WO2023051863A1

WO2023051863A1 - Recreational and sports item for water sports

Info

Publication number: WO2023051863A1
Application number: PCT/DE2022/100643
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marcel Skiba; Jürgen Schebler
Original assignee: Marcel Skiba
Priority date: 2021-09-28
Filing date: 2022-08-29
Publication date: 2023-04-06
Also published as: DE102021125148A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a swimming support or item for non-swimmers, in particular children but also for disabled individuals, said support or item consisting of a head support, a torso support, and optionally a leg support (2-4) which are connected to one another as buoyancy chambers (5-7). The buoyancy chambers (5-7) are equipped with cushions (14), which in turn are filled with a plurality of small spherical floats (10-13), the diameters of which are preferably 1.0-2.0 mm. This ensures that the body of the swimmer rests on the swimming support securely, comfortably, and without impairing swimming movements.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Leisure and sporting goods for water sports

The invention relates to a leisure and sports article with a floating body which holds the swimmer in the area of the water surface and is designed to be buoyant or made to be buoyant and which is shaped to match parts of the swimmer's body.

Such items are indispensable for children, physically and visually impaired people when swimming and playing. They usually consist of air-filled, thin-walled bodies made of plastic and are clamped around the upper arms as so-called armbands, as swimming rings or swimming rings around the waist and thus ensure the appropriate safety of a child or the disabled. Such articles are also used in the field of rehabilitation or disabled sports, if necessary also as a support, in order to protect or secure people who are dependent on appropriate help. Naturally, it is desirable that the articles impede or restrict the movements of the person exercising or bathing as little as possible. The more independently a child/patient can do their exercises without pressure, the more promising is the use of such an article. In addition to these articles connected to the body, so-called air mattresses are also used to protect children and the disabled in particular, although this cannot be said to be an article that supports sport, because the air mattress hinders the swimmer too much, so that he cannot continue his swimming sport with the necessary cleanliness. In addition, there are armor-like styrofoam plates adapted to the upper body, which fit tightly to the body and have a strong pinching effect and even cause injuries with their edges and corners being able to lead. Disabled and often somewhat helpless people in particular can hardly be supported and advised by third parties when swimming because these swimming articles are too bulky and uncomfortable. In addition, the material is slippery and can feel uncomfortable when the swimmer tries to get off their swimwear.

The object of the present invention is therefore to create a swimming article which gives the swimmer optimal freedom in his movements and which is pleasant for the swimmer's skin.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the floating body is designed to serve as a support for the head and torso of the swimmer, with the head support and the torso support being connected to one another and forming a floating body with dimensions adapted to the body of the swimmer and having adaptable and movably arranged buoyancy bodies are filled. Such an article consists of at least two parts in the form of a head and a torso support, which are designed in a more remote sense similar to an air mattress. For this purpose, the swimming body has a two- or three-part body with a support for the head and torso. With every type of swimming, but above all with backstroke, the invention is characterized in that the freedom of movement of the swimmer is retained to a maximum extent. The swimmer can continue to move his arms and legs almost without restrictions and in this way finds independent movements. This article as such ensures the necessary buoyancy of the swimmer's body in the long term, because the parts of the float are not filled with air and the air cannot escape. Rather, the shape of this article is retained as such on solid ground, with the floating body being suitably shaped and designed in such a way that it can be folded or rolled up without having to let the air out beforehand or do similar preparatory work. The adaptable and movable buoyant bodies are advantageously distributed evenly in the floating body, what for comfortable for the swimmer and gives a feeling of security and they provide the necessary buoyancy so that the swimmer can always stay in the area of the water surface without much effort. Especially for children and for people with physical or visual impairments, there is a level of safety that is immensely important for these people.

It has already been emphasized that the article according to the invention has at least one head and one torso support. In addition to this, it is provided that this article has a leg rest serving to support the swimmer's legs and/or feet. The swimmer or his body thus rests on the correspondingly long and "soft" swimming support or this is connected to the back of the swimmer when he wants to practice breaststroke. The term leg rest is therefore to be understood as meaning a rest for the swimmer's legs and feet. The invention thus includes two variants. A first in the form of the head and torso support, the second also with the leg support with two or three segments.

Thanks to the article according to the invention, the swimmer should be able to assume a safe position and at the same time should be given maximum freedom of movement. In this sense, the proposal understands itself, according to which the head support, the torso support and/or the leg support are each designed as a swimming chamber for accommodating at least one buoyancy body. The buoyancy bodies, the structure of which will be discussed later, are positioned in two or three sections of the article according to the invention, as required, in order to be able to reliably prevent the article from sinking into the water.

In addition to a variant of the invention with a type of one-piece or multi-part buoyancy body serving as a buoyancy body, according to a further embodiment of the invention the floating chambers serve to accommodate a large number of spherical buoyancy bodies made of a correspondingly light material that promotes buoyancy, the buoyancy bodies having a diameter of 0.5-5.0mm. This provides the soft and comfortable, yet secure support for the swimmer's body. The spherical buoyancy bodies of 0.5-5.0 mm in diameter distribute themselves easily and evenly in the swimming chambers and therefore always form a comfortable contact with the chamber wall and the adjacent part of the swimmer's body.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the buoyancy bodies are spherical and arranged with a diameter of 1.0-2.0 mm in a cushion, in particular to have improved access to the swimming supports according to the invention and to have the individual components e.g Can also be dried if necessary. The cushions can be inserted into the swimming chamber and their dimensions are designed to match the latter.

With regard to the choice of material for the buoyancy bodies, it is proposed that the buoyancy bodies be made of polystyrene. Polystyrene is a transparent, foamed, white, amorphous or partially crystalline thermoplastic, which is therefore particularly suitable for the present application.

The head and torso supports and the torso and leg supports are arranged adjacent to each other. In order to achieve a separation between the swimming chambers and still ensure cohesion, it is provided that the supports are separated from one another by at least one seam and that the seam coincides with a transverse axis running transversely to the longitudinal axis of the swimming support, around which the supports are designed to be pivotable , in order to reduce this swimming support to a minimum size, so that this article according to the invention can also be optimally carried or stowed away.

In order in particular to improve the comfort of the headrest, the invention provides that the entire headrest is designed like a pillow, wherein its thickness is chosen to increase towards the upper free end. This reinforcement counteracts a possible tendency for an excessive load on the head rest.

The maneuverability of such an article is significantly improved by the fact that the headrest is rounded at its upper end, which gives the entire swimming support additional sporting opportunities. At the same time, this also prevents the uneven thickening of the top end and this article remains somewhat evenly shaped in the water. At the same time, this rounding leads to a compensation of the head rest, which thickens towards its upper end. This prevents a change in the buoyancy of the headrest.

This article according to the invention consists of several swimming chambers, which have a cover which is made of neoprene at least in sections. Neoprene is considered to be excellently tested, for example by diving or surfing, and is also ideally suited as a material for the cover of the article according to the invention.

In addition to this, it is conceivable that the cover of the article is produced at least in sections from a spacer fabric. Due to the large number of thread materials that can be used at the same time, there are many design options. The most important properties of the spacer fabrics are a possible moisture wicking function, good pressure relief, thermoregulation, very good air permeability and other special functions that can be controlled via specific material use. It is extremely skin-friendly, which children and the handicapped find particularly pleasant.

This can advantageously be realized in that the spacer fabric has a density of 300 g/m ² . It is in the nature of things like this that the top priority is the safety of the swimmer. If, contrary to expectations, the swimmer has balance problems, it is expedient if the swimming support has at least one strap to secure the position of the swimmer on the swimming support. This belt can be sufficiently secured by a Velcro fastener. It is advantageous if the belt is arranged to run transversely or diagonally to the longitudinal axis of the swimming support. The use of several belts is of course also conceivable.

It was pointed out earlier that the buoyancy bodies are arranged in a cushion. In order to be able to vary the number of cushions, the invention provides that the lower free end of the torso support or the leg support and/or the upper free end of the head support have a transverse zipper. The amount of balls filled into the cushion can also be varied and thus also the number in the individual cushions, so that any adaptation to the respective circumstances is advantageously possible. Another advantage is that the filling can be changed so that more or fewer balls are filled into the cushions depending on the degree of filling, with the swimmer who is already good at swimming getting by with fewer buoyancy aids than the swimmer who is still at the beginning of their training.

Finally, the invention also provides that the cover, or at least its supporting surface, is made of white material or a material having a warning color or a color that is visible to the visually impaired, or is provided with a colored layer. The "non-swimmer" or the disabled swimmer is thus additionally identified for the other swimmers, since he comes swimming with a corresponding warning article. It is conceivable, for example, that the support surface is made of white or a particularly colored material, while the side edges are made of blue material, so that the article can be easily identified as such. As mentioned earlier, this article as such is intended to be adapted to the individual swimmer, whether non-swimmer or disabled. In addition, the invention also provides that the width of the support surface is adapted to the child's body or the body of the disabled person, so that it is ensured in any case that the respective swimmer can also rely on his swimming support and always have a "full" edition.

The invention is characterized in particular by the fact that a cushion-like swimming support or an article is created which is ideally suited as a device for training, for supporting swimming movements or for therapeutic purposes. This pillow strengthens the back, stomach and neck muscles, especially in connection with backstroke movements. Without impairing the swimmer, the article according to the invention provides enormous stability and thus safety when swimming. The spine is significantly relieved. A first variant includes swimming support with a head and a torso support, the second variant has the two mentioned supports and an additional leg support as its object. The supports are preferably designed as swimming support, ie they are fitted with one or more buoyancy bodies which expediently extend evenly over the length of the mattress-like article. In order to be able to accommodate the spherical buoyancy bodies, which are expediently arranged in cushions, in the relevant swimming chamber, these are designed like pockets and are provided with zippers at their outer ends. The buoyancy bodies themselves can be assigned to loose cushions that are inserted into the swimming chambers, so that different cushions can be used depending on the swimmer's level of training. The spherical shape of the buoyancy bodies enables an advantageous distribution of these buoyancy bodies in the buoyancy chambers, without the risk that the buoyancy chambers are filled to different degrees with the buoyancy bodies. The swimmer always lies evenly on the individual swimming chambers or has strapped them onto his back accordingly, whereby they are assigned to him "loosely" and cannot constrict the swimmer.

Further details and advantages of the subject of the invention result from the following description of the associated drawing, in which a preferred exemplary embodiment is shown with the necessary details and individual parts. They each show a leisure and sports item:

Figure 1 top view with two pads and closed belt Figure 2 a variant with two pads and open belt Figure 3 view from the side Figure 4 view of three pads, without belt Figure 5 leisure and sporting goods with foot part and with belt Figure 6 a cushion with spherical buoyancy bodies

FIG. 1 shows a mattress-like leisure and sports item 1 with a head rest 2 and a torso rest 3, ie without a leg rest. Head rest 2 and torso rest 3 are designed as swimming chambers 5, 6, ie in the swimming chambers 5, 6 buoyancy bodies that are not visible here are positioned. The head rest 2 and the torso rest 3 are separated here by a seam 15 which is located in the transverse axis 17 running transversely to the longitudinal axis 16 . At the end 24 of the torso support 3 facing away from the head support 2 there is an opening which can be closed by a zipper 25, for example. The belt 20, which is closed in this representation, also runs transversely to the longitudinal axis 16. Instead of the zipper 25, a Velcro fastener is also conceivable. This type of closure, ie the hook and loop fastener, can also be used for the two ends of the strap 20 . The bearing surface is denoted by 26 . It should have a special color scheme to make it easier to identify the swimmer as a child or disabled person. In Figure 2, the strap 20 is open. The Velcro fastener 27 can be seen here. The cover of the individual sections of article 1 is marked with 19 . It is made of a suitable material and forms buoyancy chambers 5, 6, 7, buoyancy chamber 7 being shown in Figures 4 and 5.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the article 1, it being clear here that the thickness of the head rest 2 increases in the direction of the upper free end 18. As a result, the best possible support for the swimmer's head is achieved, with the rounding 22 indicated here also being expediently able to be larger in order to ensure uniform buoyancy for the entire head support 2 .

In Figures 4 and 5, a footrest 4 is added to the headrest 2 and the torso rest 3, and thus another swimming chamber 7 to hit the optimum point where the swimmer's body is to be secured. Of course, it is also possible to provide an additional latch or an additional belt, in order to connect the entire body to the article 1 serving as a swimming aid at two or more points, particularly in the case of small children or disabled persons.

As already mentioned, the individual swimming chambers 5, 6, 7 are filled with cushions 14, which are shown in FIG. These cushions 14 are filled into the swimming chambers 5, 6, 7, either as a single cushion in a swimming chamber 5 or 6 or 7 or in the form of three or four smaller cushions 14, depending on the effect you want to achieve. These individual cushions 14 according to FIG. 6 are filled with a large number of buoyant bodies 10, 11, 12, 13, specifically round beads made of a plastic that ensures buoyancy of the cushion 14 that is filled accordingly. These individual buoyancy bodies 10, 11, 12, 13 are indicated in FIG. 13 can escape or can also be filled. They have a diameter of preferably 1.0-2.0 mm.

These articles 1 are provided with the additional reference number 9 in FIGS is divided only by the seam 15, in order to simplify the filling of the buoyancy bodies 10-13 or the cushion 14 in particular and also to be able to vary the degree of filling of the individual swimming chambers 5, 6, 7 according to the respective needs.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Leisure and sporting goods for water sports (1) with a float (9) holding the swimmer in the area of the water surface, which is designed to be buoyant or made to be buoyant and which is shaped to match parts of the body of the swimmer, characterized in that the float (9) is designed to support the head and torso of the swimmer, with the head support (2) and the torso support (3) being connected to one another and forming a floating body (9) dimensioned to match the body of the swimmer and having adaptable and movably arranged buoyancy bodies (10, 11, 12, 13) are filled.

2. Article according to claim 1, characterized in that the floating body (9) has a leg rest (4) which serves to support the legs and/or feet of the swimmer and which is connected to the torso rest (3).

3. Article according to claim 2, characterized in that the head support (2), the torso support (3) and/or the leg support (4) each as a swimming chamber (5, 6, 7) for receiving at least one buoyancy body (10-13) is trained to serve.

4. Article according to claim 3, characterized in that the floating chambers (5, 6, 7) for receiving a plurality of spherical buoyancy bodies (10, 11, 12, 13) are suitably designed, wherein the buoyancy bodies (10-13) have a diameter of 0.5-5.0 mm.

5. Article according to claim 4, characterized in that the buoyancy bodies (10, 11, 12, 13) are spherical and are arranged with a diameter of 1.0 mm-2.0 mm in a cushion (14) which in turn is designed to be insertable in one of the swimming chambers (5, 6, 7).

6. Article according to claim 4, characterized in that the buoyancy bodies (10-13) are made of polystyrene.

7. Article according to claim 1 and claim 2, characterized in that the head support (2) and the torso support (3) and the torso support (3) and the leg support (4) are separated from one another by at least one seam (15) and that the The seam (15) coincides with a transverse axis (17) running transversely to the longitudinal axis (16) of the floating body (9), around which the supports (2, 3, 4) are designed to be pivotable.

8. Article according to claim 1, characterized in that the entire headrest (2) is designed like a pillow, with its thickness being chosen to increase towards the upper free end (18).

9. Article according to claim 8, characterized in that the head rest (2) is rounded at its upper free end (18).

10. Article according to claim 4, characterized in that the swimming chambers (5-7) have a cover (19) which is made at least in sections of neoprene.

11. Article according to claim 10, characterized in that the swimming chambers (5-7) have a cover (19) which is made in sections from a spacer fabric.

12. Article according to claim 11, characterized in that the spacer fabric has a density of 300 g/m ² .

13. Article according to claim 1, characterized in that the floating body (9) has at least one belt (20) for securing the position of the float on the floating body (9).

14. Article according to claim 13, characterized in that the belt (20) is arranged to run transversely or diagonally to the longitudinal axis (16) of the head and torso support (2, 3).

15. Article according to claim 13, characterized in that the belt (20) is associated with the lower free end (21) of the torso support (3).

16. Article according to claim 1 and claim 2, characterized in that the lower free end (21) of the trunk support (3) and / or the leg support

(4) and/or the upper free end (18) of the headrest (2) has a transverse zipper (25).

17. Article according to claim 10, characterized in that the cover (19) or at least its bearing surface (26) is made of white material or a material having a warning color or a color visible to the visually impaired.

18. Article according to claim 10, characterized in that the support surface (26) is adapted to the child's body or the body of a disabled person.