The invention relates to a water gymnastics accessory comprising a sail and a support having means for securing said accessory to a limb of a user.

In a specific application, the accessory makes it possible to favour muscle work during the practice of an aquagym exercise comprising a thrust or a traction with a limb of the body, in particular the leg or the arm.

To do this, the sail is arranged to increase the resistance to movement in the water, and the support comprises a handle or a shoe for securing to the hand or to the foot of the user.

Document EP-2 234 679 describes such an accessory wherein the corolla shaped sail is deformable between a movement-resistant deployed position and a position for closing by pressure of water on the upper face thereof to allow the flow of water without opposing resistance.

The deformation of the sail makes it possible to obtain the expected muscle work in the scope of aquagym exercise, but it has proved to be relatively problematic regarding the fluidity and the stability of the movement during said exercise, in particular with respect to the translation movements and/or movement simulating a pedalling in the water.

The invention aims to improve the prior art by proposing a water gymnastics accessory allowing in particular improved fluidity and stability during the practice, and this, with respect to a light, unobtrusive and comfortable accessory.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a water gymnastics accessory comprising a sail and a support having means for securing said accessory to a limb of a user, the sail having a water-porous wall, said support being connected to the sail. Other particularities and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, made in reference to the appended figures, wherein:

- figure 1 is a perspective representation of a water gymnastics accessory according to a first embodiment of the invention;

- figures 1 a, 1 b and 1c represent the accessory of figure 1 respectively in an exploded view (figure 1 a), in a top view (figure 1 b) and in a bottom view (figure 1c);

- figure 2 is a perspective representation of a water gymnastics accessory according to a second embodiment of the invention;

- figures 2a and 2b represent the accessory of figure 2 respectively in an exploded view (figure 2a) and in a bottom view (figure 2b).

With respect to these figures, below, a water gymnastics accessory is described, used generally in pairs, allowing in particular to favour muscle work during the practice of an aquagym exercise comprising a thrust or a traction with a limb of the body of a user.

To do this, the accessory comprises a sail 1 and a support 2 having means 3 for securing said accessory to a limb of a user. In the embodiment of figure 1 , the support has a manual gripping handle 3a such that the user can carry out aquagym exercises with their arms.

Advantageously, relative to comfort in use, the handle 3a can be covered by a sleeve and/or an overmoulding made of flexible material, for example made of foam or made of elastomer material, said handle could furthermore have an anatomic shape to facilitate the gripping thereof.

In the embodiment of figure 2, the support 2 is arranged to secure the accessory to a foot, such that the user can carry out aquagym exercises with their legs. In a variant, the support 2 can comprise means 3 for securing to another portion of a limb of a user, and this according to the type of aquagym exercises to carry out. Figure 2 illustrates a support 2 having a platform 3b for supporting a foot of the user, said platform being equipped with means for securing the foot on it. Advantageously, the securing means comprise straps 4 and/or a shoe, wherein the foot can be retained.

More specifically, figure 2 represents a platform 3b equipped with a strap 4a intended to clamp the ankle, and with a set of two straps 4b, 4c intended to cover the instep in respectively one direction. The straps 4 are connected to the platform 3b which comprises side slots 5 for this purpose.

To allow for a correct adaptation to the morphology of the user, the straps 4 comprise tightening means, in particular hook and loop means 6. Moreover, the straps are equipped with a loop 7 for adjusting the length thereof to the size of the foot. Moreover, the straps 4b, 4c are identical by being arranged symmetrically to be able to be intersected on the instep.

The support 2 has a mechanical resistance that is sufficient for the securing of the accessory to the limb of the user during the aquagym movements thereof, in particular by being carried out, for example by moulding, based on a thermoplastic polymer material.

In the embodiments represented, the support 2 has two ends 2a, 2b between which the securing means 3 are positioned, each of said ends supporting a means for connecting to the sail 1 . In particular, the support 2 is made of a part that is different from the sail 1 on which it is connected, in view of allowing for the securing thereof to the limb of the user. In a variant, the support 2 and the sail 1 can be connected to one another by being made of one single part.

The sail 1 can be made with a structure different from that of the support 2, in particular by having a water-porous wall 8. This porosity allows for a moderate resistance and a fluidity in the aquagym movements, since some of the water passes through the wall 8, which optimises the carrying out of aquagym exercises, in particular comprising a translation and/or a pedalling simulation. Advantageously, the porous wall 8 extends along an angularly continuous geometry. The sail 1 has two portions 8a, 8b of the porous wall 8 which extend laterally on either side of the support 2, each of said side portions being inclined inside, opposite the securing means 3. This embodiment allows for a penetration of the accessory in the water which is easier for the ascent than the thrust, which facilitates the stability of the user in the water.

In the embodiments represented, the sail 1 has a peripheral frame 9 inside which is maintained the porous wall 8, formed in particular of a textile, mesh-type material. In a variant, not represented, the porous wall 8 can be self-supporting, for example by being made of a perforated structure.

The peripheral frame 9 is formed of at least one snap ring 10 made of resilient material, in particular made of glass fibre or of metal. The flexibility of the peripheral frame 9 increases the fluidity of the movement, allowing in particular for a softer transition between thrust and pull of the accessory. Furthermore, the flexibility of the sail 1 amplifies the resistance difference between the thrust and the pull of the accessory, as it makes it possible to reduce the resistant projected surface in the ascent and to increase it in the descent.

With respect to the figures, the accessory comprises slopes 1 1 which are connected, in particular by stitching, at the periphery of the porous wall 8 by forming hemlines wherein the snap rings 10 made of resilient material are arranged by exerting a force of maintenance in the shape of said wall. In a variant, the periphery of the porous wall 8 can be folded on itself to directly form the hemline for connecting the snap ring 10.

Moreover, the porous wall 8 has a central opening 12 which, according to the embodiment represented, is bordered by a snap ring 13 made of resilient material, said snap ring being also connected by means of a slope 14 to ensure a maintenance in the shape of the central portion of said wall. Advantageously, relative to the stability of the accessory, the support 2 is connected to the periphery of the sail 1 , in particular by extending along a diametral direction of said sail. Furthermore, this embodiment makes it possible to arrange the support 2 inside the peripheral frame 9, in particular by centring the securing means 3 with respect to the sail 1 .

With respect to the figures, the means 3 for securing the support 2 are arranged in the central opening 12. More specifically, the figures represent a handle 3a which is arranged under the central opening 12, in particular inside the two side portions 8a, 8b of the porous wall 8, by allowing for the manual access to said handle through said central opening. To do this, the handle 3a is extended on either side by an L-shaped tab 15.

Regarding the platform 3b, it is positioned substantially in the extension of the edge of the central opening 12, by allowing for the arrangement of the foot in said opening.

The ends 2a, 2b of the support 2 are each equipped with a connector 16 for connecting to the peripheral frame 9, said end pieces being in particular made of one single part with the securing means 3. Advantageously, the periphery of the porous wall 8 which is arranged at the level of the connectors 16 is equipped with a protective slope 17.

The peripheral frame 9 is formed of two half hoops that are formed respectively by a snap ring 10a, 10b and which are secured on either side respectively to a connector 16. To do this, the connectors 16 have orifices 18 wherein the ends of the half hoops are inserted.

Furthermore, the half hoops are secured to the connectors 16 by forming between them an angle less than 180° so as to incline the side portions 8a, 8b. To do this, the connectors 16 have a curved geometry, of which the ends are provided with orifices 18.