Swimming exercise and training apparatus

The swimming and training apparatus comprises: PA0 a base disposed on a supporting surface for the apparatus, PA0 an upper body support arrangement secured to the base frame having a generally horizontal position capable of side to side rolling motion along its longitudinal axis and up and down tilt along its latitudinal axis at the point of attachment to the frame base, PA0 levers secured to the upper body support arrangement on both sides of the upper body support at the forward section in a manner to receive the users hands and arms and capable of simulating different swimming stroke styles, PA0 a head support attached to the fore section of the upper body support, PA0 levers secured to the aft section of the upper body support arrangement capable of receiving the users legs and by moving the legs simulating swimming leg kicks.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
The present invention relates to exercise apparatus and more particularly 
relates to an improved swimming exercise and training apparatus which can 
provide a strength and endurance workout while simulating movement of a 
person swimming in water. 
Sports trainers and sport physiologists agree that performing an actual 
exercise is the most beneficial way to train and exercise. 
Swimming is one of the most efficient forms of exercise since it involves 
almost all the body muscle groups and is one of the safest forms of 
exercise as it creates the least impact on the body. 
Swimming exercises also provide a highly aerobic and cardiovascular regime 
to a person while minimizing risk of injuries that are more common in 
other forms of exercises like running or jumping or weight lifting. 
Swimming exercise and training apparatus are described in prior art as 
represented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,513 issued on October 1992 to Mitchell 
P. Reeves and U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,363 issued on May 1989 to Robert J. 
Kennedy and various U.S. patents refered to in these patents. 
The prior art swimming and training apparatus enable the user to 
approximate the kick movement of the legs and the stroke movement of the 
arms and the side to side roll of the body however, they fail to provide 
an arrangement that would enable the user to at least approximate the 
dolphin like motion of the body that occurs during the butterfly stroke 
swimming style. 
Also the leg motion is limited to a straight up and down vertical plane. 
The present invention object is to provide an improved swimming and 
training apparatus enabling the user to simulate the dolphin like motion, 
the side to side rolling motion, and the movement of the legs in several 
directions with correspondence to the roll of the body. 
The present invention also provides means to adjust the resistance of each 
lever independently and also provide resistance throughout the whole 
motion. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a swimming 
exercise and training apparatus. 
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved swimming and 
training apparatus. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved swimming 
exercise and training apparatus enabling the user to approximate the tilt 
movement simulating the dolphin motion used in the butterfly swimming 
style. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved swimming 
exercise and training apparatus enabling the user to simulate leg kicks as 
they would occur in the water in several directions in correspondence to 
the roll of the upper part of the body. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved swimming 
exercise and training apparatus enabling the user to adjust the tension of 
each lever independently. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved swimming 
exercise and training apparatus enabling the user to benefit from the 
tension resistance throughout the full motion of the levers without losing 
the resistance on the return of the arm strokes and leg kicks motion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
In the following description similar features in the drawing were given 
similar numerals. 
Referring to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a swimming exercise and training 
in accordance with the present invention. 
The apparatus comprises a base means(11) disposed on a supporting surface, 
a telescopic vertical adjustable support means including a support 
sleeve(13) into which a support insert(15) is inserted in a manner to 
enable adjustment of the hight in relation to the base. A horizontal 
support sleeve(33) as in FIG. 2 connected to the support insert(15) by 
means of a pin(17) which is inserted into corresponding holes in the 
support insert(15) and the connecting half round tilt plate(21) in a 
manner to permit an up and down limited tilt of the horizontal support 
sleeve the limiting means being flexible such as rubber or spring this 
embodiment allows the user to simulate the dolphin like movement. 
A horizontal roll shaft which has an aft section(23) a fore section(27) 
telescopically attached in a manner to permit length adjustment of the 
shaft, inserted into the horizontal support sleeve(33) in a manner to 
permit axial roll inside the horizontal support sleeve(33), a limiting 
means is attached to the horizontal roll shaft to absorb impact and limit 
the roll. 
The tilt can be eliminated if so desired by inserting a tilt stopping 
pin(19) in a corresponding holes in the support insert(15) and connecting 
tilt half round plate(21). 
The roll can be eliminated if so desired by inserting a roll stopping 
pin(25) in corresponding holes in the horizontal support sleeve(33) and 
the horizontal roll shaft (23), (27). 
A waist support pad(35) attached to an attachment plate(29) which is 
attached to the aft section of the roll shaft(23) behind a chest support 
pad(37) which is attached to an attachment plate(31) which is attached to 
the roll shaft fore section(27). 
An attachment bar(41) attached to the fore section of the chest support 
pad. 
A head support (39) attached to the attachment bar(41) and capable of 
limited axial rotation. 
An adjustable resistance ball joint assembly(36)attached to the right side 
of the attachment bar(41) and another one attached to the left side of the 
attachment bar(41). 
Referring to FIG. 3 the adjustable resistance ball joint assembly comprises 
a ball(360), a connecting pin(361), a ball housing upper part(362), a ball 
housing lower part(363), ball housing bolts(364), ball housing nuts(365), 
the interior of the ball housing may be lined with a friction inducing 
means such as used in automobile brakes, the resistance can be adjusted 
tightening the nuts(365). 
A pair of arm lever assemblies are connected to the adjustable resistance 
ball joint assembly(36)by means of the connecting pin(361) to the right 
and left of the attachment bar(41), this embodiment permits the user to 
move his arms rotatably in several dimensions and have resistance 
throughout the whole movement. 
Referring to FIG. 4 the arm lever assembly comprises a hand grip(450) 
attached to a flexible coupling, in this embodiment a ball joint(451) 
which is attached to the arm lever fore section(452) which is 
telescopically attached to the arm lever aft section(453) in a manner to 
permit the length adjustment of the arm lever assembly(45). 
An attachment bar(43)attached to the aft section of the roll shaft(23) to 
which adjustable resistance ball joints are attached to the right side and 
the left side. 
A pair of leg lever assemblies(47) are connected to the ball joint 
assemblies in a manner to permit the user to move his legs up and down in 
several dimensions in correspondence to the upper body roll. 
Referring to FIG. 4 the leg lever assembly comprises a roll cushion(49) 
attached to the aft section of the leg lever assembly(472) in a spaced 
relationship to permit the users calf between the roll cushion(49) and the 
leg lever(47), an aft section(472) telescopically attached to the leg 
lever fore section(471) in a manner to permit the length adjustment of the 
leg lever assembly(47). 
A thigh support pad(473)attached to the leg lever fore section 
A calf support pad attached to the leg lever aft section. 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 a right strap(64) and a left strap(66) are 
provided to permit the user to secure his body to the apparatus. 
Referring to FIG. 5 another embodiment of the tilt and roll mechanism is 
presented comprising 
a support insert(50) attached to a ball upper housing(52) which together 
enclose a tilt and roll support ball(56) which is attached to a horizontal 
shaft (54). 
This embodiment permits tilt and roll in several dimensions. 
The tilt movement can be eliminated if so desired by inserting pin(62) in 
corresponding holes in the upper housing(52) and in tilt and roll 
ball(56). 
The roll movement can be eliminated if so desired by inserting pin (60) in 
corresponding holes in the upper housing(52) and in tilt and roll ball.