of the opposite end that connects to the belts at the belt loops 5. It is this unique shape that keeps the bags or floats 12, in line with the side of the user and which prevents the bags or floats 12, from twisting when changing positions during use as shown in FIG. 2. When in a vertical position (see FIGS. 4A-4B), the bags or floats 12, remain parallel to the long line of the body. When in supine and prone positions, the bags or floats continue to remain parallel to the long line of the body as they rotate to the surface of the water, adding buoyancy to the lower half of the body for maintaining a horizontal, natural floating position at the surface of the water. The inflation valves 0, allow the bags/floats 12 to be adjusted to the need of the wearer, to provide enough buoyancy to bring the hips and legs to the surface, but not to a position out of the water.

[0098] Welded onto the hinge pieces 3 & 4, is a belt loop 5, that will allow a system of belts 6, 8 & 10, which are made of nylon webbing or other similar non-stretch material, to pass through and connect the hinges 3 & 4, (34 in the front and back views), to the two identical bags or floats 12, as shown in the front and back views. In addition to preventing the bags or floats 12, from twisting as the body of the user changes positions in the water, the shape of the hinges 3 & 4, (FIG. 3) and the location of the belt loops 5, protects the skin of the user from irritation and chafing, keeps the floats snug and correctly positioned on the body and makes the device comfortable to wear.

[0099] The belt connecting system includes front snap buckles 7 and 9, which each have an adjustable component that connects the belts 6 & 8, to the floats 12, through a belt loop 5, and which enables the belts 6 and 8 to be adjusted to accommodate the waists of children or adults, regardless of their waist size. Integral to this adjustment is a back buckle 11, which allows the belt 10, to connect to the two floats 12, by passing through the belt's loops 5. This three-way adjustment system (i.e., belts 6, 8, and 10) not only allows the device to be loosened or tightened to accommodate the waist size of children and adults, it also ensures that the snap attach/release buckles 7 & 9 are in the center of the body, but also ensures that the two floats (12) are aligned in proper position, parallel with the long line at the side of the body. See FIG. 2.