GB2206805A

GB2206805A - Athletes starting blocks

Info

Publication number: GB2206805A
Application number: GB08716253A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Lionel Foster
Original assignee: LILLYWHITES CANTABRIAN Ltd
Current assignee: LILLYWHITES CANTABRIAN Ltd
Priority date: 1987-07-10
Filing date: 1987-07-10
Publication date: 1989-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 2007-07-10
Also published as: GB8716253D0; GB2206805B

Abstract

A footplate assembly for an athletes starting block comprises a base support 18 for adjustable attachment to a beam 12 of the starting block, and a footplate 24 pivotal at its lower edge to the support. An adjustment arm 32 is pivotally attached to the upper portion of the footplate, and has lateral notches 38 engageable by a pin 42 carried by the support 18, thereby to vary the angle of the footplate. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Athletes Starting Blocks Field of the invention This invention relates to starting blocks for use by athletes, and in particular to footplate assemblies for use in such blocks.

Summary of the invention According to the invention there is provided a footplate assembly comprising a base support for adjustably attaching the footplate assembly to a beam of a starting block at a chosen longitudinal position along the length of the beam, a footplate pivotally attached at its lower edge to the base support, an adjustment arm pivotally attached to an upper portion of the footplate, the adjustment arm having two series of notches arranged in laterally spaced pairs, so that each notch of one series is laterally spaced from its pair in the other series, and locating means carried by the base support and engageable with a selected pair of notches according to the required angle of the footplate.

In the invention the lateral spacing of the notches improves the stiffness and rigidity of the footplate assembly, and in use helps to prevent a lateral rocking movement of the footplate by the athlete prior to his start-off eg. in a sprinting race.

Preferably the adjustment arm is of inverted channel section in shape, with the side flanges of the channel section having formed therein the respective series of notches. The adjustment arm may be pressed from a blank and then folded to the required channel shape.

The notches are preferably formed as local enlargements in a slot which extends generally longitudinally along the length of each corresponding flange.

The locating means may be carried by a pair of laterally spaced upstanding brackets projecting from a base plate of the base support. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the locating means are constituted by a common pin which extends through both slots.

A rear portion of the adjustment arm remote from the footplate may be formed as a hand grip to enable the adjustment arm to be pivotally moved with respect to the footplate and adjusted in position by locating a chosen pair of notches with the locating means, so as to suit the required angle of the footplate.

Preferably the pivotal attachments of the footplate with the base support and with the adjustment arm in each case comprises a hinge extending across substantially the full width of the footplate.

Brief description of the drawings An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a footplate assembly for a starting block in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a scrap end view looking in the direction of arrow II in Figure 1.

Description of the embodiment The footplate assembly shown generally at 10 in Figure 1, is the right hand footplate of a starting block, of which the left-hand footplate is not shown. The two assemblies are each attached to appropriate sides of a longitudinal beam 12 by engagement with one of a number of holes 14 spaced longitudinally along the beam. The beam is secured to the ground by pins or spikes at the front and the rear, front spikes being shown at 16.

The footplate assembly comprises a base support 18 adjustably attached to the beam 12, and including a base plate 20. An upstanding bracket 22 is welded to the rear of the base plate.

To the front of the base plate 20 is pivotally mounted a footplate 24, the mounting being provided by a hinge 26 extending substantially across the entire width of the footplate 24. The footplate 24 includes a gripping surface 28 against which the athlete's foot is adapted to rest.

A further hinge 30, again extending substantially across the whole width of the footplate 24, is provided towards the upper end of the footplate and has pivotally attached to it an adjusting arm 32 of inverted channel section.

As best seen in Figure 2 the channel section includes two flanges 34. A longitudinal slot 36 is formed in each flange, the slot being locally enlarged upwardly to form five equally spaced notches 38.

The adjusting arm extends between two side pieces of the bracket 22, which are connected at the top by a cross piece 40. Extending between the side pieces of the bracket 22 is a pin 42 which passes through the slot 36 and is engageable in any one of the five notches 38.

The lower free end of the adjusting member is slightly cranked to form a hand grip 44. Thus in use the athlete can engage the hand grip 44, fractionally lifting up the adjusting member about the pivot 30 and readjusting the position of the member 32 a pair of notches 38 which are suitable to accommodate the desired angle of the footplate 44.

The construction described provides a rigid triangulated structure, the pairs of notches at each side ensuring that any rocking movement of the footplate 24 is substantially eliminated.

Claims

1. A footplate assembly comprising a base support for adjustably attaching the footplate assembly to a beam of a starting block at a chosen longitudinal position along the length of the beam, a footplate pivotally attached at its lower edge to the base support, an adjustment arm pivotally attached to an upper portion of the footplate, the adjustment arm having two series of notches arranged in laterally spaced pairs, so that each notch of one series is laterally spaced from its pair in the other series, and locating means carried by the base support and engageable with a selected pair of notches according to the required angle of the footplate.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the adjustment arm is of inverted channel section in shape, with side flanges of the channel section having formed therein the respective series of notches.

3. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein the adjustment arm is pressed from a blank and then folded to the required channel shape.

4. An assembly according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the notches are formed as local enlargements in a slot which extends generally longitudinally along the length of each corresponding flange.

5. An assembly according to any one preceding claim wherein the locating means is carried by a pair of laterally spaced upstanding brackets projecting from a base plate of the base support.

6. An assembly according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the locating means are constituted by a common pin which extends through both slots.

7. An assembly according to any one preceding claim wherein a a rear portion of the adjustment arm remote from the footplate is formed as a hand grip to enable the adjustment arm to be pivotally moved with respect to the footplate and adjusted in position by locating a chosen pair of notches with the locating means, so as to suit the required angle of the footplate.

8. An assembly according to any one preceding claim wherein the pivotal attachments of the footplate with the base support and with the adjustment arm in each case comprises a hinge extending across substantially the full width of the footplate.

9. A footplate assembly substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.