Swim trainer

Abstract

A swim-in-place trainer having flow assist features incorporated into the pool design. The flow assist features may include a contoured bottom having a flow directional hump located in approximately the center of the swim area. The flow directional hump may extend laterally across the entire swim area and separate a deeper front portion of the pool from a shallower rear portion of the pool. Other flow assist features may include a front and rear ridge for directing water to and from the swim area, respectively. Interior side walls disposed on opposing sides of the swim area may each include an inner front portion for creating a flow improving vortex to reduce water friction. An optional propulsion means, such as a pump or impeller, may provide a variable water flow dependent upon the location of a swimmer in the swim area or other factors.

1 . A pool for allowing a user to swim-in-place, said pool comprising: 
 a swim area having a front portion and a rear portion; and    a bottom extending from the front portion of the swim area to the rear portion of the swim area, the bottom comprising a contoured portion;    wherein the contoured portion is configured and dimensioned to improve water flow from the front portion of the swim area to the rear portion of the swim area while the user is swimming.    
   
   
       2 . The pool of  claim 1  further comprising at least one water return path to allow water to flow from the rear portion of the swim area to the front portion of the swim area.  
   
   
       3 . The pool of  claim 1  further comprising a restraint device to maintain the user in the swim area while the user is swimming.  
   
   
       4 . The pool of  claim 3  wherein the restraint device comprises a tether attached to a support.  
   
   
       5 . The pool of  claim 4  wherein the support is adjustable in a vertical direction with respect to the swim area.  
   
   
       6 . The pool of  claim 4  wherein the support is adjustable in a longitudinal direction with respect to the swim area.  
   
   
       7 . The pool of  claim 4  wherein the support is disposed in a pivotable orientation with respect to the swim area.  
   
   
       8 . The pool of  claim 3  wherein the restraint device comprises a sensor to measure a first parameter of the user's swimming ability, the sensor outputting a signal having information regarding the first parameter to an electrical device.  
   
   
       9 . The pool of  claim 1  further comprising a left interior wall and a right interior wall.  
   
   
       10 . The pool of  claim 9  further comprising an outer sidewall and wherein the left interior wall and the outer sidewall delimit a first water return path and the right interior wall and the outer sidewall delimit a second water return path.  
   
   
       11 . The pool of  claim 9  wherein the left interior wall and the right interior wall are removably attached to the bottom.  
   
   
       12 . The pool of  claim 1  further comprising a water propulsion device for circulating water from the rear portion of the swim area to the front portion of the swim area.  
   
   
       13 . The pool of  claim 12  wherein the water propulsion device has a variable output.  
   
   
       14 . The pool of  claim 13  wherein the variable output of the water propulsion device is determined by the user's location in the swim area.  
   
   
       15 . The pool of  claim 1  wherein the pool is comprised of at least two modular sections.  
   
   
       16 . A pool for allowing a user to swim-in-place, said pool comprising: 
 a swim area having a front portion and a rear portion;    a bottom extending from the front portion of the swim area to the rear portion of the swim area, the bottom comprising a flow directing hump separating the front portion and the rear portion of the swim area; and    wherein the flow directing hump is configured and dimensioned for improving water flow from the front portion of the swim area to the rear portion of the swim area while the user is swimming.    
   
   
       17 . The pool of  claim 16  wherein the flow directing hump extends laterally across the swim area.  
   
   
       18 . The pool of  claim 16  wherein the flow directing hump is shallower than both the front portion and the rear portion of the swim area.  
   
   
       19 - 30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . A pool for allowing a user to swim-in-place, said pool comprising: 
 a swim area having a front portion and a rear portion;    a bottom extending from the front portion of the swim area to the rear portion of the swim area, the bottom comprising a flow directing ridge extending upwardly from the bottom and running longitudinally through at least a portion of the swim area; and    wherein the flow directing ridge is dimensioned and configured to improve water flow from the front portion of the swim area to the rear portion of the swim area while the user is swimming.    
   
   
       32 - 102 . (canceled)  
   
   
       103 . A swim-in-place trainer for allowing a user to exercise, said swim-in-place trainer comprising: 
 a pool having a swim area, said swim area having a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion having a depth greater than that of the rear portion;    a bottom extending from the front portion of the swim area to the rear portion of the swim area;    a pair of flow directing walls disposed on opposing sides of the swim area and removably attached in a fixed orientation with respect to the pool;    a pair of water return paths, each of the water return paths in communication with the front portion of the swim area and the rear portion of the swim area and passing between one of the flow directing walls and a sidewall of the pool;    a flow directing hump extending laterally on the bottom across the swim area, the flow directing hump separating the front portion and the rear portion of the pool;    a flow directing ridge extending longitudinally on the bottom in the front portion of the swim area; and    a restraint device for holding the user in place while the user is swimming, the restraint device comprising a support and a tether, a first end of the support being attached to one of the flow directing walls and a second end of the support being attached to the other flow directing wall,    wherein the flow directing walls, the flow directing hump and the flow directing ridge are each configured and dimensioned for improving water circulation inside the pool.