Exercise devices – Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof – Swimming
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-13
2001-06-26
Richman, Glenn E. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof
Swimming
C482S056000, C434S254000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06251049
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of swimming exercise devices. More specifically, the invention comprises a restraining harness which allows the user to perform swimming strokes in a pool without moving significantly.
BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Swimming restraint harnesses have been in use for some time. U.S. Pat. No. 3,988,020 to Carter (1976) discloses a belt harness intended to be anchored to the side of a pool. The harness has two inelastic cords attached to fixed anchor points. These anchor points must be drilled into the concrete near the edge of the pool. While effective in restraining the swimmer, the Carter device does require disfiguring the pool by installing two permanent anchor points. In addition, the harness assembly is substantially rigid. With a substantially rigid harness, it is difficult for the swimmer to know how much energy he or she is exerting. A preferable arrangement is to have an elastic member in the harness, so that as the swimmer strokes more vigorously, some forward progress is noted.
An elastic harness is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,905 to Meier (1978). The Meier device has a short elastic section near the anchor point which does allow some stretching of the harness. Unfortunately, however, the Meier device also requires a fixed anchor point. Additionally, the harness disclosed is rudimentary and impractical.
A more sophisticated harness is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,404 to MacLennan (1993). The MacLennan device uses a vest type life jacket as a harness, thereby distributing the load on the swimmer's body in a different fashion. The MacLennan invention also provides for attaching the harness to a pool ladder, eliminating the need for dedicated anchor points. The MacLennan device does not, however, have any elastic members in the harness. An additional drawback is that many pools do not have ladders, making it impossible to attach the device. Finally, the use of a vest type life jacket as a harness significantly restricts many swimming strokes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,514 to Horn (1997) addresses the attachment problem with suction cups. This device uses two large suction cups on a substantially rigid plastic frame. The device is intended to work in compression though; i.e., the swimmer is trying to force his way toward the attachment point. This approach would not work if the swimmer swims in the other more conventional direction.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,982 to Croushmore (1998) discloses a radical approach to the anchoring problem. The Croushmore device discloses a collapsible bag used as an anchor. The swimmer fills the bag with water and then drags it up on the side of the pool. The bag anchors a mesh to which is attached the swimming harness. Of course, a swimmer can exert considerable force while exercising. Thus, the bag will need to be quite heavy in order to be an effective anchor. This fact means that the user will have to fill the bag with many pounds of water, making it quite difficult to drag up and over the side of the pool.
The known devices for restraining a swimmer while exercising are therefore limited in that they:
1. Do not provide sufficient elastic extension of the harness in order to allow the swimmer to gauge his or her level of exertion,
2. Require the placement of permanent anchor points in the pool;
3. Require the presence of a pool ladder;
4. Encumber the user in the swimming exercise; and
5. Require the lifting of a heavy bag or other type of anchor.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:
1. To provide sufficient elastic extension of the harness in order to allow the swimmer to gauge his or her level of exertion;
2. To eliminate the need for permanent anchor points in the pool;
3. To eliminate the need for a pool ladder;
4. To not encumber the user in the swimming exercise; and
5. To eliminate the need for an inordinately heavy anchor.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5344373 (1994-09-01), Greene
patent: 5846167 (1998-12-01), Liu et al.
patent: 5951443 (1999-09-01), Askins
Horton John Wiley
Richman Glenn E.
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