Support part for a starting block in swimming

Abstract

The front support piece (18) is intended for a starting block (1) for a swimming race, which includes at least one base (9) to be fixed around a swimming pool, and a platform (5) mounted or fixed to the base (9). A swimmer's foot and hands rest on the front support piece before the start of a race. This front support piece (18) is arranged to be mounted interchangeably on a front portion of the platform (5) of the starting block (1) and can be an intelligent front support piece with motion sensors, a light source, and race management electronics.

Description

Field of invention

[0001] The invention relates to a support piece for a starting block or pad in a swimming race. The support piece is preferably an intelligent front support piece with race management electronics. Background of the invention

[0002] For a swimming race, starting blocks are provided, arranged respectively at each race lane, often in a number of 10 lanes. Each swimming starting block is particularly adapted to the type of swimming race during a competition. The starting blocks are all arranged in a single line along two sides of the pool. The swimmer takes support on an upper platform of the starting block for a front crawl, breaststroke or dolphin stroke. For these types of swimming, he can take support on a front part of the starting block, which is defined as a nose or also on an inclined push plane arranged towards the rear of the platform.

[0003] Typically, a swimmer on the platform leans on the front part of the platform with their hands and one foot before the start of the race, while the other foot leans on a plane inclined towards the rear of the platform. Thus, we see that the grip wears quickly on the front part in front of the platform. This requires the replacement of the entire platform if the wear on the front part is too significant, which is a disadvantage.

[0004] There figure 1 represents precisely a traditional starting block or pad 1 which comprises a platform 5 and an inclined plane 3 towards the rear of the platform 5, and a base 9 for fixing the starting block 1 to the ground at the edge of a swimming pool. The starting block 1 also comprises a structure in the form of bars 7 fixed to the base 9 or to the platform 5 of the starting block 1 for a backstroke swimming race.

[0005] A disadvantage of such a starting block is that if the front part wears out, as a swimmer's hands and one foot rest on and grip the front part for the start of a race, the entire platform must be replaced. Changing the platform represents significant costs if it is necessary to replace them frequently. In addition, it requires more handling to fix it to the ground at the edge of the pool.

[0006] US Patent 7,193,167 B1 describes a starting block attached to the edge of a swimming pool. This starting block comprises a platform attached to a base and a step on the rear of the platform. In addition, the platform comprises a light source on the front to illuminate the moment of the start of a race with a flash.

[0007] A disadvantage of such a system is that if the front part wears out quickly by hands gripping the front and a foot as described in figure 1above, it is necessary to completely replace the starting block.

[0008] Patent application EP 2 457 623 A1 describes a starting block with a platform connected to a base fixed to the ground at the edge of the pool and on which a swimmer rests before the start of a race. A front part is mounted on the front of the platform and is movable in the direction of the platform. At least one foot and the hands of a swimmer can be placed on the front part. The front part includes force sensors to detect a reaction time in order to determine, in particular, a false start.

[0009] Patent application KR 2012 0028518 A describes a support piece for a starting block of a swimming race. The starting block comprises at least a base fixed around a swimming pool and a platform mounted or fixed on the base and on which the swimmer and his hands take support before the start of a race. The support piece is a front support piece which is arranged to be mounted interchangeably on a front part of the platform of the starting block.

[0010] A disadvantage of such a starting block structure is that if the front part is damaged by the hands and one foot of swimmers, it complicates the replacement of at least the front part due to its complicated mobility structure with the rest of the platform. Summary of the invention

[0011] The invention therefore aims to overcome the drawbacks of the aforementioned state of the art by proposing a front support piece, for example an intelligent one for a block or starting block of a swimming race. The front support piece is a front part mounted on the front of the platform and on which a swimmer's foot rests and the hands gripped on the front part.

[0012] To this end, the invention relates to a starting block for a swimming race comprising a support piece, which comprises the characteristics defined in independent claim 1.

[0013] Particular embodiments of the support piece of a starting block or pad are defined in dependent claims 2 to 10.

[0014] An advantage of the starting block support piece is that the front piece is defined as the nose of the platform. This front part is easily detachable from the platform to change it in case of wear of the grip. It is ergonomic and quickly interchangeable in case of wear. This allows for a better grip and a better feeling for the athlete, a feeling of quality and confidence. It is easily interlocked and detachable from the front part of the platform. In addition, since it is small, it can easily be sent to any country in the world, which is not the case for an entire platform.

[0015] Another advantage is that the support piece or front support piece includes a light source to illuminate through a slot on the front or top of the front part or to generate a flash to signal the start of a race. However, the "entertainment" functionality is not only used to give the start, but also to provide information or put on a show during the race, or at the end of the race.

[0016] Another advantage is that force sensors or strain gauges are located in the front or nose section to determine the reaction time. The signals from the sensors are received by a processor unit. If the reaction time is too short and before the start signal, a false start is detected by the processing unit. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] The aims, advantages and characteristics of the intelligent front support piece of a starting block or pad for a swimming race will appear better in the following description of non-limiting embodiments illustrated by the drawings in which: there figure 1 represents a starting block according to the prior art, the figure 2 represents an embodiment of a starting block with an intelligent and interchangeable front support piece with illumination on the front according to the invention, and the figure 3 represents another embodiment of a starting block with an intelligent front support piece with illumination on the top, or even on the top and front of the piece according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0018] In the following description, the well-known elements of a starting block with a support piece on the front of the platform for a swimming competition will only be described in a simplified manner.

[0019] There figure 2represents an embodiment of the starting block 1. The starting block 1 comprises a platform 5 mounted or fixed on a base 9 or made of the same material as the base 9, the lower part of which is fixed to a ground around a swimming pool. The starting block 1 may further comprise on the rear part of the platform 5, an inclined plane 3. The starting block may further comprise a structure in the form of bars 7 fixed on the base 9 or the platform 5 for a backstroke swimming race. This structure of metal bars 7 is shown with two horizontal bars connected at their ends by two vertical bars, which extend in the direction of the starting block 1 by two more or less rectilinear bars on each side of the base 9 so as to be fixed at their end to said base 9 of the starting block 1.

[0020] The starting block or pad 1 comprises as an essential part of the present invention a support piece 18 as a front support piece or nose, which is mounted so as to be interchangeable on the front of the platform 5. The support piece 18 can be changed following wear, for example, of a grip of the front support piece 18 when several swimmers have come to grip the front support piece 18 with their hands and place a foot on the front support piece 18 before and for the start of a swimming race.

[0021] The support piece 18 is an intelligent front support piece as a front part of the platform 5. It comprises, for example, electronics for race management and mainly for the start of the race. The intelligent front support piece 18 comprises at least one force or movement sensor (triaxial accelerometer) or a strain gauge, or several other sensors. The sensors not shown are generally connected to a processor or microcontroller processing unit for processing sensor signals so as to determine, in particular, a reaction time of the swimmer on the front support piece at the time of the start of a swimming race.

[0022] In addition, the front support piece 18 comprises at least one light source for illuminating, according to a first embodiment, through a slot 17 arranged horizontally on the front of the front support piece 18 and preferably over the entire length, at least the running lane in front of the starting block. The light source in the front support piece 18 can preferably also generate a flash signaling the start of a swimming race.

[0023] According to a second embodiment shown in the figure 3, an illumination 27 can be provided on the top of the front support piece 18. In this case, one or more light sources are provided in the form of LED light-emitting diodes. These LED diodes can be arranged on a line 27 parallel to the front edge of the front support piece 18. A combination with illumination through the slot 17 of the first embodiment can also be provided as shown in figure 3 .

[0024] It should also be noted that the front support piece 18 can be electrically connected by cable to a supply voltage source of the starting block 1 or of an external signal management station.

[0025] The front support piece 18 is mounted or fixed to the front part of the platform 5 in the continuity of its upper surface and in an ergonomic manner. The front support piece 18 comprises fitting means for being held fixedly in an opening of the front part of the platform 5. The front support piece 18 can for example be screwed or clipped in a shape complementary to the opening of the front part of the platform 5 or by any other fixing means. In this case, it can be removed from the opening of the platform by acting for example on buttons arranged near the opening on the front of the platform or on the sides of the front support piece to move the clipped portions against the holding spring of the front support piece 18 fixed in the opening of the platform 5.

[0026] However, other fixing means may be provided. The front support piece 18 may comprise a rigid tab to be inserted into a complementary shaped opening in the front part of the platform 5. The front part of the platform 5 may comprise several bottom openings to accommodate the screw head. Several threads are made following the openings in the front part of the platform 5 and passing through openings made on the tab of the front support piece 18. Thus the front support piece is fixed by a set of screws screwed into the threads made. A fixing means opposite to that described above may be carried out.

[0027] It can also be imagined to make two grooves along the entire length of two opposite sides of the front support piece 18 to insert by sliding this part of the front support piece 18 into a jaw with rectilinear teeth of the front part of the platform 5. The teeth of the jaw are arranged to fit into each groove and fixed once the front support piece is in continuity with the upper surface of the platform.

[0028] Still other means of fixing the front support piece 18 on the front part of the platform 5 can be imagined without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims. These may be mechanical fixing means to have a front support piece 18 that is easily interchangeable in the event of wear or by also using slightly more complicated electrical means.

Claims

1. Starting block (1) for a swimming race comprising a support part (1), the starting block (1) comprising at least one base (9) to be fixed around a swimming pool, and a platform (5) which is mounted or fixed on the base (9), on which a foot of a swimmer as well as their hands are supported before the start of a race, the support part (18) being a front support part arranged to be mounted in an interchangeable manner on a front portion of a platform (5) of the starting block (1), the intelligent front part comprising electronics for race management, in particular for start of the race, and comprising nesting means so as to be held fixed in an opening of the front portion of the platform (5), and the front support part (18) being clipped into a complementary shape of the opening of the front portion of the platform (5).

2. Starting block (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the front support part (18) is mounted or fixed to the front portion of the platform (5) in continuity of its upper surface, said front support part (18) being configured to be ergonomic, pleasant to the touch for the fingers of the swimmer and to ensure a good grip for the hands.

3. Starting block (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the front support part comprises at least one force or motion sensor connected to a processing unit for determining the reaction time of the swimmer at the start of a race in order to determine at least any false starts.

4. Starting block (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the front support part (18) defined as the front portion comprises at least one light source for illuminating, through a slot (17) on the front portion of the front support part, at least one race lane in front of the starting block (1).

5. Starting block (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the front support part (18), defined as the front portion, comprises at least one light source for generating a flash at the start of a race through a slot (17) on the front portion of the front support part (18).

6. Starting block (1) according to any one of claims 4 and 5, characterised in that the slot (17) is disposed horizontally over the entire length of the front support part (18).

7. Starting block (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the front support part (18), defined as the front portion, comprises at least one light source for generating a flash at the start of the race, and in that that the light source (27) is a light-emitting diode disposed on top of the front support part (18).

8. Starting block (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that a plurality of light-emitting diodes are provided, disposed on top of the front support part (18).

9. Starting block (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the front support part (18) is removed from the opening of the platform by acting on buttons disposed in the vicinity of the opening on the front of the platform (5) or on the sides of the front support part (18) for displacing the portions clipped against the retaining spring of the front support part (18) fixed in the opening of the platform (5).

10. Starting block (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the front support part (18) comprises two grooves over the entire length of two opposite sides of the front support part (18) for inserting this grooved portion by sliding into a jaw with rectilinear teeth of the front portion of the platform (5), wherein the teeth of the jaw are disposed to be housed in each groove.

Images