A swimming pool starting podium

Abstract

 This podium comprises a platform (1) on a base (2) and is characterised in that the platform is linked onto the base (2) in a pin-jointed connection (3) in order to thus be in a position to arrange the platform in differently tilted arrangements, said platform being provided with means (4) being apt to lock the selected tilt, said means comprising a stop (10) limiting said tilt. This podium is also characterised in that a grip (16) is fitted to each side of the podium, said grip being apt to be turned to thus be lockably positioned in different positions.

Description

[0001] As is well known, at many swimming pools, and mainly at those being used for competitions, podiums are installed near the edge from which the swimmers plunge into the water, said podiums comprising a base and an upper platform on which the swimmer takes stand in order to plunge into the water.

[0002] These platforms are fixed on the base and can have a slight tilt in order to facilitate the start when the swimmer proceeds to execute his or her plunge into the water. Because of being fixed, the platform could nevertheless have a tilt not quite adjusting to the needs of the swimmer, so that this latter's plunge is hence not optimised thus causing the loss of some tenths of a second, this possibly being of decisive importance for example when the swimmer effects his or her start in a competition.

[0003] In order to allow every swimmer to adjust the tilt of the platform as best suits his or her needs so as to obtain a maximum efficiency when getting off at the start of the race it is the object of this invention to provide a podium allowing the very swimmer to adjustably tilt the platform till having obtained the optimum position as per his or her needs.

[0004] The platform is for such a purpose fitted on the base in a pin-jointed connection and comprises locking means being apt to lock the selected angular position.

[0005] These locking means are as well provided with a stop limiting the tilt being attainable with the platform in order to thus abide by the rules being laid down by the corresponding Federation as regards the tilt of the platform.

[0006] The handhold being commonly fitted to the podiums of this type has been complementarily fitted to the lower front portion of the platform of this podium.

[0007] This makeup of the podium does also allow to arrange all of the podiums being installed at the swimming pool in such a way that their platforms all have the same predetermined tilt.

[0008] This podium is complementarily fitted with a grip at each side, said grip being apt to adopt different positions as chosen by the swimmer him- or herself in order to obtain the most convenient impetus at the start.

[0009] These grips are installed in a turnable arrangement and can be locked in different positions thus placing them at different heights.

[0010] The grips have a radially extending appendage being solid with a stem being parallel to the grip, said stem being telescopically fitted into a tubular support being fixed to the upper region cf the sides of the podium's platform.

[0011] The aforementioned appendage is apt to be selectively fitted into one of the several notches being provided at the opening of said tubular support whose inside has been provided with resilient means being apt to hold the grip in the selected position.

[0012] These and other characteristics will be best made apparent by the following detailed description whose understanding will be made easier by the accompanying five sheets of drawings showing some practical embodiments being cited only by way of example not limiting the scope of the present invention.

[0013] In the drawings:

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate in a side elevation the swimming pool podium being the object of the invention with the platform being arranged in a horizontal and in a tilted arrangement, respectively;

Figs. 3 and 4 are each a perspective view of the podium being shown in Fig. 2, said podium in these perspective views being shown from the front and from the back, respectively;

Figs. 5 and 6 in front elevation illustrate a podium with the two grips being arranged in a raised and in a lowered position, respectively;

Fig. 7 represents in a diagrammed sectional view the podium with the grips in the lowered position;

Fig. 8 shows in a perspective view the podium as per Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a partially sectional detail view showing how a grip is made up and fitted; and

Fig. 10 represents an alternative arrangement for the makeup and fitting of the grip with safety device.

[0014] According to the drawings this swimming pool podium comprises a platform (1) being arranged on a base (2), said platform being frontally linked to said base in a pin-jointed connection by means of a transversal pin (3) with enlarged ends whereas in its rearward portion the podium is provided with means (4) being apt to lock the tilted position being chosen for the platform (1).

[0015] According to Figs. 2 through 4 these locking means comprise a graduated rack strip (5) being linked at its upper end to the platform (1), said rack strip at its lower end being vertically slidable between guides (6) and (7) being solid with a bracket (8) being fixed to the rearward portion of the base (2), a toothed keeper (9) extending across said guides and being apt to release and lock the vertically sliding shift of the rack strip (5), this latter having at its lower end a stop (10) delimiting its rising motion and hence the maximum tilt of the platform (1).

[0016] In order to always keep the front edge of the platform (1) flush with the limit verticality (A) the pin (3) is apt to slide in each of both oblong holes (11) being provided in the respective side members (12) and (13) of the upper portion of the base (2).

[0017] The platform (1) is inferiorly and frontally provided with a handhold (14) being in this case fixed to the upper portion of the base (2), this latter being at its lower edge solid with a frame plate (15) allowing to secure the podium to the swimming pool floor in the vicinity of the swimming pool edge.

[0018] The grips (16) comprise a radially extending appendage (17) being apt to be selectively fitted into several notches (18) of a tubular support (19) being fixed to the upper region of the sides of the podium, and namely of the sides of the platform (1).

[0019] The appendage (17) is solid with a stem (20) being telescopically fitted into the tubular support (19) where said stem is resiliently held by the spring (21) (Fig. 9).

[0020] The aforementioned means (4) being apt to lock the positions of the platform as per Fig. 7 comprise a gearmotor (22) mechanically (gear and screw) driving a telescopic arm (23) being at its upper end linked in a pin-jointed connection to the platform (1), the base of the telescopic arm with the gearmotor being also linked in a pin-jointed connection to the bottom of the base (2) (Fig. 7).

[0021] The gearmotor (22) can be automatically or manually operated, the rearward portion of the platform (1) being provided with a pushbutton (24) allowing to operate the gearmotor.

[0022] Said means (4) will comprise two stops determining the maximum and minimum tilt of the platform, said stops being made up of respective limit switches.

[0023] According to Fig. 10 the grips (16) have been provided with a safety device stabilising their selected position, said safety device consisting in a tongue (25) being introduced into a slide (26) being provided in the appendage (16'), said tongue being solid with a key (27) fitting into a peripheral slot (28) of an end-piece (19') being attached to the tubular support (19), said key being urged by a spring (29) and being slidingly fitted into a bushing (30) being solid with the appendage (16'). The stem (20') is provided at its periphery with longitudinal fins (31) being apt to selectively fit into slits (32) being also arranged in a longitudinal arrangement at the front opening of the tubular support (19) to thus determine the different positions the grip (16) can be made to adopt by turning it.

[0024] The invention can within its essentiality be put into practice in other embodiments only in detail differing from the one having been set forth above only by way of example, said other embodiments also falling within the scope of the protection being sought.

Claims

1. A swimming pool podium comprising a platform (1) on a base (2), characterised in that the platform (1) is linked onto the base (2) in a pin-jointed connection (3) in order to thus be in a position to arrange the platform in differently tilted arrangements, said platform being provided with means (4) being apt to lock the selected tilt.

2. A swimming pool podium as per claim 1, characterised in that the locking means (4) have a stop (10) limiting the tilt of the platform (1).

3. A swimming pool podium as per claim 1, characterised in that the platform (1) is inferiorly and frontally provided with a handhold (14).

4. A swimming pool podium as per claim 1, characterised in that a grip (16) is fitted to each side of the podium, said grip being apt to be turned to thus be lockably positioned in different positions.

5. A swimming pool podium as per claim 4, characterised in that the grips (16) comprise a radially extending appendage (17) being apt to be selectively fitted into several notches (18) of a tubular support (19) being fixed to the upper region of the sides of the podium.

6. A swimming pool podium as per claim 5, characterised in that the appendage (17) of the grip (16) is solid with a stem (20) being telescopically fitted into the tubular support (19) where said stem is resiliently held (21).

Drawing