1. sports
2. diving

March 27, 1951
-
2,546,151
N. BUCK
SPRING BOARD
Filed June 30, 1948
32
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NORMAN BUCSK t
-'
nnen or
f/
<r
`
attorney;
2,546,151
Patented Mar. 27, 1951
vPÀ'I'ENT ¿OFF l C E
,2,546,151
lSPRINGBOA'RD
„Norman 1Buck, Seattle, *Wash
Application 4J une '30, 1948, uSerial No."36,099
(01.272-66')
-This invention vrelates to improvements in a
`spring board -used in acrobatics, and, more Ipar
vticularly, has todo ‘with-diving boards for aquatic
performers.
-In the past, it has «been customary to‘employ
wooden boards as ‘projectors in diving both yfor
amateurs and profesional or exhibition perform
ers. AA simple form of «board has usually been a
Fig. 3 ‘is aside-viewf-of a modified form of div
ing board embodying the principles of my -inven
tion; and
Fig. 4 is a substantially enlarged cross-section
of the ypoint of "joinder between multi-sized tubu
lar elements used in Yrny diving device.
As has been indicated before, most diving de
vices embody'an elongated flexible element upon
which the performeriwal'ks, runs or jumps to de
rather‘wide plank about A»two inches lthick and in
length from-eight or «ten to Veighteen or twenty 10 ñect and thereby-produce-a resultingv springing re
turn action to throw »his body into the air. My
feet. These are mounted with the approachend
flexible element is indicated as a whole by the
anchored toa pier orzido‘ck vwith a fulcrum in ad
numeral l0 and includes a plurality of juxtaposed
vance thereof with the board either' inclined up
metallic tubes l2 that may-be secured `together
ward and `outward `or 'substantially horizontal.
at the --endslby cross member `I4 and fasteners I6,
>Other boardsïhave been fabricated withboth hor
izontally and vertically ¿associated laminae vof
wood members adhesively ormechanically joined
together. `Still other‘bo‘ards, such as those prod
or by through-bolts ~Il,-as-s`hownïin Figure l, in
termediate the ends.
lThe tubular members I2 are best formed of
heat-treated or tempered >aluminum alloy extru
uniformity.from-onefboard.to another, >have been y 20 sions of substantially vsquare cross-section, as
shown in Figs. 2 and y4. Such material has
formed of metallic elements. However, all of
great strength for its weight and very desirable
`these >prior structures have beensubject to criti
characteristicsas to modulus of elasticity, high
cism-for any `of >several-reasons, such as, Ífor ex
tensile strengthfand suitable elongation factors.
ample, la‘ck of uniformity, checking of the wood
grain, twisting due to warping from expcsureto 25 Ihave usedfwithfgreat success, a round-cornered
tubular extrusion member fformed of A24S-T alu
the elem-entsina .damp atmosphere, elasticity im
minum alloy that‘has been annealed and has a
properly located and, as with metallic boards,V ex
wall thickness-of "i 1/8 inch and outsidev dimensions
treme complication in fabricating and mounting,
of approximately Zrt‘by ZTSë-inches. As shown in
and hence, undue expense. These areonly-a vfew
the drawings, these tubes are assembled in side
of the more obvious objections ,to-the prior art
by-side relationship to the width desired for a
structures which I have overcome with my in-l
`ucts of the-designer seeking longer wear and more
vention.
K
Therefore, it has been among the important ob
jects ofthisinvention-to provide a diving device
which is: simpleandeasyto construct and mount; t
has along and useful life under the most extreme
conditions of hard and constant use; can be pro
duced with uniform characteristics as determined
to be desirable before construction is started; can
particulardiving board. Ordinarily, such boards
'are .about eighteen toztwenty inches wide and
Vsuch'variations .can -easily be accommodated ,by
addingor zomittinga `tube or two. ’These tubes
are most simply joined together by cross-boring
an assembly and inserting a through-bolt il.
Spacers I8 may be used to vary the width of the
board and on occasion reduce friction between
be arranged so that the characteristics can be 40 the tubes during flexing motions.
The diving device is usually mounted with its
varied with the sacrifice of material or substantial
approach end elevated, as when it is at the end
labor; will resist the effects of the elements of
of a swimming tank. For this reason, I show
nature through long exposure to all the seasons of
the horse 2U which is rigidly positioned in an up
the year; is light and compact for shipping pur
right manner. Flange 22 of the cross-member 24
poses and can easily be installed even in the large
is secured to the horse 20 by bolts 25, or the like.
sizes by but a single workman; and will have
The board is bolted to the other fiange of mem
other and desirable characteristics as will appear
ber 24 by fasteners I6. In spaced-apart relation
more fully from the following description.
to horse 20 is positioned the fulcrum 26 which is
In the drawings, forming a part of this specifi
50 also rigid. The board overlies the fulcrum and is
cation:
preferably not secured thereto in any manner, al
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred
though under certain circumstances rockers may
form of the diving device as it appears ready for
be applied on the fulcrum or hold-down devices
use;
may be used. The important consideration is that
Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken
in the plane indicated by line 2--2 of Fig. 1;
65 the approach en_d of the board be secure and that
2,546,151
3
the remainder be suitably cantilevered over the
minating at the other end portion thereof in a
fulcrum, either in a horizontal plane as shown,
plurality of longitudinally extending rectangular
or in inclination as is often desired.
passageways, said springboard element compris-a
It Will be understood that even though in Fig. 1
ing a plurality of longitudinally extending me-the device is shown to have a section of smaller
tallic flexible elements positioned alongside each
tubes 30 extending outboard from the outer ends
other, and normally lying substantially in a com
of the tubes I2, there are occasions when only
mon horizontal plane, and laterally extending
the larger tubes may be used. Such, of course,
securing means securing said longitudinally ex
would produce a relatively stiiî board. The use
tending metallic elements together against inde
of the smaller tubes in the outer end section pro 10 pendent flexing movement; and a second spring-'
duces a board that has a softer action when
board element connected with said first spring
jumped upon, as in diving. The end of a smaller
board element comprising a plurality of metallic
tube 39 is inserted into the end of a larger tube
flexible rectangular tubular members positioned
I2, and shims 32, as shown in Fig. 4, are placed
alongside each other, normally lying substan
in position at the corners and driven tightly into 15 tially in a common horizontal plane, and having
place. These shims insure proper alignment and
their end portions telescopically disposed in said
preclude twisting or warping of the one section
rectangular passageways in said ñrst springboard
relative the other.
element and laterally extending securing means
In Fig. 3, I have shown a modification of the
securing said tubular members together against
multiple section assembly of Fig. l, the main dif 20 independent flexing movement.
ference residing in the placement of the section
2. A diving board device comprising a fulcrum;
having the larger tubes I2 in the outboard posi
an elongated metallic springboard element nx
tion and the section having the smaller tubes 3i!
edly secured at one end portion, supported inter
in the approach end of the device. This ar
mediate its length by said fulcrum, and termi
rangement varies the characteristics in that more 25 nating at the other end portion thereof in a plu
ilexure is allowed at the approach end of the
rality of longitudinally extending rectangular
board when the outer end is deiiected downward.
passageways, said springboard elementpcompris
I have found that it is most desirable that the
ing a plurality of longitudinally extending me
substantially square tubes be assembled so that
tallic flexible rectangular tubular members posi
their lateral medians lie horizontally so that the
tioned alongside each other, and normally lying
upper and under face of the assembly is rather
substantially in a common horizontal plane, and
flat and easy to walk upon.
On the upper face,
I have used non-skid adhesively applied tape
with great success for boards for use in public
pools where they are subject to constant usage 35
by less skilled and possibly more rough perform
laterally extending securing means securing said
longitudinally extending metallic elements to
gether against independent flexing movement;
anda second springboard element connected with
said first springboard element comprising a plu
ers. Where great premium is placed upon form,
rality of metallic ilexible rectangular tubular
and the like, or it is desired to give a softer yet
members positioned alongside each other, nor
no-skid surface, I use _cocoa matting or carpeting
mally lying substantially in a common horizontal
that may be secured around the outer end of the 40 plane, and having their end portions _telescopi
board and extend therefrom toward the Íulcrum
cally disposed in said rectangular passageways
as desired. Usually only the last 50 or 60 inches
in said first springboard element and laterally
are covered with the non-skid material.
extending securing means securing said tubular
-Although I have shown and described certain
members together against independent flexing
specific embodiments of my invention, I am fully
movement.
aware that many modiñcations thereof are pos»
sible. My invention, therefore, is not to be re
stricted except insofar as is necessitated by the
prior art and by the spirit of the appended
claims.
I claim:
l. A diving board device comprising a ful
'
NORMAN BUCK.
REFERENCES CITED
The following references are of record in the
50 ñle of this patent:
UNITED STATES PATENTS
crum; an elongated metallic springboard element
Number
Name
Date
ñxedly secured at one end portion, supported in
962,691
Anderson _______ __ June 28, 1910
termediate its length by said fulcrum, and ter 55 1,635,204
Brown __________ __ July l2, 1927