PALM-PROPELLED AQUATIC LIFTER

Abstract

Aquatic support device with palmar propulsion consisting of a fixed structure (1) forming the aquatic lift made of polyethylene foam (2) also provided with a lower part serving as a seat (7) for the user whose body (8) and legs (9) serve as a connection operating by combination with his feet (10) fitted with soles (11) acting as fins thus allowing him to move forward in the water while optimizing muscular effort. Figure to be published for the abstract: [Fig 1]

Description

Title of the invention: AQUATIC LIFTER WITH PALM PROPULSION

[0001] The present invention relates to an aquatic support device with palmar propulsion consisting of an aquatic lift and propulsive webbed soles with variable geometry which the user uses to move without counter-effort. The aquatic lift becomes mobile and the muscular effort is optimized.

[0002] As things stand, muscle-powered support devices consist of a single rigid part with a central pedal assembly; the disadvantage is that the user is constrained and has no freedom of movement, which is not ideal.

[0003] Some palm propulsion devices exist but they have the disadvantage of not being fitted to a dedicated aquatic lift, they are therefore incomplete.

[0004] There is no aquatic support device with palm propulsion that the user uses to move with less effort: The user is therefore forced to equip himself with some kind of aquatic support and mismatched fins in order to move with maximum effort, which is not optimal.

[0005] The person skilled in the art has used unsuitable techniques by creating aquatic bicycles with a rigid frame resting on a bottom or floating mobile systems that are always rigid, unsuitable solutions without achieving the following objective: an aquatic lift with palmar propulsion consisting of an aquatic lift and propulsive fins with variable geometry and limited bulk and in which the user uses his body to connect the different elements, thus allowing him full freedom of aquatic movement and this in an economical and industrializable manner on a large scale.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks; it comprises, in fact, according to a first characteristic, an aquatic lift made of polyethylene foam covered with a waterproof PVC coating comprising on its upper part a central stabilizer provided with two handles forming the handlebar,also provided with a lower part serving as a seat for the user whose body and legs act as a connection operating by combination with his feet wearing soles acting as fins consisting of two fully deployed lateral fins firmly blocked by firm stops and whose leg movement generates active pedaling in a rotary manner in the trigonometric direction using the resistance force of the water to move forward and stop and that the opposing force of the water combined with the rise of the leg movement of the inactive pedaling acting on the two fins folds them back by folding them authoritatively along a thinned line produced, for this purpose in the fin of the palm operating the folding of the fin by plastic deformation following the direction of the folding and an opening angle thus opposing a fin whose surface reduced by the folding of the fins offers a minimum of dynamic force resulting from the kinematics of the circular translation linked to the pedaling rising along a virtual axis thus creating an optimized cycle of advancement without counter-effort at each pedaling revolution, by a movement of the leg in backpedaling in the anti-trigonometric direction the palmar propulsion lift moves back.

[0007] So when the user wants to do aquatic gymnastics, he puts on each foot a sole equipped with its two fins forming the variable geometry fin, pushes his foot under the wide retaining band of the front of his foot, wedges the back of his foot with a strap equipped with adjustment perforations, thus prepared, he descends into the water and rides his lift put in the water while maintaining his vertical balance using the two handles with which the handlebar is equipped, to move forward he exerts a pedaling movement and by circular translation moves the device forward with an optimized effort. At the end of use, he unclamps the retaining strap which wedges his foot, removes the two webbed soles from his feet and stores the assembly in a storage bag. Aquatic pedaling without structural constraints thus becomes mobile, practical and minimalist.

[0008] According to advantageous characteristics of the invention: the buoyancy of the lift is generated by a flexible envelope inflatable with air, by a floating material made of wood and any other floating material.

[0009] According to advantageous characteristics of the invention: the lift is provided with an abdominal strap for intensive use not shown here in a figure.

[0010] According to advantageous characteristics of the invention: a safety link connects the lift to the user in the event of capsizing, preventing it from moving away unexpectedly (not shown in a figure here).

[0011] According to advantageous characteristics of the invention: a tightening strap holds the foot firmly in the sole whatever the size.

[0012] According to advantageous characteristics of the invention: orientation stops limit the rise of the fins.

[0013] According to advantageous characteristics of the invention: the variable geometry generated by the fins is made by a fold whose rotary articulation is mechanically free in a single direction of the ratchet wheel and free bearing type not shown here in a figure.

[0014] According to advantageous characteristics of the invention: the webbed soles have a single fit that can be used for both feet.

[0015] According to all the characteristics mentioned herein, the device consists of materials resistant to all waters.

[0016] The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

[0017] [Fig-1] represents an overall side view of the version of the device of the invention in active position.

[0018] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of the isolated aquatic lift in the position of use.

[0019] [Fig.3] represents a perspective view of one of the two fins of the device of the invention in the deployed position.

[0020] [Fig.4] and [Fig.5] represent a top and front view of a fin in the deployed position.

[0021] [Fig.6] represents a side view of a fin of the device of the invention in the deployed position.

[0022] [Fig.7] represents a side view of a fin of the device of the invention in the folded position.

[0023] [Fig.8] represents a bottom view of a fin in the deployed position.

[0024] [Fig.9] represents a bottom view of a fin in the folded position.

[0025] With reference to these drawings and according to [Fig.l], [Fig.2], [Fig.3], [Fig.4], [Fig.5], [Fig.8], [Fig.9], the device in fact comprises, according to a first characteristic, a fixed structure (1) forming the aquatic lift made of polyethylene foam (2) covered with a waterproof PVC coating (3) comprising on its upper part a central stabilizer (4) provided with two handles (5) forming the handlebar (6), also provided with a lower part serving as a seat (7) for the user whose body (8) and legs (9) serve as a connection operating by combination with his feet (10) fitted with soles (11) acting as fins made up of two fully deployed lateral fins (12), firmly blocked by sharp stops (13) generating the largest surface (14) of support on the water and whose leg movement creating optimum active pedaling in a rotary manner in the trigonometric direction using the resistance force of the water to move forward and stop and that the opposing force of water combined with the rise of theleg movement of inactive pedaling acting on the two fins folds them by folding them by authority along a thinned line (15) made for this purpose in the fin of the palm operating the folding of the fin by plastic deformation along the direction given to the folding and a determined opening angle (16) thus opposing a fin stroke whose reduced surface (17) by the folding of the fins offers a minimum of dynamic force resulting from the kinematics of the circular translation linked to the pedaling rising along a virtual axis (A) thus creating an optimized cycle of advancement of the device without counter-effort at each pedaling revolution, by a backpedaling leg movement in the anti-trigonometric direction the palm-powered lift backs down.

[0026] With reference to these drawings and according to [Fig.6], [Fig.7], the device comprises, according to a second characteristic of the sole, a wide strip (18) for retaining the front of the foot and for wedging the back of the foot by a strap (19) provided with adjustment perforations (20).

[0027] Thus when the user wishes to do aquatic gymnastics, he puts on each foot (10) a sole (11) equipped with its two lateral fins (12) forming the variable geometry fin, pushes his foot under the wide band (18) retaining the front of his foot, wedges the back of his foot with a strap (19) provided with adjustment perforations (20), thus prepared, he descends into the water and rides his lift put in the water while maintaining his vertical balance using the two handles (5) with which the handlebar (6) is equipped, to move forward he exerts a pedaling movement and by circular translation moves the device forward with an optimized effort. At the end of use, he unclamps the retaining strap (19) which wedges his foot, removes the two webbed soles (11) from his feet and stores the assembly in a storage bag. Aquatic pedaling without structural constraints thus becomes mobile, practical and minimalist.

[0028] The device according to the invention is intended for gymnastics, functional muscular rehabilitation and leisure games in an open or closed aquatic environment.

Claims

Claims

1. Aquatic support device with palmar propulsion consisting of an aquatic lift and propulsive webbed soles with variable geometry, which the user uses to move without counter-effort in order to make the aquatic lift mobile and the muscular effort optimized, the device is characterized in that: - the aquatic lift is formed by a fixed structure (1) made of polyethylene foam (2) covered with a coating (3) of waterproof PVC, comprising on its upper part a central stabilizer (4) provided with two handles (5) forming a handlebar (6), and a lower part serving as a seat, and in that: - the propulsive webbed soles with variable geometry are intended to be worn by a user to act as fins, and consist of two lateral fins (12) comprising stops and being foldable, The said fins,during active pedaling by the user in the trigonometric direction, being able to take: - a first deployed position, in which they are blocked by stops (13) and generate a larger surface (14) of support on the water, in order to allow the user to use the resistance force of the water in order to move forward or to stop; - A second folded position, in which the fins are folded, according to a determined opening angle, thus opposing a reduced surface (17) of support on the water; The fins taking the second folded position during a movement of raising of the user's legs, under the action of the opposing force of the water.,

2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the soles (11) comprise a wide band (18) for retaining the front of the foot and a wedge for the back of the foot consisting of a strap (19) provided with adjustment perforations (20).

3. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the buoyancy of the lift is generated by a flexible envelope inflatable with air, by a floating material made of wood or any other floating material.

4. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the stops limit the rise of the fins.

5. Device according to claims 1 to 4 characterized in that, the webbed soles are a single fit that can be used on both feet.

6. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the folding capacity of the fins is ensured by a thinned line and in the second folded position, the fins are folded along the thinned line.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device in its entirety is made of materials resistant to all water.

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