# US 11,992,732 B2 · Repulsion-based swimjet system and methods for use thereof

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- Number: US 11,992,732 B2
- Document ID: US11992732B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/113,502
- Filed: 2023-02-23
- Published: 2023-09-28
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2020-08-25
- Assignees: Orkus Swim LLC
- Applicants: Orkus Swim LLC
- Inventors: Kip Fuller
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992732B2

## CPC

- A63B 35/12: operated by a motor
- A63B 69/125: {Devices for generating a current of water in swimming pools}
- G06F 3/011: {Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00)}
- G09B 19/0038: {Sports}
- A63B 24/0062: {Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance}
- A63B 24/0075: {Means for generating exercise programmes or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases}
- A63B 71/0622: {Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user}
- A63B 2024/0068: {Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals}
- A63B 2024/0071: {Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed}
- A63B 2071/063: {Spoken or verbal instructions}
- A63B 2071/0636: {3D visualisation}
- A63B 2071/0638: {Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment}
- A63B 2071/065: {Visualisation of specific exercise parameters}
- A63B 2071/0661: {arranged on the user}
- A63B 2071/0663: {worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands}
- A63B 2071/0666: {worn on the head or face, e.g. combined with goggles or glasses}
- A63B 2071/0675: {Input for modifying training controls during workout}
- A63B 2208/03: the user being in water
- A63B 2209/00: Characteristics of used materials
- A63B 2209/10: with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
- A63B 2210/50: Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
- A63B 2220/14: Geo-tagging, e.g. for correlating route or track location data with specific information related to that specific location
- A63B 2220/16: Angular positions
- A63B 2220/17: Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
- A63B 2220/20: Distances or displacements
- A63B 2220/30: Speed
- A63B 2220/44: Angular acceleration
- A63B 2220/62: Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
- A63B 2220/89: Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
- A63B 2225/50: Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
- A63B 2225/60: Apparatus used in water
- A63B 2225/605: Floating
- A63B 2225/62: Inflatable
- A63B 2244/20: Swimming
- G06F 1/163: {Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt}
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B)

## Abstract

In one aspect, a swimjet system may include a reverse thrust system worn by a swimmer proximate the frontal upper torso. The system provides a variable amount of reverse thrust such that the user can swim-in-place or make gradual forward progress. Importantly, this may enable a user to effectively “extend” a small residential pool to serve the same function as a twenty-five meter pool typically found at commercial or government facilities. The system also provides laminar current under the user while swimming, which solves the problems of “leg drop,” the need to “out-kick” the arm stroke, and turbulence and wave action around the head associated with conventional swim-in-place devices. Still further, in certain embodiments the system provides a relatively strong current in the region of the arm stroke moving away from the swimmer which provides enhanced “resistance” for proficient swimmers.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A reverse propulsion swimming apparatus comprising:
a mounting system configured to be worn about an upper torso of a swimmer; and
a repulsion system configured to couple to the mounting system such that the repulsion system is positioned centrally about the frontal torso of the swimmer, wherein the repulsion system is configured to provide, in an aquatic environment, reverse thrust to counteract at least in part a forward propulsion provided by the swimmer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The reverse propulsion swimming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting system comprises a vest including first fastening means, and wherein the repulsion system includes second fastening means complementary to the first fastening means.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The reverse propulsion swimming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the repulsion system includes a housing having a top end that is positioned proximate the upper chest of the swimmer during use, and a bottom end of that is positioned proximate the lower abdomen of the swimmer during use, the housing enclosing at least one intake channel, at least one propulsion means, and at least two diverging outlet channels.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The reverse propulsion swimming apparatus of claim 3, wherein the housing of the repulsion system tapers such that the lower half of the housing nearer the bottom end has an average cross sectional area less than 70% of the average cross sectional area of the upper half of the housing nearer the top end.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The reverse propulsion swimming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising adjustable buoyancy means coupled to the mounting system or the repulsion system to provide varying degrees of lift to the upper torso of the swimmer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The reverse propulsion swimming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for vectoring the reverse thrust in different directions including downward when the swimmer is in a horizontal swimming position and laterally to left and right sides of the swimmer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The reverse propulsion swimming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising orientation detection means configured to activate the reverse thrust when the repulsion system is moved past a threshold angular orientation toward horizontal.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The reverse propulsion swimming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control means to automatically adjust a thrust level of the reverse thrust according to an interactive training session delivered to the swimmer while swimming.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The reverse propulsion swimming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reverse propulsion swimming apparatus is adapted to provide a swim environment in which the swimmer experiences a resistance equivalent to that experienced during normal swimming at a stroke speed that is slower than that used during said normal swimming.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The reverse propulsion swimming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting a thrust level of the reverse thrust to counteract variations in the forward propulsion provided by the swimmer, such that the swimmer maintains a station in the aquatic environment.

### Claim 11

A method of using a reverse thrust swimming apparatus, the method comprising:
donning, by a swimmer, a swimming apparatus comprising a repulsion system positioned centrally about the frontal torso of the swimmer, the repulsion system configured to provide in an aquatic environment reverse thrust to counteract at least in part a forward propulsion provided by the swimmer;
selecting, by the swimmer, a first reverse thrust for the repulsion system; and
swimming, by the swimmer, against the first reverse thrust such that gradual forward progress is made against the first reverse thrust, such that traversing a first distance against the first reverse thrust is equivalent to a substantially longer second distance that would have been traversed by the swimmer in the absence of the first reverse thrust;
whereby a length of a swimming environment is effectively extended by the swimming apparatus.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein a mounting system of the swimming apparatus comprises a vest including first fastening means, and wherein the repulsion system includes second fastening means complementary to the first fastening means, and wherein the method further comprises engaging the first and second fastening means to secure the repulsion system about the frontal torso of the swimmer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the repulsion system includes a housing having a top end that is positioned proximate the upper chest of the swimmer during use, and a bottom end of that is positioned proximate the lower abdomen of the swimmer during use, the housing enclosing at least one intake channel, at least one propulsion means, and at least two diverging outlet channels to provide and direct the first reverse thrust.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the housing tapers such that the lower half of the housing nearer the bottom end has an average cross sectional area less than 70% of the average cross sectional area of the upper half of the housing nearer the top end.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the swimming apparatus further comprises adjustable buoyancy means, the method further comprising responding to one or more adjustment inputs from the swimmer to vary buoyancy of the adjustable buoyancy means, thereby varying a lift to the upper torso of the swimmer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the repulsion system further comprises means for vectoring the first reverse thrust in different directions including downward when the swimmer is in a horizontal swimming position and laterally to left and right sides of the swimmer.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising, sensing when the repulsion system is moved past a threshold angular orientation toward horizontal, and, in response to the sensing, activating the first reverse thrust.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the repulsion system further comprises a control means, the method further comprising the control means automatically adjusting a thrust level according to an interactive training session delivered to the swimmer while swimming.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the swimmer experiences a resistance equivalent to that experienced during normal swimming at a stroke speed that is slower than that used during said normal swimming.