GB2245227A - A swimming buoyancy aid - Google Patents

Abstract

A swimming buoyancy aid comprises a hollow flexible inflatable device including a generally U-shaped portion (10) which fits around the back of the neck of the user and has two elongate limbs (11, 13) which extend down the front of the user. A readily releasable retainer (22, 24) detachably connects one limb of the U-shaped portion to the other across and in front of the neck of the user. Elongate connecting straps (20) are connected to the lower end of each elongate limb (11, 13) and, in use, the ends (13) of the inflatable limbs pass rearwardly along each side of the user, the straps (20) then passing in opposite directions around to the front of the user's body and being connected together over the top of the inflatable limbs, to hold them in place.

Description

"A Swimming Buoyancy Aid" The invention relates to swimming buoyancy aids. There are many different forms of swimming buoyancy aids, particularly for use by children, which incorporate inflatable elements which are strapped on to the user's body. For example devices are known in which inflatable elements are strapped across the front of the user's chest, or across his back, or around the user's waist. Another common form of buoyancy aid is in the form of a pair of inflatable arm bands which are strapped around the user's upper arms.

However, many such aids in common use have the disadvantage that they are uncomfortable to wear and to a certain extent restrict the user's movements thus making it difficult for the user to develop a proficient swimming style when wearing the device.

Furthermore, the buoyancy aids are often so positioned on the user's body that the user is not supported in the water in a position suitable for learning swimming strokes. Thus, existing aids, while providing substantial safety for a swimming beginner, may impede the learning process.

It is well known that a particularly safe method of supporting a person in the water is to provide an inflatable or otherwise buoyant device around the neck and down the front of the body, and emergency life jackets for aircraft are often of such a design.

However, such life jackets, not providing any buoyancy elsewhere, tend to make the user float face upwards in the water which, while being safe, is not a suitable attitude for learning to swim. Furthermore the life jackets are awkward to apply and remove, involving placing the head through an aperture, and do not provide the desirable freedom of arm and head movement necessary for effective swimming. The present invention therefore sets out to provide an improved form of swimming buoyancy aid which may overcome the above problems.

According to the invention there is provided a swimming buoyancy aid comprising a hollow flexible inflatable device including a generally U-shaped portion which, in use, fits around the back of the neck of the user and has two elongate limbs which extend down the front of the user, there being provided readily releasable retaining means which detachably connect one limb of the U-shaped portion to the other and, in use, extend across and in front of the neck of the user, and elongate connecting means connected to each said elongate limb adjacent the end thereof so that, in use, the ends of the inflatable limbs may pass rearwardly along each side of the user, the elongate connecting means then passing in opposite directions around to the front of the user's body and being connected together to hold the inflatable limbs in place.

It is found that such a buoyancy aid, being somewhat in the form of an inflatable "scarf", is easy to put on and remove and provides buoyancy in areas of the body which result in the body adopting a safe position, but a position in which swimming can be readily carried out. The aid may also leave the user's arms free to perform swimming movements without restriction.

Two parts of a readily releasable fastener may be provided on each of said two elongate connecting means respectively, to enable the connecting means to be detachably connected together.

Each of said elongate limbs may include an end portion which is sealed off from the rest of the limb, so as to be inflatable independently thereof. Said elongate limbs may extend generally parallel to one another when the aid is lying on a flat surface.

The releasable retaining means may comprise a strap part, encircling one limb and connectable, by means of a releasable fastener, to a strap part encircling the other limb. Each strap part may be formed with a closed loop which encircles said limb so as to connect the strap part thereto.

Similarly the aforesaid elongate connecting means may comprise strap parts, connected adjacent the ends of the two inflatable limbs respectively.

The U-shaped portion of the buoyancy aid may be formed from two similar generally U-shaped sheets of air-impermeable material, such as pve or other plastics, sealed together, for example by heat welding, along at least the entire periphery thereof. The elongate limbs may also be formed from two similar elongate sheets of air-impermeable material, such as pvc or other plastics, sealed together, for example by heat welding, along the periphery thereof. The sheets forming the elongate limbs may be integral with the sheets respectively which form the U-shaped portion. In this case the integral sheets may also be sealed together, across the width of each limb of the U-shape, to provide said end portions.

The following is a more detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a swimming buoyancy aid in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a side elevation of the buoyancy aid of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a front view of a person wearing the buoyancy aid, Figure 4 is a side view of the person wearing the buoyancy aid, and Figure 5 is a rear view of the person wearing the buoyancy aid.

Referring to the drawings: The buoyancy aid is formed from generally tubular flexible material and is generally U-shaped in configuration.

The device comprises a curved portion 10 integral with two generally parallel inner limb portions 11. The curved portion and inner limbs 11 together form one inflation chamber which may be inflated by mouth through a non-return valve 12.

Extending from the inner limb portions 11 are end limb portions 13 which are generally parallel to one another as shown in Figure 1. The end limb portions 13 are sealed off from the inner limb portions 11 by heat welds 14 to provide separate inflatable pockets, which may be inflated through individual non-return valves 15.

The portions of the buoyancy aid are shown inflated in Figures 1 and 2. The device is manufactured by superimposing two identical U-shaped panels of flexible air-impermeable material such as pvc or other suitable plastics or thermoplastics material. The two panels are sealed together, by heat welding or other suitable means, around their entire peripheries, the peripheral seals being indicated at 16 and 17. The portions 13 and 11 are separated by transverse seals 14 as previously mentioned.

The free ends of the end portions 13 of the Ushape have comparatively large areas 18 where the sheets of material are welded together to form flaps. Rigid plastics loops 19 are attached to the flaps 18 and connecting the loops 19 is a connector device 8. The device 8 comprises two straps 20 connected to the loops 19 respectively the ends of which may straps be connected together by a releasable plastics fastening device 21 of well known kind. The straps 20 may be formed from a suitable flexible plastics material. Buckles 21 are provided in each strap 20, in conventional manner, to allow the lengths of the straps to be adjusted.

Extending between the limb portions 11, adjacent the curved portion 10, is a retaining device 9.

The device 9 includes a loop strap 22 encircling each limb 11 adjacent the curved portion 10 of the U-shape.

The two strap portions 22 are detachably connected together by a releasable fastener 24 similar to the fastener 21, the two parts of the fastener 24 being shown separated in Figure 1.

Figures 3 to 5 show the buoyancy aid fitted to a user. The curved portion 10 of the buoyancy aid is placed around and behind the neck of the user, the fastening devices 21 and 24 being undone. The fastening device 24 is then connected so as to pull the inflated limbs 11 together across and in front of the neck of the user in a comfortable position, thus to retain the curved portion 10 of the buoyancy aid in position.

The limbs 11 and 13 extend downwardly along the chest of the user and the ends of the portions 13 are then passed outwardly and rearwardly under the arms of the user. Behind the user's back the straps 20 are crossed over and passed forwardly around the sides of the user again, to be fastened together in front, over the tops of the limbs 11 and 13, by means of the fastener 21, as shown. The lengths of the straps 20 are adjusted according to the size of the user so that the limbs 11 and 13 fit comfortably.

The buoyancy aid is comfortable to wear and allows complete freedom to the arms so that it does not interfere with the swimming action. Furthermore, the various parts of the buoyancy aid are so located around the body of the user so as to support the user in the water in a balanced natural position where swimming can be safely practised.

The inflation valves 12 and 15 are of a well known kind incorporating a non-return valve and a pushin stopper. To inflate each of the three chambers of the buoyancy aid the base of the appropriate valve is pinched and the chamber inflated by blowing. When the required degree of inflation is achieved the stopper is inserted and the whole valve is pushed into the air chamber so as to provide a substantially flush outer surface to the device. To deflate the chambers each device, the valve unit is pulled out, the stopper removed, and the base of the valve pinched to allow air to escape through the non-return valve. In Figures 1 and 2, the valve 12 is shown after insertion of the stopper, but before the valve has been pushed into the air chamber, while the valves 15 are shown pushed into their respective air chambers so as to be flush.

The buoyancy aid is primarily intended for people, particularly children, learning to swim and as the user becomes more proficient and more confident in the water, the extent of inflation of the buoyancy aid can be reduced. The user then becomes accustomed to less and less buoyancy until a point is reached where the aid can be dispensed with.

Claims (13)

1. A swimming buoyancy aid comprising a hollow flexible inflatable device including a generally Ushaped portion which, in use, fits around the back of the neck of the user and has two elongate limbs which extend down the front of the user, there being provided readily releasable retaining means which detachably connect one limb of the U-shaped portion to the other and, in use, extend across and in front of the neck of the user, and elongate connecting means connected to each said elongate limb adjacent the end thereof so that, in use, the ends of the inflatable limbs may pass rearwardly along each side of the user, the elongate connecting means then passing in opposite directions around to the front of the user's body and being connected together to hold the inflatable limbs in place.

2. A buoyancy aid according to Claim 1, wherein two parts of a readily releasable fastener are provided on each of said two elongate connecting means respectively, to enable the connecting means to be detachably connected together.

3. A buoyancy aid according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein each of said elongate limbs includes an end portion which is sealed off from the rest of the limb, so as to be inflatable independently thereof.

4. A buoyancy aid according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said elongate limbs extend generally parallel to one another when the aid is lying on a flat surface.

5. A buoyancy aid according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein said releasable retaining means comprise a strap part, encircling one limb and connectable, by means of a releasable fastener, to a strap part encircling the other limb.

6. A buoyancy aid according to Claim 5, wherein each strap part is formed with a closed loop which encircles said limb so as to connect the strap part thereto.

7. A buoyancy aid according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein said elongate connecting means comprise strap parts, connected adjacent the ends of the two inflatable limbs respectively.

8. A buoyancy aid according to any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the U-shaped portion of the buoyancy aid is formed from two similar generally U-shaped sheets of air-permeable material sealed together along at least the entire periphery thereof.

9. A buoyancy aid according to any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the elongate limbs are each formed from two similar elongate sheets of air-permeable material sealed together along the periphery thereof.

10. A buoyancy aid according to Claim 8 and Claim 9, wherein the sheets forming the elongate limbs are integral with the sheets respectively which form the Ushaped portion.

11. A buoyancy aid according to Claim 10, wherein the integral sheets sealed together, across the width of each limb of the U-shape, to provide said end portions.

12. A buoyancy aid according to any of Claims 8 to 11, wherein said sheets of air-impermeable material comprise a thermoplastics material, and said sheets are sealed together by heat welding.

13. A buoyancy aid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.