Collapsible Starting Block Kit

Abstract

A starting block kit for supporting a runner's feet above a running surface just prior to running includes a foot support module which comprises a base, a platform, and a prop. The platform is pivotably coupled to the base at a front end of the base and is positionable in a collapsed position with respect to the base in which the platform rests atop the base. An upper surface of the platform faces upwardly away from the base when the platform is positioned in the collapsed position. The prop is pivotably coupled to the platform, and a distal end of the prop with respect to the platform is adjustably positionable atop to the base to adjust a support angle of the platform with respect to the base.

Description

(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

(C) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

(d) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

(e) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

Not Applicable

(f) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

(g) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to starting block and more particularly pertains to a new starting block for supporting a runner's feet above a running surface just prior to running.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art describes various starting blocks which may be adjusted to change an angle at which a runner's feet are positioned and which may be reconfigured to compactly store the starting block. Many such starting blocks will use threaded rods, clamps, or the like to precisely adjust an angle of a foot support. However, such devices may shift when force is exerted on the foot support, thereby causing a change in the angle of the foot support, and they may have relatively complex components which increase manufacturing times and costs. A starting block with a simpler mechanism that is unlikely to shift during operation is therefore needed. Additionally, the starting blocks known to the art do not collapse into a form in which an upper surface of a foot support is parallel to a bottom surface of a base facing the other direction. Such a device is desirable over the prior art because its form factor in the collapsed state make storing in a variety of locations easier.

(h) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a foot support module which includes a base, a platform, and a prop. The platform is pivotably coupled to the base at a front end of the base and is positionable in a collapsed position with respect to the base in which the platform rests atop the base. An upper surface of the platform faces upwardly away from the base when the platform is positioned in the collapsed position. The prop is pivotably coupled to the platform, and a distal end of the prop with respect to the platform is adjustably positionable atop to the base to adjust a support angle of the platform with respect to the base.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

(i) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a starting block kit according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top exploded view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a bottom exploded view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

(j) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new starting block embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the starting block kit 10 generally comprises a pair of foot support modules 12 that may be positioned on a running track 72 or other ground surface to support a runner's feet 70 prior to running. The foot support modules 12 are unattached to each other but may be joined by a tether or otherwise secured together in other embodiments. Each foot support module 12 comprises a base 14, a platform 38 pivotably attached to the base 14, and a prop 52 pivotably attached to the platform 38. The platform 38 may be positioned in a collapsed configuration with respect to the base 14 and may be positioned at various support angles via standing the prop 52 to support the platform 38 at a selected support angle.

The base 14 comprises a bottom wall 16 which tapers from a front end 18 of the base 14 and from a back end 20 of the base 14 to a center section 22 of the base 14. Each lateral edge 24 of a pair of lateral edges 24 of the bottom wall 16 defines an associated lateral recess 26 of a pair of lateral recesses 26. The lateral edges 24 of the bottom wall 16 are concavely arcuate. The base 14 further comprises a perimeter wall 28 which is coupled to and extends upwardly from the bottom wall 16. The perimeter wall 28 defines a pair of lateral gaps 30, each of which is positioned in an associated lateral section 34 of a pair of lateral sections 34 of the perimeter wall 28. The lateral gaps 30 are positioned opposite each other across the center section 22 of the bottom wall 16. The perimeter wall 28 also defines a pair of back gaps 32 in a back section 36 of the perimeter wall 28. The back gaps 32 are laterally spaced from each other. A bottom surface 18 of the base 14 has a planar shape.

The platform 38 is pivotably coupled to the base 14 at the front end 18 of the base 14 via a pin 50 which extends through the base 14 and the platform 38. When in the collapsed position 40, an upper surface 42 of the platform 38 faces upwardly away from the base 14. The upper surface 42 has a planar shape and is oriented parallel to the bottom surface 18 of the base 14 when the platform 38 is positioned in the collapsed position 40. The platform 38 comprises a support wall 44 and a pair of side walls 46. The side walls 46 are coupled to and extend away from the platform 38. The side walls 46 are also laterally spaced from each other with respect to the base 14. The pair of side walls 46 extends between the support wall 44 and the base 14 when the platform 38 is positioned in the collapsed position 40. The platform 38 extends over the pair of lateral recesses 26 of the bottom wall 16 of the base 14 when the platform 38 is positioned in the collapsed position 40. The platform 38 rests atop the bottom wall 16 of the base 14 and extends through the pair of lateral gaps 30 of the perimeter wall 28 when the platform 38 is positioned in the collapsed position 40.

The prop 52 pivotably coupled to the platform 38, and a distal end 54 of the prop 52 with respect to the platform 38 is adjustably positionable atop to the base 14 to adjust an angle of the platform 38 with respect to the base 14. The prop 52 comprises a continuous rod 56 with a distal section 58, a pair of extension sections 60, and a pair of axle sections 62. The extension sections 60 are coupled to and extend between the platform 38 and the distal section 58, and the distal section 58 is coupled to and extends between the pair of extension sections 60. Each axle section 62 is coupled to an associated extension section 60 of the pair of extension sections 60. Each axle section 62 is rotatably coupled to an associated side wall 46 of the pair of side walls 46 of the platform 38 via a pivot hole 48 extending through the associated side wall 46.

When the platform 38 is positioned in the collapsed position 40, the prop 52 is positioned between the platform 38 and the base 14 and extends rearwardly of the base 14. Each extension section 60 of the continuous rod 56 extends through an associated back gap 32 of the perimeter wall 28 when the platform 38 is positioned in the collapsed position 40.

Each foot support module 12 further comprises an angle adjustment member 64 which is mounted atop the base 14. The angle adjustment member 64 defines a plurality of bays 66, each of which may receive the distal end 54 of the prop 52 to set the platform 38 at an associated one of the support angles with respect to the base 14. Each bay 66 extends laterally with respect to the base 14. When the platform 38 is in the collapsed position 40, the side walls 46 are positioned opposite each other across the angle adjustment member 64 and the support wall 44 rests atop the angle adjustment member 64.

Each foot support module 12 also includes a plurality of spikes 68 which are removably coupled to the base 14. The spikes 68 protrude away from the bottom surface 18 of the base 14 and may be used to insert into the running track 72 or other ground surface to secure the foot support module 12 to the running track 72 or other ground surface. The spikes 68 may be externally threaded such that they screw into the base 14 or may attach to the base 14 via a snap fit, a press fit, a latch, or another suitable fastener.

In use, the foot support modules 12 may be placed on the running track 72 or other ground surface in order to support the runner's feet 70 at any of the various support angles prior to running. The platform 38 of each foot support module 12 may be placed in the collapsed position 40 such that the foot support module 12 may be stored compactly. The spikes 68 may be removed from the base 14 of each foot support module 12 to prevent the foot support module 12 from damaging objects when being stored or to replace broken or worn spikes 68. The platform 38 may be placed in any of the support angles by positioning the distal end 54 of the prop 52 in an associated bay 66 of the angle adjustment member 64 as described above.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A starting block kit comprising:

a foot support module comprising: a base; a platform pivotably coupled to the base at a front end of the base, the platform being positionable in a collapsed position with respect to the base in which the platform rests atop the base, an upper surface of the platform facing upwardly away from the base when the platform is positioned in the collapsed position; and a prop pivotably coupled to the platform, a distal end of the prop with respect to the platform being adjustably positionable atop to the base to adjust a support angle of the platform with respect to the base.

2. The starting block kit of claim 1, wherein the foot support module is one of a pair of foot support modules, each foot support module of the pair of foot support modules comprising:

a base;

a platform pivotably coupled to the base at a front end of the base, the platform being positionable in a collapsed position with respect to the base in which the platform rests atop the base, an upper surface of the platform facing upwardly away from the base when the platform is positioned in the collapsed position; and

a prop pivotably coupled to the platform, a distal end of the prop with respect to the platform being adjustably positionable atop to the base to adjust a support angle of the platform with respect to the base.

3. The starting block of claim 1, wherein:

the base comprises a bottom wall, the bottom wall tapering from a front end of the base and from a back end of the base to a center section of the base, each lateral edge of a pair of lateral edges of the bottom wall defining an associated lateral recess of a pair of lateral recesses; and

the platform extends over the pair of lateral recesses of the bottom wall of the base when the platform is positioned in the collapsed position.

4. The starting block of claim 3, wherein:

the base further comprises a perimeter wall coupled to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the perimeter wall defining a pair of lateral gaps, each lateral gap of the pair of lateral gaps being positioned in an associated lateral section of a pair of lateral sections of the perimeter wall, the pair of lateral gaps being positioned opposite each other across the center section of the bottom wall; and

the platform rests atop the bottom wall of the base and extends through the pair of lateral gaps of the perimeter wall when the platform is positioned in the collapsed position.

5. The starting block of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the platform has a planar shape.

6. The starting block of claim 5, wherein:

a bottom surface of the base has a planar shape; and

the upper surface of the platform is oriented parallel to the bottom surface of the base when the platform is positioned in the collapsed position.

7. The starting block of claim 1, wherein the platform comprises a support wall and a pair of side walls, the pair of side walls being coupled to and extending away from the platform, the pair of side walls being laterally spaced from each other with respect to the base, the pair of side walls extending between the support wall and the base when the platform is positioned in the collapsed position.

8. The starting block of claim 1, wherein the prop being positioned between the platform and the base when the platform is positioned in the collapsed position, the prop extending rearwardly of the base when the platform is positioned in the collapsed position.

9. The starting block of claim 1, wherein the prop comprises a continuous rod, the continuous rod comprising a distal section and a pair of extension sections, the pair of extension sections being coupled to and extending between the platform and the distal section, the distal section being coupled to and extending between the pair of extension sections.

10. The starting block of claim 9, wherein:

the base further comprises a perimeter wall coupled to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the perimeter wall defines a pair of back gaps in a back section of the perimeter wall, the pair of back gaps being laterally spaced from each other; and

each extension section of the pair of extension sections of the continuous rod of the prop extends through an associated back gap of the pair of back gaps of the perimeter wall when the platform is positioned in the collapsed position.

11. The starting block of claim 9, wherein:

each side wall of the pair of side walls of the platform defines a pivot hole which extends therethrough; and

the continuous rod of the prop further comprises a pair of axle sections, each axle section of the pair of axle sections being coupled to an associated extension section of the pair of extension sections, each axle section of the pair of axle sections being rotatable within the pivot hole of an associated side wall of the pair of side walls of the platform.

12. The starting block of claim 1, further comprising an angle adjustment member mounted atop the base, the angle adjustment member defining a plurality of bays wherein the distal end of the prop is alternately receivable into each bay of the plurality of bays to adjust the support angle of the platform.

13. The starting block of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of spikes coupled to the base, the plurality of spikes protruding away from a bottom surface of the base.

14. The starting block of claim 13, wherein each spike of the plurality of spikes is removable from the base.

15. A starting block kit comprising:

a pair of foot support modules, each foot support module of the pair of foot support modules comprising: a base, the base comprising a bottom wall, the bottom wall tapering from a front end of the base and from a back end of the base to a center section of the base, each lateral edge of a pair of lateral edges of the bottom wall defining an associated lateral recess of a pair of lateral recesses, the base further comprising a perimeter wall coupled to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the perimeter wall defining a pair of lateral gaps, each lateral gap of the pair of lateral gaps being positioned in an associated lateral section of a pair of lateral sections of the perimeter wall, the pair of lateral gaps being positioned opposite each other across the center section of the bottom wall, the perimeter wall defining a pair of back gaps in a back section of the perimeter wall, the pair of back gaps being laterally spaced from each other, a bottom surface of the base having a planar shape; a platform pivotably coupled to the base at the front end of the base, the platform being positionable in a collapsed position with respect to the base in which the platform rests atop the base, an upper surface of the platform facing upwardly away from the base when the platform is positioned in the collapsed position, the upper surface of the platform having a planar shape, the upper surface of the platform being oriented parallel to the bottom surface of the base when the platform is positioned in the collapsed position, the platform comprising a support wall and a pair of side walls, the pair of side walls being coupled to and extending away from the platform, the pair of side walls being laterally spaced from each other with respect to the base, the pair of side walls extending between the support wall and the base when the platform is positioned in the collapsed position, the platform extending over the pair of lateral recesses of the bottom wall of the base when the platform is positioned in the collapsed position, the platform resting atop the bottom wall of the base and extending through the pair of lateral gaps of the perimeter wall when the platform is positioned in the collapsed position, each side wall of the pair of side walls defining a pivot hole which extends therethrough; a prop pivotably coupled to the platform, a distal end of the prop with respect to the platform being adjustably positionable atop to the base to adjust an angle of the platform with respect to the base, the prop being positioned between the platform and the base when the platform is positioned in the collapsed position, the prop extending rearwardly of the base when the platform is positioned in the collapsed position, the prop comprising a continuous rod, the continuous rod comprising a distal section and a pair of extension sections, the pair of extension sections being coupled to and extending between the platform and the distal section, the distal section being coupled to and extending between the pair of extension sections, each extension section of the pair of extension sections extending through an associated back gap of the pair of back gaps of the perimeter wall when the platform is positioned in the collapsed position, the continuous rod further comprising a pair of axle sections, each axle section of the pair of axle sections being coupled to an associated extension section of the pair of extension sections, each axle section of the pair of axle sections being rotatable within the pivot hole of an associated side wall of the pair of side walls of the platform; an angle adjustment member mounted atop the base, the angle adjustment member defining a plurality of bays wherein the distal end of the prop is alternately receivable into each bay of the plurality of bays to set the platform in an associated one of a plurality of support angles with respect to the base, each bay extending laterally with respect to the base; and a plurality of spikes coupled to the base, the plurality of spikes protruding away from the bottom surface of the base, each spike of the plurality of spikes being removable from the base.