Patent Publication Number: US-2012040800-A1

Title: Portable runners starting block assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Continuation of previous application Ser. No. 11/189,406 by F. W. Held (Rejected) 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to equipment used by runners to get a secure and effective start in a sprint race. Initially, starting blocks were developed for dirt tracks with large spikes driven into the dirt to keep them from slipping. Starting blocks generally evolved into assemblies with a central rail and a moveable block attached to each side as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,494,615 by G. L. Moore. With the advent of synthetic track surfaces starting blocks generally used shorter spikes to avoid damaging the track surface and often provided tilt angle adjustments for each foot block as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,803 by Newton, Jr. More recently, lightweight starting blocks without a central rail or tie bar, small enough and light enough to be conveniently carried in a runners personal equipment bag have been developed for synthetic track surfaces. These are seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,319 by Young and U.S. Pat. No. 6,342,029 by Richards. 
     Related U.S. Patent Documents: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 3,494,615 
                 Febuary, 1970 
                 G. L. Moore 
                   
               
               
                   
                 4,089,519 
                 May, 1978 
                 Newton, Jr. 
                 482/19 
               
               
                   
                 4,561,650 
                 December, 1985 
                 Newton, Jr. 
                 482/19 
               
               
                   
                 4,611,803 
                 September, 1986 
                 Newton, Jr. 
                 482/19 
               
               
                   
                 4,754,965 
                 July, 1988 
                 Moye 
                 482/19 
               
               
                   
                 5,342,259 
                 August, 1994 
                 Crichton 
                 482/19 
               
               
                   
                 6,238,319 
                 May, 2001 
                 Young 
                 482/19 
               
               
                   
                 6,342,029 
                 January, 2002 
                 Richards 
                 482/19 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The earlier blocks with the central rail have the disadvantage of being heavy and too large to fit into a runner&#39;s personal equipment bag, making it difficult for a runner to carry them from meet to meet or from home to workout. They also generally allow some flat surfaces to rest on the track which contributes to slippage during the start of a race. The more recent portable blocks (Richards and Young) are light and easy to carry, but have the disadvantage of being difficult to position on the track because they are two completely separate foot blocks and have to be positioned separately. Powerful sprinters often displace the back foot block when starting. Since it is not attached to the front foot block in any way, it has to be repositioned after each such start. This is a significant disadvantage when doing repeat training starts or warmup starts for a race. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides a truly lightweight portable starting block with a central tie bar. The total weight of the assembly, which includes two adjustable foot plates an a tie bar, is less than eight pounds. When disassembled and folded, it fits into a box (or space) 12 inches long, 12 inches wide and 6 inches high. When the assembled unit is in the starting position on a track, it rests entirely on the spikes located directly under the runner&#39;s feet. No part of the assembly other than the spikes under the runners feet touches the track. The direction of the starting force generated by the runner passes downward in front of the back row of spikes and behind the front row of spikes in each block. The downward component of the starting force pushes the spikes into the track surface. This spike arrangement insures the securest possible anchorage to the track and eliminates slippage. 
     The longitudinal separation of the foot blocks is selected by choosing from a series of holes in the tie bar when connecting the foot blocks to the tie bar. A unique arrangement of attaching the back plate of the front foot block to the front of the tie bar (See  10  of  FIG. 1  &amp;  FIG. 2 ) allows the front foot plate to extend beyond the front of the tie bar. This allows the tie bar to be shorter than the longitudinal separation of the two foot pads (See  2  of  FIG. 1  &amp;  FIG. 2 ) . A tie bar or central rail shorter than the separation of the foot plates is not seen in any previous art. The short tie bar reduces the length requirement of the tie bar allowing for lighter weight, convenient storage and easy transportation. The tilt angle of the each foot plate is adjusted by selecting from a series of notches in the brace arm that secures the angle between the front and back plates of each foot block. The tie bar also prevents the displacement of the back foot block so that it is never necessary to reposition it after a start. 
     Each foot block is easily removed from the tie bar and folded flat so that the three pieces can be stored in a small bag and easily carried in a runner&#39;s personal equipment bag from meet to meet or from home to workout. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1 . Side view of entire starting block assembly. 
         FIG. 2 . Top view of entire starting block assembly. 
         FIG. 3 . Side view of folded front foot block. 
         FIG. 4 . Side view of folded back foot block. 
         FIG. 5 . Side view of tie bar. 
         FIG. 6 . End view of tie bar. 
         FIG. 7 . View of back plate (Typical) showing opening and dowel pin. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows the profile of the assembled block in a starting configuration. This view shows the brace arms  6  which select and secure the tilt angle of the front plates  1  &amp;  12 . The brace arms are hinged at a dowel pin  7  attached to the front plates  1  &amp;  12  of each foot block and slide through an opening  5  in the back plates  3  &amp;  13  ( FIG. 3 ). The front and back plates are hinged at the top by a hollow pin  4  allowing for angle adjustments and folding flat. Any of the several notches  8  provided in the bottom edge of the brace arm  6  can be dropped over a dowel pin  9  imbedded in each back plate  3  &amp;  13 . Each notch selects a different tilt angle for the foot plate and secures the desired start angle. The spikes  11  are the only part of the assembly that touches the track surface. The front foot block and the back foot block are essentially the same, except for the location of the round rods  10  &amp;  14  used to connect the foot blocks to the tie bar  15 . 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the assembled block in a starting configuration. The front foot block has a round rod  10  attached to its back plate  3  near the base. The back foot block has a round rod  14  attached to its front plate  12  near the base. These bars protrude on both sides of the foot blocks and can be inserted in any of a series of holes  18  in the tie bar  15  from either side so as to allow the sprinter to have either foot in the forward position. The round bars  10  &amp;  14  are secured in the tie bar  15  by a tightening screw and knob  16  that is threaded through a tightening bar  17 . A rubber pad  2  is glued to the front surface of the curved front plates  1  &amp;  12  to provide a secure footing for the sprinter. 
       FIGS. 3 ,  4  &amp;  5  show the three parts of the assembly in a compact configuration. The brace arms  6  are rotated down, and each foot block is folded flat ( FIGS. 3 &amp; 4 ). The two flat foot blocks along with the tie bar ( FIG. 5 ) are shown ready for storage. 
       FIG. 6  shows an end view of the tie bar. 
       FIG. 7  shows the position of the dowel pin embedded in each back plate to catch the notched brace arm and secure the desired starting angle. 
       FIGS. 1 through 7  show a compact starting block assembly weighing less than eight pounds which can easily be disassembled and folded to fit into a box (space) 12 inches long, 12 inches wide and 6 inches high.