# US 8,783,689 B1 · Steer roping practice apparatus with enhanced leg roping simulation

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- Number: US 8,783,689 B1
- Document ID: US8783689B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 13/345,275
- Filed: 2012-01-06
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2012-01-06
- Applicants: Alan R. Copenhaver
- Inventors: Alan R. Copenhaver
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783689B1

## CPC

- A01K 15/003: {Nose-rings; Fastening tools therefor; Catching or driving equipment}
- A63B 69/0068: {for bull-fighting, or animal-roping}
- G09B 19/0038: {Sports}
- A63B 2225/09: Adjustable dimensions
- A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B)

## Abstract

A mechanical roping steer apparatus for practicing roping of a steer may comprise a steer assembly having a front and a rear. The steer assembly may comprise a frame and a leg assembly mounted on the frame and including at least one leg member being movable with respect to the frame, the at least one leg member having a lower end movable along an arc. The steer apparatus may further comprise an actuation assembly configured to engage a ground surface below the steer assembly and move the at least one leg member when the steer assembly is moved across the ground surface. The steer apparatus may also comprise a rope deflection assembly configured to deflect a rope from looping about the at least one leg member for at least a forward portion of the arc of movement of the leg lower end.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A mechanical roping steer apparatus for practicing roping of a steer, the apparatus comprising:
a steer assembly having a front and a rear, the steer assembly comprising:
a frame;
a leg assembly mounted on the frame and including at least one leg member being movable with respect to the frame, the at least one leg member having a lower end movable along an arc;
an actuation assembly configured to engage a ground surface below the steer assembly and move the at least one leg member when the steer assembly is moved across the ground surface; and
a rope deflection assembly configured to deflect a rope from looping about the at least one leg member for at least a forward portion of the arc of movement of the leg lower end.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the leg assembly is configured such that the lower end of the at least one leg contacts the ground surface for at least a portion of the arc of movement of the leg lower end in a manner that prevents a rope from looping about the at least one leg member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the portion of the arc of movement in which the leg lower end contacts the ground surface is located rearward of the forward portion of the arc in which the rope deflection assembly deflects a rope from looping about the at least one leg member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the leg assembly includes a foot extension member extending from the lower end of the at least one leg member for contacting the ground surface during at least a portion of the generally pivotal movement of the leg members.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rope deflection assembly comprises an elongate deflection member mounted on the frame and being movable with respect to the frame, the deflection member extending downwardly from the frame to a tip movable in a swing arc.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein a rearward portion of the swing arc of the tip of the deflection member overlaps with the forward portion of the arc of movement of the leg lower end of the at least one leg member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein a plane of the swing arc of the tip of the deflection member is located laterally outward from a plane of the arc of movement of the leg lower end of the at least one leg member.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the deflection member is pivotally mounted on the frame at a location forward of the leg assembly.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the rope deflection assembly is movable by the actuation assembly.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the rope deflection assembly comprises a connecting member connecting the deflection member to the actuation assembly, an effective length of the connecting member being adjustable to adjust a length of the swing arc of the tip of the deflection member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein a plane of the swing arc of the tip of the deflection member is oriented generally perpendicular to the ground surface.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a section of the deflection member is flexible to permit resilient bending of the section of the deflection member.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuation assembly moves the at least one leg member and the deflection member with respect to the frame at a speed that varies corresponding to a speed of movement of the steer assembly across the ground surface.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the deflection member has a swing path lying in a plane oriented substantially parallel to a plane of the arc of movement of the leg lower end.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuation assembly includes:
a wheel rotatably mounted on the frame for contacting the ground surface; and
a linkage connecting the wheel to the leg assembly such that rotation of the wheel by the ground surface when the steer assembly is moved over the ground surface is transferred to the leg assembly to pivot the at least one leg member.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the rope deflection assembly comprises a deflection member and a connecting member connecting the deflection member to the linkage of the actuation assembly.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising a support assembly for resting on a ground surface, the steer assembly being mounted on and extending rearwardly from the support assembly.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the support assembly comprises a base portion and a pair of lateral skid portions for contacting the ground surface, the lateral skid portions positioned laterally in relation to the base portion, each of the lateral skid portions including a skid member extending forwardly and rearwardly.