GB2396564A

GB2396564A - Fence support for use in equestrian sports

Info

Publication number: GB2396564A
Application number: GB0329628A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robin Dunlop
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-12-24
Filing date: 2003-12-23
Publication date: 2004-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 2023-12-23
Also published as: GB2396564B; GB0329628D0; GB0230127D0

Abstract

Equestrian sporting apparatus comprising two elements. A second element 14 co-operates with and is slidably moveable with relation to a first element 10 to allow placement of the second element 14 at different position with respect to the first element 10, said second element 14 being removably retained in the required position by means of a retractable lug 28 formed in the second element 14 which is received in a corresponding aperture 12 formed in the first element 10. The apparatus being used in the construction of fences for sporting events such as cross country, show jumping or the like, or any equestrian event which requires obstacles such as fences.

Description

c: A. ce..

- - APPARATUS FOR USE IN EQUESTRIAN SPORTS

This invention relates to apparatus used in equestrian sports, more particularly although not exclusively it relates to apparatus used in events such as cross country and other similar events which involve the horse and rider 5 jumping fences.

Cross country is a long established equestrian event both in its own right and as a phase within a one-day and three-day event. The fences which are provided for the horse and rider 10 to jump in such events are frequently constructed such that they are not knocked down when hit by a horse. This has lead to concerns regarding the safety of horse and rider during these events. Furthermore, in the event a fence has to be dismantled as the result of an accident, it can be very time 15 consuming to re-assemble the fence, ensuring that the height and width of the fence is exactly the same as before it was dismantled. Horses and riders are held up on the course whilst the fence is being reconstructed and this can lead to a loss of concentration which itself may result in accidents 20 when the competitors are restarted.

Accordingly, there is a requirement for the provision of means for improving primarily the safety and the efficiency of apparatus used in such sporting events.

According to the invention there is provided equestrian sporting apparatus comprising two elements. A second element co-operates with and is slidably moveable with relation to a first element to allow placement of the second element at 30 different position with respect to the first element, said second element being removably retained in the required position by means of a retractable lug formed in the second element which is received in a corresponding aperture formed

À I:e ce.e acecese in the first element. The apparatus being used in the construction of fences for sporting events such as cross country, show jumping or the like, or any equestrian event which requires obstacles such as fences.

The first element is formed from any suitable material but preferably a plastics material. Said first element is preferably in the form of an elongate cylinder or any other suitable construction and is formed with at least one and 10 preferably a plurality of apertures along its length. The apertures are preferably although not essentially placed at a known distance apart one from another and at a known distance from the end of the cylinder. Said first element may also be provided with a base portion to enable it to be 15 maintained in a substantially upright position during use.

Alternatively, one end of the first element may be retained in the ground as a means of retaining it in a substantially upright working attitude.

20 A second element is provided which co-operates with the first element. The second element has a body portion comprising first and second surfaces together with a curved side wall. The body portion is formed with an aperture, which when in use, receives the first element. A second 25 aperture is formed within the wall of the first aperture and located therein is a lug. Said lug is movable, for example being retractable within the body of the second element by any suitable means. Retraction of the lug may be activated by means of a spring loaded lever. The lever extends beyond 30 the body of the second element to allow for ease of access.

One of the surfaces of the body portion of the second element is formed with a recess. Said recess is suitable for receiving a further item of equestrian sporting apparatus 35 such as a pole, a gate or the like.

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In use, the first element may be provided with a base or stand to enable it to be maintained in a substantially horizontal attitude. The second element is positioned over the first element such that the first element is passed 5 through the aperture formed on the body portion, like a collar. The lug is retracted by activating the lever, and the second element is slidably moved with respect to the first element until the retracted lug is adjacent to the required aperture in the body of the first element. The 10 lever is then released and the lug caused to extend from the body of the second element to be located within the required aperture. This process is repeated to provide as many of these assembled combinations as required.

15 To construct an obstacle such as a fence, at least two combinations are then placed a required distance apart and a pole, gate or the like is placed between the two with the ends of said pole being located in the recesses formed in the body of the second element. The pole, gate or the like 20 is thus suspended above the ground, at a known height, being supported by the apparatus of the invention and forms an obstacle or jump for use by a horse and rider. The recesses are shaped such that a pole or the like will be retained therein and prevented from sliding or rolling off but if the 25 pole is then hit by a horse as it jumps the obstacle, the pole will be dislodged and will fall away. The shape and configuration of the recess can be altered to suit the particular requirements of the specific obstacle being created and/or the event for which the apparatus is used, 30 cross country, show jumping etc. In the event a horse should get into difficulties and fall at, or into the obstacle created, thereby hitting the poles with his body rather then tapping them off with a leg during 35 the act of jumping, or should the rider fall from the horse

t: ce. ce. À A.:.e. a. se.e into or onto the obstacle, the force of the horse or rider hitting the fence will be sufficient to dislodge the lug in the second element from the aperture in the first element.

The second element will thus "break away" and rotate around 5 the first element thereby allowing the obstacle to collapse and preventing injury to horse and rider. If the obstacle is hit hard enough, the second element will become completely dislodged. The second element is formed with a rounded shape and with rebated edges to maintain the rounded shape and 10 configuration which also further assists in avoiding injury to horse or rider in the event of an accident or fall.

In addition to the safety improvements provided by the invention, the invention also provides improvement with 15 regard to the ease with which obstacles can be constructed assembled and disassembled as they do not need to be fixed or roped together. Furthermore, because the first element is formed with apertures which are a know distance apart and a known distance from the ground, this enables the height of 20 the fence is known. At present, particularly with regard to cross country, in the event that a fence needs to be disassembled as a result of an accident it is time consuming to reconstruct the fence and to check that it has been reconstructed at the required height as additional 25 independent measurement of the fence is required. The present invention facilitate ease of reconstruction and the required height quickly set without the need for additional measurement and constant re-adjustment.

30 Any number of combinations of the first and second elements described herein before can be used to create a variety of obstacle types.

À:: ce c An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: 5 Figure 1 shows a perspective view from the side of the first element; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of one surface from above; 10 Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a second surface from the side; and Figure 4 shows the first and second elements in combination.

15 As shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the first element 10 is formed with a rounded and elongate configuration, such as an elongated cylinder having a continuous wall with no edges. Said element 10 is formed with at least one and preferably a plurality of apertures 12 in the form of holes 20 in said wall.

A second element 14 is also provided. Said element 14 is formed with an first surface 16, a second surface 18 and a side wall 20. Said side wall 20 being continuous and having 25 no edges. Formed within said element 14 is an aperture 22, said aperture 22 being of a suitable shape and configuration to receive said first element 10. The region of the second element 14 which forms an inner wall 24 of the aperture 22 formed therein is formed with a further aperture 26 within 30 which is located a retractable projection in the form of a lug 28. The first surface 16 is formed with a still further aperture 30 within which is located a spring loaded lever 32 which facilitates retraction of the projecting lug 28. The second surface 18 is formed with a shaped recess 34.

À À e e,., In use, the first element 10 may be provided with a base or stand (not shown) to enable it to be maintained in a substantially horizontal attitude. The second element 14 is positioned over the first element 10 such that the first 5 element 10 is passed through the aperture 22 formed in the body portion of the second element 14, like a collar as shown in Figure 4. The lug 28 is retracted by activating the lever 32, and the second element]4 is slidably moved with respect to the first element 10 until the retracted lug 28 10 is adjacent to the required aperture 12 in the body of the first element 10. The lever 32 is then released and the lug 28 caused to extend from the inner wall 24 of the second element 14 to be located within the required aperture 12.

This process is repeated to provide as many of these 15 assembled combinations 36 as required and one first element can carry as many second elements as required.

To construct an obstacle such as a fence, at least two combinations 36 are then placed a required distance apart 20 and a pole, gate or the like is placed between the two with the ends of said pole being located in the shaped recesses 34 formed in the second surface of the second element. The pole, gate or the like is thus suspended above the ground, at a known height, being supported by the apparatus of the 25 invention and forms an obstacle or jump for use by a horse and rider. The recesses 34 are shaped such that a pole or the like will be retained therein and prevented from sliding or rolling off but if the pole is then hit by a horse as it jumps the obstacle, the pole will be dislodged and will fall 30 away. The shape and configuration of the recess can be altered to suit the particular requirements of the specific obstacle being created and/or the event for which the apparatus is used, cross country, show jumping etc.

Claims

c e::. CLAIMS

1. Equestrian sporting apparatus characterised in that said apparatus comprises a first and second element wherein said 5 first element is formed from a elongate member and said second element is formed with a body portion having first as second surfaces together with a curved side wall, said second element having an aperture formed therein which in use receives the first element.

2. Equestrian sporting apparatus characterised in that said apparatus comprises a first and second element wherein said first element is received within a aperture formed in said second element such that the second element is moveable with 15 relation to the first element.

3. Equestrian sporting apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that said second element is slidably moveable with relation to said first element.

4. Equestrian sporting apparatus according to claim 3 characterised in that said first element is formed with at least one aperture to receive a projection formed in said second element.

5. Equestrian sporting apparatus according to claim 4 characterised in that said projection is retractable.

6. Equestrian sporting apparatus according to claim 5 30 characterised in that retraction of said projection is by means of a spring loaded lever located on the second element.

7. Equestrian sporting apparatus according to any of the 35 preceding claims characterised in that said second element

asteatÀd is formed with a rounded shape with rebated edges.

8. Equestrian sporting apparatus according to claim 7 characterized in that said second element is formed with a 5 means to receive a pole, gate or the like.

9. Equestrian sporting apparatus according to claim 8 characterized in that said mean is in the form of a suitably shaped recess.

10. F,questrian sporting apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings