Swimming device

Abstract

The present invention relates to devices for facilitating swimming. The proposed swimming device comprises a supporting base 1 having a first supporting surface 2, a second supporting surface 3, and at least one fixing surface 4, wherein each of the supporting surfaces is configured for placing a human ankle on it in such a way that the swimming device forms a single line with a centerline of a human body. The technical result is reduction in a friction force in water due to ability of a user to hold his / her ankle and foot in a correct position.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to devices for facilitating swimming.BACKGROUND

[0002] Currently, there is a wide variety of swimming equipment designed to increase swimming speed, increase buoyancy, and improve swimming efficiency. Buoyancy-enhancing devices include life jackets, belts, floaties, vests, and sweatshirts; and efficiency-enhancing devices include fins, masks, and snorkels (and scuba gear as well for underwater crossing).

[0003] Known from the prior art are pull buoys. For example, RF patent No. RU52723 titled "DEVICE FOR MOVING IN WATER (EMBODIMENTS)" (published on April 27, 2006) describes a device for moving in water, attached to the swimmer's legs, which is made as two guide bars fastened parallel to each other and equipped with stabilizers having the shape of ovals and installed at the ends of the guide bars. Rotatable shutters configured to cover the entire area of the device between the stabilizers are attached to the guide bars.

[0004] A disadvantage of this device is that it cannot be securely fixed between the swimmer's limbs, thereby preventing the swimmer from concentrating on the swimming technique.

[0005] Russian patent No. RU85350 (published on August 10, 2009) describes a monofin, which is a flexible flat blade with a length of at least 40 cm having a leading edge that is narrower than the trailing edge, and two foot pockets attached to the blade in its narrow part symmetrically with respect to the midline and directed with their toes towards the wide edge of the blade. The foot pockets are made of elastic material of a specific weight less than the specific weight of water and are covered with a layer of elastic rubber.

[0006] The main disadvantage of this technical solution is that the monofin is easy-to-use, as it is quite heavy and increases the load on the swimmer's calf muscles due to its design.

[0007] Thus, today a large number of swimming devices are known, but there is none that would allow a swimmer to hold an ankle and, accordingly, a foot in an appropriate position, thereby creating an optimal load on swimmer's legs and increasing swimmer's speed.SUMMARY

[0008] The purpose of the present invention is to create a device that would increase speed of an athlete and relieve load on his legs.

[0009] The technical result the claimed invention is aimed at is to reduce the friction force in water due to a more favorable position of the athlete's ankle.

[0010] The set problem is solved, and the claimed technical result is achieved by a swimming device comprising a supporting base having a first supporting surface, a second supporting surface, and at least one fixing surface, wherein each of the supporting surfaces is configured for placing a human ankle on it in such a way that the swimming device forms a single line with the centerline of a human body.

[0011] The set problem can be solved, and the stated technical result can be achieved in particular embodiments of the claimed swimming device.

[0012] For example, the swimming device may be configured in such a way that each of the supporting surfaces, the supporting base and the fixing surface are formed as a single body.

[0013] In addition, a single body in the swimming device may have a slot, wherein the slot of the single body may be located between the first supporting surface and the fixing surface.

[0014] The slot of the single body can be made with an adjustable width, wherein the width can be adjusted using a screw. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the location of the screw head does not play a fundamental role in the claimed invention, and it is also obvious that adjusting the slot helps to better secure the device between the feet.

[0015] The first supporting surface and the fixing surface can be arranged mainly parallel to each other, wherein it is advantageous that the fixing surface is offset towards the second supporting surface.

[0016] The first supporting surface and the second supporting surface may lie in substantially the same plane.

[0017] A swimming device can be made of durable and lightweight material, wherein a durable material can refer both to a foamed plastic, or any other material similar in weight and strength characteristics to foamed plastic, for example, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA).

[0018] The claimed swimming device and the above embodiments thereof allow the swimmer to take a correct position of its body in the water, namely, a correct position of the ankle and foot. According to its physiology, the foot tries to take a perpendicular position relative to the leg, which causes additional resistance to movement in the water. The claimed swimming device allows the foot to be correctly oriented in downstream direction, which reduces resistance in the water and, accordingly, allows the swimmer to expend less effort in the process of swimming.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Hereafter, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the figures, wherein: FIG. 1 shows a front view; FIG. 2 shows a bottom view; FIG. 3 shows a frontal projection of an inverted view; and FIG. 4 shows a rear view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] First, it should be noted that the embodiments of the swimming device illustrated in the figures are provided for a general understanding of the present invention and may differ to greater or lesser extent from those actually used; however, for the purpose of explaining the present invention, mainly the presented embodiments of the swimming device will be described below.

[0021] The claimed swimming device comprises a lightweight supporting base 1, for example, made of a foamed plastic. The use of a lightweight material allows trained and untrained athletes to increase speed and duration of swims without additional load on their legs.

[0022] Two supporting surfaces 2 and 3 extend from a supporting base 1, wherein longitudinal axes of the first supporting surface 2 and the second supporting surface 3 are perpendicular to a plane of the supporting base 1, and the first supporting surface 2 and the second supporting surface 3 lie substantially in the same plane or in planes close to each other. However, it should be taken into consideration that the first supporting surface 2 and the second supporting surface 3 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the plane of the supporting base 1, and are also spaced apart such that the first supporting surface 2 and the second supporting surface 3 are located on the opposite ends of the supporting base 1. The symmetric arrangement of the first supporting surface 2 and the second supporting surface 3 with respect to the plane of the supporting base 1 is an essential condition for achieving positive buoyancy, as well as to avoid misalignment of the swimming device and, consequently, the swimmer.

[0023] In addition, at least one fixing surface 4 extends from the supporting base 1, which is substantially similar to the first supporting surface 2 and the second supporting surface 3, but lies in a different plane relative to them. In this case, the first supporting surface 2, the second supporting surface 3, and at least one fixing surface 4 are located mainly parallel to each other, wherein at least one fixing surface 4 can be offset towards the second supporting surface 3.

[0024] The second supporting surface 2 may have stiffening ribs located at the points of its connection with the supporting base 1, which act as a stabilizer for the swimming device as a whole, thereby increasing the speed of the swimmer's movement.

[0025] The supporting base 1 may contain a slot, which enables using the swimming device by different categories of people with different limb lengths. One skilled in the art shall appreciate that the slot 5 is sized commensurate with the entire swimming device, as shown in Fig. 3. Besides, it should be noted that the slot 5 cannot occupy a larger percentage of the surface area of the entire device.

[0026] The swimming device may further comprise a screw 6 extending substantially in the plane of the supporting base 1. For example, as shown in the figures, the screw 6 extends through the supporting base 1 and through the fixing surface 4.

[0027] The screw 6 is intended to adjust the width of the slot 5. The screw 6 can be made of any plastic, metal, or other material that would ensure performing its primary function, i.e. through-screwing into the supporting base 1, passing through the fixing surface 4 in a specific embodiment of the claimed device. As such, the screw 6 must be securely fixed in the hole not to create any interference for a swimmer and not to be unscrewed under the action of friction force of water. In addition, the screw 6 can be hollow to be filled with water to further increase the weight of the swimming device.

[0028] Each of the supporting surfaces 2, 3, 4 is configured for placing a human ankle on it in such a way that the swimming device forms a single line with the centerline of a human body. The operation of the swimming device will be described in more detail below.

[0029] It is worth noting that additional weights can be used to improve the swimming ability of a swimmer. For example, the screw 6 adjusting the width of the slot 5 can be hollow and filled with water if needed. Holes can be made in the body of the product for placing weights in them. The need to use weights in the swimming device will be determined on the spot, as it is affected by the following factors: water density, user's body weight, and physical skills of using the swimming device. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, for example, that a child may need a weight to use the swimming device in seawater, but when the same child uses the swimming device in fresh water, weights may not be necessary. In order for the device to be universal, as it was originally intended, the need for weights is determined on the spot by a user.

[0030] An example of using the claimed swimming device is described below.

[0031] Any person, either a child or an adult, who knows how to swim and wants to achieve a greater speed, as well as to improve his swimming technique both in open water, either in a sea or a lake, and in a pool, can use the claimed swimming device in the following way. The swimming device is positioned in the ankle area in such a way that the swimmer's ankle and toes are placed on the supporting surfaces 2 and 3, and the heel and back of the ankle are fixed by at least one fixing surface 4 such that the swimming device does not slip out or interfered with the swimmer's movement in the process of swimming. A specially designed slot 5 is necessary to select the optimal distance between the first supporting surface 2 and the fixing surface 4. The optimal distance is selected by adjusting the screw 6 that can either be tightened, thereby reducing the distance between the first supporting surface 2 and the fixing surface 4, or untightened, thereby increasing the specified distance in the process of its unscrewing. For example, it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that a different width of the slot 5 is required for a child and an adult, as well as for a woman and a man. It is also important to take into account the density of the water in which the swim will take place. The water density will directly affect both the need to reduce or, conversely, increase the slot, and the need to add some weights. As described above, this is an extra option that can be provided either by replacing the screw 6 with a hollow one made, for example, of plastic, or by adding some weights.

[0032] Thus, the present invention contributes to creation of such a device that would increase speed of an athlete and relieve load on legs when used in open and closed water, as well as when used by any category of users.

Claims

1. A swimming device comprising a supporting base having a first supporting surface, a second supporting surface, and at least one fixing surface, wherein each of the supporting surfaces is configured for placing a human ankle on it in such a way that the swimming device forms a single line with the centerline of a human body.

2. The swimming device according to claim 1, wherein each of the supporting surfaces, the supporting base and the at least one fixing surface are formed as a single body.

3. The swimming device according to claim 2, wherein the single body has a slot made between the first supporting surface and the at least one fixing surface.

4. The swimming device according to claim 3, wherein the slot is made with an adjustable width adjusted by means of a screw.

5. The swimming device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first supporting surface and the at least one fixing surface are arranged mainly parallel to each other, wherein the at least one fixing surface is offset towards the second supporting surface.

6. The swimming device according to claim 1 or claim 3, wherein the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface lie substantially in the same plane.

7. The swimming device according to claim 1, made of a durable and lightweight material.

8. The swimming device according to claim 7, wherein said material is a foamed plastic.

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