WO2010112953A1

WO2010112953A1 - Jumping pit, especially for high jump events

Info

Publication number: WO2010112953A1
Application number: PCT/IB2009/005188
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maciej Gregorski
Original assignee: PRZEDSIEBIORSTWO PRODUKCYJNO-USTUGOWO-HANDLOWE "POLSKOK" MACIEJ GREGORSKI
Current assignee: PRZEDSIEBIORSTWO PRODUKCYJNO-USTUGOWO-HANDLOWE "POLSKOK" MACIEJ GREGORSKI
Priority date: 2009-04-03
Filing date: 2009-04-03
Publication date: 2010-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 2011-10-03

Abstract

The invention refers to the jumping pit, especially for high jump events, designed to ensure a safe landing for a jumper making jumps from larger heights. A jumping pit comprises a flat elastic structure and a shield put thereon, where the elastic structure is the inflatable mattress (1) provided on one side with evenly placed elastic inflatable ridges (2) attached with one side to the surface of the mattress (1). The ridges (2) are open from the side adjacent to the mattress (1) and attached to the mattress (1) along the edge of their bases so that the capacities of the ridges and capacity of the mattress (1) constitute the one whole. The mattress (1) with the ridges (2) is covered from the outside from the top and from the sides with the shield, the shape of which is aligned with the shape of the mattress (1) and its ridges and which is supported on the tops of the ridges (2).

Description

Jumping pit, especially for high jump events

The present invention refers to the jumping pit, especially for high jump events, designed to ensure a safe landing for a jumper making jumps from larger heights.

So far, the US patent description no. 3,369,808 provides for the jumping pit structure having the form of a box filled with some foam blocks arranged tightly, said box covered with a flexible and heavy-duty fabric.

US patent application US3892401 provides for a portable modular jumping pit, with a lower foam section and adjacent upper cover; said lower foam section has a plurality of cylindrical sections arranged vertically, that ensure appropriate flexibility, and the upper section is constructed of layers and provides for even load distribution. In spite of being made of light materials, this known pit was relatively stiff to ensure safe landing for high jumpers and required quite a lot of room when disassembled and in transport.

Korean patent description no. 100625955 Bl provides for the layered structure of the jumping pneumatic mat, the lower section of which, covered with a protective multi-layer external shield, is provided with a plurality of hollow cylinders arranged in the same direction, forming a structure similar to a honeycomb. On its periphery, the mat is provided with stabilizing solid blocks of material, combined with the other members through an external shield.

Known jumping pits were unreliable and failed to guarantee sufficient safety in the case of a landing from larger heights, for instance in pole vaulting.

The purpose of the invention was to develop the jumping pit that would be highly efficient in absorbing the energy of the fall from heights and be easy in assembly and disassembly for transport purposes.

The jumping pit according to the present invention comprises a flat elastic member and a deformable shield put thereon, wherein an elastic member is an inflatable mattress provided on one side with evenly placed elastic inflatable ridges attached with one side to the surface of the mattress. In order to enable simultaneous inflation and deflation of the mattress and its ridges, the ridges are open from the side of the base adjacent to the mattress and attached to the mattress along the edge of their bases. Preferably, the bases are constructed as parallel cylinders, one base of which is adjacent to the mattress. In order to distribute the load and prevent mattress perforation as a result of it being hit with sports shoes with cleats, this hazard occurring in use, the mattress and its ridges are covered from the top and from the sides with a shield, the shape of which is aligned with the shape of the mattress and its ridges, said shield being supported on the tops of the ridges. In order to ensure appropriate strength and flexibility, the shield is constructed of layers made of elastic foam material surrounded with a layer of elastic material of high resistance to rupture and mechanical perforation.

The mattress and the ridges filled with air make a system that absorbs efficiently the energy of the jumper's landing from larger heights. When the landing load hits the shield, the shield absorbs the load and passes it on to the inflated ridges combined with the mattress, the capacity of which is a kind of a buffer compensating for the local increase in the pressure in the area of increased load where the jumper lands. The cylindrical shape of the ridges enables their allowable axial and lateral deformation, which in consequence enables absorption of non-axial skew and lateral loads when the jumper lands.

The resilient structure and the shield's coating can be made of fabric coated or reinforced with plastic foil of high mechanical strength, in particular resistant to rupture and perforation, for example of polyester or polyamide fabric coated with a layer of polyurethane resin. The shield of the jumping pit can be constructed of a layer of an elastic plastic material, for example polyurethane or latex foam covered with a coating. The ridges can be fixed to the upper surface of the mattress with attested adhesives or welds and/or sealed seams. The jumping pit according to the invention is characterized by high efficiency of absorbing the energy of the falling jumper and ensures a high level of safety. The jumping pit can be quickly assembled and disassembled, an it does not occupy much room in transport and storage. The jumping pit according to the invention is designated for installation on the floor of the athlete's jumping area, especially in high jump and pole vault events.

The embodiment of the object of the invention is shown in the enclosed drawing, where fig. 1 shows the jumping pit with the partially shown shield in axonometric view, and fig. 2 shows the lateral view of the jumping pit and the shield's section.

The jumping pit according to the invention comprises the flat resilient structure and the deformable shield put thereon, wherein the elastic member is the inflatable mattress 1 provided on one side with evenly placed elastic inflatable ridges 2 attached with one side to the surface of the mattress 1. To enable simultaneous inflation and deflation of the mattress 1 and its ridges 2, the ridges are open from the side of the base adjacent to the mattress 1 and attached to the mattress 1 along the edge of their bases. The mattress and its ridges 2 are covered from the top and from the sides with a shield 3, the shape of which is aligned with the shape of the mattress 1 and its ridges 2, said shield being supported on the tops of the ridges 2. The shield 3 is constructed of layers and is made of polyurethane foam sheet 4 covered with a layer of elastic coated fabric 5 of high resistance to rupture and mechanical perforation. The mattress 1 is provided with an air valve used for inflation. The jumping pit according to the invention can be inflated through the air valve until it reaches the required pressure with the use of a portable or stationary compressor or compressed air cylinder.

Claims

Patent claims

1. A jumping pit, especially for high jump events, comprising a flat elastic structure and a shield put thereon, characterized in that the elastic structure is the inflatable mattress (1) provided on one side with evenly placed elastic inflatable ridges (2) attached with one side to the surface of the mattress

(1).

2. The jumping pit according to claim 1, characterized in that the ridges (2) are open from the side adjacent to the mattress (1) and attached to the mattress (D along the edge of their bases so that the capacities of the ridges and capacity of the mattress (1) constitute the one whole.

3. The jumping pit according to claim 1, characterized in that the ridges (2) are attached to the upper surface of the mattress (1) with attested adhesives and/or welds and/or sealed seams.

4. The jumping pit according to claim 1, characterized in that the ridges (2) are constructed as parallel cylinders, one base of which adheres perpendicularly to the surface of the mattress (D.

5. The jumping pit according to claim 1, characterized in that the mattress (1) with the ridges (2) is covered from the outside from the top and from the sides with the shield, the shape of which is aligned with the shape of the mattress (1) and its ridges and which is supported on the tops of the ridges (2).

6. The jumping pit according to claim 1, characterized in that the shield (3) is constructed of layers and made of elastic foam material (4) coated with the layer of elastic material (5) of high resistance to rupture and mechanical perforation.

7. The jumping pit according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower surface of the elastic structure has anti-slide properties.