IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO DIVING AIDS

Abstract: A diving and swimming aid comprises a roller (27) which may be diabolo shaped and which is mounted for rotation in two side frames 14 secured to a surrounded 11 of a swimming pool. A user can stand on the pool surround surface 12, lean on the roller 27; the rotation of the roller 27 helps to carry the user into the water 10. The height and fore-and-aft position of the roller can be adjusted by bolts 29, 24 engaging in slots 20, 19 and the roller axis 26 can be placed in selected slot 25. There may be several rollers 27. The roller 27 can be replaced by an endless belt rotatable on spaced rollers, one of which can be adjustable to vary the angle of descent of a user.

Description: This invention relates to diving aids. It is known from US-A-1586222 to provide a first rotatable member carried in a predetermined position by a support for mounting in relation to water. A user can lie on the rotatable member and be carried head-first into the water. The user enters the water in a near-vertical position. According to this invention a diving aid comprises a first rotatable member carried in a predetermined position by a support for mounting in relation to water characterized in that at least one further rotatable member is carried in a predetermined position by the support such that rotation of the first and the at least one further rotatable members carries a user on the members in a path which is inclined forwards and downwards from the first to the at least one further rotatable member. With this arrangement a user enters the water at an angle inclined to the water. The first and/or the at least one further rotatable member may be adjustable as to height and/ or fore-and-aft in relation to the support. An endless member may extend round the first and the at least one further rotatable members, the upper length of the endless member defining the path. The invention may be performed in various ways and some specific embodiments with possible modifications will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of one arrangement; Fig. 2 to 6 are side views of other embodiments; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another arrangement. In the arrangement of Fig.1, larger and smaller cylindrical rollers 50, 51 rotatable on axes 52, 53 in frame 57 respectively are linked by an endless belt 54 extending around them. The upper stretch 55 of the belt may have additional support between members 50, 51 in the form of a roller 56 rotatable also in frame 57 which is disposed at both ends of the rollers. The frame 57 is secured to the surface 12 of a pool surround 11. In use a person stands or kneels on the surface 12 and leans forward until his torso, preferably the stomach or chest, engages on the belt 54 which thus in part supports him. The user then moves himself forward, possibly by pushing on the surface 12 or by pulling or pushing on frame 57 and moves gently forwards as belt 54 rotates to carry the user head first into the water 10. In some cases a helper may lift the user's legs and assist in moving him into the water. The user may himself control the speed at which he moves forward, and the height of the belt 54 can be adjusted as the user gains confidence. The method of use is with the user leaning on to the belt and moving forwards. The rollers can in some cases be adjusted up and down and/or fore and aft. The belt may for example be of rubber and may be stretched on to the rollers or be loose fit and may be soft or more rigid with padding for comfort. The belt 54 provides a rotatable member in that each part of the belt traverses a repeated path. In the various arrangements the rotatable members can move under the weight and thrust of user but alternatively or additionally, they may be moved (rotated) using a handle 60a accessible from the poolside or be power driven for example by electric motor 61. The sides of the aid or rotatable members may be encased for safety. In the embodiment of Fig. 2 there are two side frames 60 secured to the surround 12 and roller 51 is rotatably carried between arms 61 pivoted at 63 to the frames 60 and extending forwards. Releasable clamps 63 hold the arms 61 in selected positions of angular adjustment. The roller axle 52 can be located in a selected aperture or slot 52a and the roller axle 53 can be located in a selected slot or aperture 53a to provide for fore-and-aft and height adjustment. The length of endless belt 54 is adjusted as required. Pivoting of arms 61 enables the aid to be arranged for different angles of entry of the user into the water. In the embodiment of Fig.3 roller 50 is of increased diameter relative to the diameter of roller 51 to increase the speed of entry of a user into the water. Two rollers 56 are provided, together with height and fore-and-aft adjustment. In Fig. 7 two rollers 70, 71 with or without an associated endless belt 55, are each in more than one section (four as shown), the sections 70a, 71a being independently rotatable on respective axles 72, 73 supported in frames 60. The sections 70a, 71a, may have external padding and the rollers 70, 71 may be mounted for adjustment as above. In Fig. 4 is shown an embodiment comprising a stand 80 which may be secured to the floor 81 of the pool or be free standing or be held by an adult and may be near to or away from the pool side. Rollers 50, 51 are rotatable on axles supported in arm 82 which is fixed to, or pivotably mounted at 84 on, stand 80. Roller 50 could be rotatable by an assistant or teacher using handle 83. This embodiment is preferable for use by toddlers and could be located in a paddling pool or at the shallower end of a large pool. this embodiment may be preferable for disabled users to assist them to enter or leave the water if placed near the pool side; the belt could be ribbed to provide hand grips. The aid may be used in other locations adjacent water or at waters edge e.g. on rocks or canal banks, piers and either indoors or out of doors. The aid can be fixed or portable. The belt 55 if near the side will provide the link between poolside and water, it will be the half way stage and give the learner diver more control over his/her body movement as he/she enters the water. In the various belt arrangements the belt and rollers could have interengaging formations such as axial ribs 55a, 57a to provide a positive interconnection. When using the belt the diver rests his/her stomach on the centre of the belt with both feet still touching the poolside and leans over the belt with arms held over the head in a diving position. He/she then gently pushes from the poolside with the feet, this momentum turns the belt and the diver enters the water smoothly without discomfort. As the learner diver continues the process his/her confidence increases and the belt will then be gradually lowered until no longer needed. The rollers 56 could be mounted in protective casings 56a around the side frames rather than in the side frames. In. Fig. 4 the connection 84, which may be pivotal, could be adjustable up and down on stand 80 in apertures 80a. The base 80b of the stand 80 could be extended as at 80c so that an adult could stand on the base to hold the device in position in the pool whilst assisting a user of the aid. In one arrangement the aid framework is mounted on wheels for movement along the poolside and is provided with suction pads which may be foot operated for releasably holding the framework in a desired position. In a modification Fig.5 principally for use by adults and older children, the aid is secured on a ladder 90 whose sides form an inverted V so that the device can be located anywhere in the pool and a user climbs one side of the ladder to use the aid. The aid can be releasably mounted on the ladder sides for movement up and down dependent on the height of water for example. The aid could be releasably mounted in apertures on the sides of the ladder. The aid could be mounted on one side of a single upright ladder 91 mounted on a base 92 similar to base 80 and be adjustable up and down on the ladder. Fig. 6 shows an arrangement of a number of rotatable members 27 which are spaced and successively of lesser height and carried in support 14,15,16. There have been described arrangements, in which a body of water has adjacent its periphery rotatable members positioned so that a user may lean on to the members from the surround of the water and movement of the members moves the user forwards towards the water. There may be an endless element extending round two rotatable rollers. The members may be adjustable up and down and/or fore and aft. The member may be carried by two arms each connected between upper and lower members of two spaced supports. The arms may be adjustably connected to the upper and lower members to vary the height and/or fore and aft position of the member. In Fig.4 there may be a platform 100 adjustable up and down. The arrangements may be detachably secured to the poolside surround so as to be portable. There may be two or more such aids along the pool edge.

Claims: A diving aid comprising a first rotatable member (50;27;70) carried in a predetermined position by a support (57;80;90;91) for mounting in relation to water 10 characterized in that at least one further rotatable member (51;27;71) is carried in a predetermined position by the support (57;80;90;91) such that rotation of the first (50;27;70) and at least one further (51;27;71) rotatable members carries a user on the members in a path which is inclined forwards and downwards from the first (50;27;70) to the at least one further (51;27;71) rotatable member. A diving aid as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an adjustable connection (52;52a;84) is provided for adjusting the first rotatable member (50; 27;70) in height in relation to the support (57;80;90; 91). A diving aid as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that an adjustable connection is provided for adjusting the first rotatable member (50; 27; 70) fore and aft in relation to the support (57;80; 90;91). A diving aid as claimed in any preceding claim, characterized in that an adjustable connection (53,53a) is provided for adjusting the or each at least one further rotatable member (50;27;71) in height. A diving aid as claimed in any preceding claim, characterized in that an adjustable connection (53a) is provided for adjusting the or each at least one further rotatable member (51;27;71) fore-and-aft. A diving aid as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the adjustable connection comprises securing members engageable in selected apertures (52a;53a;80a) in the support (57;80). A diving aid as claimed in any preceding claim, characterized in that the one further rotatable member (51) is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the first rotatable member (50). A diving aid as claimed in any preceding claim, characterized in that an endless member (54) extends round the first (50) and at least one further (51) rotatable members, the upper length (55) of the endless member (54) defining the path.

Inventors: BURLEY, MARTIN
Applicants: BURLEY, MARTIN
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A63B69
IPC codes: A63B69