Water temperature reading band for swimmers

Abstract

A water temperature indicating band 1 for swimmers which is worn on the wrist area or lower arm over a wetsuit, swim suit or bare arms is disclosed. The band has fixture means to hold the band tightly

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to devices which are to provide a temperature reading of outdoor water, such as rivers, the sea, lakes, ponds, and open waters. Background The use of water temperature readers are common for swimmers who use external water for activity, due to the water requiring a temperature reading. Outdoor waters such as the sea, ponds, lakes, rivers, and canals, for example, have ever changing water temperatures which differs depending on various factors which include’ the location of the water, the expanse, depth and the time of year or season when the water is being used. Therefore, users of outdoor water, such as open water swimmers or sea surfers have a need to be able to check the temperature of the water to ensure it is at a temperature which is safe for them to enter. This temperature measurement would predominately be aimed to check temperatures on the lower end of the scale, to ensure water is not too cold. The coldness of water can affect the body Cold water swimming can improve blood pressure and fat levels in the blood when practised regularly by those in good general health. However, if you have a heart condition, there are risks you should consider and discuss with your doctor or nurse specialist before starting swimming. Our heart works harder when we are moving through water than when we are on land. And the colder the water, the harder the heart must work. Just entering very cold water can lead to a ‘cold shock,’ which can cause a faster heart rate, higher blood pressure, and shortness of breath. Some advice which is given in written form to more mature swimmers or less experience colder water swimmers is to gradually get used to the change in temperature and depth. As with any exercise, it is important you warm up and cool down, so start and finish your swim at a slower pace and build up and down gradually. Avoid swimming on your own by going with a friend or as part of a group. This gives the security of having someone to look out for you during your swim, as well as the additional social benefits of exercising with others. This can be overcome with a water temperature reader which is often in the form of a wrist watch or a small separate device which is tethered to the swimmer. These devices require batteries in most cases as they rely upon an LED screen and digital thermometer. A problem with these devices is that they cause drag on the swimmers flow through the water and can be obstructive, more expressively if the swimmer becomes entangled in water weed, reeds or sea weed, for example. These items can also be affected by the water, although many are quite waterproof, the seals can become damaged over time and water ingress affects or stops their operation. Further issues relate to their ability to be read easily and clearly while swimming, LED screens are not always clearly visible in water or in lower light conditions and therefore the user may find it difficult to see the temperature. There is also an issue of damage to the devices due to their construction being plastic, if the swimmer was to contact with hard objects in the water, such as a rock. The cost of these devices therefore is a further issue as they may need to be replaced, more than once. The prior art therefore shows that there is a need for a more effective water temperature reader which can be seen clearly while swimming, does not create any drag in the water and is unlikely to be damaged or to ingress water. The present invention aims to provide an improved temperature reader for outdoor water users and open water swimmers which overcomes all of these user issues. Summary of the invention According to the present invention there is provided a water temperature reading band for swimmers which is derived of a band which is worn around the wrist or lower arm, over a swim or wetsuit, as well as over bare arms. The temperature reading band is of sufficient adjustable length to wrap around the wrist or lower arm, as above and may be held together using fixture means, which may be hook and eye pads, in the known way, for a strong holding and quick re-usable release. As shown in accompanying Figures. The reading band may also be held around the wrist or lower arm using a small buckle or fittings to each end of the band including press studs, flattened magnets, or slot through connective ends. The band will preferably show both Celsius and Fahrenheit readings along the band, each shown next to each other. The water temperature reading band is comprised of a liquid crystal thermometer, temperature strip or plastic strip thermometer which is a type of thermometer that contains heat-sensitive (thermochromic) liquid crystals in a plastic strip that change colour to indicate different temperatures. Liquid crystals possess the mechanical properties of a liquid, but have the optical properties of a single crystal. Temperature changes can affect the colour of a liquid crystal, which makes them useful for temperature measurement and reading. The resolution of liquid crystal sensors is in the higher to lowest temperature ranges. These may be provided a disposable liquid crystal thermometer bands which will change colour depending on the temperature of the water, showing them the temperature of said water, to very low and minus levels. The bands may also be re-used repeatedly, which is supported by a coating of a clear silicone which protects the bands but also allows for accurate passage of the water temperature to the band for measurement. There are two stages in the liquid crystals, the hot nematic stage is the closest to the liquid phase where the molecules are freely moving around and only partly ordered and the cold smectic stage is closest to a solid phase where the molecules align themselves into tightly wound chiral matrices. Liquid crystal thermometers portray temperatures as colors and can be used to follow temperature changes caused by heat flow. During swimming in open water, the swimmer can glance at the temperature band on their arm to read the ongoing changes in water temperature as they progress and the bank is also used when they first consider entering the water to ensure it is safe to do so. The display changes to the lightest colour change on the correct or closest temperature reading, the second closest colour change will be shown next to this reading in a less prominent light colour change. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved water temperature reading band for swimmers which has all the advantages of the prior art water temperature readers and thermometers and none of the disadvantages. It is another object of the present invention to provide a new water temperature reading band for swimmers which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved water temperature reading band for swimmers which is of durable and reliable construction. An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved water temperature reading band for swimmers which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labour, and which accordingly is then susceptible of iow prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a product available to the buying public. Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved water temperature reading band for swimmers which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. Brief description of figures Figure 1 shows a swimmer wearing the water temperature reading band for swimmers. Figure 2 shows a dimensional view of the water temperature reading band for swimmers. Figure 3 shows a dimensional view of the water temperature reading band for swimmers, with the band undone. Figure 4 shows a dimensional view of the water temperature reading band for swimmers, which a lower temperature scale for colder waters. Detailed description of figures A typical embodiment of the water temperature reading band for swimmers is shown in Figure 1. It comprises the water temperature reading band for swimmers 1 being worn on the wrist area 2 over a wetsuit 3. The water temperature reading band for swimmers 1 has fixture means 7 (this example being a pair hook and eye pads) to hold the band tightly around the wrist or lower arm. The water temperature readings are displayed as Celsius 5 and Fahrenheit 4 options on a scale, with the actual temperature being shown in the highlighted colour 6 on the bands surface 8, which may be silicone coated, as shown in Figure 2. Figure 3 shows the water temperature band 1B with the fixture means 7B and 9B undone prior to fitting or after removal. A water temperature reading band with a much lower temperature scale is shown in Figure 4 with the temperature readings are displayed as Celsius 5C and Fahrenheit 4C options on a scale, with the actual temperature being shown in the highlighted colour 6C on the bands surface.

Claims

1) A water temperature reading band for swimmers comprising; a water temperature reading band for swimmers which is worn on the wrist area or lower arm over a wetsuit, swim suit or bare arms, the band has fixture means to hold the band tightly around the said wrist or lower arm, with the water temperature readings displayed as Celsius and Fahrenheit options on a scale, with the actual temperature being shown in the highlighted colour on the bands surface.2) A water temperature reading band for swimmers as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bands surface may be silicone coated to extend its suage life.3) A water temperature reading band for swimmers as claimed in claimed 2 in claim 2 wherein said water temperature reading band may have temperature scales which are much lower, for water temperature measurement in colder outdoor waters.4) A water temperature reading band for swimmers as claimed in claimed 3 which may also be held around the wrist or lower arm using a small buckle or fittings to each end of the band including press studs, flattened magnets or slot through connective endsA

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