EP3786107B1

EP3786107B1 - Stirrup for horse riding saddles

Info

Publication number: EP3786107B1
Application number: EP20192866.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gianfilippo POZZA
Original assignee: Wildkart Srl
Current assignee: Wildkart Srl
Priority date: 2019-08-29
Filing date: 2020-08-26
Publication date: 2023-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2040-08-26
Also published as: IT201900015186A1; EP3786107A1

Description

The invention relates to a stirrup for horse-riding saddles.
Nowadays, in the context of horse-riding activities, there is increasing awareness of the need for the rapid release of the foot of a person who is riding a horse in the event of being unsaddled and falling from the horse in general.
Since closed arch stirrups are not able to ensure the rapid release of the foot thereof, stirrups for horse-riding saddles were developed in the prior art, comprising:

a support element, generally a plate, where the user's foot rests,
and an open arch extending from the opposite ends of said support element.

This open arch usually comprises:

a first load-bearing half-arch, extending from a first lateral portion of the support element comprising an attachment portion configured for engaging the stirrup strap, or belt,
and a second containment half-arch, extending from a second lateral portion of the support element, opposite to the first lateral portion, the second half-arch comprising a lower part configured to be secured to the support element, and an upper part extending from said lower part up to near the attachment portion.

The second half-arch is configured to be elastically deformable in a specific direction, so as to deform reversibly in the event that the rider falls, thus enabling the rapid release of the foot inserted in the stirrup in order to prevent the rider from being injured.
A similar stirrup is described in the European Patent EP 2438003 B1 , and in EP 2030946 A1 .
This type of horse-riding stirrup, although widespread and appreciated, has some drawbacks.
A first drawback is related to the fact that this second half-arch, as described for example in the aforementioned patent, is able to deform elastically thanks to a series of incisions and grooves in its central part, configured in such a way as to favor the bending of the second half-arch in question in a single direction with respect to an antero-posterior direction corresponding to the normal use of the stirrup, while in the opposite direction the bending is substantially prevented.
The same incisions and grooves can also enable the bending of the second half-arch towards the outside, on a plane substantially orthogonal to the antero-posterior direction.
This type of flexible half-arch is therefore very limited in its functionality as a safety system, since it is able to ensure suitable bending in only two directions, whereas, in contrast, the foot of a rider falling from a horse may need to be released from the stirrup by moving in one or more directions other than those provided for by the known stirrup described above.
A second drawback is related to the fact that a similar second half-arch as described above can be made, in plastic material, by using a complex and therefore expensive mold.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a stirrup for horse-riding saddles capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks and limitations of the prior art.
In particular, one object of the invention is to provide a stirrup for horse-riding saddles capable of ensuring the release of the foot resting thereon in any direction.
Another object of the invention is to provide a stirrup the construction of which requires simpler equipment than stirrups of the prior art.
A further object of the invention is to provide a stirrup that is simple to assemble.
The intended purpose and the aforementioned objects are achieved by a stirrup for horse-riding saddles according to claim 1.
Further characteristics of the stirrup according to claim 1 are described in the dependent claims.
The intended purpose and the aforementioned objects, together with the advantages that will be explained below, are highlighted in the description of an embodiment of the invention, which is provided, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a first perspective view of a stirrup according to the invention;
Figure 2 shows a second perspective view of a stirrup according to the invention;
Figure 3 shows a first perspective view of a detail of the stirrup according to the invention;

Figure 4 shows a second perspective view of a stirrup according to the invention;
Figure 5 shows a first exploded perspective view of the stirrup according to the invention;
Figure 6 shows a second exploded perspective view of the stirrup according to the invention;
Figure 7 shows a rear view of the stirrup according to the invention;
Figures 7a, 7b and 7c each show a cross section of a component of the stirrup according to the invention;
Figure 8 shows a rear section view of the stirrup according to the invention;
Figure 9 shows a perspective section of the stirrup according to the invention;
Figure 10 shows an exploded perspective view of a variant embodiment of a stirrup according to the invention;
Figure 11 shows a sectional view of the plan view of the variant embodiment of the stirrup according to the invention as shown in Figure 10;
Figure 12 shows a cross-sectional view along the section line XII-XII of Figure 11;
Figure 13 shows a cross-sectional view along the section line XIII-XIII of Figure 11.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, a stirrup for horse-riding saddles according to the invention is indicated as a whole with the number 10.
This stirrup 10 for horse-riding saddles comprises:

a support element 11 to support a user's foot,
and an open arch 12 extending from the opposite ends of the support element 11.

The term `open arch' is understood to mean an arch interrupted in one point, that is, having an area of discontinuity between two of its generic portions hereinafter referred to as 'half-arches'.
The open arch 12 in turn comprises:

a first load-bearing half-arch 13, extending from a first lateral portion 14 of the support element 11 comprising an attachment portion 15 configured for engaging a strap, the latter of which is not shown for simplicity,
and a second containment half-arch 16, extending from a second lateral portion 17 of the support element 11, on the opposite side of said first lateral portion 14; the second half-arch 16 comprises a lower part 18 configured to be secured to the support element 11, and an upper part 19 extending from the lower part 18 up to near the attachment portion 15.

In the embodiment described herein, which clearly does not limit the invention, the support element 11 comprises a shaped plate; the support element 11, alternatively, may be made of a bar or another body which together with the open arch 12 forms an annular assembly in which a user's foot can be inserted.
The distinctive feature of the stirrup 10 according to the invention lies in the fact that the second half-arch 16 comprises a single body made of elastically deformable plastic material 20 defining the lower part 18 and the upper part 19.
The upper part 19 extends along a development curved line X indicated and visible in Figure 7.
The second half-arch 16 consists of a single body made up of elastically deformable plastic material 20 defining the lower part 18 and the upper part 19.
The upper part 19 extends from its lower end 19a which comprises part of the single body 20, the lower end 19a of which is located substantially in correspondence with the upper surface 11a of the support element 11, along the curved line X, up to its upper end 19b located in proximity to, or in contact with, a facing end 15a of the attachment portion 15.
Between the upper end 19b and the facing end 15a of the attachment portion 15, for example, there is gap ranging from 1 millimeter to 20 millimeters.
In a variant embodiment, not shown for the sake of simplicity, the upper end 19b is in contact with the attachment portion 15.
According to the invention, this upper part 19 has a cross section at any of its points, orthogonal to the development curved line X, having a circular or oval profile.
According to the invention, in the direction which runs from the lower end 19a to the upper end 19b, the cross-sectional area of the upper part 19 decreases.
In particular, as is clear from the figures, the cross-sectional area of the upper part 19 decreases without interruption; in fact the upper part 19 has no grooves, notches, recesses, or areas from which part of the material has been removed which cause a decrease of the cross section and a subsequent enlargement of the same, that is which cause a discontinuity in the decrease of the cross section which is intended as going along the upper part 19 along the development curved line X from the lower end 19a towards the upper end 19b.
Figures 7a, 7b and 7c respectively show sections VII(A), VII(B) and VII(C) of Figure 7, having profiles 7a, 7b and 7c respectively.
These figures show how the cross section at each point of a plane orthogonal to the development curved line X has a circular profile.
As noted above, these cross sections can alternatively have an oval profile or, not according to the claimed invention, other similar and equivalent curved profile.
The profile 7a is of a transverse section located in proximity to the upper end 19b.
The profile 7b is of a cross section located in a central area of the upper part 19.
The profile 7c is a cross section located in proximity to the lower end 19a.
The radius of the circular profile 7a is therefore smaller than the radius of the circular profile 7b which in turn is smaller than the radius of the circular profile 7c.
The upper part 19 of the second half-arch 16 therefore has a frusto-conical portion which extends along a development curved line X, rather than along a straight line orthogonal to the base.
This distinctive feature of the upper part 19 of the second half-arch 16 of having a circular cross-section at any of its points enables the upper part 19 to flex elastically in all radial directions with respect to the development curved line X, not only in an antero-posterior direction or in a direction orthogonal to this antero-posterior direction, as in the aforementioned stirrups of the prior art. The lower part 18 of the second half-arch 16 forms a single body with the upper part 19.
The lower part 18 extends below the support element 11.
In particular, in the present non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the support element 11 has a fastening seat 22.
The lower part 18 of the second half-arch 16 is configured to rest in this fastening seat 22.
By way of a non-exclusive example, this fastening seat 22 is made up of a groove open downwards according to a normal use of the stirrup 10.
The lower part 18 has an upper surface 18a shaped to rest against a facing surface 22a of the fastening seat 22.
The lower part 18 and the upper part 19 are joined by a connecting portion 20a.
The lower part 18 is constrained to the support element 11 by means of an insert 23 positioned partly in a corresponding first hole 24 on the lower part 18 and partly in a corresponding coaxial second hole 24a defined on the support element 11.
The union of the upper surface 18a of the lower part 18 which faces the surface 22a of the fastening seat 22 prevents the rotation of the second half-arch 16 around the main symmetry axis of the insert 23.
Said insert 23 is, for example, a threaded element, but it may also be a through insert having other similar or equivalent shapes.
The single body 20 of the second half-arch 16 is preferably made of elastomeric material.
This single body 20 is made for example of polyurethane.
This elastomeric material preferably has a hardness in the range of 80 to 100 Shore.
This elastomeric material also preferably has a hardness of 95 Shore.
The peculiar shape of the upper part 19 of the second half-arch 16, curved and with a circular section which decreases from the bottom upwards results in an upper part 19 which is more rigid towards the lower end 19a, where the upper part 19 provides a containment function to prevent the foot of a user from sliding off the support element 11 laterally, and less rigid as it goes towards the upper end 19b where, on the other hand, less rigidity is required in the event that the user falls.
The first half-arch 13 also has a lower part 25 configured to be constrained to the support element 11.
In the present embodiment, as is clearly visible from the figures, the lower part 25 is made up of a portion with a mainly longitudinal development defining a substantially 'C' shaped body with the first half-arch 13.
In particular, the lower part 25 is configured to rest in the groove open downwards, that is, in the fastening seat 22.
The lower part 18 of the second half-arch 16 is also inserted in the fastening seat 22.
Since the lower part 18 forms the single body 20 with the upper part 19, and since this single body 20 is only connected to the support element 11 through the insert 23, the upper part 19 is free to also bend elastically in the connecting portion 20a between the lower part 18 and the upper part 19; in fact, the connecting portion 20a is free from rigid constraints and can bend elastically when stressed by a foot of a user.
Similarly to the lower part 18 of the second half-arch 16, the lower part 25 of the first half-arch 13 is also fastened to the support element 11 with one or more through inserts, for example a through insert 27.
A variant embodiment of the stirrup according to the invention is shown in Figures 10 to 13 and indicated therein by the number 110.
Also in this variant embodiment, the stirrup 110 comprises:

a support element 111,
a first half-arch 113, comprising an attachment portion configured for fastening a stirrup strap,
and a second containment half-arch 116, comprising a lower part 118 configured to be constrained to the support element 111, and an upper part 119 extending from the lower part 118 up to near the attachment portion.

The first half-arch 113 also has a lower part 125 configured to rest in the fastening seat 122 of the support element 111.
Also in this variant embodiment, the lower part 125 consists of a portion with a mainly longitudinal development that together with the first half-arch 113 results in a substantially 'C' shaped body.
The lower part 125 of the first half-arch 113 is fastened to the support element 111 with one or more through inserts, for example a through insert 127.
In this variant embodiment, the lower part 125 has lateral fixing reliefs 125a and 125b respectively.
These lateral fixing reliefs 125a and 125b, clearly visible in Figures 10 and 11, are composed of, in the present embodiment, corresponding lateral ribs, each extending on a corresponding side of the lower part 125.
These lateral fixing reliefs 125a and 125b give the lower part 125 a 'T' shaped cross section, as can be seen in the cross section view of Figure 11.
The fastening seat 122 has longitudinal grooves 122a and 122b both shaped to house a corresponding lateral fixing relief 125a and 125b.
The fastening seat 122 therefore has two opposing anti-extraction shoulders 122c and 122d which are in contact with a corresponding lateral fixing relief 125a and 125b.
The first half-arch 113 comprises a portion extending upwards 113a, the attachment portion as described above and visible in Figures 1 to 8, and a joint area 113b located between the portion extending upwards 113a and the attachment portion.
In particular, and preferably, the lateral fixing reliefs 125a and 125b extend from the joint area 113b to near the opposite end of the lower part 125, and at least for half the length of the lower part 125; in this way the coupling of the lower part 125 with the fastening seat 122, thanks to the cooperation between the lateral fixing reliefs 125a and 125b with the corresponding anti-extraction shoulders 122c and 122d of the support element 111, causes the stirrup 110 to have greater resistance to torsional stresses that the lower part 125 receives from the support element 111, which is in turn stressed by the user's foot.
In particular, torsional loads on the lower part 125, thanks to the lateral fixing reliefs 125a and 125b, are transmitted to the joint area 113a, which is more robust and resistant.
Advantageously, the lower part 118 of the second half-arch 116 also has two opposite lateral fixing reliefs 118a and 118b, as can be seen in the cross section view in Figure 12.
The fastening seat 122 also comprises two longitudinal grooves 122e and 122f both shaped to house a corresponding lateral fixing relief 118a and 118b.
The fastening seat 122 therefore has two opposing shoulders 122c and 122d which are in contact with a corresponding lateral fixing relief 118a and 118b.
In the present embodiment, the fastening seat 122 has a first transverse width A in correspondence with the longitudinal grooves 122a and 122b for the lateral fixing reliefs 125a and 125b of the lower part 125, and a second transverse width B in correspondence with the longitudinal grooves 122e and 122f for the lateral fixing reliefs 118a and 118b of the lower part 118 of the second half-arch 116; the first transverse width A has a different size than the second transverse width B; in particular, the second transverse width B is greater than the first transverse width A.
It is clear that the invention achieves the intended purpose and objects.
In particular, the invention achieves a stirrup for horse-riding saddles capable of ensuring the release of a foot resting thereon in any direction, thanks to the special shape of the upper part 19 of the second semi-arch 16.
Furthermore, the invention achieves a stirrup, the manufacturing of which requires simpler equipment than that of the stirrups of the known art, since the upper part 19 intended to flex in all directions does not have grooves, recesses or holes that require a complex mold with undercuts and sliders.
In addition, the stirrup of the invention is easy to assemble.
The invention thus conceived can be subjected to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims; moreover, all components can be replaced by others which are technically equivalent.
In practical terms, the elements and materials used could be of any type, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, according to the requirements and the state of the art. Where the characteristics and methods mentioned in any claim are indicated by reference signs, these reference signs are to be understood merely for the purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and consequently such reference signs have no limiting effect on the interpretation of any of the elements identified by such reference signs by way of example.

Claims

Stirrup (10, 110) for horse-riding saddles, comprising:
- a support element (11, 111), to support a user's foot,

- and an open arch (12) extending from the opposite ends of said support element,

said open arch (12) in turn comprising:
- a first load-bearing half-arch (13, 113) extending from a first lateral portion (14) of said support element (11, 111) and comprising an attachment portion (15) configured for fastening a stirrup strap,

- and a second containment half-arch (16, 116), extending from a second lateral portion (17) of said support element (11, 111), opposite to said first lateral portion (14), said second half-arch (16, 116) comprising a lower part (18, 118) configured to be constrained to said support element (11, 111), and an upper part (19, 119) extending from said lower part (18, 118) up to the proximity of said attachment portion (15),

said second half-arch (16, 116) comprising a single body of elastically deformable plastic material (20) defining said lower part (18, 118) and said upper part (19, 119),

said upper part (19, 119) extending along a development curved line (X),

said upper part (19, 119) extending from its lower end (19a), being a part of the single body (20), the lower end (19a) of which is located substantially in correspondence with an upper surface (11a) of said support element (11, 111), along said curved line (X), up to an upper end (19b) thereof positioned in proximity to, or in contact with, a facing end (15a) of said attachment portion (15),

the cross-sectional area of said upper part (19, 119) decreasing in the direction which runs from said lower end (19a) to said upper end (19b),

characterized in that said upper part (19, 119) has a transversal section at any of its points, orthogonal to said development curved line (X), having a circular or oval profile.
Stirrup according to claim 1, characterized in that said upper part (19, 119) of the second half-arch (16, 116) has a frusto-conical portion which extends along a development curved line (X).
Stirrup according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cross-sectional area of the upper part (19, 119) decreases without interruption, said upper part (19, 119) having no grooves, notches, recesses or areas from which part of the material has been removed.
Stirrup according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lower part (18, 118) extends below said support element (11, 111), said support element (11, 111) having a fastening seat (22, 122), said lower part (18, 118) of the second half-arch (16, 116) being configured to rest in said fastening seat (22, 122).
Stirrup according to claim 4, characterized in that also said first half-arch (13, 113) has a lower part (25, 125) configured to be constrained to said support element (11, 111), said lower part (25, 125) being configured to rest in said fastening seat (22, 122).
Stirrup according to claim 5,
characterized in that said lower part (125) of the first half-arch (113) has lateral fixing reliefs (125a, 125b), said fastening seat (122) having longitudinal grooves (122a, 122b) shaped to each receive a corresponding lateral fixing relief (125a, 125b).
Stirrup according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said single body (20) of the second half-arch (16) is preferably made of elastomeric material.
Stirrup according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said single body (20) is made of polyurethane.