GB2279883A - Horse jump - Google Patents

Description

-i- 2279883 The invention relates to equipment for equestrian sports, and

more particularly relates to a barrier forming a jump.

Barriers which include one or more horizontal bars to form a jump are known. The bars are supported at their ends by resting on cradle shaped brackets secured to posts and in such a way that they can fall to the ground when they are subjected to an impact.

Barriers adapted to protect horses and riders when they hit a bar are known see French patents 2413922 (Cuyer), 2419092 (Colonna des Princes), 2503324 (Benoit) and 2455471 (Grosselin). Bars which are mounted so as to pivot on the brackets in such a way that they can rock in the event of a minor impact are known, see German patent 264099 (Buchholz and Lotzing).

One object of the invention is to provide a barrier forming an jump or the like, especially but not exclusively for equestrian sports, wherein bars are capable of pivoting and regaining the initial position as a result of a minor impact, and which can be knocked off under a major impact.

In one aspect the invention provides a barrier for an equestrian jump, comprising an elongated planar structure whose upper edge comprises at least one bar designed to be supported longitudinally at a distance above the ground between two posts, the planar structure being pivotally mounted for movement about a horizontal pivot axis and being provided with weight means to return it to the vertical position, the weight means being located at the lower edge of the planar structure which is supported by cradles on the posts.

2 In the case of a barrier of the invention the bar can be displaced by tilting in the event of a minor frontal impact, followed by return to the initial position, but also by failing, as a result of the planar structure escaping from the cradles in the event of a major frontal impact.

In order that the invention may be well understood it Will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a barrier according to the invention supported on brackets; Figure 2 is the same as Figure 1 showing the displacement when subjected to a frontal impact; and Figures 3 and 4 are partial perspective views of different embodiments of the invention.

In Figure I a barrier forming an obstacle for a jump comprises an elongated planar structure 13 and includes a bottom beam 2 and a bar 4 above and extending parallel to beam 2, a counterweight 8 being supported on the beam 2, the bar and beam being spaced apart by spacers 6. Beam 2 is provided at each end with supporting pins 10, by means of which it is able to rest on cradles 12, of a pair of brackets, mounted on upright posts 14, the supporting pins 10 defining a horizontal pivot axis 11.

Counterweight 8 comprises a plurality of neighbouring cylindrical canisters 16, secured to the beam 2 by brackets 18. The canisters 16 are designed to be filled with sand when the barrier is set up on a site. Brackets 18 may, e.g. have the form of a collar, and the cannisters may nest within each other.

3 A stop (not shown in the Figures) may be provided either on the planar structure, or e.g. on the beam, or on at least one of the upright posts, the stop being designed to provide an obstacle to pivoting of the planar structure from its vertical position when it returns to its initial position as a result of rocking through the effect of the counterweight.

Spacers 6 are telescopic, so that their length may vary and may be adjusted in relation to the desired distance separating bar 4 from the ground.

In Figure 3 supporting pins 10 are cylindrical and are designed to rest on curved cradles 12, while in Figure 4 supporting pins 10 are rectangular and are designed to rest on cradles 12 of trapezoidal cross- section.

The variant illustrated in Figure 3 is preferred because of:

the rectangular shape of the supporting pins 10 provides resistance to pivoting of the barrier under the effect of a small frontal stress, e.g. wind force; the trapezoidal shape of cradles 12, enables the barrier to be released therefrom and to fall to the ground in the event of an excessive frontal impact. It will be noted that edges 20 of the cradles 12 should be carefully position at a height which does not exceed half the height of supporting pins 10.

4

Claims (6)

1. A barrier for an equestrian jump or the like, comprising an elongated planar structure whose upper edge comprises at least one bar designed to be supported longitudinally at a distance above the ground between two posts, the planar structure being pivotally mounted for movement about a horizontal pivot axis and being provided with weight means to return it to the vertical position, the weight means being located at the lower edge of the planar structure which is supported by cradles on the posts.

2. A barrier according to Claim 1, wherein the planar structure includes a beam supported by the bar, the beam and the bar being spaced apart by at least one spacer, the counterweight being supported by the beam, the pivot axis being defined by supporting pins at the ends of the beam.

3. A barrier according to any preceding Claim 2, wherein the supporting pins are rectangular and the cradles are of trapezoidal cross-sectional shape.

4. A barrier according to any preceding Claim, wherein the weight means comprises at least one box to contain a quantity of heavy material, the box being attached to the beam.

5. A barrier according to Claim 2, wherein the spacers are of variable length and may be adjusted in relation to the desired distance separating the bar from the ground.

6. A barrier substantially as described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.