GB2321198A

GB2321198A - Horse show jump cup

Info

Publication number: GB2321198A
Application number: GB9701019A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Richard Waddington; Stephen Mark Roper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-01-18
Filing date: 1997-01-18
Publication date: 1998-07-22
Also published as: GB9701019D0

Abstract

A jump cup is a bracket for supporting one end of a horse show jump pole on a jump stand. The jump cup comprises a location leg 1, a suspension leg 2 and a backrest 5 which rests against the face of the jump stand. The location leg 1 fits into a hole in the jump stand. The jump cup further includes a retention leg 4 which prevents the location leg 1 from sliding out of the hole. The location leg 1 is removed from the hole by first raising the suspension leg 2 towards the horizontal position and then sliding the location leg 1 out. The jump cup has the advantage that in use it has no exposed ends, just smoothly rounded curves which improves the safety of the device. Fitting and removal of the jump cup requires only one hand.

Description

Horse Show Jump Cup This invention relates to a horse show jump cup.

A horse show jump comprises three main elements, (of which one is a conventional jump cup): (Figure 1 refers) 1. A pole which is supported above the ground, over which the horse must jump. It is normally 100 mm in diameter and four metres long. If it is struck by the horse or rider, it will fall to the ground.

Alternatives to this are planks which are similar to poles input are of rectangular section, or gates which are similar to poles and planks but with the addition of a structure below it to partly fill the gap between the ground and the pole or plank. For the sake of clarity and brevity, a pole, plank Qr gate will be referred to as a pole".

2. A pair of jump stands. One stand is located at each end of the pole. each stand is a vertical post with typical dimensions of 65 mm x 100 mmx 2 metres high. There iS a series of holes all the way up the stand that are on the vertical centre line of the 100 mm wide face that pass right through to the other 100 mm face These holes are horizontal and are parallel with the 65 mm face. The holes are 12 mm in diameter, The hole centres are 75 mm apart. The pole fits between the stands with ample clearance. The 100 mm face is parallel with the pole. These stands can be supported in the vertical position by any suitable means, and there is often a structure attached or adjacent to the stand to form what is known as a wing. This sometimes supports the stand or just adds visual bulk in front, at the side or behind the stand. For the sake of darity and brevity, a stand or wing will be referred to as a "stand" 3. A pair of horse show jump cups. For the sake of clarity and brevity, a horse show jump cup will be referred to as a "jump cup One jump cup attaches to one stand and the other jump cup attaches to the other stand. The pole rests on the jump cups to support the pole at the required height. If the pole is struck adequately firmly, the pole will fall off the jump cups onto the ground. The conventional jump cup comprises two cheek pieces, each with a 12 mm hole in, that fit either side of the stand. A 10 mm diameter pin is positioned through the hole in one cheek piece, through the hole in the stand and out through the hole in the other cheek piece. this holds the jump cup at the desired height. These two cheek pieces are attached to a pole fitting on which the pole rests, and a back plate which prevents the cheek pieces rotating about the pin.

Conventional jump cups have many exposed comers and edges; the ends of the pin must protrude outside each cheek piece, the cheeks themselves have exposed edges and often the pole fitting has exposed ends. These exposed corners and edges are potentially extremely dangerous to both horse and rider.

Conventional jump cups are awkward to fit to the stands. The holes in the cheek pieces must be aligned with the selected hole in the stand, then whilst holding this in position with one hand, the pin must be put in place with the other hand. The need for two hands is significant, because the pole must be laid on the ground, balanced on the arm or shoulder, or supported by another person.

(Figures 2 and 3 refer) According to this new invention there is provided a jump cup comprising a rigidly integral location leg (1) that fits directly into a hole in a standard jump stand, with a suspension leg (2) attached to which S a backrest (5) which rests against the jump stand, and from which the pole fitting (3) is either directly or indirectly supported.

One specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 2 shows in perspective the jump cup in position immediately prior to fitting to the stand.

Figure 3 shows in perspective the jump cup fitted to a stand and correctly positioned to accept a pole resting on it.

Referring to figures 2 and 3, the jump cup comprises a location leg (1) rigidly set at 90 degrees to the suspension leg (2), which is rigidly attached to the upper part of the back rest (5), which is rigidly attached to one projection leg (6), which is rigidly attached to one end of the pole fitting (3), the other end of which is rigidly attached to a second projection leg (7) which is rigidly attached to the lower part of the back rest (5) which is rigidly attached to the retention leg (4). The pole fitting(3) is shaped in an arc in the vertical plane, to form a crad!e in which the pole rests.

Nominal dimensions are as follows: Location leg (1) is 60 mm long.

Suspension leg (2) is 80 mm long.

Pole fitting (3) is 115 mm wide and is in the shape of an arc, 25 mm deep.

Retention leg (4) is 40 mm long.

Backstop (5) overall is identical in width to the pole fitting (3).

Projection legs (6) and (7) are both 50 mm long.

The space between the suspension leg (2) and the retention leg (4) is 75 mm in the horizontal plane i.e. 10 mm clearance, for a 65 mm wide stand.

To attach the jump cup to the stand, the cup is positioned relative to the stand as shown in figure 2, with the suspension leg (2) approximately horizontal, and the axis of the location leg in line with the axis of the hole in the stand to which it is to be fitted. The whole jump cup is then moved horizontally towards the stand and the location leg (1) is inserted into the hole in the stand until the suspension leg (2! abuts the side of the stand. With the suspension leg (2) horizontal, the retention leg (4) will pass by the face of the stand as the location leg(1) is fitted into the hole. If the person then lets go of the jump cup, it will drop into position ready to accept the pole; it will rotate about the axis of the location leg(1) until the backrest (5) comes into contact with the face of the stand. The retention leg (4) will then be in position alongside the opposite edge of the stand to that of the suspension leg (2). To remove the jump cup, the suspension leg (2) is raised at the backrest end to bring it horizontal and therefore allow the retention leg (4) to move across the face of the stand as the location leg (1) is withdrawn from the hole in the stand.

The whole jump cup is formed from a single length of 10 mm diameter steel bar.

Claims

1. A jump cup comprising a rigidly integral location leg (1) that fits directly into a hole in a standard jump stand, with a suspension leg (2) attached to which is a backrest (5) which rests against the jump stand, and from which the pole fitting (3) is either directly or indirectly supported.

2. A jump cup as claimed in claim 1 where a retention leg (4) prevents the location leg (1) sliding out of the hole in the jump stand without first raising the suspension leg (2) towards the horizontal position.

3. A jump cup as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2 where the whole cup is either a one piece metal or plastic construction or an assembly of several components, to form a single rigid structure.