Universal Cone Hurdle

Abstract

An exercise hurdle apparatus with two end members connected by a two ends of a central member, that is adapted to be assembled with standard traffic-type or disc-shaped athletic cones to increase the height of the apparatus for hurdle training. The apparatus may be assembled right-side-up with traffic-style cones and may also be assembled upside-down with disc-shaped cones. The apparatus may be substantially hollow so it can be stacked for ease of transport and storage, and it may contain an aperture to allow the use of a carrying strap to secure a plurality of the apparatus when stacked.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The field of the disclosure is athletic training devices.

PRIORITY

This application does not claim the benefit of any prior applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

Athletes that participate in soccer, football, tennis, basketball, and other sports frequently train to enhance and develop their speed, agility, and power. These athletes often use obstacle devices such as hurdles to train at the amateur and professional levels. Many individuals who are not competitive athletes also use hurdles to maintain physical fitness.

(2) Description of Related Art

Prior art hurdles currently used by athletes include assemblies of multiple parts that are expensive to manufacture and purchase. These hurdles are difficult to store and transport, and if any part of the hurdle is lost the device becomes inoperable. Other prior art hurdles are composed of a single part and have a rigid structure that can result in injury when an athlete hits or trips over the hurdle. These rigid hurdles are expensive to manufacture and purchase and are also difficult for users to store and transport.

The universal cone hurdle solves many of the problems associated with prior art hurdles. The universal cone hurdle provides a multiple-use stackable hurdle designed to be compatible with standard traffic-type athletic cones and standard disc-shaped athletic cones. The universal cone hurdle is inexpensive to manufacture and purchase and is easily transported. The universal cone hurdle also lessens the likelihood of injury because it is not rigid when assembled with standard athletic cones.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Universal Cone Hurdle is an exercise hurdle apparatus that may be adapted for use with standard traffic-type or disc-shaped athletic cones. Athletic cones often take two shapes. The first type is conical and is referred to as a “traffic-style cone.” A traffic-style cone is depicted as item 6 in FIG. 4. The second shape is a flattened conical shape referred to as a “disc-shaped cone.” A disc-shaped cone is depicted as item 8 in FIG. 5. The hurdle apparatus may be assembled right-side-up with traffic-style cones and may also be assembled upside-down with disc-shaped cones. Athletic cones come in different heights, and the height of the assembled hurdle apparatus may be adjusted depending on the height of the cones used. The apparatus is composed of two end members that are connected by a central longitudinal bar member. In one embodiment, the two end members are substantially conical and the entire apparatus is substantially hollow. The hollow end members allow the device to be assembled right-side-up on top of two spaced traffic-type athletic cones. The end members' substantially conical tips may be placed upside-down into the apertures in the tops of two spaced disc-shaped athletic cones. The narrower upper tips of each end member may be open or closed. An athlete may adjust the hurdle's height by assembling the hurdle apparatus with athletic cones of varying heights. The hurdle's height may also be adjusted by stacking multiple cones and multiple hurdle apparatus. Because the hurdle apparatus is substantially hollow, it may be stacked for storage and transport. A stack of the hurdle apparatus may be secured with a carrying strap that passes through an aperture in the apparatus' central longitudinal bar members. In this preferred embodiment, the end members and central longitudinal bar member may be integrally molded in one piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings. Elements in the drawings are not to scale, and like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention showing hollow end members connected by a central bar member.

FIG. 2 is a broad side view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a broad side view showing four Universal Cone Hurdles in a stack secured together with a carrying strap.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the invention that is assembled right-side-up on top of two traffic-type athletic cones.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the invention assembled upside-down on top of two disc-shaped athletic cones.

FIG. 6 shows the narrower top end of one end member, which may be open or closed.

FIG. 7 shows an overhead view of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

FIGS. 1 and 2 show perspective and broad side views of a first embodiment of the apparatus 1 having one end member 2 connected to a second end member 3 by a central member 4. In this embodiment, the central member 4 is triangular in shape, but it may take a different shape in other embodiments. Each of the end members 2, 3 contains a hollow recess 5 that allows the apparatus 1 to be placed right-side-up on top of two spaced traffic-type athletic cones 6, as depicted in FIG. 4. Placement of the apparatus 1 on top of traffic-type athletic cones 6 allows the athlete to increase the height of the apparatus 1 for use as a hurdle training device, FIG. 4. An athlete may use traffic-type cones 6 of varying heights to vary the height of the apparatus 1 when assembled as depicted in FIG. 4.

The upper tips 7 of each end member 2, 3 are adapted for mounting upside-down on top of two spaced disc-shaped athletic cones 8, so that the upper tip 7 of each end member 2, 3 rests within the aperture 9 found in the upper tip 10 of each of the spaced disc-shaped athletic cones 8, as depicted in FIG. 5. The upper tips 7 of each end member 2, 3 may be open 11 or closed 12. Placement of the apparatus 1 on top of disc-shaped athletic cones 8 allows the athlete to increase the height of the apparatus 1 for use as a hurdle training device, FIG. 5. An athlete may use disc-shaped cones 8 of varying heights to vary the height of the apparatus 1 when assembled as depicted in FIG. 5.

In this embodiment, the end members 2, 3 contain a hollow recess 5. The end members 2, 3 are connected by a central longitudinal bar member 4 that contains a hollow recess 13. Because this embodiment of the apparatus 1 is substantially hollow, the apparatus 1 may be stacked for storage and transport, FIG. 3. The central bar member 4 contains an aperture 14, FIG. 7. A carrying strap 15 may be passed through the apertures to secure a number of the apparatus that are stacked for storage or transport, FIG. 3.

The foregoing description of preferred embodiments for this invention is presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the invention and its practical applications, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

Claims

1. A hurdle apparatus comprising two end members connected by two ends of a central member, each of the end members having a wider bottom end and a narrower top end.

2. The hurdle apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hollow recess in the wider bottom end of each end member.

3. The hurdle apparatus of claim 1, further comprising each end member containing a hollow recess in the wider bottom end adapted for mounting right-side-up over a traffic-style cone, such that the upper portion of the traffic-style cone rests underneath and thereby supports the hollow recess in the wider bottom end.

4. The hurdle apparatus of claim 1, wherein the narrower top ends are adapted for placing upside-down into an aperture at the top of a disc-shaped cone, such that each of the wider bottom ends of the end members faces up and the upside-down narrower top ends are supported by an aperture at the top of the disc-shaped cones.

5. The hurdle apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the central member containing an aperture.

6. The hurdle apparatus of claim 1, further comprising each of the end members being conical in shape.

7. The hurdle apparatus of claim 1, further comprising each of the end members being frustoconical in shape.

8. The hurdle apparatus of claim 1, wherein the narrower top ends of the end members are open, forming an aperture.

9. The hurdle apparatus of claim 1, wherein the narrower top ends of the end members are closed.

10. A method of using the hurdle apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the narrower top ends is inserted upside-down into an aperture at the top of a disc-shaped cone, such that each of the wider bottom ends of the end members of the hurdle apparatus faces up and the upside-down narrower top ends are supported by an aperture at the top of the disc-shaped cones.

11. The method of claim 10, in which multiple disc-shaped cones and multiple hurdle apparatus are stacked together to achieve the desired height.

12. A method of using the hurdle apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the wider bottom ends is mounted right-side-up on top of a traffic-style cone, such that each of the narrower upper ends of the end members of the hurdle apparatus faces up and the upper portion of the traffic-style cone rests underneath and thereby supports the hollow recess in the wider bottom end of the hurdle apparatus end members.

13. The method of claim 12, in which multiple traffic-style cones and multiple hurdle apparatus are stacked together to achieve the desired height.