CA2228498A1 - Kickboard - Google Patents

Abstract

A kickboard for training a swimmer has a posterior transverse edge that defines a pair of handholds to encourage a natural and relaxed grip. The posterior edge further defines a notch adapted to partially envelop the swimmer's head or torso and to create additional space between the swimmer and the kickboard. The kickboard is further characterized by a pair of posterior arm-supports and a pair of lateral fins for engaging the swimmer's forearms to reduce fatigue and increase control. The kickboard also defines a pair of indentations in its broad surface for engaging the balls of the swimmer's hands to facilitate open-handed control.

Description

Kickboard by David Cirjak Field The: present invention relates to kickboards and similar devices used by swimmers to practice their strokes and in particular the kicking portion of their strokes.
Background Kicl~boards are used by novice swimmers to maintain buoyancy while they learn to swim. Kickboards are used by experienced swimmers to maintain proper form when practicing their kick;ing strokes.
A kickboard is essentially an elongated slab of buoyant material such as StyrofoamTM. At its simplest, this slab has a uniform cross-section and either a rectangular or tombstone shape.

In conventional use, the swimmer supports some part of his upper bo~3y on the kickboard and grips the kickboard by its front edge, curling his fingers around this edge to grasp it.
Alternatively, the kickboard can be held at arm's length and grasped along its sides, using the same finger-curling grip.
Regardless of where the board is grasped, this form of grip is uncomfortable. The curled-finger grip tenses the muscles in the forearm and cramps the muscles in the hands. At best, the swimmer's muscles become prematurely fatigued. At worst, the swimmer may increase his risk of developing strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Furthermore, this grip forces the arms and. shoulders to assume unnatural and inefficient positions so that in. the end the practicing swimmer does not even develop proper form.
Attempts have been made to correct these defects but with limited success. United States Patent number 4,781,638 granted on November 1, 1988 to Arthur A. Winters Jr. for a, "Kickboard for Swim:mers," describes a kickboard which has a series of depressions or handholds cast into it. These handholds run down both edgf~s of the board. While the handholds might make the grip somewhat more comfortable by decreasing the thickness of the board at these locations, they still require a clenched grip and thus still require the hand and forearm to be tensed.
Similarly, United States Patent number 5,634,834 granted on June ~i, 1997 to Andrew J. Cole and Richard A. Eagleson for an, "Ergonomic Kickboard," describes a kickboard with a pair of troughs cut parallel to its outer edges. These troughs form two long handholds, permitting the user to grip the board anywhere along its length but still require him to use a clenched grip.
A number of other patents describe similar solutions and all suffer from similar defects. Examples include: United States Patent number 4,362,518 granted on December 7, 1982 to Guy Boissiere for a, "Combined Kick board and Arm Stroke Swimming Practice Device," United States Patent number 5,116,269 granted on May 26, 1992 to Steve M. Moran for a, "Bodyboard with Side Grip Contour," and United States Patent 4,894,034 granted on January :16, 1990 to Russell S. Brown III for a, "Bodyboard with Integrally-contoured Hand-holds for Enhancing Control During Riding."
What is needed is a kickboard that encourages a natural grip both to promote proper swimming form and to resist premature muscle fatigue.
Summary The present invention is directed to such a kickboard, which features ~~ slab of buoyant material shaped to promote proper swimming form and to resist premature muscle fatigue.
The kickboard is characterized by a pair of handgrips on its posterior edge. With the handgrips so located, the kickboard is actually urged into the swimmer's hands as he moves forward through the water. In contrast, a conventional kickboard is urged out of a s'wimmer's hands because lateral or anterior edges are gripped. This handgrip positioning encourages the swimmer to use a lighter grip and it therefore helps to resist premature muscle fatigue in the hands, wrists and forearms.
Preferably, the posterior handgrips have a bulbous cross-section acid taper toward the lateral and anterior edges of the kickboard. This configuration yields a grip particularly comfortable to the hand. Even more preferably, it has been found that a local taper angle of 45~ is particularly advantageous in the region of the midpoint of the posterior edge.
The kickboard is further characterized by a notch in the posterior edge, the notch being adapted to partially envelop the swimmer's head or torso. The notch creates space between the kickboard and the swimmer to reduce conventional abrasion irritation of the swimmer's torso and to reduce the opportunity for the kickboard to strike the swimmer's head. Alternatively, the swimmer may draw the kickboard close so that he can guide the kickboard with his enveloped torso.
The kickboard further includes a pair of aft-extending supports that project outwards and rearwards from the main body of the kicl~board to support the swimmer's wrists and forearms to combat premature fatigue.
AltE~rnatively, the kickboard may be gripped at its anterior end. For this purpose, the kickboard further includes two indentations proximate its bow for accepting the ball or fleshy part of the human hand at the base of the thumb. These indentations permit the swimmer to engage the kickboard with open or lightly closed hands and to thereby avoid premature muscle fatigue.
Also for u.se in ergonomically gripping the kickboard toward its anterior edge, the kickboard further includes lateral fins extending along the longitudinal periphery of the kickboard. The fins are adapted to abut the swimmer's forearms and to permit the swimmer to guide the kickboard with his arms and not merely his hands.
To this end, according to a first embodiment of the invention, there is provided a swimming aid for use by a swimmer, comprising a slab of buoyant material having a posterior edge defining a handhold.
The posterior edge may be substantially transverse. The handhold may have a thicker cross-section than adjacent regions of the swimming aid and may in fact be bulbous. It is desirable that the handhold taper in thickness toward the adj acent regions of the swimming aid and it has been found that it is particularly advantageous that the taper be substantially 45~.
It is desirable that the handhold integrate gently with the surrounding surfaces. The handhold may integrate smoothly with the surrounding surfaces.
The posterior edge may define a notch. The notch might be sized to partially envelop the swimmer's head or even his torso.
The posterior edge might be further characterized by a rearwardly projecting support member.
Where the slab has a first broad surface, the anterior region of the first broad surface may be characterized by an indentation adapted to receive the ball of the swimmer's hand. Similarly, a lateral edge of the first broad surface may be characterized by a fin that projects substantially normally to the first broad surface.
Brief Description of the Drawings These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a first broad surface of a kickboard embodying one aspect of the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the kickboard of Figure 1, the view highlighting the kickboard's first broad surface;
Figure 3 is a plan view of a second broad surface of the kickboard of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the kickboard of Figure 1, the view highlighting the kickboard's second broad surface;
Figure 5 is a side view of the kickboard of Figure 1, the first broad surface facing up; and Figure 6 is a rear view of the kickboard of Figure 1, the first broad surface facing up.
Detailed. Description With reference now to Figures 1 and 2, a kickboard embodying one aspect of the present invention is generally illustrated at 10. In plan view, the kickboard 10 resembles a three-sided shield. The kickboard 10 has lateral first and second edges 12, 14 that sweep outwards and rearwards from a common vertex 16 at the kickboard's bow. These first and second lateral edges 12, 14 are joined at their rearward ends 18, 20 by a transverse third edge 22 which forms the kickboard's stern. The transverse third edge 22 is characterized by a substantial notch 24, which is adapted to create a void space for a swimmer's head or torso.
The portion of the transverse third edge 22 proximate to the notch 24 :is further characterized by having a thicker and more bulbous cross-section than the surrounding area. Preferably, this thickness. tapers smoothly from the notch 24 midpoint toward the two later;~l edges 12, 14 that border it and toward the kickboard's bow vertex 16. Even more preferably, the taper is 45~ in the region proximate to the notch 24 midpoint.
The kickboard 10 has a first broad surface 26 and a second broad surface 28 (best seen in Figures 3 and 4) that is oppositely disposed to the first broad surface 26. Proximate to the notch 24, the transverse third edge 22 integrates gently with the first and second broad surfaces 26, 28 to form a natural handhold. This region may be chamfered, beveled, filleted, or otherwise rendered smooth or continuous.

The third edge's notched character necessarily creates first and second supports 30, 32 that project rearward and outward from the main body of the kickboard 10.
With reference now to Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, first, second, and third lateral fins 34, 36, 38 characterize the kickboard's second broad surface 28. The first and second fins 34, 36 follow the kickboard's first and second lateral edges 12, 14. The third fin 38 follows the kickboard's longitudinal axis (not shown).
The kickboard's finned second surface 28 is further characterized by first and second anterior indentations 40, 42.
The first and second indentations 40, 42 are symmetrically opposed about the kickboard's longitudinal axis, each being proximate to both the kickboard's bow vertex 16 and one of the two lateral edges 12, 14.
In operation, the kickboard 10 can be deployed in one of two positions.
In t:he first position, the kickboard 10 is oriented with the finned second surface 28 facing the water. The swimmer (not shown) faces down in the water with his arms extended forward above his head. Each hand is oriented palm down with a11 four fingers and the thumb relaxed forward to naturally form a comfortable "V" grip.
The swimmer grasps the kickboard's transverse third edge 22 at the notch 24, each hand on an opposite side of the kickboard's 10 longitudinal axis. The swimmer's thumbs engage the finned second surface 28 while his fingers engage the first surface 26. The third edge's 22 bulbous tapered cross-section and its smooth integration with the first and second surfaces 26, 28 fit comfortably within the "V" formed between the swimmer's fingers and thumb.
The swimmer may additionally support his forearms and wrists on the two supports 32, 34 extending rearwardly from the kickboard 10. The notch 24 creates a generous space between the kickboard 10 and the swimmer's head for additional comfort.
This grip results in an arm position similar to that used when taking a shallow dive or when pushing off from a pool wall.
The body is forced to become long and streamlined but the hands and forearms are relaxed. Water resistance urges the kickboard into the swimmer's hands so that he does not need to tense his grip to grasp the kickboard 10. The two supports 32, 34 beneath the swimmer's wrists and forearms provide both support and leverage.
By making small movements of his wrist and forearms, the swimmer can adjust the orientation of the kickboard 10 like a submarin.e's dive-planes. By tilting the kickboard 10 up or down, the swimmer can adjust the contact between the kickboard 10 and the water, and can thereby increase or decrease water-resistance and the difficulty of the workout.
Similarly, the kickboard 10 can be tilted left or as a rudder to steer the swimmer, the fins 34, 36, 38 on the kickboard's second surface 28 directing the steering force.
In the second position, the kickboard 10 is oriented with the finned second surface 28 facing away from the water. The swimmer (not shown) faces down in the water with his arms extended forward above his head. Each hand is oriented palm down.

The swimmer pulls the kickboard 10 toward his torso, the notched 24 third edge 22 partially enveloping the swimmer's torso.
The swimmer places his palms on the kickboard's finned second surface 28 proximate to the bow vertex 16, engaging the two surface indentations 40, 42 with the fleshy part of his palms proximatc: his thumbs. He abuts his forearms against the inner surface of the two lateral fins 34, 36.
During forward motion, the water urges the kickboard 10 toward th.e swimmer's body, the kickboard 10 being held in place by the abutment between the kickboard's notch 24 and the swimmer's torso. Adjustment of the kickboard 10 is affected by the swimmer's palms against the indentations 40, 42 and his forearms against the first and second lateral fins 34, 36.
Although a specific embodiment of the present invention has been described and illustrated, the present invention is not limited to the features of this embodiment, but includes a11 variations and modifications within the scope of the claims.

Claims (15)

1) A swimming aid for use by a swimmer, comprising a slab of buoyant material having a posterior edge defining a handhold.

2) A swimming aid as in claim 1, wherein the posterior edge is substantially transverse.

3) A swimming aid as in claim 2, wherein the handhold has a thicker cross-section than adjacent regions of the swimming aid.

4) A swimming aid as in claim 3, wherein the handhold is bulbous.

5) A swimming aid as in claim 4, wherein the handhold tapers in thickness toward the adjacent regions of the swimming aid.

6) A swimming aid as in claim 5, wherein the taper is substantially 45°.

7) A swimming aid as in claim 6, wherein the handhold integrates gently with the surrounding surfaces.

8) A swimming aid as in claim 7, wherein the handhold integrates smoothly with the surrounding surfaces.

9) A swimming aid as in claim 8, wherein the posterior edge defines a notch.

10) A swimming aid as in claim 9 wherein the notch is sized to partially envelop the swimmer's head.

11) A swimming aid as in claim 10 wherein the notch is sized to partially envelop the swimmer's torso.

12) A swimming aid as in claim 8, wherein the posterior edge is further characterized by a rearwardly projecting support member.

13) A swimming aid as in claim 8, wherein the slab has a first broad surface.

14) A swimming aid as in claim 13, wherein the anterior region of the first broad surface is characterized by an indentation adapted to receive the ball of the swimmer's hand.

15) A swimming aid as in claim 13, wherein a lateral edge of the first broad surface is characterized by a fin that projects substantially normally to the first broad surface.