EP1018484B1 - Stirrup for horse riding - Google Patents

Abstract

The stirrup consists of two side branches (2) and a plate (3) to support the rider's foot which is able to pivot and move up or down more or less vertically between the branches' lower ends. Each branch has at least one and preferably two flat ends (5, 6) with more or less vertical elongated slots to receive one end of the plate (3) or a pivot (8) projecting from it. Between the two flat ends the stirrup has a movement limiter and damper (9) on each side, made from materials with different degrees of elasticity.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of horse riding, in especially accessories for horse riding and more especially that of stirrups.

In horse riding, the rider undergoes, with each stride and each jump of his mount, the movements of his horse. The push exerted by the movement of the horse on the rider is broken down into a vertical component and a horizontal thrust component.

To collect these different components and its result, the rider dampens the horse's movements with his hips and ankles seated gaits and with his knees and ankles when jumping. During the crossing an obstacle during a jump, contact with the rider's pelvis with the saddle removed, the rider's only supports being the stirrups. The result that the stability of the rider and the precision of the jump are directly dependent on the quality of these.

We currently know in this area, two types of stirrups, know fixed stirrups and articulated stirrups.

In the first category, the rigidity of the stirrup allows no shock absorption. At best, the work of the ankle is favored by an inclined stirrup grid.

In the second category of articulated stirrups, we can cite those which have articulated branches sheathed in rubber responsible for a certain spring effect. This makes it easier to work down the rider's ankle and a slight damping effect absorbs minor tremors as well as small part of the magnitude of larger shocks. However, the articulation of this type of stirrup, which is located on the two branches, tends to push mechanically the stirrup grid and therefore the rider's leg in front of a relatively large, which is very unfavorable for its stability as well as for the precision of the jump.

In the stirrups with articulated floors or grids, the ankle works without leg advancement. However, the grid of this type of stirrup always ends up arrive in rigid stop which again makes the stirrup fixed and therefore the mechanism completely inoperative. In addition, in some versions, the grid also switches easily forward and backward, which means that the effect provided by the stirrup is the opposite of the desired stabilization effect.

Finally, there are stirrups whose grid only swivels by one side, the movement of the grid being recalled by a spring mechanism. The pivoting movement of these grids is also limited by a stop of the side to which the grid switches which again decreases the interest. This kind of grid even tends, by the return effect of the spring mechanism, to push the rider's foot in the wrong direction, or to make the grid end up in wrong orientation relative to the sole of the rider's foot when the contact of the grid with the foot is interrupted for a short period during which the spring brings the grid back to the horizontal position. These phenomena have so rather tend to destabilize the rider instead of giving him control and increased security.

In addition, this type of stirrup is up to 75% heavier than a stirrup conventional non-articulated and therefore requires a certain period of adaptation from the rider. Finally, these stirrups are also more expensive than the stirrups classics.

From the above, it follows that none of the known stirrups holds account of the vertical thrust of the rider, nor the work of the knees of the latter.

The present invention aims to overcome at least some of these disadvantages.

For this purpose, it relates to a stirrup for riding formed by two branches connected to the ends of a support support (grid) of the foot of the rider mounted to pivot around an axis connecting the two branches, characterized by that said support support is also mounted with the ability to move vertical or substantially vertical with respect to said legs of the stirrup.

This caliper absorbs the main shocks without ever offering rigid resistance. The stirrup grid slides vertically without advancing. Stirrup of the present invention thus promotes the inclination of the support support (grid) of the good side and keeps the leg in place. The elastic suspension means including is provided with the stirrup of the present invention, absorbs the enormous shocks created by the hitting and landing when jumping.

Other particular embodiments according to the invention are indicated in claims 2-11.

la figure 1 représente une vue de face partielle d'un mode de réalisation d'un étrier conforme à la présente invention ;

la figure 2 représente une vue de côté de l'extérieur de l'étrier de la figure 1 ;

la figure 3 représente une vue de côté partielle de l'intérieur de l'étrier de la figure 1, et

la figure 4 représente une vue de dessus partielle de l'étrier de la figure 1 ;

The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to a preferred embodiment, given by way of nonlimiting example, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 represents a partial front view of an embodiment of a stirrup in accordance with the present invention;

2 shows a side view of the outside of the bracket of Figure 1;

FIG. 3 represents a partial side view of the interior of the stirrup of FIG. 1, and

Figure 4 shows a partial top view of the bracket of Figure 1;

Figures 1 to 4 show, by way of nonlimiting example, a mode preferred embodiment of the stirrup 1 according to the present invention.

As shown in particular in Figure 1, the stirrup 1 for riding is formed by two branches 2 connected to the ends of a support support 3 (grid) of the rider's foot mounted to pivot around an axis 8 connecting the two branches 2, said support support 3 also being mounted with the ability to move vertically or substantially vertical with respect to said branches 2 of the stirrup 1.

The axis 8 can be a material axis, for example, a section rod cylindrical through the support support 3 right through as in the mode of preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1.

In an embodiment not shown, the pivot axis 8 of the support support 3 can also be replaced by a fictitious axis, the support support 3 then being retained on the end plates 5, 6 of the branches 2 of the stirrup 1 by means of lugs cooperating with sites for receiving the lugs arranged, for example, on the side walls of said end plates 5, 6.

Of course, said pins can also be located on the end plates 5, 6, their receiving sites then being directly formed in the support 3. However, it will be noted that the variant comprising the axis 8 material advantageously brings more solidity to the stirrup 1.

As shown in Figure 1, the passage of a hardware axis 8 symmetrical also allows to fix, centrally, a sole 12 non-slip on the support 3, as detailed below.

According to a characteristic of the invention, each branch 2 of the stirrup 1 has, at its end 4, at least one end plate 5, 6 comprising an oblong hole or slot 7 extending substantially vertically by relative to said branches 2 and intended to receive a corresponding end of the support support 3 or one end of an axis 8 passing through and bringing to pivoting said support support 3.

This oblong hole or slot 7 allows vertical displacement or substantially vertical of the axis 8 of the support support 3 relative to the branches 2 of the stirrup 1. In collaboration, with a means of damping and limitation, the movement of said axis 8 is also controlled in its race inside the hole oblong or slot 7, thereby bringing stability and comfort to the rider during the race of his mount and especially at the reception of his jumps.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, each branch 2 has at its end 4 two end plates 5, 6 each comprising an oblong hole or slot 7 extending substantially vertically with respect to said branch 2, said holes being aligned with each other and intended to receive a corresponding end of the support support 3 or a end of an axis 8 passing through and pivotally carrying said support support 3.

The terminal plate (s) 5, 6, the axis 8 itself or the end corresponding support support 3 are provided with fixing means known in ones which make it possible to retain said axis 8 or said corresponding end of the support support 3 in the oblong hole or holes 7 (aligned) of said one or more end plates 5, 6.

According to another characteristic of the present invention, the stirrup 1 is characterized in that between the end plates 5, 6 of each branch 2 is arranged means 9 for limiting and damping the vertical displacement or substantially vertical of the support support 3 relative to said branches 2 of caliper 1.

This means 9 for limiting and damping the vertical displacement or substantially vertical of the support support 3 with respect to said branches 2 of the stirrup 1 can be produced in the form, for example, of a cylindrical receptacle closed at its ends and open on two opposite lateral flanks in which two springs, placed on both sides, that is to say above and below the axis 8 or of the corresponding lug, provide damping and / or limitation of vertical or substantially vertical movement of the support support 3. This receptacle cylindrical can, for example, be welded to a single end plate or, the if necessary, welded between two facing plates 5, 6.

Another embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, shows that to maintain the means 9 on the end plate or in between superimposed end plates, said means 9 for limiting and damping the support support 3 can be fixed on or between the end plates 5, 6 of each branch 2 by screws 11 or the like.

In an alternative embodiment, the elasticity of the limiting means 9 and depreciation can be set or chosen different in the two branches 2. Thus, the support support 3 can be chosen as being more mobile from the side or the elasticity of the means 9 is greater.

In the aforementioned preferred embodiment and as seen very clearly in Figures 1 to 4, the means 9 of limitation and damping vertical or substantially vertical displacement of the support support 3 can be made in the form of an elastic pad 10 made of an elastic material and / or resilient through which the corresponding end of the support support 3 passes, or the end of the axis 8 passing through and pivotally carrying said support support 3.

In order to guarantee an optimal limitation and amortization effect by through the elastic pad 10, it is expected that the dimensions of the hole in the elastic pad 10, through which the corresponding end of the support support 3 or the end of the axis 8 of the support support 3, are substantially the same as those of the corresponding end of the support support 3 or the end of the axis 8 of the support support 3.

In this way, the clearance between the axis 8 and the elastic pad 10 will be minimized and the elastic or resilient material can fully play its role as limiter and / or damper of the movement of the axis 8 or the corresponding end of the support 3 in the oblong hole or the slot 7.

The terminal plate (s) 5, 6 made of a harder material (stainless steel, brass ...) that the material of the means 9 have a geometry which, from a part, allows the vertical displacement of the axis or the end of the support 3 by the dimensions of the oblong hole or slot 7 and, on the other hand, the movement of pivoting of the support support 3 about its axis, via the walls side of the means 9, so as to advantageously avoid any phenomenon of unfavorable stop blocking.

Only under extreme pivoting conditions, or after excessive wear of the means 9 than the lateral edge of the inner plate 6 can meet the pivoting protruding end 3 ′ of the support support 3 (cf. Figure 4, where branch 2 has not been shown for clarity).

Therefore, and except for cases of excessive wear, the phenomenon for locking in abutment of the support support 3 in the stirrup 1 of the present invention is is not removed in cases where such blocking may be necessary to retain an extreme movement of the rider's foot and to allow him to regain control.

The pivoting of the support support 3 is therefore, as a general rule and at with the exception of really extreme cases, not limited by the end plate 6 interior but damped by the means 9 of limitation and damping of the vertical or substantially vertical displacement of the support support 3 relative to to said branches 2 of stirrup 1.

The material used for the elastic pad 10 can be chosen in the group of elastic and / or resilient synthetic plastics, as well as in the group of original elastic and / or resilient materials natural. In particular, the elastic material of the elastic pad 10 can be selected from the wear-resistant cushioning group and is preferably rubber.

As can be seen in particular in FIG. 2, the direction of the branches 2 and the direction of the oblong hole or slot 7 for vertical displacement of the corresponding end of the support 3 or the end of the axis 8 of the support support 3 form an angle between 10 ° and 40 °, preferably equal to about 18 °, the upper end of the slot 7 in the end plate 5 being directed towards the rider when the stirrup 1 is used, that is to say when the branches 2 of the stirrup 1 are vertical.

The presence of this angle brings many advantages additional: first, the angle favors the pivoting of the support 3 on the right side, that is to say so as to lower the rider's heel, and make the almost destabilizing reverse movement; then in the phase descending from the jump and upon receiving it, the angle formed between the back of the jumper in optimal receiving position and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the horse's trunk tilted forward before reception is generally understood between 10 ° and 40 °. As a result, the vertical thrust is offset by the same angle thanks to the stirrup 1 according to the present invention.

Furthermore, Figure 1 also shows that the support support 3 may be provided with an interchangeable insert known per se 12 as regards rubbery with non-slip patterns to ensure better adhesion between the metal support 3 and the rider's boot.

Like parabolic skis or large tennis rackets sieve, the stirrup 1 of the present invention can be used in pedagogy equestrian, in particular to facilitate the learning of beginners by making their more comfortable and safer lessons, and allowing them to make progress faster.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are still possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without however leaving the field of protection of the invention.

Claims (11)

1. Stirrup for horse riding formed by two arms connected to the ends of a supporting rest for the foot of the rider (grid) pivotally mounted around a pin connecting the two arms, characterised in that said supporting rest (3) is also mounted with the possibility of vertical or substantially vertical displacement relative to said arms (2) of the stirrup (1).
2. Stirrup according to claim 1, characterised in that each arm (2) comprises at its end (4) at least one end plate (5, 6) comprising an oblong hole or slot (7) extending substantially vertically with respect to said arms (2) and intended to receive a corresponding end of the supporting rest (3) or one end of a pin (8) traversing and pivotally carrying said supporting rest (3).
3. Stirrup according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that each arm (2) comprises at its end (4) two end plates (5, 6), each comprising an oblong hole or slot (7) extending substantially vertically with respect to said arm (2), said holes being aligned with one another and intended to receive a corresponding end of the supporting rest (3) or one end of a pin (8) traversing and pivotally carrying said supporting rest (3).
4. Stirrup according to claim 3, characterised in that between the end plates (5, 6) of each arm (2) is arranged a means (9) for limiting and cushioning the vertical or substantially vertical displacement of the supporting rest (3) relative to said arms (2) of the stirrup (1).
5. Stirrup according to claim 4, characterised in that the means (9) for limitation and cushioning of the vertical or substantially vertical displacement of the supporting rest (3) is fixed on the end plate or between the end plates (5, 6) of each arm (2) by screws (11) or similar.
6. Stirrup according to either of claims 4 or 5, characterised in that the elasticity of the means (9) for limitation and cushioning is different in the two arms (2).
7. Stirrup according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the means (9) for limitation and cushioning of the vertical or substantially vertical displacement of the supporting rest (3) is produced in the form of an elastic bearing (10) produced from an elastic and/or resilient material, through which the corresponding end of the supporting rest (3) or the end of the pin (8) traversing and pivotally carrying said supporting rest (3) passes.
8. Stirrup according to claim 7, characterised in that the dimensions of the hole in the elastic bearing (10), through which the corresponding end of the supporting rest (3) or the end of the pin (8) of the supporting rest (3) passes, are substantially the same as those of the corresponding end of the supporting rest (3) or the end of the pin (8) of the supporting rest (3).
9. Stirrup according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the elastic material of the elastic bearing (10) is preferably rubber.
10. Stirrup according to any one of claims 4 to 9, characterised in that the pivoting of the supporting rest (3) is not limited by the inner end plate (6) but cushioned by the means (9) for limiting and cushioning the vertical or substantially vertical displacement of the supporting rest (3) relative to said arms (2) of the stirrup (1).
11. Stirrup according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the direction of the arms (2) and the direction of the oblong hole or of the slot (7) for vertical displacement of the corresponding end of the supporting rest (3) or the end of the pin (8) of the supporting rest (3) form an angle of between 10° and 40°, preferably of about 18°, the upper end of the slot (7) in the end plate (5) being directed toward the rider while the stirrup (1) is being used, in other words when the arms (2) of the stirrup (1) are vertical.

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