Horse race starting gate
AssigneeK-Zell Metals, Inc.
InventorsDonald L. Kammerzell, Scott A. Manion, Mike T. O'Connor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular starting gate having a truss module, a door releasing module, a stall divider module, a front door module, a rear door module, a towing module, and a wheel assembly module. The door releasing module includes a roll-bar having articulated members that are coupled to the front door module via a coupling bar and a turnbuckle adjuster. The roll-bar is coupled to the truss module via a bearing and includes a first section coupled to a second section via a U-joint. A rebound stop is coupled to the starting gate, wherein the rebound stop has a first portion mounted to the front door module which cooperates with a second portion coupled to the stall divider module.
Claims31
A horse race starting gate, comprising:
- a truss module, the truss module positioned in a first orientation;
- a door release module coupled to the truss module;
- a stall divider module coupled to the truss module;
- a front door coupled to the stall divider module;
- and
- a rebound stop having a first portion coupled to the front door and a second portion coupled to the stall divider module, the first portion having a first member for frictionally engaging the second portion.
A starting gate, comprising:
- a horse stall having first and second sides;
- a door coupled to the first side of the horse stall;
- and
- means for actuating the door, wherein said means for actuating includes a roll-bar coupled to the horse stall via a plurality of bearings, said roll-bar comprising:
- a first section coupled to a second section by a U-joint, wherein said roll-bar spans at most two bearings without a U-joint;
- means for rotating the roll-bar coupled to the horse stall;
- an articulated member extending from the roll-bar;
- and
- coupling bar coupled to the articulated member.
A starting gate, comprising:
- an overhead support structure;
- first and second stall dividers coupled to the overhead support structure, the first and second stall dividers having first and second ends, wherein the first ends of the first and second stall dividers are adjacent each other and the second ends of the first and second stall dividers are adjacent each other;
- a first set of doors coupled to the first ends of the first and second stall divider;
- a second set of doors coupled to the second ends of the first and second stall dividers;
- a door release mechanism coupled to the overhead support structure, the door release mechanism comprising:
- a roll-bar having a first section coupled to a second section by a U-joint, wherein said roll-bar spans at most two bearings without a U-joint;
- means for rotating the roll-bar coupled to the horse stall;
- a plurality of articulated members extending from the roll-bar;
- and
- a coupling bar coupled to each of the plurality of articulated members wherein
- a first coupling bar is coupled to a first door of the first set of doors and a second coupling bar is coupled to a second door of the first set of doors;
- and
- first and second rebound stops coupled to the first and second doors, respectively.
A horse race starting gate, comprising:
- a plurality of stall divider modules, plural of said plurality of stall divider modules comprising at least a front support column, a back support column and a plurality of lengthwise braces welded together as a unit prior to welding said stall divider module to a truss module;
- a truss module having a plurality of said stall divider modules welded thereto;
- a door release module coupled to the truss module;
- a front door coupled to the stall divider module;
- and
- a rebound stop having a first portion coupled to the front door and a second portion coupled to the stall divider module, the first portion having a first member for frictionally engaging the second portion.
A starting gate, comprising:
- a horse stall having first and second sides;
- a door coupled to the first side of the horse stall;
- a door latch;
- and
- means for actuating the door, wherein said means for actuating includes a roll-bar coupled to the horse stall via a plurality of bearings, said roll-bar comprising:
- a first shaft section coupled to a second shaft section by a U-joint, wherein said first shaft section spans no more than two bearings without a U-joint;
- means for rotating the roll-bar coupled to the horse stall;
- an arm extending from the roll-bar;
- and
- a coupling bar coupled between said arm and said door latch for actuating said door latch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.