FR2596663A1 - Apparatus for strengthening muscles in the water, for competition swimmers - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for strengthening muscles in the water, for competition swimmers. The invention relates to an apparatus permitting the strengthening of muscles in water, for competition swimmers. It is composed of a constant-torque generator 1 which, by means of a mechanical transmission 2, drives a coupling 3 mounted on the shaft of a winch 4, which rolls up a cable 5 fastened to the swimmer's waist. The apparatus according to the invention is intended particularly for muscle development in water, for competition swimmers.

Description

 The present invention relates to an apparatus for strengthening muscles in water for competitive swimmers.

To date, the muscular work in water of competitive swimmers is carried out according to the following processes: - Elastic, known as "Sandow" - Block of foam, known as "Spider" - Counterweight, known as "Basket" which correspond respectively to :
1) Elastic, called "Sandow" - Fig. 1
The swimmer is connected to the starting point of the pool by an elastic band attached to his belt.

GO phase
Depending on the length and the elongation coefficient of the elastic, the swimmer must overcome progressive resistance over a longer or shorter distance.

 The elastic limit reached, the swimmer is immobilized and swims on the spot for a determined time.

RETURN phase
At the end of this time, the swimmer then goes into the return position. The energy, stored in the elastic pulls it in "overspeed" (speed higher than that obtained by its own means).

 This process has the disadvantage of being non-linear. In fact, in the GO phase, the reactive force is a function of the elongation of the elastic: hence the impossibility of working at constant speed and force as it should be done during muscle strengthening.

 In the RETURN phase, the swimmer benefits from the force initially stored in the elastic, but this is released in decreasing value. The force and the speed will be important when the swimmer will be far from the starting block (maximum elongation of the elastic) while they will be weak, even zero, when the swimmer will approach the starting block (minimum lengthening of the 'elastic).

2) Block of foam, called "Spider" - Fig. 2
It is a block of foam, on which incisions have been made or not, connected to the size of the swimmer by a rope of synthetic material.

 Waterlogged, but floating, the block of foam constitutes a mass which offers a constant, but passive resistance. The swimmer must train a determined number of pool lengths.

 This process has a disadvantage by having to change the size of the foam block to modify the resistance force.

3) Counterweight, called "Basket" - Fig. 3
This process uses a container (basket in which loads are placed or removed) attached to the end of a rope or rope and suspended from a bracket fitted with a pulley. It thus serves as a counterweight with a modular load. The other end of the rope is attached to the swimmer's belt.

 When. the swimmer progresses in the pelvis, through the rope, he lifts the counterweight and keeps it at height for a determined time.

 The major drawback of this system is the limitation of the working stroke. The stem must have a height corresponding to the length of the desired displacement. This process is cumbersome and difficult to handle.

The device according to the invention eliminates the drawbacks described above and combines all the reliability criteria with great flexibility of use, namely:
Work over various distances
Instant resistance adjustment
Possibility to perform progress checks
Robustness and rapid adaptation at the edge of the pool
Easy transport for itinerant
The device comprises a constant torque generator (1) which, by means of a mechanical transmission (2), drives a coupler (3) mounted on the shaft of a winch (4), which winds a rope (5) attached to the swimmer's belt.

 The originality of the invention lies in the design of the device and the choice of components used. The torque generator (1) is an electric motor of the Universal, asynchronous or direct current type, the rotational speed of which is not modulated: therefore constant in speed and in torque.

 The mechanical transmission (2), of the belt type, ensures the connection and the reduction of speed between the generator (1) and the coupler (3).

 The coupler (3) used is of the electro-magnetic powder type, the value of the transmitted torque of which can be varied, independently of the speed, depending on whether a low or high intensity current is injected into its magnetic circuit.

 The current injected into the magnetic circuit of the coupler (3) is delivered by a DC power supply stabilized and regulated by an electronic circuit with which the current output is adjusted. The characteristic: injected current / transmitted torque of the coupler (3) is linear. The power supply is adjustable by a potentiometer which can be calibrated in Newton.

 A variable torque is therefore transmitted to the winch (4) whose function is to store the rope (5). The large diameter of the winch (4) makes it possible to obtain a maximum winding speed for a minimum rotation speed. This option also makes it possible to reduce the number of layers of turns.

 The rope (5) made of synthetic material, insensitive to water attack and of low elongation, ensures the connection with the swimmer. The rope (5) transforms the torque of the winch (4) into a pulling force.

By the technique described above, we obtain with a minimum of manipulations:
a) in the GO route
- a constant resistance, but adapted to each swimmer, on the different lengths of pool.

 - a modular resistance during the journey, which can reach immobilization.

b) in the RETURN route
- more or less important help, allowing the swimmer to recover.

 - an "overspeed" on the desired distance.

Claims (5)

1) Device intended for muscle strengthening in water for competitive swimmers, characterized in that it comprises a constant torque generator (1) which, via a mechanical transmission (2), drives the coupler (3 ) mounted on the shaft of a winch (4), which winds a rope (5) fixed to the swimmer's belt. 2) Apparatus according to claim 1) characterized in that the torque generator (1) emits a constant rotation in speed and torque. 3) Apparatus according to claim 1) characterized in that an electro-magnetic powder coupler (3) allows a variable torque connection between the generator (1) and the winch (4). 4) Apparatus according to claim 1) characterized in that the winch (4) allows to store the rope (5). 5) Apparatus according to claim 1) characterized in that the rope (5) transforms the rotation of the winch (4) into a tensile force.