NZ243498A - Quick release starting gate for horse racing with latch to prevent rebound of gates - Google Patents

Description

243498 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No.: 243498 Date: 9 July 1992 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION IMPROVEMENTS IN AND/OR RELATING TO STARTING GATES We, COLIN RAYMOND CAVE and SHARON MAREE CAVE, both of Otonga Valley Road, Waitetuna, Raglan, New Zealand, both New Zealand citizens hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- 24 3 4 9 8 This invention relates to starting gates and has been devised particularly although not necessarily solely for use in horse racing.

Starting gates of the general type described in the present invention are known in the art to provide a starting gate which can be positioned about the race track depending on the lengths of the race.

One starting gate known in the art is described in New Zealand Patent Specification 179330 which provides a number of front gates which open simultaneously to allow the start of the race by use of a release mechanism triggered by an electric circuit including a solenoid. However the front gates can open at such a speed that they fly back into the face of the horse at the start of the race. Additionally horses which rear up and kick risk badly damaging their legs and tendons in the dividing walls. Also a horse which slips when quickly leaving the stalls at the start of the race can receive damage from the front and/or back wheels of the starting gates.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a starting gate which will obviate or minimise at least some of the foregoing disadvantages or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly in one aspect the invention consists in a starting gate comprising a plurality of stalls there being common dividing walls between adjacent stalls, a plurality of gates mounted on dividing walls so that each stall is provided with a gate biased to open outwardly, at least some said dividing walls being first dividing walls provided with a fastening means to hold said front gate in an open position substantially preventing said gate from returning toward its closed position, 24 3 4 9 8 and at least some dividing walls being second dividing walls having in combination with said front gate a releasable gate restraining means to hold said gate in a closed position, a gate release means to actuate release of said gate restraining means instigating the rapid opening of said gate(s) and latchable back doors arranged to close the rear of each stall.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples.

One preferred form of the invention modifications thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of stalls of a starting gate constructed according to a preferred form of the invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a dividing wall for use in a starting gate according to a preferred form of the invention, and Fig. 3 is an exploded view of a spring loaded front gate latch able to be used in a starting gate according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings, in the preferred form of the invention, a starting gate is constructed as a readily portable arrangement of a plurality of starting stalls comprising a series of dividing walls or partitions. In the preferred form of the invention a first dividing wall 36 and a second dividing wall 35 are 2 v 3 4 9 8 arranged parallel to each other. The walls 36 and 35 are supported on a plurality of castor means which have wheels 38, the wheels 38 being mounted so as to have a castoring action to permit ready placement of the starting gates in the desired position. The wheels 38 are mounted in brackets 30 and it is envisaged that the top 31 of the bracket 30 is angled in towards a pivot pin 32 carrying bracket 30 as shown in Figure 2 to minimise the risk of damage being done to the horses legs when quickly leaving the stalls at the start of the race.

The stalls are provided with front gates 40 and in the preferred form of the invention adjacent stalls have the gates 40 hinged to a first dividing wall 36 shown in Figure 2 so that pairs of gates are back to back when opened. Of course the gates 40 can be arranged so that each dividing wall has a gate 40, hinged to it, such that all the gates open in the same direction in such a construction each dividing wall is a first dividing wall and a second dividing wall. To provide a biasing force on the front gates 40, a means, preferably a resilient link such as a loop or strip of rubber (not shown) is connected between a part of the gate 40 preferably near the distal edge of the gate 40 and an attachment means such as a hook 44. While a hook 44 is preferred however the resilient link could be attached directly to the bracket 48 or the like or an extended part of the dividing walls. The hook 44 prevents the resilient link from falling down behind a front gate latch 46. If the resilient link were to fall behind the front gate latch 46 this could prevent the gate from being held in a locked open position.

The locking system for maintaining the front gate 40 in an open position is the latch 46 which is seen in exploded section in Figure 3. The latch 46 is spring loaded and is welded or otherwise affixed to the extended part or bracket 48 of the dividing wall. In the preferred form of the invention the latch 46 would be welded to the first dividing wall 36. In any event the latch 46 would need to be situated on the dividing wall that the front gate 40 is hinged to in a position compatible with 243498 holding the front gate 40 open. This locks the front gate 40 in an open position preventing the gate 40 from flying back into the horses' faces when the gates open quickly at the start of the race. The latch 46 positioned to catch a complimentary part of the front gate 40.

The latch 46 shown in Figure 3 comprises a sleeve 50 which in use is fixed as described above. Into sleeve 50 is positioned a recessed member 51 carrying recess 52. A bolt 53 moves in recess 52, and a biasing means such as a spring (not shown) is positioned between the bottom of recess 52 and bolt 53, desirably into a further recess 54 in the bolt 53. Travel of bolt 53 may be limited for example, by provide a short 55 in the wall of member 51 and pin or the like 56 on bolt 53 which moves in the slot 55. Bolt 53 has a notch or detent 57 in its outward end and an angled or curved leading edge 58 so that the gate 40 will strike edge 58 forcing the bolt 56 back as the gate 40 passes, parts of the gate 40 becoming positioned in the notch 57 to hold gate 40 open. The gate 40 can be released by drawing pin 56 rearwardly in slot 55. The member 51 is held in sleeve 50 in any desired manner, for example by providing bolt 59 which can be screwed through captive nut 60 and an aperture in the sleeve 50 to bear on the wall of member 51.

The arrangement of the dividing walls is such that in general any plurality of stalls may be interconnected side by side by appropriately adding second dividing walls 35 subject however to ensuring that a first dividing wall 36 carrying latches 46 and a hinged front gate 40 is interposed between each of the second dividing wall 35.

In order to fix the starting gate in position, in the preferred form at the rear of each dividing wall there is a rod (not shown) which is supported and runs through guides 65. The guides are fixed or welded to the dividing walls and the rods are driven through the guides 65 and into the ground, the ends being suitably 24 3 4 9 8 pointed if necessary. It is envisaged that there would be at least three guides 65 to prevent the rods from damaging the operators feet when the stalls are being positioned.

To hold the front doors in the closed position the construction described in NZ 179330 or similar is provided, as is the actuation of the doors to an open position..

Each starting stall is provided with padding 66 to minimise damage to horses moving about in the stall and a platform 67 for standing on for assistance if required. The solenoid for operating the front gate, as described in NZ 179330, similarly is provided in a protective casing under the platform 67.

The dividing walls are also designed for safety, for example, to prevent damage to the horses legs and tendons in the event that a horse should kick out at or through the dividing walls, there are safety bars. One area in which such a safety bar 68 would be considered to be necessary would be between the mesh 69 in the top part of the dividing walls and the platform 67.

In a preferred form, the safety bar 68 would be a length of 2cm pipe or the like placed approximately 5cm above the platform 67. The safety bar 68 would be welded at each of its ends to the upright frames 70 of the dividing walls and has blocks 71 most likely pieces of steel or the like welded at intervals between the safety bar 68 and the platform 67. Approximately four or more blocks 71 would be preferred.

A further safety feature of the present invention would consist of the mesh 69 being heavy and more durable that previously used in the art, each space in the mesh 69 being of a smaller size than that previously used in the art. Additionally it 24 3 49 is envisaged that the mesh 69 could be extended to the lower regions of the dividing walls.

The assembly is held together without the necessity of overhead or underneath interconnecting bars when in position ready for starting a race but for transport from starting point to starting point a series of temporary interconnecting bars 75 are provided. It is therefore necessary for at least one of the front gate or back doors to be shut to provide some support between the adjacent dividing walls. A steering platform may be attached to the trailing end of the assembled stalls whereby the same can be steered when relocating same at an alternative point on the racetrack.

In use, a horse enters a stall through the back door provided. The back door is closed once the horse is settled, ready for the race to commence. A horse that rears and kicks out is less likely to damage his legs and tendons by kicking through the dividing walls which are provided with safety bars and heavier mesh.

The race commences with the activation of the front doors simultaneously, the doors flying open for the horse and rider to exit speedily. To prevent the doors from swinging back into the horses' faces the spring loaded latch mechanism is provided to hold the door in the locked open position. Should a horse slip or lose its footing, it is less likely to damage its legs or tendons on the front or back wheels, the top of the castoring being angled to lessen the protruding sharp edges.

The construction in the preferred form has many advantages over the known prior art, primarily to provide a starting stall which is safer. 24 3 498 The wheel brackets are angled away from the horses legs. The construction and arrangement of the dividing walls is such that the ability of a horse to kick through the dividing walls is reduced.

Furthermore the front gate is lockable in an open position by a latch arrangement to substantially prevent the gate from flying back into the horses faces, the front gate biased with a rubber loop and hook to compliment the latch arrangement. 2*3 . A starting gate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each said dividing wall has a mesh barrier means comprising substantially the upper portion of said dividing wall, a platform means located below said mesh barrier means and a barrier means between said mesh barrier means and said platform means, interconnected with at least said platform means. 6. A starting gate as claimed in claim 5 wherein said barrier means is in the form of a bar, pipe and/or the like. 7. A starting gate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further provided with a fixing means to enable said gate to be fixed to the ground, said fixing means comprising at the rear of each of said dividing walls, a rod means arranged to be driven into the ground through a support means. 8. A starting gate as claimed in claim 7 wherein said support means includes at least three guides. 9. A starting gate as claimed in claim 2 where said front gates are biased by biasing means comprised of at least one elastomeric member fixable at the open end of said front gate, attachable at the other end to an attachment means, said attachment means being located on said extension means of said first dividing wall.

. A starting gate as claimed in claim 9 wherein said attachment means is in the form of a hook or the like. 11. A starting gate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said dividing walls are provided with castor means, the or each castor means comprising a bifurcated bracket extending from a pivot means, and a wheel mea^CmbunfeQ/ ff said bracket, said bracket means being angled away from said pivqUmeans. ^ - 1 \ 2 4 3 12. A starting gate substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. dWaFF Sstttsi

Claims (4)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A starting gate comprising a plurality of stalls there being common dividing walls between adjacent stalls, a plurality of gates mounted on said dividing walls so that each stall is provided with a front gate biased to open outwardly, each stall having one dividing wall being a first dividing wall provided with a fastening means to hold said front gate in an open position substantially preventing said gate from returning toward its closed position and one dividing wall being a second dividing wall having in combination with said front gate a releasable gate restraining means to hold said gate in a closed position, a gate release means to actuate release of said gate restraining means instigating the rapid opening of said gate(s) and latchable back doors arranged to close the rear of each stall, wherein said first and second dividing walls are provided alternately, said front gates being mounted in pairs on said first dividing walls and said dividing walls being interconnected solely by said front gates and back doors without any overhead or underneath connecting bars.

2. A starting gate as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first dividing wall is provided with an extension means, substantially planar with said wall.

3. A starting gate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said fastening means is in the form of a latch mechanism.

4. A starting gate as claimed in claim 3 when dependent on claim 2 wherein a latch mechanism is provided for each of said front gates, said latch mechanism being located on said extension means of said first dividing wall. ° f'/ ff v o v