US2583786A

US2583786A - Hurdle

Info

Publication number: US2583786A
Application number: US97784A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sebastian J Marzucco
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-06-08
Filing date: 1949-06-08
Publication date: 1952-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 1969-01-29

Description

Jan. 29, 1952 s. J. MARzUcco HURDLE Filed Jun@d e. 194s Patented Jan. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE HURDLE Sebastian J. Marzucco, Wynnewood, Pa.

Application June 8, 1949, Serial No. 97,784

, 5 Claims. (Cl. 272-59) This invention relates to a hurdle and more particularly relates to a hurdle which can be utilized commonly on a cinder track for the running off of various hurdling events in a track meet.

As is well known in running off a track meet, hurdling heights of thirty inches, thirty-six inches and either thirty-nine or forty-two inches are normally required. Generally speaking, it is conducive to the rapid handling of the hurdling events to have a single hurdle which is capable of providing the plurality of hurdling heights required.

Where a single hurdle ls utilizedto provide the various necessary hurdling heights, it is necessary to provide means to compensate for the increased height of the hurdle bar so that the resistance to upsetting when the hurdle bar is struck by the hurlder will remain substantially constant. The means heretofore used to accomplish thus purpose have been troublesome in that they all rely on proper adjustment of the compensating means by the person tending the hurdle. As it is human to err, particularly when speed is a requisite such as here, it has been found that the compensating means are frequently not Aproperly adjusted for an increase in the height of the hurdle bar and an injustice is, therefore, done to the participants in the race.

As indicated above, one of the major problems with respect to running off hurdling events is the problem of handling the hurdles with rapidity and a minimum of manpower. In this regard, a major delay results incident to the time necessary to pick up hurdles Which have been f upset by the runners. It is, therefore, apparent that a hurdle which, after being upset, would right itself would greatly facilitate the speedy handling of hurdling events.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a hurdle which can be set at varying heights.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a hurdle which can be set at varying heights having means to au-tomatically compensate for the changes in elevation of the hurdle bar so that the hurdle bar offers a substantially constant resistance irrespective of its position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a hurdle which has a hurdle bar mounted so that it can be positioned at various heights and having securing means for the hurdle bar mounting which will securely hold the mounting in the desired position and yet permit the mounting to be moved with ease to another position.

lll

An additional object oi this invention is to provide a hurdle which is self-righting.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a hurdle which, While providing the proper resistance to upsetting by a hurdler, will drop rapidly after the requisite upsetting force has been applied, thus conducing to the prevention of knee and ankle injuries of the socalled follow leg of the runner.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent on reading the description in connection with the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a hurdl in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken on a vertical plane through the center of one of the support members of the hurdle of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the horizontal plane indicated by the line 3 3 in Figure 1 and showing the locking mechanism in full;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line 4-4 in Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the plane indicated by the line 5-5 in Figure 1.

As shown in the figures, a hurdle 2 in accordance with this invention comprises a pair of spaced hollow support members 3, each having a normally horizontal portion 4 and a normally vertical portion 6 connected by a curved portion 8. Each support 3 is preferably made from a single tube of a light metal, for example, aluminum, bent to shape. A tubular support member I0 passes through openings I2 in upper portions 6 of the supports and abuts against the interior surfaces of the upper portions 6 of the supports, respectively (see Figure 5).

Tube I0 is secured in place by rivets I4 which pass through the upper portions 6 and tube I0. A second tube I6 passes through openings I8 in the lower portion of the supports, respectively, and is similarly secured to the lower portions. The tubes I0 and I6 act to secure together and brace the support members.

The lower portions 4 of the support members are, respectively, plugged with weighted plugs 20. The plugs 20, it will be apparent, provide resistance to upsetting of the hurdle 2.

A pair of tubular members 22 are telescoped over the upper portions 6 of the supports, respectively. 'Ihe upper end of the members 22 are ilattened, as indicated at 24, and have a hurdle bar 25 secured thereto by sheet metal screws or any other convenient conventional means.

Means in each support to secure the tubular members 22 each comprise oppositely disposed Y .desired height.

' which it'exerts. 1 hurdle bar 2% is rnaintained4-substantially` con-YV balls 28 which are carried in a tube 30 and biased outwardly by a compression spring 32 within tube 30. A tube 30 is secured by a pressed t in openings 34 in the upper portion 6 or" each support. Each member 22 has a plurality of openings 36 which are adapted to be brought into register with balls 28. As illustrated in Figure 4, openings 36 are preferably chamfered so as to cam balls 28 :inwardly with greater facility.

Eachsupport houses identical means to compensate for changes in the elevation of the Vhurdle bar so that the hurdle bar will oiler a substantially constant resistance irrespective :ofV

its position. Each compensating means comprises a bar 38 secured between `the `upper flattened end of the member 22 and leading downwardly into the upper portion of the support. The lower end'of each bar 33 carries a hook 4B to which is secured a cable 42.

Cable 42 .leads upwardly around tube 3B, then downwardly around tubes lil and l5 to a hook =44 secured to weight d6.. Weight fifi is ladapted toslide within the lower portion li of the sup- 4 stant irrespective of the height of the bar. In actual practice the preferred resistance is eight pounds. Y

An observation of the structure of the illustrative hurdle will make it clearly apparent that it is self-righting- The necessary weights in lower portions 4 of the supports requisite to pro- .22 together with hurdle bar 26.

hurdle has been knocked down so that memjport. Weight 45 is biased towards plug 2li by a Y ...compression spring e8 which is interposed between weight i5 and tube I6.

In operation, the hurdle rests on the lower'portions #i of the supports. The hurdle bar 26 may be Apositioned Vat the desired height by exerting an upwardly or downwardly directed force on the hurdle bar as is appropriate. Thus, for example, if the hurdle werev as shown in Figure l and it Vwere desired to raise hurdle bar 26, it would only be necessary to grasp. the'center of the hurdle bar with rone hand and Ypull upwardly. The upward pull would result in the inward camming of balls 28 against springs l532 vby openings 35 in members 2-2. When the `balls 28 register -with the .openings 'corresponding to the Vdesired height of the hurdle bar, the balls 28 will enter these Yapi-- propriate openings .35,nthus securing the .hurdle bar at the VdesiredY height. ri'his spring .biased ball securing means veliminates the time .consuming necessity for operating theconventionally used devices for securing the .hurdle bar at the Observing particularly Figure 2, it will be .apparent that, .as the :hurdle bar -26 is .eleva-ted, the bars A3S secured to member ,2.2, respectively, will be pulled upwardly out of upper Vportion t of the supports thus providing slack Yin .cables 4.2. lThis slack in Vcables d2 is taken up, respectively, by the .sliding of weights i6 towards plugs 20 by means of fsprings v43. Corresponding-ly. as ,the hurdle bar is lowered, cables A2 will .slide weights lis away from plugs 2d against springs 48,.

V:Considering now a force striking hurdle .bar 26, as, for example, theV hurdlers leading foot, .it will be .appa-rent that the higher Vthe hurdle bar 26 .is located .the greater will be the-turning moment of the -force being exerted. It will be noted that the weight GS is positioned to exert a'turning moment in opposition to 'that .of the 7above considered force exerted against the hurdle bar. It will further Vbe noted that, as the hurdle bar is elevated `and the turning moment exerted by theY Yabove considered force is correspondingly increased, the weight i5 is Vmoved to the vleft so as to exert 'a correspondingly Igreater turning moment in opposition 'to theV .first mentioned turning moment. Similarly, whenV the Vhurdlebaris lowered, the weight is carried to the right, descreasing the opposing turning moment Thus the resistance oferedby vide the necessary resistance to upsetting is provided `largely by plugs :20 r*and movable weights 4B. These weights make'lower portion 4 considerably heavier than the combined weight of the upper portion B of the support and members When the bers 22 rest on the track, the turning moment exerted by .lo-wer portion 4- of each support including plugs 2t and weights 46 is su1`1`cient to cause the hurdle to be rotated about curved portions 8 and righted.

It will be understood that the .above described .hurdle is :merely illustrative and that .applicant does not desire to .be limited except as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

' v1. A hurdle comprising a pair of spaced hollow supports each having a substantiallyV vertical upper portion and a substantially horizontal lower portion, za pair of members telescopically mounted on the upper portions of said supports, na hurdle bar secured to said members, .means to adjust-- ably secure Vsaid members to the upper portions of said supports, an'arm depending from .one of said .members into one of .said supports, a .xed member in the upper portion of .the support into which said varm depends, a movable weight `within the horizontal portion of said suppcrtinto Which said arm depends, resilient means biasing said weight away from said arm, andanon-extensible flexible means connected ,tosaid weight and the lower portion of said arm, said flexible means passing over said fixed member.

2. A hurdle comprising a pair .of spaced hollo .supports each having a substantially vertical `upperportion'and a substantially horizontal lower on the upper portions of said supports, a'hurdle 'bar secured to said members, .means to adjustably secure said members to the `upper portions of said supports, an arm depending from one of said members into one of said supports, a 'fixed member in the upper portion of the support into which said arm depends, a movableweighil within the horizontal portion of -said support into which said arm depends, resilient means biasing said 'u weight away from said arm, and .a cable con- Ynected to said weight and the lower portion ofl said arm, said cable passing over said xed member.

'3. A hurdle comprising la pair oi spacedihollow supports each having a substantially vertical upper portion and a substantially horizontal lower portion, a pair of members telescopically mounted on the upper .portions of said supports,Y a hurdle bar'secured to said members, means toradjustably secure said members to the upper portions of said supports, an arm depending fromreach of said .members into. each of said supports, a fixed member lin the upper portion of Aeachof said supports, a movable weight within the horizontal portion of each of said supports,.resilient means biasing each weight away from each of said arms respectively, and non-extensible flexi-V ble means .in each of said supports connected to said weights and the lower portions of said arms'.

said flexible means passing over said ixed members in said supports.

4. A hurdle comprising a pair of spaced hollow supports each having a substantially vertical upper portion and a substantially horizontal lower portion, a pair of members telescopically mounted on the upper portions of said supports, a hurdle bar secured to said members, means to adjustably secure said members to the upper portions of said supports, an arm depending from each of said members into each oi said supports, a fixed member in the upper portion of each of said supports, a movable Weight within the horizontal portion of each of said supports, resilientJ means biasing each Weight away from each of said arms respectively, and a cable in each of said supports connected to said weights and the lower portions of said arms, said cables passing over said iixed members in said supports.

5. A hurdle comprising a pair of spaced hollow supports each having a substantially vertical upper portion and a substantially horizontal lower portion, a pair of members telescopically mounted on the upper portions of said supports, a hurdle bar secured to said members, means to adjustably secure said members to the upper portions of said supports, a movable Weight within the horizontal portion of each of said supports, re- Silient means biasing each weight away from each of said upper portions respectively, and means connecting said members and said weights for moving said Weights away from said vertical portions. as said hurdle bar is raised to maintain the resistance of said hurdle to overturning substantially constant irrespective of the position of said hurdle bar.

SEBASTIAN J. MARZUCCO.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Austin May 23, 1933 Number