The present invention relates to a horse drawn carriage and to a harness arrangement for drawing a horse-drawn carriage.
Horse-drawn carriages have been used throughout the ages. The carriage, which is often called a sulky, buggy or trap, is typically a simple structure with two wheels, a seat or platform for the rider, and a hitch to connect the carriage to a horse. The hitch can comprise two parallel shafts which extend forwardly from each side of the carriage, each shaft lying alongside a respective side of the horse. The shafts are connected to a harness mounted about the horse. An alternative hitch comprises a single shaft which is mounted over the horse's back and which connects to the neck of the horse, or to a harness mounted over the horse's back. A hitch of this kind is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,041 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,410,863 and permits a greater degree of movement between the horse and carriage compared to the two-shaft hitch.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,041 the carriage has a wheeled chassis, with suspension springs acting between the chassis and the wheels. A seat for the rider is mounted to rear risers on the chassis. A separate suspension acts between the boom and the chassis. The suspension springs provide dampening as the carriage rides over an undulating surface and the suspension between the boom and chassis serves to isolate the rider from movement of the horse. One disadvantage of this arrangement is that the suspension springs provide only a limited degree of isolation between the rider and an undulating surface. A further disadvantage of this arrangement is that the position of a pivot and suspension between the boom and the chassis can cause the rider to be rocked forward and aft.
The present invention seeks to provide an improved ride to a rider of a horse-drawn carriage.
A first aspect of the present invention provides a horse-drawn carriage comprising:
a wheeled chassis;
a boom for drawing the carriage, the boom having a seat for a rider; and,
a linkage mechanism which connects the boom to the chassis, the linkage mechanism being arranged to permit movement between the chassis and the boom and including a shock absorber which acts between the chassis and the boom.
A carriage of this kind has an advantage of providing a higher degree of isolation between a rider and an undulating surface over which the carriage travels. Mounting a seat for the rider on the boom itself has been found to offer a better transfer of feedback from the horse, whether the horse is loping, cantering or galloping and can deliver a sensation akin to that of riding a horse. Mounting the seat in this way also gives a rider a greater sense of security as they can grip the boom with their legs and thighs, shifting their weight around as necessary to counter the forces experienced during the ride, while leaving the rider's hands free to control the reins. Preferably the linkage mechanism permits movement in a plane perpendicular to a base of the chassis.
Preferably the linkage mechanism comprises a first supporting arm which is mounted to the boom at a first end and a second supporting arm which is mounted to the chassis at a first end with the first and second supporting arms being pivotably connected to one another at their second ends. This type of mechanism has been found to offer a particularly high degree of isolation.
Preferably the linkage mechanism permits rotational movement of the chassis with respect to the boom. This can allow the chassis to rotate about the axis of the boom as the chassis passes over a surface which causes one wheel to rise higher than the other. A seated rider can remain upright under these conditions and the horse experiences reduced stress. Similarly, if a horse were to fall, the boom is free to rotate with respect to the chassis so that the chassis can remain upright. This rotational movement can be achieved by providing the linkage mechanism with a sleeve which surrounds a portion of the boom, and which permits relative rotation between the sleeve and boom. Although the sleeve should permit relative rotation, it is desirable that the sleeve should not slide along the boom. This can be achieved by forming a portion of the boom with a narrowed cross-section and an hour-glass profile. The sleeve can act around the narrowed cross-section and is prevented from moving along the boom by the shoulders of the boom on each side. Alternatively, retaining collars mounted around the boom, or equivalent mechanisms, can be provided to prevent the sleeve from slipping along the boom.
Preferably, the boom is connected to a harness arrangement which comprises: a harness for mounting to a horse; a hitch for coupling to the boom, the hitch being mounted to the harness such that the hitch can move in a direction substantially aligned with, or parallel to, the horse's back; and tensioning means for restricting movement of the hitch. The harness arrangement can reduce jolting to both the horse and the rider, resulting in a smoother drive.
The carriage can be used for a wide range of activities, such as a training aid for long reining horses, in dressage driving or for general transport of a passenger. With minor modification to provide a load-bearing floor or goods housing, the carriage can be used to carry goods.
A further aspect of the present invention provides a harness arrangement for pulling a load comprising:
a harness for mounting to a horse;
a hitch for coupling to a boom for drawing the load, the hitch being mounted to the harness such that the hitch can move in a direction substantially aligned with, or parallel to, the horse's back; and
tensioning means for restricting movement of the hitch.
This type of harness arrangement has been found to reduce jolting to both the horse and the rider, resulting in a smoother drive.
The movement of the hitch can be achieved by slideably mounting the hitch within a box which is connected to the harness, the box containing movement of the hitch to a direction which is substantially aligned with, or parallel to, the horse's back.
Preferably, a part of the hitch which fits within the box and/or an inner surface of the box have a low friction coating to ease movement of the hitch.
The tensioning means can take the form of a spring mounted within the box and positioned between the hitch and an end of the box. Preferably, the tensioning means comprises a first spring connected between the hitch and a first end of the box and a second spring connected between the hitch and a second end of the box such that the springs, in a steady state, bias the hitch into a position centrally within the box. Alternatively, where no box is present, the tensioning means can act between the hitch and another point on the harness.
The load preferably comprises a wheeled carriage but can take other forms. Preferably there is a single mounting hitch, which is positioned on the harness such that it rests, in use, above the central line of the horse's back. This allows a load to have a greater freedom of movement. Alternatively, several of the mounting hitches can be distributed about the horse's back, such as one mounting hitch on each side of the horse's back.
The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
A harness arrangement 10 attaches to horse 5. The harness includes a saddle 21 which sits on the back of the horse. An upper face of the saddle 21 supports a ball hitch 12 having a spherical shape. The ball hitch 12 is mounted within a slide box 11. A coupling 18 is connected to one end of a boom 40 for drawing carriage 50. Coupling 18 has a generally hemispherical socket (not shown) for receiving the ball hitch 12. The coupling 18 locks to the ball hitch 12 and allows the boom 40 to freely rotate about the ball hitch 12 in a plane parallel with the ground surface (to accommodate movements as the horse turns) and a limited degree of movement about the ball hitch in a plane perpendicular to the ground surface (to accommodate movements as the horse rises and falls). However, the coupling 18 is prevented from lifting (separating) from the ball hitch 12. A locking lever 9 is provided to disconnect the coupling 18 from the hitch 12. Typically, the locking of coupling 18 about ball hitch 12 is achieved by providing coupling 18 with a member which protrudes beneath the ball and which serves to prevent coupling 18 from lifting. Operating lever 9 releases this member and allows the coupling 18 to be lifted clear of the ball hitch 12. A safety chain 17 connects between coupling 18 and slide box 11 and serves to provide a linkage between these parts in the event that the coupling 18 becomes detached from ball hitch 12.
Various straps secure saddle 21 to the horse 5. These include straps which attach forwardly of the saddle, around the forward part of the horse, and a breeching 19 which passes around the haunches of the horse 5. Reins are attached to the head of the horse and pass through a ring 22 on the saddle 21.
A first embodiment of the slide box 11 is shown in more detail in
At rest, hitch 12, 32 normally adopts a position which is generally central within slide box 11, as shown in
The slide box 11 as previously described is housed within the central part 23 or is formed integrally with the central part 23. Preferably, side panels 23, 25 of the skeleton are formed of carbon fibre. A saddle pad, which is preferably formed of leather, fits over the skeleton shown in
Returning to
The carriage 50 is connected to the horse by a boom 40, shown in
Boom 40 connects to the carriage 50 about a portion 43 of boom 40. Portion 43 of the boom has a narrowed cross-section and has a generally hour-glass profile when viewed from the side. The shoulders of the hour-glass portion 43 have been found to prevent the boom from slipping with respect to the mounting sleeve under severe traction. It is preferred to form the boom 40 from carbon fibre because it is lightweight, very strong and flexible. This adds suppleness to the drive. One example embodiment of the boom has a tubular cross-section of an oval shape, with a 180 mm width and 140 mm depth and walls of 10 mm thickness. The coupling 18 is preferably made of steel (hardened). The overall shape of the boom is designed with comfort in mind for both horse and rider. The continuous smooth curve from carriage to horse's back, together with the elongated oval cross-section increase safety. In the event of a crash, where the rider is thrown forward from the carriage, the lack of sharp corners or edges should minimise injury. The shape of the boom provides leverage which helps to lessen weight of the carriage from the horse's back. The use of a single boom 40 allows a greater freedom of movement compared to traditional two-shaft hitches, allowing turns at sharper angles (e.g. 45 degrees), walking, trotting, cantering, and galloping with greater ease and comfort for both horse and rider. A removable end cap 88 in the end of the boom nearest the saddle 45 permits access to a storage cavity within the boom. This cavity can have a depth of, for example, 60 cm or so. The cavity can be filled with weights, if it is desired to work the horse harder, or it can be used to store tools or other objects.
The carriage 50 will now be described with respect to
The monoframe is secured to a chassis 58 as shown in
A cradle frame 62, shown in
In the embodiment shown in
It will be appreciated that the shape of the boom of the present invention aids in balancing both the rider and the carriage so that the boom can pivot on the harness arrangement while the weight of a rider on the carriage keeps the boom upright and balanced to provide comfort to both the horse and the rider.
The words “comprises/comprising” and the words “having/including” when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described but may be varied in both construction and detail.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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S2005 0454 | Jul 2005 | IE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/IE2006/000071 | 7/6/2006 | WO | 00 | 4/23/2009 |