U.S. patent number 3,746,334 [Application Number 05/177,692] was granted by the patent office on 1973-07-17 for practice javelin.
Invention is credited to Jerry D. Stubblefield.
United States Patent |
3,746,334 |
Stubblefield |
July 17, 1973 |
PRACTICE JAVELIN
Abstract
A javelin for practice throwing indoors having drag inducing
members adjacent its ends which react with the air-stream to limit
the javelin's travel. The drag inducing members are preferably of
conical shape, apertured to provide the drag desired without
causing unstability of the javelin in flight. The javelin
additionally includes a blunt resilient impact member at the
javelin's forward end to prevent damage to floor or wall
surfaces.
Inventors: |
Stubblefield; Jerry D. (Eugene,
OR) |
Family
ID: |
22649600 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/177,692 |
Filed: |
September 3, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/20; 473/585;
473/578; 473/586 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
65/02 (20130101); A63B 21/0088 (20130101); A63B
69/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
65/02 (20060101); A63B 65/00 (20060101); A63B
21/008 (20060101); A63B 69/00 (20060101); A63b
065/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/59R,59
;273/16R,16A,16E,16.5B,16.5C,16.5R,199R,199A,106,106.5,199
;46/86A,86R,79 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Oechsle; Anton O.
Assistant Examiner: Strappello; Harry G.
Claims
Having thus described the invention what is desired to be secured
under a Letters Patent is:
1. A practice javelin having certain characteristics of a
conventional javelin for the training of a javelin thrower within
an area of restricted size, said practice javelin comprising,
a main elongate body having a handgrip thereon approximately at the
javelin's center of gravity,
a resilient impact member of rounded configuration affixed to the
forward end of said elongate body, and
cone shaped members for inducing drag located both forwardly and
rearwardly of the javelin's handgrip, the forward cone shaped
member being of a configuration inducing lesser aerodynamic drag
than the rearward cone shaped member for purposes of dynamic
stability.
2. A practice javelin as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cone
shaped members include collar portions removably mounted to said
main body for replacement purposes.
3. A practice javelin having certain characteristics of a
conventional javelin for the training of a javelin thrower within
an area of restricted size, said practice javelin comprising,
a main elongate body have a handgrip thereon approximately at the
javelin's center of gravity,
a resilient impact member of rounded configuration affixed to the
forward end of said elongate body, and
disc shaped members for inducing drag located both forwardly and
rearwardly of the javelin's handgrip, the forward disc shaped
member having less surface area than the rearward disc shaped
member whereby the forward disc shaped member induces lesser
aerodynamic drag than the rearward disc shaped member for purposes
of dynamic stability.
4. A practice javelin as claimed in claim 3 wherein said disc
shaped members include collar portions removably mounted to said
main body for replacement purposes.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to athletic equipment and
particularly to a practice javelin for throwing in areas where use
of a conventional javelin is not practical.
Track and field competition in high schools and beyond has included
javelin throwing as a competitive sport for many years. As is the
case with any athletic endeavor, training to a large extent
determines the individual's skill in a particular event. Training
for the javelin throw ordinarily requires an open, unobstructed
area of substantial size such as an athletic field. Obviously, for
safety reasons, all other uses of the practice area must be held in
abeyance during practice. Accordingly javelin throwing must, in
some schools, be done with some inconvenience at a location removed
from the immediate school area or at times other than during school
hours. The addition of the javelin throw in girls and womens track
and field competition further limits available practice area.
Since the throwing of the conventional javelin must, for all
practical purposes, be done out-of-doors the duration of an
athletic training period is dependent upon suitable weather. In
geographical areas where winter weather is such as to prevent
outdoor practice the competing athlete is at a disadvantage by
reason of the shortened training period. Since most track and field
competition takes place in the spring an individual having only a
couple months training time is at a severe disadvantage competing
against an individual who has the advantage of continuous
training.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed towards providing a practice
javelin which may be thrown within an enclosed area such as for
example a school gymnasium.
The javelin of the instant invention includes a lightweight tubular
body fitted with drag inducing appendages to retard the flight of
the javelin. Impact of the thrown javelin is lessened by a
resilient, rounded nose member. Accordingly the practice javelin is
suitable for indoor use within a school gym.
An important object of the present invention is to provide a
practice javelin useable in areas less than half the length of
practice areas for conventional javelin throwing. In most instances
the gymnasium of a high school or college is of adequate length and
hence practice may be conducted indoors, the year around,
unaffected by climate.
A second important object is the provision of a javelin having a
resilient front end member of large crossectional area relative to
the javelin body and effective to absorb, without damage, the
contact of the javelin with the floor surface. Further such a blunt
front end member affords a safety factor should the present javelin
come into thrown contact with another person. The low velocity at
which the javelin travels is an additional safety factor.
A further important object resides in the provision of drag
inducing means carried by the javelin to efficiently reduce the
travel of the thrown javelin. Drag is imparted to the javelin by
flexible members disposed on the javelin which members may yield on
javelin impact to avoid damage. Means are provided for replacement
of such drag members should same become distorted or fractured
after long usage.
Another important object of the present invention is the provision
of a practice javelin having the weight and balance of a javelin
used in competition. The transition from a practice javelin to a
conventional javelin is accordingly made easier. Further, the
distances thrown with a practice javelin may also be correlated on
a table of comparative distances to provide an indication to the
thrower of what distances he may expect when using a conventional
javelin.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a practice javelin embodying the
present invention,
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the javelin shown in FIG.
1,
FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the forward end of the
practice javelin,
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the forward end of a modified
practice javelin,
FIG. 5 is a vertical section of FIG. 4 showing the modified drag
inducing means, and
FIG. 6 is an elevational view of modified drag inducing member used
with that shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein
applied reference numerals indicate parts similarly identified in
the following specification, the reference numeral 10 indicates the
elongate body of the practice javelin which may be formed from
lightweight aluminum tubing.
Approximately at the javelins center of gravity a hand hold 11 is
provided which may be a wrapping of cord similar to that provided
on a conventional javelin.
The forward end of the body 10 terminates in engagement with an
impact member 12 preferably formed of butyl rubber and configured
to provide a blunt nose for the javelin capable of absorbing impact
forces without damage to javelin or the impacted surface. A recess
12A in the member frictionally receives the end of the javelin body
10 in secure retention. To prevent further penetration of the end
of the body member 10 shown tubular being tubular, a cap at 13 may
be applied closing the end of said body member.
Indicated at 14 is a first or forward drag inducing member affixed
to the elongate body 10 rearwardly adjacent the impact member 12. A
preferred form of the invention provides a drag inducing member of
hollow, conical shape having a collar portion at 15 circumposed
about a segment of the main body 10. Attachment of said collar to
the main body may be by a pin 16 in a pressed fit with apertures in
the body and with aligned openings 15A in the collar.
A second or rearward drag inducing member at 17 is affixed to the
rearward end of body 10 in the same manner by means of a pin 18
extending transversely through said body and the collar portion 20
of said second member. Again, the second member is preferably of
hollow, conical shape with the base (trailing edge) of the conical
member being of greater diameter than that of said first drag
inducing member.
Each of the members 14 and 17 is desirably molded from a durable,
flexible plastic of the type lending itself to low cost molding
methods. The plastic members 14 and 17 are of thin wall
configuration and yield upon contact with a floor to avoid damage.
Should a drag inducing member incur damage, replacement thereof
simply entails removal of its associated retention pin and in the
case of the first drag member the removal of the impact member
12.
The drag members 14 and 17 are of perforate construction having
openings respectively at 14A and 17A. Drag member 14 being of
lesser diameter and presenting a smaller surface for reaction with
the airstream than the surface of drag member 17 for purposes of
stability.
As earlier noted the practice javelin should have the "feel" of a
conventional javelin to permit the thrower to readily adjust to the
conventional javelin used in competition. For this reason the main
body 10 is of a diameter equal to that of a conventional javelin
body. Similarly weight of the practice javelin should be 800 grams
or 1 3/4 pounds. While a conventional javelin is approximately 8
1/2 feet in length the practice javelin is preferably of lesser
length with one suitable embodiment of the invention having a
length of less than 5 feet. In said embodiment the forward and
rearward drag members have diameters respectively of 8 and 11
inches. Obviously the invention dimensions and even weights are
subject to being changed to meet training objectives of the
individual athletes and their coaches.
In FIGS. 4 and 5 I show a modified form of drag inducing means
wherein a forward drag member is indicated at 22 with a collar
portion 23 affixed to the forward portion of the javelin body
indicated at 10. The drag means 22 is of generally disc shape
having rearwardly directed segments 24 which project outwardly for
action upon by the passing airstream. As in the case of the first
described drag means the modified drag means is apertured at 24A
for aerodynamic purposes. The rearward drag member at 25 of the
modified drag means as seen in FIG. 6 would be of identical
configuration but of larger diameter to obtain the flight stability
earlier mentioned in connection with the first form of drag
members. Apertures therein are indicated at 25A.
While I have shown but two embodiments of the invention it will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be
embodied still otherwise without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
* * * * *