Portable runners starting block assembly

Abstract

A lightweight runners starting block assembly with adjustable positions for the foot blocks and adjustable angles for the foot plates is disclosed. The longitudinal position of the foot blocks can be adjusted by selecting from a series of holes in the central tie bar. The tilt angles of the foot plates can be adjusted by selecting from one of several notches in the brace arms. The foot blocks can be easily removed from the central tie bar and folded flat so as to fit in a space 12 inches long, 12 inches wide and 6 inches high. The three parts can be stored in a small bag for convenient portability.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to equipment used by runners to get a secure and effective start in a sprint race. Initially, starting blocks were developed for dirt tracks with large spikes driven into the dirt to keep them from slipping. Starting blocks generally evolved into assemblies with a central rail and a moveable block attached to each side as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,494,615 by G. L. Moore. With the advent of synthetic track surfaces starting blocks generally used shorter spikes to avoid damaging the track surface and often provided tilt angle adjustments for each foot block as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,803 by Newton, Jr. More recently, lightweight starting blocks without a central rail or tie bar, small enough and light enough to be conveniently carried in a runners personal equipment bag have been developed for synthetic track surfaces. These are seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,319 by Young and U.S. Pat. No. 6,342,029 by Richards.

Related U.S. Patent Documents:

	3,494,615	Febuary, 1970	G. L. Moore
	4,089,519	May, 1978	Newton, Jr.	482/19
	4,561,650	December, 1985	Newton, Jr.	482/19
	4,611,803	September, 1986	Newton, Jr.	482/19
	4,754,965	July, 1988	Moye	482/19
	5,342,259	August, 1994	Crichton	482/19
	6,238,319	May, 2001	Young	482/19
	6,342,029	January, 2002	Richards	482/19

The earlier blocks with the central rail have the disadvantage of being heavy and too large to fit into a runner's personal equipment bag, making it difficult for a runner to carry them from meet to meet or from home to workout. They also generally allow some flat surfaces to rest on the track which contributes to slippage during the start of a race. The more recent portable blocks (Richards and Young) are light and easy to carry, but have the disadvantage of being difficult to position on the track because they are two completely separate foot blocks and have to be positioned separately. Powerful sprinters often displace the back foot block when starting. Since it is not attached to the front foot block in any way, it has to be repositioned after each such start. This is a significant disadvantage when doing repeat training starts or warmup starts for a race.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a truly lightweight portable starting block with a central tie bar. The total weight of the assembly, which includes two adjustable foot plates an a tie bar, is less than eight pounds. When disassembled and folded, it fits into a box (or space) 12 inches long, 12 inches wide and 6 inches high. When the assembled unit is in the starting position on a track, it rests entirely on the spikes located directly under the runner's feet. No part of the assembly other than the spikes under the runners feet touches the track. The direction of the starting force generated by the runner passes downward in front of the back row of spikes and behind the front row of spikes in each block. The downward component of the starting force pushes the spikes into the track surface. This spike arrangement insures the securest possible anchorage to the track and eliminates slippage.

The longitudinal separation of the foot blocks is selected by choosing from a series of holes in the tie bar when connecting the foot blocks to the tie bar. A unique arrangement of attaching the back plate of the front foot block to the front of the tie bar (See 10 of FIG. 1 & FIG. 2) allows the front foot plate to extend beyond the front of the tie bar. This allows the tie bar to be shorter than the longitudinal separation of the two foot pads (See 2 of FIG. 1 & FIG. 2) . A tie bar or central rail shorter than the separation of the foot plates is not seen in any previous art. The short tie bar reduces the length requirement of the tie bar allowing for lighter weight, convenient storage and easy transportation. The tilt angle of the each foot plate is adjusted by selecting from a series of notches in the brace arm that secures the angle between the front and back plates of each foot block. The tie bar also prevents the displacement of the back foot block so that it is never necessary to reposition it after a start.

Each foot block is easily removed from the tie bar and folded flat so that the three pieces can be stored in a small bag and easily carried in a runner's personal equipment bag from meet to meet or from home to workout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1. Side view of entire starting block assembly.

FIG. 2. Top view of entire starting block assembly.

FIG. 3. Side view of folded front foot block.

FIG. 4. Side view of folded back foot block.

FIG. 5. Side view of tie bar.

FIG. 6. End view of tie bar.

FIG. 7. View of back plate (Typical) showing opening and dowel pin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the profile of the assembled block in a starting configuration. This view shows the brace arms 6 which select and secure the tilt angle of the front plates 1 & 12. The brace arms are hinged at a dowel pin 7 attached to the front plates 1 & 12 of each foot block and slide through an opening 5 in the back plates 3 & 13 (FIG. 3). The front and back plates are hinged at the top by a hollow pin 4 allowing for angle adjustments and folding flat. Any of the several notches 8 provided in the bottom edge of the brace arm 6 can be dropped over a dowel pin 9 imbedded in each back plate 3 & 13. Each notch selects a different tilt angle for the foot plate and secures the desired start angle. The spikes 11 are the only part of the assembly that touches the track surface. The front foot block and the back foot block are essentially the same, except for the location of the round rods 10 & 14 used to connect the foot blocks to the tie bar 15.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the assembled block in a starting configuration. The front foot block has a round rod 10 attached to its back plate 3 near the base. The back foot block has a round rod 14 attached to its front plate 12 near the base. These bars protrude on both sides of the foot blocks and can be inserted in any of a series of holes 18 in the tie bar 15 from either side so as to allow the sprinter to have either foot in the forward position. The round bars 10 & 14 are secured in the tie bar 15 by a tightening screw and knob 16 that is threaded through a tightening bar 17. A rubber pad 2 is glued to the front surface of the curved front plates 1 & 12 to provide a secure footing for the sprinter.

FIGS. 3, 4 & 5 show the three parts of the assembly in a compact configuration. The brace arms 6 are rotated down, and each foot block is folded flat (FIGS. 3 & 4). The two flat foot blocks along with the tie bar (FIG. 5) are shown ready for storage.

FIG. 6 shows an end view of the tie bar.

FIG. 7 shows the position of the dowel pin embedded in each back plate to catch the notched brace arm and secure the desired starting angle.

FIGS. 1 through 7 show a compact starting block assembly weighing less than eight pounds which can easily be disassembled and folded to fit into a box (space) 12 inches long, 12 inches wide and 6 inches high.

Claims

1. A runner's starting block assembly consisting of three parts: a front foot block, a back foot block and a tie bar, having a total assembled weight of less than eight pounds.

2. A runner's starting block assembly consisting of three parts: a front foot block, a back foot block and a tie bar, which when assembled and placed on a track in a starting position, makes contact with the track only with and through the spikes located on the bottom of the foot blocks, and makes no contact with the track through any part of the tie bar (or central rail) assembly.

3. A runner's starting block assembly consisting of three parts: a front foot block, a back foot block and a tie bar, which when assembled and placed on the track in a starting position, allows the front foot block to extend beyond the front of the tie bar, thereby allowing the tie bar to be shorter than the longitudinal separation of the foot blocks.

4. A runner's starting block assembly consisting of three parts: a front foot block, a back foot block and a tie bar, which when disassembled and folded will fit into a box (or space)12 inches long, 12 inches wide and 6 inches high.