Abstract:
A diving board lift assembly for lifting a diving board from a substantially horizontal diving position to a substantially upright position is provided. The diving board having a diving end and a hinged end with the hinged end hingedly connected to a diving board support member. To raise the diving board, an actuator is rotated in a clockwise direction which rotation causes a portion of the top assembly to the lift mechanism to make contact with and raise the diving board to a near vertical position. To lower the diving board to its original position, the actuator need simply be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to a diving board lift and more particularly to a self-contained, manually operated, diving board lift which can be easily utilized to safely, simply and quickly raise a diving board so that the diving board does not create an obstruction or a safety concern during other swimming pool activities. 
   Diving board systems generally include a diving board having a diving end and a secured end with the diving board being hingedly fastened to an anchored support at the secured end. The diving end is preferably positioned adjacent the edge of or over a swimming pool. An intermediate support is placed beneath the diving board between the diving end and the anchored end to act as a fulcrum point thereby allowing vertical movement of the diving end. Such vertical movement allows the diver to “spring” into the air to attempt or complete the diver&#39;s dive. 
   Diving boards in many swimming pools are generally located at or near the deepest end of the swimming pool. In addition to recreational swimming, swimming pools are also used for, among other things, competitive swimming. The starting blocks for competitive swimming must, in accordance with rules adopted by local, state and/or other regulatory bodies, also be located near the edge of the deepest end of the swimming pool. Thus, the starting blocks are located in the same area as the spring board diving system. To position the starting blocks at the same end of the swimming pool as the diving board, the diving board must either be physically removed or the diving end of the diving board must be manually raised to a position which does not conflict with the positioning of the starting blocks. 
   Removing the diving board from its support requires extensive time and labor. Moreover, removal of the diving board can create safety risks while individuals attempt to lift the heavy diving board on a slippery surface. Once the diving board is removed, it must then be stored in a location where it will not create a hazard and will not be damaged. Thus, removal of the diving board is strenuous, physically difficult, and dangerous. Likewise, once the diving board has been removed, its storage on a floor or against a wall can create a dangerous tripping hazard resulting in potentially severe injuries. 
   To raise the diving board, a variety of implements have been tried with very little success. Sticks and other objects have been utilized to pry the diving board in an upright position. The obvious safety concerns to both the individual prying the diving board and those individuals in the vicinity of the pried up board do not make this a workable alternative. 
   Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,336 to Wemlinger describes a diving board lift which is fixedly attached to and made a part of the anchored base of the diving board. In addition, the disclosed lift utilizes a hydraulic pump to raise and lower the lift. By attaching the lift to the anchored base of the diving board, the diving board warranty is deemed void, thereby leaving the diving board owner responsible for any and all problems relating to the diving board. The use of a hydraulic cylinder creates the risk of hydraulic fluid leaking or spilling onto the surface, thereby creating a risk of pool water contamination and the risk of slip and fall injuries. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of apparatus and methods for raising or removing a diving board now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new self-contained, manually or automatically operated, diving board lift which quickly, easily and securely raises a diving board so as to allow the safe use of starting blocks located in front of or adjacent to the diving board. 
   The diving board lift according to the present invention comprises a base assembly securely attached to the flooring surface. A lifting platform with a first end which is rotatably attached to the base assembly and a second end which extends away from the base assembly through a lifting means to engage and raise the diving board. The lifting means utilized is a manually or automatically operated actuator which is rotatably attached to the base assembly and the lifting platform. By turning the crank of the manual actuator or activating the automatic actuator in a clockwise direction, the second end of the lifting platform comes into engagement with the diving board and raises the diving board to a near upright position. The second end of the lifting platform include a pair of rollers with each roller contacting and rolling along the underside of the diving board while the diving board is raised. 
   A primary object of the present invention is to provide a self-contained diving board lift for raising a diving board to avert obstruction of one or more starting blocks used in competitive swimming. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a manual or automatic operated diving board lift to avoid the possibility of hydraulic fluid from contaminating the pool water or surface surrounding the pool. 
   An additional object of the present invention is to provide a self-contained, manually or automatically operated diving board lift which is easily operated by a single individual. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a diving board lift which is securely attached to the flooring surface. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a diving board lift that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and, therefore, inexpensive to the consumer. 
   Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention. 
   To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the diving board lift in a down position. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the diving board lift in an up position. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the top and base assemblies of the diving board lift. 
       FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the base assembly of the diving board lift. 
       FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the base assembly of the diving board lift. 
       FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the top assembly of the diving board lift. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, illustrate a diving board lift, which is comprised of a base assembly, a lift assembly and a lifting means. 
   Base Assembly 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6 , the base assembly is comprised of a first support post  14 , a second support post  16 , a third support post  18  and a fourth support post  20 . The support posts  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  extend vertically from the base castings  22  which are removably attached to the bottom end of the support posts  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 . Two parallel pairs of cross-bracing tubes  24  extend across and at right angles to the support posts  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 . The cross-bracing tubes  24  are permanently affixed at contact points on the support posts  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 . 
   Fixedly attached to the top end of the first support post  14  is the first end of the first inward-curved horizontal section of tubing  26 . Fixedly attached to the top end of the second support post  16  is the first end of the second inward-curved horizontal section of tubing  28 . The second end of the first inward-curved section of tubing  26  is fixedly attached to a first horizontal tubing section  30 . The second end of the second inward-curved section of tubing  28  is fixedly attached to a second horizontal tubing section  32 . The first horizontal tubing section  30  extends parallel to the cross-bracing tube  24  between the first and third support posts  14 ,  18  and across and beyond the top end of the third support post  18 . The second horizontal tubing section  32  extends parallel to the cross-bracing tube  24  between the second and fourth support posts  16 ,  20  and across and beyond the top end of the fourth support post  20 . 
   Fixedly attached to the sides of the third support post  18  and the first horizontal tubing section  30  is a first pair of triangular plates  34 . Attached to the top edges of the first pair of triangular plates  34  is a flange  38  having a circular opening. The flange  38  extends above the top side of the first horizontal tubing section  30 . Attached to the sides of the fourth support post  20  and the second horizontal tubing section  32  is a second pair of triangular plates  36 . Attached to the top edges of the second pair of triangular plates  36  is a flange  38  having a circular opening. The flange  38  extends above the top side of the second horizontal tubing section  32 . A plate-bracing tube  40  extends across and at right angles to the inside plates of the first and second pairs of triangular plates  34 ,  36 . The plate-bracing tube  40  is permanently affixed at contact points on the first and second pair of triangular plates  34 ,  36 . 
   Above and parallel to the cross-bracing tube  24  maintained between the first support post  14  and the second support post  16  is a support tube  42 . The support tube  42  is permanently affixed at contact points on the first and second support posts  14 ,  16 . Fixedly attached and at right angles to the support tube  42  are a pair of support plates  44 . The support plates  44  are semi-rectangular with a top side, a bottom side, a front end and a back end. The support plates  44  are fixedly attached to the support tube  42  on the bottom side near the back end. Adjacent to the contact points between the support tube  42  and support plates  44  are circular openings. Attached and perpendicular to the front ends of the support plates  44  is a hexagonal shaped plate  46 . The hexagonal plate  46  is permanently affixed at contact points on the support plates  44 . Attached to the front side of the hexagonal plate  46 , near the outside edges of the hexagonal plate  46 , are triangular-shaped teeth  48  which extend radially from the hexagonal plate  46 . 
   An attachment bracket  52  fixedly attached near the bottom end of an actuator  50 , which attachment bracket  52  contains a circular opening, is positioned between the support plates  44  with the circular openings in the attachment bracket  52  alining with the circular openings of the support plates  44 . A pivot pin  54  is inserted into the circular openings allowing the actuator  50  to be rotatably attached to the support plates  44 . 
   Top Assembly 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  6 , the top assembly consists of a first lift tube  56  and a second lift tube  58  which first and second lift tubes  56 ,  58  have a front end and a back end. A cross-bracing tube  60  extends across and at right angles to the first and second lift tubes  56 ,  58 . The cross-bracing tube  60  is permanently affixed at contact points near the back end of the first and second lift tubes  56 ,  58 . Attached to the cross-bracing tube  60  are a pair of horizontal “A” shaped connectors  62  with each horizontal “A” shaped connector  62  containing a circular opening. 
   Attached to the back end of the first lift tube  56  is the first end of the first downward-curved tube section  64 . Attached to the back end of the second lift tube  58  is the first end of the second downward-curved tube section  66 . Attached to the second end of the first and second downward-curved tube sections  64 ,  66  are “T” connectors  68  with each “T” connector  68  containing a circular opening. 
   A rectangular shaped plate  70  is attached to the front ends of the first and second lift tubes  56 ,  58 . The rectangular shaped plate  70  has a front side and two outside end sections which end sections are bent inward and at right angles to the front side. The end sections of the rectangular plate  70  are fixedly attached to the sides of the first and second lift tubes  56 ,  58 . The end sections of the rectangular plate  70  each contain a circular opening. Maintained between the circular openings of the rectangular plate&#39;s  70  end sections are a pair of roller members  74 . The roller members  74  are rotatably contained on a shaft  72 . The ends of the shaft  72  are maintained within the circular openings of the rectangular plate&#39;s  70  end sections. 
   Rotatably attached to the rectangular plate&#39;s  70  front side are a pair of latch mechanisms  76  having a top end and a bottom end. The top ends of the latch mechanisms  76  contain inward extending horizontal latches and the bottom ends of the latch mechanisms  76  contain triangular-shaped teeth. The latch mechanisms  76  each contain a circular opening adjacent to the triangular shaped teeth which are aligned with circular openings on the front side of the rectangular plate  70 . A torsion spring  78  and tubing section  80  are maintained between the latch mechanisms  76  and the rectangular plate&#39;s  70  front side. A bolt  82  passes through the latch mechanism  76 , the tubing section  80 , the torsion spring  78  and the front side of the rectangular plate  70  and secured in place with a nut. 
   The top assembly is rotatably attached to the bottom assembly by positioning the “T” connectors  68  of the downward-curved tube sections  64 , 66  within the flanges  38  of the triangular plates  34 ,  36  and aligning the circular openings. A pivot pin  84  is inserted into the circular openings. An actuator tube attachment  86 , fixedly attached to the top end of the actuator  50 , is positioned between the “A” shaped connectors  62  of the cross-bracing tube  60 . The circular openings of the actuator tube attachment  86  and the “A” shaped connectors  62  are aligned and a pivot pin  84  inserted. 
   To utilize the lift, the apparatus must be placed under a diving board and properly attached to the flooring surface. When in its lowered position, the actuator  50  is retracted and the first and second lift tubes  56 ,  58  of the top assembly are parallel to the first and second horizontal tubing sections  30 ,  32  of the bottom assembly. The triangular-shaped teeth of the latch mechanisms  76  and the triangular-shaped teeth  48  attached to hexagonal plate  46  are intertwined with the inward extending horizontal latches of the latch mechanisms  76  maintained below the triangular-shaped teeth  48 . 
   To raise the diving board, the crank stem  88  of the actuator  50  is rotated in a clockwise direction. As the crank stem  88  is rotated, the top assembly rotates about the pivot pins  54 ,  84  and the triangular-shaped teeth of the latch mechanisms  76  rotate about the triangular-shaped teeth  48  attached to hexagonal plate  46 . The roller members  74  come into contact with the diving board and raise the diving board to a near vertical position. So as to ensure that the top assembly of the lift remains in proper position with the diving board, the inward extending horizontal latches of the latch mechanisms  76  are rotated to come into contact with the topside of the diving board. 
   As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such additions, modifications and rearrangements.