US3350094A

US3350094A - Retractable diving board

Info

Publication number: US3350094A
Application number: US409068A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald H Moss
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-11-05
Filing date: 1964-11-05
Publication date: 1967-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 1984-10-31

Description

Oct. 31, 1967 D. H. MOSS RETRACTABLE DIVING BOARD 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 5, 1964 INVENTOR H. MOSS DONALb mm mm E Oct. 31, 1967 oss 3,350,094

RETRACTABLE DIVING BOARD Filed Nov. 5, 1964 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. DONALD H. MOSS Oct; 31, 1967 D. H. MOSS RETRACTABLE DIVING BOARD 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 5, 1964 I NV E NTOR. DONALD BY l 2.1 631 H. MOSS United States Patent O 3,350,094 RETRACTABLE DIVING BOARD Donald H. Moss, 130 NW. 18th St.,

Pompano Beach, Fla. 33060 Filed Nov. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 409,068 3 Claims. (Cl. 272-66) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A diving board with means for retracting the board horizontally after the diver has left the board so as to remove the board from the path of the diver.

This invention relates in boards and in more board. In training divers today one of the greatest difliculties is teaching them to control the body so that it misses the diving board on its downward path to the water. Hitting the board on the downward travel is perhaps the greatest hazard facing the novice diver. The edges and end of the board usually provide sharp angled surfaces and become a dangerous weapon when hit from above. Many serious accidents have occurred in which the head, face or body of the diver has been permanently injured.

The diving trainer can usually foresee such an accident as the diver is descending toward the board but he is helpless to prevent it. A shout at the diver may frighten the diver so as to cause an even more serious accident.

It is a primary object of this invention, therefore, to provide a diving board which may be instantaneously retracted a short distance so that the diver may clear the board when an accident is imminent.

A further object of the invention is to provide a retractable board which may be controlled, not by the diver, but by an observer such as a diving coach who is in a position to foresee any danger of collision with the board.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a diving board which has all of the features ordinarily incorporated into a diving board so that the board is a regulation competition board but in addition has the added safety feature of being instantaneously retractable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a modification of the device which may easily be attached to general to diving or springpartlcularity to a retractable diving an existing diving board so as to convert it to a retractable diving board.

Further objects, advantages, uses, and adaptations of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a diving board according to my invention with a section broken away to show the location of the retracting mechanism;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of a diving board according to my invention with a portion of the side broken away and the retracting mechanism shown partially in cross-section;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the lines 33 of FIGURE 1 with the board moved out to its forward position;

FIGURE 4 is a partially elevational, partially sectional view of a modified holding and trigger means for the invention taken substantially on the lines 44 of FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of the trigger mechanism shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view showing the board in its retracted position with the extended position shown in dotted line;

FIGURE 7 is a view from the rear of the board showing a modification of the retracting mechanism which may be used on an existing diving board;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view of the retracting mechanism taken substantially on the lines 77 of FIGURE 8.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, diving board 10 is shown as mounted between frame members 11 and 12. Steps 13 at the rear of the board are used for climbing onto the board. Cover protector 13 covers the end of the board 10 in each of its various positions.

Located on each side of board 10 and mounted on frame members 11 and 12, respectively, are guide members 14 and 15. These guides 14 and 15 control the travel of the board so that it moves in only a vertical direction.

Near the front end of board 10 is mounted a movable fulcrum of the type common in the art. It consists of toothed rack 16 mounted on frame 11 and toothed rack 17 mounted on frame 12. Gear 18 rides on rack 16 while gear 19 rides on rack 17.

Gears

18 and 19 are connected by cross member 20 which is the actual fulcrum member on which board 10 rests in its normal position.

Drive wheels

21 and 22 on each side are provided for moving

gears

18 and 19 in order to change the fulcrum. Slot 23 is provided in frame 11 for accommodation of the ends of the moving fulcrum.

Mounted just to the rear of the movable fulcrum is the retracting means for the board. Support 24 extends between frames 11 and 12 and holds pulley 25 approximately midway therebetween. Crank 26 is connected to pulley 25 by means of handle 27 and shaft 28 which extends through and is held by support 24.

Pulley 25 is held within casing 29 mounted to support 24. Casing 29 has an upstanding flange 30 thereon to which cylinder 31 is connected. Inside cylinder 31 is piston 32, spring member 33 and flexible winding means 34. As shown in FIGURE 2, flexible member 34 extends through the inside of spring 33, through flange 30 of casing 29 and is Wound around pulley 25. The rearward end of member 34 is fastened to the rearward end of piston 32.

Board 10 is fastened at its rearward end to traveller 35 by means of fasteners such as 36. Mounted on frame 11 is track 37 and on frame 12 is track 38 between which traveller 35 fits and along which it travels in a horizontal direction.

Bumper 39 is mounted on the frame of the board and serves to cushion and stop the travel of board 10 and traveller 35 when the board is retracted.

Traveller 35 has a member 40 extending forwardly therefrom to which piston 32 is attached by means of fastener 41. Member 40 serves to hold the board in its forward position in a manner described in detail later in this specification.

Extending between frames 11 and 12 forwardly of the bumper 39 and rearwardly of support 24 is member 42 for supporting the trigger mechanism (FIGURE 3). Inside said member 42 is trigger 43 to which is attached operator 44. Spring member 45 surrounds operator 44 with one end against frame 12 and the other end against trigger 43. The opposite side of trigger 43 is in contact with stop member 46.

Stop member 46 is provided with screw threads 47 to cooperate with the threaded interior 48 of member 42. Stop member 46 is further provided with a slot 49 for use of a screwdriver or other tool in threading 46 into and out of member 42. As can be seen in FIGURE 3, the position of stop 46 determines how far trigger 43 will travel so as to contact member 40. Operator 44 may be provided with a string or rope 50 for remote control of the trigger mechanism.

Operation of the device is as follows: with the board in the retracted position as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2,

it may be used as a regular diving board with fulcrum adjusted to provide the correct resiliency. When used to train divers, handle 26 is grasped and turned. In so doing flexible member 34 is wound around pulley and it also pulls piston 32 forwardly against the force of spring 33. As member 40 is attached to piston 32 it also moves forwardly along with traveller 35. Since board -10 is attached to traveller it also moves forwardly. Board 10, traveller 35, member 40, and piston 32 all move forwardly as a unit.

During this forward movement spring 45 is holding trigger 43 so that piston 32 travels along against its front surface. As member passes trigger 43, spring 45 forces trigger 43 over behind member 40 until it contacts stop 46. Then if the winding is stopped, spring 33 will tend to force piston 32 and member 40 rearwardly but trigger 43 is in the path of travel of member 40 and thus holds it in this position. The board is now in readiness for use.

As the diving trainees are using the board the diving coach or a monitor will hold the remote control 50. When it is seen that a diver is going to hit the board as he comes down, the coach can pull rope which pulls operator 44 outwardly. This also pulls trigger 43 from behind member 40, and when this is done the strength of spring 33 thrusts piston 32, member 40, traveller 35 and board 10 rearwardly instantaneously. The diver then clears the board and an accident has been prevented. Bumper 39 cushions the instantaneous thrust of the board.

Crank 26 may then be wound again to move the board forward to a cocked position for the next diver.

FIGURE 6 illustrates the two positions of the board 10. Its retracted position is shown in solid line whereas the extended position is shown in dotted line. Distance of travel of the board is a matter of choice but experiments have indicated that in ordinary regulation competition diving boards a distance of 18" between the extended and retracted positions is sufficient to prevent any accident.

FIGURES 4 and 5 show a possible modification of the trigger device. Board 10, bumper 39, piston 32 and member 40 are all the same as in FIGURES 1 through 3. Mounted on the outside of frames 11 and 12 are

members

51 and 52 mounted by

fasteners

53 and 54, respectively, so as to be rotatable around said fasteners. Member 51 is provided with a short lip 55 and a longer lip 56 between which is a substantially V-shaped slot 57.

Board 10 is fastened to carrier 58 which has an extension 59 on one side and an extension 60 on the opposite.

Extensions

59 and 60 extend through the frames 11 and 12 and travel horizontally in slots therein. Track 61 guides the travel of extension 59 while track 62 guides the travel of extension 60.

A trigger 63 is provided for member 51 while a trigger 64 is provided for member 52. As the two triggers are alike only the details of trigger 63 will be set forth here.

Spring 65 surrounds a portion of trigger 63 with one end against member 66 which closes the end of holder 67 mounted to frame 11 by means of angle member 68.

The end of trigger 63 extends through member 46 and is attached to a flexible member 69 which travels over pulley 70 and joins flexible member 71 which travels over pulley 72. Flexible members 70 and 71 are activated at the same time by the operator and pass through pulley 73 in order that the same amount of force will be transmitted to each trigger.

Operation of this triggering mechanism is as follows: with the board in the forward or extended position as shown in FIGURE 5, when the

flexible members

69 and 71 are pulled, triggers 63 and 64' are retracted against the force of spring 65. When they are pulled in a sufficient distance so as to be clear of

members

51 and 52 the piston 32 forces member 40 and carrier 58 rearwardly. As there is

nothing holding members

51 and 52 now, extension 59 rides along lip 56 and causes member 51 to rotate out of the path of travel of extension 59. Extension 60 4 does likewise with member 52. The board 10 is then thrust back against bumper 39.

As

members

51 and 52 are heavier on the side providing lip 56 than the other side they will rotate about

fasteners

53 and 54 until an equilibrium is reached.

To reset the retracting device, piston 32 is moved forwardly as in the description of FIGURES 1 through 3. As extension 59 moves forwardly it will contact lip 55 of member 51 and rotate it clockwise until lip 56 comes up to the position shown in FIGURE 5. When member 51 is in this position trigger 63 will be forced outwardly to a position in front of member 51 to hold it in this position. The board is again in readiness for use.

Due to the wedge shape of extension 59 and the slanting surface of lip 56 on member 51 a tight fit is maintained between these two members.

FIGURES 7 and 8 show a modification of the invention which may be used with an existing diving board in order to convert it into a retractable board.

A board 74 is shown as mounted between two

frames

75 and 76. Board 75 is mounted on carrier 77 which has

extensions

78 and 79 on each end thereof. Extension 78 is guided by track 80 while extension 79 is guided by track 81.

Attached to carrier 76 is member 82. Flexible member 83 is attached to member 82 and carries it along with any movement of flexible member 83. Pulley 84 is provided forwardly of the trigger mechanism while pulley 85 is provided rearwardly thereof.

Mounted between

frames

75 and 76 is shaft 86 on which pulley 87 is mounted. Inside shaft 86 is a second shaft 88 to which handle 89 is attached.

The opposite end of flexible member 83 is attached to piston 90 in cylinder 91 and extends through spring 92. Spring 92 acts against the end of cylinder 91 and against piston 90.

Triggers

93 and 94 act to hold

members

95 and 96, respectively, in place. Member 95 pivots around fastener 97 while member 96 pivots around fastener 98. Member 95 is provided with a short lip 99 and a longer lip 100 with a substantially V-shaped slot 101 therebetween.

Attached to trigger 93 is flexible member 102 while flexible member 103 is attached to trigger 94. Member 102 travels over pulley 104; member 103 travels over pulley 105. The two

members

102 and 103 join each other so that both triggers may be activated at the same time.

Operation of this modification is as follows: with the board in the position shown in FIGURE 8, it is in the extended position. As

members

102 and 103 are pulled each of the

triggers

93 and 94 are pulled inwardly thus freeing

members

95 and 96. With these members free no resistance is offered to the rearward motion of

extensions

78 and 79 of carrier 76.

Spring 92 is in compression and is exerting a pulling force on flexible member 83 which quickly pulls member 82, along with carrier 76 and board 74, rearwardly until the board hits number 106. Due to its configuration, member 95 hangs with its heavier side downward.

When crank 89 is turned in a clockwise direction, flexible member 83 winds onto pulley 87, pulling member 82, carrier 76 and board 74 forwardly. Piston 90 is pulled against the force of spring 92.

As

end members

78 and 79 move forwardly they contact the shorter lip 99 of member 95 and the corresponding lip of member 96, moving it forward until the

members

95 and 96 are in the position shown in FIGURE 8.

Triggers

93 and 94 move outwardly to hold

members

95 and 96 in this position, thereby holding the wedge-shaped

members

78 and 79 against lip 100 and its counterpart.

Although the invention has been described largely in terms of several embodiments, it will be understood that in some respects these embodiments are only illustrative and that the invention is susceptible of application in a variety of other forms within the spirit and scope of the pp ded. sh ms 5 6 What is claimed is: crum means on said frame comprising a pivot bar support- 1. A diving apparatus comprising ing said board. (a) a frame support, 3. A diving apparatus according to claim 2 with said (b) a diving board on said frame, pivot bar being movable in a longitudinal direction rela- (c) means mounting said board being for movement 5 tive to said board.

in a longitudinal direction relative to said frame,

(d) spring means holding said board in its rearward- References Cited Position UNITED STATES PATENTS (e) means for moving said board forwardly against the force of said spring means, 10 2,032,574 3/ 1936 Handley 272-66 (f) locking means for holding said board in a forward 2,977,119 3/ 1961 f ldt et a1 27266 position, 3,030,108 4/1962 Baker 27266 (g) control means for releasing said locking means so as to permit said spring means to return the board F. BARRY SHAY, Exammerto its rearwardmost position. 15 T. Z ACK, Assistant Examiner 2. A diving apparatus according to claim 1 with ful-

Claims

1. A DIVING APPARATUS COMPRISING (A) A FRAME SUPPORT, (B) A DIVING BOARD ON SAID FRAME, (C) MEANS MOUNTING SAID BOARD BEING FOR MOVEMENT IN A LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME, (D) SPRING MEANS HOLDING SAID BOARD IN ITS REARWARDMOST POSITION, (E) MEANS FOR MOVING SAID BOARD FORWARDLY AGAINST THE FORCE OF SAID SPRING MEANS, (F) LOCKING MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID BOARD IN A FORWARD POSITION, (G) CONTROL MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID LOCKING MEANS SO AS TO PERMIT SAID SPRING MEANS TO RETURN THE BOARD TO ITS REARWARDMOST POSITION.