System for restricting user movements in an aquatic medium

Abstract

A system for restricting user movements in an aquatic medium relates to swimming systems and may be used for virtual reality (VR) simulation systems. By using the system, a swimmer returning force may be produced in response to the swimmer movement in any direction, the effect of presence in a VR may be increased, and requirements to the supporting portion and to the surface area of a zone utilized in a swimming pool may be reduced. The system comprises a flexibly resilient member retaining a swimmer (directly or via an intermediary) and anchored by means of a system of supports. The swimmer movements cause the resilient member to move in its entirety, without being deformed, such that its end elevation varies. The system responds by the resilient member flexing to the swimmer displacement in a horizontal direction. To provide for a vertical freedom, the resilient member is mounted on supports configured to rotate. Alternatively, the resilient member is configured to move translationally. The resilient member may be connected to a swimmer via a module secured on the swimmer's body or hand-held by the swimmer. The resilient member may have a curved shape to prevent it from colliding with the user.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.