SWIM TRAINING THREE DIMENSIONAL SWIM COSTUME AND SYSTEM WITH INTEGRATED FLOATY DEVICE

Abstract

A swim training three-dimensional swim costume and system with integrated flotation device and integrated floatation device styled as a wearable three-dimensional costume with at least one integrated floatation component, and the floatation component is hidden and/or camouflaged so as to give the appearance of being only a costume styled in such a design as to be conducive to being worn by a child and to help in aiding the process of learning to swim.

Claims

1. A swim training three-dimensional swim costume and system with integrated flotation device comprising: at least one three-dimensional costume component with at least one flotation attachment area, either internal or external; at least one integrated and/or hidden three-dimensional flotation component comprising: at least one front layer; at least one back layer; at least one buoyant floatation element contained within and/or between said at least one front layer and said at least one back layer; said at least one back layer and/or said at least one front layer attaching to said at least one flotation attachment area; at least one attachment and/or securing strap.

2. The swim training three-dimensional swim costume and system with integrated flotation device of claim 1 further comprising of an inner mesh liner to keep said swim training three-dimensional swim costume and system with integrated flotation device secure on the wearer.

3. The swim training three-dimensional swim costume and system with integrated flotation device of claim 1 wherein said three-dimensional costume is made from at least one of in whole or in part a fast drying material such as nylon, spandex, rayon, synthetic material, natural material, hard plastic, sequins, waterproof and/or water resistant materials, in whole or in part.

4. The swim training three-dimensional swim costume and system with integrated flotation device of claim 1 wherein said at least one three-dimensional flotation component is in whole or in part at least one of at least one air-filled bladder, at least one sealed compartment of air, at least one three-dimensional shape filled with air, at least one buoyant component, at least one volume of closed cell foam, at least one volume of cork and/or cork-like material, at least one volume of Styrofoam.

5. The swim training three-dimensional swim costume and system with integrated flotation device of claim 1 further comprising of or incorporating rigid waterproof or water resistant elements and/or bones and/or components to provide skeletal structure to flexible material, in whole or in part.

6. The swim training three-dimensional swim costume and system with integrated flotation device of claim 1 further comprising of accessories, gloves, webbed gloves, at least one hat, footwear, goggles, masks, a snorkel, attachable appendages, permanently attached appendages, tentacles, body parts, at least one noise making device.

7. The swim training three-dimensional swim costume and system with integrated flotation device of claim 1 further comprising of at least one auxiliary waterproof or water resistant container and or designated volume of space to house electronics and/or other objects.

8. The swim training three-dimensional swim costume and system with integrated flotation device of claim 7 wherein said electronics is at least one of a sound module producing speech and/or music and/or sound effects, a lighting system producing at least one pattern of lights, a radio receiver, a walkie-talkie and/or at least two way communication system, a smart device and/or smart phone.

9. The swim training three-dimensional swim costume and system with integrated flotation device of claim 1 is further styled as at least one of a character, cartoon character, a mermaid, a superhero, an animal, a princess, a fairy, an elf, a goblin, a witch, a wizard, eveningwear.

10. A three-stage method of learning to swim that incorporates the wearing of the swim training three-dimensional swim costume and system with integrated flotation device of claim 1 comprising the following steps: Swim level 1, which is an introduction to the water; Swim level 2, which is learning to swim; Swim level 3, which is developing greater swim skill and confidence.

11. A method of learning to swim that incorporates wearing the wearing of a swim training three-dimensional swim costume and system with integrated flotation device of claim 1 that can provide floatation while inducing a child to engage in a fun play pattern involving one or more of the following: fantasy role-playing, splashing, interacting with other swimmers of varying skill levels, humor, testing limits of interaction with water, gaining confidence and developing trust of water, learning to be comfortable with the aquatic environment.

12. The swim training three-dimensional swim costume and system with integrated flotation device of claim 1 wherein said swim training three-dimensional swim costume and system with integrated flotation device is used for dress-up and role-play or for leisure swim and water-play other than swim training.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 depicts a front view of one embodiment of the combination swimming Garment showing key components.

[0017] FIG. 2 depicts cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the combination swimming Garment shown in FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of the invention styled as a superhero character Three-dimensional Swim Costume.

[0019] FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of the invention styled as a mermaid Three-dimensional Swim Costume.

COMPONENTS

[0020] 1 combination swimming Garment/Outfit [0021] 2 floatation breastplate [0022] 3 back straps [0023] 4 skirt [0024] 5 decorative fin [0025] 7 back of Garment [0026] 10 buoyant floatation element [0027] 20 Superhero character Three-dimensional Swim Costume [0028] 30 Mermaid styled Three-dimensional Swim Costume

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 depicts a front view of one embodiment of the combination swimming Garment/Outfit 1 showing key components. Shown is the combination swimming Garment 1, which is composed of the floatation breastplate 2 area, which in this embodiment is shown with decorative scales to simulate the design of a fish or a mermaid. Attached to the floatation breastplate 2 is the skirt 4. Attached to skirt 4 is a decorative fin 5 on the left and decorative fin 5 on the right.

[0030] FIG. 2 depicts cross-sectional view AA of the embodiment of the combination swimming Garment/Outfit 1 shown in FIG. 1. Shown is a cross-section of the floatation breastplate 2 area, and within the interior of this is the buoyant floatation element 10. Also shown is the skirt 4, the back of Garment 7, and the back strap 3.

[0031] FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of the invention styled as a superhero character styled Three-dimensional Swim Costume 20.

[0032] FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of the invention styled as a mermaid styled Three-dimensional Costume 30.

Definitions

[0033] Outfit: is a set of clothing that goes well together.

[0034] Character Branded Outfit: is an Outfit that has in at least one location an image or motif of a Character.

[0035] Garment: is an item of clothing.

[0036] Character branded Garment: is a Garment that has in at least one location an image or motif of a Character.

[0037] Character Branded: is a Character's image printed or integrated on or in a product.

[0038] Costume: is something you wear to make yourself look like something or someone and/or if you're dressing up to affect a personality or you are playing a role. A costume can also be a reproduction of a Character incorporating a level of authenticity either within or upon a Garment or Outfit or a Garment or Outfit with at least one accessory. A costume can have variable levels of authenticity depending on context and usage.

[0039] Printed Costume: is a Two-dimensional Costume with printing forming a Costume and/or components of a Costume.

[0040] Two-dimensional Costume: a Costume made from material with no particular attention to any portion of the Costume that touches human skin being thicker than one or more layers of fabric. A Two-dimensional Costume may have attached objects that add to the thickness of the material, but there is no particular design imperative to encase a volume of space to either enhance the three-dimensional appearance of the wearer or to create a low-density volume that provides buoyancy as well as three-dimensionally enhancing the authenticity of the Costume as with a three-dimensional Costume.

[0041] Two Dimensional Printed Costume: at least one Outfit or Garment transformed to a two dimensional Character Costume by the printing forming the image or images necessary to create a level of authenticity together forming the Costume and/or components of the Costume.

[0042] Character: is a known or unknown animated image, a cartoon or comic image, a living or deceased celebrity, a superhero, a monster, an alien, a fictional being, a real or imaginary animal, person, place, or thing.

[0043] Printing: in the context of this invention is printing on fabric, embossing, silk-screening or other method of applying an image on material or fabric used in a Garment, Outfit, or Costume.

[0044] Three-dimensional Costume: everything a Two-dimensional Costume is with the addition of at least one depth component to at least one portion of the Garment and/or Outfit and/or Costume and/or components of the Costume. A Three-dimensional Costume is a Costume that provides for a higher level of Character authenticity by the utilizing or adding of three dimensional materials either integrated or associated with or attached to. A three-dimensional Costume significantly improves upon the role play and dress up experience incorporating texture, fabric, a greater involvement of the sense of feel so that more senses are used other than vision.

[0045] Three-dimensional Swim Costume: Is a Three-dimensional Costume designed to include swimming, water, and water play use which may incorporate fabric and materials that are in whole or in part waterproof or water resistant, Three-dimensional Swim Costume is also sometimes called a Three-dimensional Swimming Costume.

[0046] Three-dimensional Swim Costume and System: Is a Three-dimensional Costume and System designed to include swimming, water, and water play use which may incorporate fabric and materials that are in whole or in part waterproof or water resistant.

[0047] A floaty (or floaties) is a floatation toy or device used in water, a pool and/or ocean, and this can be a tube or toroid shape filled with air, a Character in the shape of an animal or other creature, object, or icon, an air mattress, a dry bag or bladder, a buoyant tube or object that can provide extra buoyancy to a person when held, laid upon, or interfaced with. A floaty can be made from a shell that contains air or a material that contains sufficient air incorporated within or is of sufficiently low density as to provide buoyancy.

[0048] As used herein, the term and/or, when used in a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself, or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed. For example, if a device is described as containing components A, B, and/or C, the composition can contain A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.