Abstract:
A swim-in-place trainer having flow assist features incorporated into the pool design. The flow assist features may include a contoured bottom having a flow directional hump located in approximately the center of the swim area. The flow directional hump may extend laterally across the entire swim area and separate a deeper front portion of the pool from a shallower rear portion of the pool. Other flow assist features may include a front and rear ridge for directing water to and from the swim area, respectively. Interior side walls disposed on opposing sides of the swim area may each include an inner front portion for creating a flow improving vortex to reduce water friction. An optional propulsion means, such as a pump or impeller, may provide a variable water flow dependent upon the location of a swimmer in the swim area or other factors.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/535,417, filed on Jan. 9, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, including but not limited to those portions that specifically appear hereinafter, the incorporation by reference being made with the following exception: In the event that any portion of the above-referenced provisional application is inconsistent with this application, this application supercedes said above-referenced provisional application. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     NONE.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     1. The Field of the Invention  
         [0004]     The present disclosure relates generally to swimming pools, and more particularly, but not necessarily entirely, to swim-in-place training pools.  
         [0005]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0006]     Swim-in-place pools allow a swimmer to engage in swimming, particularly aerobic swimming, without the need for a full-sized pool. Swim-in-place pools are advantageous over full-sized pools due to their reduced footprint, reduced water requirement, and lower installation and operating costs. Swim-in-place pools can be used for, among other things, exercise, training, and therapy. In the past, a swim-in-place pool typically comprised a small pool where one or more circulating means is used to circulate the water to simulate the swimmer moving forward in the water as the swimmer swims. Using a tether to simply hold a swimmer in place without a means to circulate the water has proven to be inadequately effective.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 2,035,835 (granted Mar. 31, 1936 to Raber) discloses a swim-in-place pool comprising a false bottom forming a chamber between a swimming area and the actual bottom of the pool. Housed in the chamber are one or more propellers used to circulate the water around the false bottom. The &#39;835 patent also discloses a pool having a quadrangular shape and rounded corners. Two partition walls running parallel to the sides of the pool define a swim area and two circulating loops. Driving propellers are disposed between the partition walls and the pool sides in order to circulate the water through the swim area.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 2,875,528 (granted Mar. 3, 1959 to Garate) discloses a swim-in-place pool comprising a generally rectangular tank having a post with a U-shaped saddle for supporting the swimmer in the proper swimming position. Strategically placed mirrors are also located on the bottom of the tank to thereby allow a swimmer to observe and make corrections to the swimmer&#39;s stroke. No water circulation means is provided.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,534,413 (granted Nov. 6, 1967 to Plasseraud) discloses a swim-in-place pool having one or more water jets to circulate the water. Each of the water jets has an adjustable nozzle whereby the swimmer can move against the repelling action of the jets while performing swimming motions. The water jets are driven by electric pumps.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,899 (granted Jan. 11, 1977 to Mathis) discloses a combined swim-in-place pool and spa. A vertical divider is removably mounted between the spa area and the swim-in-place area to thereby allow separate heating of each area. Water jets are directed such that a user can swim in a substantially stationary position against the force of the water jets.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,859 (granted Mar. 25, 1986 to Gossett) discloses a swim-in-place pool with a restraining assembly to maintain a swimmer in place in the pool while swimming. The restraining assembly is configured to allow the swimmer to roll back and forth relatively freely while swimming.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,027,449 and 5,058,219 (granted Jul. 2, 1991 and Oct. 22, 1991, respectively, to Teratsuji et al.) disclose a swim-in-place pool having a curved front leading to a lower water return passage. The pool includes guide vanes to channel the water into and out of the lower water return passage. An impeller located in the lower passage circulates the water through the swim area.  
         [0013]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,021 (granted Sep. 3, 1991 to Murdock) discloses a swim-in-place pool that comprises a swim area having two opposing side walls and a plurality of turning vanes in the return water paths. The turning vanes at the rear of the swim area direct the water into the return channels while the turning vanes at the front of the swim area direct the water into the main swim area. Dual impellers, one in each return channel, operate to circulate the water around the pool.  
         [0014]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,315,720 (granted May 31, 1994 to Lior) discloses a swim-in-place pool that comprises an inner horizontal waterway and an outer circulating waterway. A plurality of impeller blades are advanced in unison through the outer waterway to thereby provide a constant flow of water through the swim area.  
         [0015]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,519 (granted Aug. 4, 1998 to Smith) discloses a free-standing swim-in-place pool that includes a gutter for catching and retaining water that spills over the lip of the pool. The water from the gutter is emptied into drain pipes leading to a pump which recirculates the water back into the pool. Baffles located deep within the pool absorb waves caused by the swimming motion of a user.  
         [0016]     In the previously available devices, there is also known a device as the Endless Pool®. This device includes a propulsion assembly that propels water against a swimmer. The propulsion assembly may be adjusted as needed to increase or decrease the strength of the flow current. Water return channels are located underneath benches aligned along the sidewalls of the pool. This device may also be used as a trainer and a hot-tub spa.  
         [0017]     Another previously available device is known as the Swim Spa™. This device may also double as both a swim-in-place pool and a spa. This device includes swim jets to provide a water flow against a swimmer.  
         [0018]     Each of the previously available apparatuses disclosed above has a distinct disadvantage due to either a lack of flow inducing features, or an inefficiency of flow inducing features incorporated into the design of the pools. First, in the above described devices, the circulating water does not correctly simulate real water flow as would be experienced by a swimmer swimming in a large body of water. The water flow is often turbulent or unnatural, which is discomforting to a swimmer. Next, the mechanical devices require a significant amount of energy in order to circulate the water. Finally, if users desire to use the swim-in-place pool as both a trainer and a hot-tub spa, they must repeatedly heat and cool the water to enable the cooler temperature for a workout, and the warmer temperature for hot-tub spa use.  
         [0019]     The prior art is thus characterized by several disadvantages that are addressed by the present disclosure. The present disclosure minimizes, and in some aspects eliminates, the above-mentioned failures, and other problems, by utilizing the methods and structural features described herein.  
         [0020]     The features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the disclosure without undue experimentation. The features and advantages of the disclosure may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]     The features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the subsequent detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , taken along section B-B;  
         [0025]      FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , taken along section A-A;  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a view of an exemplary adjustable tether support;  
         [0028]      FIG. 5A  is a view of another embodiment of a tether support;  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a view of an exemplary embodiment of a swim-in-place trainer with removable and adjustable flow directing walls;  
         [0030]      FIG. 6A  is a view of another embodiment of a swim-in-place trainer;  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;  
         [0032]      FIG. 8  is a view of one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure with modular construction;  
         [0033]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a swim-in-place trainer module placed in a larger pool; and  
         [0034]      FIG. 10  is a block diagram of a feature of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0035]     It is to be understood that any proportions, shapes or dimensions depicted in any of the drawings are options and not requirements.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0036]     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the disclosure claimed.  
         [0037]     It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In describing and claiming the present disclosure, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set out below.  
         [0038]     As used herein, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” “characterized by,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.  
         [0039]     Applicant has discovered, inter alia, a swim-in-place trainer that utilizes a pool having flow directing features incorporated into its design to thereby improve water circulation and reduce water turbulence. The flow directing features reduce and in some cases eliminate the need for mechanical water propulsion devices. The flow directing features channel water displaced by a swimmer to circulate more evenly to create a swimming environment that feels more natural to the swimmer. Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a swim-in-place trainer that incorporates adjustable flow directing features to thereby control the water flow for any particular swimmer or condition. These and other features of the present disclosure will be further addressed below.  
         [0040]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a swim-in-place trainer  20  pursuant to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The swim trainer  20  comprises a pool  22  of sufficient size to accommodate a user  50  to swim-in-place. The pool  22  may be free standing as shown if  FIG. 1  for above ground installation or the pool  22  may also be installed in ground (not shown) as is well known in the art to thereby allow installation in almost any setting. When free standing, the pool  22  may be housed in a support structure  24  such as those structures utilized for free standing hot tubs and spas and the like. The support structure  24  for the pool  22  may comprise an access door  26  to allow access to any internal workings, such as pumps, motors, filters and heating systems.  
         [0041]     The swim trainer  20  may be optionally disposed next to a detachable spa section  28 . It will be appreciated that the separation of the swim trainer  20  from the spa section  28  is advantageous due to the fact that the water in the spa section  28  and the swim trainer  20  may be maintained at different temperatures.  
         [0042]     The pool  22  itself may optionally be constructed in several modular pieces, as shown in  FIG. 8 , or as a single unit as shown in  FIG. 1 . Ideally, the pool  22  is formed using molds for fiberglass or vacuum forming. The pool  22  may also be formed using more traditional pool construction materials, such as cement. The pool  22  may also be formed of metal. Thus, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the pool  22  may be constructed of various materials, and is not limited to any one particular composition.  
         [0043]     The pool  22  may have a filtration system (not shown) as is standard in most pools and spas. The filtration system may serve to remove debris from the pool. The pool  22  may also have a heating system (not shown) to heat the water as desired. The heating and filtration systems may be shared in common with the adjacent spa  28 . As mentioned above, it should be noted that it may be preferable to maintain the water temperature in the pool  22  at a temperature lower than that in the spa  28 . This is due to the fact that some people may prefer a cooler water temperature in the pool  22  while exercising as opposed to that in the spa  28 . As will be explained in further detail below, the pool  22  may also include a water circulation system such as an electric motor coupled to a water pump or an impeller (not shown). A control panel  108  may be used to control any attached systems, such as the heating system or the water circulation system, if present.  
         [0044]     The pool  22  may comprise a swim area through which water may flow from a front portion  34  of the swim area to a rear portion  36  of the swim area. The swim area may be further defined by a pair of flow directing walls  38  disposed on either side of the swim area. The flow directing walls  38  may extend in an upward direction from the bottom of the pool  22  to a height sufficient to be near to or exceed the expected water level in the pool  22 . The flow directing walls  38  may also extend in a longitudinal direction from about the front portion  34  of the pool  22  to about the rear portion  36  of the pool  22 .  
         [0045]     The flow directing walls  38  may be permanently affixed as shown in  FIG. 1  or, as shown in  FIG. 6  and  6 A, the flow directing walls  38 A may be removably attached to the bottom of a swim-in-place trainer  20 A or to a cross member across the top of the pool. In  FIG. 6 , the flow directing walls  38 A may each comprise a pair of downwardly extending posts  40 . The posts  40  may be received into one of a set of front holes  42  and one of a set of rear holes  44 . The front set of holes  42  and the rear set holes  44  are arranged such that the width between the flow directing walls  38 A may be varied. In addition, the front holes  42  and the rear holes  44  may allow the flow directing walls  38 A to be adjusted forward or rearwards in relation to the swim area.  
         [0046]     The front set of holes  42  and the rear set of holes  44  may also allow the flow directing walls  38 A to be positioned in a non-parallel orientation with respect to each other. The flow directing walls  38 A may also be interchangeable with other flow directing walls of different sizes and shapes. The removable flow directing walls  38 A may also allow the swim trainer  20 A to be used as both a swim trainer and a spa. When configured as a swim trainer, the flow directing walls  38 A may be installed, and when in the spa configuration, the walls  38 A may be removed.  
         [0047]     Referring now back to  FIG. 1 , a tether  46  and tether support  48  may be used to maintain the user  50  in the swim area while the user  50  is swimming. It will be appreciated that the tether  46  and the tether support  48  constitute one type of restraint device. One end of the tether  46  may be attached to the user  50  or to a harness  52  worn by the user  50 . The other end of the tether  46  may be attached to the tether support  48 . The length of the tether  46  may be adjustable. Also, the tether  46  may optionally comprise a load sensor  54 , the function of which will be described in detail further below.  
         [0048]      FIG. 5  illustrates the tether support  48  in more detail. The tether support  48  includes a pair of vertical members  58  spanned by a cross bar  60 . A lower portion of each of the vertical members  58  may be pivotally mounted on a shaft  66  extending through both a vertical plate  64  and the vertical member  58 . The pivotal mount of each of the vertical members  58  allows the tether support  48  to be angularly adjusted. Pins  68  may be inserted into holes  70  on each of the vertical plates  64  and through a hole  72  in each of the vertical members  58  to thereby lock the tether support  48  at discrete angles. The overall height of the cross bar  60  may also be increased or decreased by adjusting the individual height of each of the vertical members  58 . The width of the cross bar  60  may also be varied. One method of accomplishing the above is to construct the vertical members  58  and the cross bar  60  such that they are telescopically adjustable as is known by those skilled in the art.  
         [0049]     The tether support  48  may also be adjusted forward or rearward with respect to the swim area by the use of holes  56  located in the top of each of the flow directing walls  38  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). This may be accomplished by installing a post  62  into corresponding holes  56  located in the top of the flow directing walls  38 .  
         [0050]     Adjusting the tether  46  and the tether support  48  either individually or in combination may produce advantageous feature over the prior art. In particular, the pivotal attachment of the tether support  48  allows the angle between tether support  48  and the surface of the water in the pool  22  to be varied. A height adjustment of the tether support  48  may accomplish the same result. For beginning swimmers, the angle of the tether support  48  can be adjusted to provide more upward support for the swimmer. For more advanced swimmers, the angle can be adjusted and the tether  46  lengthened to provide less upward support for the swimmer. One embodiment of the present disclosure provides for the use of a flow meter to evaluate and display the estimated distance swam by the user  50 .  
         [0051]     Another embodiment of a tether support bar  48 A is shown in  FIGS. 5A and 6A . The tether support bar  48 A includes a cross member  150  having a top piece  152 . The cross member  150  further comprises a first set of holes  158  for mounting the cross member  150  to a swim-in-place trainer  20 B using holes  160 . The holes  160  may allow the cross member  150  to be adjustably positioned forward or rearward with respect to the swim area of trainer  20 B. The cross member may comprise a second set of holes  156  for attaching flow directing walls  38 B. The second set of holes  156  may allow the flow directing walls  38 B to be laterally adjustable with respect to the swim area of trainer  20 B. The top piece  152  may also comprises a third set of holes  154  for providing variable anchor points for a tether  46 .  
         [0052]     One of the primary benefits of the present disclosure includes the flow directional features incorporated into the design of the swim trainer  20 . These flow directional features improve water flow and allow for a more natural feeling to the user  50 . These flow directional features further greatly reduce and in some cases eliminate the need for a mechanical propulsion device, such as a pump or propeller. In the event that a mechanical propulsion device is employed, it will require less power because the flow directional features produce a smoother and less turbulent water flow. The flow directional features described in further detail below may be used separately or in combination with each other.  
         [0053]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2, 3  and  4 , a flow directional hump  80  may be disposed in approximately the middle of the swim area. The flow directional hump  80  may extend laterally across the swim area from one of the flow directing walls  38  to the other flow directing walls  38 . The flow directing hump  80  may separate the front portion  34  of the swim area from the rear portion  36  of the swim area as best seen in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0054]     An apex  82  of the flow directional hump  80  is shallower than either the front portion  34  or the rear portion  36  of the pool  22 . The hump  80  should not interfere with the swimming motions of the user  50  due to the fact that it should be located at about the waist of the user  50 . It will also be appreciated that the front portion  34  of the pool  22  is deeper that the rear portion  36  of the pool  22 . The deeper front portion  34  allows the user  50  to utilize the full range of motion of his or her arms while swimming, even when utilizing what is commonly referred to as a “front crawl” stroke and also the “butterfly” stroke. The rear portion  36 , while shallower that the front portion  34 , may be of sufficient depth to allow the user  50  the full range of movement of his or her legs while kicking. The motion of the user&#39;s  50  arms and legs is typically sufficient to create a current through which the user  50  may swim without the use of a mechanical propulsion device.  
         [0055]     A front ridge  84  may bisect the front portion  34  of the pool  22  as seen in  FIGS. 2, 3  and  4 . The front ridge  84  may separate the front portion  34  into a left side and a right side. The depth of the front ridge  84  may be shallower than the depth of the left and right sides of the front portion  34 , but deeper than the depth of the apex  82  of the hump  80 . The front ridge  84  may extend from a front merge point  90  to about the rising slope of the hump  80 . A rear ridge  92  may extend from a rear merge point  94  towards the hump  80 .  
         [0056]      FIG. 3A  illustrates another embodiment of the present disclosure. In  FIG. 3A , there is no flow directional hump separating the front and rear portions. Instead, there is a smooth transition between the front and rear portions.  
         [0057]     A pair of water return channels  96  are each formed between an outer pool sidewall  98  and one of the flow directing walls  38 . Each of the water return channels  96  forms a path to allow water to be returned from the rear portion  36  to the front portion  34  of the pool to thereby create a circulating current through which a user  50  may swim.  
         [0058]     It should be noted that the outer pool sidewall  98  is also smoothly contoured to optimize the circulation of water. In particular, the outer pool wall  98  is rounded at the ends to direct the water appropriately into or out of one of the water return channels  96 . The front ridge  84  and the rear ridge  92  may facilitate the merging or separation of the water flow, respectively.  
         [0059]     The flow directing walls  38  may each comprises an inner front portion  104  and an inner rear portion  106 . Referring now more particularly to  FIG. 2 , each inner front portion  104  may comprise an arcuate surface and taper inward to thereby narrow a water entrance  73 . The inner rear portions  106  of the flow directing walls  38  extend relatively parallel to the swim area to a water exit  74 .  
         [0060]     Disposed within each of the water return channels may be jets  100  and inlets  101 . The inlets  101  may supply a pump or impeller driven by a motor, neither explicitly shown, to create a water stream exiting through jets  100 . The positioning of the inlets  101  and the jets  100  may be such to aid water circulation in the pool  22 .  
         [0061]     Jets  100  may comprise variable nozzles  102  and the output of the pump and motor may also be variable as will now be explained. The output of the jets  100  may be controlled by varying the nozzles  102  or the output from the motor running the pump or impeller(not shown). The swim trainer may comprise a control panel  108  and position sensors  110  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The position sensors  110  may include infrared, optical, laser or any other device known to those skilled in the art capable of determining the position of the user  50  in the pool  22 .  
         [0062]     The block diagram in  FIG. 10  illustrates how the control panel  108 , load sensor  54 , and position sensor  110  may each control the water flow in the trainer  20 . The control panel  108 , load sensor  54  and position sensor  110  are all in communication with controller  112  which may control a variable speed motor  114  driving a pump or impeller  116 . The controller may also control servos  118  which vary the output of nozzles  120 .  
         [0063]     In the case of the manual control panel  108 , the user may select a flow rate or a preprogrammed routine. In the case of the load sensor  54 , the water flow is determined by the load on the sensor  54 . In the case of the position sensor  110 , the position of the user  50  in the pool  22  determines the water flow generated by the pump  116  and/or nozzles  120 . For example, in the event that the user  50  is moving rearwards in the swim area, the water flow may decrease in order to allow the user to return to an optimum position. In the event that the user  50  is moving forward in the swim area, the water flow may increase. In addition, information from the load sensor  54  may be fed to an electrical device such as a computer to record the workout. The load sensor  54 , may for example, be able to measure and determine the swimmer&#39;s power.  
         [0064]     As may be seen in  FIG. 7 , the flow lines show the flow of the water in the pool  22 . As the user  50  begins swimming, the water is moved over the hump  80  and into the rear portion  36  of the pool  22 . The rear ridge  92  directs the water into one of the water return channels  96 . If present, the inlets  101  and jets  100  assist the flow of water through the water return channels  96  and into the front portion  34  of the pool.  
         [0065]     The water enters the front portion  34  of the swim area from the water return channels  96 . Some of the water from each of the water return channels  96  converges at the front merge point  90  and at the front ridge  84 . These features direct the flow of water towards the swim area.  
         [0066]     Small vortexes represented by the flow lines marked with the reference numeral  114  may form next to each of the inner front portions of the flow directing walls  38 . These vortexes create an additional current to overcome friction losses and thereby contribute to the overall water flow. Once past the vortexes, the water then flows through the swim area and is recirculated. As best seen in  FIG. 2 , a rear portion  38 A of each of the flow directing walls  38  may be wider than a front portion  38 B of the flow directing walls  38 . In one embodiment, the rear portion  38 A is 50% wider than the front portion  38 B.  
         [0067]     The flow of the water through the swim area and around the water return channels  96  is further facilitated by a contoured bottom of the pool  22 . Each water return channel  96  may be less than or equal to 50% of the width of the swim area. As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the front portion  34  of the swim area is deeper than the rear portion  36  of the swim area. The contoured bottom in the front portion  34  is further divided into two sides by the ridge  84  protruding from the bottom. These features, in conjunction with the flow directing hump  80 , improve the natural flow of water in the pool  22 . It will be appreciated that the contoured bottom pursuant to the present disclosure may be of any shape that improves the flow of water through the swim area.  
         [0068]     In one exemplary embodiment, the pool  20  may have dimensions of 13′×10′×3′6″ (3.96 meters by 3.05 meters by 1.07 meters). The depth of the apex of the flow directional hump  80  may be about 2′ (0.60 meters) while the maximum depth of the front portion  34  and the rear portion  36  may be about 3′6″ (1.07 meters) and 2′6″ (0.76 meters), respectfully.  
         [0069]     As previously mentioned, a swim trainer  20 C pursuant to the present disclosure may be of modular design as shown in  FIG. 8 . Each of the modular pieces may include a flanged portion  130 . When assembled, each of the flanged portions  130  be held together with a bolt and nut assembly. A gasket material (not shown) may be interposed between each of the flanged portions  130  to create a water tight seal.  
         [0070]     In a separate embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , a swim trainer  20 D may comprise a removable insert module  120  that can be placed in a larger swimming pool as shown in  FIG. 9 . The removable insert module  120  may include weights or underwater tubes for holding the swim trainer  20 D in place. Ports may allow water from the pool to enter the swim trainer  20 D. The insert module  120  may also include leveling pads to level the swim trainer  20 D in the pool.  
         [0071]     It should also be noted that a swim-in-place trainer pursuant to the present disclosure may also comprise a flow meter for determining a distance swam by a swimmer. The flow meter may be disposed in the swim area or optionally in the water return channels. The present disclosure may also comprise a method to a method for exercising, comprising the steps of (a) determining a number of average strokes required by a particular swimmer to swim a given distance; (b) counting the strokes made by the swimmer while said swimmer is swimming in place; and (c) determining an equivalent workout, defined by a swim distance, simulated by the work performed by the swimmer while swimming in place, based on the number of strokes made by the swimmer while swimming in place.  
         [0072]     It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present disclosure. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the present disclosure has been shown in the drawings and described above with particularity and detail, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein.