Education and demonstration – Physical education – Swimming
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-28
2001-06-19
Ackun, Jr., Jacob K. (Department: 3712)
Education and demonstration
Physical education
Swimming
C434S247000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247935
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to apparatus useful for training race swimmers. More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus useful for training race swimmers to start a race effectively, for example, so as to reduce the overall time needed to complete the race.
Competitive swimming races are conventionally started with the race swimmers positioned on or holding to a stationary starting block affixed to the deck of a swimming pool. The swimmers themselves are also stationary at the start of the race.
One of the important parts of a swim race is the start. Thus, the swimmer should leave the block as effectively as possible in order to reduce, or even minimize, the time needed to complete the entire race. Although swim training includes teaching the swimmer how to start, most of this training focuses in on the position of the swimmer relative to the block, and the position of the swimmer as he/she enters the water.
Little or no attention has been paid to the height and/or length of the dive into the water as part of the start technique. For example, one approach to swim starting is to dive off the block and get into the water as soon as possible. While this approach does cause one to begin actually swimming quickly, it is not necessarily the most effective starting approach.
It would be advantageous to provide an apparatus to train swimmers in effective starting of swim races.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Apparatus useful for training a race swimmer to start a race have been discovered. The present apparatus are relatively straightforward and very effectively train a race swimmer to start a race so as to reduce, or even minimize, the overall time required to complete the race. The present apparatus effectively allow the swimmer to determine whether his/her starting technique is satisfactory. In addition, the apparatus are very easy to use so that the swimmer can practice his/her starting technique many times within a short period of time. Also, the apparatus preferably are easily and rapidly reconfigured or adjusted to accommodate swimmers of different physical stature and/or abilities. Overall, the present apparatus provides effective swim start training while, at the same time, being fun to use.
In one broad aspect of the present invention, apparatus for training a race swimmer to start a race in a swimming pool containing water comprise a first support assembly and a first hurdle member adapted to be held by the first support assembly above the water in the swimming pool, to be removed from the first support assembly by the force of a swimmer impacting the first hurdle member and to be positioned, or repositioned, to be held by the first support assembly. Using a hurdle member adapted to be removed from the support assembly by the force of a swimmer impacting the hurdle member allows the swimmer to know very promptly whether the practice start had sufficient height or sufficient distance to clear the hurdle member. Also, since the hurdle member is adapted to be repositioned so as to again be held by the support assembly, the present apparatus can be very effectively and quickly placed in a condition ready for reuse by the same swimmer or another swimmer. Thus, the combination of the hurdle member being adapted to be removed from the support assembly in response to swimmer impact and the hurdle adapted to be placed back onto the support assembly quickly and easily provides substantial benefits which enhance the usefulness and effectiveness of the present apparatus.
In one very useful embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a second support assembly and a second hurdle member adapted to be held by the second support assembly, for example, in a manner similar to the first hurdle member being held by the first support assembly. The second hurdle member preferably is adapted to be removed from the second support assembly by the force of a swimmer impacting the second hurdle member and to be positioned, or repositioned, to be held by the second support assembly. The second hurdle member preferably is adapted to be held by the second support assembly at an elevation above the water in a swimming pool. The first hurdle member preferably is located at an elevation higher than the second hurdle member.
In one embodiment, the second hurdle member is positioned relative to the first hurdle member to extend further away from a swimmer ready to use the apparatus. Thus, the first hurdle member may be considered a height hurdle and the second hurdle member may be considered to be a distance or angle of entry hurdle. In other words, the first hurdle member is positioned to allow the swimmer using the apparatus to reach a certain height in his/her dive into the pool; while the second hurdle member is positioned to allow the swimmer to control the distance of his/her dive into the pool and/or the angle of entry into the pool.
It has been found that, all other factors being equal, the combination of a relatively high dive together with a relatively long dive and/or a dive allowing the swimmer to achieve a suitable angle of entry into the water in the pool provides enhanced benefits to the swimmer, in particular reduced race times. Among the other factors which are to be considered in the performance of a race swimmer include, but are not limited to, positioning on the starting block and on entering the water, swimming ability in the water, breathing techniques, turning techniques, finishing techniques and the like.
In one useful embodiment, the first support assembly is adjustable to hold the first hurdle member at any one of a plurality of different positions, more preferably over a substantially continuous range of different positions. The second support assembly preferably is adjustable to hold the second hurdle member at any one of a plurality of different positions, more preferably over a substantially continuous range of different positions.
The first support assembly preferably is adjustable to extend away from a swimmer ready to use the apparatus at any one of a plurality of different angles relative to the water in the swimming pool or to the swimming pool deck. The second support assembly preferably is adjustable to extend away from a swimmer ready to use the apparatus at any one of a plurality of different angles relative to the water in the swimming pool or to the swimming pool deck.
The substantial degree of adjustability of the present apparatus, as set forth herein, allows the apparatus to be quickly and specifically adapted to a wide range of different swimmers, for example, of different physical stature and/or different ability levels.
Although the support assemblies useful in the present apparatus may be chosen from any suitable components, in one useful embodiment, the support assemblies, that is either one or both of the first and second support assemblies, each includes two spaced apart elongate rods and two sleeves. Each of the sleeves is located on a different one of the elongate rods making up the support assembly. Each of the sleeves is adapted to hold a portion of a hurdle member. More preferably, each of the sleeves is adjustable to be located at any one of a plurality of positions along the length of the rod on which the sleeve is located, for example, over a substantially continuous range of different positions.
In a very useful embodiment, the first and/or second support assembly preferably further includes a sleeve adjustment assembly positioned so that both of the sleeves are attached thereto and are adapted to be moved, for example, manually moved, so that each of the sleeves is located, at any given time, at substantially the same relative position along the length of the rod on which the sleeve is located.
To reiterate, the above description with regard to the elongate rods and sleeves refers to the first support assembly and/or the second support assembly. Thus, the first support assembly preferably includes first elongate rods, first sleeves and a first sleeve adjustment assembly. Similarly, the sec
MacKelvey Kerry
Martin Charles V.
Ackun Jr. Jacob K.
Fernstrom K.
Stout, Uxa Buyan & Mullins, LLP
Uxa Frank J.
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