Training Ladder Formed With Polygon Segments

• US 20090156365A1
• Filed: 05/08/2008
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Prstojevich, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,579,768 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/15
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0464 Walk exercisers without moving parts with movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 5/00 Apparatus for jumping mats for jumping A63B6/00; for racing or riding sports, e.g. hurdles A63K
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 5/22 Foot obstacles for skipping , e.g. horizontally-rotating obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/03 Athletic drills or obstacles for sport training, other than foot obstacles for skipping

Abstract

A training ladder formed of a plurality of substantially rigid polygon-shaped segments detachably secured together with segment connectors extending therebetween. The sides of each segment are substantially the same to allow the segment connector to join any sides between two adjacent segments. Accordingly, the path through the ladder can be varied. In one disclosed embodiment, the segments are octagon shaped and pivotally secured to the segment connectors, thereby allowing the ladder to collapse into a stack when not in use and allowing some of the segments to extend substantially vertically, thereby defining a hurdle or other possible vertical structure.

Claims

1. A collapsible athletic training ladder comprising:

a first substantially rigid polygon-shaped segment defining a first side;

a second substantially rigid polygon-shaped segment defining a second side; and

,

a segment connector operably engaging said first side and said second side thereby joining said first and second polygon-shaped segments together to define a path for an athlete to traverse therethrough.

2. The collapsible athletic training ladder of claim 1, wherein said first substantially rigid polygon-shaped segment defines a third side, and said segment connector can operably engage said third side, thereby allowing said path through said ladder to be changed by the athlete selecting which of said first and third sides to operably engage said segment connector.

3. The collapsible athletic training ladder of claim 1, wherein said first substantially rigid polygon-shaped segment is an octagon defining five sides having substantially the same length.

4. The collapsible athletic training ladder of claim 3, wherein said segment connector is operably securable to all said five sides of said first substantially rigid polygon-shaped segment.

5. The collapsible athletic training ladder of claim 3, wherein said second substantially rigid polygon-shaped segment is an octagon defining five sides having substantially the same length.

6. The collapsible athletic training ladder of claim 3, wherein said segment connector is operably securable to all said five sides of said second substantially rigid polygon-shaped segment.

7. The collapsible athletic training ladder of claim 1, wherein said segment connector is integrally molded.

8. The collapsible athletic training ladder of claim 1, wherein said segment connector has a first segment engaging portion for operably engaging said first substantially rigid polygon-shaped segment and a second segment engaging portion for operably engaging said second substantially rigid polygon-shaped segment.

9. The collapsible athletic training ladder of claim 8, wherein said first segment is pivotally secured to said segment connector, thereby allowing said first segment connector to be pivoted about said segment connect to rest on top of said second connector, thereby defining a collapsed stack of said first and second segment connectors.

10. The collapsible athletic training ladder of claim 9, wherein said first segment is pivoted about said segment connector to a position substantially perpendicular to said second segment, thereby defining a hurdle.

11. The collapsible athletic training ladder of claim 1, further including a second and third substantially rigid polygon-shaped segment, and a second, third and fourth segment connector operably secured to said segments to define the elongate path therethrough.

12. The collapsible athletic training ladder of claim 11, wherein said segments are pivotally secured to said segment connectors thereby allowing said segments to be pivoted on top of each other to define a stack of said segments.

13. The collapsible athletic training ladder of claim 12, wherein said second and third segments are pivoted about said segment connectors to rest substantially perpendicular to said first and fourth segments, thereby defining a hurdle.

14. The collapsible athletic training ladder of claim 11, wherein said segments are joined together with said segment connectors to define a substantially cube shape.