Swimmer's training buoy with variable ballast

Abstract

Aspects of disclosed implementations include a training and teaching aid for swimmers and coaches in the form of a buoy incorporating removable ballasting devices in the form of refillable vessels, or alternatively, weights. The buoy is provided with means for securing the buoy to the body or clothing of the swimmer utilizing the device. Aspects include an optional warning device utilizing a flag or other three-dimensional device that extends from the buoy above the surface of the water while a swimmer is swimming with the buoy in place. Observers such as coaches can use the optional warning device to observe, document and quantify the extent and symmetry of a swimmer's hip and body rotation during swimming to perform stroke analysis and assist in teaching.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A buoy for supplementing buoyance of a swimmer's legs and hips comprising:
 a foam member adapted for engagement with and selective retention by the legs of the swimmer; and   at least one cavity formed in said buoy adapted to engage at least one vessel, whereby said vessel may be selectively filled with ballast.   
     
     
         2 . The buoy of  claim 1 , which further comprises a fastener for interconnecting said buoy with a garment worn by a user. 
     
     
         3 . The buoy of  claim 2 , wherein said fastener comprises a fabric loop. 
     
     
         4 . The buoy of  claim 2 , wherein said fastener comprises a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         5 . The buoy of  claim 2 , wherein said fastener comprises a snap hook. 
     
     
         6 . The buoy of  claim 2 , wherein said fastener comprises a strap. 
     
     
         7 . A buoy for supplementing buoyancy of a swimmers' legs and hips comprising:
 a foam member adaptive for engagement with and selective retention by the legs of the swimmer; and   at least one cavity formed in said buoy adapted to engage at least one removable weight.   
     
     
         8 . The buoy of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one cavity is sized to accommodate a vessel of a size of a commercially available beverage container. 
     
     
         9 . The buoy of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a warning device removably attached to the buoy.   
     
     
         10 . The buoy of  claim 9 , wherein said warning device comprises a flag and flag support oscillates with the swimmer's hip rotation. 
     
     
         11 . The buoy of  claim 9 , wherein said warning device comprises three-dimensional objects attached to the flag support of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         12 . The buoy of  claim 9 , wherein said warning device is removably attached to said buoy with a grommeted hole. 
     
     
         13 . The buoy of  claim 9 , wherein said warning device is used to document a swimmer's hip and body rotation while swimming. 
     
     
         14 . The buoy of  claim 1  further comprising:
 one or more loops of stretchable material for interconnecting said buoy with one or more legs of a user. 
 
     
     
         15 . The buoy of  claim 14  wherein the one or more loops of stretchable material engage the buoy with grommeted through-holes. 
     
     
         16 . The buoy of  claim 14  wherein the loops of stretchable material include rubber tubing. 
     
     
         17 . The buoy of  claim 1  further comprising:
 one or more straps for interconnecting said buoy with one or more legs of a user. 
 
     
     
         18 . The buoy of  claim 17  wherein the one or more straps include clasps for adjusting the one or more straps. 
     
     
         19 . The buoy of  claim 1  wherein the foam member is formed of two portions, and wherein the two portions each have at least one cavity. 
     
     
         20 . The buoy of  claim 1  wherein the foam member is formed of three portions, and wherein two of the three portions each have at least one cavity. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for selective retention of a buoy for supplementing buoyance of a swimmer's legs and hips comprising:
 a loop of material operative to interconnect the buoy with the swimmer's legs;   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the loop comprises elastic material. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  further comprising:
 a hole in the buoy for interconnecting the loop with the buoy; and 
 a grommet for reinforcing the hole. 
 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21  which further comprises a fastener for interconnecting said buoy with a garment worn by a user. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said fastener comprises a fabric loop. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said fastener comprises a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said fastener comprises a snap hook. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said fastener comprises a strap. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a warning device removably attached to the buoy.   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said warning device comprises a flag and flag support. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said warning device comprises one or more three-dimensional objects. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said warning device is removably attached to said buoy with a grommeted hole. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said warning device is used to document a swimmer's hip and body rotation while swimming.