WO2011099924A1

WO2011099924A1 - Swimming float

Info

Publication number: WO2011099924A1
Application number: PCT/SE2011/050135
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roland Lind
Original assignee: Rodeco Ab
Priority date: 2010-02-12
Filing date: 2011-02-07
Publication date: 2011-08-18
Also published as: EP2533865A1; RU2012138950A; SE1050142A1; EP2533865B1; EP2533865A4; SE534519C2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a swimming float (10) adapted for temporarily being applied to the arm (11, 12) of a user. The swimming float (10) comprises at least en float body (30) and at least one attachment arrangement. The attachment arrangement and a first part (35) of the float body (30) define a first plane (X-Y). A second part (36) of the float body (30) has a first curvature and thereby an extension in an additional direction (R₃). The second part (36) is arranged at the extension of the first part (35) and the additional direction (R₃) is in a direction away from the first plane (X-Y) and in a direction towards the shoulder (3) or back (2) of said user (1) following said application to the arm (11, 12) of said user. The swimming float (10) according to the present invention provides a buoyancy which is displaced out towards the back section of the user, which makes the buoyancy of the swimming float advantageously situated in relation to the user (2). This increases the feeling of safety and facilitates learning during swimming and bathing.

Description

SWIMMING FLOAT

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a swimming float adapted for the right or left arm, which swimming float extends in a direction towards the shoulder and/or back of a user following application thereof to a specific arm of the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Learning to swim may be an awkward experience, for children as well as for adults. The feeling of being in an environment where you are not in full control may frequently cause an extended learning period or, under certain conditions, even an aborted learning period. An aid for facilitating the learning process, and also the safety, during swimming and bathing is swimming floats. One type of swimming floats is specifically adapted to be applied to the arms of the user, and specifically to the upper arms of the user.

Swimming floats for arms, usually called arm-bands or float-bands, in general has not evolved considerably during recent years. The general function thereof has, however, been to maintain a user partially buoyant but has, compared to a swimming float which is applied around the chest of the user, not provided equivalent buoyancy. Swimming floats for arms has therefor been regarded as a type of swimming floats which a user wears during play or after having learnt to spend time in the water to a greater extent than a novice.

An example of a swimming float is described in the patent publication US 4,964,827, in which is described a swimming float adapted for application to an arm. The swimming float may come in a variety of different shapes, such as a fish, a car, an airplane or similar. A reoccurring theme is that the swimming float comprises some kind of means for gripping, which, when required may be gripped by a tutor. Another swimming float for an arm is described in more detail in the published patent application EP 1 ,547,915 A1 , which describes a swimming float having an improved arrangement for fastening thereof to the arm of a user. The arm of the user is brought through an opening having two flexible grip means, which are intended to maintain the swimming float in position. A drawback of the known swimming floats is that the buoyancy is located such that a user usually is positioned such that the legs tend to move towards a vertical position in the water. As a consequence, swimming floats for arms have not had the impact during swimming practice and water play for which they have the potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is intended to at least partially provide an improved swimming float, or an alternative swimming float, which reduces or eliminates at least one of the above problems associated with known swimming floats for arms. This is solved by a swimming float adapted to be temporarily applied to an arm of a user. The swimming float comprises at least one float body and at least one attachment arrangement, which attachment arrangement defines an attachment area at the arm of the user following application. The attachment arrangement extends in a first direction from the float body. A first part of the float body has an extension in a second direction at the attachment area, perpendicular to the first direction and essentially parallel to the arm of the user following application of the swimming float to the user. A second part of the float body displays a first curvature and thereby an extension in an additional direction which is separate from the second direction. The first and the second directions together form a plane. The invention is characterized in that the second part is arranged at the extension of the first part, and that the additional direction is away from said first plane towards the shoulder or back of the user following application of the swimming float to the arm of the user. The swimming float may be a swimming float for use on an arm of a user.

The present invention may be said to combine the properties of a swimming float for use at the back of a user with the ease of handling and mobility which is provided by swimming floats for arms. A user wearing two swimming floats according to the present invention has buoyancy and balance points at the shoulder sections instead of outside the arms, which enables the user to acquire a very favorable position during swimming, for breast-stroke swimming as well as for back-stroke swimming. The user may also obtain a more relaxed posture in a resting position. In combination this may increase the user perceived safety during swimming practice and/or water play.

According to one aspect of the present invention the float body displays a center of buoyancy which is displaced in a direction towards the shoulder or back of said user following said application to the arm of said user. Such an embodiment enhances the stabilizing properties of the swimming float and increases the buoyant capacity at the desired location.

The buoyancy of the swimming float has an improved reach behind a shoulder or back of a user as the float body displays a first and a second transversal short side, whereby the attachment arrangement is arranged in connection to the first transversal short side. The first transversal short side is advantageously the transversal short side which is intended to be directed towards the feet of a user following application to a user in an appropriate manner, when the arms of the user falls straight down as illustrated in figure 1 b. In this position, the second transversal short side is arranged to be directed towards the back of the user, the float body then extends at least partially over the shoulder of the user.

The buoyancy, and thereby the position of the buoyant force, may be improved through the attachment arrangement delimiting the float body between a first and a second section, whereby the second section has a buoyancy which is at least 500 % greater than the first section. This delimit is thought in a second plane referred to below as the Z-Y plane, any intermediate buoyancy being neglected.

The attachment arrangement may be a closed attachment arrangement, adapted to extend fully around the arm of the user. Alternatively, the attachment arrangement may extend partially around the arm. The attachment arrangement may also, in turn, be attached, removably or permanently, to the float body or be shaped as an integral part thereof. Permanent here means that it is not possible to remove without destroying some part of the swimming float. The attachment arrangement may also, due to the design of the swimming float, be made to be very slim.

According to one aspect of the present invention the float body may display a second curvature, whereby a part of the second part of the float body displays an extension in a direction separate from the additional direction. It preferably displays a second curvature, whereby a part of the second part displays an extension partially in the first direction, i.e. away from the second plane Z-Y. This provides to the float body the ability to rest almost tightly against the shoulder and/or back of a user, such that good stability is achieved.

According to one aspect of the present invention also the attachment arrangement displays buoyancy. The buoyancy of the attachment arrangement may be obtained from a floating material or from an inflatable float body. It should be noted that an ordinary textile strap is not considered to provide buoyancy in this respect. The attachment arrangement preferably comprises buoyancy and the said first and second buoyancy of the float body is preferably considerably greater than the buoyancy of the attachment arrangement, preferably at least 500 % greater.

According to one aspect of the present invention the float body displays a longitudinal axis. The curvature of the float body makes the float body extend in a direction towards the shoulder and/or in a direction towards the back of the user, i.e. spine.

According to one aspect of the present invention the float body displays an essentially oblong shape having a first and a second transversal short side and a longitudinal axis, and a transversal center line which separates the float body into the first and the second part. The attachment arrangement is arranged at the first part, and the second part of the float body displays at least one curvature along the longitudinal axis, such that the float body extends in a direction partly over the shoulder of the user towards a back of the user following application of the swimming float.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings whereupon;

figure 1a shows a user wearing swimming floats according to one embodiment of the present invention viewed from the front;

figure 1b shows a user wearing swimming floats according to the embodiment of figure 1a of the present invention viewed from the back;

figure 1c shows a user wearing swimming floats according to an additional embodiment of the present invention viewed from the side during swimming practice;

figure 1d shows a user wearing conventional swimming floats of known kind viewed from the side during swimming practice;

figures 2a, 2b and 3 shows a swimming float according to an additional embodiment of the present invention in three different views;

figure 4 shows the section B-B of figure 3 and;

figures 5a-5c shows a user of an embodiment of the present invention during swimming practice viewed from above. Further constituents and properties of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description when considered with the enclosed drawings. However, it should be understood, that the drawings are designed for illustrative purposes only and not as a definition of the scope of the invention, for which is referred to the enclosed claims. It is further to be understood, that the drawings not necessarily are performed in scale and that, unless otherwise stated, they are only intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figures 1a-1 b shows a user 1 having two swimming floats 10 according to the present invention; a swimming float 10 at the right 1 and the left arm 12 respectively. In the following primarily one swimming float will be described in detail and then the swimming float intended for application to the left arm 12. The user 1 has a back 2, shoulder 3 and a shoulder section 4. The swimming float 10 is adapted for attachment to the user 1 and the upper arm of the user 1 by means of an attachment arrangement 20, at an attachment area 5. The attachment arrangement 20 may in general consist of different arrangements based on different principles of attachment, such as straps, flexible bracelets or stretch bracelets, or alternatively form part of a float body. The swimming float 10 may in its different embodiments be inflatable, partly inflatable or fully inflatable or alternatively be made from a foam material or a natural material.

The swimming float 10 in general has at least one attachment arrangement and at least one float body. According to the embodiment shown in figures 1a-1 b the swimming float 10 has an attachment arrangement 20 and en float body 30. The float body 30, which may be said to be essentially kidney shaped, has an essentially oblong shape and extends along the shoulder 3 of the user 1 , if the swimming float 10 is applied to the appropriate position. The extension provides that the volume and buoyancy of the swimming float 10 is partially displaced towards the back 2 or at least shoulder 3 of the user 1. Through a displacement of the volume and buoyancy of the float body 30 the buoyancy which the float body 30 exerts on the user 1 during swimming or bathing is displaced. This has the effect that the buoyancy from the swimming float is better positioned in relation to the user 1 , which provides for a better swimming position which facilitates swimming/swimming practice for the user 1. In figure 1c is shown a user 1 during swimming practice. The user 1 has two swimming floats 10, one on each respective arm. The swimming floats 10 are adapted to the respective arm (mirror-inverted), in order to provide increased buoyancy over the shoulder and back sections. Figure 1d shows a second user 9 having swimming floats based on known technologies, i.e. conventional arm swimming floats. The upwardly directed arrows indicate where the center of buoyancy of the float body is situated for the respective swimming float. The conventional swimming floats of figure 1d displays a center of buoyancy which essentially is situated in front of the head and further away from the chest than for the swimming floats in accordance with the present invention. It is therefore easier for user 1 to maintain a proper essentially horizontal swimming position than for the second user 9, having swimming floats of known kind, for which the legs tend to move towards a more vertical position in the water.

Figure 2a shows an embodiment of a swimming float 10 having an inflatable attachment arrangement 20 and an inflatable float body 30. The float body 30 displays a first and a second longitudinal side 31 , 32, and a first and a second transversal short side 33, 34. The float body 30 also comprises a first part and a second part 35, 36. The swimming float 10 is adapted to be attached to the left arm 12 of the user 1. The attachment arrangement 20 is adapted to extend around the arm 12 of the user 1 following application to the user 1 and has a through opening 21 , through which the user 1 may pass the arm 12 during application. The user 1 passes the arm 12 in an in-passing and out-passing direction Y during application and removal of the swimming float. The attachment arrangement 20 is attached to the arm 12 at an attachment area 5. The attachment arrangement 20 displays an essentially U-shaped extension and extends between first and second longitudinal sides 31 , 32 of the float body 30. The attachment arrangement 20 has an extension in a first direction X. The first direction X is generally seen in towards the user 1 following application to the left arm 12 of the user 1 , as shown in figure 1b.

Perpendicular to the first direction X, a first part 35 of the float body 30 extends in a second direction Y, which is essentially parallel to the arm 12 of the user 1 following application. The first and the second directions X, Y may be said to together form a first plane X-Y. A third direction Z, is perpendicular to the first plane X-Y, i.e. as a normal to the first plane X-Y as is shown in figures 2a, 2b and 3. The directions X, Y and Z may further be seen as in pairs together forming a second plane Z-Y and a third plane Z-X. The first part 35 of the float body 30 transits to the second part 36 of the float body 30 and deviates, in connection to the transition, into an additional direction R₃. The additional direction R₃ is separate from the second direction Y and has an extension away from the first plane X-Y, in the illustrated embodiment at an angle of approximately 45^° to the first plane X-Y. The angle may however be 20-90^° to the first plane X-Y, preferably 30-65° to the first plane X-Y. The float body 30 thus, in the second plane Z-Y, as shown in figure 2a, displays a longitudinal axis, which in figure 2a coincides with the second direction Y, and which passes to the additional direction R₃ at a point 50, which is arranged essentially halfway between said first and second transversal short sides (33, 34). According to one aspect of the present invention the second part 36 extends at least such that a second transversal short side 34 of the float body 30 is arranged fully outside of the first plane X-Y.

The float body 30 shown in figure 2a-2b, which may be said to be essentially kidney shaped, thus displays a somewhat curved shape. The float body 30 comprises a center of buoyancy F_c, which, if the float body 30 is inflatable and inflated, through the curved shape is displaced in the direction R₃ away from the first plane X-Y.

As noted, the transversal short sides 33, 34 has a somewhat rounded shape, but may in other embodiments of the present invention have a more straight shape, irrespective of shape they are considered as transversal short sides in relation to the longitudinal sides 31 , 32 of the float body. The float body 30 also has a depth, i.e. an extension in X- direction, which for example is shown in figure 2b and figure 3. The depth of the float body 30 may be adapted to the desired buoyancy. In one embodiment the depth of the float body is essentially the same along all of the float body 30.

Figure 3 shows the swimming float 10 in a view from the side. The float body 30 is inflatable by means of a first valve 40. The attachment arrangement 20 is inflatable by means of a second valve 41. Figure 4 shows the section B-B of figure 3. A partition or separating wall 43, shown in figure 4, separates the interior volumes of the both inflatable float bodies from each other.

At is advantageous to realize the swimming float 10 in this manner having multiple float bodies, or chambers. To realize the swimming float 10 with at least two float bodies reduces the risk that a user is left completely without flotation aid should one of the float bodies, in case they are inflatable, inadvertently happen to be emptied of air, e.g.

punctured. Thus, the swimming float 10 comprises a first and a second float body 30, 20, where the first float body 30 has buoyancy which is substantially greater than that of the second float body 20. From a volume aspect the first float body 30 is at least 500 % larger than the second float body 20, as the second float body 20 consists of all or part of the attachment arrangement 20. It is preferably 400-2000 % larger.

According to one aspect of the present invention the attachment arrangement 20 is advantageously arranged in connection to a first transversal short side 33 of the float body 30. This has the effect that a large quantity of the total buoyancy of the float body 30 is arranged above, or partially above, the back 2 or shoulder 3 of a user 1. In one embodiment of the present invention the attachment arrangement 20 delimits the float body into a first and a second section 37, 38, which are arranged on respective sides of the attachment arrangement 20 as seen along the second direction Y. The buoyancy of the second section 38 is substantially greater than that of the first section 37. The buoyancy may be at least 500 % greater, preferably 500-4000 % greater. Further, the volume of the second section 38 may be considerably larger than that of the first section 37, the volume may be at least 500 % larger, preferably 500-4000 % larger.

Figure 3 illustrates how a second part 36 of the float body 30 curves towards said first direction X, at least in the part which is adjacent a second transversal short side 34 of the float body 30. The curvature, i.e. that also a second part 36 of the float body 30 curves towards the first direction X, lets the float body 30 follow a shoulder 3 of a user 1 better, as for example is shown in figure 1 b. This provides a good location of the buoyancy of the float body 30 with respect to the user 1. Thus, the float body 30 also displays a somewhat curved shape in an additional direction, which direction extends away from the second plane Z-Y. The float body 30 is displaced away from the second plane Z-Y due to the curvature in the additional direction.

Figures 5a-5c shows a user 1 during breast-stroke practice. The user 1 has a pair of swimming floats 10 attached to the upper arms on the right 11 and left arm 12

respectively. As noted, the float body 30 has an extension towards the back 2 of the user 1 and transports the buoyancy of the swimming floats backwards, relative to the head of the user. The swimming float 10 may be made from a thermoplastic material, such as

polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, similar polymers, or mixtures thereof, and may be inflatable or non-inflatable. Non-inflatable swimming floats are advantageously made from foam material, preferably having closed cells, made for example from the materials mentioned above. Natural materials, such as cork or other naturally occurring materials are also possible, and in some cases advantageous. The swimming float may also comprise a combination of naturally occurring materials, for example cork, and plastic materials, such as the thermoplastic polymers mentioned above.

The swimming float 10 should also be adapted to different users through manufacturing it in different sizes, whereby an adaptation to the user is allowed, e.g. smaller sizes for children and larger sizes for adult users.

Claims

Swimming float (10) adapted for temporarily being applied to the arm (11 , 12) of a user, said swimming float (10) comprising at least one float body (30) and at least one attachment arrangement (20) which attachment arrangement (20) defines an attachment area (5) at the arm (11 , 12) of said user following said application, said attachment arrangement (20) extending away from said float body (30) in a first direction (X),

a first part (35) of said float body (30) having an extension in a second direction (Y) at said attachment area (5), orthogonally to said first direction (X) and essentially parallel to the arm (11 , 12) of said user following said application, a second part (36) of said float body (30) having a first curvature and thereby an extension in an additional direction (R₃) separate from said second direction (Y), said first and second directions (X, Y) together forming a first plane (X-Y), characterized in

that de second part (36) is arranged at the extension of the first part (35), and that said additional direction (R₃) is away from said first plane (X-Y) towards the shoulder (3) or back (2) of said user (1 ) following said application to the arm (11 , 12) of said user.

2. Swimming float according to claim 1 , characterized in that said float body (30) has a center of buoyancy (F_c) which is displaced from said first plane (X-Y) in a direction towards the shoulder (3) or back (2) of said user (1 ) following said application to the arm (11 , 12) of said user (1).

3. Swimming float according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first part (35) has a first buoyancy and said second part (36) has a second buoyancy, whereby said second buoyancy is greater than said first buoyancy.

4. Swimming float according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said float body (30) has a first and a second transversal short side (33, 34), whereby said attachment arrangement (20) is arranged in connection to said first transversal short side (33).

5. Swimming float according to claim 4, characterized in that said attachment arrangement (20) delimits said float body (30) into a second plane (Z-Y) between a first and a second section (37, 38) whereby said second section (38) has a buoyancy which is at least 500 % greater than that of said first section (37).

6. Swimming float according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said attachment arrangement (20) is a closed attachment arrangement adapted to extend fully around the arm (11 , 12) of the user.

7. Swimming float according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said float body has a second curvature, whereby a part of said second part (36) has an extension towards said first direction (X) away from the second plane (Z-Y).

8. Swimming float according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said attachment arrangement (20) comprises buoyancy and that said first and second buoyancy of said float body (30) is considerably greater than said buoyancy of said attachment arrangement (20).

9. Swimming float according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said additional direction (R₃) extends at an angle of 20-90^° to the first plane (X-Y), preferably 30-65^° to the first plane (X-Y).

10. Swimming float according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said float body (30) has a longitudinal axis which coincides with said second direction (Y), and which passes to said additional direction (R₃) at a specified point (50) where said float body (30) has a first and a second transversal short side (33, 34) and said specified point (50) is arranged essentially halfway between said first and said second transversal short side (33, 34).

11. Swimming float according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said float body (30) has an essentially oblong shape.

12. Kit comprising a first and a second swimming float (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first swimming float is specifically adapted for the right arm (11 ) and that the second swimming float is specifically adapted for the left arm (12).