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.

A track start wedge includes a housing, a ratchet gear assembly, and a locking pawl assembly. The ratchet gear assembly is disposed at least partially within the housing and includes a bar, a pinion gear at each end of the bar, and a ratchet gear between the ends of the bar. The locking pawl assembly is coupled to the housing and includes a locking pawl disengageably coupled to the ratchet gear and a spring operable to bias the locking pawl into engagement with the ratchet gear. The ratchet gear assembly is configured to rotate in unison in a first direction toward a front of the housing and a second direction toward a rear of the housing, but the locking pawl prevents rotation of the ratchet gear in the second direction when the locking pawl is engaged with the ratchet gear.

A starting blocks device includes a longitudinal member, a forward block removably connected to a forward part of the longitudinal member by way, and a rear block removably connected to a rear part of the longitudinal member and a sensor for determining force applied by the user.

A swimming starting platform having a base supporting a tread surface and an anchor ledge for supporting swimmers. The base includes a shaft extending through an interior cavity of the base from a first side panel to a second side panel. An adjustment mechanism is coupled to an end of the shaft and positioned along the first side panel, where the adjustment mechanism is actuatable to rotate the shaft and adjust a position of the anchor ledge relative to the base of the starting platform.

The process enables a reaction time of an athlete at the start of a race to be measured with a personalized transponder module positioned on the athlete and a base station. The module comprises a receiver unit, a processing unit, a transmitter unit for data signals and a motion sensor to supply measurement signals to the processing unit. The module is activated by a received wake-up signal and a measurement of the movement is performed by the sensor at the start of the race. The data signals are transmitted to the base station and a determination of the reaction time of the athlete at the start of the race is performed to determine a possible false start if the reaction time is below a determined time threshold following the starting signal.

A track start wedge includes a housing, a ratchet gear assembly, and a locking pawl assembly. The ratchet gear assembly is disposed at least partially within the housing and includes a bar, a pinion gear at each end of the bar, and a ratchet gear between the ends of the bar. The locking pawl assembly is coupled to the housing and includes a locking pawl disengageably coupled to the ratchet gear and a spring operable to bias the locking pawl into engagement with the ratchet gear. The ratchet gear assembly is configured to rotate in unison in a first direction toward a front of the housing and a second direction toward a rear of the housing, but the locking pawl prevents rotation of the ratchet gear in the second direction when the locking pawl is engaged with the ratchet gear.

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.

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.

A competition starting system utilizes a start-receiver to detect a venue starting sound and transmits a wireless signal to start signaling devices having a speaker to emit one or more lights and a lane start sound to indicate the start of the competition. This system may be used to enable hearing impaired competitors to see a start light at their lane in race competitions. A start-controller may have a number of buttons to initiate various lights and sounds from the start signaling devices and to place the start-receiver in a start mode. The buttons may correspond to ready, mark and start. The start-receiver may be programmed to detect a start sound, when in the start mode, from a venue sound device that is above a threshold decibel level and send instructions to the start signaling device to emit the start light.

The present invention provides for the inserted portion of the mount conduit to be cut at an acute angle, forming interface surfaces on two separated pieces. In its simplest form, the invention separated pieces are drawn together by a threaded shaft secured to but able to rotate structurally within the body of one of the separated pieces so that a threaded connection between the threaded shaft and the body of the other separated piece results in the separated pieces sliding across one another at the cut surfaces. As the two separated pieces are further urged to slide across their interface surfaces, an outside surface at a long side of one of the separated pieces is forced farther from an outside surface of a long side of the other separated piece, so that those long surfaces of the two separated pieces are forced against the inside walls of the receiving piece conduit.