LANDING DEVICE FOR DISMOUNTING FROM APPARATUS, PARTICULARLY FOR GYMNASTS

Abstract

The object of the invention is a landing device, particularly for gymnasts when dismounting from said apparatus, particularly for the purpose of a stabilized dismount, characterized in that it comprises at least one first shock-absorbing volume (10) and one second shock-absorbing volume (12), the at least one of these two volumes being inflatable, both superimposed, as well as means (14) of connecting these at least two volumes in said superimposed position. The second shock-absorbing volume is inflatable.

Claims

1. A landing device comprising: at least one first shock-absorbing volume one second shock-absorbing volume, placed on top of the at least one first shock-absorbing volume in a superimposed position, means for connecting the at least one first shock-absorbing volume and one second shock-absorbing volume in said superimposed position, wherein the second shock-absorbing volume is inflatable.

2. The landing device according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the volumes is uniform so as to form a flat surface.

3. The landing device according to claim 1 wherein the first-shock absorbing volume comprises a block of foam.

4. The landing device according to claim 1 wherein the first shock-absorbing volume is made of foam and has a height and the second inflatable volume has a height that is greater than the height of the first shock-absorbing volume.

5. The landing device according to claim 3, wherein the heights are respectively: the height of the first shock-absorbing volume is between 2 cm and 15 cm and the height of the second inflatable volume is between 5 cm and 20 cm.

6. The landing device according to claim 1, wherein, in the case of two shock-absorbing volumes, the connecting means comprise pairs of patches, one connected to the bottom face of the shock-absorbing volume placed on top and the other to the top face of the shock-absorbing volume placed on the bottom.

7. The landing device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one inflatable shock-absorbing volume has weights at the corners.

8. The landing device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one inflatable shock-absorbing volume has shock-absorbing corner-pieces at the corners.

9. The landing device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one inflatable shock-absorbing volume has a peripheral shock-absorbing frame.

10. The landing device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one inflatable shock-absorbing volume is inflated to a pressure of between 120 mbars and 220 mbars.

11. The landing device according to claim 1 wherein the single envelope coming from the first shock-absorbing volume immobilizes the second shock-absorbing volume.

Description

[0028] The shock-absorption device according to the present invention will now be described in terms of a specific, non-limiting embodiment, this illustrative description being achieved with reference to the accompanying drawings, said drawings comprising the following figures:

[0029] FIG. 1: a perspective view of a device according to the present invention,

[0030] FIG. 2: an exploded view of the device in FIG. 1,

[0031] FIG. 3: a lateral side view of the device in FIG. 1,

[0032] FIG. 4: a cross-sectional view of the device showing the different elements, separately.

[0033] The various Figures show a device according to the present invention that comprises at least one first shock-absorbing volume 10 and a second shock-absorbing volume 12, both superimposed, as well as the means of connecting 14 these at least two volumes in a superimposed position. The first volume is placed beneath the second volume.

[0034] In this case, in the embodiment shown, the first shock-absorbing volume 10 has a height H1 and the second volume 12 has a height H2, the total height of the device being H.

[0035] In the case of an application to a safety mat at the horizontal bar, the height H1 is between 2 cm and 15 cm and H2 is between 5 cm and 20 cm and the total height must be less than 25 cm in order to remain within the required standards.

[0036] In all cases, the volumes are of a uniform thickness so as to form a flat surface, with the faces determining each volume being parallel.

[0037] In the embodiment shown, the first shock-absorbing volume 10 is a slab of foam 16, possibly covered by an envelope 18 of a known type, shown in cross section in FIG. 4. This slab of foam 16 is in the shape of a parallelepiped, monolithic, with dimensions fit to the dimensions of the landing zone, these dimensions being fully defined.

[0038] Since the foam is resilient, this first shock-absorbing volume 10 retains its parallelepiped shape, even after numerous stresses.

[0039] Also according to the embodiment shown, the second shock-absorbing volume 12 comprises an inflatable envelope 20, provided with at least one inflation valve 22. The inflation pressure is, for example, between 120 and 220 mbars.

[0040] This inflatable envelope 20 comprises connecting spacers 24, interposed in the internal volume, between the bottom side of the upper volume and the top side of the bottom volume. These connecting spacers 24 are invisible from the outside and are shown in the cross-sectional view in FIG. 4.

[0041] The second shock-absorbing volume 12 thus maintains its external shape, usually a parallelepiped, and this second shock-absorbing volume remains in its initial shape. Note that H2 is greater than H1 in the preferred embodiment shown.

[0042] If necessary, it is possible to provide shock-absorbing corner-pieces 24 located at the corners, i.e. a shock-absorbing peripheral frame 26, shown as an option in FIG. 2 only, so as to properly maintain the angular shape and to ensure a perfect hold. These corner-pieces and the frame can be made of foam.

[0043] Another alternative involves positioning additional shock-absorbers in the form of weights at the corners, for example deformable pieces of the same nature as the envelope, thicker and partially connected to the top of said inflatable envelope.

[0044] These weights add to the shock-absorption, not on landing, but on the rebound, so that the rebound can already be partially absorbed by these weights.

[0045] Since these two shock-absorbing volumes 10, 12 are superimposed, means of connecting 14 the two volumes are provided so as to preserve a monolithic product, even after a landing and relative movement of one or the other of the shock-absorbing volumes.

[0046] Such means of connecting 14 are advantageously pairs of connecting patches 28-1, 28-2, one connected to the bottom face of the shock-absorbing volume in the top position and the other to the top face of the shock-absorbing volume in the bottom position. These pairs of patches can be equipped with a Velcro system, comprising hooks on one of the patches of the pair and loops on the other patches of the pair.

[0047] Alternatively, it is also possible to provide a single envelope stemming from the first shock-absorbing volume that totally or partially immobilizes the second shock-absorbing volume.

[0048] The second inflatable shock-absorbing volume 12, in the top position in the embodiment shown, can thus be separated from the first foam shock-absorbing volume 10.

[0049] During transportation and installation, it will be noted that the first shock-absorbing volume 10 has a constant thickness H1 but it can be easily rolled up because it is independent. In any case, even if not rolled up, such a mat is easy to handle and its light weight facilitates such handling.

[0050] Lastly, bearing in mind the heights in question, the thickness of this second shock-absorbing volume remains limited and it is very easy to roll up as well as to transport.

[0051] The second inflatable shock-absorbing volume 14 is deflated and can be handled very easily, particularly after having been rolled up.

[0052] The assembly can also be kept as it is because, once deflated, the connected first shock-absorbing volume and the second shock-absorbing volume together have a small combined thickness. In fact, the inflatable envelope is empty internally and its nominal thickness is very low.

[0053] This is also an undeniable technical advantage.

[0054] The landing comfort and the shock-absorbing qualities meet the required standards, as confirmed below.

[0055] The tests are performed with an impactor having a diameter of 150 mm, weighing 20 kg, for a simple apparatus-dismounting mat with a stabilized landing.

[0056] The drop height of the impactor is always 800 mm for this type of mat.

[0057] The impact test must be performed at standard locations on the mat, namely at 8 locations defined as follows: [0058] In each of the four corners, at 25 cm from the two edges defining each corner, i.e. four points, and [0059] In the center, along central perpendicular bisectors, at 25 cm from the center of the mat, i.e. four points.

[0060] The table below shows that the values obtained meet the standards, particularly the NF standards EN 12503-1 and EN 12503-4, as regards shock absorption, vertical deformation and energy release.

TABLE-US-00001 Re- Require- Properties Method Units sults ments Opinion Shock-absorption NF standard g 13.6 40 Compliant Vertical deformation EN 12503-4 mm 95 110 Compliant Energy release % 47 50 Compliant

[0061] It is evident that the standards are met and that the values are very different from those of a fall-arresting mat of the prior art.