IP Library Granted Patent US 7,699,761
Granted Patent B1
US 7,699,761 · App. 11/647,556 · Granted Apr 20, 2010

Overspeed trainer system

Assignee: Nike, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,699,761
App. No.
11/647,556
Granted
Apr 20, 2010
Kind
B1
Abstract

A single-handed overspeed trainer system that detachably tethers an athlete to a trainer through a substantially quiet, non-hook and loop material, release structure is disclosed. In one embodiment, the athlete wears a belt with a substantially rigid loop extending therefrom. The trainer holds one end of a tether that contains a retractable pin toward its opposite end. The pin holds the rigid loop of the belt until the pin is retracted by the trainer, preferably when the tether's handle is released by the trainer.

Claims (38)

1. An overspeed training system for detachably tethering an athlete to one hand of a trainer, the overspeed training system comprising:

a belt worn by the athlete;

an elongate tether detachably secured to the belt toward one end, the elongate tether having a handle toward the opposite end, said handle grippable by the one hand of the trainer;

a release mechanism detachably connecting said elongate tether to said belt and an actuator; and

a wrist strap for operably securing the actuator of the release mechanism to a wrist of the trainer, such that when the trainer releases the handle, the release mechanism detaches the elongated tether from the belt.

2. The overspeed training system of claim 1 , wherein said release mechanism includes:

a movable pin secured toward said one end of said elongate tether;

a substantially rigid loop secured to said belt; and,

said pin having an engaged position in which said substantially rigid loop is secured to said tether though said pin, and a disengaged position in which said substantially rigid loop is released from said elongate tether.

3. The overspeed training system of claim 2 , further including a biasing structure for biasing said pin in said engaged position.

4. The overspeed training system of claim 2 , further including a protective loop substantially encircling said pin.

5. The overspeed training system of claim 2 , wherein a cable is operably secured within a sleeve formed within said elongate tether.

6. The overspeed training system of claim 2 , further including a cable extending from said opposite end toward said one end of said elongate tether, said cable operably secured to said pin.

7. The overspeed training system of claim 1 , wherein said releasing mechanism is hook-and-loop material free.

8. The overspeed training system of claim 1 , wherein said release mechanism includes an activation cable extending from an engaging structure on the one end and the wrist strap on the opposite end, further including:

an engaging structure for operably receiving said cable toward said one end; and

the actuator toward said opposite end for moving said cable.

9. An overspeed training system for detachably tethering an athlete to one hand of a trainer, the overspeed training system comprising:

a belt worn by the athlete;

an elongate tether detachably secured to the belt toward one end, the elongate tether having a handle toward the opposite end, said handle grippable by the one hand of the trainer;

a release mechanism detachably connecting said elongate tether to said belt, said release mechanism activated by the one hand of the trainer, said release mechanism having,

an activation cable extending from said one end to said opposite end of the elongated tether, the activation cable having an engaging structure for operably receiving said cable toward said one end of the elongated tether and

a cable activation structure toward said opposite end of the elongated tether for moving said cable; and

a wrist strap for operably securing the cable activation structure to the trainer such that when the trainer releases the handle, the release mechanism is activated to allow detachment of the elongated tether from the belt.

10. The overspeed training system of claim 9 , wherein said release mechanism is activated by the trainer releasing the one hand from said handle.

11. The overspeed training system of claim 9 , further including a biasing structure for biasing said a release mechanism to hold said elongate tether to said belt.

12. The overspeed training system of claim 9 , wherein said release mechanism is hook-and-loop material free.

13. An overspeed training system for detachably tethering an athlete to one hand of a trainer, the overspeed training system comprising:

a belt worn by the athlete;

an elongate tether detachably secured to the belt toward one end, the elongate tether having a handle toward the opposite end, said handle grippable by the one hand of the trainer;

a release mechanism detachably connecting said elongate tether to said belt, said release mechanism activated by the one hand of the trainer and having a movable pin secured toward said one end of said elongate tether;

a substantially rigid loop secured to said belt;

said pin having an engaged position in which said substantially rigid loop is secured to said tether through said pin, and a disengaged position in which said substantially rigid loop is released from said elongate tether;

a cable extending from said opposite end toward said one end of said elongate tether, said cable operably secured to said pin; and

a wrist strap for operably securing the cable to the trainer such that the release mechanism is activated to allow detachment of the elongated tether from the belt when the trainer releases the handle.

14. The overspeed training system of claim 13 , wherein said release mechanism is activated by the trainer releasing the one hand from said handle.

15. The overspeed training system of claim 13 , further including a biasing structure for biasing said pin in said engaged position.

16. The overspeed training system of claim 13 , wherein said release mechanism is hook-and-loop material free.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2009
From: SPARQ, INC.
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 022287/0945 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 6, 2009
From: DIETER, WILLIAM; EITING, PATRICIA; JAMES, POLLY
To: SPARQ, INC.
Reel/Frame 022066/0438 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 6075527300 · Dec 29, 2005