U.S. patent application number 10/095281 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-17 for pole vault training exercise apparatus.
Invention is credited to Rosiles, Luis M..
Application Number | 20040116259 10/095281 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32508236 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040116259 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rosiles, Luis M. |
June 17, 2004 |
Pole vault training exercise apparatus
Abstract
An exercise apparatus for pole vault training including a rope,
a cross bar and an elastomer of selected properties intervening
between said cross bar and said rope and effective when utilized to
simulate the athletic maneuvers of pole vaulting.
Inventors: |
Rosiles, Luis M.; (Grand
Prairie, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE LAW OFFICES OF H. DENNIS KELLY
2401 TURTLE CREEK
DALLAS
TX
75219
US
|
Family ID: |
32508236 |
Appl. No.: |
10/095281 |
Filed: |
March 11, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10095281 |
Mar 11, 2002 |
|
|
|
09533849 |
Mar 23, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/121 ;
482/122; 482/129 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 5/16 20130101; A63B
69/00 20130101; A63B 2244/085 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/121 ;
482/122; 482/129 |
International
Class: |
A63B 021/02; A63B
021/04 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An exercise apparatus for simulating the sequential steps of the
sport of pole vaulting comprising: a) a cross bar; b) elastomer
means connected to the crossbar for simulating the elastic behavior
of a vaulting pole; and c) a dependent rope attached to the
elastomer means, and adapted to be secured for arcuate displacement
about a suitable support at a site at which said apparatus is to be
utilized, and having a length chosen so that a user can take
several running steps, simultaneously stretching the elastomer
means, prior to the user being lifted off the ground by the
apparatus.
2. An exercise apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the
mount of said cross bar is defined by a triangular formation
including said cross bar and a pair of support straps secured at a
lower end spaced apart to said cross bar and commonly connected at
their upper ends at the under end of said elastomer.
3. An exercise apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which said
elastomer means is formed of an endless elongated loop extending
between the upper end of s aid straps and the lower end of said
rope.
4. An exercise apparatus in accordance with claim 3 including
connecting hardware for securing said cross bar, said straps, said
elastomer and said rope to each other.
5. An exercise apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which said
elastomer is characterized as having about a two foot stretch and a
dynamic load carrying capacity of near 800 pounds.
6. An exercise apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which said
pair of straps are characterized as having a dynamic load carrying
capacity of near 4,000 lbs.
7. An exercise apparatus in accordance with claim 1 which said
elastomer extends in the course of said apparatus being utilized by
a person running with a hand grip on said cross bar and said
elastomer when extended serves to lift said person for simulating
catapulting the person upward and inverted.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
application Ser. No. 09/533,849 filed on Mar. 23, 2000, now
abandoned.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The field of art to which the invention relates comprises
exercise apparatus for training persons in the sport of pole
vaulting.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The pole vault is an age-old world-wide athletic event in
which the contestant leaps for height, vaulting over a bar with the
aid of a long pole. The event relies heavily on developed skills of
the participant that includes running with the pole, planting the
pole in a vault box, flexing the pole backwards and then relying on
the flex recovery of the pole in conjunction with forward motion of
the participant to propel the participant over the bar. The bar is
typically set at increasing heights above ground level to determine
maximum bar height at which the participant can clear the bar. To
successfully participate requires an immense amount of training and
effort not to mention skill and dexterity that must be
contributed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0004] Before training on-site in an actual pole vault setting, it
has been common to use various suspended type exercise structures
from which a user can develop muscle tone and technique.
Exemplifying such structures are the disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,246,893 and 5,662,555. In a book entitled "Mechanics of the Pole
Vault", 1980 Olympic 9.sup.th Edition by Dr. R. V. Ganslen, there
is described the use of swinging or vaulting ropes as being
beneficial for training. Also mentioned is the use of a latex
rubber pole vault trainer developed by Bill Perrin of Madison, Wis.
Trampolines have also been found useful for developing muscular
conditioning of the back and legs. Such exercise equipment is
certainly helpful but is otherwise somewhat deficient in simulating
the maneuvers associated with the actual event of pole
vaulting.
[0005] Yet despite recognition of the foregoing, it has not
previously been known to provide an exercise training apparatus
that more nearly simulates various movements and techniques
necessary for developing an adequate level of skill in preparation
for the event of pole vaulting. An exercise apparatus is needed
that achieves a more realistic simulation of the effects
experienced, especially from the pole vaulter's initial stance
through the point where the pole vaulter leaves the ground. As
always, an exercise apparatus that is basically simple to operate
and relatively inexpensive to purchase would be desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An apparatus achieving the desired features and advantages
comprises a swing that includes a crossbar adapted to be positioned
overhead of the user and secured at opposite ends via spaced nylon
straps centrally supported to the under end of an elongated length
of a selected elastomer. The elastomer is preferably made from an
elastic rubber capable of stretching at least two feet from its
unstressed length during use and having a load factor of about 800
lbs. for handling the expected dynamic loads. A rope attaches at
one end to the upper end of the elastomer and at the other end to a
suitable overhead connection at the site of use so that the
crossbar rests in a position above the user's head. The rope
preferably has a 4,000 lb. test strength and is of sufficient
length to permit the user to run several steps before the apparatus
lifts the user off the ground.
[0007] The crossbar and elastomer elements of the apparatus are
similar to those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,118 issued to
Conner. However, the Conner device is designed for exercising
abdominal muscles and therefore uses a short adjustable strap
instead of the present invention's rope, which would be both
unnecessary and undesirable the Conner device's intended purpose.
Also, the elastomer is designed for much less demanding service,
since the device is not expected to lift the user off the ground
during the act of running.
[0008] A particular advantage of the present invention is that it
affords the user convenient training of the last few steps prior to
takeoff, during which the elastomer stretches and retracts to
simulate the elastic behavior of the pole. The apparatus enables
the user to drive the knee leaving the trail leg straight to enable
bending of the pole (fiberglass) while the swing of the trail leg
enables the user's body to invert upside-down. As the user leaves
the ground, the elastomer extends and retracts during the rope's
arcuate movement so that the user is lifted and catapulting upward
and inverted so as to simulate a pole that would normally be
utilized for that step. The displacement of the crossbar is
designed to allow the user to practice the sequence of steps
normally performed during pole vaulting up to and including the
step of inverting the user's body when approaching the bar. The
apparatus then begins its return swing, and the drill can be
repeated in the opposite direction from the running stage. The
apparatus thus avoids and eliminates previous drills such as
chin-ups, pole pulleys, pit jumping, etc.
[0009] The above noted features and advantages of the invention as
well as other features and advantages will be further appreciated
by those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description
which follows in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIGS. 1(a)-(g) illustrate caricatures performing the various
steps of pole vaulting;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the exercise training
apparatus in accordance with the invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a person using the exercise apparatus of
FIG. 2, and
[0013] FIGS. 4(a)-(g), illustrate caricatures utilizing the
training apparatus of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] In the description which follows, like parts are marked
throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference
numerals respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily to
scale and in certain views, proportions may have been exaggerated
for purposes of clarity.
[0015] Referring now to the caricature representations in FIG. 1
there is shown in FIG. 1(a) a person 10 carrying a pole 12, with
eyes on the box (not shown) and posture-erect. In FIG. 1(b), at the
point when the person is planting the distal end of the pole in the
box, the person is standing tall and straight with a bent and
locked left arm, the right knee coming through fast and the right
arm erect and straight. In FIG. 1(c), the pole has been planted and
the lower torso and legs of the person's body swing forward while
the right arm now extends behind the body. In FIG. 1(d) the person
is in a early rock back stage with knees coming in, eyes on the
feet without pull with the left arm collapsing. FIG. 1(e)
illustrates a later point during rock back, with knees back and up,
eyes on the feet or pole tip and the right arm still stretched and
the left arm collapsing. In addition, the body is partially pivoted
as the person twists in an effort to achieve an inverted position.
In FIG. 1(f) represents the extension position with the pole
substantially straight and vertical and the person's body in an
inverted position, in preparation for clearing the bar 14 in FIG.
1(g). FIG. 1(g), illustrates the sequence in which person 10 is
catapulted over the bar 14.
[0016] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the training exercise
apparatus 20 includes a cross bar 22 formed of aluminum tubing
about thirty-five inches (eighty-nine cm) in length and about two
inches (five cm) in diameter. The cross bar is secured to support
straps 34 and 36 via a pair of spaced eye bolts 24 and 26 that are
either threaded or extended through apertures defined in the cross
bar 22 and secured in place via nuts 28. The eye bolts 24 and 26 in
turn attach to the support straps 34 and 36 by means of a pair of
quick links 30 and 32. Each of the straps are about three foot in
length and one and one half inches wide and formed of a strong
composition such as nylon affording about a 4,000 lb. load
capacity. The upper end of the straps are looped to commonly
receive a 3/8 inch ring 38. The ring is mounted on a 5/8 inch
shackle 40 which receives the lower end of a looped elastomer 42.
The elastomer is characterized as having 800 lb. load capacity, a
two foot stretch during use and when unstretched is about three
feet (91 cm) long and 11/4 inch (3.2 cm) wide. An exterior sheath
surrounds the elastomer so as to minimize wear from shackle screw
44. Another shackle 46 closed off by screw 48 is located at the
upper end of the elastomer. A safety strap 52 of nylon composition
has an effective length exceeding the maximum stretch length of
elastomer 42 is attached between the shackles 40 and 46. A rope 50
connects to the shackle 46 and has a top end (not shown) that can
be connected to any suitable overhead structure at which the
apparatus hereof is to be utilized. The length of the rope 50
should be sufficient so that the arcuate movement of the rope about
the upper connection allows a user to take several running steps
while holding the cross bar 20 before the apparatus will lift the
user from the ground. Also, the apparatus 20 should be mounted so
that the crossbar 22 is at a height above the user's head, roughly
at the height at which the pole is held at the beginning of the
pole vaulting sequence.
[0017] A person 10 utilizing the training exercise apparatus 20
normally has his arms extending upward with hands gripping the
cross bar 22 so as to simulate the maneuver of FIG. 1(b). The
correct handgrip should be approximately shoulder width wide.
[0018] While the user is running, the elastomer rubber 42
stretches, enabling the person to drive the knee while leaving the
trail leg straight to simulate the resistance felt in bending the
pole. On leaving the ground, the elastomer 42 will contract back
toward the unstretched length, so that the rubber further assists
in lifting the person 10 to simulate the pole lifting action of
FIG. 1(c) until catapulting the body upwards in the manner of FIG.
1(d). As the swing begins its return, the drill is repeated in the
opposite direction in a running stage.
[0019] The correlation between the use of apparatus 20 and the
maneuvers to be performed during pole vaulting can be best
understood with reference to FIG. 4.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 4(a), person 10 has his arms straight up
and running tall as in FIG. 1(a). In FIG. 4(b) person 10 practices
the takeoff of FIG. 1(b) while in FIG. 4(c) there is performed the
drive with the knee and trail leg straight causing an initial
stretching of elastomer 42, similar to the action in FIG. 1(c). In
FIG. 4(d) elastomer 42 is stretched to the maximum and begins to
retract, beginning lift of the body. In FIG. 4(e) the lift begins
to invert the body while in FIG. 4(f) the body is inverted and
begins to crossover the drive knee.
[0021] In the above manner, the apparatus affords virtues not
previously provided in that the rubber elastomer 42 not only
participates in the swing effect but also serves to assist in
lifting the person and catapulting the person upwards into an
inverted relation as best seen in FIGS. 1(e) and 1(f). In addition,
the apparatus permits a user to practice the running steps
immediately preceding the planting of the pole in the box, thereby
better preparing the user for the transition between ground travel
and the initial lift by the pole. At the same time, the apparatus
is relatively simple, economical to construct and serves a
long-standing need offering simulated training for the pole vaulter
in a manner unlike apparatus previously available. The virtues
thereof can be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.
While certain dimensions and capacities have been stated, they
obviously could be changed to more readily accommodate persons of
different age groups, gender, or physical strength. Stiffness and
stretch length of the elastomer 42, the diameter of cross bar 22,
as well as the amount of pole flex, can be similarly selected and
correlated to individual requirements.
[0022] Since many changes could be made in the above construction
and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention
could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is
intended that all matter contained in the drawings and
specification shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a
limiting sense.
* * * * *