GB2303071A - Athletes' starting blocks - Google Patents

Abstract

Athletes' starting blocks have footrests (16) carried by respective brackets (17) each of which is adjustable lengthwise of an associated rail (1). The rails (1) are coupled by a lazy tongs or scissor linkage (6) which keeps them parallel while allowing them to be spaced apart at different settings. Thus the lateral spacing of the footrests (16) is adjustable as well as their longitudinal positions. The brackets (17) conveniently screw clamp (27) to the respective rails, and tightening the clamp can be arranged to force the bracket (17) down causing spikes (32) underneath to project below the rail (1) and in the ground. Conversely, loosening the clamp (27), for adjustment of the footrest (16) along the rail (1), will draw the bracket (17) up, and with it the spikes (32) so that they are clear of the ground and will not impede such adjustment.

Description

Improvements relatina to Athletes' Starting Blocks This invention relates to athletes' starting blocks.

Currently, most starting blocks have a longitudinal member carrying adjustable footrests on opposite sides.

These can be shifted forwards and backwards to suit the individual athlete, and their inclination is also usually adjustable. However, while this is a vast improvement on relying on depressions kicked in the ground (which of course are quite impossible with modern tracks) there is one notable shortcoming.

Every athlete has to start with his feet close to the longitudinal member. It is felt that some, at least, could be more comfortable and thus get a better start if the footrests could be spaced further apart in the lateral direction.

Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided athletes' starting blocks with laterally adjustable footrests.

These footrests can still have adjustable inclination and be relatively adjustable longitudinally. Conveniently each footrest will cooperate with a fore and aft rail along which it can slide and to which it can be secured in a selected position. Preferably this is done by a screw clamp.

Each footrest may be vertically movable relative to its rail between a raised adjustable position, in which spikes below the footrest project no lower than the rail, and a lowered, secured position in which the spikes do project below the rail. The co-operation with the rail of the screw clamp can be arranged to generate this vertical movement so that when the footrest is freed for adjustment longitudinally it is automatically raised to disengage the spikes from the ground.

Conveniently the footrests will be connected by a lazy tongs or a scissor linkage. This linkage can couple two parallel rails each carrying a respective footrest on the side remote from the linkage, and the lateral spacing of the footrests may be adjustable by screw means. These are preferably central between the rails and act in the fore and aft direction between the mutual pivots of two pairs of crossed links.

For a better understanding of the invention, one embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view, with some parts removed, of an athletes' starting blocks; Figure 2 is an end view of one side of the starting blocks; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional detail of a clamping and lifting arrangement; Figure 4 is a side elevation of a footrest forming part of the starting blocks.

The starting blocks have two parallel rails 1, only one of which is shown in the figures, the other one being a mirror image on the left hand side of Figure 1. Each rail 1 is in the form of a flat bar 2 in a vertical plane and extending in the longitudinal direction in which the athlete starts. Along the upper edge of this bar there is a track 3 on the inner side (projecting towards the corresponding track of the other rail), and below this track there are projecting brackets 4 and 5 attached to the side of the bar 2. These provide the connections for a linkage 6 which adjustably interconnects the two rails. The linkage consists of two pairs of upper and lower crossed links making a lazy tongs or scissor arrangement. Links 7 which are pivoted about a common vertical axis to a forward short sleeve 8 extend outwardly and rearwardly to pivot at fixed points 9 on the brackets 4 and 5.The other links 10, which are pivoted about a common vertical axis to a rearward short sleeve 11 extend outwardly and forwardly to terminate at vertical pins 12. These engage in longitudinal slots 13 in the brackets 4 and 5.

A screw-threaded shaft 14 extends in the fore and aft direction and passes through the sleeves 8 and 11. Internally, these are screw-threaded but of opposite hand, so that they act as nuts, and the threading of the shaft 14 changes hand at its mid-length to fit the respective nuts.

At the rear end the shaft 14 is provided with a knob 15, and when that knob is turned in one direction those sleeves 8 and 11 are spread apart and when turned in the opposite direction they are urged closer together. This expands or contracts the linkage 6 and thus adjusts the spacing between the rails 1 while keeping them parallel.

Each footrest 16 is carried by an adjustable bracket 17. This is generally L-shaped in cross-section with the vertical part 18 lying closely against the outside of the bar 2 and the horizontal part 19 on or close to the ground.

The footrest 16 is a rectangular plate hinged at its lower edge by a transverse pin 20 between the part 18 and an upstanding flange 21 at the extremity of the part 19. A strut 22 is pivotally connected at opposite ends between the reverse side of the footrest 16 and a slider 23 which runs in a track 24, and which can be clamped at any desired position along that track by a hand screw 25. Thus the inclination of the footrest is infinitely adjustable.

Along the upper edge of the part 18 there is a horizontal flange 26 which overlies part of the track 3. It carries a hand screw 27 whose shank passes down through an aperture 28 for its lower end portion 29 to screw into a slider 30 captive in the track 3. Between the flange 26 and the track 3 the shank carries a collar 31 with a serrated underside to grip against the top of the track.

To clamp the footrest in a desired position along the rail 1 the hand screw 27 is turned to screw further into the slider 30. That cannot rotate, and so the screw moves down, the underside of its head bearing on the flange 26 to press the bracket 17 down. This forces spikes 32 on the underside of the part 19 into the ground. Finally the collar 31 comes to bear on the upper side of the track 3 and the slider is drawn up tightly against the overhang of its channel. The bracket 17 is therefore held securely to the rail 1.

For adjustment of the footrest the hand screw 27 is turned in the opposite direction, releasing the clamp. The slider 3 seats on the bottom of its channel and so the hand screw 27 rises and the collar 31 pushes up on the flange 26.

The bracket 17 is therefore raised taking the spikes out of the ground and allowing for movement of the bracket fore and aft along the rail 1.

Claims (12)

1. Athletes' starting blocks with laterally adjustable footrests.

2. Starting blocks as claimed in claim 1, wherein the footrests have adjustable inclination.

3. Starting blocks as claimed in claim 1, or claim 2, wherein the footrests are relatively adjustable longitudinally.

4. Starting blocks as claimed in claim 3, wherein each footrest cooperates with a fore and aft rail along which it can slide and to which it can be secured in a selected position.

5. Starting blocks as claimed in claim 4, wherein each footrest is securable to its rail by a screw clamp.

6. Starting blocks as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein each footrest is vertically moveable relative to its rail between a raised adjustable position in which spikes below the footrest project no lower than the rail and a lowered, secured position in which the spikes do project below the rail.

7. Starting blocks as claimed in claims 5 and 6, wherein the operation of the screw clamp is arranged to generate the vertical movement.

8. Starting blocks as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the footrests are coupled via a lazy tongs or scissor linkage.

9. Starting blocks as claimed in claim 8, as appendant to claim 4, wherein the linkage couples two parallel rails each carrying a footrest on the side remote from the linkage.

10. Starting blocks as claimed in claim 8 or 9 wherein the configuration of the linkage, and thus the lateral spacing of the footrests, is adjustable by screw means.

11. Starting blocks as claimed in claims 9 and 10 wherein the screw means is central between the rails and acts in the fore and aft direction between the mutual pivots of two pairs of crossed links.

12. Athletes' starting blocks substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.