Abstract:
A device can be attached to either the legs or to the arms of a swimmer and produces resistance to swimming whereby the swimmer increases muscle strength and/or technique using the device. There are several forms of the device which offer different amounts of resistance and the device can be worn on either the swimmer&#39;s arm or the swimmer&#39;s leg.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to the general art of rehabilitation and muscle training, and to the particular fields of training and rehabilitation which use swimming. 
   2. Discussion of the Related Art 
   Swimming is one of the most relaxing and beneficial exercises that one can undertake. No undue pressure is placed on the swimmer&#39;s limbs or joints as is the case with some other exercises. The water supports the swimmer and thus undue pressure is not applied to the limbs or joints. 
   For this reason, swimming is often used to condition a person. For this reason, swimming is also sometimes used as part of a rehabilitation program. 
   As in any exercise, the person becomes better and more proficient as their muscles and cardiovascular system adapt to higher and higher stress levels. 
   As is the case with any sport or exercise, there is a great deal of equipment that is intended for use by swimmers to improve their skills, their muscle strength or their cardiovascular system. This equipment includes kickboards, hand paddles, drag equipment, weights and the like. 
   However, in spite of the existence of such equipment, the inventor is not aware of any such equipment that can be easily modified and changed for increasing levels of exercise. That is, as the swimmer becomes stronger, the equipment should place greater stress on his or her muscles in order to continue the improvement. Still further, even if the swimmer has achieved a certain level of muscle strength, that swimmer may not want to practice at the top level of strength for an entire workout or may want to vary the level of resistance for different workouts. The inventor is not aware of any equipment that can achieve these goals. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a swim training device that can be easily modified to accommodate increased swimmer strength and/or improved swimming technique and which is easily modified to meet the requirements of a specific workout. 
   If the swim equipment is being used as part of a rehabilitation process, the swimmer may not be able to easily don the equipment. There may be limited mobility or limited dexterity which makes putting the equipment on or taking the equipment off difficult. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a swim training device that is easy to put on and take off. 
   Since a swimmer uses both his or her legs and his or her arms, improvement is best facilitated by strengthening both arms and both legs. While there may be equipment that is used to strengthen a swimmer&#39;s arms (e.g., hand paddles) and there may be equipment used to strengthen a swimmer&#39;s legs (e.g. swim fins), the inventor is not aware of any single piece of equipment that can be used for either or both arm and/or leg strengthening. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a swim training device that can be used for either strengthening the swimmer&#39;s arms or legs. 
   PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a main object of the present invention to provide a swim training device that can be easily modified to accommodate increased swimmer strength and/or improved swimmer technique. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a swim training device which is easily modified to meet the requirements of a specific workout. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a swim training device that is easy to put on and take off. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a swim training device that can be used for either strengthening the swimmer&#39;s arms or legs. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These, and other, objects are achieved by a swim training device that can be worn on either the forearms or on the legs of the swimmer. One form of the device includes water passage holes defined therethrough, a second form of the device includes smaller water passage holes, and a third form of the device does not have water passage holes. In this manner, the resistance of the device is controlled by the water passage holes. The device is attached to the swimmer using straps which have hook-and-loop fasteners thereon. 
   Using the swim training device embodying the present invention will permit a swimmer to easily put on or take off the device and will permit a swimmer to adjust the level of resistance to the needs of any particular workout. The device can be used on either the swimmer&#39;s arms or the swimmer&#39;s legs and is thus quite versatile. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a swim training device embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an elevational view of a first form of the swim training device embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is an elevational view of a second form of the swim training device embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is an elevational view of a third form of the swim training device embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 5A  shows the device embodying the present invention worn on the front of the arm of a swimmer. 
       FIG. 5B  shows the device embodying the present invention worn on the rear of the arm of the swimmer. 
       FIG. 6A  is a front view showing the device embodying the present invention worn on the leg of the swimmer. 
       FIG. 6B  is a side view showing the device embodying the present invention worn on the leg of the swimmer. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
   Referring to the Figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a swim training device  10  that can be attached to the swimmer&#39;s leg or to the swimmer&#39;s forearm. Device  10  comprises a water impermeable body  12  which includes a first circular section  14 , which has an outer periphery  15  and a first diameter  16  as measured with respect to the outer periphery  15 , a first face  18 , a second face  20 , and first and second strap-accommodating holes  22  and  24  defined therethrough from the first face  18  to the second face  20 . The water-impermeable material can be plastic or the like. 
   Device  10  further includes a second section  30  which is one-piece with the first section  14  and which includes an outer periphery  32  and a second dimension  34  that is measured with respect to the outer periphery  32  of the second section  30  and which is smaller than the first diameter  16 . Second section  30  further includes a first face  36 , that is co-planer with first face  18  of the first section  14 , and a second face  38 , that is co-planar with second face  20  of the first section  14 . The second section  30  further includes third and fourth strap-accommodating holes  40  and  42  defined therethrough. 
   Device  10  further includes a body-attaching system  50  for releasably attaching the device  10  to the swimmer. System  50  includes a first strap  52  mounted on the first section  14  via first and second strap-accommodating holes  22  and  24  and a second strap  54  mounted on the second section  30  via third and fourth strap-accommodating holes  40  and  42 . Each of the straps  52 ,  54  includes two end sections, such as end sections  56  and  58  on strap  52  and hook-and-loop fastener elements, such as hook-and-loop fastener elements  60  and  62 , located adjacent to each of the end sections  56 ,  58 . 
   A first cushion element  70  is mounted on the first face  18  of the first section  14 , and a second cushion element  72  is mounted on the first face  36  of the second section  30 . The cushion elements  70 ,  72  engage the skin of the swimmer and are formed of soft material, such as foam or the like, for comfort. 
   As discussed above, in some cases, the swimmer may want maximum resistance to swimming and in other cases the swimmer may want minimum resistance. Therefore, device  10  includes several forms. A first form is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4  in which virtually the entire surface area of the device is impermeable to water and maximum resistance will be produced. 
   However, if less swimming resistance is desired, device  10  can accommodate such objective as well. In this case, holes are defined through the device so water may pass through the device thereby reducing the resistance. The holes are sized according to how much resistance is desired. 
   Therefore, device  10  has the least resistance in  FIG. 2  and the device includes a plurality of oval-shaped holes  80  defined through the first section  14  and through the second section  30 , each of the holes having a major axis  82  and a minor axis  84 . The plurality of holes  80  includes a first set of holes  86  defined through the first section  14  and a second set of holes  88  defined through the second section  30 . The second set of holes  88  are oriented with respect to the holes in the first set of holes  86  to have the major axes  82  of the holes of the first set of holes  86  oriented perpendicularly to the major axes  82  of the holes in the second set of holes  88 . The major axes  82  of the holes of the first set of holes  86  are parallel with each other and the major axes  82  of the holes of the second set of holes  88  are parallel with each other. 
   A third oval-shaped hole  90  is located where the first and second sections  14 ,  30  join each other. Third oval-shaped hole  90  has a major axis  92 , oriented parallel to the major axes  82  of the holes in the first set of holes  86 , and a minor axis  94 . 
   If still greater resistance is desired, device  10  can be used and will have a plurality of circular holes, such as circular holes  96  shown in  FIG. 3 , defined in the first and second sections  14 ,  30 . Circular holes  96  include holes  98  defined near the outer periphery  15  of the first section  14 , holes  100  defined near the outer periphery  32  of the second section  30  and holes  102  defined in the first section  14  that are spaced apart from the outer periphery  15  of the first section  14 . 
   As mentioned above, device  10  can be worn on either the arm or the leg of the swimmer. Device  10  on the arm of the swimmer is shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  with device  10  being worn on the front of the arm in  FIG. 5A  and on the rear of the arm in  FIG. 5B . Device  10  can also be worn on the leg of the swimmer as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , with device  10  being worn on the front of the leg in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . Device  10  can also be worn on either the side or the rear of the leg as desired. 
   It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.