SUPPORT PART OF A STARTING BLOCK IN SWIMMING

Abstract

A support part of a swimming start block. The front support part (18) is provided for a starting block (1) of a swimming race, which includes at least one base (9) to be fixed around a swimming pool, and a platform (5) which is mounted or fixed on the base (9). A foot of a swimmer as well as his hands are supported before the start of a race on the front support part. This front support part is arranged to be mounted interchangeably on a front portion of the platform (5) of the starting block (18) and can be an intelligent front support part with motion sensors and light source and race management electronics.

Claims

1. A support part (18) of a starting block (1) of a swimming race, the starting block (1) comprising at least one base (9) to be fixed around a swimming pool; and a platform (5) which is mounted or fixed on the base (9), on which a foot of a swimmer as well as his hands are supported before the start of a race, wherein the support part (18) is an intelligent front support part, which comprises race management electronics, in particular at the time of the start of the race, and which comprises nesting means to be held fixedly and interchangeable in an opening of the front portion of the platform (5) and wherein the front support part (18) is screwed or clipped in a shape complementary to the opening of the front portion of the platform (5).

2. The support part (18) according to claim 1, wherein the front support part (18) is mounted or fixed to the front portion of the platform (5) in the continuity of the upper surface thereof, said front support part (18) being configured to be ergonomic, pleasant to the touch for the fingers of the swimmer and ensure a good grip of the hands.

3. The support part (18) according to claim 1, wherein the front support part comprises at least one force or movement sensor connected to a processor processing unit to determine the reaction time of the swimmer at the start of a race in order to determine at least any false starts.

4. The support part (18) according to claim 1, wherein the front support part (18) defined as the front portion comprises at least one light source for illuminating through a slot (17) on the front portion of the front support part at least one race lane in front of the starting block (1).

5. The support part (18) according to claim 1, wherein the front support part (18) defined as the front portion comprises at least one light source to generate a race start flash through a slot (17) on the front portion of the front support part (18).

6. The support part (18) according to claim 4, wherein the slot (17) is disposed horizontally over the entire length of the front support part (18).

7. The support part (18) according to claim 1, wherein the front support part (18) defined as the front portion comprises at least one light source to generate a race start flash, and wherein the light source (27) is a light-emitting diode disposed on top of the front support part (18).

8. The support part (18) according to claim 7, wherein several light-emitting diodes are provided disposed on top of the front support part (18).

9. The support part (18) according to claim 1, wherein the front support part (18) is removed from the opening of the platform by acting on buttons disposed in the vicinity of the opening on the front of the platform (5) or on the sides of the front support part (18) to displace the portions clipped against the retaining spring of the front support part (18) fixed in the opening of the platform (5).

10. The support part (18) according to claim 1, wherein the front support part (18) comprises two grooves over the entire length of two opposite sides of the front support part (18) to slidably insert the grooved portion into a jaw with rectilinear teeth of the front portion of the platform (5), where the teeth of the jaw are disposed to be housed in each groove.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The aims, advantages and features of the intelligent front support part of a starting block or aid for a swimming race will appear better in the following description of non-limiting embodiments illustrated by the drawings in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 represents a starting block according to the prior art,

[0021] FIG. 2 represents an embodiment of a starting block with a front support part which is intelligent and interchangeable with an illumination on the front according to the invention, and

[0022] FIG. 3 represents another embodiment of a starting block with an intelligent front support part with an illumination on the top, or even on the top and the front of the part according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] In the following description, the well-known elements of a starting block with a support part on the front of the platform for a swimming competition, will only be described in a simplified manner.

[0024] FIG. 2 represents an embodiment of the starting block 1. The starting block 1 comprises a platform 5 which is mounted or fixed on a base 9 or integral with the base 9, whose lower portion is fixed on a ground around a swimming pool. The starting block 1 may further comprise on the rear portion of the platform 5, an inclined plane 3. The starting block may further comprise a structure in the form of bars 7 fixed on the base 9 or the platform 5 for a backstroke swimming race. This structure of metal bars 7 is shown with two horizontal bars connected at the ends thereof by two vertical bars, which extend in the direction of the starting block 1 by two more or less rectilinear bars on each side of the base 9 so as to be fixed at the end thereof at said base 9 of the starting block 1.

[0025] The starting block or aid 1 comprises, as an essential portion of the present invention, a support part 18 as a front support part or nose, which is mounted so as to be interchangeable on the front of the platform 5. The support part 18 can be changed following a wear, for example a grip of the front support part 18 when several swimmers come to grip the front support part 18 with their hands and place a foot on the front support part 18 before and for the start of a swimming race.

[0026] The support part 18 is an intelligent front support part as a front portion of the platform 5. It comprises, for example, electronics for race management and mainly race start. The intelligent front support part 18 comprises at least one force or movement sensor (triaxial accelerometer) or a strain gauge, or several other sensors. The sensors, which are not represented, are generally connected to a processor or microcontroller processing unit to process sensor signals so as to determine in particular a swimmer's reaction time on the front support part at the time of start of a swimming race.

[0027] In addition, the front support part 18 comprises at least one light source for illuminating according to a first embodiment through a slot 17 disposed horizontally on the front of the front support part 18 and preferably over the entire length, at least the race lane in front of the starting block. The light source in the front support part 18 can preferably also generate a flash signalling the start of a swimming race.

[0028] According to a second embodiment represented in FIG. 3, there may be provided an illumination 27 on the top of the front support part 18. In this case, one or more light sources are provided in the form of light-emitting diodes LED. These diodes LED can be disposed on a line 27 parallel to the front edge of the front support part 18. A combination with an illumination through the slot 17 of the first embodiment can also be provided, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0029] It should also be noted that the front support part 18 can be electrically connected by cable to a supply voltage source of the starting block 1 or an external signal management station.

[0030] The front support part 18 is mounted or fixed to the front portion of the platform 5 in the continuity of the upper surface thereof and in an ergonomic manner. The front support part 18 comprises nesting means to be held fixedly in an opening of the front portion of the platform 5. The front support part 18 can for example be screwed or clipped in a shape complementary to the opening of the front portion of the platform 5 or by any other fixing means. In this case, it can be removed from the opening of the platform by acting, for example, on buttons disposed in the vicinity of the opening on the front of the platform or on the sides of the front support part to displace the portions clipped against the retaining spring of the front support part fixed in the opening of the platform 5.

[0031] However, other fastening means may be provided. The front support part 18 may comprise a rigid tab to be inserted into an opening whose shape is complementary the front portion of the platform 5. The front portion of the platform 5 may comprise several bottomed openings to house the screw head. Several threads are made following the openings in the front portion of the platform 5 and by passing through openings made on the tab of the front support part 18. Thus, the front support part is fixed by a set of screws screwed into the threads which are made. Reverse fixing means of what is described above can be performed.

[0032] It can also be imagined to make two grooves over the entire length of two opposite sides of the front support part to slidably insert this portion of the front support part 18 into a jaw with rectilinear teeth of the front portion of the platform 5. The teeth of the jaw are disposed to be housed in each groove and fixed once the front support part is in the continuity of the upper surface of the platform.

[0033] Still other means for fixing the front support part 18 on the front portion of the platform 5 can be imagined without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims. These may be mechanical fixing means to have a front support part 18 which is easily interchangeable in the case of wear or by also using electrical means which are little more complicated.