GB2268411A - Practice jump for horses. - Google Patents

Abstract

The base assembly of a support post 10 for horse jump fences comprises two cross members 11, 12 slotted together such that they can part to allow the post to move under impact. The material used may be recycled polymer. <IMAGE>

Description

POLYJUMP SAFE PRACTICE JUMP.

This invention relates to a safe horse jump support assembly, made of a new and special density, mixed 100% recycled polymer material.

Horse jumps comprise two vertical side parts (often referred to as wings) supported by cross members at the base, with horizontal cross bars between them, supported by adjustable brackets at each end, which are located on the vertical posts. In practise, there is the possibility of either-horse or rider being injured by falling onto the vertical posts, particularly if the conventional rigid posts (made of wood) become split, cracked, splintered, or dangerously fractured before or during impact.

The present invention is made in the new special density mixed 100% recycled polymer material. The special merit of this material, is that the created formulation, as provided for this invention, is an extremely tough, durable and safe product. The special material formulation, is designed to be much more flexible than the conventional materials used, especially when an accidental horse and rider impact with the product occurs. The special material formulation has been additionally designed to be highly chip, split, fracture and splinter resistant and to specifically enhance safety in use. The special material used in the construction of the Polyjump Safe Practise Jumps, is therefore principally different to any hitherto used materials in the construction of practice jumps. This is especially the case in the areas which greatly affect the safety of the product in use.Additionally, the new safe practise jump material suffers no timber type imperfections such as knots, grain faults, shrinkage cracks and splits or deterioration by rotting or fungal attack, which can render conventional practice jumps dangerous to use.

However, the principle invention feature, is in the way the cross members are made and are bolted to the base of the vertical posts. This enables, upon impact by a horse or rider, the post to collapse and in addition to the safety offered by the flexible material used, this feature actively guards against possible injury to horse or rider.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:- Figure 1: Shows in perspective, one of the Polyjumps posts fixed in its normal operational upright position and supported by its cross members at the base.

Figure 2: Shows in perspective, the Polyjump post in a partial safety collapse position and shows how the cross member at the base is beginning to lift out of the socket in the other cross member.

Figure 3: Shows in perspective, the Polyjump post in a greater safety collapse position, with the cross member at the base almost completely out of the socket in the other cross member.

Figure 4: Shows in perspective, the Polyjump post in a total safety collapse position, with the cross member at the base completely out of the socket in the other cross member.

Additionally, although the diagrams Fig. 1 to Fig. 4 show the forward mode safety collapse situation, the vertical post will also safety collapse in a similar way, in any of the positions that dotted line diagrams of 10, on the drawing show. Safety collapse is also achievable any position between the dotted line diagrams and posts 10, as indicated by the arrows. The Quadrant of achievable safety collapse is designed to coincide with the approach angles of the horse and rider in use.

Figure 5: illustrate the Polyjump post and cross members folded up for easy carriage, handling, packing and storage.

Referring to the drawing, the horse jump support assembly comprises a vertical support post 10 which contains a number of holes to allow the horse jump cross bar support bracket to be located at varying heights.

The vertical support post 10 is supported in a vertical position by two cross members 11 and 12 at its base, which are torque bolted to the vertical support post 10 to give a friction interface between post and members. The cross members also have cut-outs in them which locate with each other.

A small warning plate 13 is fixed to cross member 11 to indicate that this face of the cross member is the safe approach direction for horses and riders.

Fig. 1: Shows the vertical post 10 in its assembled and vertical position, with the warning plate 13 in view indicating the safe approach direction for horse and rider.

Fig. 2: Shows the vertical post 10 which has been partially collapsed by either horse or rider with cross member 11 just starting to lift out of the socket in cross member 12. A particular feature here, of the mechanism is that a restrained collapse is achieved by the friction interface between post 10 and cross member 12. This friction coupling is made successful by the holding together ( through assembled pressure) of the special polymer surface facings at the points of contact. The pressure required to induce the correct amount of restraint is achieved by a user adjustable locking torque bolt and nut arrangement.

Fig. 3: Shows a greater safety collapse of the vertical post 10 with cross member 11 lifting further out of the socket in cross member 12. It is to be noted here that the movement of cross member 11 out of the socket in cross member 12 involves a flexing of the Polymer material of which the post and cross members are made and indeed, this movement would not be possible in any conventional material (for example wood) and the invention would not work.

Fig. 4: Shows the full safety collapse of the vertical post 10 together with the complete movement of cross member 11 out of the socket in cross member 12.

Fig. 4: Also shows in dotted lines other possible modes of collapse of the vertical post 10 anywhere in the Quadrant arrowed Fig. 5: Shows how the Polyjump post and cross members may be folded up for ease of storage, handling, packing and carriage.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS.

1. The Polyjump safe horse jump assembly is made of a new mixed polymer material, made specially for this product. Merits are that it is tough, durable and is flexible, thus aiding safety in use. The new material also meets the exact working requirements of the safety mechanism of the assembly. It also resists cracking, splitting, chipping, splintering and weathering, which are common faults experienced in conventional material products and increase the risk of injury to horses and riders.

The new material enables the mechanism of safety collapse to occur and a user adjustable torque bolt setting is used for restraint preference. It is therefore the combination of both mechanical and material specifications that enable the product to work properly. A restrained safety collapse occurs due to the friction interface between the cross members and the vertical post.

2. The safe horse jump assembly as claimed in Claim 1 has the additional feature of being able to safety collapse anywhere within the Quadrant delineated on the drawings, when viewed from the direction of oncoming horse and rider.

3. The safe horse jump assembly as claimed in claim 1 or Claim 2 has a warning plate attached to a particular cross member in order to indicate that this plate, and therefore the Polyjump assembly, must face oncoming horses.

4. The safe horse jump assembly as claimed in Claim 2 and Claim 3 can be easily folded up, without dismantling for safe and easy handling, packing,carriage and storage.

5. The safe horse jump assembly substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 - 5 of the accompanying drawing.