Abstract
A heading and heeling roping practice sled apparatus comprising a heeling practice sled and a heading practice dummy, where the heeling sled comprises a single mainframe bar, a tow arm with an open-faced front tow hook as well as a closed or closeable ring for towing, a wheel assembly attached to the tow arm below the horns of the heading practice dummy, support legs configured to provide support for the mainframe and dummy, dummy mounting brackets attached to the support legs, securing straps and a quick release latch attached to the dummy mounting brackets, the dummy having a flanged base for securing the dummy to the sled within the dummy brackets, a roping leg apparatus attached to the rear of the mainframe, said roping leg apparatus comprising a hip assembly consisting of a coupling attached to which are non-linear axles, hinges positioned about the axles to which roping legs are mounted, the angles of the coupling, axles, and hinges having a collective configuration such that in the vertical position the legs are separated and when roped and pulled taught the legs come together and cross over by way of angular rotation and are retracted to the stationary position by a tension element or elements operating independently and along a single plane, whereby each leg may be roped and rotated without affecting the stationary position of the other leg. The coupling of the hip assembly is rotatable relative to the mainframe such that the axles—and thus the roping legs—can be positioned at a skewed angle relative to the mainframe. In another embodiment, the dummy comprises horn sockets that individually rotate in a non-coplanar manner allowing horns inserted into the sockets to overlap upon collapse, and thus be varied in length and relative orientation to one another.
Claims
1. A heeling roping practice sled apparatus comprising a single mainframe, crossing support legs, skids attached to the bottom of the support legs, a quick release dummy bracket apparatus attached to the top of the support legs, a tow bar with a front hook and a front wheel attached to the front of the mainframe, a roping leg apparatus attached to the back of the mainframe, the total weight of said apparatus being less than 100 pounds.
2. A quick release dummy bracket apparatus comprising dummy brackets with clasps, securing straps, and a quick release mechanical device for securing the straps around a dummy with a flanged base for securing the dummy in the brackets.
3. A heading and heeling roping practice apparatus comprising the heeling roping practice sled apparatus of claim 1, the quick release dummy bracket apparatus of claim 2, with a heading dummy with a flanged base secured therein.
4. A roping leg apparatus comprising non-linear axles affixed to a hub, coupling, spindle or other mounting element which may be attached to a mounting receptor of complimentary configuration, such as the mainframe of the roping sled apparatus of claim 1, two leg hinges, two legs for roping mounted to said leg hinges, the angular configuration of the axle and leg hinges being such that when the hub is positioned on or secured to a stationary or mobile receiving device such as a post or sled, the legs are in the vertical position and apart from each other, and when roped, the legs come together and overlap at the hocks by means of angular rotation about the axle and hinges upon being roped and the rope being pulled taught, and whereby each leg is retracted to the vertical or stationary position by a single tension element operating in a single plane once the tension on the leg is released, said tension element being secured to the mainframe near or about near the middle of the tension element, thus allowing the legs to operate complete independently of one another.
5. The invention of claim 1 whereon the quick release dummy cage apparatus is the invention of claim 2.
6. The invention of claim 1 whereon the roping leg apparatus is the invention of claim 4.
7. The invention of claim 5 wherein a heading ground dummy with a flanged base is secured thereto.
8. The invention of claim 6 whereby the roping leg apparatus may be rotated and secured about the mainframe such that the legs may be positioned in a skewed manner relative to the longitudinal axis of the sled.
9. The invention of claim 6 whereby the roping leg apparatus may be raised or lowered independent of or without raising or lowering any other elements of the sled.
10. The invention of claim 4 whereby the horizontal distance between the toes of the legs may be adjusted by adding spacers or extenders to the axles.
11. The invention of claim 7 whereby the heading dummy may be tilted left or right by adjusting the brackets of the quick release dummy bracket apparatus.
12. A bungee tow apparatus consisting of a bungee cord with a minimum tensile strength of 750 pounds, minimum diameter of 0.75 inches and securing latches for towing a roping sled with a total weight of less than 135 pounds.
13. A horn socket apparatus that provides a mechanism for horns to rotate about axes positioned along different vectors, either by varying the angle of the axle, the hub, or both, thus allowing the horns when therein inserted, roped and pulled taught for collapse rotate through separate planes thus resulting in the horns overlapping rather than colliding at the tips, said horn sockets thereby allowing the horns to be inserted and positioned asymmetrically to each other in the stationary position.
14. The invention of claim 13 whereby the horn socket apparatus and the horns attached therein can be secured in the stationary position to allow for towing by a rope positioned about the horns.
15. A set of left and right roping horns wherein the base of each horn comprises a hub or axle shaft that is oriented along a different vector for each horn, such that when the horns are secured symmetrically within a heading dummy by means of axles through the shafts, the horns will rotate through different planes.
16. The leg hinges of claim 4 where the angle of the leg bracket and hub may be adjusted to allow for wider or narrower leg separation distance.
17. The invention of 4 whereby the front or head of the heading dummy may be lowered by removing the rear securing strap of the quick release dummy bracket apparatus.
18. The invention of claim 1 where the right support leg is longer than the left support leg.
19. The invention of claim 1 where one or both skids have a stabilizing fin attached to the bottom of the skid.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following descriptions when taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein:
PRIOR ART
[0035] FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of the prior art whereby the ground heading dummy is either bolted or strapped onto the sled.
[0036] FIG. 2 depicts a second embodiment of the prior art whereby the ground dummy is secured to the sled by being lifted over the body of the sled and positioned on top of the frame, thus requiring the ground dummy to have a hollow base.
[0037] FIG. 3 depicts the sled frame of FIG. 2 over which the heading ground dummy is positioned.
[0038] FIGS. 3 and 4 depict embodiments of the prior art illustrating collapsible roping legs whereby the functioning of each leg is dependent on two springs, one spring being a tension spring that is positioned longitudinal to the sled, and another tension or compression spring positioned parallel to the sled and connected to the legs above or below the axle about which the legs rotate, thus preventing the legs from operating independently.
[0039] FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of the prior art of collapsible horns, by Copenhaver, illustrating that the horns rotate about two axes that operate within the same plane and come together at tor near the tips of the horns upon collapse.
Current Invention
[0040] FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the current heeling sled and heading ground dummy apparatus, with and without the heading dummy secured to the sled.
[0041] FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment of the current hip and leg apparatus with independently operating and overlapping legs, a hub and axle assembly consisting of a coupling with holes to which non-linear axles are affixed, to which roping leg mounting hinges are secured, the holes in the coupling allow the legs to be raised or lowered, leg hinges are mounted to the axles whereby the legs rotate independently about each axle and whereby upon rotation, or collapse, the hocks, or center portion of the legs, come together, and whereby each leg is retracted to the stationary vertical position by its own single tension element, which is held stationary by a tension element, which in this embodiment is a bungee strap that operates along a plane that is governed by the non-horizontal axis about which the hubs of the leg hinges rotate, a plane which is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the forward motion of the sled, and whereby the position of the legs as they rotate about the axle is governed by the angle of the mounting arm of the hinge relative to the hub of the hinge, and whereby the stopper plate on the leg apparatus, and stopper bar on the leg hinge, may be adjusted to alter the stationary orientation of the legs relative to each other.
[0042] FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate perspective, side and top views of the hub and axle assembly depicting the angles of configuration relevant to the functionality of the legs operating independently and within individual single planes and crossing over each other upon being roped together and pulled taught, and being retracted to the stationary position by a tension device acting through a singular plane, whereby the legs are spread apart in the stationary position.
[0043] FIGS. 12, 13 & 14 show the front, side and top views of the leg mounting brackets and depict representations of the angles of configuration relevant to the operation of each leg about a single plane, allowing the toes or hocks of the steer to be spread apart upon the stationary retracted position, and allowing the toes, hocks, or other part of the roping legs to come together and crossing over upon being roped.
[0044] FIG. 15 is a side view of the hip and overlapping leg apparatus pulled taught with both legs captured by a rope, and thus oriented in the collapsed and overlapping position.
[0045] FIG. 16 is a rear view of the hip and overlapping leg apparatus pulled taught, illustrating the overlapping of the hocks, which emulates a live steer. This Figure also illustrates the extended width of the right support leg which helps stabilize the sled when towed by a rope around the horns of the dummy and offsets the turnover tendency when the sled is rapidly turned to the left. Also illustrated in this embodiment is a stabilizing fin on the left skid, which further helps stabilize the sled as it is being towed by a header on a horse with a rope around the horns of the dummy.
[0046] FIG. 17 depicts a side view of the sled and crossover leg apparatus whereby a single leg is captured and pulled taught by a roper, thus illustrating the independent operation of each leg.
[0047] FIG. 18 depicts the hip and independent collapsible leg apparatus rotated about the mainframe to replicate the action of a steer's legs. The apparatus is securely positioned at a skewed angle to the outside to emulate the position of a steer's hind legs as it is pulled through the corner during a roping run, but may also be positioned to the left or inside to emulate a steer that swings back inward after washing outward.
[0048] FIG. 18 also illustrates that the dummy brackets may be raised or lowered to alter the orientation of the dummy body and the horns.
[0049] FIG. 19 is a cross-section of the dummy bracket with an angled clasp which provides leverage to the flanged base of the dummy to keep the dummy secured within the brackets, even when the sled is pulled by a rope around the dummy horns.
[0050] FIG. 20 illustrates that the dummy may be tilted forward to practice a more difficult heading angle of attack by removing the rear securing strap from the strap securing link, thus releasing the downward tension applied to the rear of the flanged base of the dummy, and thus allowing the rear of the dummy to rise and thus the head to be lowered to replicate a steer that runs with his head down.
[0051] FIG. 21 depicts the bungee tow rope apparatus in the relaxed position being approximately seven feet long.
[0052] FIG. 22 depicts the bungee tow rope in the stretched position, approximately twelve feet in length, or approximately 70% longer than in the relaxed position, thus providing less of an abrupt impact to the horse and or rider practicing dallying about the saddle horn.
[0053] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a collapsing and overlapping horn socket wherein a horn of any practical length is designed to be inserted and secured, and may be rotated to varying orientations, while still allowing a rope to slip off the horns when pulled taught and collapsed.
[0054] FIG. 24 is a top view of the horn socket illustrating the hubs of the sockets and axles for the hubs attached to the head of a roping dummy, are oriented along different vectors in the horizontal plane, thus allowing the sockets and horns secured therein, to rotate through separate planes, thus allowing the left horn and the right horn to rotate through different planes upon collapse, yet allowing the sockets to be oriented symmetrically about the head of the dummy while in the lowered, stationary position.
[0055] FIG. 25 is a side view of the collapsing horn socket apparatus depicting the left and right horn socket axles attached to a heading dummy and the hubs through the base of the horn sockets oriented along different vectors in the vertical plane.
[0056] FIGS. 26, 27, and 28 are top views of the illustrating that the collapsible horn socket allows the horns to overlap upon collapse while being oriented in numerous different positions in the stationary or retracted state, including down, forward, and up, or any independent non-symmetrical horn configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0057] Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown an embodiment of the prior art consisting of a sled 10 with a ground heading dummy with a solid flat base 11 attached thereto by a tie down strap 12.
[0058] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a second embodiment of the prior art consisting of sled 20, a ground heading dummy with a hollow base 21, the dummy 21 being mounted to the sled 20 by being positioned over and lowered onto the sled 20.
[0059] Referring now to FIG. 3, THERE IS SHOWN THE Sled 20 without the dummy 21 illustrating the pins 22 over which the dummy 21 is positioned for securing.
[0060] Referring again to FIG. 3, there is also shown the prior art of collapsible legs consisting of a collapsible leg apparatus 30, with a tension spring 31 oriented parallel to the sled 10 in order to retract roping legs 32 forward, and a compression spring 33 positioned at the top of the legs 32 and operating perpendicular to the sled 10.
[0061] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a second embodiment of a collapsible leg apparatus 40, with a tension spring 41 oriented parallel to the sled 42 in order to retract roping legs 43 forward, and a tension spring 44 mounted between the legs 43 and operating perpendicular to the sled 40.
[0062] Referring now to FIG. 5, there is depicted an embodiment of the prior art of collapsible horns consisting of a left horn 50 positioned about a left horn axle 51 and a right horn 52 positioned about a right horn axle 53, each axle being oriented along parallel vectors, thus rotating within a single plane resulting in the horns 50 and 52 colliding upon collapse.
[0063] Referring now to FIG. 6 there is a perspective view of the current invention, a heeling and heading roping practice apparatus 60 comprising a heeling sled apparatus 61 with a ground heading dummy 62 with a flanged base 63 and solid flat bottom 64 secured to the sled 61 via a dummy bracket apparatus 65, and a crossover roping leg apparatus 66 mounted to the rear of the sled 61.
[0064] Referring now to FIG. 7, there is a perspective view of a heeling sled apparatus 61 comprising a mainframe 70, a tow arm 71 with an open faced tow hook 72, a closed tow ring 73, a wheel assembly 74, left support leg 75, right support leg 76, left skid 77, right skid 78, a dummy bracket apparatus comprising dummy brackets 79 having an inward angled clasp 80 and being attached to the support legs 75 and 76 with securing devices which in this embodiment are coupler pins 81, dummy securing straps 82 which in this embodiment or steel cables, and a quick release latch 83 which in this embodiment is a j-hook clamp, and dummy securing strap attachment rings 84 which in this embodiment are closeable chain links, a crossover roping leg apparatus 66, a left roping leg 85, a right roping leg 86, a left leg tension device 87, and a left leg tension device 88, said tension devices being rubber bungee straps in this embodiment.
[0065] Referring now to FIG. 8, there is shown a crossover roping leg apparatus 64, with a hub and axle assembly 87, comprising a hub 88, with securing holes 89, a stopper plate 300, non-linear left and right axles 90 and 91, a left leg hinge 92 and right leg hinge 93 (not visible), attached thereto are left and right roping legs 85 and 86, with the bent portion of the legs being the left and right hocks 94 and 95, and the bottom of the legs being the left and right toes 96 and 97, and left and right tension devices 87 and 88 which in this embodiment are rubber bungee cords.
[0066] Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown in more detail a perspective view of the hub and axle assembly 87 with a hub 88, non-linear axles 90 and 91, and securing holes 89.
[0067] Referring now to FIG. 10, there is a rear view of the hub and axle assembly 90 depicting an angle 100 of “a” degrees from horizontal.
[0068] Referring now to FIG. 11, there is a top view of the hub and axle assembly 87 with an angle 110 of “b” degrees aft of the hub 88 positioned on a sled 61 for reference.
[0069] Referring now to FIGS. 12, 13, and 14 there are shown front, side and top views of a right leg hinge 88, with a right roping leg 66 attached thereto for reference, comprising a hub 121, leg attachment arm 122, tension device connector ring 123, bolt holes 124, and stopper bar 125, with vertical angle “c” 126 and horizontal angle “d” 127 relative to the hinge 121 and hub 122. The left leg hinge 87 (not shown) is a mirror opposite of the right hinge 88.
[0070] Referring now to FIGS. 15 and 16, there are side and rear views of the sled apparatus 61 with the hip and leg apparatus 64 attached thereto, with the left leg 65 and the right leg 66 roped and pulled taught, the hock 90 of the right leg overlapping the hock of the left leg 89. FIGS. 15 and 16 also show the slide stabilizer fin 400.
[0071] Referring now to FIG. 17, there is a side view of the sled 61 with roping leg apparatus 64, with only the right leg 86 pulled taught and the left leg 85 remaining in the stationary position, the right bungee cord 88 extended and the left bungee cord 87 stationary.
[0072] Referring now to FIG. 18, there is a rear view of the sled 61 with a heading dummy attached thereto and crossover roping leg apparatus 64 rotated about the rear of the mainframe 70 at an angle of “q” 180 and secured by coupler pins 78.
[0073] Referring now to FIG. 19, there is an end view of a left dummy bracket 79 with an inward angled clasp 80, being mounted on a sled 61 and securing a heading dummy 64 with a flanged base 63.
[0074] Referring back to FIG. 18, there is shown a heading roping dummy 62 with a flanged base 63 secured to a heeling sled 61 by a dummy securing brackets 79 which can be raised or lowered thus resulting in the tilting of the dummy 62 to the left or right in order to change the orientation of the left and right horns 185 and 186.
[0075] Referring now to FIG. 20, there is a side view of the sled 61 with heading dummy 62 where the rear securing strap 82 is removed from the securing ring 84, thus releasing the downward tension applied to the rear of the base of the dummy 62 and thus allowing the rear of the dummy 200 to lift up resulting in the lowering of the dummy head 201 by an angle of “e” 202.
[0076] Referring now to FIG. 21, there is a bungee tow rope apparatus 210 with an unstretched length of “L” 211 attached to a tow vehicle 212 and a sled 61 in the stationary position.
[0077] Referring now to FIG. 22, there is roper 220 having roped the legs 85 and 86 and dallied around the saddle horn 221 and stopping his horse 223 thus impeding the forward momentum of the sled 61, and thus applying tension to the bungee tow rope apparatus 210 resulting in elongation to a length of “m” 224 which is approximately 70% longer than in the relaxed position.
[0078] Referring now to FIG. 23, there is perspective view of a crossover collapsible horn socket 230 designed for a horn 231 to be inserted therein, and comprising two asymmetrical hubs 232 and 233 and holes 234 to secure the horn 231 in place, and a tension device mounting arm 235.
[0079] Referring now to FIG. 24, there is a top view of two horn sockets 230, secured to a roping dummy head 240 by a left axle 241 and a right axle 242, which in this embodiment are hex bolts secured to the dummy 240, the left and right axles 240 and 241 being oriented at different horizontal angles represented by “f” 243 and “g” 244, thus allowing rotation through separate planes.
[0080] Referring now to FIG. 25, there is a cross-sectional side view of two horn sockets 230, secured to a dummy head 240 by a left axle 241 and a right axle 242 being oriented at different vertical angles, “H” 250 and “I” 251″, with a tension device 252 secured to the mounting arm 235 and secured to a mounting ring 253 attached to the inside of the dummy 240, to retract the horn sockets 230 and thus the horns 231.
[0081] Referring now to FIGS. 26, 27 and 28, there are top views of a dummy head 240 incorporating two crossover collapsible horn sockets 230, with horns 231 positioned down FIG. 27, straight forward FIG. 28, and up FIG. 29 secured therein, and illustrating that when the horns rotate, regardless of the stationary position of each horn, they overlap rather than collide upon collapse.
