Water skills training device and method of use

Abstract

A water skills training device to facilitate water skills training for infants under the supervision of caretakers in shallow water environments is disclosed. The device includes a base to be placed in a shallow water environment, a receptacle placed onto the base and configured to receive and support an infant, and a floatation cushion removably engaged to the base and configured to support an infant's head or upper torso during water skills training. The floatation cushion can be easily removed or added as desired.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water skills training device comprising:
 a base, the base having a lower portion and an upper portion, the lower portion having an outer rim and a first width, the upper portion having a top surface and a second width, the first width being greater than or equal to the second width; and   a receptacle removably engaged to the upper portion of the base, the receptacle having a floor and two opposing ears extending from the floor;   wherein the receptacle is constructed and arranged to receive and support an infant during water skills training.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a tether with a first end and a second end removably engaged to the outer rim of the base's lower portion with at least one fastener selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, magnets, latches, and carabiners; 
 a floatation cushion removably engaged to the tether with at least one fastener selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, magnets, latches, and carabiners; 
 wherein the floatation cushion is constructed of a buoyant material and is configured to support an infant's head or upper torso during water skills training. 
 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the lower portion of the base is constructed of a denser material than the upper portion of the base and the receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the receptacle's ears are hexagonally shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a suction means connected to the underside of the base. 
 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the receptacle's ears are hexagonally shaped. 
     
     
         7 . The water skills training device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first tether removably engaged to the outer rim of the base's lower portion with at least one fastener selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, magnets, latches, and carabiners; 
 a second tether removably engaged to the outer rim of the base's lower portion with at least one fastener selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, magnets, latches, and carabiners; 
 a floatation cushion having a first end and a second end; 
 wherein the first end is removably engaged to the first tether with at least one fastener selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, magnets, latches, and carabiner; 
 wherein the second end is removably engaged to the second tether with at least one fastener selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, magnets, latches, and carabiners; and 
 wherein the floatation cushion is constructed of a buoyant material and is configured to support an infant's head or upper torso during water skills training. 
 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the cross section of the floatation cushion is oval in shape. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the floatation device's first end is removably engaged to the first tether at a connection point located between the floatation cushion's outer edge and the floatation cushion's cross-section's major axis and the floatation device's second end is removably engaged to the second tether at a connection point located between the floatation cushion's outer edge and the floatation cushion's cross-section's major axis, whereby the floatation cushion resists rotation around its center while the floatation cushion is submerged or partially submerged in water. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the lower portion of the base is constructed of a denser material than the upper portion of the base and the receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the receptacle's ears are hexagonally shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a suction means connected to the underside of the base. 
 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the receptacle's ears are hexagonally shaped. 
     
     
         14 . A method of training one or more infants water skills comprising:
 obtaining a water skills training device comprising:
 a base, said base having a lower portion and an upper portion, said lower portion having an outer rim and a first width, said upper portion having a top surface and a second width, the first width being greater than or equal to the second width; 
 a receptacle removably engaged to the upper portion of the base, the receptacle having a floor and two opposing ears extending from the floor; and 
 a floatation cushion removably engaged to the base with one or more tethers and configured to configured to support an infant's head or upper torso during water skills training; and 
   placing an infant in the receptacle with their back or tummy in contact with the floor of the receptacle.