AU2003236399B2 - A Kickboard - Google Patents

Description

S&F Ref: 645704 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address Benjamin Holden of Applicant: 15 Valley Road Lindfield New South Wales 2070 Australia Actual Inventor(s): Benjamin Holden Address for Service: Spruson & Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 35 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Invention Title: A Kickboard ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION DETAILS [33] Country [31] Applic. No(s) [32] Application Date AU 2002951210 21 Aug 2002 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- -1 A KICKBOARD Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a swimming training device and in particular to a kickboard. 5 Background of the Invention Kickboards have been used for many years to assist in teaching a swimmer the correct technique, assist in improving a swimmer's style and to aid in training a swimmer. Common kickboards are generally the length between the hand and elbow of a swimmer. The swimmer usually grips the front edge of the kickboard and rests their arms on the top 10 flat surface. As can be seen in Figure 1 this type of kickboard due to its size provides significant buoyancy and elevates the swimmer's arms, shoulders and head forcing the swimmer's buttocks and legs to lower, placing the swimmer into an incorrect swimming position. As a swimmer's body position and kicking technique will govern the progress 15 and efficiency of the swimming action, the use of a kickboard placing the body in the incorrect position will significantly effect the learning or training of the swimmer leading to a poor kicking technique, poor body position and limiting the potential of the swimmer. Therefore, there is a need to provide a kickboard which has less buoyancy, a reduced frontal resistance to water, maximum upward lift and which guides a swimmer's 20 body into the optimum position. Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate some of the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative.

2 Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a kickboard of a generally triangular configuration having: a longitudinally extending base edge portion and two side edge portions 5 extending from the base edge portion to a leading apex; a central portion extending between the edge portions to form a generally flat planar surface to receive a user's hand, said central flat portion having a substantially constant thickness, and said side edge portions being raised on both sides of said planar surface in a direction generally normal to the planar surface. 10 Typically, the side edge portions the kickboard as described above are substantially convex adjacent said central portion. Typically, the side edge portions of the kickboard described above are of a substantially constant thickness. Typically, the central portion of the kickboard described above includes recesses 15 for receipt of the fingers of a user. Typically, the central portion of the kickboard described above is substantially the size of a user's hand. Typically, the kickboard described above can fit within an area of 23cm x 23cm. Typically, the base edge portion of the kickboard described above is adapted for 20 gripping by a user. Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of a swimmer and prior art kickboard in use; -3 Figure 2 is a perspective view of a kickboard according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a further perspective view of the kickboard of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modification of the kickboard of Figures 2 5 and 3; Figure 5 is a side view of a swimmer and the kickboard of Figures 2 to 4; Figure 6 is a top view of the swimmer and kickboard of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a further top view of the swimmer and kickboard of Figure 5; Figure 8 is a still further top view of a swimmer and two kickboards; and 10 Figure 9 is a further top view of the swimmer and kickboards of Figure 8. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In Figures 2 to 9, there is schematically depicted a kickboard 1 of a generally triangular configuration having a base edge portion 5 and two side edge portions 10, 15 extending from the base edge portion 5 to a leading apex 20. As seen in Figure 2, the side 15 edge portions 10, 15 are substantially convex in shape. However, the side edge portions 10, 15 can be of any shape that provides a streamlined surface which encourages laminar flow. The kickboard 1 further includes a central portion 25 extending to the side edge portions 10, 15 and base edge portion 5 and includes a top surface 27 and a bottom surface 28. The side edge portions 10,15 being convex substantially adjacent the central 20 portion 25. The central portion 25 in the preferred form is substantially the size of a user's hand and could include recesses (not shown) for receipt of the fingers of a swimmer or to enhance removal of water from the central portion 25. The side edge portions 10, 15 are raised in a direction generally normal to the central portion 25 and the base edge portion 5 either away from the top surface 27, bottom surface 28 or both. 25 The design of the kickboard 1 provides a streamlined kickboard having a shape that reduces frontal resistance, reduces the buoyancy of the kickboard and increases the laminar flow about the kickboard 1. This assists a swimmer in learning to develop a -4 streamlined body position with a strong efficient kicking technique. Due to the reduced size, and reduced buoyancy level of the kickboard 1, the swimmer maximises the upward lift that occurs with the streamlined body position and an efficient kick as best shown in Figures 5 and 6. 5 In use, the kickboard 1 can be gripped by both hands of a user along the base edge portion 5 (see Figure 6). However, the kickboard 1 is also designed for a single hand to be fully or partially placed in the centre of the central portion 25 as seen in Figures 7 and 8. Both gripping positions encourage a flat streamlined horizontal body position to propel the swimmer and kickboard 1. The raised side edge portions 10, 15 1o could also be gripped. As best seen in Figure 4, the side edge portions 10, 15 can include slots 30 which facilitate the gripping by the thumbs of a swimmer when the swimmer grips the side edge portions 10, 15 by curling the hands and fingers. The side edge portions 10,15 can also include grooves and ridges along their length to assist water flow. The kickboard 1 could also be used and gripped in many other ways. For 15 example, two kickboards 1 could be used as hand paddles or the like, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. The kickboard 1 can be manufactured of any suitable material and is preferably of a dimension no greater than 23 cm x 23 cm. The side edge portions in the preferred form are 40mm in height and the central portion is 15mm thick. This creates a kickboard 20 1 of less than half the size of a normal kickboard 1. By training a swimmer to kick with a streamlined body position high in the water, overall resistance is reduced. Further propulsive skills like hand pitch and advanced underwater pull can also be added more easily with the kickboard 1, significantly improving not only the stroke mechanics but also the time taken to achieve a 25 superior stroke. The kickboard 1 has been found to establish a correct body position, reduce a swimmer's drag and reduce the swimmer's dependence on a swim aid to maintain buoyancy. The kickboard 1 also limits available hand holding positions on the board providing consistency for the swimming coach, conveys streamlined images through its fast design, dictates a long legged kick as a means for leg propulsion, provides 30 a balanced left and right side kick through the use of two kickboards one at the same, continuously reinforces a superior body position allowing for advanced propulsive drills -5 to be more easily adopted and caters for flipper drills, both on top of the water and below through the streamlined design. In advanced swimming training, the kickboard 1 is also advantageous as the drills using the kickboard 1 are governed by its properties, training a streamlined body 5 position at all times, increasing laminar flow and subsequent speed through the water. Following the high streamlined body position comes a strong, efficient, long legged kick. The small size of the kickboard 1 allows it to be used either as a kickboard I or a hand paddle or the like. The streamlined design moves through the water faster, encouraging significantly less frontal resistance than previous kickboards. Accelerated propulsive 10 flipper drills using the kickboard 1 encounter less resistance allowing the swimmer precise directional control. Further, the kickboard 1 has the ability to train upper body rotation at high speeds. The unique design also encourages shoulder extension resulting in a streamlined upper body roll. Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it is will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims (8)

1. A kickboard of a generally triangular configuration having: a longitudinally extending base edge portion and two side edge portions extending from the base edge portion to a leading apex; 5 a central portion extending between the edge portions to form a generally flat planar surface to receive a user's hand, said central flat portion having a substantially constant thickness, and said side edge portions being raised on both sides of said planar surface in a direction generally normal to the planar surface.

2. The kickboard of claim 1, wherein said side edge portions are 1o substantially convex adjacent said central portion.

3. The kickboard of claim 1, wherein said side edge portions are of a substantially constant thickness.

4. The kickboard of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the central portion includes recesses for receipt of the fingers of a user. is

5. The kickboard of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said central portion is substantially the size of a user's hand.

6. The kickboard of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the kickboard can fit within an area of 23cm x 23cm.

7. The kickboard of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said base 20 edge portion is adapted for gripping by a user.

8. A kickboard, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings. Dated: 7 September, 2009 Benjamin Holden 25 Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON