US3401931A

US3401931A - Adjustable starting block

Info

Publication number: US3401931A
Application number: US486939A
Authority: US
Inventors: George R Mccafferty; Jr James T Underhill
Original assignee: George R. Mccafferty; James T. Underhill Jr.
Current assignee: GEORGE R MCCAFFERTY; JAMES T UNDERHILL JR
Priority date: 1965-09-13
Filing date: 1965-09-13
Publication date: 1968-09-17
Anticipated expiration: 1985-09-17

Description

p 1958 G. R. MCCAFFERTY ETAL 3,401,931

ADJUSTABLE STARTING BLOCK Filed Sept, 15, 1965 Fig.

3 Fig.2

U 70 /4 I 52 Y 58 46 l I 7\ 1\\ V l. a 63 L38 40 F/g. 3

James 7. Under/rill Jr. George R- McCafferfy INVENTORS United States Patent 3,401,931 ADJUSTABLE STARTING BLOCK George R. McCafterty, 1057 Seymore Place, and James T. Underhill, Jr., 25350 Cypress St., both of Hayward, Calif. 94544 Filed Sept. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 486,939 3 Claims. (Cl. 272-59) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A track runners starting block usable indoors or outdoors. It comprises an elongated portable base channelshaped and whose channel has open ends. A first panel has a lower end hinged between forward ends of the side walls and is provided with an anti-skid pad. The upper end of this first panel is hinged to an upper end of a second like panel which tilts and props the first panel up. When not in use both panels fold down and can be compactly stored flatwise in the channel. The prop-forming panel is provided at a lower free end with outstanding keeper pins seatable and retained in selectively usable keeper notches provided therefor in the side walls.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in starting blocks, which, like prior art adaptations, are advocated and adapted for use at the customary line of start of a track either indoors or outdoors.

As is clear from the preceding general statement of the invention, starting blocks for foot racing tracks are old :and well known and while such aids are many and varied in style and construction and while may typical prior patents could be listed here as exemplary of the state of the art, Bresnahans starting block, Patent No. 2,144,962 is typical of the invention herein under consideration.

Keeping in mind that it is admittedly old to provide a portable stake-down type base or plate and to equip the same at the takeofi end with a hingedly mounted projectable and retractible end thrust abutment and to retain the latter in an angularly set position with the assistance of a prop, certain seemingly significant improvements are herein deemed to be advisable.

One improvement has to do with a more practical and reliable base unit. Briefly this unit comprises an elongated open-ended member which is channel-shaped and which ensures the availability in the structure of strength and durability but which is nevertheless light in Weight compared to prior art adaptations.

By using a channel the flanged or side walls can be aptly and satisfactorily notched with the notches serving as keeper seats for selective reception and retention of detent means provided on the prop. It follows that with this construction and arrangement of features the requirement of adjustability is present and advantageous.

Then, too, as will be herein more fully appreciated the present invention has to do with a construction and arrangement which makes storage of the block a major advantage due to the small stow-away area needed. The foldable and collapsible construction and arrangement of parts provides the compactness and convenience required and even facilitates stacking or grouping of the device for practical handling convenience. As a matter of fact with the construction shown one can resort to the use of a beltlike strap which can be wrapped around the block or blocks to promote efliciency in handling, saving of time and complying with the advantageous as pects which the wholesaler, retailer and user fully appreciates.

The invention also features a block construction wherein the inclined end thrust plate is not only cushioned but can be quickly and easily adjusted to comply with the reice quired stance of each individual user, whereby to thus promote comfort and dependable use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of an adjustable starting block constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and showing the component parts in the position and relation required for foot race starting needs;

FIGURE 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view with parts appearing in elevation; and

FIGURE 3 is a section taken on the plane of the vertical section line 33- of FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the indicating arrows.

The portable rigid base unit or means is denoted, generally speaking, by the numeral 6. It comprises an elongated portable open-ended channel or channel-shaped member made of lightweight but durable material capable of use either indoors or outdoors as the case may be. The Web or bottom wall is denoted at 8, the rear transverse end at 10 and the front transverse end at 12, here shown as provided with spaced upstanding hinging knuckles 14 with which coaoting and companion knuckles 16 are aligned fo-r coaction in the manner shown in FIG. 1. The knuckles 16 are provided at the lower edge of a hinging and mounting leaf 18, the assembled knuckles being maintained in hinging relationship by a pintle or hinge pin 20. This hinge leaf is secured to the underneath side of the lower or forward portion of a generally rectangular panel 22, the foot receptive side or face of the panel being provided with an anti-skid pad or cushion 24. The upper end of this panel is joined by assembling and hinging means 26 to an upper end 28 of a second rectangular panel 30 which constitutes and provides an adjustable as well as folding prop. More specifically, the hinge means 2.6 comprises a first leaf 32 secured at 34- to the upper end 36 of the starting block or panel 22. This hinge leaf is provided with knuckles 38 cooperable with and hingedly joined to complement-a1 knuckles 40 on the hinge leaf 42 secured on the prop by suitable fasteners as at 44. There is an additional hinge leaf 46 secured at 48 to the lower end portion 50 of the second panel or prop 30, said hinge leaf 46 having a single tubular portion or knuckle 52 provided with a fixed rod or pin 54 whose projecting ends 56 serve in the manner shown in FIG. 1.

With further reference now to the channel-shaped base unit, the bottom wall 8 is provided with side walls, more particularly longitudinal flanges 57 which are secured to the edges of the bottom plate and rise vertically therefrom in parallel relationship and are commensurate in length with the overall channel. The forward ends are suitably beveled or inclined forwardly and downwardly as denoted at 58. The rearward ends '60 are flush with the end 10. At points slightly inward form the rearward ends a pair of oppositely aligned keeper notches 62 are provided. The median portions of the side walls or flanges are provided with forwardly and upwardly opening diagonally inclined

notches

64 and 66 which are properly oriented and paired and which constitute keeper seats for the keepers or retainers 56 carried by the lower end portion of the prop 30. With this construction and arrangement it will be obvious that the keepers can be selectively seated in the

keeper seats

64 and 66 to change the degree of inclination and to permit the user to adapt this inclination to the stance of the particular runner who is called upon to use it.

It will be evident that a block of the construction shown and described can be set up quickly on the track due to the construction and foldable capabilities of the component parts shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. When used indoors the channel-shaped base can be adhesively bonded or otherwise mounted (not shown). On the other hand when used outdoors it is easily anchored in the ground. To accomplish this headed anchoring pins or stakes are provided. Each pin is pointed as at 68 and the pins below the bottom side of the bottom wall are secured in place by the head 70 and coacting positioning and retaining as Well as reinforcing shoulders 72.

It will be evident from the views of the drawing not only how the component parts are constructed, assembled and set up for use, but the manner of rearranging the same for folding and storage is also thought to be evident. This is to say, while the views do not show the two

panels

22 and 30 in folded relationship it will be obvious that by lowering the panels as is permitted by the connecting hinges, both panels will then be in substantially coplanar relationship and confined in the channel between the side walls with the ends of the rod or detents 56 then seated in the keeper notches 62.

A careful consideration of the specification in conjunction wit-h the views of the drawing will enable the reader to obtain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the character of the component parts and how they are constructed, assembled and satisfactorily put to use. Accordingly, a more extended explanation is deemed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modibe resorted to, falling withing the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A track runners starting block comprising an elongated base channel-shaped in cross-section and embodying a flat bottom wall having longitudinal edges provided with opposed upstanding side walls having readily accessible selectively usable keeper seats, a panel having an end thereof hingedly mounted on a forward end of said bottom wall and manually liftable to assume an upwardly and rearwardly inclined runners foot steadying and retaining ready-to-go position and capable of being folded down to assume a fiatwise out-of-use position, a prop hingedly joined to said panel and adapted, when in use, to assume a rearwardly downwardly inclined panel-propping attitude and when not in use being adapted to fold flatwise, in conjunction with said panel in the channel between said side walls, said prop having keeper pins capable of being placed, seated and retentively held in selected ones of said keeper seats, the rearward end portions of said side walls being provided with a pair of vertically positioned oppositely disposed open-top notches, said notches constituting receiving and retaining seats for the aforementioned keeper pins when said panel and prop are disposed in said flat folded out-of-use position in the channel portion of said base.

2. A starting block for use at the starting line of a foot race track comprising: an elongated flat bottom wall having longitudinal edges provided with upstanding spaced parallel side walls, said side walls in conjunction with said bottom wall providing an open-ended channel unit, the respective median portions of the side walls being provided with paired upwardly and forwardly angled notches opening through the upper edges of said side walls and providing selectively usable keeper seats, the rearward end portions of the side walls having a pair of oppositely disposed vertical open top keeper notches, a first panel having a forward end hingedly joined to a corresponding forward end of the bottom wall, a second panel like said first panel and located in the channel between the median portions of said side walls, hinge means interposed between and interconnecting corresponding upper ends of said panels, the forwardly usable surface of said first panel being covered with an anti-skid pad, the lower rearward end of the second panel being provided with a fixed horizontal rod having end portions projecting beyond vertical edge portions of said second panel and constituting keeper pins capable of being placed and seated retentively and held in selected ones of said keeper seats and also seated and held in said open top keeper notches.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 and wherein both panels are of approximately the same width and same length and same cross-sectional thickness, the length and width dimensions of said panels permitting the same to be straightened out in coplanar relationship and stored in a folded out-of-the-Way position within the confines of the channel between said side walls when the device is not being used, and said bottom wall being centrally provided with attachable and detachable depending pointed stakes capable of being anchored, when desired, in the ground.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,990,497 2/1935 Niday 272-59 2,144,962 1/ 1939 Bresnahan 27259 2,147,347 2/1939 Jury 248-456 FOREIGN PATENTS 363,612 5/ 1906 France.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.