Jump structures are erected for equestrian competitions, such as eventing, and include cross piece bars positioned at a fixed height between posts. In eventing the cross piece bars are fixed in place. For example, the cross piece bars are lashed or fastened to the posts to permanently secure the cross piece bars at a specified heights and positions. The heights of the cross piece bars are determined based on the rider skill level, the capabilities of the horse and the level of competition. The rider directs the horse to jump over one or more such cross piece bars and is scored according to several factors, such as the number of bars cleared, the height of the bars and the time taken to finish the course.
The inventors are the first to discover a cross piece socket assembly capable of securing and releasing a cross piece bar according to impact forces that is also adjustable to different heights without removal of the cross piece bar. In one example, a method for adjusting the height of a cross piece bar includes mounting a hoop support to a substantially vertical post in a first location, the hoop support coupled to a first rest bracket positioned along the substantially vertical post, wherein the hoop support includes a cradle socket configured to receive a cross piece bar. The method further includes positioning the cross piece bar within the cradle socket. The hoop support is disengaged from the first rest bracket while the cross piece bar remains present in the cradle socket. The method further includes mounting the hoop support to the substantially vertical post at a second location having a second rest bracket while the cross piece bar remains present in the cradle socket, wherein the height of the cross piece bar corresponds to the location of the hoop support.
In another example, the cross piece socket assembly includes a first resting bracket and a second resting bracket spaced from the first resting bracket. The cross piece socket assembly further includes at least one hoop support. The hoop support includes a hoop anchor portion, the hoop anchor portion is selectively engageable with one of the first and second resting brackets. First and second arms extend from the hoop anchor portion. A cradle socket is fixed between the first and second arms, and the cradle socket is configured to secure the cross piece bar within the cradle socket where the cross piece bar is struck with an impact force less than an impact force capable of causing a horse or rider to fall. For instance, the cradle socket is sized and shaped to secure a cross piece bar in place against horizontal impact forces equal to or less than about 6 kN. In yet another example, the cradle socket is sized and shaped to secure a cross piece bar in place against vertical impact forces equal to or less than about 18 kN.
In still another example, the cradle socket is configured to release a cross piece bar secured in the cradle socket where the cross piece bar is struck with an impact force greater than or equal to the impact force capable of causing a horse or rider to fall.
The cross piece socket assembly and methods for using the assembly described herein secure a cross piece bar in place at a desired height over a range of impact forces delivered by a jumping horse. The cradle sockets of the hoop supports secure the cross piece bar in place when struck with impact forces that would fail to cause a horse or the rider to tumble or fall. The cradle sockets are configured to release the cross piece bar when struck with impact forces capable of causing a horse or rider to tumble or fall. Because the cradle sockets permit release of the cross piece bar a fall or tumble may be avoided because the obstacle of the bar is removed.
When repositioning of the cross piece bar at a different height is desired the hoop anchor portion of the cross piece socket assembly is disengaged from a first rest bracket with the cross piece bar still in the cradle socket. The hoop support is slid up or down the post to a desired rest bracket while the cross piece bar remains secured with the cradle socket. The hoop anchor portion is reengaged along the post and rests on the rest bracket. The cross piece bar is immediately ready for jumping at the new height. Time intensive removal and replacement of a cross piece bar to reposition a pin or jump cup is substantially avoided because the cross piece bar remains seated within the cradle socket of the hoop support throughout movement from the first rest bracket to the second rest bracket. Delays in competition are thereby minimized. Additionally, a single user can operate each of the hoop supports that carry the cross piece bar in sequence avoiding the need for additional assistance.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
The cross piece socket assembly 100 further includes rest brackets 106 positioned along the post 102 at specified locations. For instance, the rest brackets 106 are positioned along the post 102 at an interval facilitating positioning of the hoop support 104 on the rest bracket 106 at desired heights relative to the ground. Referring to
As shown in
For instance, the cradle socket 108 retains the cross piece bar in place against impact forces that would fail to cause a horse to fall or tumble. The force at which the horse impacts the cross piece bar may vary considerably depending on the dimensions of the cross piece bar, the cross piece bar height, the speed of the horse, the size of the horse and the weight of the horse and rider. Additionally, the impact forces will vary based on what portion of the body of the horse makes contact with the cross piece bar. In one example, the cradle socket 108 secures the cross piece bar against impact forces less than about 20 kilonewtons (kN) (i.e., a force less than that needed to cause falling or tumbling of the horse).
In another example, the cradle socket 108 is configured to secure the cross piece bar in place against horizontal impact forces less than about 6 kN. In still another example, the cradle socket 108 is configured to secure the cross piece bar within the cradle socket against vertical impact forces less than about 18 kN. Where the horse impact forces against the cross piece bar exceeds these forces the cradle socket 108 is sized and shaped to permit the cross piece bar to leave the cradle socket and assist in preventing falling or tumbling of the horse and rider. This is a substantial improvement over previous systems that either fix the bar in place and increase the risk of falling or easily release the bar when struck with nearly any force and require constant replacement. The forces described herein are intended to be exemplary and not absolute values for securing and releasing a cross piece bar. As described in the examples herein and the prophetic example below the forces to maintain the cross piece bar in place and release the cross piece bar may vary. For instance, the forces to maintain and release the cross piece bar may vary depending on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the height of the jump, the weight of the horse and rider, the size of the horse, the speed of the horse at impact, the size and weight of the cross piece bar, and the like. Similarly, the shape of the cradle socket 108 may be changed to correspond with desired forces to secure and release the cross piece bar.
The hoop support 104 is engaged with the post 102 at a first post surface 112 and a second post surface 114. In the example shown in
As shown in
In an alternative example, the hoop support 104 includes only the first arm 200 and the hoop support 104 extends partially around the post 102 (
Referring now to
One example of a rest bracket 106 is shown in
The engagement flange 302 of the rest bracket 106 extends away from the coupling flange 300 and provides the resting surface for engagement with the hoop anchor portion 110 of the hoop support 104 (see
One example of a bracket plate 400 is shown in
The bracket plate 400 further includes a coupling surface 402 sized and shaped to engage along the post 102. The bracket plate 400 is coupled with the post 102, optionally, through fastener lumens 406 extending through the bracket plate 400. Mechanical fasteners including screws, nails and the like are driven through the fastener lumens 106 to position the bracket plate 400 and the rest brackets 106 along the post 102.
Referring now to
The cradle flange 610 extending from the first and second arms 606, 608 and the cradle support 612 define the cradle socket 604. In one example, the cradle flanges 610 are formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of a cross piece bar received within the cradle socket 604. The cradle flanges 610 are configured to secure a cross piece bar in place even when impacted by a horse making contact with the fence. For instance, the cradle flanges 610 retain the cross piece bar in place against impact forces that would fail to cause a horse to fall or tumble.
The force at which a horse impacts the cross piece bar may vary considerably depending on the dimensions of the cross piece bar, the cross piece bar height, the speed of the horse, the size of the horse and the weight of the horse and rider. Additionally, the impact forces will vary based on what portion of the body of the horse makes contact with the cross piece bar. In one example, the cradle 604 of the hoop support 600 secures the cross piece bar against impact forces less than or equal to about 20 kN (less than an impact force needed to cause a jumping horse to fall or tumble). In another example, the cradle socket 604 is configured to secure the cross piece bar in place against horizontal impact forces less than or equal to about 6 kN. In still another example, the cradle socket 604 is configured to secure the cross piece bar within the cradle socket against vertical impact forces less than or equal to about 18 kN. Where the horse impact forces against the cross piece bar exceed these forces the cradle socket 604 is sized and shaped to permit the cross piece bar to leave the cradle socket and assist in preventing falling or tumbling of the horse and rider.
In the example shown in
The hoop supports 104, 600, 700, in one example, are constructed with high strength materials including metals, plastics, composites and the like. For instance, the hoop supports are constructed with, but not limited to, carbon steel with sufficient structural integrity to support a cross piece bar within the respective cradle sockets while the hoop supports are positioned along the post. Additionally, the hoop supports 104, 600, 700 are constructed with material, such as carbon steel, having sufficient structural integrity to withstand horse impact forces at least equal to or less than 20 kN. When subjected to such impact forces the hoop supports maintain their original shape and structural integrity and are capable of withstanding repeated impacts generating similar impact forces. The hoop supports are reusable and do not require replacement or repair as in other systems (e.g., frangible pins and frangible logs) that are designed to fail with impacts.
As previously described, the cradle sockets (e.g., cradles sockets 108, 604 and 704) are sized and shaped to secure the cross piece bar 800 within the hoop supports at the specified height along the posts 102. The cradle sockets 108, 604 and 704 provide deep recesses that secure the cross piece bar 800 in place against impact forces from a jumping horse and rider 802. To prevent falling and tumbling of the horse and rider 802, the cradle sockets are sized and shaped to release the cross piece bar 800 from the hoop supports when the cross piece bar 800 is impacted with sufficient force to otherwise cause a horse to fall or tumble (e.g., where a cross piece bar would be fixed to the posts). Stated another way, the hoop supports 104, 600 and 700 including the respective cradle sockets are configured to retain the cross piece bar 800 in position along the posts 102 when subjected to impact forces less than those that would cause the horse and rider 802 to tumble or fall. In contrast, other jump cup devices merely provide a groove or superficial cup and fail to retain the cross piece bar 800 in place against forces less than those that would otherwise cause tumbling or falling of the horse. Incidental impacts cause the cross piece bar 800 to fall from these devices, causing delays in competition and requiring additional labor to reposition the bar. Alternatively, where the bar is fixed in place and not releasable through impact, a strong impact against a fixed bar will increase the risk of falling or tumbling for both the horse and rider.
As described above, the impact forces from the horse and rider 802 can vary considerably according to the dimensions of the cross piece bar 800, the cross piece bar height, the horse's size, weight and speed at impact as well as what body part of the horse makes contact with the cross piece bar (e.g., chest, hoof, leg and the like). The novel cross piece socket assembly 100 (including the hoop supports 104, 600 and 700) secures the cross piece bar 800 in place at a desired position on the posts 102 when subjected to these varying impact forces from a horse that fails to fully clear the cross piece bar during a jump but can otherwise continue with the ride. The cross piece socket assembly 100 releases the cross piece bar 800 when subjected to impact forces that would cause the horse and rider 802 to fall or tumble (e.g., impact forces that are greater than those that would allow the horse to continue the ride without falling).
In one example, the cross piece socket assembly 100 including the hoop supports 104, 600 and 700 retains the cross piece bar 800 in place against impact forces of about 20 kN or less. In another example, the cross piece socket assembly 100 retains the cross piece bar in place against horizontal impact forces of about 6 kN or less. In still another example, the cross piece socket assembly 100 retains the cross piece bar 800 in place against vertical impact forces of about 18 kN or less.
The forces described herein are intended to be exemplary and not absolute values for securing and releasing a cross piece bar. As described in the examples herein and the prophetic example below the forces to maintain the cross piece bar in place and release the cross piece bar may vary. For instance, the forces to maintain and release the cross piece bar may vary depending on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the height of the jump, the weight of the horse and rider, the size of the horse, the speed of the horse at impact, the size and weight of the cross piece bar, and the like. Similarly, the shape of the cradle socket 108 may be changed to correspond with desired forces to secure and release the cross piece bar.
As shown in
The hoop support 104 is reengaged with another rest bracket 106 as shown in
As previously described above, the hoop support 104 is disengaged from a first rest bracket 106, moved into the disengaged configuration and subsequently reengaged with a second rest bracket 106 while continuously carrying the cross piece bar 800 from the first engaged position to the second engaged position. Movement of the hoop support 104 into the second engaged position correspondingly positions the cross piece bar 800 at a second height (See
The present disclosure will be further described by reference to the following example, which is offered to further illustrate various examples of the present disclosure. It should be understood, however, that many variations and modifications may be made while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure.
Impact forces will be measured by load cells attached to a cross piece bar, used with an impact measuring fence made by Competitive Measure, Great Britain. For instance, load cells will be attached along a bottom and a side of the cross piece bar to measure vertical and horizontal impact forces, respectively, as discussed in Goodyear Safety Research Project 2008, Hartpury College, Jan. 24, 2009 by Tim Deans and Martin Herbert, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
A sufficient sample size of horses (e.g., n>1000) will attempt to jump the cross piece bar. Impacts will be measured for horizontal and vertical force components. Impacts that do not result in a fall or tumble for the horse are considered desirable. The cradle sockets, such as cradle sockets 108, 604 and 704 discussed herein, will then be formed and tested in a similar manner (e.g., with at least one of actual attempted horse jumps or machine driven impacts simulating impacts from a jumping horse).
The hoop supports including the cradle sockets will be constructed with a suitable material not limited to powder coated carbon steel having sufficient structural integrity to reliably bear the weight of the cross piece bar and withstand impact forces at least equal to those measured during testing. The cradle socket shape will be constructed (made deeper, tighter to the bar and the like) to retain the cross piece bar within the sockets over the range of the safe impact forces. The cradle socket shape will be further constructed (made shallow, loose relative to the bar and the like) to permit disengagement of the cross piece bar from the socket for impact forces that exceed the safe forces.
In another example, a falling impact force (i.e., an impact force causing a horse to fall or tumble) greater than the largest measured desired impact force will be chosen. The cradle socket will be formed and tested with repeated impacts to permit disengagement of the cross piece bar for forces greater than or equal to the falling impact force. It is anticipated that the cross piece socket assembly 100 including any of the cradle sockets 108, 604 and 704 will retain the cross piece bar 800 within the sockets when the bar is impacted with desired impact forces, for instance less than about 18 kN of horizontal impact force, less than about 6 kN of vertical impact force and less than about 20 kN of total impact force.
The forces described herein are intended to be exemplary and not absolute values for securing and releasing a cross piece bar. As described in the examples herein and this prophetic example the forces to maintain the cross piece bar in place and release the cross piece bar may vary. For instance, the forces to maintain and release the cross piece bar may vary depending on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the height of the jump, the weight of the horse and rider, the size of the horse, the speed of the horse at impact, the size and weight of the cross piece bar, and the like. Similarly, the shape of the cradle socket 108 (or the other exemplary cradle sockets 604, 704) may be changed to correspond with desired forces to secure and release the cross piece bar.
The cross piece socket assembly and methods for using the assembly described above secure a cross piece bar in place at a desired height over a range of impact forces delivered by a jumping horse. The cradle sockets of the hoop supports secure the cross piece bar in place when struck with impact forces that would fail to cause a horse or the rider to tumble or fall. The cradle sockets are configured to release the cross piece bar when struck with impact forces capable of causing a horse or rider to tumble or fall. Stated another way, the shape and size of the cradle sockets permit the cross piece bar to disengage from the cradle sockets when struck with impact forces that could cause a tumble or fall. Because the cradle sockets permit release of the cross piece bar a fall or tumble may be avoided because the obstacle of the bar is removed.
The cross piece socket assembly secures and releases the cross piece bar without using frangible pins, bars or logs, and the like configured to fail when struck with sufficient force. The hoop supports and the cradle sockets are constructed with durable materials capable of withstanding repeated impacts without failure or significant deformation. Further, because the hoop supports secure the cross piece bar in place against forces less than impact forces capable of causing falling or tumbling undesirable delays in competition to reposition or reseat the bar are avoided. Stated another way, unseating of the cross piece bar due to glancing contact and minor impacts is substantially avoided.
Moreover, the rest brackets positioned along the posts provide set locations for engagement with the hoop supports. The hoop supports are positioned along the posts according to the rest bracket locations. The hoop supports interlock with the posts through ratcheting engagement of the hoop anchor portion and another surface of the hoop support (e.g., a proximal edge of the cradle socket). The cross piece bar seated within the cradle sockets is thereby reliably secured at a desired height corresponding to the rest bracket location.
When repositioning of the cross piece bar at a different height is desired the hoop anchor portion is disengaged from a first rest bracket with the cross piece bar still in the cradle socket. For instance, the user applies pulling forces at handholds spaced from the post. The hoop support is slid up or down the post to a desired rest bracket while the cross piece bar remains secured with the cradle socket. The hoop anchor portion is reengaged along the post and rests on the rest bracket. The cross piece bar is immediately ready for jumping at the new height. Time intensive removal and replacement of a cross piece bar to reposition a pin or jump cup is substantially avoided because the cross piece bar remains seated within the cradle socket of the hoop support throughout movement from the first rest bracket to the second rest bracket. Delays in competition are thereby minimized. Additionally, a single user can operate each of the hoop supports that carry the cross piece bar in sequence avoiding the need for additional assistance.
The cross piece socket assembly presented herein has been described in relation to horse jumping. However, the cross piece socket assembly is not so limited. For instance, the hoop supports with the cradle sockets and the rest brackets are used to support wood work pieces for chain saw sculpturing and other wood working activities. The hoop supports position the work pieces at a comfortable height. Additionally, the cross piece socket assembly is used as part of a fence to create a seamless and attractive gate having removable beams without requiring a readily distinguishable and more expensive swinging gate. Further, the cross piece socket assembly is used to erect a balance beam or log at a variety of heights for day care and gymnastics events. The cradle sockets of the hoop support are also configurable for stadium jumping that uses smaller beams and upright posts or standards. For example, the cradle sockets are configured to release the smaller beams when struck with smaller impact forces as required by the event.
The forces described herein are intended to be exemplary and not absolute values for securing and releasing a cross piece bar. As described in the examples herein and the prophetic example above the forces to maintain the cross piece bar in place and release the cross piece bar may vary. For instance, the forces to maintain and release the cross piece bar may vary depending on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the height of the jump, the weight of the horse and rider, the size of the horse, the speed of the horse at impact, the size and weight of the cross piece bar, and the like. Similarly, the shape of the cradle sockets described and their equivalents may be changed to correspond with desired forces to secure and release the cross piece bar.
Although the present disclosure has been described in reference to preferred embodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading and understanding the above description. It should be noted that embodiments discussed in different portions of the description or referred to in different drawings can be combined to form additional embodiments of the present application. The scope of the disclosure should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 (e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/194,659 filed Sep. 30, 2008, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/204,273, filed Jan. 6, 2009, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/210,948, filed Mar. 25, 2009, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety
Number | Date | Country | |
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61194659 | Sep 2008 | US | |
61204273 | Jan 2009 | US | |
61210948 | Mar 2009 | US |