AU2009100854A4 - Safety accessory for a stirrup and a stirrup fitted with the same - Google Patents

Description

P/00/01I Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: Safety accessory for a stirrup and a stirrup fitted with the same The following statement is a full description of this Invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 2 Safety accessory for a stirrup and a stirrup fitted with the same Field of the invention The present invention relates to safety accessories for stirrups, and stirrups fitted with such safety accessories. 5 Background of the invention The vast majority of horse (or other animal) riders ride seated on a saddle with their feet supported by stirrups. The stirrups can be used to assist in mounting the horse, but also allow the rider to be more stable during riding and assist in controlling the horse. Stirrups are generally suspended from the saddle by straps known as stirrup leathers 10 which allow for the distance between the saddle and the stirrups to be adjusted. Most stirrups themselves are of relatively simple construction including a top with an eyelet (or similar) by which the stirrup is attached to the leather and a footrest. The footrest is typically connected to the top by side members, which together with the top and footrest define a stirrup opening. When riding the rider rests his or her foot on the foot rest with 15 part of his or her foot extending into the opening. Experienced riders such as jockeys are particularly adept and demanding in their use of stirrups. For example, and depending on the type of riding being done, experienced riders may select different foot positions in the stirrup - both in terms of how far through the stirrup their foot extends, and the angle at which their foot and the stirrup is 20 positioned relative to the flanks of the horse. This provides the rider with control over his position and his or her aids to the horse. Although very useful, stirrups are also known to be quite dangerous. The principal danger presented by stirrups is that in an accident a rider thrown from a horse may have their foot caught up in the stirrup rather than being thrown completely clear. This 25 can result in the rider being dragged along by the horse and, as will be appreciated, disengaging a foot from a stirrup whilst being dragged behind a galloping horse is 3 difficult if not impossible. Such accidents where a rider is thrown from the horse but caught up in the stirrup can result in serious injury or even death. It would be desirable to provide a stirrup and/or stirrup accessory which reduces the danger associated with the use of stirrups whilst at the same time allowing a rider to use 5 the stirrup in the manner in which he or she is accustomed. In the alternative, it would be desirable to provide a stirrup and/or stirrup accessory that provides a useful alternative to existing stirrups/stirrup accessories. Summary of the invention In one aspect the present invention provides a safety accessory for a stirrup, the stirrup 10 including an opening for receiving a foot, the safety accessory including: an attachment arrangement for attaching the safety accessory to the stirrup; and a deformable stopper portion attachable to the stirrup via the attachment arrangement, the stopper portion, in use, limiting passage of the foot through the opening in the stirrup; wherein the stopper portion is deformable to a collapsed position in which the stopper portion does not 15 substantially increase a profile of the stirrup. The attachment arrangement may also be deformable to a collapsed position in which the attachment arrangement does not substantially increase the profile of the stirrup and/or interfere with a rider's normal use of the stirrup. The safety accessory may partially shroud the opening of the stirrup. 20 The safety accessory may entirely shroud the opening of the stirrup. The stopper portion may be porous. The stopper portion may be constructed from a deformable mesh. The attachment arrangement may engage with a stirrup leather to facilitate attachment to the stirrup.

4 The attachment arrangement may include at least one fastener. The at least one fastener may include a fastener selected from a group including press studs, hook and loop fasteners, elastic, laces, adhesive, rivets, and stitching. The safety accessory may be removably attachable to the stirrup. 5 In a second embodiment the present invention provides a stirrup including a safety accessory as described above. Brief description of the drawings Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 10 Figure 1 provides a perspective view of a stirrup and a safety accessory in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 provides a front perspective view of the stirrup and safety accessory shown in figure 1, the safety accessory fitted to the stirrup; Figure 3 provides a rear perspective view of the stirrup and safety accessory shown in 15 figure 2; Figure 4 provides an exploded view depicting the various parts of the safety accessory shown in figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 provides a perspective view of the stirrup and safety accessory of figure 2 in a collapsed configuration; 20 Figures 6A to 6D provide diagrammatic representations of the use of the stirrup and safety accessory of figures 1 to 5; Figure 7 provides a perspective view of an alternative stirrup and a safety accessory in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 5 Figure 8 provides a front perspective view of the stirrup and safety accessory shown in figure 7, the safety accessory fitted to the stirrup; and Figure 9 provides a rear perspective view of the stirrup and safety accessory shown in figure 8. 5 Detailed description of the embodiments Figure 1 provides a perspective view of a stirrup 100 suitable for use with a stirrup safety accessory 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The stirrup shown in figure 1 is a type of safety stirrup with a bent side member 108. However, any stirrup of this general configuration can be used (for example any stirrup 10 used in English riding). The stirrup 100 is includes a top 102 with an eyelet 104 by which the stirrup 100 can by attached to a stirrup leather (not shown). The top 102 is connected to a footrest 106 by two side members 108 and 110. The footrest 110 includes a rear rest member 112 and front rest member 114 with a void 116 therebetween. As is known, the void 116 may be 15 used to attach a stirrup rubber (not shown). The top 102, footrest 106 and side members 108 and 110 define a footrest opening 118 for receiving the foot of a rider. In use the stirrup is suspended from a saddle by a stirrup leather (or similar) and a rider rests his or her foot on the footrest 106, with part of their foot extending through the footrest opening 118. 20 Figures 2 and 3 respectively provide front and rear perspective views of the stirrup 100 of figure 1 fitted with the safety accessory 200. The safety accessory 200 will be described with reference to figures 1 to 3, and also figure 4 which provides an exploded diagrammatic depiction of the safety accessory 200. The safety accessory 200 includes a deformable stopper portion 202 secured to an 25 attachment arrangement 204. The attachment arrangement 204, in turn, includes a plurality of fasteners 206 by which the safety accessory 200 can be removably attached to the stirrup 100.

6 In this particular embodiment the deformable stopper portion 202 is manufactured from a light-weight and strong synthetic netting material made from, for example, nylon. The open weave nature of the netting material assists in preventing foreign matter (e.g. mud and water) that may be thrown up whilst riding from accumulating in the safety 5 accessory 200. This, in turn, limits the possibility of such foreign matter providing a slippery surface which may result in a rider's foot slipping on the stirrup 100. While an open weave netting is depicted, alternative materials could of course be used. The attachment arrangement 204, again with reference to this particular embodiment, is manufactured from leather, which is both deformable/flexible and hard-wearing. The 10 attachment arrangement 204 includes a double layer cuff 207. The cuff 207 is sized and shaped to fit around the stirrup 100 with which the safety accessory 200 is to be used. The layers of the cuff 207 are stitched together with the deformable stopper portion 202 interposed between (thereby stitching the stopper portion 202 into the cuff 207 in order to maintain it securely in place). Also provided in the cuff are a plurality of female press 15 stud halves 208 spaced around the cuff 207 which, as described below, allow for attachment of the safety accessory 200 to the stirrup 100. The attachment arrangement 204 is further provided with a double layered hood 210 shaped and sized to fit snugly over the top 102 of the stirrup 100 with which the accessory 200 is to be used. The hood 210 includes an opening 212 corresponding to 20 the eyelet 104 in the stirrup, and is attached (in this case by stitching) to the cuff 207. The safety accessory 200 further includes a number of straps 214, 216, 218, 220 and 222. Straps 214, 216 and 218 are respectively attached (again by stitching) to the left, bottom, and right side of the cuff 207, and each includes a pair of male press-stud halves 224. The hood 210 itself also includes three male press-stud halves 224, two 25 each extending from straps 220 and 222 (which are stitched into the hood 210), and one stitched into a tag 226 extending from and integral with the hood 201. To attach the safety accessory 200 to the stirrup 100 the hood 210 is slipped over the top 102 of the stirrup 100. The opening 212 in the hood 210 aligns with the eyelet 104 in 7 the stirrup 100 which allows the stirrup leather to pass through both the hood 210 and the eyelet 104, assisting in securing the safety accessory 200 to the stirrup 100. Straps 220 and 222 and the tag 226 are then folded around the top 102 of the stirrup 100 and the male press-stud halves 224 pressed into the female press-stud halves 208. 5 Similarly, strap 214 is folded around side member 110, strap 218 is folded around side member 108, and strap 216 is folded around the footrest 110 (or, more particularly in this instance, the rear rest member 112) and the male press-stud halves 224 in straps 214, 216 and 218 secured into their corresponding female press-stud halves 208. Once the safety accessory 200 is secured to the stirrup 100, and is being used, the 10 safety accessory 200 (in particular the toe stopper portion 202) limits the passage of the rider's foot through the stirrup opening 118. This substantially reduces the potential for the rider's foot to be caught up in the stirrup 100 in the event of an accident. Due to the deformability of the safety accessory 200 (provided by the flexibility/deformability of the toe stopper 202 and the attachment arrangement 204) the 15 safety accessory 200 is collapsible and allows a rider to use a stirrup 100 in the manner in which he or she would normally use a stirrup 100 despite the presence of the safety accessory 200. Put alternatively, the safety accessory 200 is collapsible in all directions and can be collapsed such that it does not substantially increase the size of the profile of the stirrup (either in a width, height or depth dimension W, H or D as shown in figure 20 5) and therefore does not substantively impede the rider. This will be explained further with reference to Figure 5 (which provides a perspective view of the stirrup 100 fitted with safety accessory 200, the safety accessory 200 being in a collapsed position) and figures 6A to 6D which provide diagrammatic representations of the use of the stirrup 100 and safety accessory 200. 25 The diagrammatic representations of Figures 6A to 6D show a stirrup 602 with a safety accessory 604 (as described above), the flank of a horse 606, and a rider's foot 608 resting on the stirrup 602. For illustrative purposes the safety accessory 604 depicted in Figures 6A to 6D has not been shown as being collapsed all the way on to the foot 608.

8 In use, however, the safety accessory 200 would collapse all the way to the foot 608 and/or flank 606 of the horse (without a gap between). Figure 6A provides a diagram of one way in which a rider may wish to use the stirrup and safety accessory. In Figure 6A the rider's foot 608 is relatively central on the stirrup 5 602, with the safety accessory 604 limiting travel of the foot 608 though the stirrup opening. During riding, however, a rider may wish to angle their foot 608 on the stirrup 602 such that their toes are pointing towards (and may, in fact, be pushed against) the flank 606 of the horse. As shown in figure 6B, the safety accessory 604 accommodates such motion by reshaping with the movement of the foot. Similarly, and as shown in 10 figure 6C, should a rider wish to angle his or her foot 608 in the stirrup 602 to allow their heels to press against the flank 606 of the horse the safety accessory 604 reshapes in the opposite direction to allow for this. Although not shown, a rider can also angle their foot/toes downwards (e.g. by pointing his toes below the footrest 106), which is also accommodated by the deformability of the safety accessory 200. 15 Alternatively, and as shown in figure 6D, the rider may wish to maintain the angle of their foot 608 on the stirrup 602, but change the entire angle of the stirrup 602 to, for example, put the footrest of the stirrup 602 and their toes almost flat against the flank 606 of the horse. Once again, if this is the desired riding position the safety accessory 604 collapses to accommodate such use. 20 Accordingly, the safety accessory 200 has minimal effect on the angle that the rider can use the stirrup at and/or how close the rider can get the stirrup or his foot (at any angle) to the flank of the horse. The deformability of the safety accessory 200 also allows for the safety accessory 200 to be easily collapsed for storage/transportation. 25 As will be appreciated, the attachment arrangement 204 described above could easily be altered/adapted according to the specific shape and size of the stirrup to which the safety accessory is to be fitted. For example, the number and location of the press studs and/or the lengths of the straps could be modified to suit the stirrup.

9 Figures 7 to 9 provide views of an alternatively shaped stirrup 700 fitted with a safety accessory 702 in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. As can be seen, safety accessory 702 is substantially similar to safety accessory 200, however the number and positions of the straps and press-studs have been altered as is appropriate 5 for the stirrup 700. As with safety accessory 200 described above, safety accessory 702 includes a deformable stopper portion 704 and a deformable attachment arrangement 706. In figure 7 the deformable stopper portion 704 is only partially shown to allow the attachment of the safety accessory 702 to the stirrup 700 to be seen. The stopper 10 portion 704 is again stitched into the attachment arrangement 706 which includes a double layer cuff 708 with a plurality (in this instance five) female press-stud halves 710 secured therein. The attachment arrangement 706 further includes a hood 712 (secured to the cuff 708), a plurality of straps 714, 716, 718 and 720 secured to the cuff 708 and each carrying a male press-stud half 722, and a pair of straps 724 and 726 secured to 15 the hood 712 and each carrying a male press-stud half. While press-studs have been used in the above embodiments to fasten the safety accessory 200 or 702 to a stirrup, alternative fastening means could of course be used. By way of non-limiting example, buttons, hook and loop type fasteners, zips, laces, elastic, or combinations thereof could equally be used. 20 Additionally, while the safety accessories 200 and 702 described above are arranged for removable securement to a stirrup, modifications could be made to allow for permanent attachment (for example by stitching/gluing/riveting etc the safety accessory in place). Further, in the above embodiments both the stopper portion and attachment 25 arrangement are deformable in order to provide for as collapsed a state as possible. Were the stopper portion to be attached to the stirrup with a low-profile attachment arrangement that attachment arrangement could potentially be rigid without impacting too greatly on the overall profile size of the safety accessory with the stopper portion collapsed.

10 It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention. 5

Claims (5)

1. A safety accessory for a stirrup, the stirrup including an opening for receiving a foot, the safety accessory including: an attachment arrangement for attaching the safety accessory to the stirrup; and 5 a deformable stopper portion attachable to the stirrup via the attachment arrangement, the stopper portion, in use, limiting passage of the foot through the opening in the stirrup; wherein the stopper portion is deformable to a collapsed position in which the stopper portion does not substantially increase a profile of the stirrup. 10

2. A safety accessory according to claim 1, wherein the attachment arrangement is deformable to a collapsed position in which the attachment arrangement does not substantially increase the profile of the stirrup.

3. A safety accessory according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the attachment portion includes at least one fastener for attaching the safety accessory to the stirrup. 15

4. A safety accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the stopper portion is made from netting.

5. A stirrup including a safety accessory as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4.