GB2422559A

GB2422559A - Aquatic exercise apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2422559A
Application number: GB0501714A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Sylvester
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-01-27
Filing date: 2005-01-27
Publication date: 2006-08-02
Also published as: GB0501714D0

Abstract

An aquatic exercise apparatus comprising a device 5 which can be fixed permanently or temporarily to the edge of a water-filled pool or tank 2 and a cord or wire 4 attached at one end to the device 5 and at the other to a belt or harness 3 worn by a swimmer 1, allowing the swimmer to undertake a range of swimming exercises without significant forward motion though the water, the device having the means to measure the amount and the duration of effort exerted by the swimmer for display, interpretation, processing and communicating to the swimmer.

Description

Aquatic Exercise Apparatus This invention relates to an apparatus which

enables swimming exercise to take place in a small tank or pool or in a small section of a larger pooi, measures the performance of the swimmer, displays the results and communicates alert signals to the swimmer.

Swimming is widely regarded as one of the best forms of all-round exercise for stamina building, musde toning and body-weight reduction. To obtain the maximum benefit, exercise should be taken regularly in gradually increasing amounts. However, regular access to swimming facilities is often restricted by reason of high cost or inconvenience or both.

Ownership of a pool large enough for serious swimming exercise is very expensive in terms of both installation and running costs and requires a considerable amount of space even in the absence of budgetary constraints.

Swimming pools open to the general public may not always be convenient by virtue of their geographical location and/or the limited times available for serious swimming, thus inhibiting their use for the taking of regular exercise. Private swimming clubs may offer a partial solution where time and money are not a consideration.

The present invention envisages an apparatus that will allow swimming exercise to be undertaken in a pooi or tank that occupies less space than a family car or in an equivalent area of a larger pooi.

For swimming activity to take place in a small area, the swimmer has to be prevented from forward motion. This can be achieved by creating a current against which the swimmer has to swim. The force of the current can be adjusted for individual exercise requirements. However, to be effective, this sort of installation requires a special tank or pool to accommodate the flow-generating equipment and the means for the return flow of a large volume of water. It requires almost double the space envisaged by the present invention, and cannot readily be installed in small section of a larger pooi.

An alternative method of preventing the swimmer from forward motion is by means of physical restraint, such as a cord or wire attached at one end to the edge of the pool or tank and at the other to a belt or harness worn by the swimmer. However, although a swimmer is able to undertake swimming exercise in a small area by this means, he or she has no way of monitoring or quantifying his or her performance.

The present invention, therefore, proposes an apparatus comprising a device which can be fixed permanently or temporarily to the edge of a water-filled pooi or tank and which, by means of a cord or wire attached at one end to the device and at the other to a belt or harness worn by the swimmer, allows an individual to undertake a range of swimming exercises without significant forward motion through the water.

Simultaneously, the device measures the amount and the duration of effort exerted by the swimmer. The results of these measurements can be displayed, interpreted and processed in various ways by the device and alert signals communicated to the swimmer.

The apparatus will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1. shows a swimmer in a pool or tank wearing a belt which is attached by cord or wire to a device fixed to the edge of a pool or tank.

Figure 2. shows in more detail the device which is fixed to the edge of the pool or tank Figure 3. shows in more detail the belt worn by the swimmer.

In Figure 1, a swimmer 1 is performing a swimming exercise in a pool or tank 2 containing water. A belt 3 fastened around the swimmer's waist is attached to one end of a cord or wire 4, the other end of which passes through a vertical slot in the face of the enclosure of a device 5 which is fixed to the edge of the pool or tank 2.

Figure 2 shows in more detail how the end of the cord or wire 4 whose other end is attached to the swimmer's belt 3 passes through the vertical slot in the enclosure of device 5, through a fairlead 6, over the freely rotatable sheave of a pulley block 7 and is attached to an eye on a load cell 8 which is in line with the pulley block 7 in plan view.

The pulley block 7 and the load cell 8 are fixed to the base plate 9 of the device 5 and the base plate in turn is permanently or temporarily but securely fixed to the edge of the pool or tank 2.

The output signal from the load cell 8 is passed to a digital amplifier and its associated circuitry on the circuit board 11 and thence either to a processor linked to a timer within the enclosure of the device 5 or to the RS 232/485 port of an external computer 13. The on-board processor or external computer 13 then subject the data received to analysis according to various time and effort measuring criteria previously entered or programmed into the on-board processor or external computer 13. The onboard processor and timer are connected to a gauges, screens or other forms of visual display on the display panel 12 where the results arising from processing the output from the load cell and timer may be displayed.

The results arising from processing the output from the load cell 8 and timer by an external computer 13 may be displayed on the computer's own monitor or returned to the device 5 for display on the display panel 12. According to the results of this analysis and depending on the nature of the pre-programmed targets and such other criteria as may from time to time be deemed relevant, a range of alerts may be triggered by the onboard processor or an external computer 13 causing relays to switch either an array of coloured lights 14 visible to the swimmer or one or more vibrating pads attached to the swimmer's belt 15 (Figure 3).

The array of lights 14 or the vibrating pads 15 may communicate to the swimmer 1. the state of his or her performance in terms of effort relative to pre- set or pre- programmed targets and / or 2. the start or end of a particular phase in a training or exercise session and / or 3. the start or end of the actual training session.

Claims

Claims 1. An aquatic exercise apparatus comprising a device which can be

fixed permanently or temporarily to the edge of a water-filled pooi or tank and a cord or wire attached at one end to the device and at the other to a belt or harness worn by a swimmer, allowing the swimmer to undertake a range of swimming exercises without forward motion through the water, the device having the means to measure the amount and the duration of effort exerted by the swimmer for display, interpretation, processing and communicating to the swimmer.
2. An aquatic exercise apparatus according to Claim 1 in which the device which may be fixed to the edge of a pooi or tank comprises a base plate on which are mounted a vertical pulley block with a fairlead for the purpose of guiding a cord or wire onto the rotatable sheave of the pulley block, a load cell in line with the pulley block, a circuit board with terminals, a timer and a battery holder all covered by an enclosure having a vertical slot in the side which faces the pool or tank and capable of being fixed to the base plate.
3. An aquatic exercise apparatus according to Claims 1 and 2 in which the load cell is equipped with an eye which may be permitted to swivel and to which a cord or wire may be attached.
4. An aquatic exercise apparatus according to Claim 1 in which the belt of adjustable length for wearing around the waist is provided with one or more eyes of plastic, metal or other suitable material such that one eye can be positioned in the middle of the back of the belt and the other two at either side of the belt after adjustment of the belt to the size of the swimmer's waist.
5. An aquatic exercise apparatus according to Claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 in which the cord or wire has a swivelling carbine hook or shackle at one end for attaching to an eye on the swimmer's belt and another swivelling carbine hook or shackle at the other end for attaching to the eye on the load cell.
6. An aquatic exercise apparatus according to Claims 1 and 2 in which the endosure has on the upper side or the side that faces away from the pooi or tank a display panel for indicating the level of output from the load cell, an on/off switch, keys for setting or programming the processor and a switch for activating and resetting the timer.
7. An aquatic exercise apparatus according to Claims 1,2 and 4 in which the belt worn by the swimmer is provided with one or more vibrating pads.
8. An aquatic exercise apparatus according to Claims 1,2,4 and 6 in which the circuit board is provided with or is connected remotely to a processor which interprets the output signal from the load cell and the timer and, according to certain variable but predetermined conditions, communicates a range or alerts to the swimmer by means of one or more vibrating pads attached to the swimmer's belt or harness.

8. An aquatic exercise apparatus according to Claims 1,2 and 4 in which the circuit board is provided with or is connected remotely to a processor which interprets the output signal from the load cell and the timer and, according to certain variable but predetermined conditions, communicates a range or alerts to the swimmer by means of one or more coloured lights visible to the swimmer.