Abstract:
A swim training apparatus which is simplified for use by a novice, toddler or child not yet ready to enter the water or just learning to swim is generally comprised of two shell sections defining an enclosure for housing a mechanism for facilitating the training process. The defined enclosure receives a pair of hand track systems which are connected by a cable so that the retraction of a hand grip associated with one of the hand track systems automatically causes the hand grip associated with the other one of the hand track systems to advance to a position which is appropriate for engagement by the opposite hand of the user of the apparatus, in an alternating fashion which simulates a swimming stroke. The hand track systems are configured so that the hand grip which is grasped by the user remains exposed during retraction of the hand grip, and so that the remaining hand grip is contained within the enclosure until such time as it has been advanced forward for engagement by the user&#39;s other hand. In this way, the user is prompted to alternatingly and successively reach for one of the hand grips, while leaving the other hand (and arm) free to simulate the recovery portion of the swimming stroke, and to promote safety by removing potentially interfering structures from the user&#39;s field of motion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a swim training apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus that can be used to teach, exercise and practice basic swimming skills. 
     There are a variety of situations where it would be desirable to have the availability of a device that can either help teach a non-swimmer proper stroking form, such as a basic freestyle stroke, or to allow a person with prior knowledge of a stroke, once learned, to practice and/or to strengthen his or her form. In many cases, particularly for a beginner, it would be desirable to allow the stroke to be learned while out of the water, to gain a basic understanding of the stroke and to develop an appropriate level of confidence prior to entering the water. It would also be desirable to allow a swimmer that has learned the basic form for a particular stroke to practice his or her form while out of the water. This would allow a trainer to better view the swimmer&#39;s form, for purposes of improving that form. This could also be beneficial in situations where the user is a child not yet of an age or level of skill sufficient to enter a swimming pool without a significant amount of supervision. 
     A variety of sports training devices have been devised to facilitate the training of individuals in the exercise and practice of various swimming techniques (i.e., strokes). These devices have primarily relied upon relatively complex mechanical arrangements to define the arm and/or leg motion desired for the particular swimming stroke being practiced. Early devices often used pull-strings, rotating handles and other similar mechanisms for this purpose, and were generally found to suffer from the shortcoming that each operated to emphasize the development and practice of swimming mechanics by emphasizing and developing arm and shoulder pulling strength, or leg kicking strength. This was found to be self-limiting since swimming does not rely entirely on muscle strength, but rather is heavily reliant upon the development of proper swimming technique and the ability to develop efficient swimming habits. This was found to be particularly important for novice swimmers, especially in the case of toddlers and young children first learning to swim. 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/197,084 discloses a more advanced swim training apparatus, and the subject matter of this disclosure is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. The disclosed apparatus operates to correctly simulate the various attributes of a correctly executed swimming stroke (e.g., a crawl or freestyle stroke) by combining a rotatable table for receiving the user with a hand track system which simulates the overall attributes of the desired stroke. The hand track system includes paired paddle systems for receiving the user&#39;s hands during the various phases of the stroke being exercised. This, in turn, operates to guide the user&#39;s hands and arms into their correct position during the simulated stroke while allowing the hands and arms to freely progress without interference from the operative components associated with the hand track system. 
     The system disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/197,084 works well to facilitate the training of more complex and advanced swimming strokes. However, such a device can in certain circumstances be more advanced than is necessary or appropriate for more basic learning experiences. An example of this would be initial training in a basic swimming technique, such as in situations where the swimmer is a novice, toddler or young child not yet possessing a level of experience or sufficient skill to enter a swimming pool without adult supervision. Accordingly, it has become desirable to develop a swim training apparatus which is more suited to such needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Such improvements are achieved in accordance with the present invention by providing a swim training apparatus having many of the attributes of the apparatus disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/197,084, but which has been simplified to better suit the needs of a novice, toddler or young child first learning to swim. 
     To this end, the swim training apparatus of the present invention is generally comprised of two shell sections defining an enclosure for housing the mechanism which will be used to facilitate the training process. The defined enclosure receives a pair of hand track systems which are connected by a cable so that the retraction of a hand grip associated one of the hand track systems automatically causes the hand grip associated the other one of the hand track systems to advance to a position which is appropriate for engagement by the opposite hand of the user of the apparatus, in an alternating fashion which simulates the basic swimming stroke. Each of the hand track systems are configured so that the hand grip which is being grasped by the user remains exposed during retraction of the hand grip (i.e., while simulating a swimming stroke), and so that the remaining hand grip is contained within the enclosure until such time as it has been advanced forward, for engagement by the user&#39;s other hand (i.e., to simulate a subsequent swimming stroke). 
     As a result, the user is prompted to alternatingly and successively reach for one of the hand grips, while leaving the other hand (and arm) free to simulate the recovery portion of the swimming stroke. Moreover, potentially interfering structures are removed from the user&#39;s field of motion, promoting safety in the course of the training process. 
     For further discussion of the swim training apparatus of the present invention, reference is made to the detailed description which is provided below, taken in conjunction with the following illustrations. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 are isometric views showing operations of a preferred embodiment swim training apparatus produced in accordance with the present invention, with the cover of the apparatus exploded away to reveal internal construction. 
     FIGS. 3 to  5  are isometric views showing alternative configurations for the cover of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric view corresponding to the views shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the cover of the apparatus in place and ready for use. 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the swim training apparatus shown in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged isometric view showing forward portions of the swim training apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as one of the hand grips exits the enclosure, for engagement by the user&#39;s hand. 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the swim training apparatus shown in FIG. 8, taken along the line  9 — 9 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment swim training apparatus  1  which is particularly well suited to the instruction of a novice swimmer, toddler or young child not yet of an age or level of skill sufficient to enter a swimming pool without close supervision. It will be appreciated that the apparatus  1  can be used to simulate any of a variety of swimming strokes, if desired. However, for purposes of the description which follows, it will be assumed that the user is learning a rudimentary stroke sufficient to successfully navigate a body of water utilizing an alternating arm motion characteristic of a basic “freestyle” or “doggy paddle” stroke. 
     The swim training apparatus  1  is generally comprised of an enclosure  2  which houses a pair of hand track systems  3   a ,  3   b . The enclosure  2  is comprised of two shell sections  4 ,  5  which combine to define a housing  6  for receiving the pair of hand track systems  3   a ,  3   b . The lower shell section  4  constitutes a body for receiving the various structural elements of the apparatus  1 , as will be described more fully below. The upper shell section  5  constitutes a cover for enclosing the body  4  and is configured to receive a user so that the user is supported in a generally horizontal orientation similar to the position the user would assume while in the water, and so that the hands and arms of the user can extend freely from the enclosure  2  toward the hand track systems  3   a ,  3   b . The hand track systems  3   a ,  3   b  can then be engaged by the hands of the user, as will be discussed more fully below, for purposes of simulating the desired swimming stroke. It will be understood that the swim training apparatus  1  can be modified from the illustrative configuration which is shown in FIGS. 1 to  9  to simulate any of a number of different swimming strokes, if desired, and that the enclosure  2  can be provided with any of a number of visually pleasing configurations (e.g., an ornamental design simulating a Dolphin, Orca or other aquatic theme) to make the apparatus more appealing to toddlers and younger children. 
     Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the body  4  includes a base  7  and opposing, laterally extending side walls  8 . Front and rear supports  9 ,  10  are provided for receiving the cover  5  and for retaining the cover  5  in position over the body  4  to develop the previously described housing  6 . A pedestal  11  preferably extends upwardly from central portions of the base  7  to provide added support for cental portions of the cover  5 . 
     The cover  5  is generally flat in shape, for simplicity, which will be sufficiently useful for training a novice or small child. The lateral edges  12  of the cover  5  are preferably padded to minimize impacts with the user&#39;s hands and arms while using the apparatus. If desired, the lateral edges  12  can be provided with bolsters  13  (shown in FIG. 3) or vertical projections  14  (shown in FIG. 4) extending along portions of the cover  5  that are not adjacent to the user&#39;s shoulders (e.g., adjacent to the head, the lower body and/or the feet) for added safety. The cover  5  can also be provided with a contoured shape, such as a concave shape  15  (shown in FIG. 5) which is adapted to receive the user&#39;s body in a more confined space, or a concave tray (not shown) which is capable of permitting the user&#39;s body to rotate as the swimming stroke is simulated (as is described, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/197,084). 
     One of the hand track systems  3   a ,  3   b  is mated with each of the sides  8  of the body  4 . Each of the hand track systems  3   a ,  3   b  generally includes a rail  16  which is positioned inboard from its adjacent side wall  8 , and a paddle assembly  17  which is slidingly received by the rail  16  for longitudinal movement along the rail  16  and for free rotation about a longitudinal axis which is defined by the rail  16 . 
     The rail  16  is in each case mounted to a front wall  18  and a rear wall  19  so that the paddle assembly  17  can assume either of two configurations. In one configuration, the paddle assembly  17  is positioned to engage and slide along the adjacent side wall  8  of the body  4 , constituting a raised position for engagement by the user to simulate a swimming stroke. In another configuration, the paddle assembly  17  is positioned to hang vertically downwardly, extending within the enclosure  2 , along the adjacent side wall  8  of the body  4 , constituting a lowered position which precludes engagement of the paddle assembly  17  by the user. 
     The rail  16  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is straight and uniform in configuration, simulating a simplified and linear path for the simulated swimming stroke. In this configuration, the paddle assembly  17  can be implemented as a cylindrical sleeve  20  which slidingly overlies the rail  16 , and a hand grip  21  which extends from the sleeve  20  and which provides a surface for engagement by the user&#39;s hand when the paddle assembly  17  is in the raised position (resting upon the adjacent side wall  8 ). Some or all of the surfaces of the hand grip  21  can be padded, if desired, for comfort and for safety. 
     It will be understood that a simplified hand track system  3   a ,  3   b , including the linear rail  16  and the basic paddle assembly  17  selected for illustration in the drawings, will be preferred for simplicity and for use in initial (basic) training procedures, but that other, more complex configurations can be developed for more complex training procedures and to simulate other swimming strokes, if desired. As an example, the linear rail  16  can be replaced with a contoured rail (not shown) to more closely simulate a desired swimming stroke, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/197,084. In such case, the side walls  8  of the body  4  would have to be replaced with contoured walls having a shape which complements the shape of the contoured rails to develop the previously described raised and lowered operating positions. The sleeve  20  can be provided with one or more rollers (not shown) capable of riding on the rail  16 , to assist in smooth movement of the sleeve  20  along the rail  16 . The hand grip  21  can have the generally flat shape which is shown in the drawings, or a contoured shape which simulates a desired visual effect such as the “fin” or “flipper” of a Dolphin or the like. Any of a number of variations (for the rail  16  and for the paddle assembly  17 ) can be developed to simulate any of a variety of visual and/or functional effects. 
     The paddle assemblies  17  of the respective hand track systems  3   a ,  3   b  are interconnected by a cable  22  extending from the leading edge of each of the paddle assemblies, at  23 . The cable  22  is preferably joined to the sleeve  20  of each of the paddle assemblies  17  so that the cable  22  remains within the confines of the enclosure  6 . Any of a variety of mechanical expedients may be used to accomplish this connection (e.g., by knotting the ends of the cable  22  or using appropriate hardware). If desired, the cable  22  can be made connectable with the paddle assembly  17  at different points, or in some other dimensionally variable fashion, to allow the hand track systems  3   a ,  3   b  to be adjusted (in size) to the intended user. 
     A pair of pulleys  24  are preferably provided to receive the cable  22  and to guide the cable  22  between the coupled pair of paddle assemblies  17  so that retraction (rearward) of one of the paddle assemblies  17  automatically draws the opposing paddle assembly  17  forward, and vice versa, as is best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The pulleys  24  are received by a pair of axles  25  which are advantageously mounted to forward portions  26  of the body  4 , on opposite sides of the support  9 . The pulleys  24  are in each case preferably mounted to the forward portions  26  of the body  4  so that the cable  22  is placed in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis which is defined by the rails  16  of the hand track systems  3   a ,  3   b . The pulleys  24  are preferably positioned slightly above the rails  16  and sufficiently ahead of the forwardmost extension possible for the paddle assemblies  17  to maintain this alignment between the cable  22  and each of the rails  16  throughout the entire range of motion established for the paddle assemblies  17 . Such alignment is considered important for promoting smooth travel of the paddle assemblies  17  fully along the rails  16 , from end to end. 
     For some applications, it may be desirable to develop a limited amount of resistance in conjunction with retraction of the paddle assemblies  17 . This capability can be developed by fitting the cable  22 , the pulleys  24  and/or the sleeves  20  with a suitable, friction-developing mechanism. The resistance which is developed may be either fixed or variable. 
     As mentioned previously, it is preferable for the paddle assemblies  17  to be capable of assuming either of two configurations including a raised position, in which the hand grip  21  of the paddle assembly  17  can engage and slide along the adjacent side wall  8  of the body  4 , and a lowered position, in which the hand grip  21  of the paddle assembly  17  can hang vertically downwardly, extending within the enclosure  2 , along the inside of the adjacent side wall  8  of the body  4 . This is considered important to prevent the user from coming in contact with the lowered hand grip  21 . 
     Preventing contact with the lowered hand grip  21  prevents the user from accidentally striking the hand grip  21 , which at that point is not in use, providing an added level of safety for the user. Moreover, lowering the unused hand grip  21  has the added advantage of preventing the user from engaging the hand grip  21  of the lowered paddle assembly  17  at times when the user&#39;s hand should be free to simulate the recovery portion of the swimming stroke which is being learned and practiced. This is particularly so for younger children, where there is often a natural tendency to simultaneously engage both of the hand grips  21 , preventing the user from learning the appropriate skills. 
     Preferably, both the raised and the lowered positions for the hand grips  21  of the paddle assemblies  17  are established automatically, responsive to movements of the paddle assemblies  17  along the rails  16  of the hand track systems  3   a ,  3   b  by the user. To this end, and collectively referring to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  6  and  7 , during the retraction of a raised (active) paddle assembly  17  (simulating the pull of a swimming stroke), the hand grip  21  is caused to proceed along the corresponding side wall  8 , resting upon the sill  27  of the side wall  8 . When the hand grip  21  is brought to a position which simulates the rearwardmost extension of the user&#39;s arm, the hand grip  21  is caused to progress beyond the sill  27  of the side wall  8 , extending over an opening  28  formed in the side wall  8 . As a result, when the hand grip  21  is released (at the end of its travel), the paddle assembly  17  is allowed to rotate downwardly, dropping into the enclosure  2  (shown at  29  in FIGS.  1  and  2 ). Each of the side walls  8  is provided with a sliding (pocket style) door  30 , which is capable of retraction within the side wall  8  for purposes of adjusting the point at which the paddle assembly  17  will drop into the enclosure  2  to match the size of the intended user. 
     Retraction of the hand grip  21  of the opposing paddle assembly  17  (shown at  31  in FIG.  1 ), which will then be in a raised position for engagement by the opposing hand of the user, will cause the lowered paddle assembly  17  (then in the position  29 ) to be drawn forward, along and adjacent to the inside of the side wall  8 , and within the enclosure  2 , preventing contact with the lowered hand grip  21  during this forward movement of the paddle assembly  17 . 
     Forward movement of the lowered paddle assembly  17  will continue, responsive to retraction of the hand grip  21  of the opposing paddle assembly  17 , until the lowered paddle assembly  17  approaches the forward portions  26  of the enclosure  2 . At this point, it becomes desirable to return the lowered paddle assembly  17  to a raised position. To accomplish this, the lowered paddle assembly  17  is caused to pass through a second opening  32  in the side wall  8  which is positioned toward the front of the enclosure  2 . The opening  32  is mated with a contoured guide  33  which is formed in the base  7  of the body  4 , and which is best seen with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings. The guide  33  is provided with a smoothly curved shaped which is contoured to receive the tip  34  of the hand grip  21  of the lowered paddle assembly  17 . Resulting from interaction between the tip  34  of the hand grip  21  and the curved surface of the contoured guide  33 , the hand grip  21  of the lowered paddle assembly  17  is moved to a raised position while simultaneously passing through the opening  32 . The contoured guide  33  is preferably provided with a rounded corner portion, at  35 , to prevent the surface of the hand grip  21  from encountering a resistant surface during its transition to a raised position. Upon complete retraction of the opposing paddle assembly  17 , the hand grip  21  will be brought fully forward and to a fully raised position, coming to rest on the forwardmost end  36  of the sill  27  and readying the raised hand grip  21  for engagement by the user during the next swimming stroke to be simulated. 
     A trap door  37  is pivotally associated with the opening  32 , in general alignment with the sill  27  of the side wall  8 . A pivot  38  connects the trap door  37  and the sill  27  so that the trap door  37  is raised by a hand grip  21  which is then passing through the opening  32  to the raised position, at  36 . Following this, the trap door  37  is allowed to close, by gravity. The trap door  37  is sized so that, when closed, a bridge is formed over the opening  32 , completing the sill  27  of the side wall  8 . The forwardmost (and raised) hand grip  21  can then be retracted along the sill  27 , passing over the opening  32 . 
     The foregoing operations occur both smoothly and continuously, automatically placing the hand grips  21  of the paddle assemblies  17  in position for appropriate, alternating engagement by the hands of the user, in this way facilitating the learning process and establishing a natural cadence for the swimming stroke which is being learned. 
     In use, one of the hand grips  21  (in the illustration of FIG. 1, the hand grip  21  then in the position  39 ) will be engaged by one of the user&#39;s hands, similar to a swimming stroke, which begins toward the user&#39;s head and shoulder (simulating an entry point into the water). Retraction of the engaged hand grip  21  then simulates forward movement of the body as the user pulls his or her hand back toward their thigh. The engaged hand grip  21  will slide along the sill  27  as the paddle assembly  17  is pulled by the user, passing the positions  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   c  shown in FIG.  1 . At the point when the user&#39;s arm is fully extended, down toward the thigh, proper form calls for the user to raise their hand from the water for return to the point of entry into the water. As one arm finishes its pull, and exits the water, the opposing arm should begin its entry into the water, near the user&#39;s head. This alternate arm, entry-and-exit motion is simulated by having one of the user&#39;s arms pull the engaged paddle assembly  17  along the sill  27  until the user&#39;s hand reaches the user&#39;s thigh. At this point (shown at  41  in FIG.  1 ), the sill  27  ends, the hand grip  21  is released, and the paddle assembly  17  is allowed to drop into the housing  6  of the apparatus  1  (shown at  42  in FIG.  1 ). The user&#39;s arm, which is at this point free and unencumbered, is then rotated forward to await the start of another stroke, when the paddle assembly  17  re-emerges from the enclosure  2  and is raised into position as previously described. 
     In conjunction with such operation, when the hand grip  21  is released, allowing the paddle assembly  17  to drop into the housing  6  (by gravity) to assume the position  42 , the enclosed paddle assembly  17  will be pulled forward (toward the front of the apparatus  1 , as shown in FIG. 2) by the cable  22  as the opposing paddle assembly  17  (shown at  43  in FIG. 1) is drawn in the opposite direction. This motion is caused when the engaged paddle assembly  17  (which is on the opposite side of the enclosed paddle assembly  17 ) is pulled rearward with the opposing hand (shown at  44   a ,  44   b ,  44   c  in FIG.  2 ). 
     Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, as the lowered paddle assembly  17  is moved along the side wall  8 , toward the forward portions  26  of the enclosure  2  (i.e., toward the user&#39;s head), the hand grip  21  will be guided through the opening  32  in the side wall  8 , emerging from the housing  6 , responsive to the interaction which is developed between the guide  33  of the enclosure  6  and the tip  34  of the hand grip  21  (shown by the positions  45   a ,  45   b ,  45   c ,  45   d  in FIGS.  8  and  9 ). As the hand grip  21  emerges from the opening  32 , the hand grip  21  will be guided past the trap door  37  and to the position  36 . The trap door  37  will then close, by gravity, readying the paddle assembly  17  for the next stroke to be simulated. 
     It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials and arrangement of parts which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the claims which follow. 
     For example, and as previously indicated, while the foregoing swim training apparatus  1  has been described for use in simulating a basic “freestyle” or “doggy paddle” stroke, a similarly configured apparatus can be used to simulate other strokes by appropriately modifying the shape, the configuration and/or the relative position of the various components which comprise the swim training apparatus  1  (primarily the hand track systems  3   a ,  3   b  and the body  4  of the enclosure  2 ). For purposes of simulating swimming strokes that do not employ an alternating arm motion, such as the “breast” and “butterfly” strokes, the connecting cable  22  and the pulleys  24  for receiving the cable  22  will also require modification to permit the simultaneous pulling movement which is required for such strokes to be established for the user&#39;s hands and arms, (e.g., by replacing the unitary cable  22  and the pulleys  24  with independent systems including return mechanisms that use springs or some other equivalent means for automatically returning the retracted paddle assemblies  17  to the forward end  26  of the apparatus  1 ). The outer appearance of the enclosure  2  can also be freely varied, as desired. 
     Although retraction of the hand grips  21  of the paddle assemblies  17  into the enclosure  2  is presently preferred, it would also be possible to provide the body  4  with continuous side walls (not shown) so that both of the paddle assemblies  17  are maintained in the raised position. However, in such case, and for the reasons previously mentioned, it is believed that a less satisfactory learning experience would result. 
     Other modifications, both simplified and more complex, will be equally apparent to the skilled artisan, and various optional features may be added to the apparatus, if desired. For example, the apparatus  1  can be provided with a sound-producing mechanism capable of developing suitable (e.g., ocean or Dolphin) sounds, either as background for the user&#39;s enjoyment, or which activate only when the paddle assemblies  17  are being utilized correctly, to signal the user that correct swimming technique is being simulated. 
     The apparatus  1  may also be provided with various convenience features. For example, the enclosure  2  can include front and/or rear wheels for assisting in moving the apparatus  1 , or to allow the apparatus  1  to be used as a riding toy. In such cases, two wheels are preferably located at the rear of the apparatus  1 , one on each side, to provide a stable base capable of preventing the apparatus  1  from tipping over. The front wheel (or wheels) can further provide a turning capability if desired.