SE546088C2 - Safety stirrup with flexible release arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a safety stirrup (1) for use in horseback riding, comprising an open stirrup body (10) having a tread portion (11) and a stirrup leather connecting portion (12), and an opening (13) between a first end (14) and a second end (15) of the open stirrup body (10); a flexible side piece (20) arranged to bridge the opening; wherein a first end (24) of the flexible side piece (20) and the first end (14) of the open stirrup body (10) are provided with a first protrusionrecess pair (30) for releasably connecting the first end (24) of the flexible side piece (20) to the first end (14) of the open stirrup body (10); and wherein a second end (25) of the flexible side piece (20) and the second end (15) of the open stirrup body (10) are provided with means (40) for connecting the second end (25) of the flexible side piece (20) to the second end (15) of the open stirrup body (10); wherein the protrusion (31) of the first protrusion-recess pair (30) has a neck (32) and a head (33) and the recess (34) of the first protrusion-recess pair (30) has a cavity (36) shaped to house the head (33), and an opening (35) shaped to allow the head (33) to pass therethrough when the first end (24) of the flexible side piece (20) is in a first rotational position relative to the open stirrup body (10), but not when it is in a second rotational position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ln horseback riding, falling off the horse may cause serious injury. A rider losing their balance and falling off the horse while their riding boot slips through and subsequently gets caught in the stirrup is even more dangerous. Riders being dragged behind bolting horses has resulted in a number of tragic injuries and casualties, and a solution which reduces the risk for such accidents is therefore needed.

Conventional solutions include safety stirrups with flexible or hinged safety release mechanisms, such as the ones disclosed in EP2438003B1 and EP3445708B1, or more complex mechanisms such as the one disclosed in EP3235779B1 A problem with the former two solutions is that the safety stirrup may not always release as intended, leading to the user being stuck with their foot in the stirrup as they fall down. A problem with the latter solution is its complexity, with several components that may be damaged or caused to malfunction due to dirt or debris entering the mechanism.

As such, a solution which improves on the prior art is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION lt is an object of the present invention to alleviate at least some of the mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and to provide a device that reduces the risk of injury when falling off a horse. This and other objects, which will become apparent in the following, are accomplished by a safety stirrup with a flexible release arrangement as defined in the accompanying independent claim.

The term exemplary should in this application be understood as serving as an example, instance or illustration.

The present invention is at least partially based on the realisation that presently available safety stirrups run the risk of malfunctioning due to debris or dirt in the safety mechanism. Having a more simple design of a safety stirrup which more reliably performs its function is beneficial as it increases overall rider safety.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a safety stirrup for use in horseback riding is provided. The safety stirrup comprises an open stirrup body having a tread portion and a stirrup leather connecting portion, and an opening that is defined by the space between a first end and a second end of the open stirrup body. The safety stirrup further comprises a flexible side piece arranged to bridge the opening between the first end and the second end of the open stirrup body. A first end of the flexible side piece and the first end of the open stirrup body are provided with a first protrusion- recess pair for releasably connecting the first end of the flexible side piece to the first end of the open stirrup body. A second end of the flexible side piece and the second end of the open stirrup body are provided with means for connecting the second end of the flexible side piece to the second end of the open stirrup body. The protrusion of the first protrusion-recess pair has a neck and a head. The recess of the first protrusion-recess pair has an opening and a cavity, wherein the cavity is shaped to house the head, and wherein the opening is shaped to allow the head to pass therethrough when the first end of the flexible side piece is in a first rotational position relative to the open stirrup body, but not when it is in a second rotational position.

The tread portion is either a portion to which a tread surface may be connected, or a tread surface integrally formed with the open stirrup body.

The stirrup leather connecting portion is the portion to which the stirrup leather is to be connected. The stirrup leather connection portion comprises, in exemplary embodiments, stirrup leather connection means in the shape of a through-hole, through which the stirrup leather is threaded. The tread portion is located opposite the stirrup leather connecting portion and in exemplary embodiments, comprises means for connecting a tread surface thereto.

An open stirrup body is a stirrup body that does not form a full loop around the boot of a user when in use. Typically, an open stirrup body is open on one side.

According to one embodiment, the opening is arranged between the tread portion and the stirrup leather connecting portion.

According to one embodiment, the opening is arranged on a lateral side of the open stirrup body.

According to one embodiment, the open stirrup body is shaped like an open loop, and wherein the flexible side piece is shaped such that it jointly defines, together with the open stirrup body, a closed loop.

The means for connecting the second end of the flexible side piece to the second end of the open stirrup body is a snap-fit, hinge or latch mechanism, or a second protrusion-recess pair. Alternatively, the means for connecting the second end of the flexible side piece to the second end of the open stirrup body is a fixed protrusion-recess pair, in which a portion of the second end of the flexible side piece has been formed inside of the recess of the second end of the open stirrup body. Thus, an interference fit is achieved that prevents the flexible stirrup body from disconnecting from the second end of the open stirrup body.

According to one embodiment, the means for connecting the second end of the flexible side piece to the second end of the open stirrup body is a second protrusion-recess pair for releasably connecting the second end of the flexible side piece to the second end of the open stirrup body. The protrusion of the second protrusion-recess pair has a neck and a head and the recess of the second protrusion-recess pair has an opening and a cavity. The cavity is shaped to house the head, and the opening is shaped to allow the head to pass therethrough when the second end of the flexible side piece is in a first rotational position relative to the open stirrup body, but not when it is in a second rotational position. ln this embodiment, a first and a second end of the flexible side piece and a first and a second end of the open stirrup body are each provided with a respective protrusion-recess pair for releasably connecting the ends of the flexible side piece to the ends of the open stirrup body. The protrusions of the protrusion-recess pairs each have a neck and a head. The recesses of the protrusion-recess pairs each have an opening and a cavity, wherein the cavity is shaped to house the head, and wherein the opening is shaped to allow the head to pass therethrough when the corresponding end of the flexible side piece is in a first rotationa| position relative to the open stirrup body, but not when it is in a second rotationa| position. ln the context of the present invention, the neck is shaped to allow the head to be inserted through the opening and to be housed inside the cavity. The neck does this by being longer than the depth of the opening, such that the head may be rotated to the first rotationa| position to allow insertion therethrough, and then rotated once again to the second rotationa| position when inside the cavity to lock the flexible side piece in place relative to the open stirrup body.

Alternatively, the opening being shaped to allow the head to pass therethrough when the corresponding end of the flexible side piece is in a first rotationa| position relative to the open stirrup body, but not when it is in a second rotationa| position, may be expressed as the protrusion-recess pair being configured and/or arranged such that disengagement in a second rotationa| position is prevented unless a predetermined threshold force is applied thereto, causing at least a portion of the protrusion-recess pair to elastically deform causing disengagement of the flexible side piece from the open stirrup body. ln each case, the opening is shaped to allow the head to pass therethrough when the corresponding end of the flexible side piece is in a first rotationa| position relative to the open stirrup body.

According to one embodiment, the head of each protrusion is shorter, as measured along a longitudinal direction of the protrusion, than the cavity in which it is to be housed. This, in combination with the neck being longer than the depth of the opening, allows the protrusion-recess pairs a certain degree offlexibility in longitudinal positioning. This is beneficial as the open stirrup body may flex and elastically deform due to forces it is subjected to during normal use. Having tolerance in the longitudinal direction in the protrusion- recess pairs prevents unintentional disengagement of the flexible side piece from the open stirrup body.

The referenced rotational positions are to be understood as being positions achieved by rotation of the entire flexible side member about a longitudinal axis of the protrusion-recess pair, or about a Iongitudinal axis of the neck of the protrusion. Alternatively, the rotational positions may refer to positions achieved by flexible twisting deformation of the flexible side piece, such that only a portion thereof rotates about the longitudinal axis. For example, the entire flexible side piece may be rotated to allow the connection of the first end of the flexible side piece to the first end of the open stirrup body, and once connected, a portion of the flexible side piece may be subjected to flexible twisting deformation so that the second end thereof may be connected to the second end of the open stirrup body. lt should be understood that in the context of the present invention, the opening being shaped to allow the head to pass therethrough when the first end of the flexible side piece is in a first rotational position relative to the open stirrup body, but not when it is in a second rotational position, should be understood as meaning that the flexible side piece is kept connected to the open stirrup body for as long as the connection therebetween is not subjected to a force exceeding a given threshold, or until the flexible side piece is moved to its second rotational position. Thus, passage of head through the opening is prevented up to a predetermined threshold force is applied to the flexible side piece. The predetermined threshold force required to disconnect the flexible side piece from the open stirrup body is chosen to be greater than the forces typically applied thereto during normal use of the safety stirrup, but less than what can be expected when a rider falls of the horse and whose foot becomes tangled in the stirrup. Thus, a safety stirrup is achieved.

Factors affecting the predetermined threshold force required to disengage the flexible side piece from the open stirrup body include the stiffness of the flexible side piece material, the tolerances in the protrusion- recess pair arranged to connect the two, and the shape and size of the protrusion and recess.

According to one embodiment, the flexible side piece comprises at least one of the protrusions of the protrusion-recess pairs, wherein the protrusion extends from at least a first end thereof and the open stirrup body having at least one of the recesses of the protrusion-recess pairs, wherein the recess is arranged at least at the first end thereof. The at least one protrusion of the flexible side piece is arranged to be releasably connected to the at least one recess of the open stirrup body.

Alternatively, the aforementioned at least one recess may be arranged on the flexible side member and the aforementioned at least one protrusion on the open stirrup body.

According to one embodiment, the neck has a cross-sectional area that is smaller than that of the head, as seen perpendicularly to an axial direction thereof.

According to one embodiment, the flexible side piece is shaped such that it jointly defines, together with the open stirrup body, a closed loop when the flexible side piece is in the second rotational position, and such that it does not define a closed loop when the flexible side piece is in the first rotational position. ln other words, the curvature of the flexible side piece completes the loop partially defined by the open stirrup body only when the flexible side piece is connected thereto and is arranged in the first rotational position. When determining whether or not the flexible side piece completes the loop or not, the flexible side piece should be in its relaxed position in which no elastic deformation is experienced thereby.

According to one embodiment, a normal of an end surface of at least one of the first end and the second end of the open stirrup body is angled relative to the longitudinal extension of the portion of the protrusion-recess pair that is arranged there. ln other words, the end surface is angled relative to the extension of the protrusion extending therefrom. This allows for a more reliable disconnection between the flexible side piece and the open stirrup body once the predetermined threshold force has been applied thereto.

According to one embodiment, the flexible side piece is made of an elastomer. This elastomer may for example be silicon, rubber, or another similarly flexible material.

According to one embodiment, a mid-section of the flexible side piece has a stiffness that is greater than the stiffness of the first end and second end of the flexible side piece. This increases the reliability of the safety stirrup by reducing the risk of the mid-section of the flexible side piece unintentionally deforming during normal use thereof. lnstead, the varying stiffness is such that the ends of the flexible side piece are more likely to deform and release the protrusion-recess pair connection formed between the flexible side piece and the open stirrup body, and only once a certain threshold force has been applied thereto.

According to one embodiment, the head of the protrusion of each protrusion-recess pair is T-shaped, triangle shaped, or has lateral protrusions distributed about its circumference.

Generally, all terms used in the description are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to “a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, etc.]” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features and advantages of the present invention will now be further clarified and described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing different embodiments of a safety stirrup according to the present invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a safety stirrup according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a side section view of the safety stirrup and a cross-sectional view thereof, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the open stirrup body of the safety stirrup of the present invention, along with a section view of one end of the open stirrup body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS ln the following detailed description, some embodiments of the present invention will be described. However, it is to be understood that features of the different embodiments are exchangeable between the embodiments and may be combined in different ways, unless anything else is specifically indicated. Even though in the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. ln other instances, well known constructions or functions are not described in detail, so as not to obscure the present invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a safety stirrup 1 according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a side section view of the safety stirrup 1 and two cross-sectional views A-A and B-B thereof. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the open stirrup body 10 of the safety stirrup 1, along with a section view C- C of one end of the open stirrup body The safety stirrup 1 comprises an open stirrup body 10 having a tread portion 11 and a stirrup leather connecting portion 12, and an opening 13 that is defined by the space between a first end 14 and a second end 15 of the open stirrup body 10. The tread portion is the portion of the open stirrup body 10 that is configured such that a tread surface may be connected thereto, while the stirrup leather connecting portion is the portion of the open stirrup body 10 to which the stirrup leather is to be connected when the safety stirrup is in use in horseback riding. The stirrup leather connection portion comprises a through-hole, through which the stirrup leather is to be thread. The tread portion is located opposite the stirrup leather connecting portion, i.e. in the lower portion of the safety stirrup.

The open stirrup body 10 is shaped such that it does not itself form a full loop around the boot ofa user when in use. Typically, and in the illustrated embodiment, the open stirrup body 10 is open on one side.

As explained above, the opening is arranged between the tread portion and the stirrup leather connecting portion, on a lateral side of the open stirrup body The safety stirrup 1 further comprises a flexible side piece 20 made from an elastomer, the flexible side piece 20 having a first end 24 and a second end 25 and extending in a direction between the two ends 14, 15 of the open stirrup body 10 in order to bridge the opening therebetween. While the open stirrup body 10 is shaped like an open loop, i.e. C-shaped, the flexible side piece 20 is shaped such that it jointly defines a closed loop together with the open stirrup body 10 when connected thereto. The closed loop defined by the open stirrup body 10 and the flexible side piece 20 is defined when the flexible side piece 20 is rotated such that the first end 24 thereof connects to the first end 14 of the open stirrup body 10, and such that the second end 25 thereof connects to the second end 15 of the open stirrup body The first 24 and a second end 25 of the flexible side piece 20 and the first 14 and a second end 15 of the open stirrup body 10 are each provided with a respective protrusion-recess pair 30, 40 for releasably connecting the ends 24, 25 of the flexible side piece 20 to the ends 14, 15 of the open stirrup body 10. The protrusions 31, 41 of the protrusion-recess pairs 30, 40 each have a neck 32, 42 and a head 33, 43. The recesses 34, 44 of the protrusion- recess pairs 30, 40 each have an opening 35, 45 and a cavity 36, 46, wherein the cavity 36,46 is shaped to house the head 33, 43, and wherein the opening 35, 45 is shaped to allow the head 33, 43 to pass therethrough when the corresponding end 24, 25 of the flexible side piece 20 is in a first rotational position relative to the open stirrup body 10, but not when it is in a second rotational position. The head 33, 43 of the protrusion 31, 41 of each protrusion-recess pair 30, 40 is T-shaped, having lateral protrusions extending from opposite sides thereof. Thus, a 90° turn of the flexible side piece 20 corresponds to a move between the first and the second rotational position.

The neck 32,42 of either protrusion 31, 41 is shaped to allow the head 31, 41 to be inserted through the opening 35,45 and to be housed inside the cavity 36, 46. The neck 32, 42 does this by being longer than the depth of the opening 35, 45, such that the head 33, 43 may be rotated to the first rotational position to allow insertion therethrough, and then rotated once again to the second rotational position when inside the cavity 36, 46 to lock the flexible side piece 20 in place relative to the open stirrup body 10. The head 33, 43 of each protrusion 31, 41 is shorter, as measured along a longitudinal direction of the protrusion, than the cavity 36, 46 in which it is to be housed. This, in combination with the neck 32, 42 being longer than the depth of the opening 35, 45, allows the protrusion-recess pairs 30, 40 a certain degree of flexibility in longitudinal positioning. This is beneficial as the open stirrup body 10 may flex and elastically deform due to forces it is subjected to during normal use of the safety stirrup 1. Having tolerance in the longitudinal direction in the protrusion-recess pairs 30, 40 prevents unintentional disengagement of the flexible side piece 20 from the open stirrup body Finally, a normal of an end surface of at least one of the first end 14 and the second end 15 of the open stirrup body 10 and the corresponding end 24, 25 of the flexible side piece 20 is angled at an angle oi relative to the longitudinal extension of the portion of the protrusion-recess pair 30, 40 that is arranged there. The angle d is offset by at least 10°, preferably by at least 20°, and most preferably by at least 30° from perpendicularity with of the end surface and the longitudinal extension of the portion of the protrusion-recess pair 30, 40 that is arranged there.

The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the embodiments described above. The features of the described embodiments may be combined in different ways, and many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. ln the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting to the claim. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed in the claim. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

Claims (7)

1. A safety stirrup (1) for use in horseback riding, comprising an open stirrup body (10) having an open loop shape, having a tread portion (11) and a stirrup leather connecting portion (12), and an opening (13) that is defined by the space between a first end (14) and a second end (15) of the open stirrup body (10), a flexible side piece (20) arranged to bridge the opening between the first end (14) and the second end (15) of the open stirrup body (10), wherein a first end (24) of the flexible side piece (20) and the first end (14) of the open stirrup body (10) are provided with a first protrusion-recess pair (30) for releasably connecting the first end (24) of the flexible side piece (20) to the first end (14) of the open stirrup body (10), and wherein a second end (25) of the flexible side piece (20) and the second end (15) of the open stirrup body (10) are provided with means (40) for connecting the second end (25) of the flexible side piece (20) to the second end (15) of the open stirrup body (10), characterized by that the protrusion (31) of the first protrusion- recess pair (30) has a neck (32) and a head (33) formed as an axial extension of the neck (32) in a |ongitudina| direction of the protrusion (31 ), and the recess (34) of the first protrusion-recess pair (30) has an opening (35) and a cavity (36), wherein the cavity (36) is shaped to house the head (33), and wherein the opening (35) is shaped to allow the head (33) to pass therethrough when the first end (24) of the flexible side piece (20) is in a first rotational position relative to the open stirrup body (10), but not when it is in a second rotational position, wherein the head (36) is rotatable from the first rotational position to the second rotational position when housed inside the cavity (36).
2. 2. The safety stirrup (1) of claim 1, wherein the means (40) for connecting the second end (25) of the flexible side piece (20) to the second end (15) of the open stirrup body (10) is a second protrusion-recess pair (40') for releasably connecting the second end (25) of the flexible side piece (20) to the second end (15) of the open stirrup body (10), wherein the protrusion (41) of the second protrusion-recess pair (40') has a neck (42) and a head (43) and the recess (44) of the second protrusion-recess pair (40) has an opening (45) and a cavity (46), wherein the cavity (46) is shaped to house the head (43), and wherein the opening (45) is shaped to allow the head (43) to pass therethrough when the second end (25) of the flexible side piece (20) is in a first rotational position re|ative to the open stirrup body (10), but not when it is in a second rotational position. _ The safety stirrup (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible side piece (20) is, when in a reiaxed position in which no e|astic deformation is experienced thereby, shaped such that itjointly defines, together with the open stirrup body (10), a closed loop when the first end of the flexible side piece (20) is in the second rotational position, and such that it does not define a closed loop when the first end of the flexible side piece (20) is in the first rotational position. _ The safety stirrup (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a normal of an end surface of at least one of the first end (14) and the second end (15) of the open stirrup body (10) is angled re|ative to the longitudinal extension of the portion of the protrusion-recess pair (30, 40) that is arranged there. _ The safety stirrup (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible side piece (20) is made of an elastomer. _ The safety stirrup (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a mid-section of the flexible side piece (20) has a stiffness that is greater than the stiffness of the first end and second end of the flexible side piece (20). _ The safety stirrup (1) of any one of the preceding ciaims, wherein the head of the protrusion (33, 43) of each protrusion-recess pair (30, 40) is T-shaped, triangle shaped, or has |atera| protrusions distributed about its circumference.