SAFETY SPUR

Abstract

This invention provides a safety spur which provides the rider a warning of a potentially dangerous foot position while riding a horse. The spur has a tilt sensor, a radio transmitter, and a radio receiver. Optionally, a 3 axis gyroscope may be used in place of a tilt sensor.

Claims

1. A safety spur comprising a spur portion, a sensor to sense the position of the rider's leg, a radio transmitter, and a radio receiver.

2. A safety spur according to claim 1 in which the sensor to sense the position of the rider's leg comprises a tilt sensor.

3. A safety spur according to claim 1 in which the sensor to sense the position of the rider's leg comprises a gyroscope.

4. A safety spur according to claim 1 in which said spur portion comprises a resin spur and a metal reinforcing structure.

5. A safety spur according to claim 4 in which the resin material is a polyurethane casting resin.

6. A safety spur according to claim 4 in which the metal reinforcing structure is a wire.

7. A safety spur according to claim 4 in which the metal reinforcing structure is sheet metal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 shows a reinforcing structure within the spur;

[0013] FIG. 2 shows the complete spur;

[0014] FIG. 3 shows a radio receiver which is worn by the rider.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] FIG. 1 shows a reinforcing structure within the spur. The reinforcing structure (1) ends in buckles 2.

[0016] FIG. 2 shows the complete spur (3). The spur has a strap buckle (4) at each end. Along a side of the spur there is a sensor to detect the position of the rider's leg (5). The reinforcing structure within the spur is not shown. The radio transmitter in the tilt sensor assembly is also not shown.

[0017] FIG. 3 shows a radio receiver which is worn by the rider. The receiver (6) has an antenna (7), an ear phone output (8) and a clip (9). A battery inside the receiver (3) is not shown.

[0018] The spur can be made from a variety of plastic materials. The plastic is thermoplastic so that spur remains flexible and can be readily placed around the rider's boot and tightened using a strap. Optionally, the spur may have a metal reinforcing structure within the plastic spur. If the spur has a reinforcing metal structure, it may be made from a more bendable material such as polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, and silicones. A polyurethane casting resin manufactured by the Alumilite corporation is a preferred material. The spur may be made with an end which will accommodate a strap to hold it on the rider's boot, or an actual corrective spur. Only riders, who are qualified, should ride with an actual corrective spur.

[0019] The plastic spur may be reinforced with a reinforcing structure. This makes the spur stiffer, and increases durability. The reinforcing structure (1) can be made of a variety of materials. For example, the reinforcing structure could be made from spring or non-spring steels including stainless steels. The structure could be made from low iron alloys such as the inconel alloys or hasteloy. The structure could be made from non-ferrous alloys such as phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, or monel metal. Mild steel is preferred because it has sufficient strength and is inexpensive. The reinforcing structure can quite variable in shape. For example it can be a single wire, a braided wire, or be a flat ribbon of sheet metal. The preferred shape is a wire. However a flat sheet metal piece, which can be bent in the proper shape around the rider's boot, may be used. 16 to 18 gauge wire or 16 to 18 gauge sheet metal are preferred.

[0020] The sensor to detect the position of the rider's leg (5) is able to detect if a rider has tilted his leg by placing his heel higher than his toes. The sensor could be a tilt sensor or a small 3 axis gyroscope. A tilt sensor is a small battery powered device which can be readily attached to the spur. There a number of suitable tilt sensors on the market including sensors manufactured by C&K Components, ROHM Industries, NKK Switches, and Parallax. The tilt sensor has a small short range radio transmitter, with a range of about 6 feet operating at either 315 mhz or 433 mhz. This assures that if the riders stay a reasonable distance apart, such as 15 feet, there will be no interference between the transmitter of one rider and the receiver of another rider.

[0021] Alternatively, the spur could contain a small 3 axis gyroscope. The gyroscope can detect motions in three axes and thus provides the opportunity to get more information about the orientation of the rider's foot. Thus, if the rider rotates his boot from side to side this could be detected by the three axis gyroscope but not by a simply tilt sensor. Small 3 axis gyroscopes powered by a replaceable battery are commercially available for example from Murata Electronics, or ST Micro Electronics.

[0022] The receiver is a small battery operated unit which may be worn on the riders clothing or may be kept in a pocket. The size of the unit may vary as long as the unit is big enough that the user will not loose it easily, and small enough to fit in a pocket. The unit may be from 1.5 to 4 inches tall and 1 to 3 inches wide. The unit has a clip (9) which allows the unit to be attached to the rider's clothing. Alternatively the rider may keep the unit loose in a pocket. The device may have a vibrator alarm, similar to that used on a cellular telephone. When the alarm is activated the rider can feel the vibrations. Alternatively, the receiver may have an audio alarm which the rider can hear when the device is activated. The audio alarm may go through the ear phone output (8) to an ear phone being worn by the user. The receiver has a clip which allows it to be attached to the rider's belt. When worn on the belt it is possible that the rider may not feel a vibratory warning. In that case the audio alarm, either loud enough to be heard while the device is being worn on the riders belt, or heard through an ear phone, would be used.

[0023] The present device provides a warning if the rider riding with his or her heels above the toes. Putting the heels pushes the bottom of the stirrup back and pushes the rider's foot deeper into the stirrup. In this position it is more likely that the rider will fall off or be thrown from the horse, and if he is, he is more likely to have his foot caught in the stirrup and can be dragged by the horse. The device is able to detect that the heels are above the toes because when the heels are lifted above the toes the tilt sensor senses this tilt and a transmitter transmits a warning to a device carried by the rider. It provides an audible warning so that the rider becomes aware of the problem and adjusts his or her posture so that the heels and toes are even in the stirrup or the heels are slightly below the toes. This is important putting the heels even or slightly below the toes lowers the rider's center of gravity and decreases the chance that the rider will get thrown from their horse. Riding this way also lessens the chances that a rider's foot will get caught in the stirrup if the rider is thrown from the horse.

EXAMPLE I

[0024] A spur 10 inches long from end to end was built. The body of the spur was made from an Alumilite polyurethane resin. The reinforcing structure was a 17 gauge wire that was approximately 14 inches long. The reinforcing wire was molded into a square spur strap buckle at each end. The spur band was approximately 1 wide. The spur contained a tilt sensor, which detects the angle of the rider's foot. The spur had a Linx Technologies transmitter operating at 433 megahertz, and a 12 volt battery. The round 17 gauge wire, the tilt sensor, the battery, and the transmitter were encased within the body of the spur. The battery in the spur may be accessed by removing a cover which is attached to the spur. The receiver and electronic audible indicator were contained within a plastic box. The plastic box was approximately 331 inches in dimension. The box had a metal plastic clip which could be clipped to the rider's clothing. Within the receiver box there was a 9 volt battery which powers the receiver.