Abstract:
A portable hurdle for use primarily athletes has a base portion operably secured to a bow portion that holds the hurdle to a predefined height when the bow portion is placed in tension by a securing structure. The hurdle lays substantially flat when the bow portion is returned to its neutral position. In one disclosed embodiment, the securing structure is a trap that forms the top of the hurdle. In other disclosed embodiments, the base portion defines the top of the hurdle. An adjustment structure allows for adjustment of the hurdle&#39;s height.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/626,024, filed Nov. 25, 2009, which is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/714,696, filed Mar. 5, 2007, entitled “Portable Hurdle” that has now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,635,319, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/779,398, filed Mar. 3, 2006, the entirety of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/714,696 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/779,398 are incorporated herein by reference. The disclosures of all of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for any and all purposes. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a hurdle used primarily for athletic events, athletic training, and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Hurdles are used in a wide variety of athletic events. For example, some track and field events include placing a series of spaced apart hurdles along a running track. Athletes must cross over the hurdles while competing with each other in a race. These types of hurdles are usually several feet high, and the various athletic organizations have adopted defined heights for the hurdles for a specific racing event, league, or competition. 
     Similarly, hurdles are also used for training purposes. An athlete positions one or more hurdles along a path and perform training drills that usually include crossing over each hurdle. Training hurdles are usually positioned low to the ground as shown in the attached  FIGS. 1A  (PRIOR ART) and  1 B (PRIOR ART). Common heights for these types of hurdles are between 6 inches to 12 inches from the ground. 
     It is desirable for hurdles to be economical to manufacture and purchase, portable, easy and compact to store when not in use, easy to set-up and use, easily height adjustable, and easily deflected if contacted during use while remaining stable in wind and the like. To date, known hurdle structures have had limited success with optimizing these desirable characteristics. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a portable hurdle that optimizes these desirable characteristics. It is economical to manufacturer and purchase, stores compactly and easily, sets up quickly and easily, can be adjusted to provide a plurality of hurdle heights, remains stable during use even in wind, but collapses easily if inadvertently contacted by the athlete during use. 
     In disclosed embodiments, the hurdle is formed of a base portion and a bow portion. The bow portion is brought into tension and held in place with a securing device, such as a strap or the like, to form the legs of the hurdle. In one disclosed embodiment, the strap forms the top of the hurdle. In other disclosed embodiments, the base defines the top of the hurdle. 
     The length of the strap can be adjusted to provide an adjustable height hurdle. In a preferred embodiment, the strap has predefined attachment points so as to set the height of the hurdle to corresponding standard hurdle heights. Alternatively, the strap can be infinitely adjustable, thereby providing an infinitely adjustable height as needed. 
     In addition to other benefits disclosed herein, the present invention fulfills these needs. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  (PRIOR ART) is a front isometric view of a plurality of prior art hurdles grouped together in a stack for storage. 
         FIG. 1B  (PRIOR ART) is a left side isometric view of two hurdles from  FIG. 1A  (PRIOR ART) showing a possible use by an athlete. 
         FIG. 2  is a front, right side isometric view of a hurdle in accordance with the present invention showing a first possible height of the hurdle. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the hurdle of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front, right side isometric view of the hurdle of  FIG. 2  showing a second possible height of the hurdle. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged, partial view of the base portion of the hurdle of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a left side, isometric view of the hurdle of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged, partial alternative left side, isometric view of the hurdle of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 8  is a front, right side, isometric view of a first alternative embodiment of a hurdle in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a front, right side, isometric view of a second alternative embodiment of a hurdle in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a front, right side, isometric view of a third alternative embodiment of a hurdle in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a front, right side, isometric view of a fourth alternative embodiment of a hurdle in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a front, right side, isometric view of a fifth alternative embodiment of a hurdle in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of the hurdle of  FIG. 12  showing a possible untensioned configuration of the hurdle of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a right side view of the hurdle of  FIG. 12  is the possible untensioned configuration of  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A first preferred hurdle structure  20   a  is disclosed in  FIGS. 2-7 . The base portion  24  is integrally formed with the bow portion  26 , thereby defining a monolithic structure. Preferably, the monolithic structure is substantially planar when the bow portion  26  is in its neutral, non-tensioned, configuration  29  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The base portion  24  can straddle the bow portion  26 ′ as shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , or the base portion  24  can be centered between the bow portion  26  as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     The hurdle structure  20   a  of this embodiment is set up by extending the securing device  28 , which is preferably a strap or the like, between the ends  40   a ,  40   b  of the bow portion  26  in its neutral position  49  ( FIG. 3 ) and moving the ends  40   a ,  40   b  of the bow portion towards each other, thereby placing the bow portion  26  in tension as best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . The securing device  28  is operably secured toward the ends  40   a ,  40   b  of the bow portion  26 , thereby holding the bow portion  26  in the desired tension position. 
     Preferably, a plurality of spaced apart attachment structures  30  for operably securing the securing device  28  to the bow portion  26 , such as snaps or the like, are positioned along one end  31  of the securing device  28 . Accordingly, the height  27  of the hurdle  20  can preferably be adjusted at least between a low position  50  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and a high position  52  (show in  FIG. 4 ) simply by securing the ends  40   a ,  40   b  of the bow portion  26  to different spaced-apart attachment structures  30 . For example, the spaced-apart attachment structures can be aligned so as to allow the height  27  of the hurdle to be 6 inches, 8 inches, and 12 inches depending on which attachment structure  30  is connected by the user. Of course, the hurdle  20  can be sized so as to provide other heights  27  including those used in conventional track and field events and the like. 
     Preferably, the base portion  24  is folded along its longitudinal length to define fold lines  55   a ,  55   b  as best shown in  FIG. 4  to in increase rigidity and support. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9-14 , alternative preferred hurdle structures  20   b - e  are disclosed. In order to prevent undue repetition, like element numbers between the embodiments are like numbered. 
     Referring to the hurdle  20   b  embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , the base portion  24  is an elongate substantially rigid member and the bow portion  26  includes left and right bow members  26   a ,  26   b , respectively spaced apart from each other and extending there from. The bow members  26   a ,  26   b  are preferably substantially planar, operably secured to the base portion  24  so as to assume a substantially neutral position when not in tension aligned substantially along the longitudinal centerline of the base portion  24 , and have substantially flat distal edges  57   a ,  57   b.    
     A user places the bow members  26   a ,  26   b  in tension by moving the distal ends  40   a ,  40   b , respectively, of each bow member  26   a ,  26   b  toward each other. A securing device  28  that preferably includes a plurality of spaced-apart attachment structures  30  there along operably holds the bow members  26   a ,  26   b  in tension. Preferably, the securing device  28  is a strap that extends between and is operably secured toward the distal ends  40   a ,  40   b  of the left and right bow members  26   a ,  26   b . The distal edges  57   a ,  57   b  of the bow members  26   a ,  26   b , rest on the ground while the base portion  24  is elevated substantially horizontally above the ground at a desired height  27  as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     In  FIGS. 10 &amp; 11 , the hurdle  20   c  and hurdle  20   d  are substantially similar in construction as hurdle  20   b  ( FIG. 9 ). However, in order to prevent the securing device  28  from being stepped on during use, the securing device is slidably received through a lower side of the base portion  24  of hurdle  20   c  as shown in  FIG. 10 . Alternatively, hurdle  20   d  has two straps  28   a ,  28   b  operably extending between the distal ends of the bow member to the base portion as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     The base portion  24 , left bow member  26   a , and right bow member  26   b  can be individual components that are secured together with conventional means and methods. Alternatively, these structures can be integrally formed from a monolithic structure, such as by molding, cutting, forming and the like. In such case, the base portion  24  preferably includes rigidity structures therein, like elongate seams, folds, and the like. 
     An alternative hurdle  20   e  embodiment  20   e  is shown in  FIGS. 12-14 . In this embodiment, the hurdle  20   e  is preferably formed of a monolithic, substantially planar material shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  to define a substantially planar H-shape when in its neutral position shown in  FIG. 13 . The center of the H defines the base portion  24  with the left and right arms of the H each being a bow portion  26  thereby defining left and right bow portions  26   a ,  26   b , respectively, on each bow portion  26 . Left and right securing devices  28   a ,  28   b  operably hold the respective left and right bow portions in tension, thereby raising the base portion  24  to the desired hurdle height  27  for use. 
     Preferably, each securing device includes a plurality of spaced apart attachment structures  30  thereby allowing the height of the hurdle to be adjusted. 
     It can be appreciated that each hurdle can be stored and transported relatively easily simply by detaching the securing devices from their respective bow portions. This causes the tension in the bow portions to be released so that they return to their substantially neutral, planar, position. Accordingly, the hurdles become substantially planar and can be stacked, stored, and carried easily. 
     To use the hurdles, the user simply attaches securing devices so as to place the bow portions in tension as described. He or she then positions the hurdles as desired and uses them like conventional hurdles. 
     Having described and illustrated the principles of our invention with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. For example, although the preferred disclosed securing device has a plurality of spaced apart attachment structures, an alternative attachment structure, such as a slider and clamp, could be used to make the hurdle height infinitely adjustable. Accordingly, in view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles may be put, it should be recognized that the detailed embodiments are illustrative only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of our invention. Accordingly, we claim as our invention all such modifications as may come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto.