Patent Application
20240390722
The present invention relates generally to sporting equipment, and more specifically to equipment used for the safe training and practice of the Pommel Horse event in Men's Artistic Gymnastics.
Many of the skills and movements performed on the pommel horse are executed on the body of the horse. Gymnasts often perform these movements while remaining above the handles or pommels without touching them. Traditionally, athletes learn these movements without the handles and then attempt to repeat them with the handles. The handles are typically made of wood and are rigidly attached to the horse so that they do not move when used. Oftentimes, however, gymnasts hit these wood pommels with their legs many times during training before mastering the skill and this can cause pain and injury to the gymnast.
Therefore, the need arises for an intermediate step in the learning process that allows gymnasts to practice in a safer way before using the actual pommels.
The detachable pommel horse handles provide a solution that offers the same shape and height as the actual pommel horse handles but will detach when the gymnast hits them. They provide a realistic feel of performing with handles without the fear of injuring the legs. Being an exact replica of the real handles, gymnasts will know when they are ready to progress and try the skill with the actual pommel horse handles.
As configured according to teachings of the invention, the detachable pommel for use on a gymnastics pommel horse comprises a base configured to attach in place of one of a standard set of pommels on a gymnastics pommel horse, and a U-shaped handle sized to match a standard pommel. The base includes a pair of upwardly exposed attachment points defined thereon in spaced orientation to one another that are the approximate width of a standard pommel. The handle terminates at either end in downwardly exposed complementary attachment points, where the complementary attachment points are aligned with the spaced attachment points on the base and configured to detach from the base when impacted as by a gymnast's legs when the gymnast is swinging on the gymnastics pommel horse.
In another aspect of the invention, the detachable pommel for use on a gymnastics pommel horse comprises a base configured to attach in place of one of a standard set of pommels on a gymnastics pommel horse and a handle magnetically coupled to the base and configured to detach from said base when impacted as by a gymnast's legs when the gymnast is swinging on the gymnastics pommel horse. The handle can include an outer foam sleeve received around a rigid core, where the detachable pommel further includes a pair of mounts at terminal ends of the handle sized to an approximate diameter of the outer foam sleeve. A round magnet is embedded within each of the pair of mounts. A pair of depressions are formed opposite terminal ends of the handle within the base and a magnet is embedded within each of the pair of depressions and opposing the round magnet embedded within each of the pair of mounts. The opposed magnets affix the handle to the base with just enough force to keep them upright but can easily detach the handle from the base if impacted, thus saving the gymnast from possible injury.
In a preferred embodiment, the attachment points on the base and complementary attachment points on the handle are magnetic, e.g., 30 mm ring magnets. Alternately, only one set of attachment points are magnetic and the other a magnetically active metal such as steel or iron. Other releasably attachable materials are contemplated such as hook and loop (e.g. Velcro™) or similar complementary materials such as Command Strips, adhesive, and the like.
Several advantages are conferred by the invention. For one, the detachable pommel horse handle constructed according to teachings of the invention provides a safe and accurate way to practice any skill or element on the body of the pommel horse with the exact reference to the height and shape of the handles, without the fear of damaging them. Furthermore, the detachable pommel horse handle serves as a middle step in the progression between performing a skill without handles and performing it with the competition handles. Finally, but not exclusively, the detachable pommel horse handle provides a measure of the gymnasts' success and progression so that when the athlete can perform the skill with the detachable pommel horse handles without causing them to detach, they are ready to try with the real handles.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention that proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In normal use, a pair of pommels, including a metal base and integrated wooden or fiberglass handles, are affixed to a top surface 28 of the pommel horse main body 12 and used in the performance of a pommel horse routine by the gymnast. For training according to teachings of the invention, however, one or more detachable pommels—here detachable pommels 30 and 32—are affixed to the pommel horse 10 in place of the competition pommels.
As shown also in
A pair of circular depressions 50, 52 are formed within the base 34 opposite terminal ends 72, 74 of the handle, and magnets 54, 56 are embedded within respective ones of the pair of depressions 50, 52. These base magnets 54, 56 are placed in alignment with and opposition to the round magnets 46, 48 embedded within each of the pair of mounts 42, 44 within handle 36. The opposed magnets affix the handle to the base with just enough force to keep them upright but can easily detach the handle from the base if impacted, thus saving the gymnast from possible injury.
Each of the pair of detachable pommels 30, 32 is configured with an elongated aperture captured within a depression formed laterally within a central portion of the base, e.g. aperture 58 within depression 59 of base 30 and aperture 60 within depression 61 of base 34. Each of the apertures includes an elongated aperture positioned centrally on the base and perpendicular to a long axis of the base. The detachable pommels are attached to the pommel horse body 12 using the same anchoring system as the regular pommel horse handles. Namely, the apertures 58, 60 are configured to receive a bolt 62, 64 therethrough for attachment of the base to the pommel horse along a range of lateral locations so that a distance 66 between a pair of pommels 30, 32 attached to the pommel horse 10 can be adjusted to a desired separation—e.g., taller gymnasts with broader shoulders might wish to have the pommels 30, 32 further apart while smaller gymnasts might wish them closer together. Adjustment allows the pommels to be placed at different widths, offering 2¾″ (7 cm) of adjustment. In a preferred embodiment, and using pommel 32 as an example, the aperture 60 is sized with at least two widths 68, 70 along its length so as to accept bolts 64 of different dimensions therethrough. The bolts 58, 60 are typically affixed to the pommel horse main body 12 from the underside via large wing nuts (not shown) so as to affix the bases, e.g., base 34, firmly to the pommel horse 10.
During manufacture of the invention, at least one of the caps or magnet mounts 42, 44 is unscrewed or otherwise detached from the underside of the terminal ends 72, 74 of U-shaped rigid core 40 of the handle 36 and the foam sleeve 38 is slid along the entire length of the rigid core until the core is covered. The mounts 42, 44 are then reinstalled on the terminal ends 72, 74 of the handle core 40. In the configuration shown in the drawings, each of the mounts 42, 44 include a central post 76, 78—that may be threaded or not—and received and affixed within respective holes formed on the underside of terminal ends 72, 74 of the rigid handle core 40. The mounts 42, 44 have a substantially similar diameter to the foam core 38 so that the handle 36 appears to be a unified piece when fully assembled. The complementary attachment points are coplanar with respective attachment points on the base to effect a snug attachment of the handle to the base. Namely, when mounted within their respective depressions, the respective handle magnets 46, 48 are coplanar with respective base magnets 54, 56.
In summary, therefore, the handle has the exact size and shape of the competition ones. It has a rigid core (e.g., plastic) to maintain its shape over time and a foam cover to minimize harm when accidentally kicked or due to lack of preparation. It has two magnets at the bottom of each end that correspond to the position of the magnets on the base. It remains in position while the athlete is performing, unless it is hit by the athlete. When pushed or hit with sufficient force, it will detach from the base. And it can then be repositioned correctly using the magnets and practice can quickly continue.
The detachable pommel horse handles offer a novel solution to the problem of transitioning from (1) learning a gymnastics skill on the body of the pommel horse without handles to (2) using them in the practice of the skill. The detachable pommel horse handles will save gymnasts from enduring numerous injuries to their shins and legs. By providing real and accurate information about when the gymnast is ready to perform with the actual wooden handles of the pommel horse in a safer manner, these handles will transform the potentially traumatic moment of transitioning into something enjoyable and safe. This allows gymnasts to focus on technique and execution rather than the fear of hitting the handles.
With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof.
For instance, although the handle and base are magnetically coupled together, it is understood that other easily decouplable methods can be used such as hook and loop (e.g. Velcro™), weak adhesive, or other methods and systems. Furthermore, other means for forming the handle are possible such as a protective, softer coating formed over the top of the rigid core of the handle. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/469,295 filed May 26, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63469295 | May 2023 | US |
