FR3100720A1 - Swimming elastic with effort control - Google Patents

Abstract

Elastic restraint system improving the principle of the swimming belt by displaying the traction generated, actuated by a force recall, comprising a cable passing through pulleys. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Swimming elastic with effort control

The present invention relates to a device which allows the swimmer to visualize his effort when he uses an elastic swimming belt.

The private swimming pool market is experiencing particularly strong growth, for which France, for example, is the 2nd country, after the US, for this equipment, with nearly 2 million units installed. These pools are generally used for pleasure, in a fun way, or just for comfort during hot periods.

Users wishing to have a more sporty practice there are very quickly confronted with the generally modest size of private leisure pools, which forces long-distance swimmers to make frequent U-turns. Among the existing facilities on the market to compensate for this short length, we know the counter-current swimming devices, which create a current, sometimes adjustable, forcing the swimmer to maintain a certain speed to stay in the center of the current vein. . These devices, equipped with a powerful water pump, are generally very expensive and energy-intensive.

We also know swimming belts and elastics, which present a more economical alternative, linking the swimmer to the shore by means of an elastic, connected to the waist or ankles. Devices linked to the ankles are considered less impeding, but the belts allow greater freedom of movement and types of strokes.

But the swimmer has no way to gauge his effort, follow a training program, or judge his progress over the sessions. The present invention improves this equipment, by adding an indicator, the displacement of which, proportional to the effort provided, is an element of motivation for the swimmer, who instantly sees a value indicative of this effort.

Object of the invention

The object of the present invention is in particular to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

1. un câble, dont une extrémité est destinée à être reliée à une ceinture de natation,
2. un afficheur gradué destiné à être fixé devant le nageur, auquel est relié l’autre extrémité du câble, et
3. un renvoi d’effort destiné à être fixé derrière le nageur, par lequel passe ledit câble.

This object is achieved with a restraint device for swimmers in a pool of reduced size, making it possible to display, in the field of vision of said swimmer, information on the pulling force, provided during the swimming exercise, while the swimmer evolves almost on the spot, this device being remarkable in that it includes:

1. a cable, one end of which is intended to be connected to a swimming belt,
2. a graduated display intended to be fixed in front of the swimmer, to which the other end of the cable is connected, and
3. a force transmission intended to be fixed behind the swimmer, through which said cable passes.

1. l’élément de renvoi, comprend deux poulies, de manière à écarter le câble des mouvements du nageur ;
2. l’afficheur comprend un cadran gradué, un indicateur et un ressort relié d’une part à cet indicateur, et d’autre part à ladite autre extrémité dudit câble ;
3. ledit ressort est un ressort de torsion ;
4. ledit ressort est un ressort d’élongation linéaire ;
5. ce dispositif comprend un bras actionneur interposé entre ledit ressort et ledit indicateur ;
6. ledit bras actionneur est adapté pour permettre plusieurs réglages pour multiplier ou diviser la force du ressort et offrir plusieurs plages de travail au nageur.

According to other optional characteristics of the device according to the invention:

1. the return element comprises two pulleys, so as to separate the cable from the movements of the swimmer;
2. the display comprises a graduated dial, an indicator and a spring connected on the one hand to this indicator, and on the other hand to said other end of said cable;
3. said spring is a torsion spring;
4. said spring is a linear elongation spring;
5. this device comprises an actuator arm interposed between said spring and said indicator;
6. said actuator arm is adapted to allow several adjustments to multiply or divide the force of the spring and to offer several ranges of work to the swimmer.

1. la figure 1 illustre de manière schématique l’agencement des différents éléments du dispositif selon l’invention, lorsqu’il est en fonctionnement avec un nageur ;
2. les figures 2a, 2b et 2c illustrent le renvoi du dispositif selon l’invention, respectivement en vues de dessus, de côté et de face ;
3. les figures 3a et 3b illustrent l’afficheur du dispositif selon l’invention, en vues respectivement de dessus et de face, selon un premier mode de réalisation ; et
4. les figures 4a et 4b illustrent l’afficheur du dispositif selon l’invention, en vues respectivement de dessus et de face, selon un deuxième mode de réalisation.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear in the light of the following description, and on examining the appended figures, in which:

1. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the arrangement of the various elements of the device according to the invention, when it is in operation with a swimmer;
2. FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c illustrate the return of the device according to the invention, respectively in top, side and front views;
3. FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate the display of the device according to the invention, in top and front views respectively, according to a first embodiment; And
4. FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate the display of the device according to the invention, in top and front views respectively, according to a second embodiment.

The device, object of the present invention, supplements the principle of swimming belt (fig 1-C, is not the object of the present invention), by a cable (D), connecting the elastic (E) to a traction force display (A), by means of a set of pulleys, in particular a return (R), placed behind the swimmer.

The transmission (R) comprises a plate (fig 2-a), made of wood, metal, plastic or composite material, carrying 1 to 2 pulleys, or rollers (b); the system with 2 pulleys, preferably spaced 50 to 100 cm apart, being a preferred arrangement of the present invention, making it possible to separate the return strand of the cable from the swimmer (fig 1-D), so as not to risk hindering his movements.

According to an advantageous arrangement of the present invention, a plate (e), made of wood, metal, plastic or composite, can cover the pulleys, in order to protect them from contact with a person and to facilitate keeping the cable in place.

According to another advantageous arrangement of the present invention, the return device can carry a table (d) on which the swimmer can display his training program, or the effort sequences actually carried out. The fact that this table is behind him allows him to access it more easily, without removing the belt, to cross out or write down the sequences carried out.

The display (A) comprises a plate (fig 3-a), made of wood, metal, plastic or composite material, carrying 1 pulley (b), which returns the cable to the control arm (f) of the spring (g) . The force applied to the control arm (f) of the spring causes a needle-shaped indicator (h) to move in front of a graduated dial (i).

According to a preferred arrangement of the present invention, a clock (j) is attached to the display device, with an indication of the seconds, in order to easily visualize the durations of the effort sequences.

According to an advantageous arrangement of the present invention, the numbers and graduations of the dial (i) and of the clock (j) are inscribed in large and contrasted, in order to be readable with swimming goggles and the presence of cloudy water. view.

Said return (R) and display (A) plates can be fixed to the edge of the swimming pool, in particular if the latter has holes for anchoring a safety system (tarpaulin, barrier or rigid roof) , using the perforation (c) and the existing anchoring elements. Failing this, a cable, strap or rope, fixed to this perforation (c) will be attached to a fixed element near the pool, or to a stake driven into the ground, on the edge of the coping.

According to a preferred arrangement of the present invention, the perforations (c) participate in the stability of the elements constituting the invention, by being placed: on the display (A), plumb with the point of traction of the cable on the pulley (b) and, on the transmission (R), forming an isosceles triangle with the axes of the pulleys (b).

According to a preferred arrangement of the present invention, the elastic part (E) secured to the return cable, consists of several elastic strands, which can be hooked, in parallel, to the belt (C), depending on the weight of the swimmer; 1 single strand sufficient for a light swimmer, such as a child between 25 and 50 kg; 2 strands are necessary for a swimmer over 75 kg, or even 3 strands for a sports swimmer using paddles or training fins. This elastic part dampens the force transmitted to the display, stabilizing the indicator; the device with several strands makes it possible to find a balance between the unpleasant recoil effect, when the elongation is too strong, and the oscillation of the force indicator, when the elastic is too stiff.

According to an advantageous arrangement of the present invention, the combination of the spring (g) and the control arm (f) has several adjustment levels, adjustable according to the power of the swimmer, thus creating several ranges in the scale of the indicator.

According to another advantageous arrangement of the present invention, a clock, adjoining the support of the display, allows the swimmer to vary his efforts in duration and intensity.

The device thus described can be quickly installed and easily adjusted according to the capabilities of the swimmer. The compactness of the assembly allows it to be installed across the width of the pool (3 to 4 m is sufficient), leaving the rest available for swimmers having fun activities.

According to equivalent arrangements of the present invention, the return spring can be torsion (fig 3) or elongation (fig 4).

Claims (7)

Restraint device for swimmers in a pool of reduced size, making it possible to display, in the field of vision of said swimmer, information on the pulling force provided during the swimming exercise, while the swimmer is moving almost on the spot , this device being characterized in that it comprises:
a cable (D) one end of which is intended to be connected to a swimming belt,
a graduated display (A) intended to be fixed in front of the swimmer, to which the other end of the cable is connected, and
a force return (R) intended to be fixed behind the swimmer, through which said cable passes. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the return element (R) comprises two pulleys (b), so as to separate the cable (D) from the movements of the swimmer Device according to any one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the display (A) comprises a graduated dial (i), an indicator (h) and a spring (g) connected on the one hand to this indicator ( h), and on the other hand to said other end of said cable (D). Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said spring (g) is a torsion spring. Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said spring (g) is a linear elongation spring. Device according to one of Claims 4 or 5, characterized in that it comprises an actuator arm (f) interposed between the said spring (g) and the said indicator (h). Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the said actuator arm (f) is adapted to allow several adjustments to multiply or divide the force of the spring (g) and to offer several ranges of work to the swimmer.