US3746335A

US3746335A - Track mounted rail and adjustable starting block therefor

Info

Publication number: US3746335A
Application number: US00108718A
Authority: US
Inventors: J King; W Fichter; O Armbruster
Original assignee: Gebrueder Junghans GmbH
Current assignee: Gebrueder Junghans GmbH
Priority date: 1970-01-29
Filing date: 1971-01-22
Publication date: 1973-07-17
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-17
Also published as: AT307953B; DE2004031A1; DE2004031C3; DE2004031B2; FR2077157A5; AT306604B

Abstract

A starting device for track events comprising a rail adapted to be fixed on the track surface, the rail having upwardly open, forwardly inclined slits spaced longitudinally in the direction of travel; and a pair of starting blocks, the blocks being selectively mounted in the slits on opposite sides of the rail, each block having means for adjusting the inclination of its front step-on surface. The rail is mounted so as to be spaced from the track surface. A sound system is mounted in either the rail or one of the blocks.

Description

United States Patent n91 Fichter et al.

[ July 17, 1973 TRACK MOUNTED RAIL AND ADJUSTABLE STARTING BLOCK THEREFOR [75] Inventors: Walter Fichter, Schiltach; Otto Armbruster, l-Iornberg; Josef King, Schramberg-Sulgen, all of Germany [73] Assignee: Firma Gebruder Junghans G.m.b.H.,

Schramberg, Germany [22] Filed: Jan. 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 108,718

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 29, 1970 Germany P 20 04 031.7

52 US. Cl 272/59 A [51] Int. Cl A 63b 69/00 [58] Field Of Search 272/59 A; 273/187 R, 273/187 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,608,897 9/1971 Ross 272 59 A 2,890,048 '6/1959 Holmes 272/59 A 2,004,172 6/1935 Niday 272/59 A 3,400,928 9/1968 welaacheruu.

2,937,871 5/1960 McCafferty... 272/59 A 3,401,931 9/1968 McCafferty et a1 272/59 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 125,753 10/1947 Australia 272/59 A Primary Examiner-Anton O Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Richard J. Apley Att0rneyBurns, Doane, Swecker & Mathis [57] ABSTRACT A starting device for track events comprising a rail adapted to be fixed on the track surface, the rail having upwardly open, forwardly inclined slits spaced longitudinally in the direction of travel; and a pair of starting blocks, the blocks being selectively mounted in the slits on opposite sides of the rail, each block having means for adjusting the inclination of its front step-on surface. The rail is mounted so as to be spaced from the track surface. A sound system is mounted in either the rail or one of the blocks.

2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENIEU JUL 1 7m sum 2 m 3- PATENIED JUL 1 H913 SHEH 3 [IF 3 TRACK MOUNTED RAIL AND ADJUSTABLE.

STARTING BLOCK THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a starter device for track events comprised of a rail fixed on the track and two starting blocks attached adjustably in the direction of the sprint.

In the case of a known device of this type, the starting blocks have been attached, with the assistance of cap screws with wing nuts, on a center rail provided with longitudinal slits. Since the starting blocks are connected with the rail only frictionally in such instances, there is the danger that the blocks will slip in the case of the pressure exerted on them during starting, unless they have been tightened sufficiently firmly. The sprinters therefore attempt to tighten the wing nuts as much as they can. As a result, wing nuts tightened by astrong sprinter may present release difficulties, particularly in the case of a weaker sprinter. The known starting blocks are also disadvantageous in that the angle of inclination of the step-on surfaces cannot be easily adapted to the wishes of the individual athletes.

The object of the invention is to provide a starting device of the initially mentioned type which will assure a safe mounting of the starting blocks without necessitating the use of screws, and in which starting blocks of a simple design can be used. According to the invention this will be achieved by the rail being provided with several alternating indentations and projections lying one behind the other in their longitudinal direction. The starting blocks are provided with complementary lateral projections or indentations in such a manner that they can be positively connected with the rail in their longitudinal direction. In this manner, a connection of the adjustable starting blocks with the rail in a non-slippable manner is assured in a simple way.

The rail is preferably U-shaped in transverse crosssection and in its U-legs it is provided with upwardly opening slits. The slits are slanted forward in the running direction, by anappropriate angle with respect to the longitudinaldirection of the rails. Advantageously, this angle may be about 75.

Each starting block may be comprised of a lower part or base that can be attached to the rail and an upper part or step-on element disposed pivotally on the lower base. The base may include two perpendicular side plates, on the front end of which the upper element has been pivotally or swingingly mounted. Teeth are formed on the rear of the base to adjustably receive a transverse pin which is arranged on the rear ofthe upper element. The pin may be slidably or shiftably mounted in horizontal slots formed in the upper element and is forced forwardly into engagement with the teeth by means of a spring.

Alternatively, the side plates may also be provided at their front ends with horizontal slots, in which the upper element is swivelly and shiftably mounted. At the rear ends of the side plates, approximately vertical slits may be formed and provided with forwardly open teeth. A transverse pin fixedly arranged on the upper element is adjustably engaged with the teeth.

The starting blocks may be provided with projections or indentations on both sides so that each block can be mounted on either of the sides of the rail.

The rail is provided at its ends with feet, whichcarry spikes, so that it will be fixed on the tracksimply by kit placing it there. This will be advantageous particularly on modern tracks with some synthetic covering. Advantageously the rail will be kept at a distance from the track by way of stepped-up portions of the feet, so that a shaking or tilting will be prevented in the case of an uneven track. I

Advantageously, a sound source, for examplea loudspeaker, may be provided on either the rail or on one or every starting block. The loudspeaker may be con trolled by the individual giving the starting signal. As a result, not only will different sound travel times to the individual athletes be avoided, but the sound travel time altogether will be kept short, so that it can be disregarded.

The invention will be explained in more detail in the following paragraphs on the basis of the drawing of a few embodiments presented by way of example. In the drawings: a

FIG. 1 shows a perspective presentation of the first embodiment of a starting block according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows an angle plate with round bolt, which can be screwed onto the starting block of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective presentation of the base or lower part of the starting block according to FIG. I along with a modified angle plate;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective presentation of the upper step-on element of the starting block according to FIG.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective presentation of a second embodiment of a starting block according to the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a rail on which a starting block is to be fixed;

FIG. 7 is a partial view in perspective of the rail according to FIG. 6, at one end of which a sound source has been arranged,

FIG. 8 is a perspective presentation of a starting block provided with a sound source.

In FIGS. 1 to 4, an embodiment of a starting block according to the invention is presented. The block includes a lower base or part 10 and an upper step-on element 15. The lower and

upper elements

10 and 15 are movable in relation to one another. Through the pivotal mounting of the upper element 15 to the lower element 10, about a generally horizontal, transverse pivotal connection indicated at 11a and 12a, the inclination of the step-on surface 16 of the upper element 15 can be appropriately adjusted in relation to the surface of the track.

The base 10 includes two lateral and

upstanding plates

11 and 12, which have been connected with one another by means of

strips

13 and 14. Alternatively, the upstanding plates 1] and 12 may be connected with one another by means of a bottom plate. The upstand- .

ing plates

11 and 12 have been provided at their front ends with bores 11a and 12a, in which an axle can be inserted to pivotally connect the element 15 with the base. It will beappreciated that the axle is to be suitably connected to the upper element 15 as by penetrating therethrough, as indicated at 16a.

The upper element 315 includes the step-on plate '16 and ribs 17 which extend integrally therefrom and form an angle therewith. The ribs are provided at their free ends with generally horizontally elongated slots 19. The elongated slots 19 receive a pin or axle 20 which is forced or biased toward the position shown in FIG. 4

with the aid of a leaf spring 21. This spring 21 is attached to the pin 20 and a transverse wall 18, which wall interconnects ribs 17.

The

upstanding plates

11 and 12 have been provided at their rear ends with rearwardly opening

teeth

11d and 12d. The pin 20 can be selectively positioned in engagement with selected pairs of the generally upwardly extending and rearwardly

inclined teeth

11d and 12d. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 4 therefore, a four-step adjustment of the upper element 15 is possible.

The step-on plate 16 may be provided, for example, with a plastic layer 22, in order to prevent the sprinter from slipping under all circumstances during the start.

The side plate 11 has been provided with a bore 11c and two threaded bores 11b, which serve for attaching a laterally projecting assembly comprising an angle plate 23 having a projection in the form of a round bolt 24. The round bolt 24 engages with bore 11c, and the angle plate 23 is attached by screw bolts 25. The same bores for attaching the angle plate 23 have been provided in the side plate 12, so that the various starting blocks can be attached on both sides of the attaching rail shown in FIG. 6. In this fashion a single block may be mounted on the rail so as to project laterally there- .from on either side of that rail.

In order to mount the starting block, the angle plate 23 is placed above and then positioned so as to overlap one leg of the U-shaped rail 50 in such a way that bolt 24 is positively positioned in a selected one of the complementary slits 51. In this manner the starting block will be positively and removably engaged without there being any need for fastening it.

The general mounting arrangement herein contemplated is generally illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 of copending application Ser. No. 108,719, filed Jan. 22, 1971, entitled "Starting Control Device for Running Events", and assigned to the assignee of the present application.

In FIG. 3, another form of an angle plate 23' is shown. The angle plate includes a projection 24' for engaging with a selected one of the complementary slits 51 of the rail 50 when the angle plate is telescoped over a leg of that rail. It will be appreciated that such an angle plate may be located on each of the

side plates

11 and 12. Moreover, the projection 24' may be advan tageously formed as an inclined beam inclined at an angle substantially the same as the angle of inclination of the slits 51 to facilitate assembly and positioning of the block.

A further embodiment of the starting block is shown in FIG. 5. Base 30 has

upstanding side plates

31 and 32, which have been provided at their front ends (for example, 31a) with generally horizontal elongated slots 33. A pin 36, which is firmly connected with the upper step-on element 34 is positioned in these elongated holes, as a result of which the upper element 34 is pivotable and horizontally shiftable relative to base 30.

two

parts

30 and 34 do not need to be provided with movable parts as employed, for example, in the embodiment according to FIG. 1. That is, the use of slots 33 eliminates the need for making pin 39 slidable relative to element 34.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the angle plate for the attachment with rail 50 has been designated by 40.

The rail 50 shown in FIG. 6 has

upstanding legs

50a and 50b interconnected by a horizontal support. The

legs

50a and 50b have slits 51 formed therein into which, as already described, the starting blocks can be mounted. The slits are slightly inclined in the direction of running, so that during the start the rail will be pushed toward the ground and the slipping of the rail on the track will be prevented. Preferably, the slits should form an angle of about 75 with the horizontal. In order to prevent any twisting or shaking, the ends of the rail are held at a slight distance above the track by means of bent feet. Each foot has a lower horizontal portion (See, for example,

portion

54, 55 of the rear foot). Such lower portions have been provided with spikes 56 which engage with the surface of the track to prevent the rail from slipping. The front and rear feet have stepped up

portions

52, 53, respectively, to which the rail is attached, thus keeping the rail spaced from the track surface.

Naturally the starting blocks according to the invention can be used not only together with the rail shown in FIG. 6, but they can also be attached to other rails, for example to special starting machines where electric contacts have been provided in the case of the start for the control of a premature start.

FIG. 7 shows the front end of a rail 60 for attachment of starting blocks as described previously. The rail contains a housing 61 which houses a sound source, prefer ably a loudspeaker 63, which is connected with a signal source via a line 62, which delivers electric signals energizing the loudspeaker.

FIG. 8 shows a starting block with a built=in sound source, for example, loudspeaker 65, with feed line 66.

Although the invention has been described in con nection with particular embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additions, substitutions, modifications and deletions not specifically described may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the ap= pended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a starting device for track events having a. rail adapted to be positioned upon the track surface, starting block means including at least one starting block, and means mounting said starting block means on the rail, the improvement wherein:

said mounting means comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced slits formed in said rail; and

said starting block has projecting means extending laterally from at least one side for positive positioning in a complementary, selected one of said slits; said starting block includes a base, and a step-on element mounted on said base for pivotal movement relative to said base;

said base including a pair of interconnected, upstanding lateral plates;

said plates being provided adjacent the rear portion thereof with a plurality of teeth;

said step-on element being mounted for pivotal movement adjacent the forward end of said plates; and

said step-on element being provided with a member adjacent the rear portion thereof for cooperatively engaging with selected ones of said teeth;

said element having a slot means extending generally longitudinally of said rail and formed adjacent a rear portion of said element;

said member being slidably mounted in said slot means; and

spring means, connected between said element and said member, for biasing said member forwardly in said slot means.

2. A starting device comprising:

a rail operable to be positioned upon a track surface;

and

a pair of starting blocks connected to said rail, each block including:

a base,

a step-on element mounted on said base for pivotal movement relative to said base about the forward end thereof, and

teeth means located adjacent the rear end of said base and engageable with said step-on element to releasably hold said element in a selected position relative to said base;

said step-on element being provided with means defining a slot and further including a member slidably mounted on said slot and selectively movable into and out of engagement with said teeth means to permit said element to be adljustably inclined relative to said base.

Claims

1. In a starting device for track events having a rail adapted to be positioned upon the track surface, starting block means including at least one starting block, and means mounting said starting block means on the rail, the improvement wherein: said mounting means comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced slits formed in said rail; and said starting block has projecting means extending laterally from at least one side for positive positioning in a complementary, selected one of said slits; said starting block includes a base, and a step-on element mounted on said base for pivotal movement relative to said base; said base including a pair of interconnected, upstanding lateral plates; said plates being provided adjacent the rear portion thereof with a plurality of teeth; said step-on element being mounted for pivotal movement adjacent the forward end of said plates; and said step-on element being provided with a member adjacent the rear portion thereof for cooperatively engaging with selected ones of said teeth; said element having a slot means extending generally longitudinally of said rail and formed adjacent a rear portion of said element; said member being slidably mounted in said slot means; and spring means, connected between said element and said member, for biasing said member forwardly in said slot means.

2. A starting device comprising: a rail operable to be positioned upon a track surface; and a pair of starting blocks connected to said rail, each block including: a base, a step-on element mounted on said base for pivotal movement relative to said base about the forward end thereof, and teeth means located adjacent the rear end of said base and engageable with said step-on element to releasably hold said element in a selected position relative to said base; said step-on element being provided with means defining a slot and further including a Member slidably mounted on said slot and selectively movable into and out of engagement with said teeth means to permit said element to be adjustably inclined relative to said base.