Start assist device for swimmers with positioning and removal mechanism
AssigneeEverlast Climbing Industries, Inc.
InventorsChristian Stockinger, Eric Solanyk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus to quickly position a start assist device for backstroke swimmers and remove said start assist device once the apparatus detects or is signaled that the swimmer has left to prevent injuries and obstructions caused by the start assist device. A mechanical embodiment of such an apparatus and a motorized embodiment of such an apparatus with a data input system to position the start assist device according to the individual swimmers needs and means to signal the start event are disclosed.
Claims9
A starting assist apparatus for assisting backstroke swimmers during a start process, the apparatus comprising:
- a footrest operable for positioning in a pool during the start process and automatic removal from the pool after the start process, wherein the positioning in the pool corresponds with an extended position of the footrest and the automatic removal from the pool corresponds with a retracted position of the footrest;
- a rotatable winding tube comprising a torsion spring configured to provide a bias force to the rotatable winding tube in a first direction corresponding with the retracted position of the footrest;
- a plurality of straps coupling the footrest to the rotatable winding tube, the plurality of straps configured to simultaneously wind around the rotatable winding tube if the rotatable winding tube is rotated in the first direction, the plurality of straps configured to simultaneously unwind from the rotatable winding tube if the rotatable winding tube is rotated in the second direction, wherein:
- a force applied to the rotatable winding tube in a second direction that exceeds the bias force provided by the torsion spring in the first direction rotates the rotatable winding tube in the second direction to simultaneously unwind the plurality of straps to move the footrest to the extended position, and
- the bias force provided by the torsion spring in the first direction automatically and simultaneously winds the plurality of straps on the rotatable winding tube to move the footrest to the retracted position in an absence of the force applied to the rotatable winding tube in the second direction that exceeds the bias force provided by the torsion spring in the first direction;
- and
- a lock configured to allow rotation of the winding tube in the first direction to wind the plurality of straps and prevent rotation of the winding tube in the second direction to unwind the plurality of straps if the lock is in a closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.