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US 11,376,519 B2Granted
Nestable starting block
OwnerJodi Goldbeckinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is a starter block for use in athletic events. The bottom-surface cleats which anchor the starting block to the ground are associated with blind bores extending through the lower surface. Each cleat has an associated blind bore. The positioning of the blind bores relative to the cleats allow the cleats of one starting block to be received by the blind bores of another starting block, and vice versa. This configuration allows the blocks to be stored easily and safely.
Claims15
A starting block comprising
- a wedge-shaped body having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper surface defines an inclined surface with respect to the lower surface;
- at least one blind bore extending through the lower surface;
- at least one cleat associated with the at least one blind bore, the cleat extending from the lower surface;
- wherein the at least one blind bore and the at least one cleat are dimensioned and positioned relative to each other such that when the wedge-shaped body is rotated from a first position to a second position 180° about a horizontal axis extending across and through a center point of the lower surface, at least a portion of the at least one cleat extends through a location previously occupied in the first position by the at least one blind bore.
1 more element
A starting block comprising
- a wedge-shaped body having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper surface defines an inclined surface with respect to the lower surface;
- at least one blind bore extending through the lower surface;
- at least one cleat associated with the at least one blind bore, the cleat extending from the lower surface;
- wherein the at least one blind bore and the at least one cleat are dimensioned and positioned relative to each other such that when the wedge-shaped body is rotated from a first position to a second position 180° about a horizontal axis extending across and through a center point of the lower surface, at least a portion of the at least one cleat extends through a location previously occupied in the first position by the at least one blind bore;
- wherein the lower surface comprises at least one block hollow forming a depression in the lower surface.
2 more elements
A starting block system, comprising:
- a first starting block and a second starting block,
- the first starting block and the second starting block having an identical configuration, each comprising:
- a wedge-shaped body having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper surface defines an inclined surface with respect to the lower surface;
- at least one blind bore extending through the lower surface;
- at least one cleat associated with the at least one blind bore, the cleat extending from the lower surface;
- wherein when the lower surface of the first starting block contacts the lower surface of the second starting block and the upper surface of the first starting block is parallel to the upper surface of the second starting block, at least a portion of the at least one cleat of the first starting block extends into the at least one blind bore of the second starting block, and at least a portion of the at least one cleat of the second starting block extends into the at least one blind bore of the first starting block.
3 more elements
A starting block comprising
- a wedge-shaped body having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper surface defines an inclined surface with respect to the lower surface;
- at least one blind bore extending through the lower surface;
- at least one cleat associated with the at least one blind bore, the cleat extending from the lower surface;
- wherein the at least one blind bore and the at least one cleat are dimensioned and positioned relative to each other such that when the wedge-shaped body is rotated from a first position to a second position 180° about a horizontal axis extending across and through a center point of the lower surface, at least a portion of the at least one cleat extends through a location previously occupied in the first position by the at least one blind bore;
- and
- further comprising at least one reversible fastener connected to the lower surface of the starting block.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.