Swim buoyancy and balance aid and swim instruction methods using the same

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a swim instruction aid comprising a buoyant member, a shell, and a handle coupled to the shell and/or buoyant member. Methods of swim instruction using the swim instruction aid comprise instructing a student to grasp a first swim instruction aid in a first hand and, optionally, a second swim instruction aid in a second hand, wherein the student grasps the first and optional second swim instruction aids using the handles thereof; and instructing the student to practice a swimming skill while in the water and while using the first and optional second swim instruction aids to increase the student's buoyancy, wherein the student practices the swimming skill until the student achieves a predetermined proficiency level.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A swim instruction aid, comprising:
 a buoyant member comprising a variable-buoyancy vessel having an internal volume of space and having at least one opening configured to allow a material to enter the internal volume of space; and   at least one handle connected to the variable-buoyancy vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The swim instruction aid of  claim 1 , wherein the material is water. 
     
     
         3 . The swim instruction aid of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one handle is connected to the variable-buoyancy vessel by sealed grommets or sealed rivets. 
     
     
         4 . The swim instruction aid of  claim 1 , wherein the variable-buoyancy vessel is made from a material selected from a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or a low-density polyethylene (LDPE), a polyurethane, polycarbonate (PC), a polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a polypropylene (PP), a polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a polyamide, a polystyrene (PS), or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The swim instruction aid of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is configured as an inlet and outlet, whereby the material can intake into the internal volume and discharge from the internal volume through the at least one opening. 
     
     
         6 . The swim instruction aid of  claim 1 , wherein the variable-buoyancy vessel is configured to intake or discharge any amount of the material to change the buoyancy. 
     
     
         7 . The swim instruction aid of  claim 1 , wherein the variable-buoyancy vessel has a cylindrical or tubular shape. 
     
     
         8 . The swim instruction aid of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is configured as a push-and-pull cap. 
     
     
         9 . The swim instruction aid of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is configured as a twist cap, wherein the twist cap locks when sealed. 
     
     
         10 . The swim instruction aid of  claim 1 , wherein the buoyant member is a bottle. 
     
     
         11 . The swim instruction aid of  claim 1 , wherein the buoyant member is a bag. 
     
     
         12 . The swim instruction aid of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening comprises a plurality of perforations. 
     
     
         13 . The swim instruction aid of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is sealed with a clamp. 
     
     
         14 . The swim instruction aid of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is sealed with a pressure seal. 
     
     
         15 . A kit for swim instruction, the kit comprising:
 one or more swim instruction aids according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         16 . The kit according to  claim 15 , comprising two or more of the swim instruction aids. 
     
     
         17 . The kit according to  claim 15 , further comprising instructions for using the one or more swim instruction aids. 
     
     
         18 . A method for instructing a student in swimming, the method comprising:
 instructing the student to grasp a swim instruction aid in the student's hand, wherein the swim instruction aid is the swim instruction aid according to  claim 1 , and wherein the student grasps the swim instruction aid using the handle;   instructing the student to practice a swimming skill while immersed in the water and while grasping the swim instruction aid, thereby increasing the student's buoyancy.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the student is an individual having a developmental disability. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the swimming skill comprises remaining afloat, a kicking technique, a breathing technique, a stroke, or any combination thereof.