Harness for working animal – Stirrups – Elastic
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-07
2001-04-24
Swiatek, Robert P. (Department: 3643)
Harness for working animal
Stirrups
Elastic
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220004
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a swiveled stirrup with a flexible and shock-absorbed footrest.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A stirrup consists of a pair of curved arms which serve as a carrier for an eye and a foot. Each arm is joined to the other at one end while the opposite ends of the arms are spaced from one another to form a U-type structure. The eye is located at the joint and the foot is disposed between the spaced ends of the arms.
The stirrup is secured to a horse by passing a strap through the eye which then serves as a holding member for the strap. In a prior-art stirrup, the arms and the foot can rotate incrementally relative to the eye between a position in which the eye is coplanar with the arms and positions in which the eye is transverse to the arms. This allows the eye to be oriented optimally such that the strap rests flat against the belly of the horse and under the leg of a rider. At the same time, the arms and the foot of the sturrup can be properly positioned to receive the boot of the rider. In some prior-art embodiments, the foot of the stirrup can also rotate relative to the arms on an axis extending between the spaced ends of the arms. The foot is rotatable forwards and backwards from a central position in which a plane defined by the arms is perpendicular to the tread of the foot. The primary reason for rotation of the foot is safety. Thus, should the rider fall off the horse backwards, the foot of the stirrup can rotate backwards to allow the boot of the rider to be released more easily from the stirrup.
The stirrup described above has a drawback related to the eye. The eye has several discrete positions relative to the arms and the foot. Once the eye is moved into one of these positions to achieve an optimal initial configuration for a rider, the eye is locked to the arms and the foot by a locking mechanism. Accordingly, the eye rotates when the foot of the rider turns or twists sideways in the stirrup. As the eye rotates, the strap passing through the eye twists so that the edges of the strap are turned towards and rub against the horse and the leg of the rider. This is uncomfortable for both the horse and the rider.
Another drawback of the preceding stirrup stems from the fact that the foot of the stirrup can rotate forwards as well as backwards from the central position. During normal use, the boot of the rider tends to push forwards with a resultant forward rotation of the foot of the stirrup. This causes the rider to experience a certain degree of instability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to reduce discomfort from a stirrup.
Another object of the invention is to improve the stability of a stirrup.
The preceding objects, as well as others which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by the invention. One aspect of the invention resides in a stirrup that comprises a carrier, a footrest on the carrier, and a holding member on the carrier for holding a strap. In one embodiment of the stirrup, the carrier and the footrest are freely rotatable relative to the holding member at least through an angle equalling or approximating 90 degrees. With this embodiment, the holding member can be positioned so that a strap held by the same lies flat against an animal to be ridden and flat against the leg of a rider. Inasmuch as during use the carrier and the footrest are free to rotate relative to the holding member at least through an angle of the order of 90 degrees, the carrier and the footrest can simultaneously be oriented to properly receive the boot of the rider. Moreover, the ability of the carrier and the footrest to freely rotate relative to the holding member allows the holding member to maintain its position in the event that the boot of the rider turns or twists sideways in the stirrup. This enables the strap to remain flat against the horse and the rider's leg.
In another embodiment of the stirrup, the carrier defines a plane and the footrest is provided with a support surface for a foot or boot. The footrest is rotatable relative to the carrier and has a preselected position in which the support surface is perpendicular to the plane. The stirrup here comprises means for restricting rotation of the footrest out of the preselected position to a single direction only.
This embodiment of the stirrup can be secured to an animal to be ridden such that the footrest can only rotate backwards from the position of perpendicularity of the carrier plane and footrest support surface. Since the footrest is unable to rotate forwards relative to the carrier, this embodiment of the stirrup enables the foot of a rider to be supported relatively stably.
Still another embodiment of the stirrup of the invention includes a cylinder/plunger assembly at each end of the footrest for allowing its travel between a retracted position and an extended position. A spring acting on the plunger in each cylinder urges the footrest toward the retracted position, such as to provide shock absorption for downward pressure exerted by the foot of a rider.
An additional aspect of the invention resides in a method of manipulating a stirrup which includes a carrier, a footrest on the carrier, and a holding member on the carrier for holding a strap. One embodiment of the method comprises the steps of engaging the holding member with a strap, and freely rotating the carrier and the footrest relative to the holding member at least through an angle equalling or approximating 90 degrees. The engaging and rotating steps are performable in either order.
It was mentioned earlier that the holding member may have a holding portion which is at least approximately coplanar with the carrier in a predetermined position of the carrier and the footrest. In such an event, the instant embodiment of the method can further comprise the step of restricting rotation of the carrier and the footrest out of the predetermined position to a single direction only. This embodiment of the method may also comprise the step of restricting rotation of the carrier and the footrest in such direction to an angle equalling or approximating 90 degrees.
As outlined previously, the footrest may be rotatable relative to the carrier. Furthermore, the carrier may define a plane and the footrest may be provided with a support surface which is intended to support a foot and is at least approximately perpendicular to the carrier plane in a preselected position of the footrest. Under such circumstances, another embodiment of the method provides for restricting rotation of the footrest out of the preselected position to a single direction only. The latter embodiment of the method can further comprise urging the footrest towards the preselected position. The features of the different embodiments of the stirrup can be combined as can the features of the different embodiments of the method.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be forthcoming from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 365238 (1887-06-01), Cardell
patent: 475127 (1892-05-01), De Lotbiniere
patent: 608605 (1898-08-01), House
patent: 726534 (1903-04-01), Hollicott
patent: 5598687 (1997-02-01), Hester
patent: 5979149 (1999-11-01), Martin
Durando Antonio R.
Eastwest International (Taiwan) Enterprises
Swiatek Robert P.
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