Abstract:
Disclosed is a swim trainer using a laterally displaceable torso support pad and two cables interconnecting the swimmer&#39;s opposite hands and feet: right hand with left foot, left hand with right foot. It incorporates tension physics with applied tension force displacement wherein the torso is supported with two degrees of motion, i.e., hinged front-to-back tilt and left-to-right displacement of the torso. The user&#39;s opposite hands and feet are interconnected by cables passing through pulleys located below the torso. As the user performs a simulated swim stroke, force is asserted on the cable ends, moving the entire body to the right or left along a defined lateral displacement path. The user controls the swimming stroke speed, therefore controlling the amount of resistance applied between hands and feet based on the lateral motion torso speed against torso weight pressing down on the central support.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to exercise machines for swimmers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     People are becoming more responsible and aware of their health through maintaining a good exercise program. It is not always convenient for everybody to go for a run or do laps in the local pool at their leisure. People are turning to other efficient exercise programs like home gyms and full body exercise machines in their homes to achieve and maintain good health. 
     The focus of the present invention is on the type of machine that allows an individual to exercise the whole body using a swimming technique applied and executed through the operation of the machine. The general operational system of these machines uses a resistance mechanism with a support frame built around it. These machines will have a cable running through the resistance mechanism and attached to the hands in the front. It may have sliding resistance hand pads on a rail for catch and release simulating a swim motion. In some cases the cable will be attached to an intermittent pulley, a flywheel for the feet or an independent resistance mechanism for the feet. And attached to the top of frame is the resting pad for the upper torso. Examples of these machines are disclosed in Kennedy U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,363; Rodgers, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,450; Robertson, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,119; and Van De Laarschot et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,790,163. 
     All of the previous inventions have been driven by one thing, the “resistance mechanism,” and its delivery function of intensity to create the core of the work-out. This point is reiterated in, Van De Laarschot et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,790,163 at paragraphs (3)(4)(5) and (6) which gives an excellent example and explanation of the type and scope of previous swim machines that have been patented. The core element of these swim machines have been intensity, amount of resistance, increased amount of time and continuous level of resistance in relation to the swim stroke. According to Van De Laarschot et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,790,163, serious injury can occur from their use, but the disclosed machine also uses a resistance mechanism. 
     There is a need for a paradigm shift in the development of the modem day swim exercise machine. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     I have thrown away the heavy resistance mechanism and replaced it with competition body strength resistance. In this model, the body works against itself to achieve the desired heart rate that is needed to develop stamina and endurance equal to actual swimming. 
     In my view, the swim exercise machine should not have any more resistance than what an individual would encounter in the water as a swimmer. Therefore, the need for a sophisticated resistance mechanism in combination with a swim machine is not used. In actual swimming, a swimmer&#39;s body is propelled through water with the combination of kicking the legs while pulling the body through the water with the hands and arms. Swimmers also press their upper torso against the water to cause the legs to rise up. The upper torso is then canted to the side thereby creating less drag during the swim stroke. It is this natural concept of rhythmic swimming that has been achieved with the swim exercise machine of the present invention. 
     The present invention is a swim trainer that replicates the action of actual swimming, wherein said trainer comprises: (a) a Y-shaped front base support with a pair of spring pulley assembly post attachments with a cable and wrist harness, (b) a middle support frame with adjustable double horizontal stem rods, and (c) a rear cross section support roller system with a T-bar and kicker system with foot harnesses. A single vertical column support is erected in the center of the Y intersection of the base with a central pulley system attachment. The column serves as the base for a hinge that is attached to a glide bar. The hinged glide bar serves as a base for the torso support which is padded to receive the exerciser&#39;s torso. The hinge itself enabled the torso support and glide bar to tilt forward and backward. This feature of the current invention can be achieved by disengaging the hinge pin located on the left side of the hinge. The spring pulley assembly uses cables that are attached to the wrist harnesses and are then threaded through a central pulley system and attached to the leg harnesses using commercial or residential foot harnesses. 
     With the present invention, the user&#39;s cable-connected hands and feet work with the glide bar torso support, central pulley system and hinge tilt to interact during a controlled swim stroke and rate to create, distribute and control a natural resistance. 
     The construction of the present invention provides a machine with folding parts that are readily folded for compact storage and parts of extendable and contractible lengths that allow for users of different lengths to adjust the machine for use and to aid the user when getting upon the machine. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an overall view of the invention absent the torso support belt, the hinge locking pin and the commercial foot harness. 
         FIG. 2  shows a general illustration of embodiment of the invention with arrows showing general directions of the hands and feet as they are attached to one another, the motion of the seat tilt absent the side-to-side motion of the seat during the glide bar function.  FIG. 2  is also absent the torso support belt, the hinge locking pin and the commercial foot harness. 
         FIG. 3  shows the invention in its collapsed and retracted position for storage. 
         FIG. 4  shows the seat padding, padding support plate with bracketing area, seat belt slots and seat-to-glide bar attachment bracket with four mounting screws. 
         FIG. 5  shows the glide bar and hinge assembly with the hinge pin present and the stop tilt nipple adjacent the hinge pin hole on left. 
         FIG. 6  shows the top of the support column with the platform stopping mechanism positioned on the left, with the slotted area illustrating the hinge position. 
         FIG. 7  shows the under view of the pelvic cross section rear support rollers. 
         FIG. 8  shows the top side of the pelvic cross section rear support rollers 
         FIG. 9  shows the T-bar, plastic bushing, washer and attachment bolt. 
         FIG. 10  shows the caudal kicker system components and excess cable storage. 
         FIG. 11  shows the caudal kicker system with the commercial foot harness to be used with shoes. 
         FIG. 12  shows the route of the cable at the kicker system and method of attachment. 
         FIG. 13  shows the residential foot harness to be used without shoes. 
         FIG. 14  shows the palm side of the hand harness with D-shaped hook attached to a metal plate inside the harness material illustrated by slotted lines. 
         FIG. 15  shows the back side of the hand harness. 
         FIG. 16  shows the middle base support frame with the double horizontal stem rod locking device. 
         FIG. 17  depicts an alternate embodiment of a fixed length. 
         FIG. 18  shows another view of the torso support from  FIG. 17 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The torso and shoulders play major roles in a swimmer&#39;s ability to stay afloat. First, the swimmer has to control his legs to keep them high in the water. A swimmer presses his upper body against the water to make the legs rise up in the water to eliminate drag and give the swimmer greater propulsion in the water. Second, the swimmer turns the torso from one side to the other during sequential strokes to minimize the contact surface area of the torso in the water during the swim stroke to achieve the maximum speed. When executed properly, the swimmer glides through water and stays afloat. The current invention replicates this action to help the swimmer train. 
     According to the invention, the natural motion of the swimmer and his or her weight is used in a trainer that does not require external weights or resistance. Such a swim trainer device includes: 
     (a) a forward assembly configured to support a swimmer&#39;s torso on a laterally displaceable support pad that is elevated above a base by its connection to a vertically extended support column that is sufficiently high to allow each hand of said swimmer to move in directions that reflect swimming motions; 
     (b) a rear assembly that receives left and right feet of said swimmer and allows each foot to move in up and down directions that simulate swim kicking; 
     (c) axially extended supports connecting said forward assembly and said rear assembly; 
     (d) a first cable connecting a right hand harness with a left foot harness through a first pulley mounted on a right side of said support column; 
     (e) a second cable connecting a left hand harness with a right foot harness through a second pulley mounted on a left side of said support column; 
     (f) a transverse glide bar mounted on top of said support column under said displaceable pad whereby coordinated leg kicking motions and arm swimming motions cause the torso of said swimmer to move said displaceable support along said transverse glide bar. 
     Preferably, the forward assembly further includes: (a) a right lateral support leg and a left lateral support leg, each support leg extending generally outwardly from said base; (b) a spring-biased, third pulley that is mounted on said right lateral support leg and which guides said first cable to said right hand harness; and (c) a spring-biased, fourth pulley that is mounted on said right lateral support leg and which guides said second cable to said left hand harness. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, the base  10  and has three sections front base support  10   a , middle base support  10   b , and a rear base support  10   c . The front base support  10   a  can be made of a hard plastic or alloy steel and includes the pectoral fin arms  12  with steel locking pins  13  and rubber shoes  14 , the support column base  15  and rubber shoe  15   a.    
     The Middle base  10   b  can be made of a hard plastic or alloy steel includes middle support frame  16 , double horizontal stem rods  18  (made of steel only), locking stem rod device handle  20  which can be made of alloy steel, and the stem rod locking device  22  made of alloy steel (not illustrated) and rubber support shoe  24 . 
     The rear base  10   c  shows the pelvic fin cross section roller system  26 . This section can be made of a hard plastic or alloy steel, using rubber for the roller surface.  FIG. 7  shows the underside of the rear base pelvic fin cross section roller system  26 , the roller housing  26   a , and roller placement in housing  26   a .  FIG. 8  shows the upright side of rear base pelvic fin cross section roller system  26  with T-bar hole  28  shown.  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  shows the inserted T-bar portion  28   c  into the T-bar hole  28  secured with bolt  30   a . In  FIG. 9  the first and second T-bar portions  28   a  and  28   b  are wielded to the stem portion  28   c  and all three are made of alloy steel. 
       FIG. 2  shows the user in the horizontal position with torso pressed against the torso support pad  64 . The arrows in  FIG. 2  show the motions involved with the training process. Torso support pad  64  rotates about a transverse axis during the simulated swim stroke. In  FIG. 2  the torso arrows also shows the invention&#39;s ability to cause the users&#39; torso to slightly turn on its side during the simulated swim stroke, thus simulating minimizing the contact surface area in the water. 
     Inspection of the figures will allow those in this art a better understanding of the mechanics of the invention. For example, the long indicator arrows above and below the users&#39; torso in  FIG. 2  shows the displacement motion of the swimmer&#39;s hands and feet as the swimmer trains with a simulated swimming stroke. The displacement force on the device that is asserted on the body of the swimmer causes the movement and the resulting exercise effects. The hand harness  60  and the cable  66  pass through the tension string pulley of the outer spring pulley assembly  68 , and then pass through the tandem pulley of the central pulley system  70  before connecting to the inline cable adjustor  48  of the opposite foot. (These connections will be talked about more in detail below). The swimmer&#39;s torso moves laterally along the glide bar  62  in the direction of the tension. Because the glide bar  62  is slightly curbed, the body becomes tilted to the side in the movement. This affect causes a pendulum motion of the torso that the user will have to control with the muscle groups used in swimming thus causing the user to assert energy and develop those muscle groups. 
       FIGS. 1, 2 and 3  further show the rear base  10   c  with the caudal kicker system fins  32  attached to the T-bar  30  and secured with bolts  34   a  and  34   b . (See also  FIG. 9 .)  FIG. 1  further shows the caudal kicker mechanism  36  attached to the kicker fins with bolts  36   a  also shown in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 12 . The caudal kicker mechanism  36  can be made of hard plastic for light-weight and reduced noise during the kicking motion of training.  FIG. 11  shows the commercial foot harness  38  attached to caudal kicker mechanism  36 .  FIG. 10  shows the inside view of the caudal kicker mechanism  36  exposing the free siding block  40  illustrated using slotted lines.  FIG. 10  further exposes the securing nut  42  for the foot harness attachment arm  44  which is also shown in  FIG. 11 . 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  show details associated with the hinged, laterally displaceable support system for torso support pad  64 . In  FIG. 4 , torso support pad  64  is connected to support plate  64   a ; the torso pad-to-glide bar mounting bracket  64   b , bracket anchoring area  64   c , screws  64   d , and safety belt slots  64   e . Support plate  64   a  exhibits two pair of L-shaped fins that are configured to engage front and back supporting projections of curved glide bar  62  without interfering with the ability of mounting bracket  64   b  to move along glide bar  62  when the L-shaped fins are engaged with the supporting projections of glide bar  62 . 
       FIG. 5  shows hinge  74  and its associated assembly with the stop tilt nipple  74   a  on left side with hinge release pin  74   b , anchor nuts, and washers  74   c .  FIG. 5  further shows the glide bar  62  and associated assembly with bar-to-hinge spacers  62   a  that convert the curvature of glide bar  62  to flat surfaces that are secured to the flat upper surface of hinge  74 , anchoring bolts  62   b , nuts, and washers  74   c.    
       FIG. 6  shows the stop tilt mechanism  76  mounted on support column  72 . 
       FIG. 11  further shows the inline cable adjustor hook port  46 .  FIG. 12  shows the inline cable adjustor  48  connected to the inline cable adjustor hook port  46  with bolt  50 .  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11  further shows the routing of the excess cable  52 .  FIG. 10  further shows the rubber cushion  54  and  54   a  which is placed on top and at the bottom of the caudal kicker mechanism  36  as a cover and noise reducer for the free siding block  40 .  FIG. 10  is completed with cover plate  56  which secures cushion  54  in place with screws (not illustrated).  FIG. 13  shows the residential foot harness  38   a  which can be made of soft rubber, soft plastic or leather.  FIG. 14  shows the hand harness  60  with the steel pulley D-ring hook  58  attached to the inserted alloy steel anchor plate  58   a , illustrated by slotted lines; of the palm side of the hand harness  60 .  FIG. 15  shows the back side of the hand harness  60 , with hook-and-loop fastener wrist band  10   a . The hand harness  60  can be made of leather or nylon. 
     Support column  72  is inserted into column base  15  and secured with fasteners around its circumference (not illustrated). As shown in  FIG. 2 , support column  72  should be sufficiently high to allow each hand of a swimmer on the torso support pad  64  to move in directions that reflect swimming motions. Torso support pad hinge  74  is attached to the top of column support  72 . The rotational arrows shown in this figure show that pad hinge  74  is attached to provide rotation about an axis that is transverse to the central axis of the device. 
       FIG. 3  shows the invention in its collapsed position, with the double horizontal stem rods  18  inserted into the middle base support  10   b , the pectoral fin arms  12  folded in the upright position. Although it is not illustrated, caudal kicker fins  32  can be folded up towards the glide bar  62 . These three folding features make the invention considerably smaller and therefore ready for storage in many homes. 
       FIG. 3  shows the preferred starting position for the trainer of the invention to be in when the user begins to adjust the trainer for use. The user will disengage horizontal stem rod locking device  22  (shown in detail in  FIG. 16 ) by rotating locking handle  20  out of frictional engagement with stem rods  18 , bringing rear base support  10   c  forward, and locking it in the forward position using the locking handle  20 . The user will then place his/her torso on the torso support pad  64  and secure the safety belt (not illustrated). The user will then insert his/her feet into the caudal kicker mechanism  36  commercial foot harness  38  or residential foot harness  38   a , disengage the locking handle  20 , and then push rear base support  10   c  to the desired length and lock it in place with locking handle  20 . 
       FIGS. 17 and 18  show an alternate embodiment having a fixed length system. As shown, the swim trainer comprises: (a) a Y-shaped front base support  77  with a pair of spring-biased pulleys  78  guiding first and second hand cables  79 ,  80  and left and right wrist harnesses  81 ,  82 , (b) a middle support frame  83 , and (c) a rear cross section support  84  roller system with a T-bar  85  and kicker system with left and right foot harnesses  86 ,  87  and left or right rear spring-biased pulleys  88 ,  89 . Left wrist harness  81  is connected to right foot harness  87  with cable  79  through first central pulley  90 . Right wrist harness  82  is connected to left foot harness  88  with second cable  80  through second central pulley  91 . The leg harnesses  86 ,  87  using commercial or residential foot harnesses. 
     A single vertical column support  92  is erected at connection of Y-shaped front base support  77  with middle support frame  83 . First and second central pulleys  90 ,  91  are mounted on vertical column support  92  to guide cables  79 ,  80 . Column support  92  serves as the base for a transverse hinge  93  that is attached to glide bar  94  with guide bracket  97 . The detailed construction of the hinged torso support system may also be the same as the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     The hinged glide bar  94  serves as a base for the torso support  96  which is padded to receive the exerciser&#39;s torso and move laterally along glide bars  94 . Hinge  93  enables the torso support  96  and glide bar  94  to tilt forward and backward about hinge axis  98 . 
     Hinge  93  can be locked in position and against rotation by a hinge pin (not shown). Disengaging the hinge pin allows the hinge to rotate.