Forearm Fin Swim Trainer for Controlled Catch Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hand paddles used for swimming aid create high resistance at the elbow, interfering with the development of an effective catch in freestyle swimming due to stronger torque at the palms, making it difficult to control during swimming.
Innovation Solution
A swimming aid training device with a unitary body comprising a first ring for the wrist and fingers, a second ring for the upper arm or forearm, a platform connecting the rings, and a tapered fin extending along the side surface, designed to enhance muscle strength and stroke efficiency by reducing resistance through fenestrations and tapered fin shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If hand paddles are used to create greater water resistance, then muscle strength is strengthened, but control difficulty increases due to high resistance at the weakest part of the catch
Solution Approach 1:
The device applies different resistance characteristics to different parts of the arm: the fin provides resistance along the forearm while the rings at wrist and upper arm create localized anchoring points. This distributed resistance system addresses the local quality issue by providing appropriate resistance at each segment rather than concentrated resistance at the hand, improving control while maintaining muscle strengthening benefits
2Strength
If hand paddles are used to strengthen shoulder muscles, then muscle strength increases, but the effective catch development is interfered with due to stronger torque at the elbows than at the palms
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the resistance application along the arm by using a fin that extends from the wrist ring to the upper arm ring, rather than concentrating all resistance at the hand. This segmentation allows the resistance to be distributed through the catch phase, enabling effective catch development while still providing shoulder muscle strengthening through the cumulative resistance effect
Solution Approach 2:
The fin acts as an intermediary element between the wrist and upper arm, providing distributed resistance along the forearm rather than direct resistance at the hand. This intermediary structure allows the torque to be managed more effectively through the catch phase, preventing the interference that occurs with hand paddles while maintaining the torque necessary for shoulder muscle strengthening
Data Source
AI summary
A swimming aid training device is provided for freestyle swimming. The device is a unitary body including a first ring for a user's wrist and fingers, a second ring for an upper arm or preferably upper forearm of the user and a platform to support a forearm of the user extending between and connecting the first and second rings. A fin extends along a side surface of the unitary body for propelling the user forward during a swimming stroke. The fin has a tapered shape of increasing width from the first ring to the second ring and may include a plurality of fenestrations thereon. The unitary body may be angled between first and second halves and may be formed of flexible plastic with an elastomer formed thereon for support of the forearm.