US3815902A - Measuring means for pole vaulter - Google Patents

Abstract

A measuring structure adapted to be utilized with a conventional vaulting pole preliminary to vaulting to assure a predetermined horizontal spacing of an elevated cross bar forward of a designated pivot ground point. The measuring structure includes an opening in the pole and a measuring element which is adjustable and also preferably contains measurement increments marked thereon.

Description

United States Patent Tomlinson June 11, 1974 MEASURING MEANS FOR POLE VAULTER [75] Inventor: John R. Tomlinson, Long Beach,

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Joseph R. Taylor Altorney, Agent, or Firm-Huebner & Worrel [5 7] ABSTRACT A measuring structure adapted to be utilized with a conventional vaulting pole preliminary to vaulting to assure a predetermined horizontal spacing of an elevated cross bar forward of a designated pivot ground point.

The measuring structure includes an opening in the pole and a measuring element which is adjustable along the opening and removable from the pole and also preferably contains measurement increments marked thereon.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1 MEASURING MEANS FOR POLE VAULTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the sport of pole vaulting the positioning of the conventional cross bar suspended between a pair of vertical standards can become quite critical to the vaulter. The positioning is relative to the pole vault box, where the vaulting pole will pivot upward.

As is known the pole vaulting area and equipment includes a relatively long runway and at the end thereof a conventional pole vault box is set in the ground. The box includes a downward inclined bottom which intersects a vertical backwall. The athlete runs down the runway, plants the end of the pole in the box at the intersection pushing upwardly on the pole so the pole pivots upwardly propelling the athlete upward over the cross bar.

During the upward pivoting of the pole it is also necessary for the athlete to pull his body upward higher than the length of the pole. If the cross bar is too close to a vertical plane projected upwardly from the vertical back wall of the pole vault box the athlete may hit the cross bar with his feet thus knocking it off the standards. If, on the other hand, the cross bar is too far forward of the vertical plane of the back wall of the pole vault box gravity and momentum will cause the athlete to drop his feet or body on to the cross bar and again knock it off the standards.

By most track and field rules the cross bar may be longitudinally shifted forward from the vertical plane projecting from the vertical back wall of the pole vault box a maximum of four feet.

The longitudinal positioning of the cross bar depends upon various circumstances, such as the height and weight of the athlete, the elevation of the cross bar and in outdoor vaulting the direction and speed of the wind.

Heretofore the setting of the cross bar forwardly of or on the vertical plane projecting from the vertical back wall of the pole vault box has always been by line of sight. The vaulter has stood over the pole vault box and looked upward and visually attempted to calculate whether the cross bar and in turn the standards should be moved to achieve the desired location. This method has provded to be merely guess work and an approxi mation and if, as is customary, the standards are shifted for another vaulter than the resetting for the first vaulter again is only an approximation of his first setting. As can be appreciated with the development of new vaulting poles and techniques of vaulting a more exacting setting must be achieved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is a new measuring means which achieves exact settings of the spacing any time the vaulter wishes.

Once the vaulter has determined from past experience or during preliminary trails the correct spacing sufiicient to his needs the measuring means of this invention may be utilized to achieve exact measurement each time.

The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a passage through the elongated vaulting pole normal to the longitudinal axis thereof and an elongated measuring element slidably positioned in the guide passage which is frictionally retainable at a predetermined setting. In other words, if the athlete decides the cross bar should be 24 inches forward of a vertical plane struck from the vertical back wall of the box, he moves the measuring element to the desired increment reading placed on the element. He then vertically places the pole in the box against the back wall and the measuring guide is directed forward toward the cross bar. The vertical standards may then be moved so the cross bar is vertically aligned with the end of the measuring guide.

These and other objects and advantages will become more fully apparent from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational environmental view of pole vaulting equipment and the measuring means constituting the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top elevational view partly in section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view partly in section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG: 5 illustrates a modified guide and holding means; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a further modified guide and holding means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS There is illustrated in FIG. 1 conventional equipment and area utilized in the sport of pole vaulting and included therein is the measuring means which is the subject of this invention. The normal pole vaulting area and equipment includes a runway or base 10, a pole vault box generally designated 12 and a pair of vertical standards 14 and 16 which are laterally spaced normal to the axis of the runway 10. Each of the vertical standards 14 and 16 include cross bar rests 18 projecting on the side opposite the runway 10 and pole vault box 12. Suspended between the vertical standards 14 and 16 on the cross bar rests 18 is a conventional cross bar 20 which is preferably triangular in shape so that it may remain in position as illustrated in FIG. 1 and not be susceptible to dislodgement by wind or slight movement particularly during outdoor track and field events, yet if hit by a vaulter will be dislodged.

Adjacent to the standards 14 and 16 is the landing area generally designated 22 which is made of polyurethane foam retained within a plastic or canvas envelope 24 normally secured to the ground to prevent movement thereof. The height is sufficient to break the fall of the vaulter and prevent injury.

Referring again to the standards 14 and 16, the base 26 may be physically moved along the axis of the runway 10 or in some of the more modern vertical standards the base will remain fixed and the vertical standards then may be shiftable. However, the means employed to cause the shifting is immaterial just as long as they can be shifted, which in turn will cause the proper cross bar location.

Additionally, there is illustrated a conventional vaulting pole 28 which includes a bottom end 30, top end 32 and is preferably made of hollow tubular fiberglass structure. Additionally, a top cap 33 may be placed over the top end 32 to prevent entry of foreign material. This structure will enable the vaulter to get more kick to his vault and furnishes a very resilient structure for vaulting. However, the construction of the vaulting pole 28 is not critical and the measuring means can be utilized with any type of pole 28 no matter of what material it is constructed.

Under most rules governing pole vaulting, the vaulter is allowed to have the cross bar 20 shifted forwardly of the pole vault box 12 a distance no greater than four feet. Because of the fact that vaulters differ in height and weight and the elevation of the cross bar from the ground each vaulter attempts to regulate the distance so as to afford him the best physical and psychological opportunity to complete a successful pole vault.

The pole vault box 12 is mounted into the head or forward end of the runway and includes a downwardly inclined bottom 38 which intersects a vertically extending back wall 40 which normally is six inches in height. On either side of the bottom 38 and extending from the bottom 38 to the back wall 40 are spaced apart parallel side walls 42, one of which is illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus, the pole vault box 12 becomes a channel in which the bottom end 30 of the pole 28 is lodged at the intersection which becomes the pivot point or base pivot point for the vault.

To undertake the vault, the vaulter 36 grasping the vaulting pole 28 which is normally eighteen feet in length adjacent the top end 32 thereof will move rearwardly on the runway 10 to a desired location and then running with the vaulting pole 28 in a generally horizontal position will plant the bottom end 30 within the pole vault box 12 at the intersection of the bottom 38 and back wall 40 causing the pole to pivot upwardly whereby the vaulter will then swing his feet and push upwardly and over the cross bar landing on the landing area 22 and pushing the pole 28 rearwardly so as not to hit the cross bar 20.

The subject of this invention as aforementioned is measuring means generally designated 34. Preferably there is a guide and holding means generally designated 44, and a measuring element 46 retained therein. The guide and holding means 44 may be permanently built into the pole 28 which is normally of hollow tubular construction, see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. In such a case the pole 28 is diametrically bored preferably adjacent the top end 32 forming aligned bores 48 and 50. Inserted through the pole 28 within the bores 48 and 50 is a tubular sleeve 52 which is cut off flush with the exterior 53 of the vaulting pole 28. There is an annular passage 54 extending therethrough normal to the axis of pole 28.

If, on the other hand, it is not desired to disrupt the pole 28 by boring therethrough, the modified guide and holding means 44 may be utilized, see FIG. 5. Here a cap 55 having a generally elongated flattened extension 58 may be provided to fit over the end 32 of the pole 28 and then removed when'the measuring has been accomplished. The extension 58 is bored forming an annular passage 54' normal to the axis of the pole 28.

While the embodiment of FIG. 5 is one form of modified guide and holding means 44', it should be appreciated that the cap 55 does not necessarily require an extension 58, but that any configuration of cap 55 which can include a straight passage 54' therethrough will accomplish the desired results.

Inserted through the passage 54 or 54 is the measuring element 46. The measuring element 46 includes a rod 56 which is elongated and preferably round and may be either solid or hollow. The diameter of the rod 56 is slightly less than the diameter of passage 54 or 54' so that it may be slid back and forth within the passage for proper positioning, and will be frictionally main- 5 tained therein.

Preferably placed on the end 59 of the rod 54 is a referencing cap 60 of contrasting color for ease of viewing, and of a larger diameter than said rod. Additionally, the rod 56 is preferably provided with a plurality of measurement increments 62. Additionally, other indicia may be placed thereon such a 3 ins. 6 ins. l8 ins", etc.

Once the measuring element 46 has been properly positioned in the guide and holding means 44, the vaulter 36 will then slide the tubular rod 56 outwardly of the pole 28 to the appropriate marking. This, of course, is an individual choice depending upon the athlete or vaulter. Therefore, if the vaulter recognizes that his best effort can be made with the cross bar, 24 inches ahead of the rear wall 40 of the pole vault box 12, he will then move the rod 56 forward to the24 inch increment. At that point he will then proceed to the vaulting area, placing the pole 28 with the bottom end 30 in the pole vault box 12 such as is shown in FIG. l. The rod 56 is extended forwardly and at that point he then will instruct helpers to shift the vertical standards 14 and 16 forwardly or rearwardly so that the referencing cap 60 is vertically aligned with the cross bar 20.

The illustration in FIG. 1 shows the cross bar almost horizontally aligned with the rod 56 of the measuring guide 34. However, in actual practice, the cross bar is normally lower than is illustrated and in such a case it is merely a matter of having the vaulter or his coach stand between the two vertical standards 14 and 16 and sight upwardly so that the referencing cap 60 will be vertically aligned with the cross bar 20.

The tubular rod 56 is then removed from the vaulting pole 28 or the rod 56 and guide and holding means 44 are removed and the vaulter or athlete 36 may proceed with his vault.

The invention is particularly useful in a track and field meet when there are a number of vaulters who are utilizing the same vaulting equipment and each athlete requiring the cross bar to be shifted to his individual requirement. Heretofore, there has never been an accurate means of positioning the cross bar exactly where the vaulter wants it to be each time it comes his turn to vault. However, with the present invention the guess work has been removed and the exact setting for the vaulter may be obtained each time that it is his turn to participate.

It should also be noted in the preferred embodiment the positioning of the sleeve 52 adjacent the end 32 of the vaulting pole 28 is far enough above the normal area held by a vaulter that there is no undue strain on the pole or weakening thereof which could cause its breakage during a vault.

In FIG. 6 the invention is illustrated positioned above the placement of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. In this modification the sleeve 52 is positioned as close as practical to the end 32 of the pole 28. The cap 33 overlies the sleeve 52 and is provided with opposed openings 62 which are aligned with the bore of sleeve 52. Preferably the openings 62 correspond in diameter with the diameter of rod 56 so that when inserted the rod 56 will be frictionally maintained in position until it is removed just prior to vaulting.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention.

1 claim:

1. In the combination of a pole vault box having a back vertical wall, a pair of laterally spaced standards longitudinally translatable relative to said pole vault box and a transverse cross bar supportablebetween said standards, the improvement comprising guide and holding means associated with a vaulting pole having an elongated axis, said means including a guide passage therethrough normal to the longitudinal axis of said pole, and a measuring element slidably positioned in the guide passage and frictionally retainable at a predetermined setting whereby an athlete may hold the pole vertically in the pole vault box with the measuring element directed toward the vertical plane of said cross bar and thereby indicate the desired horizontal spacing between the vertical plane of said pole and the vertical plane of said cross bar.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said guide and holding means includes a cap adapted to fit over the end of said pole and said guide passage extends through said cap.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said cap overlies said guide passage, and said cap is provided with opposed openings aligned with said guide passage creating an unobstructed passage through said pole and said cap.

4. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said cap includes an extension extending therefrom and said guide passage extends therethrough.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said measuring element is an elongated rod whose diameter is slightly less than the diameter of said guide passage and whereby said rod is slidable therein and frictionally releasably maintained therein.

6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein said rod includes measurement increments therealong.

7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said rod in cludes a referencing cap on an end thereof.

Claims (7)

1. In the combination of a pole vault box having a back vertical wall, a pair of laterally spaced standards longitudinally translatable relative to said pole vault box and a transverse cross bar supportable between said standards, the improvement comprising guide and holding means associated with a vaulting pole having an elongated axis, said means including a guide passage therethrough normal to the longitudinal axis of said pole, and a measuring element slidably positioned in the guide passage and frictionally retainable at a predetermined setting whereby an athlete may hold the pole vertically in the pole vault box with the measuring element directed toward the vertical plane of said cross bar and thereby indicate the desired horizontal spacing between the vertical plane of said pole and the vertical plane of said cross bar.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said guide and holding means includes a cap adapted to fit over the end of said pole and said guide passage extends through said cap.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said cap overlies said guide passage, and said cap is provided with opposed openings aligned with said guide passage creating an unobstructed passage through said pole and said cap.

4. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said cap includes an extension extending therefrom and said guide passage extends therethrough.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said measuring element is an elongated rod whose diameter is slightly less than the diameter of said guide passage and whereby said rod is slidable therein and frictionally releasably maintained therein.

6. ThE improvement of claim 5 wherein said rod includes measurement increments therealong.

7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said rod includes a referencing cap on an end thereof.

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