SWIMMING AID WITH A TILTABLE BACK FLOAT

Abstract

A swimming aid being configured to increase a user's buoyancy in the water. The swimming aid has a supporting structure with a back float. The supporting structure is designed to secure the swimming aid to a user's upper body. The back float is tiltableseen in useabout a transverse axis connected to the supporting structure. The tilting movement of the back float to the supporting structure enables the user to obtain an inclined, more vertical posture in the water, which will improve the user's ability to keep their head above the surface of the water and also intuitively encourages the user to stretch out their hands to make a supportive movement with the hands in the water. Thus, the swimming aid increases water safety and at the same time promotes swimming skills.

Claims

1.-26. (canceled)

27. A swimming aid which is arranged to increase a user's buoyancy in the water, wherein the swimming aid comprises a supporting structure with a back float, wherein the supporting structure is configured to secure the swimming aid to a user's upper body, wherein the back floatseen in useis tiltable about a transverse axis connected to the supporting structure, wherein a tilting movement of the back float to the supporting structure is limited to a sharp tilting angle ? in between the supporting structure and the back float of at most 45?.

28. The swimming aid according to claim 27, wherein the transverse axis for a tilting movement of the back float is positioned substantially at a level of an armhole of the supporting structure.

29. The swimming aid according to claim 27, wherein the back float is connected to the supporting structure by anseen in useupper attachment of the back float, the upper attachment substantially allows the back float to be tilted relative to the supporting structure.

30. The swimming aid according to claim 29, wherein the upper attachment is positioned at the level of an armhole of the supporting structure.

31. The swimming aid according to claim 29, wherein the upper attachment of the back float comprises a left and a right float attachment.

32. The swimming aid according to claim 29, wherein the upper attachment of the back float is positioned centrally on the rear side of the supporting structure.

33. The swimming aid according to claim 29, wherein the upper attachment of the back float is made from a flexible line element, wherein the line element allows a tilting movement of the back float.

34. The swimming aid according to claim 33, wherein the line element has a length of at most 2 cm to allow that when the back float is floating, this results in a substantially tilting movement of the back float to the supporting structure.

35. The swimming aid according to claim 33, wherein the upper attachment is V-shaped, wherein the legs of the V-shaped attachment are connected to the supporting structure and the top of the V-shaped attachment is connected to the back float, wherein the connection to the back float is a line connection to allow that the V-shaped attachment provides a limitation of a tilting angle ? of the back float to the supporting structure.

36. The swimming device according to claim 27, further comprising a lower attachment to the back float, the lower attachment limiting a movement of the back float away from the supporting structure over a pre-determined distance such that the back float becomes positioned in the water at a tilted angle ? relative to the supporting structure.

37. The swimming aid according to claim 36, wherein the lower attachment is positioned at the level of a bottom edge of the supporting structure.

38. The swimming aid according to claim 36, wherein the diverging movement limiting the lower attachment is possible over a predetermined distance of at least 10 cm.

39. The swimming aid according to claim 38, wherein the predetermined distance of the diverging movement of the back float is determined by an end stop.

40. The swimming aid according to claim 39, wherein the end stop is made from a flexible line element, such as a cord or strip of neoprene.

41. The swimming aid according to claim 38, wherein the predetermined distance of the lower attachment of the back float is adjustable to allow that a tilted angle ? is adjustable to allow the back float to rotate relative to the supporting structure.

42. The swimming aid according to claim 27, wherein the back float is an injection-moulded product.

43. The swimming aid according to claim 27, wherein the supporting structure constitutes a vest.

44. The swimming aid according to claim 43, wherein the vest has a left and a right armhole for accommodating a left and a right arm of the user, respectively, and wherein a vest clasp is provided on a chest section of the vest.

45. The swimming aid according to claim 27, wherein the supporting structure of the swimming aid constitutes a harness, wherein the harness is provided with a left and right shoulder strap and has a chest section for fastening the left and right shoulder strap.

46. The swimming aid according to claim 45, wherein the chest section is fixated to the left and right shoulder straps in such a way that a neck opening is formed through which a user's head can be inserted for putting on the swimming aid.

47. The swimming aid according to claim 45, wherein the harness is further provided with a chest strap for clasping the harness around a chest of a user, wherein the chest section particularly comprises a chest clasp for fastening and unfastening the chest strap.

48. The swimming aid according to claim 47, wherein the chest strap together with the left and right shoulder straps form a left and right armhole for enclosing an arm of the user, wherein the chest strap is designed to engage with a lower portion of the rib cage of the user.

49. The swimming aid according to claim 45, wherein the harness comprises a groin strap for enclosing an upper body of a user together with the left and right shoulder straps.

50. A use of the swimming aid according to claim 27 in a teaching method for acquiring a swimming skill, wherein the swimming aid further includes an application with swimming instructions.

51. The use according to claim 50, wherein the teaching method comprises a step with instructions for limiting a tilting movement a of the back float in relation to the supporting structure.

52. A swimming aid which is arranged to increase a user's buoyancy in the water, wherein the swimming aid comprises a supporting structure with no other float than a back float, wherein the supporting structure is configured to secure the swimming aid to a user's upper body, wherein the back floatseen in useis tiltable about a transverse axis connected to the supporting structure, wherein a tilting movement of the back float to the supporting structure is limited to a sharp tilting angle ? in between the supporting structure and the back float.

53. A swimming aid which is arranged to increase a user's buoyancy in the water, wherein the swimming aid comprises a supporting structure with a back float, wherein the supporting structure is configured to secure the swimming aid to a user's upper body, wherein the back floatseen in useis tiltable about a transverse axis connected to the supporting structure, wherein a tilting movement of the back float to the supporting structure is limited to a sharp tilting angle ? in between the supporting structure and the back float of at most 60? and, wherein the back float is connected to the supporting structure by anseen in useupper attachment of the back float, the upper attachment substantially allows the back float to be tilted relative to the supporting structure, wherein the upper attachment of the back float is made from a flexible line element, wherein the line element allows a tilting movement of the back float, wherein the upper attachment is V-shaped, wherein the legs of the V-shaped attachment are connected to the supporting structure and the top of the V-shaped attachment is connected to the back float, wherein the connection to the back float is a line connection to allow that the V-shaped attachment provides a limitation of the tilting angle ? of the back float to the supporting structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The invention will be further explained in the appended drawings. The drawings constitute a practical embodiment of the invention, which may not be considered in a restrictive sense. Specific detailed features may also be regarded as characteristic of the invention in a general sense, independently of the implementation example, in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a user wearing a swimming aid according to the invention;

[0034] FIG. 2 shows the user in the water from a side view, where a back float of the swimming aid is tilted away from a supporting structure by buoyancy

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view the supporting structure in the form of a vest;

[0036] FIG. 4 shows the swimming aid from FIG. 3 from a side view;

[0037] FIG. 5 shows a user with the swimming aid according to the invention, wherein only an upper attachment to the back float is provided;

[0038] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the swimming aid from FIG. 5, viewed from below;

[0039] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a child-friendly swimming aid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Identical reference numbers have been used in the figures to denote corresponding parts. In order to facilitate an understanding of the description and the claims, the words under, over, vertical, horizontal, longitudinal, transverse, central have been used with reference to gravity, the human body and normal use of the swimming aid, which words are to be interpreted as technically functional and not limiting the scope of protection.

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a user G, a child, with a swimming aid 1 according to the invention. The swimming aid has a carrying structure 2. Here, the supporting structure constitutes a harness 25. The harness 25 is designed to be worn on the upper body of the user. The harness 25 has a left and right shoulder strap 261, 262. The shoulder straps 26 are securely connected at a chest area 23, providing a neck opening. By inserting the head through the neck opening, the user can apply the harness 25 to the upper body. The harness can be fastened using a chest strap 27 and a clasp 24. The harness has a back section 22. A back float 3 is attached to the back section. The back float 3 may be inflatable but has a solid form here.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a user with an alternative embodiment of the swimming aid 1 in the water. Here, the supporting structure is designed as a vest 20. The vest fits closely to the upper body of the user G. The vest is made of a stretchable material. The vest should preferably made of neoprene. The vest has a left and a right armhole 21. The armhole 21 has a circular shape. The armhole 21 is designed to fit closely to the upper arm of the user G. As a result, the vest 20 is securely in place in position to the upper body of the user G. When the user is in the water, in which a buoyant force acts on the vest 20 via the back float 3, the vest 20 remains in place on the body of the user without moving upward impermissibly.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 2, the back float 3 is connected to the vest 20 by an upper attachment 28 and a lower attachment 29. However, as shown in FIG. 5, the swimming aid 1 may also be constructed with only an upper attachment 28 to an upper portion of the back float and without the lower attachment 29.

[0044] In FIG. 2, the upper attachment 28 is connected to an upper portion of the vest 20. The upper attachment 28 is positioned at the level of the arm opening 21. This positions the upper attachment 28 at the level of a shoulder blade of the user G. The upper attachment 28 is connected to an upper portion of the back float 3.

[0045] The bottom edge of the vest 20 is provided with the lower attachment 29. The lower attachment 29 is made of a strip of fabric. One end of the fabric strip is connected to the vest 20 and the other end of the strip of fabric is connected to the back float 3. The lower attachment 29 is connected to the back float at a position below the upper attachment 28. Here, the lower attachment 29 is connected to a lower portion of the back float 3.

[0046] The lower attachment 29 limits the tilting angle ? of the back float 3 in relation to the supporting structure 2 allowed by the upper attachment 28. The lower attachment 29 accurately secures the tilting angle ? of the back float 3.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 2, swimming aid 1 allows a more vertical posture for the user in the water. User G has a slanted, more vertical posture at an angle ? of, for example, 30? in relation to a purely vertical one. This more vertical posture places the user in a posture that benefits acquiring a swimming skill to move in the water.

[0048] FIG. 3 shows the vest 20 in more detail from a perspective view, with FIG. 4 showing the vest 20 from a side view. The vest 20 has a back section 22, armholes 21 and a chest section 23. A clasp 24 is provided on the chest section 23. A back float 3 is attached to the back section 22 by an upper attachment 28. The upper attachment 28 has a left section and a right section, between which the back float 3 is attached. The lower attachment 29 is positioned centrally on the back section 22. Here, the lower attachment 29 is made of a fabric strip, but may also be made of neoprene.

[0049] FIGS. 5 and 6 show, as indicated briefly above with regard to FIG. 2, an embodiment of the swimming aid 1, which lacks a lower attachment 29. It allows a tilting movement of the back float 3, limited to a maximum tilting angle ? by attachment 28 of the back float 3 to the supporting structure 20.

[0050] The attachment 28 of the back float 3 to the supporting structure 2 has a V-shape. The V-shape has a first and a second V-leg 282, 283 and a V-top 281. The first and second V-legs are attached to the vest 20 one below the other. The V-top is attached to the back float 3. The attachment of the V-top isviewed in a longitudinal sectiona line connection. The line connection here is substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the back float. The orientation of this line connection provides an orientation of the back float 3 to the vest 20 at a certain tilting angle ? in the water.

[0051] The V-shaped attachment 28 may be achieved by an obliquely folded strip of fabric. The fold of the strip forms a line of the line connection. The strip may be looped through a slot on the back float 3. By extending one V-leg to the other V-leg, the desired tilting angle ? of the back float can be set.

[0052] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the swimming aid where the back float 3 is provided with a through-hole. The through-hole extends from the left side to the right side of the back float 3.

[0053] Here, the attachment is made of neoprene. The attachment may be made from a cut-out from neoprene sheet material. The attachment on the back float 3 to the vest 20 has a V-shaped left section and a V-shaped right section. The ends of the first two V-legs are connected to the vest at the level of the armholes 21. The ends of the two-second V-legs 283L, 283R of the left and right sections of the attachment 28 may coincide at a central position on the back portion 22 of the vest 20.

[0054] A bridging piece connects the left and right sections. The bridging piece extends through the through-hole of the back float 3. Due to the V-shape of the left and right sections, the back float 3 is locked in a lateral direction, such that the back float 3 is stably positioned on a user's back.

[0055] Various designs of the back float are conceivable. Preferably, a design is obtained from a solid plastic material, in particular a foam material. FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the swimming aid in which the back float has a child-friendly design.

[0056] The back float is shaped like an amphibious creature. The amphibious creature has big eyes like a frog and short legs. By adapting the shape of the back float to suit a child's perception of the world, the swimming aid is attractive for use by children. Children will regard the swimming aid as a buddy to take into the water. This further contributes to increasing the safety of the swimming aid.

[0057] In addition to the embodiments shown in the figures, many variations are possible. In one variation of the depicted embodiment of the vest, a supporting structure may be obtained in the form of a harness. In a variation of the shown embodiment of the V-shaped fastening using an obliquely folded strip of fabric, a fastening may be formed from a piece of plastic material. The back float may be solid or inflatable.

[0058] The invention has been presented with reference to the embodiment of the swimming aid according to the invention. It is emphasised that after reading the description, a person skilled in the art may wish to make changes or adaptations which are technically possible but which will not fall outside the scope of protection of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims. The person skilled in the art should understand that various adaptations can be made from a technical point of view and that elements can be replaced by equivalents without departing from the essence of the invention. In particular, within the definition according to the appended claims, modifications may be made to the embodiments shown which do not depart from the essence of the invention and thus remain within the scope of the invention.

[0059] It should be noted that aspects according to the invention and, in particular, aspects mentioned in the dependent claims, are considered patentable on their own merits independently of aspects of the other claims. These aspects may, for example, become the subject of divisional patent applications, with these aspects being defined independently of the aspects currently included in the independent claims or other dependent claims.

[0060] Thus, the invention is not limited to the shown and described embodiments, but the scope of protection of the invention will cover all embodiments that fall within the definition of the appended claims.

TABLE-US-00001 Reference signs list: G user 1 swimming aid 2 supporting structure 3 back float 20 vest 21 armhole 22 back section 23 chest section 24 clasp 25 harness 26 shoulder strap 27 chest strap 28 top attachment 280 V-shaped attachment 281 line connection; V-top 282 V-leg 283 V-leg 29 lower attachment