In-place swimming apparatus

Claim 1

A device for in-place swimming, said device comprising: structural tank defining means having a first portion with dimensions to contain a predetermined quantity of liquid just sufficient to enable an in-place swimmer to execute strokes common to normal swimming without appreciable extra liquid quantities being contained by said first portion, and a second portion for providing at least support means contiguous to said first portion; and restraint means having a first portion including belt means adapted to be releasably secured about the body of a swimmer in said liquid, and slidable fastening means having a first unit extending along said belt means a distance sufficient to substantially span the width of the body of a swimmer wearing said belt means with said first unit being connected with said first portion of said restraint means adjacent to the opposite sides of the width of the body of a swimmer wearing said belt means, and a second unit cooperable with said first unit to allow sliding movement of said second unit substantially entirely along said first unit between said connections of said first unit to said first portion of said restraint means so that said second unit can slide along substantially the entire width of the body of a swimmer, and said restraint means also having a second portion physically connected with said support means and said second unit of said slidable fastening means, said second portion of said restraint means including force means for at least exerting a force on a swimmer opposing forward movement of said swimmer from a predetermined position in said liquid due to the forwardly force exerted by said swimmer when executing said strokes common to normal swimming so that said swimmer, when secured to said restraint means, is able to swim in a normal manner and yet remain substantially in place in said liquid to thereby avoid contact with said structural means while swimming in said normal manner.

Claim 2

A device for in-place swimming, said device comprising: structural tank defining means having a first portion with dimensions to contain a predetermined quantity of liquid just sufficient to enable an in-place swimmer to execute strokes common to normal swimming without appreciable extra liquid quantities being contained by said first portion, and a second portion for providing at least support means contiguous to said first portion; and restraint means having a first portion including belt means adapted to be releasably secured about the body of a swimmer in said liquid, and slidable fastening means having a first unit extending along said belt means a distance sufficient to substantially span the width of the body of a swimmer wearing said belt means with said first unit being connected with said first portion of said restraint means adjacent to the opposite sides of the width of the body of a swimmer wearing said belt means, and a second unit cooperable with said first unit to allow sliding movement of said second unit substantially entirely along said first unit between said connections of said first unit to said first portion of said restraint means so that said second unit can slide along substantially the entire width of the body of a swimmer, and said restraint means also having a second portion physically connected with said support means and said second unit of said slidable fastening means, said second portion of said restraint means including force means for at least exerting a force on a swimmer opposing forward movement of said swimmer from a predetermined position in said liquid due to the forwardly force exerted by said swimmer when executing said strokes common to normal swimming so that said swimmer, when secured to said restraint means, is able to swim in a normal manner and yet remain substantially in place in said liquid to thereby avoid contact with said structural means while swimming in said normal manner.

Claim 16

A device for in-place swimming, said device comprising: tank means having a first portion providing a container for containing a predetermined amount of water, said container being upwardly and outwardly tapered to receive a quantity of water such that the surface area of said water does not exceed a length of more than about eleven feet and a width of more than about six and on-half feet with a depth of said water being not more than about four feet and with the water-contacting area of the bottom of said container having a length not exceeding about nine feet and a width not exceeding about four and one-half feet; enclosure means for at least partially enclosing said tank means, said enclosure means extending about said tank means a distance sufficient to enable a swimmer to stand when in said tank means; and restraint means including belt means adapted to be worn by a swimmer, with said restraint means also including sildable fastening means having a first unit extending along said belt means a distance sufficient to substantially span the width of the body of a swimmer wearing said belt means with said first unit being connected with said belt means adjacent to the opposite sides of the width of the body of a swimmer wearing said belt means, and a second unit cooperable with said first unit to allow sliding movement of said second unit substantially entirely along said first unit between said connections of said first unit to said belt means so that said second unit can slide along substantially the entire width of the body of a swimmer, and said restraint means also including force exerting means physically connected with said second unit of said slidable fastening means and one of said tank means and said enclosure means to provide a force opposing forward movement of a swimmer wearing said restraint means from a predetermined position in said water so that said swimmer swims substantially in place while executing normal swimming strokes to thereby avoid contact with said tank means and said enclosure means while executing said normal swimming strokes.

Claim 17

A device for in-place swimming, said device comprising: tank means having a first portion providing a container for containing a predetermined amount of water, said container being upwardly and outwardly tapered to receive a quantity of water such that the surface area of said water does not exceed a length of more than about eleven feet and a width of more than about six and on-half feet with a depth of said water being not more than about four feet and with the water-contacting area of the bottom of said container having a length not exceeding about nine feet and a width not exceeding about four and one-half feet; enclosure means for at least partially enclosing said tank means, said enclosure means extending about said tank means a distance sufficient to enable a swimmer to stand when in said tank means; and restraint means including belt means adapted to be worn by a swimmer, with said restraint means also including sildable fastening means having a first unit extending along said belt means a distance sufficient to substantially span the width of the body of a swimmer wearing said belt means with said first unit being connected with said belt means adjacent to the opposite sides of the width of the body of a swimmer wearing said belt means, and a second unit cooperable with said first unit to allow sliding movement of said second unit substantially entirely along said first unit between said connections of said first unit to said belt means so that said second unit can slide along substantially the entire width of the body of a swimmer, and said restraint means also including force exerting means physically connected with said second unit of said slidable fastening means and one of said tank means and said enclosure means to provide a force opposing forward movement of a swimmer wearing said restraint means from a predetermined position in said water so that said swimmer swims substantially in place while executing normal swimming strokes to thereby avoid contact with said tank means and said enclosure means while executing said normal swimming strokes.