US 9,840,408 B2Granted

Retractable stirrup extension

OwnerLouise A. Fordinventor

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Abstract

A retractable stirrup extension for use with a saddle and horse. The extendable stirrup assembly includes an conventional fixed stirrup with an upper (top) foot plate for supporting the rider's foot during riding, and a retractable bottom foot plate retractably attached to the upper stirrup with an extension mechanism that provides about 4-8 inches of vertical travel (extension). The bottom foot plate travels easily between an open (extended) and a closed (retracted) position. The bottom foot plate provides a lower “step” for the rider to use when mounting the horse. A latching mechanism can be used when riding the horse.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A retractable stirrup extension assembly comprising:

a fixed upper stirrup for use with a horse and a saddle, comprising:
left and right side legs, each side leg having a top and a bottom;
an upper arch bridging across the two side legs at the top;
and a top foot plate bridging across the two side legs at the bottom;
wherein the top foot plate has a long dimension and a long axis defining an X-axis that is aligned with said long dimension;
and further wherein the top foot plate comprises a left end and a right end;
and
a retractable lower stirrup extension comprising:
a retractable bottom foot plate comprising left and right ends with left and right bottom transverse hinge pin holes, respectively;
a left upper hinge plate, comprising upper and lower ends with corresponding upper and lower transverse hinge pin holes, respectively;
a left lower hinge plate, comprising upper and lower ends with corresponding upper and lower transverse hinge pin holes, respectively;
and
wherein the upper end of the left lower hinge plate is pivotally attached to the lower end of the left upper hinge plate with a transverse hinge pin;
and
wherein the lower end of the left lower hinge plate is pivotally attached to the left end of the bottom foot plate with a transverse hinge pin inserted in the left bottom transverse hinge pin hole;
and
wherein the upper end of the left hinge assembly is pivotally attached to the left end of the top foot plate with a transverse hinge pin inserted in the left upper transverse hinge pin hole;
a right upper hinge plate, comprising upper and lower ends with corresponding upper and lower transverse hinge pin holes, respectively;
a right lower hinge plate, comprising upper and lower ends with corresponding upper and lower transverse hinge pin holes, respectively;
and
wherein the upper end of the right lower hinge plate is pivotally attached to the lower end of the right upper hinge plate with a transverse hinge pin;
wherein the upper end of the right upper hinge plate is pivotally attached to the right end of the top foot plate with a transverse hinge pin inserted in the right upper transverse hinge pin hole;
and
wherein the lower end of the right lower hinge plate is pivotally attached to the right end of the bottom foot plate with a transverse hinge pin inserted in the right bottom transverse hinge pin hole;
whereas rotation of the hinge plates about their respective hinge pins causes the bottom foot plate to extend vertically downwards in a linear direction along a Y-axis which is perpendicular to the X-axis of the top foot plate;
and
whereas reversed rotation of the hinge plates about their respective hinge pins causes the bottom foot plate to retract vertically upwards in a linear direction along the Y-axis;
and
further wherein:
when (a) the bottom foot plate is positioned in a fully retracted, closed position where the bottom foot plate is retracted to a smallest distance from the top foot plate, then (b) the left upper hinge plate and the right upper hinge plate are both oriented parallel to the long dimension of the top foot plate.

27 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A retractable stirrup extension assembly comprising:

a fixed upper stirrup for use with a horse and a saddle, comprising:
left and right side legs, each side leg having a top and a bottom;
an upper arch bridging across the two side legs at the top;
and a top foot plate bridging across the two side legs at the bottom;
wherein the top foot plate has a long dimension and a long axis defining an X-axis that is aligned with said long dimension;
and further wherein the top foot plate comprises a left end and a right end;
and
a retractable lower stirrup extension comprising:
a retractable bottom foot plate comprising left and right ends with left and right bottom transverse hinge pin holes, respectively;
a left upper hinge plate, comprising upper and lower ends with corresponding upper and lower transverse hinge pin holes, respectively;
a left lower hinge plate, comprising upper and lower ends with corresponding upper and lower transverse hinge pin holes, respectively;
and
wherein the upper end of the left lower hinge plate is pivotally attached to the lower end of the left upper hinge plate with a transverse hinge pin;
and
wherein the lower end of the left lower hinge plate is pivotally attached to the left end of the bottom foot plate with a transverse hinge pin inserted in the left bottom transverse hinge pin hole;
and
wherein the upper end of the left hinge assembly is pivotally attached to the left end of the top foot plate with a transverse hinge pin inserted in the left upper transverse hinge pin hole;
a right upper hinge plate, comprising upper and lower ends with corresponding upper and lower transverse hinge pin holes, respectively;
a right lower hinge plate, comprising upper and lower ends with corresponding upper and lower transverse hinge pin holes, respectively;
and
wherein the upper end of the right lower hinge plate is pivotally attached to the lower end of the right upper hinge plate with a transverse hinge pin;
wherein the upper end of the right upper hinge plate is pivotally attached to the right end of the top foot plate with a transverse hinge pin inserted in the right upper transverse hinge pin hole;
and
wherein the lower end of the right lower hinge plate is pivotally attached to the right end of the bottom foot plate with a transverse hinge pin inserted in the right bottom transverse hinge pin hole;
whereas rotation of the hinge plates about their respective hinge pins causes the bottom foot plate to extend vertically downwards in a linear direction along a Y-axis which is perpendicular to the X-axis of the top foot plate;
and
whereas reversed rotation of the hinge plates about their respective hinge pins causes the bottom foot plate to retract vertically upwards in a linear direction along the Y-axis;
and
further wherein:
when (a) the bottom foot plate is positioned in a fully retracted, closed position where the bottom foot plate is retracted to a smallest distance from the top foot plate, then (b) the left upper hinge plate and the right upper hinge plate are both oriented parallel to the long dimension of the top foot plate.

27 more elements