Swimmer's training buoy with variable ballast

Abstract

Aspects of disclosed implementations include a training and teaching aid for swimmers and coaches in the form of a buoy incorporating removable ballasting devices in the form of refillable vessels, or alternatively, weights. The buoy is provided with means for securing the buoy to the body or clothing of the swimmer utilizing the device. Aspects include an optional warning device utilizing a flag or other three-dimensional device that extends from the buoy above the surface of the water while a swimmer is swimming with the buoy in place. Observers such as coaches can use the optional warning device to observe, document and quantify the extent and symmetry of a swimmer's hip and body rotation during swimming to perform stroke analysis and assist in teaching.

Description

PRIORITY[0001]The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 556,306, filed Jul. 24, 2012 which claims priority based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 511,462, filed Jul. 25, 2011.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates generally to flotation devices for use by swimmers and swim coaches for teaching and training. More particularly, the invention pertains to flotation device designed to be secured to swimmers' clothing or the swimmers' bodies, and provided with ballasting containers for adjusting the amount of flotation afforded by the device.DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART[0003]For competition swimmers, in particular, effective teaching and training can be facilitated by the use of flotation devices for supporting the swimmer's hips and legs so that an appropriately level position is maintained during training. It is known that improved performance by competitive swimmers can be achieved by training which conditions the s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The present invention overcomes the problems found in the prior art and provides an improved buoy which is readily adjustable for use by different swimmers, and whereby the buoyancy of the device can be adjusted by the user, where a warning device that oscillates with hip rotation of a swimmer indicates to observers or nearby watercraft that a swimmer is nearby, where the device is capable of carrying refreshments or other materials, and where the device is removably secured to the swimmer to avoid dislodgment during use.

[0011]In an embodiment, the buoy is formed with a foam member adapted for engagement with and retention by the legs of the swimmer. The buoy is in the form of a pair of spaced apart cylindrical elements having generally circular cross-section. The generally circular cross-section elements are interconnected by a connecting piece, and the entire buoy is of unitary construction, formed either by molding, extrusion, heat melt process or die cutting. The buoy includes an attachment device for securing the buoy to the swimmer's body or clothing. The buoy contains one or more compartments to accommodate one or more corresponding vessels which can be inserted in and removed from the compartments, and which vessels can be selectively filled with material which may be used to vary the buoyancy of the buoy, as well as maintaining a water-tight storage compartment, or utilized as a storage vessel for consumable liquids, such as water or sports drinks. The shape of the buoy accommodates the legs of the swimmer, providing flotation to the hips and legs of the swimmer. Ideally, the foam material is of sufficient resilience to be comfortably carried between the swimmer's legs without causing discomfort or irritation.

[0012]Aspects of disclosed embodiments include forming the buoy in a non-unitary fashion, where the generally circular cross-section elements are separated and interconnected using straps or other means to interconnect the elements. In an aspect of disclosed embodiments, the buoy can be formed from two asymmetric elements, where one element includes a compartment to accommodate one or more corresponding vessels and an attachment device for securing the buoy to a swimmer's body or clothing. The second element can include a compartment to accommodate a corresponding vessel as described above and attach to the first element using straps, which can be adjustable, or other means to connect the two elements. By adjusting the two elements that form the buoy, the buoy can be made to frictionally fit between a swimmer's legs, thereby assisting the attachment device in holding the buoy in position with respect to the swimmer's body.

[0013]Other aspects of disclosed embodiments include forming the buoy in three parts, where two of the parts include generally circular cross-section elements including compartments to accommodate two or more corresponding vessels and a third element that includes an attachment device for securing the buoy to a swimmer's body or clothing. The three elements can be held together using a strap, which can be adjustable or other means to connect the three elements. By adjusting the three elements that form the buoy, as discussed above, the buoy can be made to frictionally fit between a swimmer's legs, thereby assisting the attachment device in holding the buoy in position with respect to the swimmer's body.

[0014]Another aspect of disclosed embodiments includes the ability to interconnect an elastic loop with an existing swimming buoy to permit the swimming buoy to interconnect with a swimmer's legs to hold the swimming buoy in proximity to a swimmer in an improved fashion. The loop can also be used in conjunction with an ad hoc swimming buoy, which can be fashioned from any generally buoyant material that can comfortably be carried between a swimmer's legs as they swim.

[0015]By utilizing one or more removable vessels in combination with the buoy, a single sized buoy can provide a wide range of buoyancies to accommodate the needs of an equally wide range of swimmers.

Problems solved by technology

Further, these buoys can be quickly outgrown by youthful swimmers as they age and develop.

This device, too, suffers from many of the same limitations of Rademacher.

The lack of securement means on the prior art devices renders them susceptible to becoming dislodged during training, and inconvenience for the swimmer and coach.

There are further limitations in prior art devices.

Because swimmers' training is physically demanding, and because swimmers, especially open water swimmers, frequently carry with them personal articles such as identification cards, wallets, spectacles, cell phones and the like, current swimmers' training aids provide no facility for carrying and protecting such personal items, which often must be left poolside, in a locker or changing room, on the beach or in a car where they may be subject to loss or theft.

Current flotation training devices are not equipped with the capability of storing and carrying such items.

However, the swimmer is unable to put personal belongings inside the ballast cavity because of the device's small ballast filling aperture.

Further, swimmers are unlikely to fill the ballast with refreshments because the ballast's small filling aperture makes access to the ballast compartment difficult.

The lack of securement means the device is susceptible to becoming dislodged during training, and an inconvenience for the swimmer and coach.

However, the device does not teach the support of the swimmer's legs and hips.

Lastly, another limitation of the prior art devices is the lack of a warning element substantially above the surface of the water, which is needed to increase the visibility of the swimmer to observers, coaches and even watercraft.

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