Swim trainer

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...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Using a tether to simply hold a swimmer in place without a means to circulate the water has proven to be inadequately effective.

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.

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