Jump measuring apparatus

Abstract

Abstract Apparatus is provided for measuring the ability of an athlete to jump vertically from a standing or running position. Such apparatus is useful, for example, in enabling coaches to determine the ability of athletes for such sports as basketball, volleyball, and even competitive swimming. The apparatus includes an upright frame which can be positioned away from any wall or other structure which could interfere with the use of the apparatus. A series of horizontally extending vanes are pivotally mounted one above the other in spaced parallel relationship at the upper end of the frame for individual angular movement about a vertical axis. The vanes are retained in their uniformly spaced and parallel relationship by, for example, a stack of precision spacers, or accurately spaced retaining rings, and axial-loading spring washers, or coil springs. The vanes are mounted so that they may pivot freely about the vertical axis on an individual basis, independent of all the other vanes. The vanes may be positioned at a predetermined height above the ground. To use the apparatus, the athlete makes successive jumps, either from a standing position or from a running position, each time trying to reach the highest reachable vane with his up-stretched hand. For each jump, the athlete taps the reachable vanes with his hand and displaces them angularly around the vertical axis, leaving only the vanes he could not reach in their original angular position. In successive jumps, the athlete tries to reach higher and higher vanes.

Inventors

• 👤 James J. Perrine
• 👤 Allen E. Scates

Bibliographic Details