Armband

Abstract

The present invention relates to an armband ( 10 ) for use in swimming. The armband ( 10 ) includes a portion of buoyant material ( 20, 30, 40 ) which defines an arm receiving aperture ( 50 ) and gripping means ( 60 ) for gripping a wearer's arm. The gripping means ( 60 ) are integrally formed with the portion of buoyant material ( 20, 30, 40 ).

1 . An armband for use in swimming, the armband including: a buoyant portion of buoyant material arranged to define an arm-receiving aperture; and a grip for gripping a wearer's arm received in the aperture, wherein the grip is integrally formed with the buoyant portion.  
   
   
       2 . An armband according to  claim 1 , wherein the buoyant material is a foam material this is resiliently deformable and the buoyant portion is formed from a single piece of that material.  
   
   
       3 . An armband according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the grip includes resiliently deformable structure adjacent the aperture and arranged to be resiliently deformed by insertion of a wearer's arm and thereby to grip the arm.  
   
   
       4 . An armband according to  claim 1 , wherein the grip includes at least one projection that projects into the aperture.  
   
   
       5 . An armband according to  claim 1 , wherein the grip includes at least one member that extends across the aperture.  
   
   
       6 . An armband according to  claim 5 , wherein there are at least two such members that extend across the aperture and those members are arranged to form arm-gripping jaws.  
   
   
       7 . An armband according to  claim 6 , wherein surfaces of the jaws are shaped and configured to promote grip between the jaws and a wearer's arm inserted therebetween.  
   
   
       8 . An armband according to  claim 7 , wherein the jaws are provided with one of undulating and serrated surfaces.  
   
   
       9 . An armband according to  claim 1 , wherein the grip includes at least one lobe that projects into the arm-receiving aperture.  
   
   
       10 . An armband according to  claim 1 , wherein the grip includes at least one further aperture adjacent the arm-receiving aperture and arranged such that a respective resiliently-deformable length of material is provided between each further aperture and the arm-receiving aperture.  
   
   
       11 . An armband according to  claim 9 , wherein each lobe has an aperture therethrough.  
   
   
       12 . An armband according to  claim 9 , wherein there are three lobes.  
   
   
       13 . An armband according to  claim 1 , wherein the armband includes a plurality of, substantially identical, ones of the buoyant portion, each including the grip integrally formed therewith and wherein these buoyant portions are stacked to form a laminate.  
   
   
       14 . An armband according to  claim 13 , wherein each buoyant portion that goes to make up the laminate is bonded to the buoyant portion with which it is juxtaposed.  
   
   
       15 . An armband for use in swimming, the armband including: a buoyant portion of buoyant material arranged to define an arm receiving aperture; and means for gripping a wearer's arm received in the aperture, wherein the means for gripping is integrally formed with the buoyant portion.  
   
   
       16 . An armband for use in swimming, the armband including: a buoyant portion of buoyant material arranged to define an arm-receiving aperture; and a grip for gripping a wearer's arm received in the aperture, wherein the grip is integrally formed with the buoyant portion, the grip includes at least one member that extends across the aperture at least two of which are arranged to form arm-gripping jaws, and surfaces of the jaws are provided with one of undulating and serrated surfaces to promote grip between the jaws and a wearer's arm inserted therebetween.  
   
   
       17 . An armband for use in swimming, the armband including: a buoyant portion of buoyant material arranged to define an arm-receiving aperture; and a grip for gripping a wearer's arm received in the aperture, wherein the grip is integrally formed with the buoyant portion, the grip includes three lobes that project into the arm-receiving aperture, and each lobe has an aperture therethrough.