Abstract:
A gauntlet athletic sled for use by football trainers has a sled frame with spaced apart side sections defining a runway between them from a front end to a rear end. A front to rear extending series of readily removable, position adjustable inflated resilient arms project from the side sections laterally into the runway to create a predetermined obstacle path simulating the arms and hands of would be tacklers, which must be deflected aside to permit passage of the runner down the pathway. The varied pressure of arm inflation controls the resistance to passage of the runner proceeding down the runway.

Description:
The gauntlet sled of the present application relates to training sleds for use in training football running backs and others, and defines a runway or aisle with projecting obstacles simulating the arms of would be tacklers 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Gauntlet sleds of the general character indicated have been in use for some time, and are exemplified in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,451,677 and 2,752,155. Responsive to the forward motion of the runner, the projecting obstacle arms are deflected aside to permit the runner to pass, and then spring back to the original position. 
     The present improvement deals with the concept of providing inflatable, resilient obstacle arms which project randomly into the runway in staggered formation at different heights, angles, and intervals, to simulate opponents tackling the legs and upper body of the runner, and opponents seeking to strip the ball from the arms of the runner. Unlike the prior art spring-biased arms, which have less resistance when the player passes the spring&#39;s load point and tend to create pinch points which could injure the runner, the air-filled arms of the present construction put consistent pressure on the ball carrier and are capable of movement in all directions for added safety and realism. The inflatable arms are provided with unique fittings for releasably attaching them to the frame side rails in a manner to permit the height, the angle of projection, and the interval between arm sets or splits to be adjusted to closely simulate anticipated game day conditions. 
     One of the prime objects of the present inventions is to provide an improved gauntlet sled of the character described which can be used to train running backs and their lead blockers, in particular, to pump their legs while exploding through holes and maintaining balance. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a gauntlet sled wherein one-piece, inflatable, resilient arms, with no mechanical components, provide the consistent resistance necessary to simulate game-day play in a manner which avoids injury. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a gauntlet construction of the character described wherein tension or resistance to passage is adjustable by the simple expedient of varying air pressure, and mechanical pinch points, which might cause injury, are avoided. 
     Still a further object of the invention is to provide an inflatable arm gauntlet sled in which the inflatable arms have inflated and deformable fist-like ends simulating the grabbing action of would-be opponent tacklers when encountered by the runner. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide an inflatable arm which can be bent about a relatively rigid arm mount sleeve which has the dual function of adjustably supporting the arm on a gauntlet sled side rail. 
     Still a further object of the invention is to provide an inflatable arm mount with interlocking fittings which provide for quick detachment of the arm and its carrier for storage without disassembly of the sled. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a very durable, well stabilized gauntlet sled of the type described which is economical to manufacture and assemble, and to maintain. 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent with reference to the accompanying drawings and the accompanying descriptive matter. 
    
    
     THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective side elevational view of the gauntlet sled frame and associated arm assemblies only; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the arm members, with its mount fitting shown clamped in position on one of the side frame side rails; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the inflatable arm only; 
     FIG. 4 is a partly exploded rear end elevational view of the arm fitting only, with the interlocking parts of the fitting shown in locked position; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded side elevational view with the interlocking parts shown in disengaged position; 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating the first step in the interengagement of the interlocking parts; and 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 4-6 showing the fitting parts in interlocking position ready to be secured by a locking pin. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, and in the first instance to FIG. 1, the gauntlet sled, generally designated S, is shown as comprised of a frame system having spaced apart rectangular side frames or sections;, generally designated 10 and 11, which include front and rear vertical posts P and P&#39; connected at their front and rear ands by integral side frame unifying upper cross pieces 12. The side frames 10 and 11 further incorporate post-spanning, front to rear extending upper and lower rods or rails 13 and 14, as shown, and it is on these tubular rods or pipes 13 and 14 that the arm assemblies, generally designated A in FIGS. 1 and 2, are mounted. Runners or bottom rails designated BR are provided to further connect the lower ends of the side posts P and P&#39; to which the side rails 13 and 14 are vertically adjustably connected by U-bolts U, or the like, for example. 
     The arm assemblies A, which are shown mounted on the rails 13 and 14 to project into the aisle or runway R defined between the side rails 13 and 14 provided on the side frames 10 and 11 comprise hollow, inflatable, air-filled, elastic synthetic plastic bladders which have fist-shaped front ball portions 15a and cylindrical portions 15b which terminate in rounded cup-shaped cap portions 15c. Between the front end ball portions 15a and generally cylindrical portions 15b, the arms 15 diverge or taper, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, and it will be noted that the rear end caps 15c are of enlarged annular girth to provide an annular arm shoulder 15d. A conventional valve 16, which permits inflation or deflation of the arm 15, is provided for each cap 15c and may be of the depressible plunger type conventionally utilized on automotive tires. Typically, the elastomer used for arms A may be polyvinyl chloride, but other synthetic plastics are also contemplated. 
     A metal sleeve, which is sufficiently rigid to mount the arm 15, fits over the arm portion 15b to abut against shoulder 15d, and dependently carries a pair of spaced apart interlock plates 18. The plates 18 are provided with slots 19 in their rear portions and pins 20 are fixed or welded in place in the slots 19 as shown. The front ends of plates 18 are provided with transversely aligned openings 21. 
     The sleeve 17 and plates 18 are part of a disengagable fitting, generally designated F, which is movable along one of the frame rods or pipes 13 or 14, and is secured in position by a set screw 22 in a selected longitudinal position, and at a preferred angle of projection. The sleeve 22a, which is part of fitting F, is clamped to a side rail 13 or 14 by the set screw 22, which operates in conjunction with a fixed nut 22b fixed to the sleeve 22a. Provided on each sleeve 22a are a like pair of interlock plates 23 which are spaced apart as shown in FIG. 4 to lie outboard of the plates 18 in facial engagement therewith when the interlock parts are in the assembled position. The plates 23 are provided with matching rear slots 19a and front pin openings 21a and, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the plates 23 are received on the pins 20 via the slots 19a. A retaining pin 24 is utilized to extend through openings 21 and 21a to retain the sleeve 22a secured to sleeve 19, and a pin retention line 24a may be provided for the pin 24 and can secure to one of the plates 18. In view of this construction involving the interlocking plates 18 and 23, a quick detachment of each arm A and its sleeve 17 is possible for storage purposes without disassembly of the whole unit, and the construction also facilitates replacement of one of the arms 15 when necessary. 
     As FIG. 1 particularly indicates, the arms 15 randomly angularly project in staggered relation into the path of the running back or other runner who must move them aside against the air pressure in the arms 15 and bend them rearwardly about the flared front 17b of the sleeve 17 as the player proceeds along the aisle or runway R between frames 10 and 11. With the bending of the air-filled arms 15 taking place about the flared edges 17b of the sleeves 17, no mechanical pinch points are created, which could injure the trainee. 
     THE OPERATION 
     The arms A on each side are randomly mounted in the sense that they project into the runway R at different angles and at differently longitudinally spaced positions along the runway R so contact does not occur in the same spot. The upper arms 15 on side rails 13 are normally located somewhat below the shoulder level position of the player to simulate tackler&#39;s arms projecting into the ball carrying area. The arms 15 on the lower rails 14 may project at different angles into a path to embrace the thighs or calves of the runner, or some may project downwardly sufficiently toward the ankles of the runner to seek to trip him. The rails 14 can be moved downwardly, on pipes P and P&#39;, to accommodate this latter positioning of the arms 15 at one or more arm positions along the runway R. The fist-like ends 15a simulate the grabbing action of would be tacklers who are tackling the ball, and teach the runner to protect the ball and avoid stripping of the ball. 
     The air filled arms put consistent pressure on the ball carrier as he moves forcefully along the runway R and the arms, because of their randomly staggered positions, move in all directions for added safety and realism. Trainees are taught to pump the legs, cover the ball, and make the second effort as they move along the gauntlet sled runway. Not only running backs benefit from use of the sled. Linemen can also be trained to &#34;break the hole&#34; for the backs, and blocking dummies can be used as an attachment for the sled to facilitate this practice wherein the linemen and running backs practice hitting, spinning, and running through the runway, or rip, swim, and run-through techniques. 
     The pressure of inflation of the arm 15 controls the resistance to passage of the runner proceeding down the runway, and is varied to create the obstacle path which is desired by the coach. Further, the angle of projection of the arms A and the spacing or splits between arms is selected by the coach to build the obstacle path he wishes to create. The spacing between frames 10 and 11 is sufficient so that the runner can veer and react to the varied air pressure encountered in the arms along the obstacle path. A greater or lesser resistance to passage is imposed on the runner, depending on whether the runner contacts the front ends of the arms 15 or engages the larger girth portions of the arm 15 which are nearer to the arm bend points at 17B. Because of the air pressure within the arms 15, which typically will vary within the range of 5 to 20 psi, the runner must explode through the runway R, the pressure normally being such that a runner would be trapped and stopped if he were not blasting through at full speed. The arms 15 resiliently snap back to the original position, once the runner has passed and released them. As shown in FIG. 1, the arms A project more or less downwardly dependent on the obstacle path desired, to train runners to pump their legs, blast through holes, and maintain balance, all while carrying the ball properly to resist stripping. 
     It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiment is representative of a presently preferred form of the invention, but is intended to be illustrative rather than definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.