Ankle float buoy

Abstract

A unitary ankle float buoy for immobilizing the legs during swim training. The buoy is formed of a central portion connecting a top wall and a lower wall and a pair of ankle openings disposed on each side of the central portion. The ankle float buoy is designed and configured to be worn upon both ankles of a swimmer below the calf and above the foot.

1 . A unitary ankle float buoy for immobilizing the legs during swim training, said buoy comprising:
 a central body;   a left set of jaws comprising a first left jaw element comprising a first end attached to a left upper outside edge of the central body and extending away from the central body to a second end which curves downward, and a second left jaw element with a first end attached to a left lower outside edge of the central body and mirroring the first jaw element;   a left gap formed between the second end of the first left jaw element and the second end of the second left jaw element;   a right set of jaws comprising a first right jaw element comprising a first end attached to a right upper outside edge of the central body and extending away from the central body to a second end which curves downward, and a right second jaw element with a first end attached to a right lower outside edge of the central body and mirroring the first jaw element; and   a right gap formed between the second end of the first right jaw element and the second end of the second right jaw element;   wherein the first left jaw element, the second left jaw element, the first right jaw element, and second right jaw element all have a closed position to which the jaw elements are biased and return to without application of an outside force.   
     
     
         2 . The unitary ankle float buoy of  claim 1 , wherein a rear edge narrows from the central body to a distal end to comfortably accommodate a swimmer's lateral malleolus. 
     
     
         3 . The unitary ankle float buoy of  claim 1 , wherein a space between the first right jaw element and the second right jaw element forms a right ankle opening, and a space between the first left jaw element and the second left jaw element forms a left ankle opening. 
     
     
         4 . The unitary ankle float buoy of  claim 3 , wherein the buoy is formed from a solid piece of buoyant, resilient foam. 
     
     
         5 . The unitary ankle float buoy of  claim 1 , wherein a left ankle gap between the first left jaw element and the second left jaw element is wider in a middle of the left jaw elements than at left gap. 
     
     
         6 . The unitary ankle float buoy of  claim 5 , wherein the buoy is formed from a compression molded foam. 
     
     
         7 . The unitary ankle float buoy of  claim 3 , wherein the left ankle gap is formed in a substantially straight cylindrical configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The unitary ankle float buoy of  claim 1 , wherein, when viewed form the front, the left set of jaws forms a substantially reverse-C shape and the right set of jaws forms a substantially C shape. 
     
     
         9 . An ankle float buoy, comprising:
 a top half, comprising:
 a central body element; 
 a left wing element extending away from the central body element, comprising a width, a first end attached to the central body element, and a second end opposite the first end; 
 a right wing element extending away from the central body element in an opposite direction to the left wing element the right wing element comprising a width, a first end attach to the central body element, and a second end opposite the first end; 
   a bottom half, comprising:
 a central body element mirroring the top half central body element; 
 a left wing element mirroring the top half left wing element, the bottom half left wing element comprising a width, a first end attached to the bottom half central body element, and a second end opposite the first end; and 
 a right wing element mirroring the top half central body element, the bottom half right wing element comprising a width, a first end attached to the bottom half central body element, and a second end opposite the first end; 
   wherein the width of the left wing top half element tapers from the first end to the second end, the width of the right wing top half element tapers from the first end to the second end, the width of the left wing bottom half element tapers from the first end to the second end, and the width of the right wing bottom half element tapers from the first end to the second end.   
     
     
         10 . The ankle float buoy of  claim 9 , wherein the top half and the bottom half are molded from a foam polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The ankle float buoy of  claim 10 , wherein the top half and the bottom half are integrated. 
     
     
         12 . The ankle float buoy of  claim 9 , wherein, when viewed form the front, the left set wing of the top half and the left wing of the bottom half form a substantially reverse-C shape and the right wing of the top half and the right wing of the bottom half form a substantially C shape. 
     
     
         13 . The ankle float buoy of  claim 9 , wherein the second end of the top half left wing element and the second end of the bottom half left wing element form a gap, and the second end of the top half right wing element and the second end of the bottom half right wing element form a gap. 
     
     
         14 . The ankle float buoy of  claim 9 , wherein the top half right wing element, top half left wing element, the bottom half right wing element, and bottom half left wing element are biased to a closed position.