US3372927A - Movable fulcrum for springboards - Google Patents

Movable fulcrum for springboards Download PDF

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Publication number
US3372927A
US3372927A US490050A US49005065A US3372927A US 3372927 A US3372927 A US 3372927A US 490050 A US490050 A US 490050A US 49005065 A US49005065 A US 49005065A US 3372927 A US3372927 A US 3372927A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
drum
springboard
frame
rails
fulcrum
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US490050A
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English (en)
Inventor
Raymond C Rude
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
RAYMOND C RUDE
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Raymond C. Rude
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Raymond C. Rude filed Critical Raymond C. Rude
Priority to US490050A priority Critical patent/US3372927A/en
Priority to GB30316/66A priority patent/GB1110628A/en
Priority to CH1120666A priority patent/CH450978A/de
Priority to DE19661578631 priority patent/DE1578631A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3372927A publication Critical patent/US3372927A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B5/00—Apparatus for jumping
    • A63B5/08—Spring-boards
    • A63B5/10—Spring-boards for aquatic sports

Definitions

  • This invention relates to supports for springboards. More particularly, it provides a movable fulcrum for location between the fixed and unsupported ends of a diving or springboard.
  • This invention provides a movable fulcrum structure which has a simplified construction over devices built in accord with the teachings of my prior patent. Also, the present movable fulcrum incorporates means for wiping the surfaces along which the fulcrum moves free of foreign particles. Moreover, all relatively movable components of the fulcrum are separated from each other by non-conductive material, thereby preventing electrolytic corrosion of these components in the presence of moist salt air.
  • this invention provides a movable support for a load-bearing article.
  • the movable support includes cylindrical rotatable means engageable with the underside of the article for supporting the article.
  • Cradle means are provided for rotatably mounting the rotatable means transversely of the article.
  • Guide way means are provided for supporting the cradle means and for accom modating and guiding movement of the cradle means.
  • Slide bearing means are provided on the cradle means and are slidably engaged with the guide way means.
  • the support also includes operating means connected to the rotatable means for rotation therewith for rotating the rotatable means against the article to displace the rotatable means and the cradle means along the article to change the location of article support by the rotatable means.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a movable fulcrum mechanism according to this invention
  • FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional elevation View of the fulcrum mechanism shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.
  • the movable fulcrum provided by this invention is illustrated and described in conjunction with an all-metal springboard illustrated more completely in my United States Patent No. 2,864,616, issued Dec. 16, 1958. Also, the fulcrum is described in conjunction with an improved foundation. It is to be understood, however, that the fulcrum can be used advantageously with springboards and foundations different from those illustrated and described without departing from the scope of this invention.
  • a movable fulcrum 10 is shown engaged with a foundation unit 11 which is mounted to the upper end of a diving board support pedestal 12.
  • a divers springboard or diving board 13 preferably constructed in accord with the teachings of my US. Patent No. 2,864,616, is engaged with the movable fulcrum intermediate its ends.
  • the diving board is disposed so that its elongate extent is transverse to the elongate extent of the fulcrum mechanism.
  • the springboard has one end thereof hingeably connected to a springboard support (not shown). The other end of the springboard is unsupported.
  • fulcrum 10 includes an elongate, circularly cylindrical and preferably hollow drum 15.
  • a plurality of substantially reotangularly crosssectioned ribs or flutes 16 extend radially from the exterior surface of the drum.
  • the flutes are aligned parallel to the axis of the drum so that the drum has a smooth, circularly cylindrical portion 17 circumferentially of its midlength.
  • the ends of the ribs adjacent the ends of the drum lie a predetermined distance inwardly from the drum ends so that, adjacent its opposite ends, the exterior of the drum defines smooth, circularly, cylindrical portions 18.
  • the drum has a length greater than the Width of diving board 13; drum portions '18 of the drum are disposed outwardly of the sides of the diving board.
  • a shaft 19 extends coaxially from and. .is fixed to one end of the drum.
  • An operating wheel 20 is secured to shaft 19 at a location spaced from the drum.
  • a 'diver standing on the board over the drum may engage the wheel with his foot to rotate the wheel to rotate the drum and drive the drum against the bottom of the board.
  • the wheel is provided with raised ribs 21 around its periphery so that the divers foot will not slip against the surface of the wheel.
  • a pair of parallel ways or rails 24 are mounted to the fulcrum foundation.
  • the rails each have horizontal upper surfaces 25.
  • One of the rails also has opposite vertical and parallel side surfaces 26; preferably both rails are identical.
  • the rails are aligned parallel to the length of the diving board and are spaced apart a distance less than the distance between drum portions 18.
  • the rails are mounted to the upper surfaces of a pair of aligned opposing flanges 27 which extend inwardly from the foundation side walls 28. It is preferred that the foundation define an upwardly open recess extending laterally to beneath the rails.
  • the drum is supported in an elongate box-like cradle or frame 34 having an open upper side 31, forward and rear side walls 32, a substantially closed bottom 33, and end walls 34.
  • the frame has a length slightly greater than the length of the drum.
  • the end walls of the frame define semi-circular, upwardly open, coaxially aligned recesses 35.
  • a raised rib-like land 36 projects from the wall of each recess toward the center of the recess; each land extends along the entire semi-circular extent of the recess.
  • a strip of tetrafluoroethylene plastic, or some other material which has a similar low coeflicient of friction relative to the material (preferably aluminum) from which the drum is fabricated, is bonded to the surface of each land along its entire extent.
  • the concave surfaces of the tetrafluoroethylene strips mate with drum portions 18 so that the drum is rotatably mounted in the frame at its opposite ends.
  • An inelastic band 38 preferably defined by a Whittee hose clamp, is secured to the upper surface of the frame bottom below drum portion 17 by bolts 46 passed through the frame. The band extends continuously upwardly around drum portion 17 back to the frame as shown in FIG. 3.
  • a strip 39 of tetrafiuoroethylene plastic or the like is disposed between the band and drum portion 17. The band is tensioned so that the tetrafiuoroethylene strip is intimately engaged with the drum over a major portion of the circumference of the drum and holds the drum in engagement with the frame.
  • a downwardly open, rectangular recess or groove 42 is formed in the underside of the frame bottom adjacent each end of the frame.
  • the grooves are parallel to one another and are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing between rails 24.
  • the grooves are aligned normal to the axis of the drum.
  • Each groove has a central enlarged portion 43 (see the groove at the right end of the frame in FIG. 2) and, between its ends and the enlarged portion, is wider than the width of the adjacent rail.
  • a strip 44, 45 of tetrafluoroethylene plastic or similar material is secured to the upper surface of each groove along its entire length.
  • the tetrafluoroethylene strip 44 engaged in the groove at the right end of the frame (see FIG. 2), extends across the upper surface of the groove, but not along the side walls of the groove. Thus, a clearance is provided between the side walls of the groove and the side walls of the rail disposed in the groove.
  • Strip 45 engaged in the groove at the left end of the frame, extends across the upper surface of the groove and also along the side walls of the groove to mate intimately with the side walls of the rail disposed in the groove.
  • Strips 44 and 45 define rail engaging shoes for slidably mounting frame to rails 24. Further, since strip 45 extends into engagement with the side walls of the left rail, this shoe serves to guide movement of the frame along the rails. Shoe 45 is sufficiently long to prevent the frame from being cocked relative to the rails. Also, the shoes provide means for wiping the rails clean of any foreign particles thereon as the frame is moved along the rails.
  • the drum and the frame be fabricated of aluminum, and that the rails be fabricated of hard anodized aluminum.
  • the rails are separated from the frame by the non-conductive tetrafluoroethylene shoes; similarly, the drum is separated from the frame by a non-conductive material. Accordingly, any corrosion of the drum, frame and rails is minimized and relative movement between these elements in response to rotation of the drum is assured over an extended period, even under adverse weather conditions.
  • the fulcrum also includes means for lubricating the surfaces along which slidable motion occurs.
  • each tetrafluoroethylene strip 37 at the bottommost portion of its extent around the drum, is provided with an opening 47.
  • Each opening communicates with a passage 48 formed in the lower portion of the base adjacent each of its ends.
  • Each passage also communicates with an opening (not shown) formed through the portion of the respective one of shoes 44 and 45 in the enlarged portion of the groove adjacent the passage.
  • Each passage is filled with a wick material, such as felt, which is impregnated with lubricating oil. Accordingly, the surfaces along which occur slidable motion between the frame and the drum, and between the frame and the rails, are continuously lubricated.
  • the fulcrum so long as the wicks are impregnated with oil, is easily movable along the foundation and the drum is freely rotatable in the frame.
  • a doubly cantilevered leaf spring 55 i.e., a leaf spring supported only at its center and not at its opposite ends, is secured to the underside of the frame by bolts 40.
  • Each end of the spring defines an upwardly opening U-shaped wheel holder 56 below foundation flanges which mount the rails.
  • a wheel 57 preferably fabricated of phenol-formaldehyde resin or the like, is rotatably mounted between the vertical legs of each holder by an axial pin 58 passed through the parallel legs of the holder.
  • the spring is biased so that the wheels are urged into engagement with the undersides of the foundation flanges. Accordingly, the frame is continuously urged downwardly into engagement with the rails.
  • the spring therefore, provides a means for preventing bouncing or slapping of the frame on the rails as the diving board is used.
  • the diving board is provided with friction inducing means along its underside in the vicinity of the fulcrum to assure that the coeffieient of friction between the drum an the board is higher than the coefficient of friction which exists between the frame and the rails, thereby assuring that rotation of the drum against the bottom of the board will roduce movement of the frame along the rails.
  • this invention is most preferably practiced with a diving board fabricated according to the disclosures of US. Patent No. 2,864,616.
  • the friction inducing means are provided in the form of rubber shoes 60 which are engaged over the lower ends of the bulbed ribs 61 which extend from the underside of the board.
  • the friction inducing means may be provided in the form of a rubber sheet or the like glued or bonded to the underside of the springboard.
  • Fulcrum 10 has several advantages over fulcrums disclosed in my prior Patent 3,072,401.
  • Fulcrums in accord with this prior patent include a rotatable drum which has a roughened surface engageable with rubber shoes or the like secured to the underside of a diving board. As such fulcrums are operated, the roughed surface of the drum often causes particles of rubber to be abraded from the rubber shoes; these particles fall upon the rails along which move the rollers which support the frame of such a fulcrum, These rubber particles, together with other foreign particles such as leaves, twigs and the like, impede movement of the rollers along the rails and cause the drum to slip relative to the underside of the diving board.
  • fulcrum 10 is used since drum ribs 16 provide positive traction against shoes 60 or their equivalent without causing particles to be abraded from the shoes.
  • the use of non-metallic shoe-type rail engaging hearings to mount the frame of fulcrum 10 to the rails assures continuous cleaning of the rails as the fulcrum is operated.
  • fulcrum 10 is considerably simpler to construct than a fulcrum constructed in accord with the above-mentioned patent. All these advantages contribute to long trouble-free operation of fulcrum 10. Further more, servicing of the fulcrum may be accomplished simply and without any special tools.
  • a movable fulcrum for a springboard having a supported end and an unsupported end, the springboard being disposed over a support located below the springboard intermediate the ends thereof, the support providing a pair of horizontal rectangularly cross-sectioned parallel rails spaced transversely of the springboard and aligned with the length of the springboard, the fulcrum comprising a frame adapted to be supported on the rails and including a rail enga ing shoe slidably engageable with each rail, means for guiding movement of the frame along the rails, a drum engaging the underside of the springboard, means rotatably mounting the drum to the frame transversely of the springboard, means connected to the drum operable by a person on the springboard over the drum for rotating the drum to drive the drum against the springboard thereby to move the drum along the springboard, wherein said frame comprises an upwardly open elongate frame disposed transversely of the rails and having end walls defining upwardly open c0- axially aligned recesses, the
  • a fulcrum according to claim 1 wherein the means retaining the drum in the frame comprises an inelastic band extending from the frame below the drum over the drum to the frame, and a strip of tetrafiuoroethylene secured to the hand between the band and the drum in engagement with the drum.
  • a fulcrum according to claim 1 wherein the frame adjacent each end thereof defines a downwardly open groove over each rail extending transversely of the frame, each rail being disposed in a respective one of the grooves, and each groove being wider than the rail disposed therein, a first piece of tetrafluoroethylene disposed in one groove and extending along the length of the groove engaging only with the upper surface of the adjacent rail, and a second piece of tetrafiuoroethylene disposed in the other groove and extending along the length thereof en-- gaging the upper and side surfaces of the adjacent rail along the extent of said piece.
  • a movable fulcrum for a springboard having a supported end and an unsupported end, the springboard being disposed over a support located below the springboard intermediate the ends thereof, the support providing a pair of horizontal rectangularly cross-sectioned parallel rails spaced transversely of the springboard and aligned with the length of the springboard, the fulcrum comprising a frame adapted to be supported on the rails and including a rail engaging shoe slidably engageable with each rail, means for guiding movement of the frame along the rails, a drum engaging the underside of the springboard, means rotatably mounting the drum to the frame transversely of the springboard, means connected to the drum operable by a person on the springboard over the drum for rotating the drum to drive the drum against the springboard thereby to move the drum along the springboard, and a leaf spring for holding said frame in engagement with said rails, said leaf spring secured to the frame between the rails and extending laterally from the connection to the frame to ends disposed below and biased toward the rails,
  • a movable fulcrum for a springboard having a su ported end and an unsupported end, the springboard being disposed over a support located below the springboard intermediate the ends thereof, the support providing a pair of horizontal rectangularly cross-sectioned parallel rails spaced transversely of the springboard and aligned with the length of the springboard, the fulcrum comprising a frame adapted to be supported on the rails and including a rail engaging shoe slidably engageable with each rail, means for guiding movement of the frame along the rails, a drum engaging the underside of the springboard, means rotatably mounting the drum to the frame transversely of the springboard, means connected to the drum operable by a person on the springboard over the drum for rotating the drum to drive the drum against the springboard thereby to move the drum along the springboard, and wherein said drum carries, at spaced locations around its circumference, a plurality of ribs extending longitudinally along the drum and radially thereof, the underside of said springboard having friction means
  • a movable fulcrum for a springboard having a supported end and an unsupported end, the springboard intermediate its ends being disposed over a support having a pair of horizontally spaced flanges which extend toward each other, the support mounting a pair of rectangularly cross-sectioned horizontal parallel rails spaced transversely of the springboard and aligned with the length of the springboard,
  • the fulcrum comprising an elongate frame having an open top and end walls, disposed transversely of and supported on the rails, the frame through its transverse extent around each rail defining a downwardly open groove into which the adjacent rail extends from the support and having a width greater than the width of the adjacent rail, one of the grooves carrying along the length thereof over the adjacent rail a piece of tetrafluoroethylene slidably engaged only with the top of the adjacent rail, the other groove carrying aiong the length thereof over and along the adjacent rail a piece of tetrafluoroethyleue slidably engaged with the
  • a fulcrum according to claim 7 including means carried by the frame for lubricating the surfaces of said pieces of tetrafiuoroethylene and engaged with the drum and the rails.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Rolls And Other Rotary Bodies (AREA)
  • Drawing Aids And Blackboards (AREA)
US490050A 1965-09-24 1965-09-24 Movable fulcrum for springboards Expired - Lifetime US3372927A (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US490050A US3372927A (en) 1965-09-24 1965-09-24 Movable fulcrum for springboards
GB30316/66A GB1110628A (en) 1965-09-24 1966-07-06 Movable fulcrum for springboards
CH1120666A CH450978A (de) 1965-09-24 1966-08-03 Bewegliche Stützeinrichtung für ein Sprungbrett
DE19661578631 DE1578631A1 (de) 1965-09-24 1966-08-09 Bewegliches Stuetzlager fuer Sprungbretter

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US490050A US3372927A (en) 1965-09-24 1965-09-24 Movable fulcrum for springboards

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US3372927A true US3372927A (en) 1968-03-12

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US490050A Expired - Lifetime US3372927A (en) 1965-09-24 1965-09-24 Movable fulcrum for springboards

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US (1) US3372927A (de)
CH (1) CH450978A (de)
DE (1) DE1578631A1 (de)
GB (1) GB1110628A (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3908988A (en) * 1970-10-07 1975-09-30 Urbain Avon Diving towers
US9067093B2 (en) 2012-08-21 2015-06-30 Skymanor Innovations, Llc Hybrid competition diving board
WO2019071173A1 (en) * 2017-10-06 2019-04-11 Duraflex International Corp. SUPPORT OF PLUNGEOIR

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1412699A (en) * 1918-01-16 1922-04-11 Frank E Manchester Drawer slide
US2032574A (en) * 1932-08-22 1936-03-03 Handley Hugh Warren Springboard
GB646883A (en) * 1948-05-28 1950-11-29 George Grose Ltd Improvements in or relating to movable fulcrums for spring boards, such as spring boards used for diving
US2733972A (en) * 1956-02-07 diack
US3008776A (en) * 1958-03-19 1961-11-14 Glacier Co Ltd Bearing assemblies
US3072401A (en) * 1961-08-10 1963-01-08 Rude Raymond Curtis Movable fulcrum for springboards
US3089198A (en) * 1958-05-21 1963-05-14 Ford Motor Co Method of making a ball joint
GB942163A (en) * 1961-06-15 1963-11-20 Contemporary Ind Engineering L Improvements in or relating to springboards
US3125340A (en) * 1964-03-17 baker
US3321204A (en) * 1963-07-18 1967-05-23 Jacuzzi Bros Inc Adjustable fulcrum assembly for diving boards and the like

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2733972A (en) * 1956-02-07 diack
US3125340A (en) * 1964-03-17 baker
US1412699A (en) * 1918-01-16 1922-04-11 Frank E Manchester Drawer slide
US2032574A (en) * 1932-08-22 1936-03-03 Handley Hugh Warren Springboard
GB646883A (en) * 1948-05-28 1950-11-29 George Grose Ltd Improvements in or relating to movable fulcrums for spring boards, such as spring boards used for diving
US3008776A (en) * 1958-03-19 1961-11-14 Glacier Co Ltd Bearing assemblies
US3089198A (en) * 1958-05-21 1963-05-14 Ford Motor Co Method of making a ball joint
GB942163A (en) * 1961-06-15 1963-11-20 Contemporary Ind Engineering L Improvements in or relating to springboards
US3072401A (en) * 1961-08-10 1963-01-08 Rude Raymond Curtis Movable fulcrum for springboards
US3321204A (en) * 1963-07-18 1967-05-23 Jacuzzi Bros Inc Adjustable fulcrum assembly for diving boards and the like

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3908988A (en) * 1970-10-07 1975-09-30 Urbain Avon Diving towers
US9067093B2 (en) 2012-08-21 2015-06-30 Skymanor Innovations, Llc Hybrid competition diving board
WO2019071173A1 (en) * 2017-10-06 2019-04-11 Duraflex International Corp. SUPPORT OF PLUNGEOIR
CN111386142A (zh) * 2017-10-06 2020-07-07 杜尔福莱克斯国际公司 跳水板支架
EP3691757A4 (de) * 2017-10-06 2021-06-23 Duraflex International Corp. Sprungbrettständer
US11318339B2 (en) * 2017-10-06 2022-05-03 Duraflex International Corp. Diving board stand
CN111386142B (zh) * 2017-10-06 2022-05-03 杜尔福莱克斯国际公司 跳水板支架

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Publication number Publication date
GB1110628A (en) 1968-04-24
CH450978A (de) 1968-05-15
DE1578631A1 (de) 1972-03-09

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