GB2293677A - Pace checking apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides pace checking apparatus for use with a progressing athletic performance e.g. running, swimming, horse riding comprising a plurality of visible physical means e.g. lamps or figures, sequentially energised to move through the visible physical means in association with the progressing athlete whereby he or she is able constantly to monitor his or her performance in progression, with the movement over the relevant distance he or she is traversing. The visible means may be lamps 1 arranged around an athletic track, or in the floating lane boundary ropes of a swimming pool. They may also be used to define training movements e.g. in soccer. <IMAGE>

Description

PACE CHECKING APPARATUS This invention relates to pace checking apparatus.

It is well known for running track athletes, for example, where such athletes are of high potential performance calibre, to use other athletes on the track with them in racing or in training to set a pace appropriate for the potentially high performance athlete to emulate to enable that high performance athlete to achieve his or her maximum performance over the relevant track race he or she is running, such other pace makers essentially sacrificing their more limited ability to provide a pace for a given portion of the distance that the potentially high performance athlete can achieve to push him or her at the desired pace to achieve the potentially possible and desired performance of that high performance athlete.

Again, and sometimes in addition, it is known for such potentially high performance athletes to be able to make use of timing devices located within an athletics stadium at key dispositions above the track and behind the crowd seating to enable that athlete to compare his timing with a desired performance criteria. However such arrangements suffer, in the first instance, that no overall timing is provided by the use of human pacemakers, and in the second that only a limited number of instants of time achieved as against time desired can be displayed, and in any event sight of such pace setting clock type systems can only be viewed by the relevant running athlete at limited positions in his passage round the running track concerned.

It is to be understood that these problems and disadvantages apply to all athletes involved in what can be called "progressing" pursuits, such as running, swimming, and horse-riding for example, and all such athletes will hereinafter be called "progressing athletes".

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these disadvantages and provide a system enabling a continuing facility for progressing athletes both in training and in competition to measure continually their performance against a desired performance to achieve their maximum capability.

In accordance with the invention there is provided pace checking apparatus for use with progressing athletic performance comprising a plurality of visible physical means, the relevant physical characteristic of the pace checking means being movable through the visible physical means in association with the athlete whereby he or she can constantly monitor his or her performance in progression with the movement of that physical characteristic through the visible physical means over the relevant distance he or she is traversing.

In one embodiment of the invention the physically visible pace checking means may comprise a multiplicity of lights disposed adjacent the path of travel of the progressing athlete concerned, arranged for illumination successively indicating to that athlete the desired or optimum speed or distance to be traversed by that athlete at particular times during his or her path.

In one alternative, for example, the pace checking means may comprise a physical figure of some form which is physically moved alongside the path of travel of the progressing athlete, such as on rails for example, which enables the athlete to judge his or her travelling performance with respect to that optimum or desired travel of the figure concerned. Such a figure may, primarily for the interest of the viewing public, comprise a figure of an athlete in a pose characteristic to the discipline with respect to the real athlete.

Both examples herein specified are of course to be treated as such, and any realistic and appropriate pace checking system visible to the progressing athlete alongside his or her path of travel to enable him to check his rate of travel with the optimum or desired rate of travel is appropriate to the invention hereof.

Such visible pace checking means are conveniently linked to control mechanisms appropriate for the athletic discipline with which the athlete is concerned. Thus, with long distance running, the visible pace checking apparatus will, in relation to the athlete concerned, not necessarily relate to an even speed to achieve a desired end result for the athlete, such as a record of some kind, but will take into account variations in pace in such a long distance event necessary, taking into account the physical characteristics of the athlete concerned periods when speed of travel, to provide reserves of strength for that athlete which are mixed with speeds of greater travel at times when that particular athlete should be or is known to have or is known to be willing to use extra reserves of strength in increasing his or her own rate of performance.Such variations can, for example be provided by manual control by means of a coach or trainer of the athlete concerned, or by means of computer control based upon his or her known characteristics of performing in his or her own particular discipline.

Where a multiplicity of lights are used, these can, in the context of a running track for example, be located adjacent the track at eye level, or can be disposed within the surface of the track at distances around the various lanes of that track depending upon the nature of the running discipline concerned. Thus, with short sprint races, such lights can be located in or adjacent the separate lanes within which the athletes run, whilst for long distance races where predominantly the athletes concerned, whilst possibly commencing in lanes, race without lane discipline, such lights can be disposed within the surface of the inner lanes of the athletics stadium concerned, or at eyesight level adjacent to such inner lanes.

In athletics stadium of generally standard form, no specific set number of pace indicating means (such as lamps) need be defined since the number can vary in desirability in accordance with layout and design of the athletics stadium concerned. However, typically in an athletics stadium for running of current Olympic standards a total of 400 to 500 lamps located both beneath the surface in the lines between the tracks, and/or at eyelevel adjacent the inner track may be used.

The apparatus may be arranged such that, in competitive disciplines, actuation thereof from the start position of any appropriate race discipline is commenced by the starter's pistol or equivalent starting device, which can be arranged to be linked to the control arrangement for the visible physical pace checking means of the present invention.

It will be appreciated that the Application is applicable to many other areas of discipline other than athletics racing or training within an athletics stadium.

Thus, for example, the apparatus of the present invention can be used in relation to swimming competition and training, where the physically visible means, such as lights, can be linked to the floating boundary ropes between lanes to provide a successive indicator to the swimmer training of competing of his performance as he progresses in relation to any particular desired criteria, such as his personal best time, or national or international record times.

Again, where, for example, Association Football players engage in training involving speed with or without the use of a football can be pace checked by means of the invention set out alongside the training length for those footballers.

Yet again the invention is applicable to use in a cycling stadium.

It is to be understood that the apparatus of the present invention should be linkable, when disposed for example in an athletics stadium, with a starting position and a starting signal at any desired location therein relevant to particular discipline distances and forms.

Where the apparatus of the invention incorporates control by computer, this may include sophisticated programme facilities to meet specialised requirements of disciplines with which individual apparatus is associated and for specific individuals.

Thus for example provision may be made (with track athletics for example) for an overall time (which may for example be a record time, even a world record time) to be aimed at for a particular event, the computer control calculating and controlling the visible pace checking means to provide equal times or even desired varying times, for laps within that event.

Again facility may incorporate an initiating delay, of several seconds for example to enable the apparatus to be initiated (during training for example) by the athlete, with enough time delay for the athlete to move to the start position before the apparatus commences operation.

Yet again, there may be provided an override facility to enable manual operation (by a trainer for example) to control for a slower or a faster lap for example.

Facility may be included for "tracking" or following the athlete using the apparatus, whereby to enable, for example, comparison between actual performance and desired performance.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, one embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 schematically illustrates in plan view the disposition and arrangement of lanes of a 400 metre running track in an athletics stadium; Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of control arrangements for lamps disposed around the running track of Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates an alternative form of control of lamps disposed around the running track of Figure 1; and Figure 4 illustrates yet another alternative control means for lamps disposed around the running track of Figure 1.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 there is shown a running track 1 having a plurality of lanes 2 of standard oval form on which a plurality of races are run. Some of them are run in lanes and some of them are not run in lanes. Thus, both with respect to men's and women's disciplines, 100 metres, 200 metres, 300 metres, 400 metres and 4 x 100 metres relays are run in lanes, whilst 800 metres, 1500 metres, 3000 metres, 6000 metres, 10000 metres and steeplechases together with 4 x 400 metre relays are either run not at all in lanes or only initially in lanes.

Considering at this time, of the alternative options of physically visible means provided by the invention, the use of successive lamps, it is to be appreciated that with all of the races run in lanes, a plurality of successive lamps along the edges of each of the lanes can be provided as indicated at 3 so that both in training and in competition, pace checking is immediately available as an athlete performs in his particular lane. In addition a plurality of such lamps need be provided adjacent the inner track as indicated at 4, either at eye level off the track, or in the track margin in the surface thereof for the races run not predominantly in lanes.Where races are run initially in lanes, and then run without lanes, a combination of apparatus control can use lamps disposed in the ground between lanes initially followed by lamps either at ground level adjacent the inner lane, or at eye-level in the grounds of the running track within the inner lane.

Referring to Figure 2 is seen one form of control system for the multiplicity of lamps, which as hereinabove specified can be between 400 and 500 for a running track, which comprises perhaps the most economic solution for such a large number of lamps. Thus uses a twin-wire bus 5 with decoders 6 for each lamp 7. These are addressed in turn by a computer 8 which has been programmed for a particular pace, which may vary throughout the relevant discipline concerned, the decoders 6 for each lamp are addressed in turn by the computer 8, and power for the lamps 7 may be carried by the signal bus 5 or by separate cables depending upon the size of the lamps and the power requirements.

Figure 3 indicates a control system which can be economically acceptable if the number of lamps is relatively small. In this arrangement a single decoder/drive unit 9 connecting from control computer 11 replaces the individual decoders, and power for the lamps 10 is provided directly from the decoder unit.

Again in Figure 4 a different control system is shown where, although there is less control capability, the complexity of a computer is dispensed with. In this arrangement the lamps 12 are simply "daisy chained" from a control/trigger unit 14, with each one being triggered from the previous one through an appropriate delay unit 13.

Such a system can be designed incorporating delay units having a centrally variable delayed control, although it has to be appreciated that commercially the cost of such may then become as great as one of the arrangements shown in Figures 2 and 3.

It is to be understood that the foregoing is merely exemplary of pace checking apparatus in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims (15)

1. Pace checking apparatus for use with progressing athletic performance comprising a plurality of visible physical means, the relevant physical characteristics of the pace checking means being moveable through the visible physical means in association with the progressing athlete whereby he or she is able constantly to monitor his or her performance in progression with the movement of that physical characteristic through the visible physical means over the relevant distance he or she is traversing.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the physically visible pace checking means comprises a multiplicity of lights disposed adjacent the path of travel of the progressing athlete concerned, arranged for illumination successively indicating to that athlete the desired or optimum speed, or distance to be traversed by that athlete at a particular time.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pace checking means comprises a physical figure of some form which is physically moved alongside the path of travel of the progressing athlete, such as on rails, which enables the athlete to judge his or her travel and performance with respect to that optimum with desired travel of the figure concerned.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the figure comprises a figure of an athlete in a posed characteristic to the discipline with respect to the live athlete.

5. The apparatus claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the visible pace checking means are linked to control mechanisms appropriate for the athletic discipline to which the athlete is concerned.

6. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims including a multiplicity of lights used in the context of a running track or similar arena wherein the multiplicity of lights are located adjacent the track at eye level, or disposed within the surface of the track, at distances around the various lanes of the track depending upon the nature of the running discipline concerned.

7. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including actuation means operated by the starters pistol or equivalent starting device which is arranged to be linked to control arrangement for the visible physical pace checking means.

8. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims for use in relation to swimming competition and training wherein the physically visible means is linked to the floating boundary ropes between lanes to provide a successive indicator for the swimming training or competing, of his performance as he progresses.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 for use with association football wherein players engaged in training involving speed with or without use of a football are pace checked by means of the invention set out along side the training length of the footballers running track.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus is linkable with a starting position and a starting signal at any desired location relevant to particular discipline distances and forms.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 incorporating control by computer, including programme facilities to meet specialised requirements of the discipline with which individual apparatus is associated and for specific individuals.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 incorporating facility for an initiating delay to enable the apparatus to be self-initiate during training by the athlete concerned with enough time delay for the athlete to move to the start position before the apparatus commences operation.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 incbrporating an override facility to enable manual operation by an outside controller.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 incorporating facility for following the relevant athlete using the apparatus to enable comparison between actual performance and desired performance.

15. Apparatus substantially as shown in and as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1, 2, 3 or 4 of the drawings herewith.