Abstract:
A swimming aid including a lower torso buoyancy device to be worn by the user which will impart buoyancy to the lower torso of the user. The lower torso buoyancy device is attached to and part of a rigid frame which is held onto the back of the user particularly at the lower torso and at the shoulders to enable the lower torso to be lifted and oriented to place the user in a good position for swimming.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field of Invention 
     The present invention concerns a swimming aid for use by persons who swim in man made bodies of water, in rivers, lakes or the sea. 
     Discussion of Related Art 
     A number of flotation devices are known for use by swimmers, practically all of which are simply floats which prevent a person from sinking and possibly drowning and which have the drawback of hindering free movement of a swimming person. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The center of gravity of a human body in water is shifted to the lower portion of the body because of the specific gravity of the lungs. Existing flotation devices increase the buoyancy of the upper part of the body causing the body to be maintained in essentially a vertical position. 
     It is the object of the invention to provide a device which while acting as a float does permit free movement of a swimmer&#39;s arms and legs. The primary advantage of the swimming aid is to readjust the center of gravity of a body in water to the midsection of the body which makes it easier for a swimmer to maintain a horizontal position in the water. 
     Existing flotation devices attach to the widest part of the body and have a large surface area which dramatically increases the surface resistance to movement in water. An additional advantage of the present invention is that it provides a buoyancy equivalent to the inventions in the prior art, but with a hydrodynamically designed shape which lessens the surface resistance of the device. This allows a person wearing the swimming aid to proceed through the water with greater ease and speed compared to a swimmer wearing various existing flotation devices. 
     The invention is particularly useful in aiding long distance swimmers by increasing their buoyancy and maintaining their horizontal position in the water thereby reducing the amount of energy which has to be expended in order to proceed in the water to reach a distant target point. The swimming aid allows the swimmer to rest when becoming tired. 
     Another advantage of the device is its use as an aid in teaching persons how to swim because the support the swimming aid gives to the body and the absence of any danger of sinking helps to alleviate the beginner&#39;s anxiety. An additional advantage is that the device will be useful in hydrotherapy in supporting the patient&#39;s body in the water and making therapeutic manipulations easier. 
     According to the invention the new device comprises a vest fabricated from a flexible material comprising front and rear sections with an aperture the edges of which, when the swimming aid is worn, extend around the neck of the wearer. Upper and lower crosswise extending stiffening members extend outward from a downward extending rod. A float extends from the lower end of the rod said float being angularly disposed to the longitudinal axis of said rod. The back of the vest is connected to the upper section of the upper crosswise extending stiffening member by quick releasing connecting means. Straps attached to the side sections of the upper crosswise extending stiffening member extend under the armpits and are connected to straps attached on the front sides of the vest by quick releasing connecting means securing the vest to the upper body. Straps attached to the side sections of the lower crosswise extending stiffening member are connected to straps attached to the front sides of the vest at waist level by quick releasing connecting means securing the vest to the midsection of the body. Straps attached to the lower section of the lower crosswise extending stiffening member pass between the legs under the crotch of the wearer and are connected to straps on the lower front section of the vest by quick releasing connecting means firmly securing the swimming aid to the body. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the swimming aid. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the vest. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the upper and lower crosswise extending stiffening members, the attached straps, the rod and the attached float. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the upper and lower crosswise extending stiffening members, the rod and the attached float. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings the primary embodiment and best mode for carrying out the invention is shown in FIG. 1 in a perspective view. 
     FIG. 2 shows a plan view of vest 2 of a generally rectangular shape cut inward in an arcuate pattern 3 where the vest lies over the shoulders of the wearer said vest 2 being fabricated from a flexible material. The material is folded double to form longer front section 4 which extends to the waist and shorter rear section 6 which extends to just below the shoulders. An oblong section is cut from the material near the end forming aperture 8 through which the head of the wearer is inserted. Pairs of straps are sewably attached to the edges of vest 2 on front section 4 and rear section 6. Quick releasing connecting means 12 are attached to the free ends of each strap. 
     Vertical back straps 10 are attached to vest 2 at the lower edge 11 of rear section 6 over the right and left shoulders. Lateral upper body straps 14 are attached to the right side edge 13 and left side edge 15 of front section 4 of vest 2 just under the arm pits. Lateral waist straps 16 are attached to the right side edge 13 and left side edge 15 near the bottom of front section 4. 
     The stiffening member 20 is designated the upper stabilizing means; the stiffening member 32 is designated the lower stabilizing means; the rod 30 extending between the upper stabilizing member 20, the lower stabilizing member 32 and the buoyancy device 42 rigidly connects these elements. Vertical crotch straps 18 are attached at both sides of the lower edge 17 of front section 4. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the attachment of upper and lower crosswise extending stiffening members 20 and 32 and float 42 to rod 30. Downward extending rod 30 is attached to upper crosswise extending stiffening member 20. Lower crosswise extending stiffening member 32 is attached to rod 30. Float 42 is attached at the lowermost end of rod 30. Crosswise extending stiffening members 20 and 32, rod 30 and float 42 may be conveniently fabricated from low density metal, plastic or wood. 
     Upper crosswise extending stiffening member 20 has a generally rectangular shape comprising two U shaped structures attached to rod 30. The length of the longer side is the shoulder width of an average human torso; the length of the shorter side is about one third the length of the longer side. The upper horizontal section 22 of upper crosswise extending stiffening member 20 is straight for a short distance from the outer edge then curved slightly downward to the center. The lower horizontal section 24 of upper crosswise extending stiffening member 20 is straight. The inside surface of upper crosswise extending stiffening member 20 may be padded for comfort. Vertical back straps 26 with quick releasing connecting means 12 at the free ends are securely attached at shoulder width to upper horizontal section 22 of upper crosswise extending stiffening member 20. Lateral upper body straps 28 with quick releasing connecting means 12 at the free ends are securely attached to the right and left side sections 25 of upper crosswise extending stiffening member 20. 
     The lower crosswise extending stiffening member 32 has a proportionally smaller rectangular shape than upper crosswise extending stiffening member 20 comprising two U shaped structures attached to rod 30. Lateral waist straps 38 with quick releasing connecting means 12 at the free ends are securely attached to the right and left side sections 34 of lower crosswise extending stiffening member 32. Vertical crotch straps 40 with quick releasing connecting means 12 at the free ends are securely attached to lower section 36 of lower crosswise extending stiffening member 32. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of upper and lower crosswise stiffening members 20 and 32, rod 30 and float 42 showing float 42 disposed angularly to the longitudinal axis of rod 30 whereby float 42 does not interfere with the leg motion of a swimmer. Float 42 comprises a hollow cylinder rounded at the end. Float 42 may be filled with a buoyant gas or with a low density buoyant solid filler. 
     In using the swimming aid back straps 10 and 26 are connected by quick releasing connecting means 12 thereby connecting vest 2 to upper crosswise extending stiffening member 20. The wearer places the head through aperture 8 and connects lateral upper body straps 14 and 28 by quick releasing connecting means 12 securing the swimming aid to the upper body. Lateral waist straps 16 and 38 are connected by quick releasing connecting means 12 securing the swimming aid to the mid section of the body. Upper crosswise extending stiffening member 20 rest against the back just below the shoulders and lower crosswise extending stiffening member 32 rests on the lower back. Vertical crotch straps 40 are passed between the legs under the crotch and connected to vertical crotch straps 18 by quick releasing connecting means 12 firmly securing the swimming aid to the body of the wearer. The swimmer may now enter the water and swim safely with the knowledge he will not sink or be in danger of drowning. 
     In another embodiment front section 4 of vest 2 is divided longitudinally down the center from the front edge of orifice 8 to the lower edge of front section 4. The edges formed by said division are releasably connectable, for example by a zipper as shown at 44 in FIG. 2. 
     The invention being thus described it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.