Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Pool type – Accessory
Patent
1996-07-03
1998-08-04
Walczak, David J.
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Pool type
Accessory
4488, E04H 400
Patent
active
057875197
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to sporting equipment, and training devices for swimmers, and more particularly to a compact swimming pool provided with water-retaining means, and harness equipment suitable for swimming exercises.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In order to become proficient in swimming it is necessary to practice--often over long periods of one or more hours per day--in order to swim tens or a few hundred kilometres per week. Practice is a relatively difficult thing for a swimmer to manage because swimming pools of sufficient size and available for practice are often situated at inconvenient places and open for practice at inconvenient times. Natural bodies of water may be inconveniently cold for some or most of the year--and in some countries may be hazardous at other times.
Less seriously involved people find regular swimming rather difficult to maintain. The actions of swimming are difficult to emulate with equipment not involving water.
If water is involved, it is difficult and/or expensive to provide the large volume required for serious practice. It has hitherto been difficult to simulate the behaviour of a large pool within a small one.
A further application for the motions of swimming is in physiotherapy--in rehabilitation of patients after trauma or surgery, or with disabled people. Swimming is particularly useful for conditions involving lesions of the vertebral column.
Although free-standing or compact swimming pools have been devised over many years, there seems to be none that include effective means to dampen the waves or surface turbulence that an actively training swimmer may generate; which waves tend to disrupt the training conditions if they are left uncontrolled.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this specification to provide a compact swimming pool, catering to swimming practice applications, or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a first broad aspect the invention comprises a compact swimming pool which provides a reservoir for a charge of water; the compact swimming pool providing means capable of restraining motion in at least one direction of a user exercising in water within the compact swimming pool, and the compact swimming pool being equipped with means to trap surface turbulence or waves that may in use be set up by the user.
In a related aspect the invention comprises a compact swimming pool wherein the means to restrain motion comprises a harness, capable of attachment to the swimmer's body; the harness being resiliently coupled to a fixed point.
In a related aspect the invention comprises a compact swimming pool wherein the means to trap waves comprises a gutter into which waves may spill, over a skimming lip, and hence be unable to return from within the gutter; the lip of the gutter being placed at the level of the surface of the charge of water and substantially surrounding the charge of water.
In a related aspect the invention comprises a compact swimming pool wherein further means are provided to maintain the level of the water within the compact swimming pool at a desired average level.
In a related aspect the invention comprises a compact swimming pool wherein the means to maintain water level comprises a valve connected at the exit of a water supply line; the valve being equipped with control means capable of admitting water if the average level of the water within the compact swimming pool falls below a threshold.
In a related aspect the invention comprises a compact swimming pool wherein the means to maintain water level additionally comprises means to pump the water that has collected within the gutter and return it through one or more conduits into the interior of the compact swimming pool.
In a related aspect the invention comprises a compact swimming pool wherein the means to pump water is provided with a source of water directly from within the compact swimming pool in the event of there being insufficient water within the gutter to act as a source; said prov
REFERENCES:
patent: 4133059 (1979-01-01), Baker
patent: 4146937 (1979-04-01), Baker
patent: 5601514 (1997-02-01), Horn
LandOfFree
Compact swimming pool for restrained swimming does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Compact swimming pool for restrained swimming, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Compact swimming pool for restrained swimming will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1164598