Cushioned pole vault planting box

Abstract

A pole vault planting box is cushioned to reduce and minimize the risk of injury to pole vaulters. The planting box includes a base pan which is mounted below ground level adjacent the runway, and a sloped surface extending downwardly from the base surface to a pole planting position adjacent the stop-board. Cushioning components are positioned on the base surface and sloped surface of the base pan. A top cover may be positioned over some or all of the base pan to provide a cavity which may enclose cushioning components.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pole vault planting box comprising: 
 (a) a base pan having a base surface, side walls around the base surface, and a sloped surface that is sloped downwardly from the base surface; and    (b) at least one cushioning component positioned in the base pan.    
     
     
         2 . The pole vault planting box of  claim 1  further comprising a top cover that is positionable over the base pan and the at least one cushioning component.  
     
     
         3 . The pole vault planting box of  claim 1  wherein the base pan is mounted adjacent a runway surface; and the base pan and the at least one cushioning component are positioned below the runway surface.  
     
     
         4 . The pole vault planting box of  claim 1  further comprising at least one cushioning component positioned on the sloped surface of the base pan.  
     
     
         5 . The pole vault planting box of  claim 1  further comprising at least one cushioning component positioned on the base surface of the base pan.  
     
     
         6 . The pole vault planting box of  claim 1  wherein the sloped surface further comprises a first sloped surface and a second sloped surface and a step between the first and the second sloped surfaces.  
     
     
         7 . The pole vault planting box of  claim 6  wherein the at least one cushioning component is positioned on the first sloped surface.  
     
     
         8 . A planting box for pole vaulting comprising: 
 a base pan positionable below ground level adjacent a runway, the base pan having a base surface, a sloped surface sloping downwardly from the base surface; and    a first replaceable cushioning component on the sloped surface, and a second replaceable cushioning component on the base surface, the first and second replaceable cushioning components being below the ground level adjacent the runway.    
     
     
         9 . The planting box of  claim 8  further comprising a step on the sloped surface.  
     
     
         10 . The planting box of  claim 9  wherein the first replaceable cushioning component is on a part of the sloped surface between the base surface and the step.  
     
     
         11 . The planting box of  claim 8  further comprising a top cover over at least part of the base pan and over at least part of the first and second replaceable cushioning components.  
     
     
         12 . The planting box of  claim 11  wherein the top cover is positioned at ground level.  
     
     
         13 . The planting box of  claim 11  wherein the top cover is flexible thermoplastic.  
     
     
         14 . The planting box of  claim 8  wherein at least one of the first and second replaceable cushioning components is a twin sheet structure having indentations extending between the sheets.  
     
     
         15 . The planting box of  claim 8  wherein the base pan is rigid.  
     
     
         16 . A pole vault planting box comprising a base pan having a cushioned base surface, and a sloped surface sloping down from the base surface to a stop-board, at 4 least part of the sloped surface being cushioned.  
     
     
         17 . The pole vault planting box of  claim 16  wherein the sloped surface comprises a first sloped surface and a second sloped surface, a step between the first and the second sloped surfaces, the first sloped surface sloping down from the base surface to a step and the second sloped surface sloping down from the step to the stop-board.  
     
     
         18 . The pole vault planting box of  claim 16  wherein the cushioned base surface is below ground level.  
     
     
         19 . The pole vault planting box of  claim 16  further comprising side walls around the perimeter of the base surface.  
     
     
         20 . The pole vault planting box of  claim 16  further comprising a top cover over the sloped and cushioned surface.  
     
     
         21 . A pole vault planting box, comprising a base surface, a sloped surface, and a top cover positioned over the base surface and sloped surface to form a cavity therebetween.  
     
     
         22 . The pole vault planting box of  claim 21  wherein the cavity is cushioned.  
     
     
         23 . The pole vault planting box of  claim 21  wherein at least part of the top cover is positioned in contact with the sloped surface.  
     
     
         24 . The pole vault planting box of  claim 21  wherein the sloped surface has a step thereon.  
     
     
         25 . The pole vault planting box of  claim 21  wherein the top cover is attached to at least part of the base surface.  
     
     
         26 . The pole vault planting box of  claim 21  further comprising side walls around the perimeter of the base surface.  
     
     
         27 . The pole vault planting box of  claim 21  wherein the top cover is flexible.  
     
     
         28 . The pole vault planting box of  claim 21  wherein the base surface and sloped surface are positioned below ground level.