Patent Application 20120192346 - SWIMMING STARTING BLOCK > Summary

Patent Application No. US 20120192346

Published on Aug 2, 2012

Application No. 13/304498

Field on Nov 25, 2011

Maas, Martinus - Asten, NL

Dion Wps Holding B V - Asten, NL

A swimming starting block including a push-off plate for supporting feet of a swimmer during a start, and a sensor connected to the push-off plate which detects at least changes in pressure on the push-off plate induced by the swimmer. The sensor includes a substantially elongated conductor for electromagnetic signals, connected at a first circumferential side to the push-off plate and at an opposite second circumferential side to a sensor-support plate arranged substantially parallel to and at a distance from the push-off plate. The push-off plate moves with respect to the sensor-support plate, in response to pressure changes induced by the swimmer, to induce a disturbance into electromagnetic signals sent through the conductor. The elongated conductor can be connected to a signal source for transmitting the electromagnetic signals through the conductor. The conductor can be connected to a signal detector, wherein the signal detector detects disturbances in the electromagnetic signal.