US3913907A

US3913907A - Aquatic exercising assembly

Info

Publication number: US3913907A
Application number: US505561A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles O Baker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-09-13
Filing date: 1974-09-13
Publication date: 1975-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-21

Abstract

An aquatic exercising assembly that includes first and second pairs of fin like members that are provided with first and second means for removably securing the members to the feet and hands of a user. The first and second pairs of members have manually adjustable valve members thereon that control the flow of water through openings defined in the members as the members are moved by a user in a body of water. By using the valve members to progressively decrease the effective area of the openings for the flow of water therethrough, the resistance offered by the first and second pairs of members in moving through the body of water is increased. Thus, as the arms and legs and associated muscles of a user are strengthened by exercising with the assembly, the arms and legs may be progressively subjected to increased exercising stresses by adjusting the valve members to further restrict the effective area of the openings. The first and second pairs of members may be used concurrently or individually to exercise both the legs or arms of the user.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Baker Oct. 21, 1975 AQUATIC EXERCISING ASSEMBLY [76] Inventor: Charles 0. Baker, 1805 Sherington Place, Apt. U306, Newport Beach, Calif. 92660 [22] Filed: Sept. 13, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 505,561

[52] US. Cl. 272/57 R; 272/71; 272/1 B; 9/304; 9/307 [51] Int. Cl. A63B 23/04 [58] Field of Search 9/301, 303, 304, 305, 306, 9/307, 308, 309; 272/1 B, 57 R, 71

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,517,930 6/1970 Jacobsen 272/71 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,041,324 7/1966 United Kingdom 9/307 1,248,039 3/1959 France 9/307 21,052 6/1905 United Kingdom 9/304 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerJoseph R. Taylor Attorney, Agent, or Firm-William C. Babcock [57] ABSTRACT An aquatic exercising assembly that includes first and second pairs of fin like members that are provided with first and second means for removably securing the members to the feet and hands of a user. The first and second pairs of members have manually adjustable valve members thereon that control the flow of water through openings defined in the members as the members are moved by a user in a body of water. By using the valve members to progressively decrease the effective area of the openings for the flow of water therethrough, the resistance offered by the first and second pairs of members in moving through the body of water is increased. Thus, as the arms and legs and associated muscles of a user are strengthened by exercising with the assembly, the arms and legs may be progressively subjected to increased exercising stresses by adjusting the valve members to further restrict the effective area of the openings. The first and second pairs of members may be used concurrently or individually to exercise both the legs or arms of the user.

AQUATIC EXERCISING ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Aquatic exercising device.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past, various exercises have been devised and used to condition the body. Swimming has been found to be excellent exercise and has the advantage that is a pleasure to perform. The lifting and moving of weights as individual units or in association with mechanical devices has also been employed in developing and conditioning the human body.

The strengthening and conditioning of the arms, legs and associated muscles by exercise results from the arms and legs being subjected to resistance as they are moved. In swimming the resistance to which the arms and legs are subjected is related to the rapidity with which they are moved and the duration thereof. When weights or spring loaded devices are used in exercising the strengthening and conditioning of the legs and arms is related to the magnitude of the resistance offered by the same, and the duration of the exercising.

The primary purpose in devising the present invention is to provide an aquatic exercising assembly that is free of weights and springs, and may be used advantageously in conjunction with swimming to condition and strengthen the arms, legs and associated muscles of a user.

Another object of the invention is to supply an aquatic exercising assembly that includes first and second pairs of components that may be mounted concurrently on both the feet and arms of a user for the exercise of both the legs and arms in a body of water, but with either the first or second pair of components being usable individuably when but the feet or arms of a user are desired to be subjected to exercise.

Yet another object of the invention is to furnish an aquatic exercising device in which the resistance offered by the first and second components in moving through a body of water may be easily and quickly adjusted by the user of the invention.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an aquatic exercising assembly that is compact, light in weight, has a simple structure, and in the main may be fabricated from foamed polyolefins or the like by injection molding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An aquatic exercising assembly that includes first and second pairs of fin-like members that are provided with first and second securing means to removably hold the members on the feet and hands of the user. The first and second pairs of members have manually adjustable valve means thereon that control the flow of water through openings formed in the members as the latter are moved in the body of water. By adjusting the valve members the effective areas of the openings may be progressively decreased to increase the resistance offered by the first and second members as they are moved through the water, with the arms, legs and associated muscles being gradually subjected to exercising stresses of increased magnitude.

The exercising assembly may have the first and second pairs of fin-like members mounted concurrently on the feet and arms of a user for concurrent use, but if desired, the first members may be used on the feet alone to exercise this portion of the body should the user so desire. It will, of course, be apparent that the second members may be used individually in the exercising of the arms and associated muscles without the use of the first members on the feet of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one of the first fin-like members that may be removably mounted on a foot of a user for exercising the leg associated therewith in a body of water;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the first fin-like members shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of one of the first fin-like members, taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross sectional view of one of the first fin-like members taken on the line 44 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is atop plan view of one of the second fin-like members that is adapted to be removably secured to a hand of a user;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of one of the second fin-like members taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a user in a body of water and indicating the manner in which the second fin-like members are manipulated by movement of one or both arms of a user; and

FIG. 8 is the same view as shown in FIG. 7, but indicating the manner in which the first fin-like member is mounted on a foot of a user to exercise the leg associated therewith.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The exercising assembly includes a first pair of finlike members A and second pair of fin-like members B that are removably secured to the feet C and arms D of a user E as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. When the user E has members A and B mounted thereon, the feet may be raised alternately as shown in FIG. 8 through the body of water F. Such movement of the feet C results in the exercise and conditioning of the legs associated therewith due to the resistance offered by the members A in moving through the body of water F.

As such exercising of the feet C takes place, the arms D of the user may likewise be moved, with the arms being subjected to exercising stresses due to the resistance offered by the members B in moving the body of water F. The resistance offered by the first and second pairs of members A and B in moving through the body of water F may be varied by adjustable means that form a part of the members and will be described later in detail. The user A may move the first and second members A and B either concurrently or individually, depending on the portions of the human body that are desired to be exercised.

The first and second pairs of members A and B are preferably injected molded from foamed polyolefins. By the use of this technology, the first and second pairs of members A and B may be fabricated with a desired degree of stiffness and also formed with a skin that is highly resistant to abrasion.

Each of the first members A includes a first flat body 10 that has first and second ends 12 and 14, aand first and second oppositely disposed side surfaces 10a and b respectively. Each body 10 adjacent the first end 12 thereof has a first openings 16 of substantial area defined therein, which opening extends between the first and second side surfaces 10a and 10b.

Each of the first bodies 10 has two parallel longitudinally extending ribs 18 situated on opposite sides of the first opening 16 and extending rearwardly therefrom. The ribs 18 suppport a number of transverse fingers 20 that extend inwardly towards one another, with the ribs and fingers cooperating to define longitudinally extending guides that snuggly and slidably engage a flat valve member 22 that is shown in both FIGS. 2 and 3.

The valve member 22 as may best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 has transversely extending protuberances 24 extending outwardly therefrom. Protuberances 24 may be engaged by the user E of the first pair of members A to manually adjust the valve members 22 relative to the first openings 16. Each first body 10 rearwardly of the ribs and

fingers

18 and 20 has two second laterally spaced ribs 26 that extend outwardly from the first sur face 10a of the first body 10. Two laterally spaced, second openings 28 are formed in each of the first bodies 10 rearwardly of the second ribs 26. Two rods 30 extend rearwardly from the second ribs 26 and are centered in the second openings 28, with the rearward ends of the rods merging into the portion of the first body 10 rearwardly of the second openings 28. The rods 30 have a diameter that is substantially less than the width of the second openings 28 for reasons that will later be explained. Each first body 10 as may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 is generally rectangular in shape, and arcuate flanges 32 are provided thereon that extend outwardly from the corners thereof. The flanges 32 on the corners most adjacent the first openings 16 serve as stops to prevent the valve members 22 being inadvertently displaced from the ribs 18 and the fingers 20 as the valve member is moved forwardly relative to the first body 10.

The rods 30 serve the same function as above described in providing stops to prevent inadvertent displacement of a valve member 22 as it is moved rearwardly on the first body 10 relative to opening 16.

The fingers 20 rearwardly of the first opening 16 and each of the first bodies 10 are located below third openings 34, which third openings are desirable in effecting flow of the foamed polyolefins in the injection molding of the first body 10. Each of the first bodies 10 is formed with an upwardly projecting arcuate shaped heel engaging member 36, which member is situated rearwardly a substantial distance from the second openings 28.

A pair of pliable straps 38 are provided that are preferably molded from polypropylene. The straps 38 are of a width slightly less than the length of the second openings 28. Each strap 38 has a first end portion 38a of greater width than the balance of the strap, and this end portion having a transverse first slot 38b therein of sufficient length as to permit the strap to be extended therethrough when the strap is in a loop defining configuration as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 in engagement with both of the rods 30. A number of transverse longitudinally spaced second slots 38c are formed in the second portion 38d of each strap 38. Each strap 38 has a transversely positioned hook 38c extending outwardly therefrom that is situated between the first and second end portions 38a and 38b. When a users foot C is resting on the second surface 10b of a first body A and in abutting contact with the heel engaging surfaces 36, the strap 38 is extended over the foot, and the second portions 38a is extended through first slot 38b and then doubled over as shown in FIG. 1 for hook 38e to engage one of the second slots 38c. The strap 38 when so dis posed cooperates with the heel engaging member 36 to removably support the first member a on a foot C of a user as shown in FIG. 8, and permits the user to exercise and condition the leg G associated with the foot. The resistance offered by the first members A in moving through the body of water F is related to the effective area of the opening 16 in permitting the flow of water through the body A.

The valve member 22 may be manually adjusted to a first position to completely obstruct the opening 16, in which case the first member A offers maximum resistance to being moved through the water. The valve member 22 may also be adjusted to a second position where it does not obstruct the opening 16, and in this case. the first members A offers a minimum of resistance in being moved through the water in a direction normal to the first surface 10a thereof. By manual adjustment, the valve member 22 may be positioned in a third position intermediate the first and second positions, and the resistance of the first member A in being moved through the water then lying between the maximum and minimum.

The first members A may be used as a pair to exercise the legs G of a user E without exercising the arms D, as shown in FIG. 8.

The pair of second members B, each includes a second flat body 40 that has a first forward end 42 and second rearward end 44. Certain elements in each of the second bodies 40 are of the same structure previously described in conjunction with the first member A, and these elements are identified in FIGS. 5 and 6 with the same numerals previously used but with primes being added thereto. The opening 16 is located adjacent the first end 32 of each second member B as shown in FIG. 5, as is valve member 22. A strap 38' is located adjacent the second end 44 of each member B with which it is associated. Each second body 40 is formed with two laterally spaced raised portions 46, with each raised portion having two longitudinally spaced first and second bores 48 and 50 formed therein.

An elongate handle 52 is provided for each second body 40, with each handle having a pair of transverse bores 54 in the end portions thereof. A pair of screws 56 extend downwardly through bores 54 and bores 48 and 50 to support the handle 52 in which they are associated at an angle relative the longitudinal axis L of the second body 40 as shown in FIG. 5. A pair of nuts 58 engage the screws 52 to support one of the handles 52 at an appropriate angle on the second body 50 with which it is associated. The handle 52 are angularly disposed relative to the second bodies 40 to permit the handles to be more easily engaged by the fingers (not shown) on the hands H of a user E.

The second members B are used by first loosening the straps 38' to permit the hands H of the user to be inserted thereunder to grasp the handles 52, with the straps then being tightened to snuggly engage the wrist of the user. The arms D of the user are then moved through the water F, with the second members B resisting this movement, and the degree of resistance of the second members B being related to the effective area of the openings 16'. The effective areas of openings 16 are controlled by adjusting the valve members 22' relative to the openings in the same manner as previously described in using the first members A.

The arms D of the user when the second members B are mounted on the hands H thereof, may be moved through the body of water F, and the arms exercised independently or the legs G or the arms D and the legs G may be concurrently exercised if so desired.

The use and operation of the invention has been explained previously in detail and need not be repeated.

I claims:

1. An aquatic exercising assembly in which a portion of the components thereof are manually adjustable to subject the arms and legs of a user and associated muscles to desired degrees of stressing as the legs and arms are moved through a body of water with said assembly mounted thereon, said assembly including:

a. first and second pairs of fin defining members having first and second ends and first and second oppositely disposed sides, said first and second members adjacent said first ends thereof having first and second transverse openings therein;

b. first and second pairs of flat valve members of greater transverse areas than said first and second openings;

. first and second means on said first and second pairs of members for slidably and adjustably supporting said first and second pairs of valve members adjacent said first sides relative said openings to permit said first and second pairs of valve members to be disposed in first positions where they completely obstruct said openings, said positions where said valve members do not obstruct said openings, and third positions intermediate said first and second positions where said first and second pairs of valve members partially obstruct said openings;

d. third means on said first pair of members for removably securing said first pair of members to the feet of said user;

e. fourth means on said second pair of members for removably gripping the wrists of said user; and

f. a pair of transverse handles on said second pair of members that may be removably gripped by the hands of said user when said wrists of said user are engaged by said fourth means, with said first and second pairs of members when moved through said body of water by the arms and legs of said user offering resistance to being so moved, with the degree of said resistance and the degree of exercise to which said arms and legs of said user are subjected in overcoming said resistance being controlled by the positions of said first and second pairs of valve members relative to said openings to regulate the flow of water therethrough.

2. An assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said openings in said first and second pairs of members are positioned forwardly towards said first ends thereof beyond the feet and hands of said user when said first and second members are mounted on said feet and hands.

3. An assembly as defined in claim 1 which in addition includes:

g. arcuate shaped heel engaging members that extend outwardly from said second sides of said first pair of members.

4. An assembly as defined in claim 3 in which said first pair of members, said first means and said heel engaging members are integrally formed as single units from foamed polyolefins.

5. An assembly as defined -in claim 1 in which said first means are two laterally spaced parallel ribs of transverse L-shape that extend outwardly from said first surfaces of each of said first members and slidably and frictionally grip said first valve members to the extent that said first valve members will remain in any one of said positions to which they are adjusted by said user.

6. An assembly as defined in claim 5 in which said assembly in addition includes:

g. stop means projecting outwardly from said first surfaces of said first pair of members that limit the movement of said first pair of valve members relative to said ribs to the extent said first valve members cannot be inadvertently displaced from said ribs.

7. An assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said third means includes:

g. a pair of heel engaging members that extend outwardly from said second surfaces of said first pair of members;

h. a pair of straps that are adjustable as to the effective length thereof, each of said straps having first and second end portions; and

i. anchor means on said first pair of members for engaging said first and second end portions of said straps to maintain said straps above said second surfaces and in transverse relationship thereto, with said straps engaging the feet of said user when the heels of said feet are in contact with said heel engaging members.

8. An assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said pair of handles are elongate bars, and said assembly further including:

g. fifth means on said second pair of fifth defining members for selectively holding said bars in either first or second transverse positions on said second pair of members where they may be grasped by the hands of said user.

9. An aquatic exercising assembly in which the components thereof are manually adjustable to subject the legs of a user and associated muscles to desired degrees of stressing as the legs are moved through a body of water with said assemblies mounted thereon, said assembly including:

a. a pair of fin defining members having first and second ends and first and second oppositely disposed sides, said members adjacent said first end thereof having openings formed therein;

b. a first pair of flat valve members of greater transverse area than said openings;

c. first means on said pair of members for slidably and adjustably supporting said pair of valve members adjacent said first side relative to said openings to permit said pair of valve members to be disposed in first positions where they completely obstruct said openings, second positions where said valve members do not obstruct said valve openings, and third positions intermediate said first and second positions where said pair of valve members partially obstruct said openings;

d. second means on said pair of members to removably secure said pair of members to the feet of said user, with the feet of said user when moved through said body of water with said members mounted thereon being subjected to exercising stresses due to the resistance of said members in moving through said water, and the degree of said resistance being related to the position said valve members bear relative to said openings, to control the effective areas of said openings and the magnitude of flow of water therethrough as said members are moved by said user in exercising in said body of water.

10. An aquatic exercising assembly in which a portion of the components thereof are manually adjustable to subject the arms of a user and associated muscles to desired degrees of stressing as the arms are moved through a body of water with said assembly mounted thereon, said assembly including:

a. a pair of fin defining members having first and second ends, and first and second oppositely disposed sides, said member adjacent said first ends thereof having first and second transverse openings therein;

b. a pair of flat valve members of greater transverse area than said openings, and adjacently disposed to said first sides of said members;

c. first means on said pair of members for slidably and adjustably supporting said pair of valve members adjacent said first side and relative to said openings to permit said pair of valve members to be disposed in first positions where they completely obstruct said openings, second positions where said valve members do not obstruct said openings, and third positions intermediate said first and second positions where said valve members partially obstruct said openings;

d. second means on said second sides of said pair of members for removably engaging the wrists of said user;

e. a pair of transverse handles on said second sides of said pair of members that may be removably gripped by the fingers of said user when said wrist of said user are engaged by said second means, with said pair of members when moved through a body of water by the arms of said user offering resistance to being so moved, with the degree of exercise to which said arms of said user are subjected in overcoming said resistance being controlled by the positions of said pair of valve members relative to said openings to regulate the flow of water through the latter.

Claims

1. An aquatic exercising assembly in which a portion of the components thereof are manually adjustable to subject the arms and legs of a user and associated muscles to desired degrees of stressing as the legs and arms are moved through a body of water with said assembly mounted thereon, said assembly including: a. first and second pairs of fin defininG members having first and second ends and first and second oppositely disposed sides, said first and second members adjacent said first ends thereof having first and second transverse openings therein; b. first and second pairs of flat valve members of greater transverse areas than said first and second openings; c. first and second means on said first and second pairs of members for slidably and adjustably supporting said first and second pairs of valve members adjacent said first sides relative said openings to permit said first and second pairs of valve members to be disposed in first positions where they completely obstruct said openings, said positions where said valve members do not obstruct said openings, and third positions intermediate said first and second positions where said first and second pairs of valve members partially obstruct said openings; d. third means on said first pair of members for removably securing said first pair of members to the feet of said user; e. fourth means on said second pair of members for removably gripping the wrists of said user; and f. a pair of transverse handles on said second pair of members that may be removably gripped by the hands of said user when said wrists of said user are engaged by said fourth means, with said first and second pairs of members when moved through said body of water by the arms and legs of said user offering resistance to being so moved, with the degree of said resistance and the degree of exercise to which said arms and legs of said user are subjected in overcoming said resistance being controlled by the positions of said first and second pairs of valve members relative to said openings to regulate the flow of water therethrough.

3. An assembly as defined in claim 1 which in addition includes: g. arcuate shaped heel engaging members that extend outwardly from said second sides of said first pair of members.

5. An assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said first means are two laterally spaced parallel ribs of transverse L-shape that extend outwardly from said first surfaces of each of said first members and slidably and frictionally grip said first valve members to the extent that said first valve members will remain in any one of said positions to which they are adjusted by said user.

6. An assembly as defined in claim 5 in which said assembly in addition includes: g. stop means projecting outwardly from said first surfaces of said first pair of members that limit the movement of said first pair of valve members relative to said ribs to the extent said first valve members cannot be inadvertently displaced from said ribs.

7. An assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said third means includes: g. a pair of heel engaging members that extend outwardly from said second surfaces of said first pair of members; h. a pair of straps that are adjustable as to the effective length thereof, each of said straps having first and second end portions; and i. anchor means on said first pair of members for engaging said first and second end portions of said straps to maintain said straps above said second surfaces and in transverse relationship thereto, with said straps engaging the feet of said user when the heels of said feet are in contact with said heel engaging members.

8. An assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said pair of handles are elongate bars, and said assembly further including: g. fifth means on said second pair of fifth defining members for selectively holding said bars in either first or second transverse positions on said second pair of members where they may be grasped by the hands of said user.

9. An aquatic exercising assembly in which the components thereof are manually adjustable to subject the legs of a user and associated muscles to desired degrees of stressing as the legs are moved through a body of water with said assemblies mounted thereon, said assembly including: a. a pair of fin defining members having first and second ends and first and second oppositely disposed sides, said members adjacent said first end thereof having openings formed therein; b. a first pair of flat valve members of greater transverse area than said openings; c. first means on said pair of members for slidably and adjustably supporting said pair of valve members adjacent said first side relative to said openings to permit said pair of valve members to be disposed in first positions where they completely obstruct said openings, second positions where said valve members do not obstruct said valve openings, and third positions intermediate said first and second positions where said pair of valve members partially obstruct said openings; d. second means on said pair of members to removably secure said pair of members to the feet of said user, with the feet of said user when moved through said body of water with said members mounted thereon being subjected to exercising stresses due to the resistance of said members in moving through said water, and the degree of said resistance being related to the position said valve members bear relative to said openings, to control the effective areas of said openings and the magnitude of flow of water therethrough as said members are moved by said user in exercising in said body of water.

10. An aquatic exercising assembly in which a portion of the components thereof are manually adjustable to subject the arms of a user and associated muscles to desired degrees of stressing as the arms are moved through a body of water with said assembly mounted thereon, said assembly including: a. a pair of fin defining members having first and second ends, and first and second oppositely disposed sides, said member adjacent said first ends thereof having first and second transverse openings therein; b. a pair of flat valve members of greater transverse area than said openings, and adjacently disposed to said first sides of said members; c. first means on said pair of members for slidably and adjustably supporting said pair of valve members adjacent said first side and relative to said openings to permit said pair of valve members to be disposed in first positions where they completely obstruct said openings, second positions where said valve members do not obstruct said openings, and third positions intermediate said first and second positions where said valve members partially obstruct said openings; d. second means on said second sides of said pair of members for removably engaging the wrists of said user; e. a pair of transverse handles on said second sides of said pair of members that may be removably gripped by the fingers of said user when said wrist of said user are engaged by said second means, with said pair of members when moved through a body of water by the arms of said user offering resistance to being so moved, with the degree of exercise to which said arms of said user are subjected in overcoming said resistance being controlled by the positions of said pair of valve members relative to said openings to regulate the flow of water through the latter.