GB2281214A - Swimming glove - Google Patents

Abstract

A swimming glove suitable for wearing on the hand in order to increase the area of water displaced during a swimming stroke comprises digit sheathings 2 for at least two digits, including the thumb, with an expandable membrane 3 therebetween. Optionally, the glove comprises digit sheathings for all the digits of the hand and a covering for the palm. The membrane between the digit sheathings may be of a different material from the sheathings which may be open ended and the membranes may have pressure relief means. <IMAGE>

Description

SWIMMING AUXILIARY This invention relates to a swimming auxiliary suitable for wearing on the hand, to increase the area of displacement during a swimming stroke.

According to the invention, a swimming auxiliary comprises a covering for part of the hand having sheaths provided for at least two digits of the hand with an expandable membrane therebetween, said membrane increasing the area of displacement of water as the hand passes through it. Preferably the membrane is provided between all digits of the hand and is attached between each adjacent pair of digit sheaths including a thumb sheath.

The membrane between the sheaths of the swimming auxiliary creates a larger area of displacement of water by the hand thereby facilitating more effective and efficient propulsion and mobility of the body through water.

The increases in mobility, agility and power energy transfer resulting from the use of the invention enables its use as a teaching or safety device for either non-swimmers or weak swimmers, such as young children, as the actions required to keep afloat are made both easier and more effective. For the more experienced swimmer the advantages gained by using the invention are manifest in improvement of mobility, directional changes and speed in the water without any appreciable increase in effort, all actions whether underwater or on the surface being made more efficiently and easily.This improvement in the movement of a body through water is achieved from the following features, alone or in combination: a) a larger and more energy-efficient displacement area; b) a resistance pressure gradient to overcome inertia; and c) a maximum displacement area at the moment of maximum energy transfer.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the swimming auxiliary may comprise a covering for the palm of the hand, an extension of the covering surrounding the wrist to support a fastening and retaining means, and sheathings for at least part of at least two digits with an expandable membrane provided therebetween.

Preferably the digit sheathings are open-ended to allow the user to retain both natural touch and gripping ability with either the finger- or thumb-tips or the bare portions of the digits. The swimming auxiliary may be made from a lightweight flexible, preferably resilient, material which may be waterproofed, or combinations of such materials.

The expandable membrane may be formed from a different material from the palm covering and digit sheathing portions, but is preferably formed from the same material for ease of manufacture in a single piece.

The chosen material is preferably able to conform to the shape of the hand whilst in use. At least the expandable membrane portions are preferably resilient, whereby these portions are rendered capable of increasing their resistive surface areas, at least transiently, in response to the pressure applied on them by the water. This expansion is preferably graduated with areas of minimum, intermediate and maximum expansion until an overall maximum area and thus the maximum resistance is reached. Preferably, expansion beyond an optimum point, ultimately the elastic limit of the material, is prevented, thereby optimising efficiency and ultimately preventing permanent deformation of the material, for example by providing strengthening means or pressure relief means, for example slits, through the webbed portions.The relief means should be provided in sufficient number to provide effective pressure relief, while being few enough to avoid reducing the maximum possible resistive area to any noticeable extent. The palm covering may include flaps or vanes of resiliently deformable material, whereby they are urged into an upstanding or extended configuration by water pressure during a power stroke, thereby increasing the effective surface area.

As the swimming auxiliary is intended to be "close-fitting", and the chosen material conforms to the shape of the hand, the interior lining of the digit sheathings is preferably smooth to allow for rapid and easy positioning of the digits within the sheaths. The back of the hand is preferably left bare to allow for an easier "on-off" action. The swimming auxiliary may be fastened about the wrist by any known suitable fastener means, for example a button, clip or buckle, which may be supported on the previously mentioned portion which surrounds the wrist. In a preferred embodiment the fastener means is formed of touch-close type (for example "Velcro") material.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a view of the swimming auxiliary from above, Figure 2 is a view of the swimming auxiliary in use from above, and Figure 3 is a view from above of the swimming auxiliary in use showing the deformations of the expandable membrane.

With reference to the drawings the swimming auxiliary 1 is made from a material which is lightweight, flexible and resilient, for example rubber, synthetic rubber, plastics or rubberised fabric, and is moulded from a single piece of material. The digit sheaths 2 are made from a thicker layer of the same material as the remainder of the auxiliary 1. The expandable membrane 3 between the digit sheaths 2 is also made of the same material as the remainder of the auxiliary 1 but is graduated so that it is thinnest and/or least resistive at the inner edge 4 adjacent the palm, corresponding to an area of minimum resistance, and is thickest and/or most resistive at the outer edge 5, corresponding to an area of maximum resistance, with an intermediate section 6 therebetween, corresponding to an area of intermediate resistance.Pressure relief means (not shown) may be provided throughout the membrane 3 or between the graduated areas 4, 5, 6. The areas 4, 5 and 6 may, in an alternative embodiment, be formed from respectively different materials.

An integral portion 7 surrounding the wrist, in use, carries the fastening and retaining means 8 on an overlapping portion 9.

Raised ridges or ribs 10 may be provided on the digit sheaths 2 to improve their rigidity, thus allowing an easy on-off action of the article, and to resist twisting of the sections. The portions 11 of the digit sheaths 2 which, in use, cover the knuckles are made of thinner material than the rest of the digit sheath 2 and do not have ridges or ribs 10, thus allowing the user's digits to bend naturally.

At the end of each digit sheath 2 is a thickened circular ring 12 which holds the digit sheaths 2 open, that is it prevents them from falling in on themselves, and thus allows the aid to be put on or taken off easily.

The outermost edge 13 of the membrane 3 has expansion restriction means, for example a gusset, which also prevents expansion of the membrane 3 beyond its elastic limit thus avoiding permanent deformation.

With reference to Figure 3, the rest position a of the membrane 3 corresponds to no deformation or expansion of the membrane 3 and occurs when the swimming auxiliary 1 is not in or has just entered the water.

The maximum deformation or expansion of the membrane 3 is indicated as e and corresponds to the maximum downward thrust of a swimming stroke or stay afloat action. Intermediate positions are shown, indicated by dashed lines b, c, d. In these positions, each graduated portion 4, 5, 6 is also in its minimum, maximum or an intermediate position but the maximum deformation or expansion of the portion 5 is greater than the maximum deformation or expansion of the portion 6, which is in turn greater than the maximum deformation or expansion of the portion 4.

In use, the user wears the swimming auxiliary on the hands, and swims in a natural and normal way.

Claims (15)

1. A swimming auxiliary comprising a covering for part of the hand having sheaths provided for at least two digits of the hand with an expandable membrane therebetween whereby, in use, said membrane increases the area of displacement of water by the hand during a swimming stroke.

2. A swimming auxiliary according to claim 1, in which the membrane is provided between all the digits of the hand.

3. A swimming auxiliary according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the membrane is attached between each adjacent pair of digit sheaths including a thumb sheath.

4. A swimming auxiliary according to any previous claim, in which the swimming auxiliary comprises a covering for the palm of the hand.

5. A swimming auxiliary according to claim 4, in which the palm covering extends to surround the wrist to support a fastening and retaining means.

6. A swimming auxiliary according to any preceding claim, in which the digit sheaths are open-ended whereby in use the user's fingertips are bare.

7. A swimming auxiliary according to any preceding claim, in which the auxiliary is made from a lightweight, flexible material.

8. A swimming auxiliary according to any preceding claim, in which the auxiliary is made from a resilient material.

9. A swimming auxiliary according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, in which the material is waterproofed.

10. A swimming auxiliary according to any preceding claim, in which the expandable membrane is formed from a material different to the digit sheathings and/or palm covering.

11. A swimming auxiliary according to any preceding claim, in which the expansion of the expandable membrane is graduated.

12. A swimming auxiliary according to any preceding claim, in which pressure relief means are provided in the expandable membrane.

13. A swimming auxiliary according to any one of claims 4 to 12, in which the palm covering includes vanes or flaps of resiliently deformable material.

14. A swimming auxiliary according to any preceding claim, in which the interior of the auxiliary is lined with a smooth lining.

15. A swimming auxiliary substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.