SWIMMING TRAINING SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USE

A swimming training system is described herein that includes a vertical pillar connected to a horizontal sliding grooved bar with flexible rope or tether member to be tied to a swimmer's belt to provide float support while in the swimming crawl position. In a related embodiment, the training system is configured for portability and yet in another example embodiment the training system is configured to be permanently affixed to a large commercial swimming pool such as used in a fitness club. Not only can this system be used widely for beginners to learn how to swim but it can also be used by experienced swimmers who are seeking to improve their swimming technique or are using same to as a resistance training aid.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a swimming teaching aid and system that provides an elevated conveyor system to support a swimmer but allow free range of motion for a variety of swimming strokes.

In many common production lines and other assembly applications, workpieces are transported along an overhead rail, for instance a monorail. Motor-driven trolleys travel along the rail to and between various workstations. Electrical conductors can be provided along the rail to provide power. The carriages carry workpieces along the path defined by the rail for delivering the workpieces to the various workstations. However, there is no frame structure designed to support a swimmer in a pool.

Currently there are a number of solutions for teaching people how to swim. The most common way to teach people how to swim is to either use flotation devices or having someone hold the person up in the water. Some of these solutions attempt to make beginner swimmers feel more comfortable in the water, but these solutions are inconvenient and fail to meet the needs of the industry because small children and first time swimmers still need to have a person close by in the event something happens. Other solutions attempt to teach people to swim, such as holding a Sheppard's hook near the swimmer, but these solutions are similarly unable to meet the needs of the industry because they require one-on-one supervision, are typically uncomfortable and restrict the motion of a swimmer.

It would be desirable to have a system and device that allows beginning swimmers to feel safe even without one-on-one supervision. Additionally, it would be desirable to have a swimming training device that provides beginner swimmers to learn to swim away from the pool walls. Furthermore, it would be desirable to have a system that advanced swimmers can use for resistance training and to provide them the flexibility of practicing, training and/or exercising using all kinds of swimming technique and styles such as front crawl, backstroke, butterfly, and sidestroke.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention advantageously fills the aforementioned deficiencies by providing a swimming training system and device that includes a support frame which helps to promote safety and provides peace of mind to new swimmers. Since the swimming is recommended by exercise experts to enhance individual health, this invention will help those people who desire to learn how to swim while helping to lower some of the risk. One of the advantages of the swim training system described herein is that it will hold the user right at the surface level of the water, yet enable them to move up and down a designated lane in a pool to practice swimming.

In one example embodiment, a swimming training system includes vertical poles connected to a track which allows for a bracket assembly, attached to a flexible rope or tether (hereinafter a cable) to be tied to a swimmer's belt or harness to provide float support while in the swimming crawl position. In a related embodiment, the training system is configured for portability and yet in another example embodiment the training system is configured to be permanently or semi-permanently affixed to a large commercial swimming pool such as used in a fitness club. Not only can this system be used widely for beginners to learn how to swim but it can also be used by experienced swimmers who are seeking to improve their swimming technique or are using it as a resistance training aid.

Several advantages of the swimming trainer system and device described herein includes enabling gyms, schools and other places that have swimming lesson, reduce their payroll and liability insurance expenses because they can have a higher student to teacher ratio while increasing safety; allows for resistance training without the cost of expensive air pumping systems typically used by resistance trainers; and assists beginners to feel more at ease in the water

The invention described herein could also be used to advance aquatic sports. In one example a new sport is contemplated that provides different weights or different resistance connected to the swimmer harness. In another related embodiment the swimming training device includes a monitor (electronic and/or manual; wireless and/or wired) that will display various forces or measures from each individual swimmer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one example embodiment, there is disclosed a swimming training system10configured for use with a pool that includes a steel (or other metal such as aluminum or plastic) pillar or pole fixed on the ground. Referring now toFIGS. 1-2which illustrate a perspective view of two embodiments disclosed herein. The swimming training system10generally includes a support frame15and a bracket assembly20. Bracket assembly20further comprises a roller25and a brace portion30. The swimming training system10is configurable to be erected adjacent a swimming pool to allow for a person to improve their swimming mechanics.

Referring now toFIG. 1, where support frame15structure is illustrated with a plurality of tracks35, poles40and pillars45. In at least this example embodiment support frame15is configured to be positioned over a swimming pool. Although one of ordinary skill in the art would readily understand the variety of means to secure support frame15to a position adjacent a swimming pool, a removable securement means is preferred. Still referring toFIG. 1, pillar45has a terminal end46which is connected to support plate50. As illustrated, support plate50is coupled to terminal end46by known means, such as welding or mechanical fastening. Support plate50may further include apertures to allow securement means such as bolts (not shown) to removeably couple support frame to surfaces in and around the swimming pool. It should be appreciated that track35is positioned in manner that will allow continuity with swimming lanes, if such configuration is desired.

Referring now toFIG. 2which illustrates support frame15with a single track35affixed to a plurality of poles40and pillars45. As described above, pillars45have a terminal end46which is connected to support plate50. Support plate50may further include apertures to allow securement means to removeably couple support frame15to surfaces in and around the swimming pool.

Support frame15may be any number of shapes and configurations suitable for supporting the load of a swimmer or swimmers when in use. The support frame15materials are conventional and well known to those skilled in the art. The support frame15generally includes at least one track35and a plurality of poles40which are used to form the support matrix to attach track35.

Referring now toFIGS. 1-4, which depict track35that is substantially perpendicular to poles40. As best shown inFIG. 3, track35can be arranged through appropriate configuration of at least one sidewall60and a support platform65. Support platform65may further comprise flange55defining a channel or slot therebetween. In the preferred embodiment, sidewall(s)60can be part of a channel to support bracket assembly20along a substantial portion of the longitudinal length track35. In one example embodiment a side elevation view would illustrate a U-shaped channel defining a path of travel for the swimmer training system10. Support platform65can be any desired cross-sectional configuration. In a preferred embodiment, the support platform65includes a surface engaged with an exterior surface of each roller25. Preferably, the support platform65is in the form of an elongate member extending along a substantial portion of the longitudinal length of the corresponding track35.

The addition of the flange55in combination with the support platform65and the generally complementary surface on the exterior of the roller25provides a self righting function to bracket assembly20as it moves along the long-axis of track35. In other words, any side to side motion caused by a swimmer attached to swimming training system10that deviates from a generally parallel orientation with track35will not cause track35to become dislodged from support frame15.

Referring now toFIGS. 3-5bracket assembly20generally comprises a plurality of rollers25that are rotatably mounted to a brace portion30. As best shown inFIG. 5, rollers25may pass through an aperture84adjacent a terminal end46of brace portion30. Rollers25in fixed locations spaced along the path of travel. Referring specifically toFIG. 3-5, bracket assembly20is shown with rollers25and a brace portion30. Brace portion30is configured to provide structural support between rollers25. Brace portion30may optionally include an additional attachment appendage80to allow for easily attaching additional securement means to bracket assembly20. As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, appendage80allows for a carabineer83to be readily attached before a swimmer begins training In order to further describe the purpose of the bracket assembly20, an elongate cable (not shown) is attached at one terminal end46to attachment appendage80or carabineer83. At the other opposed end, the cable is coupled to a harness, further described below, to allow for a swimmer to be secured to swimming training system10.

Referring now toFIG. 6, which illustrates an alternative embodiment of swimming training system10. In at least this example embodiment, swimming training system10generally includes a base85and a boom90. Base85is constructed in a manner that includes a generally planar bottom surface to be placed adjacent a pool. Base85may further comprises a non-skid surface (not shown) to prevent swimming training system10from being easily moved along a surface when in use. Similar to the description above, base85may also include support plates or apertures to allow for removeably securing base85to the surface adjacent a pool.

A boom90generally includes a proximal end100and a distal end105. Boom90is positioned in a manner to extend outwardly and upwardly from base85when in use. Proximal end100is coupled to base85which may further comprise a hinge95affixed to the bottom of the boom90which will facilitate adjusting the height of proximal end100and the angle at which boom90is positioned. The distal end105includes a cable roller110which helps to conveniently store cable75when not in use. Cable75is attached to swimming training system10on one terminal end115and the opposed terminal end120is attached to a harness70.

Referring now toFIG. 7, which depicts another exemplary embodiment of swimming training system10that generally includes a pair of pillars45that are positioned on the opposing longitudinal ends of a cable roller110which helps to conveniently store cable75when not in use. Similar to aforementioned embodiments, cable75is attached to swimming training system10on one terminal end115and the opposed terminal end120is attached to a harness70. This example embodiment may further include pillars45connected to support plate50. Support plate50may further include apertures to allow securement means to removeably couple support plate50to surfaces in and around the swimming pool.

Cable75generally provides elastic resistance to the user and can be comprised of several materials known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, a list of non-limiting materials includes rubber, plastics and nylon materials. Cable75will typically be comprised of a single unitary body. One terminal portion of cable75is connected to harness70where the opposing terminal end46is coupled to swimming training system10.

Harness70is attached to a terminal portion of cable75through known means. The attachment means may include an adjustment feature to allow for quick adjustment before a swimmer enters the pool when the distance between harness70and bracket assembly20is to remain substantially constant (i.e.FIGS. 1 and 2). Conversely, the terminal end46of cable75may be coupled to harness70without an adjustment means, when the distance between cable roller110and harness70will vary when a swimmer is training (i.e.FIGS. 6 and 7). It should be appreciated that having a means to adjust harness70width will allow for a system that is adapted to be used for a variety of sized of midlines of the user. To state another way, harness70is structured in manner to fit the user, in most instances, regardless of the person's physical build. The adjustment could include any number of fastening mechanisms, such as hook and loop fasteners or a buckle. In a preferred embodiment, the use of a fastening mechanism will be substantially water resistant to avoid rust or deterioration over extended time and use.

Harness70is generally a semi-stretchable belt of suitable width and preferably-made of canvas, neoprene or another material that will securely fix around the midline of a swimmer. Harness70may optionally include suspenders (not shown) to prevent harness70from slipping when swimming training system10is in use. Harness70may also include a floatation material to allow added buoyancy to a user.

When in use, at least the example embodiments inFIGS. 6 and 7provide a means of releasing cable75to allow a swimmer to move without incurring any additional pull except for the frictional relationship of the cable75being pulled from cable roller110. However, swimming training system10may also include a resistance means to increase and decrease resistance on the cable75to provide the swimmer with increased force while swimming.

Alternatively, the cable roller110may also include a retraction means to provide an opposing force while swimmer is training This type of retraction means may also be utilized to retract cable75back on cable roller110to help facilitate preparing the swimming train system10for storage. Although not wanting to be bound by any particular theory, the retraction means could be initiated by pushing a button or lever, similar to mechanisms on a variety of vacuum cleaners. Alternatively, cord could be manually retracted with a crank-style mechanism.

When in use swimming training system10may be used for a number of swimming applications. In one example use, swimming training system10may be used to facilitate a swimming class to help beginners and intermediate swimmers gain confidence in swimming away from the wall, as is classically done in introductory swimming classes.

Additionally, swimming training system10also allows for an instructor to reduce liability of an inadvertent drowning when students are attached to swimming training system10. In another example method of use swimming training system10may be used to help train swimmers by increasing resistance on a cable attached to a swimmer thereby increasing the amount of force a swimmer must use to achieve a goal (i.e. time. distance, etc.).

ComparingFIGS. 1 and 2, the various embodiments illustrated may be more useful depending on the type of swimming area used in combination with swimming training system10. For example,FIG. 1describes an embodiment which is configured to cover a substantial portion of a large or commercial sixed swimming pool. However, this embodiment could also be configured in a manner to facilitate swimmers in a residential swimming pool.

Alternatively,FIG. 2, illustrating a one-track swimming training system10is configurable for use in a personal or small pool. Additionally, this embodiment may be used to allow for large commercial pools to only occupy a single lane to allow for other swimmers, not using swimming training system10to utilize the facilities.