Patent Application
20210260460
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The invention relates to personal flotation devices and, in particular, to personal flotation devices used with beginners' swimming instruction.
Unlike quadrupeds, such as dogs and horses, which naturally float in a horizontal position and are able to propel themselves in the water using the same motor motions as on land, i.e. “doggy paddle,” the natural floating position for humans is vertical and the learned motor skills on land for running and walking are of no benefit in the water. Accordingly, swim instructors first teach beginner swimmers to move from their natural vertical floating position to a horizontal swimming position before they can teach beginner swimmers how to swim. Because the change in position is away from the natural vertical floating position, the change is frightening to most beginner swimmers. Once beginner swimmers take a horizontal position, the swimming instructor can teach the beginner how to swim. And, once the beginner swimmer knows rudimentarily how to swim, the swimmer no longer fears the water and moves without worry from the vertical position to the horizontal position.
Buoyancy flotation devices have been known to assist humans in learning to swim for thousands of years. Since at least 1901, a variety of inflatable “water wings” or “floaties” intended to facilitate learning to swim, for both children and adults, have been on the market. The early devices were made of textile fabric and were relatively airtight. Some were cumbersome to wear, only permitted the user to be in one position, either on the back, stomach or vertically in the water, and some could be unintentionally detached. In addition, many prior-art devices limited a swimmer's freedom of movement and prevented swimmers from practicing proper strokes. In addition, many of the prior-art designs were not comfortable to be worn, which limited the duration of training sessions and inhibited widespread adoption.
German patent application DE102004013848A1 to Braunlich (hereinafter Braunlich '848) describes, “Buoyancy Belt for Person Learning to Swim has Strap Passing Round Swimmer's Body and through Loops in Sides of Twin Buoyancy Bags Inflated with Air.” The buoyancy belt described in Braunlich '848 has the following shortcomings. The shape of the “cushions” and the attachments of the cushions to the belt do not enable the wearer to turn from front to back positions. The attachments of the cushions to the belt do not hold the cushions securely and allow the cushions to twist. The tie belt can be unintentionally released permitting a child swimmer to slip out of the device. The device cannot be used in a vertical position to teach vertical swimming as needed for water sports like water polo and synchronized swimming.
U.S. Pat. No. 673,672 to Ayvad (hereinafter, Ayvad '672) describes a, “Life-preserver.”
U.S. Pat. No. D35,550 to Ayvad (hereinafter, Ayvad '550) describes a, “Design for a Life-Preserver Body.” The disclosed design is for a life preserver.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,132,346 to Holroyd (hereinafter, Holroyd '346) describes, “Water-wings.” Holroyd '346 made minor design changes and was sold as improvement that attaches to the front of a swimming suit to prevent the water wings from slipping from a person unable to swim. The purpose of Holroyd '346 is to allow a person unable to swim, to enjoy the water in safety: something like wearing a life-vest, but less intrusive. The attachment to the front of the suit became obsolete in the 1930s, when women no longer used the bloomer costumes and men began wearing trunks.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,262,296 to Alther (hereinafter, Alther '296) describes, “Water-wings.”
U.S. Pat. No. D149,579 to Messing (hereinafter, Messing '579) describes, “Inflatable Swim Support or Similar Article.” The disclosed article is only useful for swimming or floating on the stomach as the floats were designed to be attached on the back of the user. To prevent users from slipping out, the article includes an adjustable strap that attaches the two wings across the back of the user. The article and attachment mechanism cannot be used to teach swimmers in the prone, supine, and upright positions.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,810,556 to Frank (hereinafter, Frank '556) describes, “Water Wings.”
U.S. Pat. No. 2,898,610 to Chamberlain (hereinafter, Chamberlain '610) describes, “Swimming Buoy or Apparatus.” The buoy is inflatable. The buoy is secured by a belt to the user's back. The buoy cannot rotate relative to the swimmer because it is seated against the swimmer's back.
Ultimately, the prior art including devices, like “floaties”, “water wings”, and inflatables that are worn over the biceps or swim buoys, which are strapped to the back of the child, or flotation added under the chest is that they prevent the swimmer from obtaining a horizontal, or natural, swimming position in the water.
An object of the invention is to provide a learn-to-swim training device that overcomes the disadvantages of the devices of this general type and of the prior art.
A further object of the invention is to provide a learn-to-swim training device that can help both children and adults, able bodied and disabled, to learn to swim, or otherwise enjoy the health benefits of water immersion or aquatic therapy by buoying the wearer comfortably with full freedom of movement in a balanced horizontal swimming or floating position on the back or stomach, or even vertically in the water.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an instrumentality that promulgates learning-to-swim, swimming, safety, and training in aquatic endeavors by lowering the center of buoyancy from the lung area lower down the body towards the stomach. This manipulation of the center of buoyancy enables the wearer to easily maintain a horizontal-floating or swimming position in the water, rather than the natural vertical floating position of the human body.
A further object of the invention is to a training device that enables a non-swimmer to have a freedom of movement and comfort.
A further object of the invention is to provide a training device that has a shape that allows the following objects to be achieved.
In accordance with the objects of the invention, a device having two laterally disposed buoyant bags, a front adjustable belt connected to both laterally disposed buoyant bags, and a rear adjustable belt connected to both laterally disposed buoyant bags. Together, the front adjustable belt and the rear adjustable belt encircle a swimmer's waist while worn attached by front and back adjustable belts. The buoyant bags could be inflatable or made from a buoyant substance such as polystyrene foam or wood. A first of the buoyant bags has a buckle or snap attachment that can be placed in the front for adults or in the back for children. A second of the buoyant bags can be adjustable and made not to detach. “Made not to detach” means that the second inflatable bag cannot detach during normal intended use and that the act of detaching would irreversibly alter the device until repaired by someone other than the user.
The device includes two, oval-shaped buoyant devices that may be inflatable or solid. The two, oval-shaped buoyant devices are deployed on a removable and adjustable belt circumscribing the body of the wearer. The buoyant devices are attached and positioned on the belt so as to remain on the sides of the body and in line with the long axis of the body, and maintain that position whether the body is in a horizontal position on the back, a horizontal position on the stomach or in a vertical position, without interfering with the free movement of the arms. The oval shape of the buoyant devices and the shape of the hinge that is responsible for attaching the buoyant devices to the belt are fashioned in such a way so as to resist torsion, assuring that the buoyant devices do not twist or turn and are always remain positioned in line with the long axis of the body no matter the orientation of the body in the water, i.e., on the back, on the stomach or in a vertical position.
Extensive testing of non-swimming children and adults has shown a significant shortening in the time it takes beginners to acclimate to the water and learn to swim compared to other devices and training methods.
The inventor observed that, with minimal instruction, persons wearing this device actually teach themselves how to feel comfortable in the water and learn to swim.
The shape and configuration of the device enable the device to be used as a training device in other branches of aquatics such as hydrotherapy and aquatic meditation. In addition, the device has applications as a training tool for aquatic sports like water polo, synchronized swimming, and snorkeling.
In addition to swimmers, the device can be used by pets, particularly dogs, to help the pet to swim.
The device can be combined and integrated with swimming apparel. For example, the device can be included in a bathing suit, ultraviolet protective clothing, rash guard, or wetsuit.
Other features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a learn-to-swim training device, the invention is not limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing from the invention and the equivalents of the claims. However, the construction and method of operation of the invention together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below and is shown in the figures of the drawing.
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
As shown in
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 (
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.
Unless otherwise mentioned the reference numbers are used consistently throughout the figures.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/979,432, filed Feb. 21, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62979432 | Feb 2020 | US |
