Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a device and method for allowing a swimmer to swim in place comprising using a device with a swimmer attachment element adapted to fit over a part of the swimmers body, an anchor attachment element connected to the swimmer attachment element and adapted to attach to an anchor, said anchor configured to immovably absorb the forward thrust of a swimmer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to swimming equipment and more particularly to devices and methods for swimming in place in a pool or other body of water. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Swimming is an enjoyable activity that is an effective form of exercise that allows you to exercise your whole body at once. Swimming improves heart health, muscle strength, endurance, posture, and flexibility. Getting access however, to a suitable location for exercise swimming can be problematic. Exercise club memberships are one way to get access to a pool, but they require expensive monthly fees. Cost and space considerations are generally prohibitive for private ownership of pools large enough and suitable for swimming. Moreover, some people prefer the look of an ornamental shaped pool that is not generally suitable for exercise swimming because their often-times irregular shape does not provide enough room to complete enough full strokes to allow for an effective workout. Lakes and rivers are often not safe for exercise swimming due to the collision risk with a boat or the risk of interfering with other aquatic activity. Even careful boaters can have a difficult time spotting a swimmer far from shore. 
         [0003]    Thus, there exists a need in the art for increasing access to exercise swimming. In particular there is a need for allowing exercise swimming in smaller, more affordable pools, or ornamental pools. There also exists a need in the art to allow safer swimming in lakes and rivers. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present disclosure, relates to a tether system or device that allows a swimmer to swim in place when secured to a dock, a poolside anchor, or some other fixed anchor. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment the device comprises a swimmer attachment element adapted to fit over a part of the swimmers body, an anchor attachment element connected to the swimmer attachment element and adapted to attach to an anchor, said anchor configured to immovably absorb the forward thrust of a swimmer. 
         [0006]    A method of swimming in place comprises attaching an anchor attachment element to a stationary anchor, said stationary anchor adapted to absorb the forward motion of the swimmer and attaching a swimmer attachment element to a body part of the swimmer, wherein the swimmer attachment element is connected to the anchor attachment element. 
         [0007]    While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. As will be realized, the various embodiments of the present disclosure are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as forming the various embodiments of the present disclosure, it is believed that the embodiments will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Figures, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tether system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the anti-entanglement mechanism according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the tether system attached to a user while in use according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is chart detailing the steps of the method of use of the tether system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the tether system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the tether system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the tether system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous swimming equipment and methods. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous apparatus and methods for allowing a swimmer to swim in place. 
         [0017]    The purpose of the present disclosure is to allow for a swimmer to be able to swim in place. One particular usage is to allow exercise swimming in a smaller pool. The present disclosure may also be used to allow safer swimming in larger bodies of water which must be shared with power boats or other watersports activities by keeping the swimmer attached to a large visible object, such as a swim dock. The present disclosure may also be used to assist or aid children in learning to swim. Thus the benefits of swimming may be enjoyed by a wider variety of people as exercise swimming can now be done in smaller pools or in lakes as the danger of being run over by a boat is lessened. The present disclosure is appropriately configured for use with a variety of swimming strokes including but not limited to breast stroke, side stroke, crawl and back stroke. The present disclosure could also be used for various physical therapy applications to strengthen muscles while avoiding stress to the joints. 
         [0018]    One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a tether system. The tether system has a swimmer attachment element that attaches to the swimmer, and an anchor attachment element that attaches to a sufficiently stationary object. A swimmer is therefore allowed to swim in place because the forward thrust of the swimmer is transferred from the swimmer to the tether through the swimmer attachment element and ultimately to the stationary object or anchor through the anchor attachment element. Another embodiment of the tether system has a mechanism that prevents entanglement and twisting of the swimmer attachment element in relation to the anchor attachment element. 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment  100  of a tether system can include a swimmer attachment element  110 , an anchor attachment element  120 , an anti-entanglement element  130 , and a connecting element  140 . 
         [0020]    The swimmer attachment element  110  can be any method of securely attaching the tether system to the swimmer. The swimmer attachment element  110  can be configured to secure to any part of the swimmer&#39;s body. It is configured to securely hold the swimmer against the forces of the swimming motion and remain attached to the swimmer despite the related jostling that invariably takes place as the swimmer moves in place. 
         [0021]    The swimmer attachment element  110  according to one embodiment as shown in  FIG. 1  can be a simple loop adapted to slip around a swimmer&#39;s ankle. It can be connected to the anchor connecting element  120 , the anti-entanglement element  130  or the connecting element  140  at one end of the loop. As shown, it is connected to the connecting element  140 . It can include a method that allows the loop to increase and decrease in size. An increase in size can be desirable to allow the comfortable placement of the swimmer attachment element  110  around the ankle of the swimmer. The decrease in size can be desirable to prevent the swimmer attachment element  110  from slipping off the ankle of the swimmer when swimming. The swimmer attachment element  110  can be designed so as to allow the swimmer to easily escape if desired by configuring the loop size to be quickly increasable, thereby providing a means of escape. The swimmer attachment element  110  can also be designed and configured for attachment at other parts of the swimmer&#39;s body such as the torso, arm, shoulders, hips, or any combination thereof. 
         [0022]    The swimmer attachment element  110  according to one embodiment can be made of any durable, strong, and flexible material, such as a nylon strap. The swimmer attachment element  110  can be padded to resist and avoid chafing of the swimmer&#39;s leg. While the swimmer attachment element  110  of  FIG. 1  is shown with a hook and loop fastener  115  to allow the loop to increase and decrease in size, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other systems can be used. Such systems can include, but are not limited to buckles, buttons, and simple knots. 
         [0023]    The anchor attachment element  120  can be any method of securely attaching the tether system to a secure object so as to provide for the transfer and absorption of the forward thrust of the swimmer, keeping the swimmer in place. 
         [0024]    The anchor attachment element  120  according to one embodiment as shown in  FIG. 1  can be a loop with one end connected to the swimmer attachment element  110 , or in one embodiment, the anti-entanglement element  130  or the connecting element  140 . The anchor attachment element  120  allows the secure anchoring of the tether and transfers the force of the swimmer to the anchor point. The anchor can be anything securely anchored in place such as a dock post, a handle bar, a pole, or a swim dock. The anchor attachment element  120  can either be slipped over the anchor, or knotted to the anchor such as by wrapping the looped end around the anchor and pulling the tether through the loop of the anchor attachment element  120  creating a knot. Other methods of attachment can be used including but not limited to hook and loop fasteners, buckles, clasps, and permanent connections such as sewn connections. According to one embodiment, the anchor attachment element  120  can be any durable, strong, and flexible material such as a nylon strap. It can be made of the same material as the swimmer attachment element  110  or the connecting element, but also can be of a different material. 
         [0025]    An anti-entanglement element can be included in the tether system and can be any device or method that prevents tangling of the swimmer attachment element  110  with respect to the anchor attachment element  120 . This allows for a more natural movement of the swimmer and allows for less time spent detangling the tether system. 
         [0026]    The anti-entanglement element  130  according to one embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  can have two substantially looped metal rings  132  and  134  with an I-pin  136  swivably connecting them. This may allow the swimmer attachment element  110  and the connecting element  140  to move and swivel with respect to the anchor attachment element  120  and allow the tether to be substantially tangle-free. The shape of the anti-entanglement metal rings also allows movement of the connecting element  120  and the anchor attachment element  120  with respect to the I-pin and center of the anti-entanglement element  130 . This is because the connecting element  140  can freely slip around the circumference of the metal ring, bounded on both sides by the connection of the two metal rings by the I-pin, and likewise, the anchor attachment end can do the same. This allows a greater degree of uninhibited swimming motion. 
         [0027]    Alternatively, the anti-entanglement element can be a ball and socket joint or any other anti-entanglement means known in the art. The anti-entanglement element  130  can be made of plastic, metal, galvanized or corrosion resistant or coated metals, stainless steel, fiberglass, carbon fiber, or other suitable material. 
         [0028]    A connecting element  140  can be included in the tether system and is configured to provide a distance between the swimmer attachment element  110  and the anchor attachment element  120 , or to provide a distance between the anti-entanglement element  130  and the swimmer attachment and/or anchor attachment elements if the device includes the anti-entanglement element. One benefit of the connecting element in such a case would be to prevent the anti-entanglement element  130  or anchor attachment element  120  from interfering with the natural motion of the swimmer, and/or provide more distance between the anchor and the swimmer. 
         [0029]    As shown in one embodiment in  FIG. 1 , the connecting element  140  can be a simple straight section approximately  16  inches in length, but longer or shorter embodiments are contemplated. Particularly, the size of the connecting element  140  can be fixed based on the physical attributes of the swimmer to enable a more comfortable feel. 
         [0030]    The connecting element  140  can also be adjustable by the swimmer through various means known in the art such as hook and loop fasteners, buckles, loops, knots and the like. This can allow for complete adjustability of the connecting element in particular, and of the swim tether in general. According to one embodiment, the connecting element can be made of any durable, strong, and flexible material, such as a nylon strap. It can be made of the same material as the swimmer attachment element  110 , or the anchor attachment element  120 , but also can be of a different material. The tether in some embodiments can exclude the connecting element  140 . 
         [0031]    Additional embodiments can feature an additional connecting element positioned between the anchor attachment element  120  and the anti-entanglement element  130 . This additional connecting element can be of a fixed or adjustable length. 
         [0032]    A particular embodiment and its attachment and use are illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The swimmer attachment element  110  is increased in size and slipped over the swimmer&#39;s ankle in step  401 , preferably the ankle on the side of the swimmer in which the anchor attachment element  120  will be attached to an anchor, but nothing prevents attaching it to the other ankle. The swimmer attachment element  110  is then decreased in size, attaching the tether. The anchor attachment element  120  is attached to a stationary anchor in step  402 . After both the swimmer attachment element  110  and the anchor attachment element  120  are attached, the swimmer swims in place in step  403 . When the swimmer is done, both the swimmer attachment element  110  can be removed by increasing the loop size, and the anchor attachment element  120  can be removed by un-attaching it from the anchor in steps  404  and  405 , thus allow the swimmer to be free of attachment to either the tether or the anchor. The exact order of which part is attached first and detached first is not important and either the swimmer attachment element  110  or the anchor attachment element  120  can either be attached or detached first without departing from the scope of this invention. 
         [0033]    Another embodiment  200  as shown in  FIG. 5 , can feature a second swimmer attachment element  150  that would attach to the other ankle of the swimmer to balance the resistive forces of the tether to allow for a more natural feel as the thrusting force of the swimmer is more evenly absorbed. This embodiment can also feature another connecting element  160  between the anti-entanglement element  170  and the second swimmer attachment element. The anti-entanglement element  170  can then be adapted to connect two separate swimmer attachment elements, and yet allow for independent swivelling and movement between the two swimmer attachment elements and the anchor attachment element. 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  shows an embodiment  300  of the invention without the anti-entanglement device, and knotted around a pole. 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  shows another embodiment  400  of the device with a second swimmer attachment element  150  that attaches to the other ankle of the swimmer and a second connecting element  160 , but unlike  FIG. 5  does not include the anti-entanglement element  170 . This version further includes a connecting brace  180  for distributing forces and providing increased support. 
         [0036]    Further embodiments can include attachable flotation devices to assist in the swimmer staying above water. This can be particularly useful when training children to swim for example. The flotation devices can be secured to any part of the tether system by means of an additional rope or connection between the flotation device and the tether system. 
         [0037]    Although the various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to preferred embodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.