GB2516228A

GB2516228A - Improvements in or relating to riding simulators

Info

Publication number: GB2516228A
Application number: GB1312585.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Andrew Perham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-07-15
Filing date: 2013-07-15
Publication date: 2015-01-21
Also published as: GB201312585D0

Abstract

A portable riding simulator for both exercise and training includes a body 5 mounted to a base 6 through a single pivot 7. Both body and base are preferably fabricated from metal tube and the body preferably includes a neck section 15 and whipping pads 16 that can be removed or folded when the simulator is not in use. Preferably a spring and damper unit 8 is used to generate resistance to movement around the pivot point.

Description

I

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO RIDING SIMULATORS

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to riding simulators and, in particulaç to simulators used by horse riders for training and/or exercise.

Background to the Invention

Horse riding simulators are known from, for example, UK Patent Application No. 2482269. The apparatus described in this document includes an electric motor together with a number of different linkages and sensors to simulate a number of different movements of a horse. Other, non-powered simulators are described inUS PatentNos. 4,957,444 and 6,264,569.

A feature of all the known simulators is that they attempt to reproduce the size, and particularly the girth, of a real horse. As a consequence the devices tend to be heavy and thus not realistically portable. Further, because of the features which allow a multiplicity of movements to be replicated, they are complicated and cxpcnsivc.

it is an object of the present invention to provide a riding simulator that will go at least some way to addressing the aforementioned drawbacks; or which will at least provide a novel and useful choice.

Summary of the invention

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention provides a riding simulator including a base; a body mounted on said base for movement with respect to said base, said simulator being characterized in that a single pivot is provided between said body and said base, said simulator further including a resistance facility operable to provide resistance to movement of said body relalive to said base.

Preferably said body comprises a centre section having opposed ends, a neck section projecting beyond one end of said centre section and at least one whipping pad projecting bcyond thc other end of said centre section.

Preferably said neck section and said whipping pad are removable from or foldable with respect to said centre section.

Preferably a footrest is fixed to, and positioned below, said centre section.

Said footrest may be vertically adjustable with respect to said centre section.

Preferably said resistance facility includes a spring and damper.

Preferably said body and said base are formed substantially fit,m tubular material. More preferably said body and said base are fabricated from metal tube.

In a second aspect the invention provides a riding simulator having a base and a body displaceable with respect to said base, said simulator being characterized in that said body is comprised of one or more sections foldable with respect to one another.

Preferably said body includes a centre section having spaced ends, and a neck section projecting from one of said ends, said neck section being removable from or foldable with respect to said centre section.

Preferably said body further includes at least one whipping pad projecting from the other end of said body, said whipping pad being removable from or foldable with respect to said centre section. Preferably said body includes two whipping pads.

In a third aspect the invention provides a riding simulator including a base; a body mounted to said base lbr movement with respect to said base; and a footrest rigidly attached to said body wherein said simulator includes a single substantially horizontal pivot axis between said body and said base, a first substantially vertical axis passing through pivot axis; and wherein a second vertical axis passes through said Ibotrest said second vertical axis being spaced from said first substantially vertical axis.

Preferably said body has spaced lateral boundaries, said footrest projecting beyond said lateral boundaries.

Preferably said body mounts a pair of whipping pads, said whipping pads projecting beyond said lateral boundaries when viewed in plan.

Preferably said simulator further includes a resistance facility to provide resistance to movement about said single axis of rotation.

Preferably said body and said base are formed substantially from tubular material. More preferably said body and said base are fabricated from metal tube.

Many variations in the way the present invention can be performed will present themselves to those skilled in the alt The description which follows is intended as an illustration only of one means of performing the invention and the lack of description of variants or equivalents should not be regarded as limiting. Wherever possible, a description of a specific element should be deemed to include any and all equivalents thereof whether in existence now or in the future.

Brief Descnption of the Drawings The various aspects of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: shows a schematic side elevation of a simulator according to the invention Figure 2: shows a plan view of that which is shown in Figure!; and Figure 3: shows a front elevation of that which is shown in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Working Embodiment

Referring to the drawings, the invention provides a riding simulator which in its various aspects, provides an effective training and exercise device for use by riders, particularly jockeys, yet is portable and relatively inexpensive to produce.

As can be seen a body is mounted on a base 6 through a single pivot 7. A resistance facility is provided to generate resistance to movement about the pivot point 7 and, whilst this might be included internally in the pivot structure, it is in this embodiment provided by a spring and damper unit 8 extending between the base 6 and a substantially vertical post 9 extending downwardly from the body 5. Both the spring rate and the damping rate of the unit 8 are preferably adjustable.

In the form shown the base 6 comprises a -of longitudinal members interconnected by cross-members. Two longer cross-members 11 extend from each end of thc base, beyond thc lateral confines of the longitudinal mcmbers 10, to provide lateral stability to the simulator when in use. The cross-members 11 may be detachable from., or be foldable with respect to, the longitudinal members 10 so as to enhance the portability of the simulatot The post 9 mounting the body 5 to the base 6 may be foldable or telescopic to allow the bulk of the simulator to be further reduced when not in use and to allow riders of differing heights to mount the simulator.

The term body' as used herein is intended to be interpreted in its broadest sense as providing a structure on which a rider can be supported and which can move with respect to the base 6. As used herein the body provides functions of a horse's body but does not need to house or enclose components.

Inthefshownthebody5isalsofabricatedfromtubularmaterialand,in particular though not essentially, steel tube. The body comprises a centre section 12 having opposed ends 13 and 14, a neck section 15 extending from the end 13 of the centre section, and at least one, and preferably a pair of whipping pads 16 extending from the end 14 of the centre section.

The centre section 12 is preferably provided with a seat pad 17 positioned so that the weight of a rider, when seated on the pad 17, lies just to the rear of a first vertical axis 18 passing through the pivot 7. Projecting below the centre section, in a position ahead of the axis 18, is a footrest 19, through which a second vertical axis 20 passes. It will be noted that the second vertical axis 20 is horizontally spaced from the first vertical axis 18 and thus, as a rider rises off the seat pad 17 and applies weight to the footrest 19, the body 5 pivots about the pivot axis 7.

The height of the footrest 19 relative to the centre section 12 may be adjustable and thc footrcst may bc dismountablc or foldable to reduce the bulk of the simulator for transport.

It will be seen from Figure 2 that the footrest 19 projects beyond the lateral confines of the centre section 12, these confines being indicated by the dotted lines 21. This allows the rider's feet to pivot correctly on the footrest 19 without movement being impaired by chafing between the body and the rider's inner thighs. This, in turn, more readily enables a rider to assume a balanced body position.

The neck section 15 comprises a tubular member or structure projecting at an upward angle from the front end 13 of the centre section 12. The neck section is preferably mounted to the centre section 12 by way of a pivot 22 so that, when the simulator is not in use, the neck section 15 may be removed from, or folded back substantially against, the centre section 12 and thereby reduce the bulk of the simulator. A neck pad 23 is preferably provided on the neck section to provide guidance for the positioning of the hands and arms.

Projecting from the rear end 14 of the centre section 12 are a pair of beams 24 to which the whipping pads 16 are fixed. As with the neck section 15, the beams 24 are preferably pivoted to the centre section at 25 thus allowing the whipping pads to be removed from, or folded forward substantially against, the centre section 12.

The whipping pads are preferably fbnned from panels covered in a relatively soft rubber such as neoprene (?). The pads are sized and positioned to ensure compliance with the constraints on whipping imposed by regulatory authorities such as the British Horse Racing Authority. Simply put, if a rider fails ousethewhipcorrectly,thewhipwillnotcontactthepads 16.

While the abovc description refers to the pivots 22 and 25 to allow rcmoval or folding of the neck section and whipping pads, it will be appreciated that these pivots include suitable forms of mechanical stop or interlock to ensure that the neck section and whipping pads are securely positioned when the simulator is muse.

It will thus be appreciated that the invention, at least in the ease of the embodiment described, prevides a riding simulator that allows simulation of the galloping action of a horse whilst exercising the user. In addition the simulator is light in construction, and the bulk of the simulator can be reduced substantially making it ideal for Iransport to different locations.

Claims

Claims 1. A riding simulator including a base; a body mounted on said base for movement with respect to said base, said simulator being characterized in that a single pivot is provided between said body and said base, said simulator fbrther including a resistance facility operable to provide resistance to movement of said body relative to said base.
2. A tiding simulator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body comprises a cenire section having opposed ends, a neck section projecting beyond one end of said centre section and at least one whipping pad projecting beyond the other end of said centre section.
3. A riding simulator as claimed in claim 2 wherein said neck section and said whipping -are removable from or foldable with respect to said centre section.
4. A simulator as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein a footrest is fixed to, and positioned below, said centre section.
5. A simulator as claimed in claim 4 wherein said footrest is vertically adjustable with respect to said centre section.
6. A simulator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said resistance fitcility includes a spring and damper.
7. A simulator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said body and said base are formed substantially from tubular material.More preferably said body and said base are fabricated from metal tube.
8. A riding simulator having a base and a body displaceable with respect to said base, said simulator being characterized in that said body is comprised of one or more sections foldable with respect to one another.
9. A simulator as claimed in claim 8 wherein said body includes a centre section having spaced ends, and a neck scction projecting from onc of said ends, said neck section being removable from or foldable with respect to said cenire section.
10. A simulator as claimed in claim 9 wherein said body!brther includes at least one whipping pad projecting from the other end of said body, said whipping pad being removable from or fbldable with respect to said centre section. Preferably said body includes two whipping pads.
11. A simulator as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein said body and said base are fbrmed substantially from tubular material.
12. A simulator as claimed in claim!! wherein said body and said base are ftbricated from metal tube.
13. A riding simulator including a base; a body mounted to said base for movement with respect to said base; and a footrest rigidly attached to said body wherein said simulator includes a single substantially horizontal pivot axis between said body and said base, a first substantially vertical axis passing thmugh pivot axis; and wherein a second vertical axis passes through said footrest said second vertical axis being spaced from said first substantially vertical axis.
14. A simulator as claimed in claim 13 wherein said body has spaced lateral boundaries, said footrest projecting beyond said lateral boundaries.
15. A simulator as claimed in claimed in claim 14 wherein said body mounts a pair of whipping pads, said whipping pads projecting beyond said lateral boundaries when viewed in plan.
16. A simulator as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15 further including a resistance facility to provide resistance to movement about said single axis of rotation.
17. A simulator as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16 wherein said body and said base are formed substantially from tubular material.
18. A simulator as claimed in claim 17 wherein said body and said base are fabricated from metal tube.Amendments to the claims have been made as follows: Claims 1. A riding simulator having a base and a body displaceable with respect to said base, said simulator being characterized in that said body is comprised of one or more sections foldable with respect to one another.2. A simulator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body includes a centre section having spaced ends, and a neck section projecting from one of said ends, said neck section being removable from or foldable with respect to said centre section.3. A simulator as claimed in claim 2 wherein said body further includes at least one whipping pad projecting from the other end of said body, said whipping pad being removable from or foldable with respect to said centre section. Preferably said body includes two whipping pads.4. A simulator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said body and said base are formed substantially from tubular material.: 5. A simulator as claimed in claim 4 wherein said body and said base * * are fabricated from metal tube. * * ** 6. A riding simulator including a base; a body mounted on said base for movement with respect to said base, said simulator being characterized * *** in that a single pivot is provided between said body and said base, said * simulator further including a resistance facility operable to provide resistance to movement of said body relative to said base.7. A riding simulator as claimed in claim 6 wherein said body comprises a centre section having opposed ends, a neck section projecting beyond one end of said centre section and at least one whipping pad projecting beyond the other end of said centre section.8. A riding simulator as claimed in claim 7 wherein said neck section and said whipping pad are removable from or foldable with respect to said centre section.9. A simulator as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein a footrest is fixed to, and positioned below, said centre section.10. A simulator as claimed in claim 9 wherein said footrest is vertically adjustable with respect to said centre section.11. A simulator as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10 wherein said resistance facility includes a spring and damper.12, A simulator as claimed in any one of the claims 6 to 11 wherein said body and said base are formed substantially from tubular material.More preferably said body and said base are fabricated from metal tube. *13. A riding simulator including a base; a body mounted to said base for movement with respect to said base; and a footrest rigidly attached to said body wherein said simulator includes a single substantially *.horizontal pivot axis between said body and said base, a first r substantially vertical axis passing through pivot axis; and wherein a second vertical axis passes through said footrest said second vertical axis being spaced from said first substantially vertical axis.14. A simulator as claimed in claim 13 wherein said body has spaced lateral boundaries, said footrest projecting beyond said lateral boundaries.15. A simulator as claimed in claimed in claim 14 wherein said body mounts a pair of whipping pads, said whipping pads projecting beyond said lateral boundaries when viewed in plan.16. A simulator as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15 further including a resistance facility to provide resistance to movement about said single axis of rotation.17. A simulator as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16 wherein said body and said base are formed substantially from tubular material.18. A simulator as claimed in claim 17 wherein said body and said base are fabricated from metal tube. * S S * *SS..... * . * . * ** * * *. *5 * . * * S