Steerable roping training apparatus
AssigneeOne More Run LLC
InventorJames A. Pearson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for roping practice includes a steering shaft drivable and rotatable by a head model, a steering link drivable by the steering shaft, and a pair of front wheels drivable and rotatable by the steering shaft via the steering link to steer the apparatus. Accordingly, a first user (e.g., a header) can rope the head model and proceed to pull the apparatus along a support or ground surface so that a second user (e.g., a heeler) can subsequently rope hind legs of the apparatus to simulate a live team roping. The first user can apply a lateral force to the head model with the rope to turn the head model which causes the front wheels to turn and thereby steer the apparatus to turn with the first user as the second user prepares to rope the hind legs.
Claims19
An apparatus for roping practice, comprising:
- a frame including a first side member, a second side member, and a cross member extending between and to the first side member and the second side member;
- a first spindle pivotally coupled to a first end of the first side member;
- a second spindle pivotally coupled to a first end of the second side member;
- a steering shaft pivotally coupled to the cross member;
- an attachment member coupled to the steering shaft whereby a head model is configured to be mounted to the steering shaft;
- and
- a steering link pivotally coupled to the first spindle, the second spindle, and the steering shaft, and the steering shaft is configured to rotate with respect to the frame to cause the first spindle and the second spindle to rotate via the steering link to steer the apparatus.
An apparatus for roping practice, comprising:
- a steering shaft drivable and rotatable by a head model;
- a steering link drivable by the steering shaft;
- and
- a pair of ground-engaging members drivable and rotatable by the steering shaft via the steering link to steer the apparatus;
- and
- a frame including a first side member, a second side member, and a cross member, the steering shaft extends from the cross member, the first side member extends from a first end of the cross member, the first side member is at a first non-parallel angle with respect to the steering shaft, and the second side member extends from a second end of the cross member, the second side member is at a second non-parallel angle with respect to the steering shaft,
- wherein the first side member and the second side member extend from the cross member toward one another so that a first end of the first side member and a first end of the second side member are closer to one another than a second end of the first side member and a second end of the second side member.
A method of steering an apparatus for roping practice, the apparatus including:
- a frame including a first side member, a second side member, and a cross member extending between and to the first side member and the second side member;
- a first spindle pivotally coupled to a first end of the first side member;
- a second spindle pivotally coupled to a first end of the second side member;
- a steering shaft pivotally coupled to the cross member;
- an attachment member coupled to the steering shaft whereby a head model is configured to be mounted to the steering shaft;
- and
- a steering link pivotally coupled to the first spindle, the second spindle, and the steering shaft, and the steering shaft is configured to rotate with respect to the frame to cause the first spindle and the second spindle to rotate via the steering link to steer the apparatus;
- wherein the method comprises:
- applying a pulling force to the head model of the apparatus with a rope, the pulling force includes a lateral component;
- turning the head model in a first lateral direction with the lateral component of the pulling force;
- driving rotation of the steering shaft with the head model in response to the head model turning;
- and
- driving rotation of the first spindle in the first lateral direction with the steering shaft to steer the apparatus in the first lateral direction, including translating the steering link from a first position with respect to the frame to a second position with respect to the frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.