Patent Description:
Conventional diving boards used in diving competitions (e.g., collegiate diving, the Olympic Games) are generally aluminum alloy boards coated with a non-skid surface material. Diving boards that have long been in use in such competitions are described, for example, in <CIT>.

Diving board assemblies for use in competitive diving typically have an adjustable fulcrum so that the fulcrum can be adjusted to various positions along the length of the board to adjust the board stiffness. A competitive diving stand contains a moveable fulcrum, allowing the diver to adjust the amount of spring. The fulcrum system includes an adjustable wheel that sits beneath the board, and can be moved, e.g., <NUM> inches (<NUM>) forward or backward from the mid-point, e.g., <NUM>-inches (<NUM>) in total. This adjustment changes the point at which the springboard will flex. Other than the hinges, the fulcrum is the only point of contact for the diving board and the stand. The fulcrum is important because it allows the diver to adjust the amount of spring, depending on the diver's weight and skill level. More spring does not necessarily correspond to more height. A diver must adjust the fulcrum so that he or she can push down on the board as it is going down, a technique known as riding the board. One such assembly is the Durafirm diving stand available from Duraflex International Corp. of Sparks, Nevada, <CIT> relates to a diving board apparatus, the combination of a base-frame structure having horizontal lengthway surfaces; a springboard, means for securing one end of said board to said- frame, a combined eccentric and fulcrum assembly movably supported by said horizontal surfaces and movable along under said board to support the same, and means for moving said fulcrum assembly along said horizontal surface and said board while supporting the weight of the board and diver. <CIT> relates to a movable support for a load-bearing article comprising rotatable means engaging the underside of the article for supporting the article, body means mounting the rotatable means transversely of the article, a longitudinally oriented bearing surface for accommodating movement of the body means, bearing surface engaging means rotatably mounted to the body means for support of the body means, and means connected to the rotatable means for rotation therewith for rotating the rotatable means against the article to displace the rotatable means and its body means longitudinally of the article to change the location of article support by the rotatable means. <CIT> relates to a movable fulcrum for a spring board advanced or retracted by a double-acting hydraulic jack to the one end or the other of which a suitable liquid such as oil may be supplied under pressure. <CIT> relates to a springboard support comprising a frame, a springboard mounted in the frame, a fulcrum support in the frame intermediate the ends of the board, and power actuated means on the frame whereby the distance from the fulcrum support to the free end of the board may be adjusted to vary the resiliency of the board. <CIT> relates to a diving board lift assembly for lifting a diving board from a substantially horizontal diving position to a substantially upright position. The diving board having a diving end and a hinged end with the hinged end hingedly connected to a diving board support member. A lifting mechanism is provided to lift the diving end of the diving board to the substantially upright position.

Briefly, therefore, the present invention is directed to a diving board stand assembly including an adjustable fulcrum.

The present invention provides a diving board stand according to the appended claims.

The diving board may further comprise a fulcrum carriage for supporting the fulcrum roller on the fulcrum base, wherein the rear anchor comprises hinges for hingedly securing a diving board to the rear anchor; and the fulcrum carriage comprises guides for riding on vertically projecting rails of the fulcrum base for guiding the fulcrum along the fulcrum base.

The invention is also directed to other combinations and subcombinations based on the below description and/or attached drawings.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the below.

<FIG> shows the diving board stand <NUM> of the invention including an adjustment actuator <NUM> shown here as an actuator wheel. The actuator wheel <NUM> is connected to one end of fulcrum roller <NUM> and can be turned to roll the roller <NUM>, which moves along linear track <NUM>, which includes vertical track elements or rails <NUM>. Linear track <NUM> maintains alignment and allows for smooth movement of the fulcrum including fulcrum roller <NUM>. The grooves in the rod gain traction on an underneath side of a diving board when a diving board rests on the stand. Traction is facilitated by, for example, rubber strips R on the underneath side of the diving board as shown in <FIG>. Since the board itself is anchored, turning the actuator wheel does not move the board; rather, it moves the fulcrum roller <NUM> linearly along linear track <NUM>.

Linear track <NUM> is mounted on fulcrum casting <NUM>, which supports and allows for adjustment of the fulcrum roller <NUM>. Fulcrum casting <NUM> is a fulcrum base and is fixedly connected to alignment beam <NUM> via alignment beam mounting bracket <NUM> (<FIG>). Alignment beam <NUM> maintains alignment between the fulcrum assembly and rear anchor <NUM>. Rear anchor <NUM> is preferably a metal brace which connects and anchors the overall fulcrum assembly to a diving board. In the preferred embodiment shown, the rear anchor <NUM> comprises a tray <NUM> (<FIG>) into which the end of alignment beam <NUM> nests, and two or more hinges <NUM> which function with connectors such as bolts to fix the diving board to the anchor, while allowing the diving board to pivot up and down. Fulcrum base <NUM> includes a cast-in wing formation <NUM> which provides a point for attachment when mounting the stand to a pedestal or platform. The various components of the stand are preferably made of metal.

Fulcrum carriage assembly <NUM> (<FIG>) supports fulcrum roller <NUM> and carries the roller along linear track <NUM>. This assembly is an interface between the roller and the fulcrum casting. Overall fulcrum base assembly <NUM> includes the fulcrum casting <NUM> and the linear tracks.

The fulcrum roller <NUM> has two circumferential recesses for receiving bearing sleeves <NUM> and <NUM> identified in <FIG>. These sleeves are replaceable and interface between the rotating roller <NUM> and the non-rotating cradle elements <NUM> in which roller <NUM> rests. The bearing sleeves sit in smooth-surfaced circumferential recesses <NUM> on the fulcrum roller as shown in <FIG>. So the circumferential surface of the fulcrum roller is textured (here, e.g., with grooves) except in the area of the smooth-surfaced circumferential recesses. The cradle elements are attached to carriage assembly <NUM>, which includes guides <NUM> that ride on vertical elements <NUM> of track <NUM>. There are end stops <NUM> and <NUM> identified in <FIG> at each end of track <NUM> which limit the lengthwise movement of fulcrum carriage assembly <NUM> along track <NUM>.

Alignment beam <NUM> at one end is connected to anchor <NUM> which connects the fulcrum assembly to a diving board. The embodiment shown includes diving board hinges <NUM> which allow the diving board to react to a dive while maintaining connection to the ground. Alignment beam <NUM> at its other end is connected to the fulcrum base assembly by alignment beam mounting bracket <NUM> (<FIG>). The distance between the fulcrum casting/base and the back of the rear anchor once assembled, which corresponds to the length of the alignment beam plus the length of the rear anchor, and corresponds to the distance between the fulcrum base and the butt end of a diving board on the stand, is typically between about <NUM> inches (about <NUM>) and about <NUM> inches (<NUM>), such as between about <NUM> inches (<NUM>) and <NUM> inches (<NUM>) for some models adapted for use with some boards, and between about <NUM> inches (<NUM>) and <NUM> inches (<NUM>) for other models adapted for use with other boards. For example, current models have an assembled distance between the fulcrum casting/base and the back of the rear anchor of about <NUM> inches (about <NUM>), about <NUM> inches (<NUM>), or about <NUM> inches (<NUM>), plus or minus about <NUM>%.

A second embodiment of the diving board is depicted at <NUM> in <FIG>, with components thereof depicted in <FIG>. As with the first embodiment, there is an adjustment actuator <NUM>, a fulcrum roller <NUM>, a linear track <NUM>, a rear anchor <NUM>, and alignment beam <NUM>. Whereas the adjustment actuator <NUM> in the first embodiment is connected directly to the fulcrum roller <NUM>, in the second embodiment communication between the adjustment actuator <NUM> and fulcrum roller <NUM> is through internal gearing, and there is not direct firm connection between actuator <NUM> and roller <NUM>. This internal gearing reduces force required to move the actuator for adjustment of the fulcrum. It will be appreciated that the actuator is also appropriately characterized as a footwheel, since it will typically be operated by a diver's foot.

As seen in <FIG>, the linear track consists of one rail per side, rather than two rails or vertical track elements per side with track <NUM> of the first embodiment. The guides <NUM> shown in <FIG> ride on the single rails. The linear track is protected from the elements and rigors of the diving environment by track cover <NUM>, seen best in <FIG>.

There is a cast-in wing formation <NUM> shown in <FIG> extending from the fulcrum casting or fulcrum base <NUM> to provide a point of attachment for mounting the stand to a pedestal or platform. In attaching either embodiment of the stand to a pedestal or platform, it has been discovered that corrosion of the stand can be significantly reduced by electrically isolating the stand from the pedestal or platform. In particular, concrete around swimming pools carries current which carrying is exacerbated by rebar or other metal reinforcement in the concrete, thus putting diving board stands in electrical communication with swimming pool water. Diving board stands are therefore vulnerable to corrosion. The invention therefore optionally involves electrically isolating the stand from the platform or pedestal to which it is attached. That is, the stand optionally further comprises an electrically insulating polymer composition and/or electrically insulating washers incorporated with bolts to connect the wing formations <NUM>/<NUM> to the pedestal or platform.

In the second embodiment, the central opening in rear anchor <NUM> is larger than in the first embodiment. This larger opening is large enough to provide manual access with a torque wrench to verify tightness of connections including mounting bolts. The opening in a currently preferred embodiment is therefore defined by a minimum vertical dimension in the longitudinal direction of the stand and its alignment beam of at least about <NUM> inches (<NUM>), and a minimum horizontal dimension of at least about <NUM> inches (<NUM>). This allows for proper arc swing of the wrench and proper clearance to get the wrench onto and off of connecting bolts. The rear anchor therefore comprises an opening having at least one vertical dimension in the longitudinal direction of the stand that is at least about <NUM> and at least one horizontal dimension of at least about <NUM> to provide access to connections between the anchor and a diving board. As with the first embodiment, the rear anchor is a brace for connecting and anchoring the assembly to a diving board and preferably comprises a tray <NUM> (<FIG>) into which the end of the alignment beam <NUM> nests, and two or more hinges <NUM> which function with connectors such as bolts to fix the diving board to the anchor, while allowing the diving board to pivot up and down.

The diving board stand of the invention manifests significant improvements in various aspects, such as in the areas of maintenance and repeatability. In one respect, the stand employs bearing surface interfaces that do not require added lubrication. There is also reduction in the required alignment adjustments for the fulcrum to operate smoothly. In the stand of the invention, the the track system is less vulnerable to what is known as racking which can occur when twisting of the fulcrum tie plate locks the fulcrum in place. This is twisting is abated by components which maintain alignment. These components also reduce rattling noises. The design uses a track system that allows for the fulcrum carriage to overcome this racking while not needing the extra components and lubrication. This advantageously increases the repeatability as the system is not reliant on maintaining its alignment via quickly decaying components and lubrication. It can further be appreciated that the communication manifest in the connection among the fulcrum casting, alignment beam, and anchor has a stabilizing influence from which various benefits may flow.

Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A diving board stand comprising:
a fulcrum casting (<NUM>, <NUM>), the fulcrum casting (<NUM>, <NUM>) being a fulcrum base including a cast-in wing formation (<NUM>) providing a point for attachment when mounting the stand (<NUM>, <NUM>) to a pedestal or platform;
a fulcrum roller (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to be supported over the fulcrum base and movable on the fulcrum base;
an actuator wheel (<NUM>, <NUM>) connected to one end of the fulcrum roller (<NUM>, <NUM>) that can be turned to roll the fulcrum roller (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a rear anchor (<NUM>, <NUM>) for connecting the diving board (<NUM>, <NUM>) stand to a rear end of a diving board, the rear anchor comprising a tray (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
an alignment beam (<NUM>, <NUM>) for connecting the fulcrum base to the rear anchor (<NUM>, <NUM>), wherein an end of the alignment beam (<NUM>, <NUM>) nests into the tray (<NUM>, <NUM>) and is connected to the rear anchor (<NUM>, <NUM>), the alignment beam (<NUM>, <NUM>) at its other end being connected to the fulcrum base by an alignment beam mounting bracket (<NUM>).