Improvements in or relating to diving aids

Abstract

 A diving and swimming aid comprises a roller (27) which may be diabolo shaped and which is mounted for rotation in two side frames 14 secured to a surrounded 11 of a swimming pool. A user can stand on the pool surround surface 12, lean on the roller 27; the rotation of the roller 27 helps to carry the user into the water 10. The height and fore-and-aft position of the roller can be adjusted by bolts 29, 24 engaging in slots 20, 19 and the roller axis 26 can be placed in selected slot 25. There may be several rollers 27. The roller 27 can be replaced by an endless belt rotatable on spaced rollers, one of which can be adjustable to vary the angle of descent of a user.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to swimming and diving aids.

[0002] According to this invention an aid for swimming and diving comprises a member for positioning in relation to water, and means for supporting the member so that a user can be supported by the member and moved towards the water by movement of the member.

[0003] The member may provide an endless surface for engage­ment by a user.

[0004] The member may be rotatable in the supporting means and may comprise an endless element carried by rotatable means. There may be a plurality of rotatable members spaced in the direction of forward movement.

[0005] The rotatable means may comprise two rollers spaced fore-and-aft, and means mounting one of the rollers for pivotal movement relative to the other roller.

[0006] There may be means mounting the member for adjustment in height and/or fore-and-aft position.

[0007] The mounting means may comprise securing means engageable in selected apertures in the supporting means.

[0008] There may be means for moving the member e.g. a motor or handle.

[0009] The member may be diabolo shaped.

[0010] Also according to the invention, a method of diving into a body of water comprises leaning on a movable surface, and moving the surface forwards to move a user towards the water.

[0011] The invention may be performed in various ways and some specific embodiments with possible modifications will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of one embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a front view of part of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of a modified arrangement;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment;

Fig. 5 is a side view of another arrangement;

Fig. 6 is a side view of a further arrangement; and

Figs. 7 to 10 are side views of other embodiments.

[0012] In Figs. 1 and 2 a swimming pool includes water 10 and a surround 11 including an upper surface 12 and a vertical surface 13 forming one boundary to the water. Secured to the surface 12 are two spaced supports 14 including upper and lower horizontal members 15, 16 fixed to support and brace 17, 18. The members 15, 16 extend over the water and member 16 lies along surface 12. The lengths of members 15, 16 above the water have a series of spaced apertures 19, 20 and an arm 21 is connected between the members 15, 16. At its lower end the arm 21 has a series of spaced apertures 22 and a bolt or other fastener 29 detachably or adjustably connects through a selected aperture 22 and a selected aperture 20. At the top end the arm 21 has a slot 23 which receives a releasable bolt 24 which engages in a selected aperture 19. The rear edge of arm 21 has a series of upwardly spaced rearward and upward facing slots 25 and selected slots 25 of the two supports 14 receive the ends of a spindle or shaft 26 of a member or diving barrel 27 rotatable on bearings e.g. nylon on the shaft which member or barrel may be cylindrical but could be diabolo shaped as shown. The curvature of the diabolo can be varied to suit the size or height of a user.

[0013] The shaft 26 can be moved to different slots 25 to vary the distance of the rotatable member above the water and forwards of the surface 13 according to the size or height of a user and further adjustment can be obtained by varying the apertures 19, 20, 22 which are used to fasten the arm 21.

[0014] In use, a person stands or kneels on the surface 12 and leans forward until his torso, preferably the stomach or chest, engages on the rotatable member 27 which thus in part supports him. The user then moves himself forward, possibly by pushing on the surface 12 or by pulling or pushing on support 14 and moves gently forwards as member 27 rotates to carry the user head first into the water. In some cases a helper may lift the user's legs, as shown, and assist in moving him into the water. The user may himself control the speed at which he moves forward, and the height of the member 27 can be adjusted as the user gains confidence.

[0015] In Fig. 3 a plurality of rotatable members 27 are provided, spaced fore-and-aft, and may support a greater length of a user's body. Again the positions of the members 27 can be independently adjusted up and down and fore-and-aft and as shown one or more of the members 27 may be above surface 12.

[0016] In Fig. 4 the rotatable member 27 is positioned below the level of surface 12 and again can be adjusted up and down on members 30 which can be adjusted fore and aft on members 31 e.g. by bolts 32 engageable in apertures 30a, 31a.

[0017] The arrangements may be detachably secured to the pool-­side surround so as to be portable. There may be two or more such aids along the pool edge.

[0018] Fig. 5 shows an arrangement of a number of rotatable members which are spaced and successively of lesser height.

[0019] In one arrangement the rotatable member is partly submerged in the water but is of a size that its upper surface is above level 12.

[0020] In the arrangement of Fig. 6, larger and smaller cylindrical rollers 50, 51 rotatable on axes 52, 53 in frame 57 respectively are linked by an endless belt 54 extending round them. The upper stretch 55 of the belt may have additional support between members 50, 51 in the form of a roller 56 rotatable also in frame 57 which is disposed at both ends of the rollers. The method of use is as above with the user leaning on to the belt and moving forwards. As above, the rollers can in some cases be adjusted up and down and/or fore and aft.

[0021] The belt may for example be of rubber and may be stretched on the rollers or be a loose fit and may be soft or more rigid with padding for comfort.

[0022] The belt 54 provides a rotatable member in that each part of the belt traverses a repeated path.

[0023] In the various arrangements the rotatable members can move under the weight and thrust of user but alternatively or additionally, they may be moved (rotated) using a handle 60 accessible from the poolside or be power driven for example by electric motor 61. The sides of the aid or rotatable members may be encased for safety.

[0024] In the embodiment of Fig. 7 there are two side frames 60 secured to the surround 12 and roller 51 is rotatably carried between arms 61 pivoted at 62 to the frames 60 and extending forwards. Releasable clamps 63 hold the arms 61 in selected positions of angular adjustment. The roller axle 52 can be located in a selected aperture or slot 52a and the roller axle 53 can be located in a selected slot or aperture 53a to provide for fore-and-aft and height adjustment.

[0025] The length of endless belt 55 is adjusted as required. Pivoting of arms 61 enables the aid to be arranged for different angles of entry of the user into the water.

[0026] In the embodiment of Fig. 8 roller 50 is of increased diameter relative to the diameter of roller 51 to increase the speed of entry of a user into the water. Two rollers 56 are provided, together with height and fore-and-aft adjustment.

[0027] In Fig. 9 two rollers 70, 71, with or without an associated endless belt 55, are each in more than one section (four as shown), the sections 70a, 71a being independently rotatable on respective axles 72, 73 supported in frames 60. The sections 70a, 71a may have external padding and the rollers 70, 71 may be mounted for adjustment as above.

[0028] In Fig. 10 is shown an embodiment comprising a stand 80 which may be secured to the floor 81 of the pool or be free-­standing or be held an adult and may be near to or away from the pool side. Rollers 50, 51 are rotatable on axles supported in arm 82 which is fixed to, or pivotably mounted at 84 on, stand 80. Roller 50 could be rotatable by an assistant or teacher using handle 83. This embodiment is preferable for use by toddlers and could be located in a paddling pool or at the shallower end of a large pool. this embodiment may be preferable for disabled users to assist them to enter or leave the water if placed near the pool side; the belt could be ribbed to provide hand grips.

[0029] The aid may be used in other locations adjacent water or at waters edge e.g. on rocks or canal banks, piers and either indoors or out of doors. The aid can be fixed or portable.

[0030] The diving barrel 27 or belt 55 if near the side will provide the link between poolside and water, it will be the half way stage and give the learner diver more control over his/her body movement as he/she enters the water.

[0031] In the various belt arrangements the belt and rollers could have interengaging formations such as axial ribs 55a, 57a to provide a positive interconnection.

[0032] When using the diving barrel or belt the diver rests his/her stomach on the centre of the barrel or belt with both feet still touching the poolside and leans over the barrel or belt with arms held over the head in a diving position. He/she then gently pushes from the poolside with the feet, this momentum turns the barrel and the diver enters the water smoothly without discomfort.

[0033] As the learner diver continues the process his/her confidence increases and the barrel or belt will then be gradually lowered until no longer needed.

[0034] The rollers 56 could be mounted in protective casings 56a around the side frames rather than in the side frames.

[0035] In Fig. 10 the connection 84, which may be pivotal, could be adjustable up and down on stand 80 in apertures 80a. The base 80b of the stand 80 could be extended as at 80c so that an adult could stand on the base to hold the device in position in the pool whilst assisting a user of the aid.

[0036] In one arrangement the aid framework is mounted on wheels for movement along the poolside and is provided with suction pads which may be foot operated for releasably holding the framework in a desired position.

[0037] In a modification Fig. 11 principally for use by adults and older children, the aid is secured on a ladder 90 whose sides form an inverted V so that the device can be located anywhere in the pool and a user climbs one side of the ladder to use the aid. The aid can be releasably mounted on the ladder sides for movement up and down dependent on the height of water for example. The aid could be releasably mounted in apertures on the sides of the ladder.

[0038] The aid could be mounted on one side of a single upright ladder 91 mounted on a base 92 similar to base 80 and be adjustable up and down on the ladder.

[0039] There have been described arrangement in which a body of water has adjacent its periphery a rotatable member positioned so that a user may lean on to the member from the surround of the water and movement of the member moves the user forwards towards the water. The member may be above the water or above the surround. There may be a number of members spaced in the direction of forward movement. The member may be an endless element extending round two rotatable rollers.

[0040] The member may be adjustable up and down and/or fore and aft.

[0041] The member may be diabolo shaped.

[0042] The member may be carried by two arms each connected between upper and lower members of two spaced supports.

[0043] The arms may be adjustably connected to the upper and lower members to vary the height and/or fore and aft position of the member.

[0044] In Fig. 10 there may be a platform 100 adjustable up and down.

Claims

1. An aid for swimming and diving comprising a member for positioning in relation to water, and means for supporting the member so that a user can be supported by the member and moved towards the water by movement of the member.

2. An aid as claimed in Claim 1, in which the member provides an endless surface for engagement by a user.

3. An aid as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the member is rotatable in the supporting means.

4. An aid as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the member comprises an endless element carried by rotatable means.

5. An aid as claimed in Claim 1, comprising a plurality of rotatable members spaced in the direction of forward move­ment.

6. An aid as claimed in Claim 4, in which the rotatable means comprises two rollers spaced fore-and-aft, and means mounting one of the rollers for pivotal movement relative to the other roller.

7. An aid as claimed in any preceding Claim, comprising means mounting the member for adjustment in height.

8. An aid as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising means mounting the member for fore-and-aft adjustment.

9. An aid as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, in which the mounting means comprises securing means engageable in selected apertures in the supporting means.

10. An aid as claimed in any preceding Claim, including means for moving the member.

11. An aid as claimed in Claim 1, in which the member is diabolo shaped.

12. An aid as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the supporting means comprises a ladder.

13. An aid for swimming and diving substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or Fig. 3, or Fig. 4, or Fig. 5, or Fig. 6, or Fig. 7, or Fig. 8, or Fig. 9, or Fig. 10, of the accompanying drawings.

14. A method of diving into a body of water comprises leaning on a movable surface, and moving the surface forwards to move a user towards the water.

Drawing