Competitive swimming starting system

Abstract

A competitive swimming starting system for producing faster starts of competitive swimmers after the start of the race has been signaled. The competitive swimming starting system may include a platform structure for resting on a surface adjacent to a pool, and a light for illuminating to indicate a starting signal for a swimming race. In one embodiment of the invention, the light is mounted on the platform structure in the view of a person positioned on the starting platform structure. The present invention also contemplates a method of signaling the start of a swimming race, which includes providing a competitive swimming starting platform structure positioned adjacent to a pool, providing a light proximate to the starting platform structure in a location in the view of a person positioned on the starting platform structure, and illuminating the light to signal a start of a swimming race.

1. A swimming race starting system for positioning adjacent to a pool, the system comprising:
 a platform structure for resting on a surface adjacent to a pool, the platform structure having a top, a bottom, a front, and a rear; and 
 a light for illuminating to indicate a starting signal for a swimming race; 
 wherein the light is mounted on the platform structure in a location such that the light is visible to a person positioned in a swimming race start position on the platform structure. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein the light is located on the front of the platform structure. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1  wherein the light is mounted on the rear of the platform structure. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1  wherein the platform structure includes a base and a support mounted on the base, the support having an upper surface for standing on by a person in a swimming race position. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4  wherein the light is mounted on the support. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 4  wherein the light is mounted on a front of the support. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 4  wherein the light is mounted on a rear of the support. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 4  wherein the support has a perimeter extending downwardly from the upper surface, the light being located adjacent to the perimeter. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 4  wherein the light is located adjacent to the upper surface of the support. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 4  wherein the light extends laterally with respect to the platform structure. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 4  additionally comprising a step mounted on the base, the step having an upper surface and being positioned rearwardly of the support. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 4  wherein an inclined surface is positioned on the support of the platform structure, the inclined surface being oriented at an angle with respect to a plane of the upper surface of the support. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12  wherein a depression is formed in the upper surface and the inclined surface forms a portion of the depression in the upper surface. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 1  including at least two said lights mounted on the platform. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 1  additionally comprising control means for controlling illumination of the light. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15  wherein the control means includes a transmitter located remote from the platform structure and a receiver mounted on the platform structure, the receiver selectively causing power to be supplied to the light when a trigger signal is received by the receiver from the transmitter. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16  wherein the transmitter and receiver communicate by a wire. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 16  wherein the transmitter and receiver communicating wirelessly. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 1  additionally comprising a backstroke arm structure mounted on the front of the platform structure, the backstroke arm structure extending forwardly from the platform structure. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 1  wherein the platform structure includes a base and a support mounted on the base, the support having an upper surface for standing on by a person in a swimming race position;
 wherein the light comprises a plurality of lights, one of the plurality of lights being mounted on a front of the support and one of the plurality of lights being mounted on a rear of the support. 
 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 1  wherein the platform structure is configured so that the light is positioned above the surface when the bottom of the platform is rested on the surface. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 1  wherein the platform structure is configured so that the light is positioned adjacent to the body of the person when the person is standing on the top of the platform structure. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 1  wherein the platform structure is configured so that the light is positioned outside the pool when the bottom of the platform is rested on the surface adjacent to the pool. 
     
     
       24. A swimming starting system comprising:
 a platform structure for resting on a surface adjacent to a pool, the platform structure having a top, a bottom, a front, and a rear, the platform structure comprising:   a base, the base having a top and a bottom and a central axis extending between the top and bottom of the base, the base comprising:   a lower region having a bottom for positioning adjacent to the surface adjacent to the pool and a top, the top of the lower region having a relatively smaller cross sectional area than the bottom of the lower region;   an upper region located above the lower region, the upper region having a top and a bottom, the bottom of the lower region having a relatively smaller cross sectional area than the top of the upper region;   a middle region positioned between the upper and lower regions, the middle region connecting the bottom of the upper region and the top of the lower region; and   a rear region extending rearwardly and upwardly from the lower region, the rear region having a top;   a support mounted on the base, the support being mounted on the upper region of the base, the support having an upper surface, the support having a perimeter extending downwardly from the upper surface;   a step mounted on the base, the step being positioned rearwardly of the support, the step being mounted on the rear region of the base, the step being mounted on the top of the rear region, the step having an upper surface;   a backstroke arm structure mounted on the front of the platform structure, the backstroke arm structure extending forwardly from the platform structure, the backstroke arm structure comprising:   a support member extending forwardly from the platform structure, the support member being mounted on the front of the platform structure, the support member being elongate and having a rear end mounted on the base and a forward end opposite of the rear end, the support member extending substantially horizontally when the bottom of the platform structure is rested on the surface adjacent to the pool;   a pair of gripping members mounted on the support member, each of the gripping members being elongate, each of the gripping members extending in a substantially vertical orientation when the platform structure is rested on the surface adjacent to the pool; and   a pair of links mounting the gripping members on the support member, each of the links extending between one of the gripping members and the support member;   a light for illuminating to indicate a starting signal, the light being mounted on the platform structure in a position such that the light is visible to a person in a start position on the platform structure, the light being located on the front of the platform structure, the light being mounted on the rear of the platform structure, the light being mounted on the support, the light being mounted on the front of the support, the light being mounted on the rear of the support, the light being located adjacent to the perimeter, the light being located adjacent to the upper surface, the light extending laterally with respect to the platform structure, the light flashing to indicate a start of a swimming race; and   control means for controlling illumination of the light, the control means including a transmitter located remote from the platform structure and a receiver mounted on the platform structure, the receiver selectively causing power to be supplied to the light when a trigger signal is received by the receiver from the transmitter, the transmitter and receiver communicating by a wire, the transmitter and receiver communicating wirelessly;   wherein an inclined surface is positioned on the support of the platform structure, the inclined surface being oriented at an angle with respect to a plane of the upper surface of the support, the angle being approximately 30 degrees to approximately 60 degrees, the inclined surface being formed on the support of the platform structure, a depression being formed in the upper surface and the inclined surface forming a portion of the depression in the upper surface, the inclined surface extending from the upper surface at the angle, a pair of the depressions being formed in the upper surface of the support, the pair of depressions being laterally separated with respect to each other, the pair of depressions being located adjacent to a front edge of the support, a second pair of the depressions being formed on the upper surface, the second pair of depressions being located adjacent to a rear edge of the support.   
     
     
       25. A method of signaling the start of a swimming race, comprising:
 providing a competitive swimming starting platform structure positioned adjacent to a pool; 
 providing a light on the starting platform structure in a location in the view of a person standing on the starting platform structure; and 
 illuminating the light to signal the start of a swimming race. 
 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25  including momentarily flashing the light to indicate a start of a swimming race. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 25  including providing a plurality of the starting platform structures positioned adjacent to the pool. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27  including providing each of the starting platform structures with a light. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 28  including illuminating the lights for each of the platforms simultaneously.