US20060166175A1

US20060166175A1 - Device for teaching swimming

Info

Publication number: US20060166175A1
Application number: US11/042,299
Authority: US
Inventors: Jen-Fan Lan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-01-24
Filing date: 2005-01-24
Publication date: 2006-07-27

Abstract

A device for swimming learning includes an L-like frame having an upright portion standing along a swimming pool and a lateral portion extending above the swimming pool. A connector is mounted movably on the lateral portion. A first elastic strap is pivotally mounted on the lateral portion of the frame. A second elastic strap is connected pivotally to the connector. A buoy is connected to the first elastic strap and the second elastic strap. Whereby, a swimmer can be suspended on the surface of the pool in order to develop swimming techniques and remain at a stationary position due to resilient forces of the first and the second elastic strap therefore preventing the swimmer from moving forward to a deep area of the swimming pool.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for teaching swimming, and particularly to a device which enables a user to easily gather breath and perform the correct swimming posture.
2. Description of Related Art
Swimming is a particularly healthy exercise, yet many people are afraid to learn because they do not know how to gather breath or to float on water, and greatly fear choking and drowning.
Additionally, a swimmer must coordinate movements of arms and legs to go forward in the water. If a learner carelessly goes to a deep area of a swimming pool and can not touch the bottom of swimming pool, the learner will probably panic and lose the confidence to continue with this exercise.
Therefore, the invention provides a device for teaching swimming to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a device for teaching swimming which can enable a user to safely perform the correct swimming posture and gather breath.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a device for teaching swimming in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the device for teaching swimming in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional front view of the device for teaching swimming in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a top view of the first preferred embodiment of the device for teaching swimming in accordance with the present invention in a first using status;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the first preferred embodiment of the device for teaching swimming in accordance with the present invention in a second using status; and
FIG. 6 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment of the device for teaching swimming in accordance with the present invention in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, a device for teaching swimming comprises an L-like frame (10) which has an upright portion standing along a swimming pool (20) and a lateral portion laterally extending from the upright portion and adapted for extending above the swimming pool (20). The lateral portion has two sides, and a longitudinal rail groove (104) defined in one of the sides of the lateral portion. A connector extends movably through the longitudinal rail groove (104) of the lateral portion of the L-like frame (10). The connector has an L-like bar (14) and a wheel (15). The L-like bar (14) extends through the longitudinal rail groove (104) in the lateral portion and has a lower end and an upper end extending into the longitudinal groove (104) in the lateral portion. The wheel (15) is mounted rotatably at the upper end of the L-like bar (14) and is located in the longitudinal rail groove (104). A first elastic strap (11) is connected pivotally to the lower end of the L-like bar (14). A second elastic strap (12) is mounted pivotally on the upright portion of the frame (10), with a buoy (13) connecting the first and the second elastic strap (11, 12). The buoy (13), which can be wrapped about a waist of a swimmer, has a ring (130) mounted around an outer periphery thereof to connect the first and second elastic strap (11, 12). A first sling (110) is mounted pivotally at the lower end of the L-like bar (14) and is connected to the first elastic strap (11). A second sling (120) is mounted pivotally on the upright portion of the frame (10) and is connected to the second elastic strap (12).
A seat (100), which is defined with multiple holes, is mounted on a bottom end of the upright portion of the frame (10) so that multiple fasteners are respectively inserted into the holes to install the frame (10) along the swimming pool (20). A plurality of orifices (103) is respectively evenly defined in the upright portion of the frame (10) so that the second sling (120) can be optionally inserted into the corresponding orifices (103) to adjust position of the second elastic strap (12) on the frame (10).
With reference to FIG. 2, a second preferred embodiment of the device for swimming learning is similar to the first preferred embodiment except that a heavy block (102) is mounted on the seat (100) to install the frame (10) further stably.
With reference to FIGS. 4-6, the first and the second elastic strap (11, 12) are linked with the ring (130) of the buoy (13) which is wrapped about the waist of the swimmer at first. An extending length of the first elastic strap (11) due to a weight of the swimmer is approximately equal with a vertical distance between the lateral portion of the frame (10) and water surface so that the swimmer can keep floating on the water. With reference to FIG. 4, the swimmer swims forward for a short distance with the connector moving along the longitudinal rail groove (104) in the lateral portion. With reference to FIG. 5, the swimmer swims at a stationary position due to the resilient forces of the first and the second elastic strap (11, 12) when the connector reaches a front end of the lateral portion. Therefore, the first and second straps (11, 12) prevent the swimmer from moving forward to a deep area of the swimming pool (20).
Alternatively, the frame (10) can have a heavy base integrally formed at a bottom of the upright portion thereof for movably disposing the frame (10) beside the swimming pool. The heavy base has multiple wheels at a bottom thereof, so it is convenient to remove the frame (10) from the swimming pool when not in use.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A device for teaching swimming comprising:

an L-like frame having

an upright portion adapted for standing along a swimming pool; and

a lateral portion laterally extending from the upright portion and adapted for extending above the swimming pool and having

two sides; and

a longitudinal rail groove defined in one of the side of the lateral portion;

a connector extending movably through the longitudinal rail groove of the lateral portion of the L-like frame and having

an L-like bar extending through the longitudinal rail groove and having a lower end and an upper end extending into the longitudinal groove; and

a wheel mounted rotatably at the upper end of the L-like bar and located in the longitudinal rail groove;

a first elastic strap pivotally connected to the lower end of the L-like bar;

a second elastic strap pivotally mounted on the upright portion of the frame; and

a buoy connected to the first elastic strap and the second elastic strap.

2. The device for teaching swimming as claimed in claim 1, wherein a seat with multiple holes is mounted on a bottom end of the upright portion of the frame and multiple fasteners are inserted respectively into the holes to install the frame.

3. The device for teaching swimming as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a heavy block mounted on the seat.

4. The device for teaching swimming as claimed in claim 1, wherein a ring is mounted around an outer periphery of the buoy.

5. The device for teaching swimming as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

the first elastic strap is connected to a first sling pivotally mounted at the lower end of the L-like bar; and

the second elastic strap is connected to a second sling pivotally mounted on the upright portion of the frame.

6. The device for teaching swimming as claimed in claim 5, wherein multiple orifices are respectively defined in the upright portion of the frame.