AU682171B2 - A target assembly - Google Patents

Description

1 A SPORTS AIDS This invention relates to sports aids.

This invention has particular but not exclusive application to portable sports aids for athletes participating in and/or training for long jump and/or triple jump, and/or hurdles and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application. However, it is to be understood that this invention could be used in other applications, such as a training aid suitable for positioning a users feet or hands during specific athletic endeavors including high jump, hurdles and gymnastics.

Athletic events such as long jump and triple jump require an athlete to jump from a given mark, usually a wooden board extending across a designated run up, or path, at the entry to the jumping pit. In long jump competition the length of the jump is measured from the mark, usually the leading edge of the board, to the closest depression left in the sand by the jumper upon landing. Should any portion of the jumper's foot protrude beyond the leading edge of the board the jump will be considered a foul.

Athletes training for long jump and triple juni 1 j events may suffer injuries Including bruised feet as a consequence of the repeated striking of their feet on the wooden board.

Many athletes, particularly young athletes, whether training 25 for or participating in long jump competition, find it difficult to coordinate the placement of their feet relative to a given mark. Consequently many athletes commence their jump too early or alternatively overstep the mark thereby I I 2 resulting in an illegal jump. This system can be discouraging to young athletes, particularly for those involved in athletic competitions wherein each athlete is allowed only three jumps.

The present invention aims to alleviate at least one of the above disadvantages and to provide a sports aid which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in a sports aid for indicating a desired region for placement of an athletes foot for performing a thrust in a sporting activity such as long jump, triple jump, high jump or hurdles, said sports aid being adapted for placement on an athletic field surface and set^ including: e tee, a cushioned target form adapted to absorb some of the shock resulting from the athletes foot striking said target fox.ii, 20 position indicating means applied to said target form for indicating a preferred position for placement of said athletes foot, said position indicating means being readily distinguishable from the remainder of the target form in appearance, and securement means associated with said target form which is adapted to facilitate the securing of said target form to said athletic field surface so as to inhibit displacement of said target form when struck by the athlete's foot.

7 Ti Sro 01 1 4 1 The target form may include a rigid or flexible backing sheet padded with a cushioning layer and have a face sheet on which the indicia is applied. Preferably however, the target form is constructed from shock absorbent materials chosen to reduce the forces of impact with the sports aid being applied **0 soe *0 *oee I 6o to an athlete's body. In a preferred form, the target form is constructed synthetic grass although other materials such as a deformable rubber material, carpet or the like may also be suitable. There may also be provided stiffening means, form means or padding which may be placed beneath the face sheet and possibly intermediate the face sheet and a backing sheet so as to provide the target form with shape and/or cushioning.

In one embodiment che target form may be only slightly larger in area than the area covered by the position indicating means. For example, the target form may include position indicating means in the form of a wide coloured band on a target form which is adapted to be placed on a long Jump track so as to cover little more than the board, or a substantial portion thereof, from which athletes would normally jump.

However, in other embodiments, the target form may be vet much larger in area than the area covered by the position *e indicating means and wherein the target form may include a le-ding portion leading to the position indicating means and/or a trailing portion leading away from the position indicating means upon which an athlete may tread. For

B

example, the target form may be rather elongate and may include an elongate leading portion, which may constitute a S* 25 running track, and position indicating means associated with one end of said target form.

The indicating means may be of any suitable shape.

Preferably however, the indicating means incluOaF a band, strip or other two dimensional shape which is distinguishable from the remainder of the target form in appearance.

The indicating means may include a plurality of targets such as a plurality of bands, strips or other two dimensional shapes each providing or defining alternate preferred target limits or foot positions. For example, the indicating means may include the outline of a foot or a plurality of feet, possibly of varying colours.

The indicating means may be permanently recorded on the target form or applied thereto in such a manner that it may be selectively removed. For example, pieces of felt, cotton or plastics in the shape of a persons foot may be releasably attached to the target form witl the aid of fasteners such as press studs or hook and loop fasteners.

In a preferred form the target form may include a plurality of coloured bands such that in use the orientation of the bands is substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the athlete across the target form.

The securement means may include weights either attached to or retained in pockets in the target form. Alternatively, the securement means may include pockets which may be selectively filled with sand, water or the like. In another

C

s alternative the location means may include edge flaps or a leading edge flap which can be concealed in a slot in the surface upon which the target form is disposed, and for example a trench which may be back filled to secure the flap in the ground. This may prevent exposure of a free edge which may trip an approaching athlete.

The location means may include attachment means for the permanent or releasable attachment of the target form to a support surface. Such attachment means may include a plurality of eyes through which respzctive ground engaging pegs or straps, ties, bands or the like may extend.

In a further aspect, this invention resides in a removable field surface including: 15 0 0*be 0 0 o** a be 2 0 0 0* 0 a 0 0*S0 6004 20 000 0 *006

S

So *0 S

S.~

SO

*r S *3 25 a target form having cushioning means for cushioning the impact of said athletes foot on said target form, and position indicating means on said target form for indicating a preferred position for placement of said athletes foot. The field surface may include a plurality of targets located on said surface. The targets may be any suitable shape. For example the targets may include a plurality of differently coloured bands which may be adjacent, or spaced apart, and which in use may provide alternative target limits on the support surface for an athlete. Preferably the targets are readily distinguished from the surrounds.

The field surface in one embodiment may comprise an athletics track which may be used in conjunction with the conduct of long jump and triple jump events and wherein the targets, ie. bands, indicate selected positions for the placement of an athletes foot. The portion of the track constituting the targets may be adapted to at least partially reduce the forces applied to an athletes body resulting from impact therewith. Accordingly, the targets, or the portion of the track supporting the targets, may be formed from a shock absorbent material, may be padded, may be readily deformed, or may be of resilient construction.

In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accc-panying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a target assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is a top view of a long jump track and pit, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative target assembly.

Figure 2 illustrates a long jump track 10 and an opposing pit 11 filled with sand. The track 10 includes a target assembly 12 located adjacent the end closest the pit 11 and positioned there across. The target assembly 12 constitutes a mark or marls located on the track 10 from which an athlete may jump.

*e :o The target assembly 12 includes a target form comprising a face sheet of synthetic grass 13, the edges 14 of which are 20 sewn to a canvass backing sheet 15, and padding, not shown, positioned intermediate said face sheet 13 and said backing sheet 15. The face sheet 13 further includes three coloured bands 16, 17 and 18 marked thereon and which extend laterally there across from one lateral edge 14a to another.

25 The target form is restrained from any movement relative to the track 10 by four ground engaging stakes or pegs 19 which extend through respective eyes 20 located in the corners thereof.

Figura 3 illustrates an alternative target assembly which is similar in construction to the target assembly 12 but which includes only one target, namely a band 31 which is readily differentiated by its colour from the remainder of the target form.

In use, the target assembly 12 is laid across a long jump track 10 such that the lateral edges 14a extend beyond the edges 22 of the track and whereby the orientation of the coloured bands 16, 17 and 18 is generally perpendicular to the intended direction of travel of an athlete along the track. The target assembly is preferably located above any wooden board imbedded in the surface of the track 10 and is S: anchored to the ground by four pegs 19 which extend through respective eyes 20 formed in the target form.

During long jump training and/or competition athletes so:: shall run along the track 10 in the direction of the pit 11 c and shall jump from the target assembly 12 into the pit. The length of each jump will be measured from the leading edge of the coloured band 16, 17 or 18 for which the at.lete jumped S 20 to the closest impression left in the sand by the jumper upon landing.

It will be appreciated that the target area, i.e. three bands of colour gives athletes, particularly children a larger target to aim for than a single wooden board.

Ideally an athletes "take-off" foot should strike the target as close as possible to the leading edge of the foremost coloured band whilst ensuring that no part of his or her foot protrudes beyond said edge. Witnesses watching each 9*9* 0 0600 S 0 0 0 0000 athlete jump may in turn advise the athlete of the position of his or her foot relative to the three coloured bands and may measure the distanced jumped by measuzing the distance between the leading edge of the foremost band touched by the athletes foot and the closest impression left in the sand.

Athletes may use such device to subsequently adjust their run up so as to compensate for any previous errors of judgement.

It will be appreciated that the padded target assembly absorbs at least some of the force applied thereto by the athletes foot thereby resulting in less foot, ankle and leg injuries.

It will also be appreciated that similar target assemblies marked, for example, with the outline of a persons feet may be positioned on a cricket pitch so as to indicate the preferred positions of the bowlers feet relative to the popping crease, the batsman's feet relative to his or her stumps etc. Similar target assemblies may also be used in conjunction with other sports such as high jump whe in the target assembly may be positioned in front of the bar so as 20 to indicate the position of the jumpers feet prior to take off or alternatively may be draped acro' or otherwise cover the mat or mats behind the bar so as to indicate a preferred landing position.

It will of course be realised that while the above has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

a0 o* 4 4.* *9 4 4* 4.

*494 9 44 9 9 9 9 o

Claims (7)

1. A sports aid for indicating a desired region for placement of an athletes foot for performing a t'"ust in a sporting activity such as long jump, triple jump, high jump or hurdles, said sports aid being adapted for placement on an athletic field surface and including: a cushioned target form adapted to absorb some of the shock resulting from the athletes foot striking said target form, 10 position indicating means applied to said target form for indicating a preferred position for placement of said athletes foot, said position indicating means being readily distinguishable from the remainder of the target form in appearance, and 15 securement means associated with said target form which is adapted to facilitate the securing of said target form to said athletic field surface so as to inhibit displacement of said target form when struck by the athlete's foot.

2. A sports aid as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said target form is constructed from synthetic grass.

3. A sports aid as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said position indicating means includes a band extending across a substantial portion of said target form.

4. A sports aid as claimed in claim 3, wherein said band is readily distinguishable from the remainder of the target form.

A sports aid as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said position indicating means includes a plurality of adjacent bands.

6. A removable field surface including a target form for indicating a desired region for placement of an athletes foot for performing a thrust in a sporting activity such as long 10 jump, triple jump, high jump or hurdles, said target form having cushioning means for cushioning the impact of said athletes foot on said target form and position indicating means for indicating a preferred position for placement of said athletes foot, said position indicating means being 15 readily distinguishable from the remainder of the target form in appearance.

7. A sports aid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS TWENTY-NINTH DAY OF MAY, 1997 ROBERT KEITH McVEY and THERESA DAPHNE HILL by PIZ'Y AND COMPANY PATENT ATTORNEYS i