Breakaway athletic track hurdle and training device

Abstract

A training device includes a first leg, a second leg, and a top board connectable to the first leg and the second leg. The top board has a first position transverse to a path of travel between the first leg and the second leg providing a releaseable obstruction along the path of travel. The top board further includes a breakaway joint operable to release at least a portion of the top board to a second position on an impact to the top board thereby providing an open passageway through the top board along the path of travel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A training device comprising:
 a first leg;   a second leg; and   a top board connectable to the first leg and the second leg, the top board having a first position transverse to a path of travel between the first leg and the second leg providing a releaseable obstruction along the path of travel, wherein the top board comprises:
 a breakaway joint operable to release at least a portion of the top board to a second position on an impact to the top board thereby providing an open passageway through the top board along the path of travel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the top board further comprises:
 a first top board having a first end and a second end, the first end rotatably connected to the first leg; and   a second top board having a first end and a second end, the first end rotatably connected to the second leg, the breakaway joint positioned between the second end of the first board and a second end of the second board.   
     
     
         3 . The training device of  claim 2 , wherein the breakaway joint further comprises:
 a permanent magnet connected to the second end of one of the first or the second top board; and   a ferromagnetic member connected to the second end of the other of the first or the second top board in proximity to the permanent magnet, wherein in the top board first position, the ferromagnetic member is attracted to the permanent magnet thereby providing the obstruction along the path of travel.   
     
     
         4 . The training device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a top board hinge connected to at least one end of the top board and the respective second end of the first leg or the second leg, the top board hinge operable to allow rotation of at least a portion of the top board about an axis of rotation relative to the respective first or the second leg.   
     
     
         5 . The training device of  claim 4 , wherein the axis of rotation is a first axis of rotation, and wherein the training device further comprises:
 a leg hinge connected to one of the first or the second leg and the top board hinge, the leg hinge operable to allow rotation of the top board hinge and the at least a portion of the top board about a second axis of rotation relative to the first or the second leg.   
     
     
         6 . The training device of  claim 5 , wherein the first axis of rotation is generally perpendicular to the second axis of rotation. 
     
     
         7 . The training device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a leg hinge connected to at least one end of the top board and the respective second end of the first leg or the second leg, the top board hinge operable to allow rotation of at least a portion of the top board about an axis of rotation relative to the respective first or the second leg.   
     
     
         8 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the training device is an athletic track hurdle. 
     
     
         9 . The training device of  claim 1 , further comprising a base, wherein the first leg and the second leg are each connected to the base, and the first leg and the second leg are laterally spaced apart from one another with respect to the base. 
     
     
         10 . The training device of  claim 9 , wherein the first leg and the second leg are each pivotally connected to the base allowing the first and the second legs to rotate relative to the base between an operable position and a folded storage position. 
     
     
         11 . The training device of  claim 9 , wherein each of the first and the second legs further comprise a lower member and an upper member, the upper member is moveable along a height axis relative to the lower member to selectively adjust the vertical height of the top board relative to the base. 
     
     
         12 . A breakaway athletic track hurdle comprising:
 a base;   a first leg connected to the base;   a second leg connected to the base laterally distant from the first leg;   a first top board having a first end and a second end;   a second top board having a first end and a second end, the first and the second top board having a first operable position extending laterally between the first and second leg transverse to a path of travel between the first and the second leg;   a first top board hinge connected to the first top board first end;   a second top board hinge connected to the second top board first end;   a first leg hinge rotatably connected to the first leg about a leg hinge axis of rotation;   a second leg hinge rotatably connected to the second leg about a leg hinge axis of rotation; the first and second top board hinges rotatably connected to respective of the first and the second leg hinge and respectively rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to the first and the second leg hinge;   a breakaway joint comprising:
 a first permanent magnet connected to a portion of the first top board second end; 
 a first ferromagnetic member connected to a portion of the first top board second end; 
 a second permanent magnet connected to a portion of the second top board second end positioned opposite the first ferromagnetic member; 
 a second ferromagnetic member connected to a portion of the second top board second end positioned opposite the first permanent magnet, wherein on a physical impact to one of the first or the second top board, the breakaway joint releases thereby respectively rotating the first and the second top boards to a second position thereby providing an open passageway through the first and the second top board along the path of travel. 
   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first leg;   a second leg; and   a top board comprising a breakaway joint, wherein the breakaway joint is configured to:
 connect in a first position whereby the top board is generally perpendicular to the first leg and the second leg, and 
 separate in a second position whereby at least a portion of the top board is not generally perpendicular to the first leg and the second leg. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the breakaway joint is operable to separate in response to an impact to the top board. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein when the breakaway joint is in the second position, a first portion of the top board and a second portion of the top board are separated from one another. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein when the breakaway joint is in the first position, a first portion of the top board and a second portion of the top board are connected to one another. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein when the breakaway joint is in the first position, a magnetic force holds a first portion of the top board and a second portion of the top board together. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a dual hinge connecting the top board to the first leg. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the dual hinge permits the top board to rotate with respect to the first leg along both a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are generally perpendicular to one another.