GB2129316A - Recreational apparatus for imparting forward projection - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus useful in diving and ground fall training comprises a pair of side frames 2 and 3 having a cross- member 4 and rungs 6 to 11 with a platform 12 supported above ground, for example, by means of rungs 8 and 11, and a bed frame 17 having an inclined projection bed 29 resiliently suspended from side supports 18 and 19, bed frame 17 being supported by angle clamps 5 from uprights 2b and 3b of the side frames and being ground supported at its opposed end by uprights 20 and 21. A user launching himself from platform 12 descends to bed 29 causing resilient displacement against its suspension, forward and upward momentum being applied to the user by its resilient recovery so that objective forward and upward propulsion is achieved without run-up and without large apparatus space requirements. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Forward projection apparatus The invention relates to recreational apparatus for imparting to a user simultaneous upward and forward projection without the need for a run-up.

A wide variety of apparatus are known for projecting a user upwards and forwards during recreational activities such as diving and gymnastics. In all cases, primary forward projection is provided by a run up by the user from a position some distance from the apparatus The user approaches the apparatus, usually at speed, and projects himself forwards and upwards so as to descend upon the apparatus whilst still retaining forward momentum. His downward momentum is converted to an equivalent upward momentum by reaction with a projection surface of the apparatus and this combined with his residual forward component of motion to provide the objective forward and upward projection to the body of the user.

In gymnastic springboards, the projection surface is provided by timber boards supported at opposed extremities, the projection surface in use normally inclined upwardly in the direction away from the approach of the user. Gymnastic springboards are an early example of this type of equipment and have in large measure now been replaced by the trampette. Trampettes comprise a thin fabric projection surface secured by sprung suspension from a frame in similar fashion to a trampoline, of which it is a development. In use, the projection surface is inclined to the approach of a user in the same way as a conventional gymnastic spring-board.

Diving boards operate on a similar principle to gymnastic springboards. Diving boards, however, exploit the spring in a cantilevered timber board to project a diver forward. The board reacts to the weight of his descent from low height and combined with the residual forward momentum from his run up to project him forwards and upwards to a position from which he can orienate his body during descent time to an underlying body of water to ensure a safe dive.

In order to ensure that his descent time is sufficient for orientation, a diver must project himself a good height above water level.

Accordingly, diving boards are normally substantial in length in order to provide the required spring, boards commonly having a length in the region of 6m and occupying a pool side space extending 3m from the pool edge. In the past, swimming pools have tended to be constructed with the above size requirements of diving apparatus catered for, commercial swimming pools conventionally having a length of 30m or more and accommodating a region of 4m depth approximately, extending from the diving board end of the pool about 1 Om towards the other.

In recent years, pool sizes and the extent of pool side areas have tended to decrease in order to reduce the cost of water heating, space heating requirements and construction costs. Commercial pools are now most commonly of a length of 25m or less with high depth regions correspondingly decreased in depth and moreover in extent (1.5 to 2m depth over a 6m extent being typical). Pools in private sector ownership have also increased greatly in number and are conventionally of relatively small size (typically 9m in length with a maximum depth region 1.5 to 2m deep and 3 to 4m in extent) due to space availability and an especially strong need to minimize construction and operating costs.Diving boards have accordingly been reduced in size and effectiveness, and in many instances typical present day pools are unable to provide a viable diving facility based on conventional diving board designs.

According to the invention, there is provided a recreational apparatus (particularly but not exclusively for use as a diving facility) for projecting the descending body of a user with forward and upward momentum supplied by reactibn of downward momentum with a projection surface, the apparatus comprising a preferably flexible bed supported at extremities thereof from support means and defining a resiliently displaceable projection surface in an upwardly and forwardly facing plane, and a launch surface supported above ground level (preferably by ground-support means connected integrally or otherwise coupled to the bed support means) and disposed adjacent to and rearwards of said projection surface, the apparatus being such that a body launched from said launch surface descends onto said bed causing resilient displacement thereof and is projected fowards and upwards by resilient recovery of said bed.

Apparatus according to the invention can be constructed so as to have relatively small pool side space requirements, typical apparatus requiring a pool side site extending from the pool edge by not substantially more than about 1 m.

Conveniently, a rearmost extremity of said projection surface is disposed horizontally with bed support means supported at said extremity by means provided to support said launch surface, such as a plurality of upright ground support members (eg constructed as a frame structure), for example tubular metallic ground support members, to which a platform is mounted to provide said launch surface.

The launch surface is normally provided at an elevation equal to or higher than the maximum height of the projection surface. Preferably, the launch surface is disposed above, usually substantially (eg at least 500 mm) above, the uppermost portion of the projection surface.

The bed referred to will conveniently be suspended, usually at opposed extremities thereof, to said support means by resiliently yielding suspension means.

Such suspension means may comprise elastically extensible members, conveniently made of plastics material such as nylon, secured between support means for the bed and juxtaposed extremities thereof. For example, nylon cable may be fixed to the bed support means and at extremities, preferably locally reinforced, of flexible sheet material constituting the bed.

The bed will preferably extend between two opposed and usually parallel longitudinal members serving as said support means, the members conveniently being in the form of metallic tubing preferably covered by padding as a safety measure in the event of inadvertent contact between the members and a user of the apparatus.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises ground support means, conveniently comprising a plurality of upright support members for ground engagement, to support a launch platform above ground level, a bed of flexible plastics material forming a projection surface occupying an upwardly and forwardly facing plane and disposed forward of said support means and platform, said bed being supported between opposed bed support members by resiliently deformable suspension means and said bed support members being supported at an uppermost extremity of said bed by said ground support means.

The following description of a preferred embodiment is intended to illustrate the invention by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying informal drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of an apparatus intended for use as a substitute for a conventional diving springboard; Figure 2 is a front view of the apparatus seen from the direction of the arrow II in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the projection bed of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 prior to its assembly to the apparatus; and Figure 4 is a perspective enlarged exploded view of the portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 encircled by broken line IV.

The apparatus shown in the drawings comprises a main support frame 1 comprising two opposed side frames 2 and 3. Each side frame 2, 3 is made of 38mm outside diameter circular cross-sectioned stainless steel tubing having a gauge of 16 swg and bent to U-shape to form uprights of which three only are shown in the drawings at 2a, 2b and 3b. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, each upright is received in a 225mm deep cylindrical bore formed in a concrete pool side subsurface. Upright 2b is drilled with two pairs of apertures (Figure 4 only) one only of each pair being shown at 2c and 2d.

Upright 3b is apertured in an identical manner.

Lateral crossmember 4 extends horizontally between uprights 2b and 3b and is made of the same stainless steel tubing as side frames 2 and 3. Crossmember 4 is secured at both ends by means of an angle clamp assembly shown generally at 5 and shown in detail in Figure 4.

Rungs 6, 7 and 8 extend between uprights 2a and 2b of side frame 2, each being secured at each of its two opposed ends by welding to uprights 2a and 2b. Each rung is made of the same stainless steel tubing as side frames 2 and 3. Side frame 3 is runged in the same fashion as side frame 2 with rungs 9, 10 and 11.

A launch platform 12 is seated upon rungs 8 and 11 in horizontal disposition, with the rungs received, respectively, between retention rails 13, 14,15 and 16. Platform 12 is made of 30mm marine plywood and the rails of 30mm (width) by 40mm (thickness) marine plywood or hardwood.

The upwardly facing surface of platform 1 2 is provided with a covering of non-slip material such as that sold under the trade name "Treadmaster".

A bed frame 17 is supported at angle clamp 5 by side bed supports 1 8 and 1 9 which mount to the clamp assembly as shown in detail in Figure 4. Supports 18 and 19 are made of the same stainless steel tubing as side frames 2 and 3 of the main support frame 1. Ground support uprights 20 and 21 also made of this material are secured by welding to lower regions of supports 1 8 and 19, respectively, and are received in 225 mum diameter subsurface bores as in the case of uprights 2a, 2b and 3b.

The clamp assembly 5 referred to above comprises a stainless steel angle plate 22 having apertures 23 and 24 therethrough. Threaded stainless steel hexagon bolt 25 is received through aperture 23 and apertures 2c of upright 2b and secured by means of female threaded stainless steel dome nut 26. In similar fashion, a further stainless steel threaded hexagon bolt 27 is received through aperture 24 and apertures 2d of upright 2b, the threads of bolt 27 being engaged with those of insert 28 received as a force fit in the cavity of crossmember 4.

A projection bed 29 (shown in Figure 2.with further details shown in Figure 3) is suspended between side supports 18 and 1 9 of bed frame 1 7. Bed 29 comprises a sheet 30 constructed of nylon filaments coated with UV-stabilized polyvinyl chloride and interwoven into a mesh.

The sheet 30 is of open mesh construction so that water falling on its surface in use can drain through. Pads (not shown in the figures but whose position is indicated for one such pad by reference numeral 32 in Figure 2) are secured over bed side Supports 18 and 19 to provide safety against possible injury in the event of contact between a user of the apparatus and the bed side supports. Pads 32 are made of sheet form closed cell chip plastics foam material having a thickness of 25mm, the foam being protected from water weather and mechanical damage by a covering of polyvinyl chloride sheet.

Sheet 30 has a plurality of textile fabric loops 33 (Figure 3) at its opposed lateral edges. D-rings (not shown) are secured in loops 33.

Springs 34 similar to those conventionally used in trampolines are secured to the D-rings by one end and secured at their other ends by means not shown to the supports 18 and 19 of the bed frame 17.

All stainless steel parts in the apparatus described above may have an epoxy resin coating, for example a conventional rough finish selfcoloured epoxy resin coating, if so desired.

Typical dimensions of the apparatus are set out at the end of this description, all dimensions being in millimetres unless otherwise stated.

In use of the apparatus, it will be appreciated that a user will first climb to platform 12 using, for example, rungs 6,7 and 8. The user will then jump from platform 12, projecting himself very slightly forward so as to clear the platform, and descent to projection bed 29. His downward momentum is converted by reaction with the resilience of the bed 29 to forward and upward projection into the pool. It will be noted that this operation can be accomplished without a run up by the user as would be normal practice in the case of conventional diving springboard designs.

This results in substantial space saving advantages enabling the apparatus of the invention to be installed in the great number of smaller pools where a diving facility is at present not a practical proposition. Use of the apparatus of the invention is in addition a new recreational experience which makes use of the appeal normally associated with flexible spring bed equipment such as the trampoline.

The invention as described hereinbefore without reference to the drawings may include any one or more features of the apparatus as described with reference to the drawings.

Dimensions Between uprights 2a and 2b (centre-centre) 298mm Between uprights 2b and 20 (centre-centre) 750mm Between rungs 7 and 8 (centre-centre) 260mm Width of bed 29 500mm Between side frames 2 and 3 (centre-centre) 900mm

Claims (9)

Claims

1. A recreational apparatus for projecting the descending body of a user with forward and upward momentum supplied by reaction of downward momentum with a projection surface, the apparatus comprising a bed which defines a resiliently displaceable projection surface in an upwardly and forwardly facing plane, and a launch surface supported above the level of said surface and disposed adjacent to and rearwards of said bed, the apparatus being such that a body launched from said launch surface descends onto said bed causing resilient displacement thereof and is projected forward and upwards by resiilent recovery of said bed from its deformed state.

2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said bed and said launch surface constitute a unitary construction by being integral with each other or otherwise coupled together.

3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said bed and said launch surface are separate and supported above ground by ground-engagable support members maintaining positional relationship between said bed and said launch surface.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein said bed comprises a resiliently displaceable sheet form member supported at extremities thereof from support means connected to ground support means supporting said launch surface above said projection surface.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein bed support means are supported at a rearmost extremity of said projection surface with said extremity horizontal by upright ground support members to which a platform is mounted to provide said launch surface.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim and comprising a plurality of upright support members for ground engagement to support a launch platform of the apparatus above ground level, and a bed of flexible plastics material forming a projection surface which occupies an upwardly and forwardly facing plane and is disposed forward of said platform, said bed being supported between opposed bed support members by resiliently deformable suspension means and said bed support members being supported at an uppermost extremity of said bed by the ground support members for the launch platform.

7. A recreational apparatus for projecting the descending body of a user with forward and upward momentum supplied by reaction of downward momentum with a projection surface, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of diving into water or of forward and upward projection in ground fall training, which method comprises launching the body from a launch surface forwards and downwards onto a bed defining a resiliently displaceable projection surface in an upwardly and forwardly facing plane beneath and forward of said launch surface, the body being allowed to cause resilient displacement of said bed so as to be projected forwardly and upwardly by resilient recover thereof.

9. A diving facility comprising a pool and disposed in a pool side position an apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7.