Swim Trainer

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the technical field of athletics and aqua-therapy training devices. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of swim training for youths and adults, aqua-therapy aids for youths and adults, and water safety training devices for youths and adults.

Existing devices in the same technical field (referred to “swim trainers” for this document) have distinct design flaws in terms of adjustability for different student/client body types or skill levels, positioning of the student or client during training which negatively affects the efficacy of training and leads to results which may not enable the trainee to properly swim on their own, ability for some students or clients to grip and manipulate the swim trainer while training, and geometry to support a student or client as they progress in skill or recovery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a device to be used in swim training, exercise, and aqua-therapy by a wide variety of body types and sizes, irrespective of age or gender. It is designed to have various sizes within the same general design (ex. “Small” for children, “Large” for adults), and to be adjustable by design within each specific size. It consists of a molded, extruded, or inflatable cross member, with two pass-through holes to allow a standard foam float tube (known in the market as a “pool noodle”) to be inserted, completing the assembly. In essence, this invention may be seen as an accessory to the “pool noodle,” assembling to create a much more useful device. The cross member may have features to allow for a trainee to lay more comfortably face up or face down, and will include features to allow for hand holds on either end. Additionally, as a trainee progresses, or for different exercises during aqua-therapy, the crossmember may be used without a standard foam float tube as a light kick board or saddle seat style float.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is ¾ view of the device of the present invention. (10)

FIG. 2 is a front view of the device of FIG. 1 (10).

FIG. 3 is a top view of the device of FIG. 1 (10).

FIG. 4 is a ¾ view of the device of FIG. 1, shown with standard foam float tube inserted, in dashed lines (10).

FIG. 5 is a top view of the device of FIG. 1, shown with standard foam float tube (20) inserted, in dashed lines (10).

FIG. 6 is a side view of the inflatable device of FIG. 1, shown with pool float standard foam float tube (20) inserted, in dashed lines (10).

FIG. 7 is a ¾ view of the inflatable device of FIG. 1 (10), shown with standard foam float tube (20) inserted, in dashed lines, and face-up in-use human figure (30) shaded, for reference.

FIG. 8 is a ¾ view of the inflatable device of FIG. 1 (10), shown with standard foam float tube (20) inserted, in dashed lines, and face-down in-use human figure (30) shaded for reference.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, in FIG. 1 there is shown a cross member (10) consisting of buoyant physical material, such as foam, wood, etc., or buoyant construction, such as inflatable membrane or hollow shell filled with air or other buoyant physical material, such that the crossmember will float in water and maintain sufficient buoyancy to support a human being appropriate to the size of the design.

In further detail, now referring to the invention of FIG. 1 and now FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the crossmember has two symmetrically positioned through holes of an appropriate size to accommodate a standard foam pool float tube.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the crossmember (10) is shown from a ¾ view with a standard foam float tube (20) inserted into the through holes, forming the complete assembly, with the positioning of the hand grips in the crossmember, relative to the standard foam float tube.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the crossmember (10) is shown from a top view with a standard foam float tube (20) inserted into the through holes, further detailing the positioning required, forming the complete assembly, with the positioning of the hand grips in the crossmember, relative to the standard foam float tube.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the crossmember (10) is shown from a top view with a standard foam float tube (20) inserted into the through holes, further detailing the positioning required, forming the complete assembly, with the positioning of the hand grips in the crossmember, relative to the standard foam float tube.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the crossmember (10) and standard foam float tube (20) inserted into the through holes forming the complete assembly, with positioning of a human figure (30) detailing the manner of use for a trainee in a face-down (prone) position, further detailing the positioning required, forming the complete assembly, with the positioning of the hand grips in the crossmember, relative to the standard foam float tube.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the crossmember (10) and standard foam float tube (20) inserted into the through holes forming the complete assembly, with positioning of a human figure (30) detailing the manner of use for a trainee in a face-up (supine) position, further detailing the positioning required, forming the complete assembly, with the positioning of the hand grips in the crossmember, relative to the standard foam float tube.