GB2382525A

GB2382525A - Restrained swimming system (R.E.S.S.)

Info

Publication number: GB2382525A
Application number: GB0128716A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Edward Blackburn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-11-30
Filing date: 2001-11-30
Publication date: 2003-06-04
Also published as: GB0128716D0

Abstract

The R.E.S.S. is a swimming pool for a single swimmer, who is harnessed to one end of the pool by a harness or belt assemble and straps. The harness is attached to fixed points at one end of the pool, allowing the user to swim for exercise, rehabilitation or physiotherapy. Strain gauges and monitoring equipment including cameras may be used to record the swimmers exertion, stroke, heartbeat, blood pressure and swimming technique. The pool is made from either fibreglass or plastic, that may be transparent, with a low voltage circulation pump, filtration and heater unit, with a deflector ridge around the top to prevent water splashing over the top, although transparent splashguards may be used at the ends of the pool. To allow the pool to be removed or taken to restricted areas, the unit may be dismantled into two or more pieces. The pool may also be housed in a modular fibreglass unit with draining facilities and shower, or in a trailer to allow transportation and use.

Description

R. E. S. S. Micro-Pool. REstrained Swimming System. Swimming is commonly regarded as the best form of exercise you can get; it is non-impact and allows you to exercise as hard or as gently as you wish without changing the setting or weights as you do on most other apparatus. It is excellent for all age's, abilities or disabilities.

The biggest problem with swimming is that most people cannot do it at home due to the cost of building and maintaining a pool. They have to travel to their nearest pool which may be a long distance and is often very busy which may prevent them from having a good swim anyway.

The R. E. S. S. Micro-Pool overcomes these problems. It is a purpose built, totally self contained pool, which allows for a single swimmer to be harnessed to one end of the pool by a harness or belt assemble and straps.

The swimmer then swims towards the other end of the pool and being restrained, goes nowhere. Dimensions would be around 3m long, 1. 5m wide and 1.25m deep with 1m depth of water.

The pool which would be made from fibreglass or plastic, would come complete with a small low voltage circulation pump, filtration and heater unit, which could be plugged into a standard electric supply with a transformer and RCD built into the waterproof connection box. A base unit like this would be reasonable inexpensive to buy and run allowing even the smallest of sports clubs, schools, recreation centres etc, to have their own pool. You then book a 20 or 30-minute slot as you do with most gym equipment for a reasonable fee, and in no time the cost of the pool is recovered.

This base unit would be ideal for those keep fitters who just want a 20minute swim for a work out, no fuss, and no frills. It would also be ideal in the home for those who could afford it.

The next step is to start adding technology and electronics. Still using the basic pool, instead of the straps being fixed directly to the pool they are attached to strain gauges which via a small computer, display the amount of energy being exerted by the swimmer. A display panel could be located at the front of the pool so the swimmer can see it, therefore being able to compare his performances over a given time period. Also a printout could be available.

At the highest competitive level, a totally transparent pool could be used. This would allow the trainer to study the action of the swimmer from below the water level and along with highly sophisticated electronics, could record every stroke individually and collectively to be analysed so that the maximum performance can be obtained from every stroke. Also at this level cameras could be incorporated into the system which could record the action and show the power output in real time so that slight changes can be made to the stroke and the difference be seen instantly.

As the swimmer is not actually moving, heartbeat and blood pressure can be monitored and also breathing equipment can be worn so that oxygen absorption and C02 output can be recorded. With this equipment slightly higher than normal oxygen levels can be fed to the swimmer so that they can train harder. Likewise oxygen levels can be reduced slightly to simulate altitude training.

The design of the pool itself would be like a large bath, with a deflector ridge around the top to prevent water splashing over the top. It may be necessary to build the pool in two half s, top and bottom, to get it through doorways. Transparent splashguards could be made to fit over the ends of the pool to prevent splashing. These covers would have a hook built into the top so they could be hung over the pool out of the way when not in use.

The pool would be insulated and an insulated material cover could be stretched over at night to prevent heat loss when the heater is switched off. This could be on a time switch to save money. Safety ladders allowing easy and safe entry and exit would be essential.

Fitness centres and schools etc could have 2,4 or more of these units together so that competitions could be staged.

For those places that did not have indoor facilities to house the pool, a modular fibreglass unit could be designed to house the pool. Each pool house would be fully insulated with the floor having a drain facility built in. The wall panels would be identical, one having a door and window built in. The walls are simply bolted together, as are the roof panels so if another house were needed, by simply removing one end panel, another 3 wall panels, floor and roof panels could be added to form a double house, or more if required. The pool house could also incorporate a low voltage space heater, lighting and shower unit. A low voltage hoist could be designed for the disabled, the elderly, people recovering from illness, operation or accident etc.

One of the many advantages of both the pool and pool house is that they can be disassembled quickly and moved to another location and reassembled if required.

Any small to medium boot building firm or bath building firm could easily manufacture all of the fibreglass components using well tried and tested technology. The pump, heater and filtration unit is already used in larger pools so simply building a smaller unit would be no problem.

Almost every City around the country and many of the larger towns have swimming pool companies, sports outlets etc so a distribution network is already in place. Both home and aboard I foresee a very large market for a pool like this, not to replace the full size swimming pool but as an alternative to those who do not have access to a large pool, those who are looking for an exercise or training pool or in hospitals or physiotherapy units where a hoist and harness system can be used to support the patient safely. Also ideal for the disabled The capacity of the pool is around 4500 Its of water, 4.5 cu mts weighing about 4500 kilograms. The cost to fill the pool is around f3. 50.

MICRO-POOL The micro-pool is a compact, self-contained efficient swimming concept.

The"experts"are always telling us we need to look after ourselves more, eat properly, take more exercise, relax more. That's fine in theory, but with today's hectic life style many people fine it hard to find time to go to the gym, which is very boring anyway.

Most people would I believe swim if they had a pool nearby, even better if they had one at home, indoors, heated and inexpensive to buy and maintain. The Micro-pool has all of these qualities and many more. Being only around 3m x 1. 5m it would fit in a room in the house, a conservatory, a garage, an outhouse or shed, even on the patio with a cover of some kind constructed over it.

Many people in their quest to take some exercise spend hundreds, sometimes over a thousand pounds on home gym equipment, we've all at sometime been there, used a few times and then cast away. But swimming is different; most homeowners if asked what luxury item they would have if money and space were no object would say a swimming pool. But in the real world few of us can afford one. The micro-pool makes it possible for most people to have a swimming pool in their own home.

But not just at home. May be in the work place, the local sports club or social club. May be a family living locally could buy one between them, or residents in a street could have their own pool. Schools, play groups, many organisations could benefit from this pool. Then there is the health service and associated departments. Physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, recovery and rehabilitation units would all benefit. Even a mobile pool house would be possible. A fully equipped trailer could house a pool, which could then be transported to where ever it was required, set up and used by anyone needing it.

MICRO-POOL. DISPLAY MONITOR. The strain gauges would relay via a computer to the display monitor the performance of the swimmer. Before you began your swim you log in your fitness level, from 1 to 25,1 being beginners and 25 being virtually unattainable even for Olympic swimmers. The pointers on the electronic display would start in the rest position. Fig 1. As you then progress into your swim the two pointers on the inner and outer rings move their way round showing your energy and stamina levels.

These are determined by the energy in each stroke and the stamina over the last 10 strokes. The object being to get both pointers into the central band. Fig 2. As your swimming improves and becomes stronger the pointers will move further round outside this central band. Fig 3. It is now time to move up to the next level when you log in. This system will show you exactly how your fitness is improving and any improvement in your stroke or technique will be displayed immediately on the monitor. This monitor would be able to display any other information required including live pictures from camcorders so the swimmer could watch him or herself, which often helps to identify faults in your technique. The fault can then be corrected with the next stroke and any improvement seen instantly.

MICRO-POOL.

MOBILE UNIT. A mobile unit could be set up. This would be built into a trailer that could be towed to where ever it was needed and set up either for display purposes or for people to swim where they may never otherwise get the chance.

The trailer would be fully enclosed and totally self-contained. It would be powered by its own generator or could be plugged into a power supply from a nearby building. Lights and a heater would be built in. A tail lift would be available for wheelchair users and a hoist inside for the disabled. A lid with baffle plates to stop the water rolling about and spilling would be clamped over the pool during transport The unit would be especially beneficial to such places as residential care homes, physiotherapy departments or rehabilitation units. Disabled people, the elderly or people recovering from accidents of operations such as hip replacements where gentle exercise is required would all benefit. The person could be lifted gently into the pool using the hoist and the Therapist could assist without getting wet themselves.

The unit could be hired by the day by schools that do not have there own pool, play groups, sports clubs, associations that help people after strokes, heart attacks etc. This same unit could be taken to shows; exhibitions or general promotion visits to perspective customers.

Claims

Claims.

1. A swimming pool of dimensions such as to accommodate a single swimmer, a harness by which the swimmer can be harnessed to fixed points at one end of the pool, and fixed points mounted to a wall of the pool.

2. A method of swimming training wherein a swimmer is connected by a harness or belt assemble to one end of a pool, the harness allowing free movement of the swimmers arm and legs, and the swimming action of the swimmer puts the harness in tension.

3. A method of reading, recording and displaying the performance of a swimmer who is harnessed to fixed points of a pool, using strain gauges, cameras and other monitoring equipment and then showing the results on a screen or a printout.

4. To the forming of an anti-splash ridge around the top inside rim of a swimming pool to prevent waves within the pool to wash over the top. The dimensions of the ridge to be in proportion to the size of the pool. See drawing 7a.