# US 10,245,524 B2 · Start assist device for swimmers with positioning and removal mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,524 B2 - Document ID: US10245524B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/362,747 - Filed: 2013-07-31 - Published: 2015-10-15 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2013-07-31 - Assignees: Everlast Climbing Industries, Inc. - Applicants: Everlast Climbing Industries, Inc. - Inventors: Christian Stockinger; Eric Solanyk - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245524B2 ## CPC - A63K 3/023: {Starting-blocks} - A63B 31/00: Swimming aids (teaching swimming A63B69/10 - A63B69/14; life-saving in water {, e.g. life-buoys, life-belts,} B63C9/00) - A63B 69/12: Arrangements in swimming pools for teaching swimming {or for training} - A63K 3/02: Starting-appliances - A63B 2208/03: the user being in water - A63B 2210/50: Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport - A63B 2220/833: Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement - A63B 2225/093: Height - A63B 2225/50: Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry - A63B 2225/60: Apparatus used in water - A63B 2244/20: Swimming - A63K: RACING; RIDING SPORTS; EQUIPMENT OR ACCESSORIES THEREFOR - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lock is configured to allow rotation of the rotatable winding tube in the first direction and the second direction to respectively wind and unwind the plurality of straps if the lock is in an open position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation of the rotatable winding tube in the first direction to automatically and simultaneously wind the plurality of straps is slowed by the lock if the lock is in the closed position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3, comprising a ratchet coupled to the rotatable winding tube and configured to interface with the lock. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the ratchet comprises a plurality of teeth, and wherein the lock slows the rotation of the rotatable winding tube by clicking into the plurality of teeth of the ratchet as the rotatable winding tube rotates in the first direction to automatically and simultaneously wind the plurality of straps. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the rotatable winding tube comprises a plurality of openings, each of the openings comprising a narrow opening portion contiguous with a wider opening portion, and each of the plurality of straps comprises an attachment mechanism configured for insertion into the wider opening portion and sliding to the narrow opening portion of one of the plurality of openings of the rotatable winding tube to couple each of the plurality of straps to the rotatable winding tube. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a wheel coupled to the rotatable winding tube configured to manually rotate the rotatable winding tube in one or both of the first direction and the second direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a mounting bracket configured to mount the apparatus to a post of a starting block. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A plurality of the apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of the apparatus is coupled to one or more other of the plurality of the apparatus by a bar.