GB2566018A

GB2566018A - Articles of clothing for aquatic fitness training

Info

Publication number: GB2566018A
Application number: GB1713797.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Rory Stannard Timothy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-08-29
Filing date: 2017-08-29
Publication date: 2019-03-06
Also published as: GB201713797D0

Abstract

A garment worn by a user for aquatic training, wherein the garment has water holding portions attached externally to the garment, and a built in buoyancy belt 3 attached to the waist region of the garment. The external attachments provide hydrodynamic drag when the wearer is in the water, and increase the muscle exertion of the wearer. The external portions are attached to a substrate garment 3 that can be made from elastic or contain elastic. The substrate garment may cover the whole of the wearer, the upper body (2) or lower body (fig 3) of the wearer. The external attachments may be made from textile or natural or synthetic material, and are in the form of bands that may extend around the forearm 2, bicep 1, quad 4 and/or calf 5.

Description

Articles of clothing for aquatic fitness training.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to aquatic fitness training tools, in particular articles of clothing. Many training tools exist on dry land to aid the development and improve the fitness of the human muscular-skeletal system by targeting specific muscle groups through recognised fitness weight training principles. Such methods include free weights and machines used in gyms and sporting facilities throughout the world. Underwater resistance training tools are also common but few appear to comprise articles of clothing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Such underwater prior art is usually hand held or secured to wrists and ankles consisting of, for example, pull buoys, kickboards, training fins, pulling ankle straps, hand paddles, bouncy dumbells. worn and carried by the user designed to target specific muscle groups which assist the development of recognised swimming strokes, or dynamic movement. Most aid swimming training, or are used for aqua aerobics, which use water as a hydrodynamic drag factor to increase force applied and resistance at the end of a limb.

SHORTCOMINGS AND DRAWBACKS IN THE PRIOR ART.

The ideal work out increases evenly distributed resistance forces to build evenly distributed muscle and toning over the whole of the body to improve the fitness of an individual. On land gravity is the primary force; therefore this is often achieved through the use of, body weight exercises, resistance machines and using free-weights. Such machines are cumbersome, involve many different designs and are expensive. Such free-weights are varied and are expensive.

Such training methods use the force of gravity, which is used to benefit the individual being trained. When using free weights, for example, the person working out has to either push or pull against the force of gravity. By its nature the gravitational force exerted is one dimensional, acting towards the Earth’s core, creating an unevenly distributed resistance force for a movement.

Traditional training therefore targets isolated muscle groups by the use of swinging, pulling and pushing weights on land, or simply the body’s own weight for a workout and there is much equipment and clothing to enhance this form of training. However there is minimal prior art found which is designed for athletes who need to build overall strength and stamina using the natural viscosity of water and dynamic drag to challenge the traditional perception of resistance training by addressing the issues of:

1. Effects of gravity on weight training which, by its nature, isolates muscle groups;

2. Maximising personal resistance forces to broaden the range of muscles being exercised without the force of gravity creating a one dimensional effect on body movements;

3. Evenly distributed hydrodynamic drag for muscle strengthening which targets simultaneously all the muscle groups of one limb, or two limbs together, or whole body and core;

4. Maximising centralisation of workout for the shoulders and pelvic girdle, therefore core body strength;

5. Providing a workout evenly spread over the whole body by using the individual’s personal power together with wearing clothing accessories to move against hydrodynamic drag and not against gravity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Studies at the University of Virginia have shown water is 800 times denser than air and provides up to 12 times the resistance on land — meaning that a person can work harder and expend more energy in water without necessarily increasing the speed of the workout.

Only comparatively recently has the training effect of the hydrodynamic drag of water been considered as a fitness tool for people who do not use traditional swimming strokes.

It is a first object of the present invention to overcome the above shortcomings and drawbacks in the prior art by providing means which use the effect of non-weight-bearingwater viscosity, or hydrodynamic drag to even out stresses on muscles during a waterworkout to improve overall strength of one arm and both arms through the effect of externally worn upper body articles of clothing.

It is a second object of the present invention to overcome the above shortcomings and drawbacks in the prior art by providing means which use the effect of non-weight-bearingwater viscosity, or hydrodynamic drag to even out stresses on muscles during a waterworkout to improve overall strength of one leg and both legs through the effect of externally worn lower body articles of clothing

It is a third object of the present invention to overcome the above shortcomings and drawbacks in the prior art by providing means which use the effect of non-weight-bearing3 water viscosity, or hydrodynamic drag to even out stresses on muscles during a waterworkout to improve overall strength of the whole body, including the core, through the effect of an externally worn garment such as a body suit comprising material which facilitates hydrodynamic drag when it meets water resistance when limbs are moved vigorously while following a particular workout program.

Preferably, the materials of manufacture of such articles of clothing are lightweight, soft, comfortable, synthetic and natural able to hold water droplets that are attached to a substrate garment which can be elastic or contain elastic to enable it to be generally formfitting to the wearer's body.

Alternatively the materials of manufacture of the externally worn articles of clothing may comprise lightweight polymers, moulded to selected designs.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there are provided articles of clothing for aquatic fitness training comprising synthetic, natural and plastic polymer materials able to hold water droplets, externally attached in portions to an elasticated substrate covering the whole of the wearer allowing movement of the whole body; external portions providing hydrodynamic drag upon meeting resistance underwater by the wearer who increases their muscle exertion, relative to not wearing the articles of clothing, by moving arms and legs, singly, alternately and together; the elasticated substrate also comprising a built-in buoyancy belt attached in the region of the waist of the wearer.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there are provided articles of upper body clothing for aquatic fitness training comprising synthetic, natural and plastic polymer materials able to hold water droplets externally attached in portions to an elasticated substrate which allows the wearer movement of both arms at the shoulders, elbows, neck and core, such external portions providing hydrodynamic drag upon meeting resistance when attached to one arm, both arms, neck and core of the wearer and moved singly, alternately and together under water.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there are provided articles of lower body clothing for aquatic fitness training comprising synthetic, natural and plastic polymer materials able to hold water droplets externally attached in portions to an elasticated substrate which allows the wearer hinging of a single leg and both legs at the hips, knees and feet; such portions providing hydrodynamic drag upon meeting resistance when attached to one leg and both legs of the wearer and moved singly, alternately and together under water.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there are provided articles of clothing for aquatic fitness training comprising synthetic, natural and plastic materials able to hold water droplets which are externally attached in portions to an elasticated substrate such as a body suit, providing means which use the effect of non-weight-bearing-water viscosity to even out stresses on muscles to improve overall strength of the wearer’s body, creating hydrodynamic drag upon meeting resistance when the wearer moves their limbs under water.

In order that the nature of the present invention may be clearly understood an embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig 1 shows an elevational view of external articles of moulded upper and lower body clothing split near the skeletal joints attached to a substrate which houses a buoyancy belt.

Fig 2 shows an elevational view of external articles of upper body clothing attached to a substrate which houses a buoyancy belt.

Fig 3 shows an elevational view of external articles of lower body clothing attached to a substrate which houses a buoyancy belt

Fig 4 shows an elevational view of external articles of clothing attached to a full body suit consisting of a substrate which houses a buoyancy belt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In fig 1 bicep bands 1, forearm bands 2, quad bands 4 and calf bands 5, all of which may comprise of plastic polymer materials, are attached to full body-suit substrate 6; buoyancy belt 3 comprising of a polyamide or similar material is attached to substrate 6 in the region of the waist of the wearer.

In fig 2 whole arm bands 7, which may comprise of textile, or other natural or synthetic material able to hold water droplets, are attached to substrate 8 which may comprise of a long sleeved compression vest housing buoyancy belt 3 in the region of the waist of the wearer.

In fig 3 whole leg bands 9 which may comprise of a textile, or other natural or synthetic material able to hold water droplets, are attached to substrate 10 which may comprise of long-legged compression pants housing buoyancy belt 3 in the region of the waist of the wearer.

In fig 4 whole arm bands 7 and whole leg bands 5, are attached to full body-suit substrate 6 housing built-in buoyancy belt 3.

Claims

1 Articles of clothing for aquatic fitness training comprise textile, synthetic, natural and plastic polymer materials able to hold water droplets, externally attached in portions to an elasticated form-fitting substrate covering the whole of the wearer allowing movement of the whole body; external portions providing hydrodynamic drag upon meeting resistance under water by the wearer who increases their muscle exertion, relative to not wearing the articles of clothing, by moving arms and legs, singly, alternately and together; the elasticated substrate also comprising a built-in buoyancy belt attached in the region of the waist of the wearer.

2 Articles of clothing for aquatic fitness training according to claim 1 comprise upper body elements of textile, synthetic, natural and plastic polymer materials able to hold water droplets externally attached in portions to an elasticated substrate allowing the wearer movement of both arms at the shoulders, elbows, neck and core; such external portions providing hydrodynamic drag upon meeting increased resistance underwater, relative to not wearing the articles of clothing, when attached to one arm, both arms, neck and core of the wearer and moved singly, alternately and together.

3 Articles of clothing for aquatic fitness training according to claim 1 comprise lower body elements of textile, synthetic, natural and plastic polymer materials able to hold water droplets externally attached in portions to an elasticated substrate allowing the wearer to hinge a single leg and both legs at the hips, knees and feet; such portions providing increased hydrodynamic drag upon meeting resistance underwater, relative to not wearing the articles of clothing, when attached to one leg and both legs of the wearer and moved singly, alternately and together.

4 Articles of clothing for aquatic fitness training according to claim 1 comprise textile, synthetic, natural and plastic polymer materials able to hold water droplets externally attached in portions to an elasticated substrate comprising a body suit, providing means which use the effect of non-weight-bearing-water viscosity to even out stresses on muscles improving overall strength of the wearer’s body and creating increased hydrodynamic drag, relative to not wearing the articles of clothing, upon meeting resistance underwater when the wearer moves their limbs.

5 Articles of clothing for aquatic fitness training according to claim 1 comprise a buoyancy belt built-in to the substrate, located predominantly around the position of the waist of the wearer.