US3010321A

US3010321A - Athlete's kick gauge

Info

Publication number: US3010321A
Application number: US37654A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bobby J Morrow
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-06-21
Filing date: 1960-06-21
Publication date: 1961-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 1978-11-28

Description

Nov. 28, 1961 B. .LMoRRow 3,010,321

ATHLETE'S KICK GAUGE Filed June 21. 1960 Fig.2

Fig.6 4 a 4 5 3 Fig.3

29 g 28 INVENTOR /z L a V Fig? BobbyJMorrow- If ,4

' ,5 BY Wyfl wi g ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 3,010,321 Patented Nov. 28, 1961 3,010,321 ATHLETES KICK GAUGE Bobby I. Morrow, 609 East North 21st St., Abilene, Tex. Filed June 21, 1960, Ser. No. 37,654 3 Claims. (Cl. 73-379) This invention relates to a kick gauge, and it concerns more particularly a practice device for the use of athletes participating in track and other athletic activities in which running is involved, for measuring the initial thrust, relative to the ground, imparted by the foot of a runner at the beginning of a run, as at the start of a race.

At the beginning of an athletic contest such as a foot race, in which speed is important, it is customary for the participants, at the beginning of a run, to kick or push against the ground with the foot whereby the body is set in motion quickly. The force of such initial kick is an important factor in determining the time which may be required to traverse a given distance.

An object of this invention is to provide a practice device for use in indicating relatively the force which may be applied in the initial kick of a runner, as at the start of a race, whereby the runner may positively determine the quality of his performance in this respect and may strive for further improvement thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device as described which is characterized by its simple, rugged construction, is adapted to be fabricated inexpensively, and is eflicient in operation and durable in use.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a kick gauge embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view, partly broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of one of the parts; and

FIGURE 7 is a View similar to that of FIGURE 2, showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring to FIGURES l to 6 of the drawing, the kick gauge of the invention includes a generally triangular, box like housing, indicated generally by the numeral 1, which is open at the bottom and has a front opening therein.

The housing 1 has parallel, generally triangular side walls 2, and an upwardly and forwardly inclined combined top and rear wall 3. The front and rear edges of the side walls 2 converge upwardly, and the front edge, which is shorter than the rear edge, is curved inwardly intermediate its ends. A transverse strip 4, which is positioned forwardly of the housing 1, adjacent its lower edge, is connected at its ends to the side walls 2 and defines a from opening above it.

A relatively stiff, flexible plate 5, which advantageously may 'be formed of spring steel, has its peripheral edge received in aligned grooves 6 which are provided therefor in the inner periphery of the housing 1, forwardly thereof, and is loosely secured therein, whereby it is capable of limited flexing movement relative to the housing 1, by an overlying sheet of resilient material 7, such as rubber, which is positioned exteriorly of the plate 5 and has its peripheral edge, which extends outwardly beyond the peripheral edge of the plate 5, secured to the marginal portions of the housing surrounding the plate 5.

The flexible plate 5, together with the resilient material 7, together constitute a flexible diaphragm forming a closure for the front opening of the housing 1.

A shaft 8 is arranged transversely of the housing 1, and is journaled at its ends in bearings provided therefor in

bosses

9 and 10 formed on the side walls 2, interiorly thereof, intermediate the ends of the housing 1, near the bottom. The shaft 8 is passed through an opening in one of the side walls 2, opposite the bearings, and is received in a socket therefor in the other of the side walls 2. The shaft 8 is secured against displacement from the housing 1 by a detent element 11, which is pivotally connected to the side wall 2 having the opening therein, exteriorly thereof, as at 12, and normally overlies the adjacent end of the shaft 8.

The boss 10, which provides a bearing or socket for the inner end of the shaft 8, has a bore 13 therein, perpendicular to the shaft 8. A resilient element 14, 'which is received in the bore 13, is acted on by a set screw 15 threaded therein. The resilient element 14 is adapted to frictionally engage the shaft 8, upon tightening the set screw 15, whereby the shaft 8 resists turning in either direction.

A pointer 16 has an opening therein intermediate its ends which surrounds the shaft 8. The pointer 16 is removably and adjustably connected to the shaft 8 by a set screw 17, and is adjustable rotatively and longitudinally relative thereto.

One end of the pointer 16, which is positioned in closely spaced relation to the shaft 8, is pi-votally connected to a link 18. The link 18 is connected by threads to a rod 19 whereby it is adjustable longitudinally relative thereto. The end of the rod 19 opposite the link 18 is passed through a guide 20 therefor carried by one of the side walls 2, and normally abuts the under side of the plate 5.

The end of the pointer 16 opposite the link 18 extends through a longitudinal slot 21 in the combined top and rear wall 3, which has indicia 22 thereon opposite the slot 21 indicating the position of the pointer 16 relative thereto.

As shown in FIGURES 1 to 6, the housing 1 is anchored to the ground, indicated by the numeral 23, by means of a rail 24, which is embedded in the ground 23 and has a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings 25 therein for selective engagement by an elongated pin 26. The pin 26 has a flat side 27 on one end thereof for engagement with a pair of correspondingly shaped openings 28 in opposite sides of the housing 1, through which the pin 26 is passed.

As shown in FIGURE 7, the housing 1 is anchored to the ground 23 by means of a plurality of downwardly extending spurs 29, which advantageously may be formed integrally with the side walls 2.

In use, the foot of a runner is poised immediately adjacent the flexible diaphragm comprising the flexible plate 5 and the resilient material 7, and the force of his initial kick, as at the start of a race, is applied to the diaphragm, resulting in flexing thereof to a greater or less degree. The flexing movement of the diaphragm relative to the housing 1, which is transmitted to the pointer 16 through the rod 19 and the link 18, indicates relatively the force of the kick.

The invention may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A kick gauge comprising a housing having a front opening therein, a flexible diaphragm forming a closure for the opening, a rotatable shaft arranged transversely of the housing, a pointer removably and adjustably connected intermediate its ends to the shaft and rotatable therewith, a rod having means pivotally connecting it at one end to one end of the pointer, guide means supporting the rod in abutting relation to the diaphragm whereby the rod is movable reciprocally, to thereby move the pointer rotatively with the shaft, in response to fiex ing movement of the diaphragm, the housing having a slot therein and one end of the pointer extending through the slot, and indicia on the housing opposite the slot indicating the position of the pointer relative thereto.

2. The structure of claim 1, and adjustable means References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schultze Nov. 5, 1889 Carter Aug. 23, 1910 Hondorn Aug. 18, 1959