WO1999022825A1

WO1999022825A1 - Equestrian jump cup

Info

Publication number: WO1999022825A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/023227
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph S. Coury
Original assignee: Coury Joseph S
Priority date: 1997-11-05
Filing date: 1998-11-05
Publication date: 1999-05-14
Also published as: AU1297099A

Abstract

The invention is jump cup (10) which can be easily adjusted to various positions along equestrian standard (S). Jump cup (10) has bracket (11) having a hinged side supported by hinge (14). Knob (16) is rotatably disposed on the hinged side and threaded pin (18) is secured to the opposite side of bracket (11). Pin (18) is adapted to be received in a hole formed through equestrian standard (S). Pin (18) can be removed from the hole merely by loosening knob (16) from threaded engagement with pin (18), and pivoting the hinged side of bracket (11) to permit pin (18) to be removed from one hole and secured in another hole of standard (S). Bar (B) can be supported on support area (12) of jump cup (10).

Description

EQUESTRIAN JUMP CUP

RELATED APPLICATION DATA This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/064,347 filed on November 5, 1997, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention:

The invention relates to equestrian barriers. More specifically, the invention is a jump cup for adjusting the height of equestrian barriers.

Description of the Related Art:

In equestrian competition and shows, various events call for a rider and horse to jump over a barrier. Various barriers have been used. A common type of barrier includes a pair of upright standards and a crossbar. The crossbar is supported on each standard at various heights by jump cups which support ends of the crossbar and can be mounted on the standard at a desired height. Known jump cups include a removable pin that is inserted through opposing holes in the jump cup and a selected hole formed through the standard. The height of the crossbar, and thus the effective height of the barrier, is adjusted by removing the pin, aligning the holes in the jump cup with the desired hole in the standard, and inserting the pin through the aligned holes. Since it is often necessary to adjust the barrier height plural times during any one show or competition to accommodate riders of different levels and for different events, the use of known jump cups can be cumbersome and time consuming. Also, the pins of known jump cups are separate pieces that can be misplaced or damaged.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to facilitate adjustment of the height of equestrian barriers.

It is another object of the invention to utilize existing standards while permitting quick and reliable adjustment of the height of an equestrian barrier.

It is another object of the invention to adjust height of an equestrian barrier without the need for a jump cup having multiple separate parts the can be damaged or misplaced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the jump cup in a closed position;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the jump cup of Fig. 1 in a partially opened position; and Fig. 3 is a side view of a pair of jump cups of the preferred embodiment supporting a crossbar on standards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Fig. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention Jump cup 10 has bracket 11 having base 17 and hinged portion 19 side supported on base 17 by hinge 14. Knob 16 is rotatably disposed on hinged portion 19 and threaded pin 18 is secured to a plate portion of base 17 to extend toward hinged portion 19. Pin 18 is adapted to be received in a hole formed through conventional equestrian standard S. Bracket 11 defines a rectangular space when hinged portion 19 is in the closed position illustrated in Fig. 1. The rectangular space conforms to the cross sectional shape of standard S. Pin 18 can be removed from the hole in standard S merely by loosening knob 16 from threaded engagement with pin 18 and pivoting hinged portion 19 of bracket 11 to the open position illustrated by the dotted line in Fig. 2 to permit pin 18 to be removed from one hole and secured in another hole of standard S. Bar B can be supported on support area 12 of jump cup 10.

Jump cup 10 can be easily mounted on standard S again, pivoting hinged portion 19 of bracket 11 away from pin 18 to the open position as illustrated in Fig. 2. When hinged portion 19 is pivoted far enough away from pin 18, i.e. hinged portion 19 is in the opened state illustrated by the dotted line in Fig. 2, pin 18 can be inserted into a desired hole formed on standard S at the desired height. Subsequently, hinged portion 19 of bracket 11 can be pivoted back to the closed position illustrated in Fig. 1, with pin 18 in the desired hole. Knob 16 can then be threadably engaged with pin 18 and tightened thereon to retain or lock hinged portion 19 in the closed state illustrated in Fig. 1. As illustrated in Fig. 3, a pair of jump cups 10 can be used to support crossbar B between two conventional standards S.

It can be seen that the jump cup does not have any loose parts. Also, the jump cup can be easily mounted on conventional standards at various desired heights to support a crossbar at various heights. The jump cup can be adjusted easily while reliably retaining the crossbar at the desired height. Any means can be used to retain the hinged portion in the closed state. For example, various locking mechanisms other than the threaded knob can be provided. For example, a hole can be formed in the hinged side to receive the end of the pin. Also, the locking mechanism can be omitted

.and the hinged side can be retained in the closed position by natural frictional and gravitational forces. Various materials can be used for the jump cup. The various portions of the jump cup can be made of the same material or different materials as desired. The shape of the bracket and the support area can be modified as desired. The hinged portion can be replaced by a moveable portion that moves linearly or in an arcuate manner.

The invention has been described through a preferred embodiment. However, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An equestrian jump cup for adjustably supporting a crossbar on an upright standard, said jump cup being capable of being mounted on the standard at various desired heights to support the crossbar at various desired heights, said jump cup comprising: a bracket having a base portion and a hinged portion pivotally mounted to the base portion, said bracket being adapted to be adjustably mounted on the standard; a pin extending from said base portion toward said hinged portion; and a support portion coupled to said bracket and adapted to receive and end of the crossbar and thereby support the crossbar at a desired height when said bracket is mounted on the standard; wherein said hinged portion is movable between a closed position in which said pin can be retained in a hole formed in the standard and an open position in which said pin can be removed from the hole formed in the standard.

2. A jump cup as recited in claim 1, wherein said base portion and said hinged portion include respective plates which oppose one another when said hinged portion is in the closed position.

3. A jump cup as recited in claim 2, further comprising means for locking said hinged portion in the closed position.

4. A jump cup as recited in claim 1 wherein a hole is formed in said hinged portion to receive an end of said pin when said hinged portion is the closed position.

5. A jump cup as recited in claim 1, wherein said bracket defines a space which corresponds to the cross sectional shape of the standard when said hinged portion is in the closed position.

6. A jump cup as recited in claim 3, wherein said means for locking comprises a threaded knob coupled to said hinged portion and screw threads formed on said pin.