Vaulting pole

Abstract

A vaulting pole has seven layers. The first layer is a helical E-glass tape, the second layer is a crosswise helical E-glass tape, the third layer is an UHP-glass body wrap, the fourth layer is an S-glass body wrap, the fifth layer is a carbon fiber body wrap, the sixth layer is an S-glass body wrap, and the seventh layer is an S-glass trapezoidal sail piece.

Claims

1. A vaulting pole comprising: (a) a first layer comprising a helical E-glass tape; (b) a second layer comprising a crosswise helical E-glass tape; (c) a third layer comprising a UHP-glass body wrap; (d) a fourth layer comprising an S-glass body wrap; (e) a fifth layer comprising a carbon fiber body wrap; (f) a sixth layer comprising an S-glass body wrap; and (g) a seventh layer comprising an S-glass trapezoidal sail piece.

2. The vaulting pole of claim 1 wherein the UHP-glass body wrap extends the entire length of the vaulting pole.

3. The vaulting pole of claim 1 wherein the UHP-glass body wrap makes at least two circumferences of the vaulting pole.

4. The vaulting pole of claim 1 wherein the carbon fiber body wrap is straight run carbon fiber body wrap.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mandrel and the five layers of material that are used to manufacture a prior art vaulting pole.

(2) FIG. 2 is a top view of the seven layers of material used to manufacture a prior art vaulting pole.

(3) FIG. 3 is a top view of the seven layers of material used to manufacture a preferred embodiment of the vaulting pole of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

1. The Mandrel

(4) This invention is best understood by reference to FIG. 3. The preferred embodiment of the vaulting pole 200 of this invention comprises seven layers of material that are applied to a mandrel 210, heated, cooled, and then separated from the mandrel. The pole is generally constructed to a length less than that of the mandrel. The pole is also generally constructed several inches longer than the desired length of the finished pole. The ends of the pole sometimes contain imperfections and the additional length allows the ends to be cut off. Caps are then placed on the ends. The mandrel is a metal pole having a length of about fifteen to eighteen feet and an outside diameter of about one to one and one-half inches. The mandrel is preferably tapered slightly so that it can be easily removed from within the finished pole.

2. The First Layer

(5) The first layer 220 is made of fiberglass that is wrapped around the mandrel such that at least half of the glass fibers are transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pole. The layer is preferably tape that is helically wound upon the mandrel in one direction until the desired length is reached. The fiberglass is preferably E-glass.

3. The Second Layer

(6) The second layer 230 is made of fiberglass that is wrapped around such that at least half of the glass fibers are transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pole. The layer is preferably tape that is helically wound upon the mandrel in the opposite direction of the first layer so that the tapes are crosswise to each other until the desired length is reached. The fiberglass is preferably E-glass.

4. The Third Layer

(7) The third layer 240 is made of UHP fiberglass cloth. The cloth makes at least one circumference, preferably exactly one circumference. The cloth extends all or most of the length of the pole. The cloth preferably extends the entire length of the pole as shown in FIG. 3. As shown in the Examples below, it was surprisingly found that a single layer of UHP fiberglass, and especially as the third layer, provided optimal physical properties and durability. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the single layer of UHP fiberglass as the third layer gives the fiberglass layers within the carbon fiber layer a modulus of elasticity that is similar to the modulus of elasticity of the carbon fiber layer.

5. The Fourth Layer

(8) The fourth layer 250 is made of fiberglass cloth. The cloth makes at least one circumference, preferably exactly two circumferences, and preferably extends all or most of the length of the pole. The fiberglass is preferably S fiberglass.

6. The Fifth Layer

(9) The fifth layer 260 is made of carbon fiber cloth. The carbon fiber cloth is preferably straight run, but woven carbon cloth is also suitable. The cloth makes at least one circumference, preferably exactly one circumference, and preferably extends all or most of the length of the pole.

7. The Sixth Layer

(10) The sixth layer 270 is made of fiberglass cloth. The cloth makes at least one circumference, preferably exactly one circumference, and preferably extends all or most of the length of the pole. The fiberglass is preferably S fiberglass.

8. The Seventh Layer

(11) The seventh layer 280 is made of fiberglass cloth. The cloth is preferably trapezoidal in shape. The base of the cloth is generally about 80 to 100 percent of the length of the inner layers. The top of the cloth is preferably about 5 to 50 percent the length of the base. The shape and position of the seventh layer are varied as desired to produce the desired physical characteristics in the pole. The fiberglass is preferably S fiberglass.

9. Properties And Advantages

(12) The vaulting pole of this invention has the same weight as a comparable carbon weave vaulting pole and has similar flexing properties. The vaulting pole of this invention is very resistant to delamination.

10. Other Embodiments

(13) The preferred embodiment described above contains two layers of E fiberglass tape (the first and second layers) inside the UHP fiberglass cloth. If desired, fewer or additional layers of fiberglass are added inside the UHP fiberglass cloth. The preferred embodiment contains two layers of fiberglass cloth (the sixth and seventh layers) outside the carbon fiber cloth. If desired, fewer or additional layers of fiberglass are added outside the carbon fiber cloth.

11. Examples

(14) The following examples are illustrative only.

Example 1

(15) This example illustrates the effect of the choice of material for the third layer on a vaulting pole made from seven layers of material.

(16) Six poles were made. Each pole had seven layers of material. The first two layers were identical. Each pole had a first layer of helical E-glass tape and a second layer of crosswise helical E-glass tape. The fourth through seventh layers were also identical. Each pole had a fourth layer of S-glass body wrap, a fifth layer of carbon fiber body wrap, a sixth layer of S-glass body wrap, and a seventh layer of S-glass trapezoidal sail piece.

(17) The first pole had a third layer of UHP-glass. The finished pole had exceptional physical properties and durability.

(18) The second pole had a third layer of aramid. This pole was unsatisfactory because it took a permanent set each time it was bent. In other words, it did not return to its original straight shape.

(19) The third pole had a third layer of spread tow carbon fabric. The physical properties of the pole were not as good as the physical properties of the first pole.

(20) The fourth pole had a third layer of S-glass with toughened epoxy resin. The physical properties of the pole were not as good as the physical properties of the first pole.

(21) The fifth pole had a third layer of unidirectional carbon tape with an additional layer of toughened epoxy film adhesive between the unidirectional carbon tape and the surrounding S-glass layer. The physical properties of the pole were not as good as the physical properties of the first pole.

(22) The sixth pole had a third layer of unidirectional carbon tape. The physical properties of the pole were not as good as the physical properties of the first pole.

(23) The results revealed that a pole having a third layer of UHP-glass has physical properties and durability that are better than poles having a third layer of other materials.

Example 2

(24) This Example illustrates the effect of the use of UHP-glass in different layers in a vaulting pole made from seven layers of material.

(25) Three poles were made. Each pole had seven layers of material.

(26) The first pole had a first layer of helical E-glass tape, a second layer of crosswise helical E-glass tape, a third layer of UHP-glass body wrap, a fourth layer of S-glass body wrap, a fifth layer of carbon fiber body wrap, a sixth layer of S-glass body wrap, and a seventh layer of S-glass trapezoidal sail piece. The finished pole had exceptional physical properties and durability.

(27) The second pole had a first layer of UHP-glass tape, a second layer of crosswise helical UHP-glass tape, a third layer of UHP-glass body wrap, a fourth layer of UHP-glass body wrap, a fifth layer of UHP-glass body wrap, a sixth layer of UHP-glass body wrap, and a seventh layer of UHP-glass trapezoidal sail piece. The finished pole was too soft with little recoil upon bending.

(28) The third pole had a first layer of UHP-glass tape, a second layer of crosswise helical UHP-glass tape, a third layer of helical carbon weave tape, a fourth layer of UHP-glass body wrap, a fifth layer of carbon weave body wrap, a sixth layer of UHP-glass body wrap, and a seventh layer of UHP-glass trapezoidal sail piece. The finished pole was too soft with little recoil upon bending.

(29) The results revealed that a pole having a third layer of UHP-glass without any other layers of UHP-glass has physical properties and durability that are better than poles having multiple layers of UHP-glass.