WO1996031386A1

WO1996031386A1 - Harness racing device

Info

Publication number: WO1996031386A1
Application number: PCT/AU1996/000198
Authority: WO
Inventors: Trevor John Knipe-Jones
Original assignee: Knipe Jones Trevor John
Priority date: 1995-04-07
Filing date: 1996-04-09
Publication date: 1996-10-10
Also published as: AUPN226195A0

Abstract

A harness racing device, in which a sulky is attached to the horse at a single point only, comprises an approximately U-shaped bar (11) having a transverse midpart raised above the back of the horse and two trailing ends which sweep down the sides of the horse to meet the ends of the shafts of a sulky. The bar is attached via clevis (12) to a vertically disposed tether means (20) which is adapted to provide various relative pivoting motions between horse and sulky by pivoting about axes such as those defined by bolts (24, 25). The tether means is attached to the horse via saddle tree means (22, 26). Also described is a quick attach/release mechanism for the device (not depicted).

Description

Title of the Invention: Harness Racing Device

Field of the Invention:

This invention relates to a harness racing device in which attachment to the horse is at a single point.

Background of the Invention:

In the case of conventional sulkies, the shafts run parallel to the sides of the horse, connecting to the saddle just above halfway up the side of the horse. The horse is connected into the sulky in such a way that sideways motion caused by the running of the horse forces the sulky to travel from side to side. This effect is magnified as the horse runs around the turns of a racetrack. Thus the sulky is forced to slide towards the outside of the uack. This motion creates drag, slows the horse and impedes the run.

It would be desirable to provide a method of attachment for a sulky which overcomes the problems of movement from side-to-side and drag.

Brief Summary of the Invention:

This invention relates to a harness racing device in which attachment to the horse is at a single point which device comprises:

1) transversely disposed bar means adapted for connection to shafts of a sulky and attachment to

2) vertically disposed tether means which is adapted to provide desired motion and which is connected to

3) transversely disposed saddle tree means adapted for connection to a transversely disposed saddle means.

Brief Description of the Drawings:

In the accompanying drawings, two embodiments of the invention are shown, thus:

• Figure 1 (a) is a side view of a crown shaft:

Figure 1 (b) is a front perspective view of the crown shaft of Figure 1 (a); Figure 1 (c) is a front view of the crown shaft of Figures 1 (b) and 1 (c);

• Figure 2 is a partially exploded front view of the harness racing device according to the invention.

• Figure 3 is a view from the front, similar to that in Figure 2, showing an embodiment of the device incorporaung a quick attach/release mechanism;

• Figuie 4 is a generally similar view to that shown in Figure 3 except that the device has been rotated through 90°,

• Figure 5 shows the approximate amount of rotation from side to side of a portion ot the device, and

• Figure 6 shows a numbei of views of the saddle-tiee used with the device accoiding to the invention

Detailed description of the Invention

The device is prefei ably adapted to piovide forwards and backwards motion.

The tether means is preferably also adapted to provide sideways mouon Furthermore, the tether means is preferably adapted to provide rotational mouon

The transversely disposed bar means is preferably tubular, for example, of steel It is preferably shaped so that in use a mid part is raised above the back of the hoise and its two trailing ends sweep down the sides of the horse to meet the ends of the shafts of the sulky

The vertically disposed tethei means may take the fonn of a shackle, foi example, a binarj shackle of two U-pieces fastened so that the legs of the U-pieces point in opposite directions The upper U-piece mav be furnished with a transveise connector b\ means of which a tongue or tongues depending tiom the bar means shaft may be fastened

The transversely disposed saddle tree is desirably shaped to conform to the shape of the back of the horse The

er b -piece may be formed as part of the saddle tree Preferably the harness racing device incorporates a quick attach/release mechanism, for example between the attachment to the crown shaft and the remainder of the device.

The quick attach/release mechanism may take the form of a camera shoe-type device, in which a male member may be fitted into and removed from a female member, for example, one with curved over flanges.

Turning to the accompanying drawings, numeral 10 refers to a bar means (or "crown shaft") as a whole. Numeral 1 1 refers to the tubular material from which the bar means is made. A tongue or bracket means 12 depends from the upper, central part of tubular material 1 1. It may be seen from Figure 1 (b) that bracket means 12 is binary: for which purpose see later.

In Figure 2. a tether means is indicated generally by numeral 20. This tether means comprises an upper U-piece 21. with the legs pointed upwards, joined to a lower U-piece 22. with the legs pointed downwards, at their respective bases. The upper U-piece 21 is furnished with a transverse connector 23 also in the shape of a U. provided with two coπesponding holes. The transverse connector 23 is arranged around a transverse bolt 24. The upper and lower U- pieces 21 and 22 respectively are joined via their respective bases by a bolt 25. Lower U-piece 22 is connected to a saddle-tree 26 which in turn connects to a saddle (not shown).

With regard to Figure 3. numeral 50 refers to the device according to the invention as a whole and 51 a saddle-tree to which the device is mounted. Device 50 (reading from the top, as viewed in use) comprises a clamping ring 52 mounted on a speed hitch assembly 53. A pin lifter 54 is attached to and within assembly 53 (see later). Depending from pin lifter 54 is an upper pivot section 56. which is connected via a insverse first bolt 57 to an approximately square section block 58. for example, of polyethylene. This block 58 depends from and rotates around a rj-ansver.se second bolt 59. at right angles to first bolt 57. Second bolt 59 connects block 58 to lower pivot section 60 via the amis of a U-shape comprising section 60. Lower pivot section 60 is connected via bolt 61 to rectangular loop connector 62 attached to saddle-tree 51. The bolt 61. lower pivot section 60 and connector 62 are furnished with a thrust bearing 63 to facilitate turning around bolt 61.

Figure 4 helps to explain the workings of the device illustrated in Figure 3. Thus fastening bolt 521 is used to open and close clamping ring 52. Speed hitch assembly 53 is shown as comprising a downwardly dependent U-shaped construction having legs 531 and 532. Inwardly projecting feet 533 and 534 extend from legs 531 and 532 respectively. These feet extend below pin lifter 54. which in turn supports pin 55 held in place by spiral spring 551. The object of this pin 55 is to retain speed hitch assembly 53 in connection with upper pivot section 56.

Turning to Figure 5, the integers shown are essentially those shown in Figure 1. except for shank 61 1 of bolt 61. Upper pivot section 56 is shown as rocking to the right (and also to the left). The amount of rotation in this case is 24° from the vertical. Not shown is possible rotation, such as 24°. in the forwards and backwards directions.

In Figure 6. the saddle-tree used is shown in plan, from one side and from one end.

Note that the device allows for movement around bolts 57. 59 and 61.

Claims

LAIMS

1 . A harness racing device in which attachment to the horse is at a single point which device comprises:

2. A device as claimed in claim 1. wherein the tether means is adapted to provide forwards and backwards motion.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2. wherein the tether means is adapted to provide sideways motion.

4. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3. wherein the tether means is adapted to provide rotational motion.

5. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4. wherein the tether means takes the form of a shackle.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the tether means comprises a binary shackle of two U-pieces fastened so that the legs of the U-pieces point in opposite directions.

7. A device as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the upper U-piece may be furnished with a transverse connector by means of which a tongue or tongues depending from the bar means shaft may be fastened.

8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7. wherein the harness racing device incorporates a quick attach/release mechanism, for example between the attachment to the crown shaft and the remainder of the device. O 96/31386

-6-

9. A device as claimed in claim 8. wherein the quick attach/release mechanism may take the form of a camera shoe-type device, in which a male member may be fitted into andremoved from a female member, for example, one with curved over flanges.