Track Hurdle Assembly with Pivoting, Impact-Reducing Crossbar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing track hurdles do not allow runners to practice hurdling without significant impact when they fail to clear the crossbar, leading to potential injury and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A track hurdle assembly with a crossbar that separates and pivots upon contact, featuring a pivotable crossbar design with a soft foam material and adjustable uprights, allowing for minimal impact and easy assembly/disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a fixed cross bar is used in traditional hurdles, then structural stability is maintained, but runners incur significant impact and potential injury when failing to clear the hurdle
Solution Approach 1:
The cross bar is divided into two separate bar members (first bar member and second bar member) that can independently pivot on the upright members. This segmentation allows each bar member to move independently upon contact, reducing the impact force transmitted to the runner while maintaining the overall hurdle structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cross bar transitions from a fixed rigid structure to a dynamic pivoting structure. The bar members are mounted to pivot on the upright members, allowing them to rotate and move upon contact with a runner, thereby absorbing impact energy and reducing harmful forces on the runner.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a pivoting cross bar design is implemented, then runner safety is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional pivot mechanisms and attachment members
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment member connects the two bar members in a simple manner, allowing them to be held together during normal use but separate during impact. This simple connection mechanism achieves the safety function without requiring complex multi-component attachment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting bar members and attachment member are designed to automatically separate and reset through their own mechanical properties without requiring external control systems, motors, or complex actuation mechanisms, thereby maintaining simplicity while achieving safety.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a separable cross bar design is used, then adaptability for different skill levels is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases due to multiple components and assembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The hurdle is divided into modular components (base, upright members, bar members, attachment member) that can be independently manufactured and then assembled. This modularity allows for easy adjustment and adaptation while keeping individual component manufacturing simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotable bar members and attachment member serve multiple functions: they provide structural support during normal use, enable safe impact absorption, and allow height adjustment for different skill levels, thereby achieving versatility without requiring multiple different hurdle designs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe and effective hurdling practice by minimizing impact and facilitating easy adjustment to suit different ages and skill levels, while being portable and adaptable to existing hurdles.
Implementation Method 1
The cross bar may include a first bar member and a second bar member each pivotably supported on a respective upright member. A striking force on the cross bar causes a separation of the two bar members, with the each bar members pivoting away from the alignment on their upright support.
Implementation Method 2
The bar members are of the cross bar are preferably made of a soft foam material.
Implementation Method 3
The upright members may include a telescoping structure, with an outer collar co-axially aligned with a post member. The adjustment means may include a clamp structure for frictionally engaging the post member. Movement of the adjustment mean along the post members adjust the relative height of the cross bar above the base member.
Data Source
AI summary
A huddle assembly is provided having a base, two upright members, and a cross bar extending between the two upright members. The cross bar includes a first bar member and a second bar member. An attachment member temporarily secures the two bar members together to form a continuous bar. The two bar members are pivotably supported on a respective upright member. The temporary attachment of the two bar members permits their separation upon contact by a runner. The pivotable attachment to the uprights permits the rotation of the bar members, during separation, about a vertical axis of the upright members.