Training strap for swimming

Abstract

A strap for use in swim training to immobilize or restrict the legs to promote proper positioning and to build upper body strength. The training strap is specifically configured and adapted to enable controlled adjustability, quick release functionality, and is formed from an elastomeric material. It is also contemplated that the strap may be combined with other straps of the same kind to create a larger diameter for use in other training exercises.

1 . A training strap for use while swimming, the training strap comprising:
 a strap body having a central portion, and a pair of opposed end portions, each end portion including a shoulder formed adjacent the central portion;   a first connector coupled to the strap body and slidable along the central portion, the shoulders being sized and shaped to prevent sliding of the first connector from the central portion to either one of the pair of end portions; and   a second connector coupled to the strap body and being selectively and cooperatively engageable with the first connector, the second connector being slidable along the central portion, the shoulders being sized and shaped to prevent sliding of the second connector from the central portion to either one of the pair of end portions;   the strap body having a plurality of adjustment members sized and shaped to enable selective incremental adjustment of the at least one of the first and second connectors relative to the strap body;   an operative segment of the strap body being defined as that portion of the strap body extending between the first and second connectors;   at least one of the first and second connectors being adjustably coupled to the strap body to enable selective length adjustment of the operative segment;   the strap body, the first connector, and the second connector being sized to collectively define a complete loop capable of extending around a first leg and a second leg of a user when the first connector and the second connector are engaged with each other.   
     
     
         2 . The training strap recited in  claim 1 , wherein both the first connector and the second connector are adjustably coupled to the strap body. 
     
     
         3 . The training strap recited in  claim 1 , wherein the strap body is formed of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         4 . The training strap recited in  claim 3 , wherein the elastomeric material is a hypoallergenic material. 
     
     
         5 . The training strap recited in  claim 1 , wherein each adjustment member includes a rib defining, a thickened region of the strap body, the pair of shoulders and the adjustment members being of different configurations. 
     
     
         6 . The training strap recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first connector and the second connector are cooperatively engageable male and female connectors. 
     
     
         7 . The training strap recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first and second connectors is moveable along the strap body to enable adjustment of the operative segment to be equal to a first length associated with a first loop circumference wherein the loop is capable of extending around the first and second legs at a first location on the user, and to be equal to a second length associated with a second loop circumference wherein the loop is capable of extending around the first and second legs at a second location on the user. 
     
     
         8 . The training strap recited in  claim 1 , wherein the strap body is sized such that no portion of the operative segment overlaps with another portion of the operative segment when the strap is in the looped configuration 
     
     
         9 . The training strap recited in  claim 1 , wherein the strap body includes a first end segment, the first connector being positioned between the operative segment and the first end segment. 
     
     
         10 . The training strap recited in  claim 9 , wherein the strap body additionally includes a second end segment, the second connector being positioned between the operative segment and the second end segment. 
     
     
         11 . The training strap recited in  claim 10 , wherein the first end segment and the second end segment are each capable of being pulled to cinch the strap around the first leg and the second leg of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The training strap recited in  claim 1 , wherein the strap body includes a pair of opposed ends to define a strap length therebetween, the strap length being between 450-850 mm. 
     
     
         13 . A system for swim training, the system comprising
 a first strap and a second strap, each of the first strap and the second strap comprising:
 a strap body having a central portion, and a pair of opposed end portions, each end portion including a shoulder formed adjacent the central portion; 
 a first connector coupled to the strap body and moveable along the strap between the shoulders; and 
   a second connector coupled to the strap body and being selectively and cooperatively engageable with the first connector;
 an operative segment of the strap body being defined as that portion of the strap body extending between the first and second connectors; 
 at least one of the first and second connectors being adjustably coupled to the strap body to enable selective length adjustment of the operative segment; 
   the first connector and the second connector of the first strap being connectable to each other to define a first loop having a first circumference;   the first connector and the second connector of the first strap being connectable to corresponding ones of the first connector and the second connector of the second strap to define a second loop having a second circumference larger than the first circumference.   
     
     
         14 . The system recited in  claim 13 , wherein the strap body is formed of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         15 . The system recited in  claim 14 , wherein the elastomeric material is a hypoallergenic material. 
     
     
         16 . The system recited in  claim 13 , wherein the strap body includes a plurality of adjustment members sized and shaped to enable selective incremental adjustment of the at least one of the first and second connectors relative to the strap body. 
     
     
         17 . A method of using a training strap for swimming, the method comprising the steps of:
 forming a complete loop around a first leg and a second leg of a user with the training strap comprising:
 a strap body having a central portion, and a pair of opposed end portions, each end portion including a shoulder formed adjacent the central portion; 
 a first connector coupled to the strap body and moveable along the strap body between the shoulders; and 
 a second connector coupled to the strap body and being selectively and cooperatively engageable with the first connector; 
 an operative segment of the strap body being defined as that portion of the strap body extending between the first and second connectors; 
 at least one of the first and second connectors being adjustably coupled to the strap body to enable selective length adjustment of the operative segment; 
 the strap body, the first connector, and the second connector being sized and shaped to collectively define the complete loop when the first connector and the second connector are engaged with each other; and 
   adjusting the training strap on the user.   
     
     
         18 . The method recited in  claim 17 , wherein the at least one of the first and second connectors is positioned between the operating segment and an end segment, the tightening step includes pulling the end segment to cinch the training strap around the first leg and the second leg of the user. 
     
     
         19 . The method recited in  claim 17 , wherein the forming step includes connecting the first connector to the second connector. 
     
     
         20 . The method recited in  claim 17 , wherein the adjusting step includes adjusting the size of the complete loop such that the complete loop allows for a range of relative kick motion by the user.