Abstract:
A unitary ankle float buoy for immobilizing the legs during swim training. The buoy is formed of a central portion connecting a top wall and a lower wall and a pair of ankle openings disposed on each side of the central portion. The ankle float buoy is designed and configured to be worn upon both ankles of a swimmer below the calf and above the foot.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally to an ankle floatation device, and more particularly to a swim training device that maintains a swimmer&#39;s legs in a fixed position to focus on the swimmer&#39;s core and shoulder training while swimming. 
     Typically, swimming utilizes an arm stroke and kicking of the legs to propel the swimmer through water. While the arm stroke generally provides the majority of thrust, strong kicking can often compensate for a weak arm stroke. In order to overcome this compensating ability, it is often desired to remove the legs from the stroke to focus on the core and arm muscles to improve the arm stroke. However, one cannot simply stop kicking, as the legs would sink in the water causing an increased amount of drag that would need to be overcome. Additionally, paraplegic swimmers, or others with inabilities to kick their legs sufficiently, would be aided by a device to maintain and float the legs, while allowing them to swim only using the arm stroke. 
     In order to overcome these problems, various solutions have been introduced. Traditionally, foam pull buoys have been used. These pull buoys are figure-8 shaped devices that are held between the legs of the swimmer, by the swimmer exerting a closing force with their legs onto the pull buoy. This closing exertion, however, can be uncomfortable and tiring for the user and still allows for a certain degree of kicking being performed by the swimmer. Initial attempts to overcome these deficiencies include further tying straps to the swimmer&#39;s leg to maintain the pull buoy in position without requiring a closing exertion from the swimmer and to further limit the kicking ability. However, these straps can be cumbersome and difficult to attach and remove. An advance on this technology was described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,169,000, which discloses a swimming aid training device that includes a buoy assembly that attaches to a swimmer&#39;s calf area and a fin assembly to prevent the swimmer from twisting their torso. However, in most swimming strokes, the swimmer&#39;s torso rolls from side to side during the arm stroke. This side-to-side roll requires the swimmer to exhibit a great deal of core strength and endurance. If the swimmer lacks the necessary core strength, the swimmer may break form. As such, if one is desiring to increase the strength and proficiency of their core, this device is not ideal. Further, its placement on the calf area does not place the buoyant force at a distal region of the swimmer&#39;s legs and, due to the tapering shape of the calf region, requires a difficult to form configuration that tapers from the opening to the exit and is described as a “substantially rotated H-shape”. 
     As such, there is a need for an improved swim training device that not only allows a swimmer to focus on their arm stroke, but also allows the swimmer to properly work their core, while maintaining their legs in a fixed position with a buoyant force being provided at the ankle region, in an easy to enter and exit configuration, that is further easily and economically manufactured. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is contemplated a unitary ankle float buoy for immobilizing the legs during swim training. The buoy is formed of a central portion connecting a top wall and a lower wall. The top wall extends outward from the central portion in both directions and curves downward at distal ends, while the lower wall extends outward from the central portion in both directions and curves upward at distal ends. Further, the buoy has a pair of ankle openings disposed on each side of the central portion, below the top wall and above the lower wall. Each ankle opening is defined by a sidewall of the central portion, a rear opening, a front opening, and a side opening. The central portion, top wall, and lower wall define a front edge on the side of the buoy having front openings and a rear edge on the side of the buoy having rear openings. The ankle float buoy is designed and configured to be worn upon both ankles of a swimmer below the calf and above the foot. To aid in fitting the buoy on the swimmer&#39;s ankles, the rear edge may narrow from the central portion to the distal ends to comfortably accommodate the swimmer&#39;s lateral malleolus. 
     In certain embodiments, the ankle openings may be formed in a substantially straight cylindrical configuration, wherein the front and rear openings, and the portions between the two openings, are substantially the same size. In particular, this substantially straight configuration may be achieved when the buoy is formed from a solid piece of buoyant, resilient foam and the ankle openings are cut from the piece of foam. 
     In other embodiments, the ankle openings may be formed in a convex configuration, such that the front and rear openings are wider than a segment of the ankle openings located between the front and rear openings. In particular, this convex configuration may be achieved readily when the buoy is formed from a compression molded foam. One benefit of the convex shape may be that the narrower portion between the rear and front openings may assist in securing the buoy to the swimmer as the portion of the ankle between the swimmer&#39;s foot and calf region is generally narrower, thereby allowing the convex formation to better fit to the swimmer&#39;s anatomy. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an ankle float buoy in use on a swimmer; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the ankle float buoy of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an ankle float buoy in use on a swimmer; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the ankle float buoy of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the ankle float buoy of  FIG. 2  with the swimmer&#39;s legs in place; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the ankle float buoy of  FIG. 2  with the swimmer&#39;s legs partially in place; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of another embodiment of an ankle float buoy; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the ankle float buoy of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the ankle float buoy of  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the ankle float buoy of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and sequences of steps for constructing and operating the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments and that they are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an ankle float buoy  10  is attached to the ankle region of a swimmer  15 . This configuration allows the swimmer  15  to isolate and train their arms, shoulders, and core region by focusing on the arm stroke. The buoy  10  may formed of a buoyant, resilient material and is configured to be easily attachable to the ankle region  25  of the swimmer  15 . By locating the buoy  10  on the ankles  25 , the buoyant force provided by the buoy  10  is at a distalmost portion to maintain the swimmer&#39;s body in proper form, while also maintaining a secure attachment to the swimmer  15 . As can be seen, the ankle region  25  defines a narrow point of the swimmer&#39;s leg. As such, while the buoy  10  is easily attachable and removable from the swimmer&#39;s body, it remains securely attached during swimming without the need for cumbersome straps or other securing means. Further, the design and configuration of the buoy  10  can be simplified to maintain its position at the ankle, in comparison to other configurations where the device would be attached to a user&#39;s calf area. Generally, the calf is wider at the upper portion and narrows to the lower portion as you approach the ankle. As such, in devices attached to a swimmer&#39;s calf, the geometry of the openings have to be tapered in such a fashion to match the user&#39;s calf, resulting in more complicated and/or expensive fabrication demands along with the possibility of shifting or unintended detachment from the swimmer during use. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the buoy  10  is attached to the ankles  25  of the swimmer  15  such that the buoy  10  has a front edge  12  facing in the direction of the swimmer&#39;s movement through the water and a trailing rear edge  14 . As best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the buoy  10  includes a pair of ankle openings for receiving the ankles  25  of the swimmer  15 . The ankle openings are defined by various openings and walls to receive and maintain the ankles. In particular, the ankle openings include a rear opening  16  that, in use, is located at the bottom of the ankle  25  near the swimmer&#39;s foot and a front opening  18  disposed on the opposite side of the buoy  10  that, in use, is located at the top of the ankle  25  near the swimmer&#39;s calf. Further, the ankle openings have a side opening  20  that allows for the easy entry and exit of the swimmer&#39;s ankles  25  from the buoy  10 . As such, it can be seen that the ankle openings are open on three of its six sides. The three non-open sides are defined by a top wall  22 , a lower wall  24 , and an inside sidewall  28 . As can be seen, the top  22 , lower  24 , and sidewalls  28  form a substantially C-shape configuration for maintaining the ankles  25  in place during use. The top wall  22  is connected to the lower wall  24  by a central portion  26 , wherein the central portion has the sidewalls  28  on each respective side. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the top wall  22  and lower wall  24  both extend bilaterally outward in a horizontal direction from the central portion  26 . The distal ends  30   a  of the top wall  22  curve in a downward fashion to help secure the ankle  25  in place, while the distal ends  30   b  of the lower wall  24  curve in an upward fashion. As such the distal ends  30   a ,  30   b , while not connected, approach each other to form a substantially C-shape configuration. 
     The front edge  12  is defined by the top wall  22 , lower wall  24 , and central portion  26  on the side of the buoy  10  having front openings  18  and the rear edge  14  is defined by the top wall  22 , lower wall  24 , and central portion  26  on the side of the buoy  10  having the rear openings  16 . In certain embodiments, the rear edge  14  may be contoured to better accommodate the swimmer&#39;s lateral malleolus (the outer protrusion of the ankle). In particular, the rear edge  14  may take a convex configuration such that the central portion  26  extends further than the distal ends  30   a ,  30   b  along the rear edge  14 . By tapering inward at the distal ends  30   a ,  30   b , the buoy  10  may avoid encompassing the swimmer&#39;s lateral malleolus during use, thereby providing a more comfortable design than if the buoy  10  were provided in a substantially straight configuration that encompassed the user&#39;s lateral malleolus during use. 
     The buoy  10  is preferably formed from a buoyant and resilient material in order to provide floatation assistance to the swimmer while maintaining its shape during use, but being readily deformable to allow for easy entry and exit of the swimmer&#39;s ankle  25 . For example, the buoy may be formed from a foam polymer such as polyethylene or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA)  FIG. 6  shows the entry of the ankle  25  into the ankle openings of the buoy  10 . As can be seen in this figure, the distal ends  30   a ,  30   b  may be deformed away from their typical closed position into an open configuration to allow for the entry of the ankle  25 . Whereupon when the ankle  25  is in position in the ankle opening of the buoy  10 , the resilient material returns to its normal closed position thereby securing the buoy  10  in proper position during use (as seen in  FIG. 5 ). 
     As shown in phantom in  FIG. 2 , the ankle openings may be formed in a substantially straight cylindrical shape. This embodiment may be formed, for example, by cutting the ankle openings out of a block of foam. This configuration, while easy to form does not perfectly follow the anatomy of the ankle and allows for some play between the buoy  10  and the ankles  25 , while still maintaining the buoy  10  in position during use. 
     In an alternative embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 7-10 , the ankle openings may be formed in a convex configuration. That is, the portion of the ankle opening at the rear  16  and front opening  18  is wider than the portion between the two openings. This configuration allows for the buoy  10  to better grip the swimmer&#39;s ankles  25 . This configuration may formed by compression molding a piece of foam to form the convex shape of the ankle openings. 
     As such, it can be seen from the unique configuration disclosed herein, the buoy may be easily placed upon the user and removed from the user without a need for complicated and cumbersome straps or other attaching devices. Further, the configuration allows for easy and economy in the manufacturing process in that complex geometries and shapes are not necessary to maintain the position of the buoy on the user&#39;s ankles. Additionally, the placement of the buoy on the swimmer&#39;s ankle region, as opposed to the calf or thigh region, places the source of buoyancy at a distalmost portion of the leg region, thereby providing buoyancy in a location that is able to maintain the swimmer in proper alignment within the water. In addition to the use of a buoyant material in forming the buoy, it is envisioned that the buoy may further be configured in such a fashion to act as a hydrofoil. That is, the outer shape of the buoy may be optimized such that the lift generated by propulsion through the water while in use is substantially larger than the drag generated by the buoy. By shaping the buoy in such a manner, it further acts in a manner to maintain the swimmer&#39;s body in proper alignment during use. 
     The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including various ways of forming the ankle float buoy and various sizes of the ankle float buoy for swimmers of different ages and sizes. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.