Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to devices for aiding swimming.

Background to the Invention

Many different devices have been developed to aid swimmers by providing additional force for propelling the swimmer through the water. Fins of various varieties have been used on the feet to increase surface area and thereby allow increased force to be generated by a kicking motion. Also, flat paddle or fin type devices have been used secured to the hand to increase the surface area when pulling through the water.

The present invention relates to a further improved means of generating additional propulsion through the water by devices secured to the limbs of a swimmer.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a swimming aid device comprising: a flexible wall member securable to an arm or leg of a swimmer, the flexible wall member being located above a base portion to define a cavity; and an opening into the cavity on a first side thereof; wherein movement of the swimming aid device through the water in a first direction causes water to flow into the opening, moving the flexible wall member such that the cavity is expanded and the area of the opening increased, and movement of the swimming aid device through the water in a second opposite direction causes water to flow out of the opening, moving the flexible wall member such that the cavity is collapsed and the area of the opening decreased.

Preferably the base portion comprises a planar member securable to the arm or leg of the swimmer. Preferably the flexible wall member is secured around a portion of the periphery of the base portion such that the cavity is defined between the flexible wall member and the base portion and the periphery of the flexible wall member on the first side thereof is not connected to the base portion to define the opening.

In a preferred embodiment, pleats are provided in the flexible wall member to allow expansion of the flexible wall member. The pleats are preferably provided on opposed sides of the flexible wall member extending away from the opening.

In one embodiment, the pleats are tapered such that the size of the pleat decreases away from the opening such that the flexible wall member expands more adjacent the opening.

Preferably the base portion and flexible wall member each comprise a truncated triangular shape with the first side being the base of the triangular shape and second and third sides extending from opposite ends of the first side towards a rounded nose portion.

Preferably the pleats are provided in the second and thirds sides.

In one embodiment, the periphery of the flexible wall member is secured inside the outer edge of the base portion such that a flat rim portion is provided around the periphery of the base portion which can be stitched to a swimming suit.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a swimming suit including one or more swimming aids, each swimming aid comprising: a flexible wall member securable to an arm or leg of a swimmer, the flexible wall member being located above a base portion to define a cavity; and an opening into the cavity on a first side thereof; wherein movement of the swimming aid device through the water in a first direction causes water to flow into the opening, moving the flexible wall member such that the cavity is expanded and the area of the opening increased, and movement of the swimming aid device through the water in a second opposite direction causes water to flow out of the opening, moving the flexible wall member such that the cavity is collapsed and the area of the opening decreased.

Preferably the base portion comprises a planar member securable to the arm or leg of the swimmer.

Preferably the flexible wall member is secured around a portion of the periphery of the base portion such that the cavity is defined between the flexible wall member and the base portion and the periphery of the flexible wall member on the first side thereof is not connected to the base portion to define the opening.

In a preferred embodiment, pleats are provided in the flexible wall member to allow expansion of the flexible wall member. The pleats are preferably provided on opposed sides of the flexible wall member extending away from the opening.

Preferably the pleats are tapered such that the size of the pleat decreases away from the opening such that the flexible wall member expands more adjacent the opening.

In one embodiment, the base portion and flexible wall member each comprise a truncated triangular shape with the first side being the base of the triangular shape and second and third sides extending from opposite ends of the first side towards a rounded nose portion.

The pleats may be provided in the second and third sides. In one embodiment, the periphery of the flexible wall member is secured inside the outer edge of the base portion such that a flat rim portion is provided around the periphery of the base portion. The flat rim portion may be secured to the swimming suit by stitching.

In a further embodiment, the suit is provided with multiple layers of material on the limbs and the outer layer is cut through such that the cuts forms the openings of the swimming aid devices and the cavities are defined between outer layer and the inner layer.

The outer layer is preferably constructed of an expandable material such that it can expand as water flows into the openings.

In one embodiment, the swimming suit comprises a full body suit. In another embodiment, the swimming suit comprises an upper body suit. In a further embodiment, the swimming suit comprises a lower body suit.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 a is a perspective view of a full body swimsuit including swimming aid devices in accordance with the present invention; Figure 1 b is a perspective view of an upper body suit and a lower body suit including swimming aid devices of the present invention;

Figure 2a is a perspective view of one of the swimming aid devices of Figure 1 in a collapsed configuration;

Figure 2b is an end view of the swimming aid device in the collapsed configuration;

Figure 2c is a perspective view of one of the swimming aid devices in an expanded configuration; Figure 2d is an end view of the swimming aid device in the expanded configuration;

Figure 3a is a side cross sectional view of one of the swimming aid devices in a collapsed configuration; Figure 3b is a side cross sectional view of one of the swimming aid devices in an expanded configuration; and Figure 4 is a view of the full body suit of Figure 1 a in use on a swimmer.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Referring to the Figures, there is shown swimming aid devices 10 for assisting a swimmer. The swimming aid devices 10 are securable to the arms and/or legs of a swimmer and preferably a plurality of such swimming aid devices 10 are provided on each arm and leg.

In a first embodiment, a swimming suit 12 is provided onto which is secured the plurality of swimming aid devices 10. Figure 1 a shows an embodiment in which a full body suit is provided and a plurality of the swimming aid devices 10 are secured to each arm and leg of the full body suit. Figure 1 b shows a further embodiment in which the swimming suit is provided as separate upper and lower body suits. The upper body suit includes a plurality of swimming aid devices 10 on the arms and the lower body suit includes a plurality of swimming aid devices 10 on the legs. It is expected that further versions may be possible in which the swimming suit comprises only portions of material covering the areas of the arms or legs on which the swimming aid devices 10 are required.

The swimming aid devices 10 of the embodiment shown each comprise a separate member securable to the outer surface of the swimming suit 12. The swimming aid devices 10 are secured to the swimming suit 12 by a suitable means such as stitching. It will be appreciated though that other embodiments may be provided in which the swimming devices 10 are formed integrally with the swimming suit 12, rather than as separate members. Referring to Figure 2, each swimming aid device 10 comprises a base portion 14 securable to the outer surface of the swimming suit 12. The base portion comprises a planar member of a suitable material, for example, a plastic or rubber based material. A flexible wall member 16 is provided extending from the base portion 14. The flexible wall member 16 is secured around a portion of the periphery thereof to the base portion 14 such that a cavity 18 is defined between the flexible wall member 16 and the base portion 14. A portion of the periphery of the flexible wall member 16 on a first side 20 thereof is not connected to the base portion 14 such that an opening 22 into the cavity 18 is defined.

In the embodiment shown, the base portion 14 comprises a truncated triangular shape, with the first side 20 being the base of the triangular shape. The flexible wall member 16 is generally the same shape as the base portion 14. The swimming aid device 10 therefore includes second and third sides 24 and 26 extending from opposite ends of the first side 20 angled in towards a rounded nose portion 28.

The periphery of the flexible wall member 16 is secured inside the outer edge of the base portion 14 such that a flat rim portion 25 is provided around the periphery of the base portion 14 which can be stitched to the swimming suit 12.

The flexible wall member 16 is constructed such that it is expandable and collapsible to increase and decrease the size of the opening 22 and the volume of the cavity 18. In the embodiment shown, the variation in the size of the opening 22 and cavity 18 is provided by pleats 30 provided in the flexible wall member 14. The pleats 30 are provided on opposed sides of the flexible wall member 16 extending away from the opening 22. In the embodiment shown, the pleats 30 are provided adjacent the second and thirds sides 24 and 26. The pleats 30 are tapered such that the size of the pleat is decreasing away from the opening 22 such that the flexible wall member 16 expands more adjacent the opening 22.

The flexible wall member 16 is movable between a collapsed configuration (as shown in Figures 2a and 2b) in which the flexible wall member 16 rests generally flat adjacent the base portion 14 and an expanded configuration (as shown in Figures 2c and 2d) in which the pleats 30 expand and the flexible wall member 16 moves away from the base portion 14.

This movement of the flexible wall member 16 is effected in use by movement of the swimming aid device 10 through the water. As can be seen in Figure 3a, movement of the swimming aid device 10 through the water in a first direction, such that water is flowing towards the opening 22, causes water to flow into the opening 22. The water flowing into the opening 22 acts against the inner surface of the wall member 16 and pushes the wall member 16 outwardly. The surface area of the opening 22 is thereby increased. Movement of the swimming aid device 10 through the water in a second opposite direction, such that water is flowing towards the rounded nose portion 28, causes water to act against the outer surface of the wall member 16 and push the wall member 16 towards the base portion 14, thereby reducing the area of the opening 22.

In this way, movement of the swimming aid devices 10 in the first direction increases the surface area exposed to the water and provides additional drag on the swimmer's limbs. The swimming devices 10 are arranged to provide additional drag only during portions of a stroke in which the swimmer's limbs are moving in a rearward direction, thereby aiding propulsion through the water in a forward direction.

For example, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 4, the swimming aid devices 10 are positioned on the legs such that the openings 22 are oriented generally towards the feet and openings 22 on the arms are oriented generally up the arm towards the shoulder. In a breast stroke action with the arms fully extended forwards, pulling the arms backwards expands the flexible wall members 16 and provides additional resistance to pull the body forward. When pushing the arms back forward in the second half of the stroke, the wall members 16 collapse so no additional resistance is felt. Similarly, pushing the legs out and rearward during the frogkick motion expands the wall members 16 and pulling the legs back forward collapses the wall members 16.

It will be appreciated that both the location and the orientation of the swimming aid devices 10 on the limbs may be varied depending on the type of stroke that is expected to be performed.

It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.

As mentioned above, the swimming aid devices 10 may be integrally formed with a swimming suit rather than provided as separate members stitched thereto. For example, the suit may be provided with multiple layers of material on the limbs where the outer layer is cut through at appropriate locations. The cut forms the openings 22 of the swimming aid devices 10 and the cavity 18 is defined between outer layer and the inner layer. The outer layer would be constructed of a suitable material such that it can expand as water flows into the openings, thereby providing the required additional resistance.

Further, while the swimming aid devices 10 are described as a single component, it will be appreciated that the devices 10 may be manufactured as more than one component which are then secured together. The base portion 14 and the flexible wall member 16 may be manufactured as separate items and then secured together onto the swimming suit, for example by stitching.