Swim Instruction Harness

Abstract

A swim instruction harness comprising an adjustable support band that fastens around a child's torso with a loop handle for a caregiver to hold the child. An adjustable strap between the legs is attached to the adjustable support band, thus allowing the caregiver to hold the child in a horizontal body position in the water without being in the child's way. The harness gives the child needed support while also challenging the child to use its own strength and buoyancy to swim.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a swim instruction harness comprising an adjustable support band that fastens around a child's torso with a loop handle for a caregiver to hold the child. An adjustable strap between the legs is attached to the adjustable support band, thus allowing the caregiver to hold the child in a horizontal body position in the water without being in the child's way. The harness gives the child needed support while also challenging the child to use its own strength and buoyancy to swim.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a swim instruction harness for teaching and assisting a child to swim, wherein an adjustable support band that encircles the child's torso area is connected to an adjustable strap between the legs. Also attached to the adjustable support band is a handle for a caregiver to hold in order to support the child in the water.

Swimming aids are essential tools during the process of learning to swim. They support children in the water and help them learn to control their body to keep above water. There are different types of swimming aids that serve different purposes. For instance, babies cannot rely on their own body strength and need a more sophisticated support such as float suits or float seats. Children who are already able to walk and are learning how to paddle can use inflatable armbands, back bubbles, kick boards, or foam barbells. All of the swim instruction tools used today are inflatable or made of foam, therefore making them floatation devices. The problem with floatation devices is that they obstruct a child's movement in the water and hinder the child from feeling its own buoyancy, which is a key component of learning to swim. Most swimming aids give the child too much help, which lengthens the process of learning to swim.

There is a certain type of swim instruction device that can be adapted to the skill level of the non-swimmer or beginning swimmer. This particular type of device is made of several foam float layers, which can be removed one by one so that the child gradually feels its own buoyancy and holds its own body weight above water. The drawbacks to this device are that the swimmer can still keep above water with hardly any effort at all and the device restricts the movements of the swimmer.

Traditionally, before floatation devices were invented, the hand on head hold technique was the most efficient way to teach children how to swim. The hand on head hold technique challenges children to use more strength and float on their own while giving them the perfect amount of support. The major flaws in this technique are that the instructor's arm gets in the way of the child, it is uncomfortable for the instructor and the child, the child struggles to attain horizontal body position, and it is difficult for the instructor to master the technique.

Therefore, there is a need for a swim instruction device like the present invention, which is not a floatation device, does not restrict the child's movements, and allows for support by an instructor.

U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0014448 for “Handheld Harness to Teach and Assist a Child in Swimming” by Severino, published on Jan. 19, 2006, is a swimming aid designed to help a child learn how to swim. Severino employs a mesh panel with a border connected to two loop handles. The child is placed upon the mesh panel in the water, and the handles are held by the instructor to support the child. Unlike the present invention, Severino's device does not snugly fasten to the child's torso, but necessitates the instructor maintaining a continual grip on the loop handles in order to keep the device firmly secured to the child. Severino's device also requires the child's arms to be fit through the loop handles, consequently exerting pressure on the child's shoulders and neck.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,308,629 for “Safety Harness Device,” issued to Freemon on Jan. 5, 1982, is a safety harness device for supporting a person in the water for swimming instruction. Unlike the present invention, Freemon employs a pair of shoulder straps designed to extend over a child's shoulders and a pair of leg straps designed to extend around a child's legs.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,699 for “Child Sport Activity Training Device,” issued to Veitch on Jan. 15, 2002, is a child sport activity training device with a torso harness, waist belt, back straps and a hand grip. Unlike the present invention, Veitch was initially developed for ice skating and is most suited in design for supporting a child engaged in activities in which the child's body is in a vertical position.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,272 for “Support Harness for a Young Child,” issued to Epstein on Jul. 25, 1995 is a harness designed to keep a baby or young child in a safe vertical position in order to facilitate the process of walking Unlike the present invention, Epstein is specifically designed to support a child in a vertical position, has straps that go around a child's legs, and has a handle for a caregiver placed above the child's head.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,232 for “Swim Training Device,” issued to Bardot on Aug. 30, 1994 is a device for teaching children to swim that employs a pair of pouches that hold a plurality of removable floatation cells or panels. Bardot's invention positions one pouch over the swimmer's chest area and one pouch over the swimmer's back area. Unlike the present invention, Bardot employs floatation cells, whereas the present invention does not employ any floatation cells whatsoever.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,891 is for “Swim Training Device,” issued to Bardot on Dec. 31, 1996, is a swim training device that includes a pair of buoyancy units that are interconnected jackets adapted to store a plurality of floatation cells. Unlike the present invention, Bardot employs floatation cells, whereas the present invention does not employ any floatation cells whatsoever.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is designed to help teach a child to swim by giving the child the perfect amount of support at all stages of instruction. Designed without shoulder straps or leg straps in order not to impede the child's movement, it ensures the child learns proper balance and horizontal body position in the water. The present invention is simple, inexpensive and easy-to-use, allowing an instructor to support the child in the water while still affording the child a natural swimming experience.

The present invention is strong enough to comfortably support the weight of a child in water without floatation devices and without restricting mobility. An adjustable support band encircles the child's torso, serving as a harness that enables full contact of the child's torso with the water. This adjustable support band can be easily placed by the instructor onto the child's torso and then tightened to keep it in place. Fastened to the adjustable support band is a handle loop for the instructor to hold in order to support the child's torso while giving the child a natural swimming experience. The present invention also provides an adjustable strap that passes between the child's legs and is connected to the adjustable support band in two places, with one end of the adjustable strap fastened to the front of the harness, and the other end of the adjustable strap fastened to the rear of the harness.

The present invention challenges beginning swimmers to use their own strength and feel their own buoyancy while learning to maintain horizontal body position in the water. The device gives a child the freedom to swim without the instructor being in the way, and is made without any means of floatation so that the child can feel its own buoyancy and be challenged to use its own strength to keep above the water. The instructor's resistance on the attached handle gives support that can be gradually reduced as the child progresses in ability. The device's simple design and construction make it easy to use and maintain while affording a natural swimming experience for the child and helping the caregiver teach the child to swim in an effective way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the present invention in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the present invention. The main components of the present invention are an adjustable support band (5) and a strap system (150). Within these two main components are the smaller components that make up the present invention.

At the summit of the present invention is the adjustable support band (5) that will be fitted to the torso of a child. This adjustable support band (5) is comprised of numerous elements. The adjustable support band (5) has two panels made of fabric in the preferred embodiment, a first panel (10) and a second panel (20). (Although only a tiny area of the second panel (20) can be seen in FIG. 1, the composition of the second panel (20) is almost identical to that of the first panel (10)). Both the first and second panels (10 and 20) have a stitched double-fold border at the top and at the bottom. Both panels (10 and 20) also have a mesh lining (30) that is sewn onto the inside of the panels (10 and 20). The mesh lining (30) is used as an interfacing that adds body to the fabric and strengthens the edges of the panels (10 and 20) by making the fabric thicker and more rigid.

On the far left and far right edges of the first panel (10) and second panel (20) are side panels (50) made of thick coated nylon with holes in the top, center and bottom through which bungee cords (70) are laced. The bungee cords (70) tighten the panels (10 and 20) around the torso of the child. Once the bungee cords (70) are tightened so that the panels (10 and 20) make an adjustable fit, the bungee cords (70) are secured in place by means of conventional slide toggles (90) placed on the bungee cords (70).

A key part of the adjustable support band (5) is the handle (140), which is held by the instructor when teaching the child to swim. The handle (140) in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, is placed on the exterior of the first panel (10) in a horizontal position, although other embodiments of the present invention envision the handle (140) placed on the exterior of the first panel (10) in a vertical position. Still other embodiments of the present invention envision the handle (140) placed on the first panel (10) in either a horizontal or vertical position, and an additional handle (not shown in FIG. 1) placed on the second panel (20) in either a horizontal or vertical position. This would place the handle (140) on the front of the child wearing the present invention, as well as the additional handle (not shown in FIG. 1) on the rear of the child wearing the present invention. This would enable an instructor to give the child instruction in swimming on the front and back of the body.

Continuing with the examination of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the handle (140) connects to nylon handle loops (110) that are in turn secured by strips of support fabric (120) at the midpoint of the side panels (50) placed on the left and right edges of the first panel (10). The strips of support fabric (120), made of thick coated nylon, prevent unraveling effects. The handle (140) is envisioned in the preferred embodiment as composed of thick rubber tubing so the instructor can comfortably grip the harness, although other materials may be employed as well.

The other key component of the present invention is the strap system (150) that is worn between the legs of the child receiving swimming instruction. The strap system (150) supports the child between the legs and is easily adjusted to fit the child. There are three main sections to the strap system (150), a first strap (160), a second strap (170), and a pad (180). Both the first strap (160) and the second strap (170), which are virtually identical, are each fastened at one end to strips of support fabric (120) made of thick coated nylon. These strips of support fabric (120) are in turn fastened to the midpoints of the bottom edges of the first and second panels (10 and 20). The result is that the first strap (160) is secured to the midpoint of the bottom edge of the first panel (10), and the second strap (170) is secured to the midpoint of the bottom edge of the second panel (20). Hook-and-loop type fastener strips (175) are affixed to the opposite ends of the first strap (160) and second strap (170), and those opposite ends connect to the pad (180) by means of conventional tri-glides (220). The pad (180) is made of an oblong piece of neoprene fabric with a peripheral nylon lycra border (190).

In order to use the present invention, it must be placed on the child's torso. First, the slide toggles (90) should be adjusted to loosen the bungee cords (70) so that the adjustable support band (5) can be placed onto the child's torso, with the strap system (150) placed between the child's legs. The bungee cords (70) should then be tightened and the slide toggles (90) adjusted so that the adjustable support band (5) is secured to the child's torso. The strap system (150) is fitted between the child's legs by the hook-and-loop type fasteners (175) so that the pad (180) sits comfortably under the child's crotch area. The child can then be placed in a body of water while the instructor grasps the handle (140) to support the child and maintain the perfect amount of resistance to keep the child on top of the water.

FIG. 2 illustrates the present invention in use. A child (230) is shown lying face down on a water surface (250) while an instructor (240) holds the handle (140). The adjustable support band (5) of the present invention is shown fitted to the torso of the child, and the strap system (150) of the present invention is shown worn between the child's legs.

It should be understood that the adjustable support band (5) described above is a part of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and that the adjustable support band (5) can also be a cylindrical member. In the same way, it should be understood that the strap system (150) described above is a part of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and that the strap system (150) can also be a strap.

In summary, the present invention is a swim harness comprising a cylindrical member, a handle (140) in communication with the cylindrical member, a strap in communication with the cylindrical member, and a pad (180) in communication with the strap. The cylindrical member can be unitary or have a first panel (10) and a second panel (20), and the cylindrical member can be held together with bungee cords (70). The handle (140) is in communication with a top portion of the cylindrical member, and extends inline along a curve of the cylindrical member. The pad (180) can be centered on the strap, and the strap is comprised of a first strap and a second strap. The strap extends in a perpendicular direction from a curve of the cylindrical member.

Claims

1. A swim harness, comprising:

a cylindrical member;

a handle, said handle in communication with said cylindrical member;

a strap, said strap in communication with said cylindrical member; and

a pad, in communication with said strap.

2. The swim harness of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical member is a first panel and a second panel.

3. The swim harness of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical member is held together with bungee cords.

4. The swim harness of claim 2, wherein said cylindrical member is held together with bungee cords.

5. The swim harness of claim 1, wherein said handle is in communication with a top portion of said cylindrical member.

6. The swim harness of claim 2, wherein said handle is in communication with a top portion of said cylindrical member.

7. The swim harness of claim 3, wherein said handle is in communication with a top portion of said cylindrical member.

8. The swim harness of claim 4, wherein said handle is in communication with a top portion of said cylindrical member.

9. The swim harness of claim 1, wherein said handle extends inline along a curve of said cylindrical member.

10. The swim harness of claim 2, wherein said handle extends inline along a curve of said cylindrical member.

11. The swim harness of claim 3, wherein said handle extends inline along a curve of said cylindrical member.

12. The swim harness of claim 4, wherein said handle extends inline along a curve of said cylindrical member.

13. The swim harness of claim 5, wherein said handle extends inline along a curve of said cylindrical member.

14. The swim harness of claim 6, wherein said handle extends inline along a curve of said cylindrical member.

15. The swim harness of claim 7, wherein said handle extends inline along a curve of said cylindrical member.

16. The swim harness of claim 8, wherein said handle extends inline along a curve of said cylindrical member.

17. The swim harness of claim 1, wherein said pad is centered on said strap.

18. The swim harness of claim 1, wherein said strap is comprised of a first strap and a second strap.

19. The swim harness of claim 1, wherein said strap extends in a perpendicular direction from a curve of said cylindrical member.

20. A swim harness, comprising:

a cylindrical member;

a handle, said handle in communication with said cylindrical member;

a strap, said strap in communication with said cylindrical member;

a pad, in communication with said strap;

wherein said cylindrical member is a first panel and a second panel;

wherein said cylindrical member is held together with bungee cords;

wherein said handle is in communication with a top portion of said cylindrical member;

wherein said handle extends inline along a curve of said cylindrical member;

wherein said pad is centered on said strap;

wherein said strap is comprised of a first strap and a second strap; and

wherein said strap extends in a perpendicular direction from a curve of said cylindrical member.