Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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RODEO OR RIDING DEVICE
The invention relates to a rodeo or riding device including a rider
support supported on a carrier which is movable relative to a base by
the rider or by an actuating device in an elliptical and reciprocating
action for allowing the rider support also to be moved relative to the
base in the elliptical and reciprocating action.
Typical riding devices or rodeo training devices comprise a rider
support for supporting the users thereon, and a drive mechanism
having a crank arm coupled to the rider support to drive the rider
support and to simulate the bucking and/or spinning motions of a
rodeo animal attempting to unseat its rider.
For example, U.S. Patent No. 3,997,979 to Turner discloses one of
the typical rodeo training devices also comprising a drive
mechanism coupled to the rider support with a crank arm for
training cowboys to ride rodeo animals such as bulls and wild
horses.
Normally, the drive mechanism is coupled to the rider support with
the crank arm for actuating or moving or rotating the rider support.
In addition, the drive mechanism is solidly coupled to the rider
support with the crank arm, such that the rider support may not be
moved relative to the crank arm and the drive mechanism in an
elliptical and reciprocating action and also may not be moved
relative to the crank arm and the drive mechanism in different
moving stroke.
U.S. Patent No. 5,085,425 to Collins et al. discloses a typical
workout horse comprising a body portion having a support column
extended downwardly therefrom, and an upper frame attached to the
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support column, and a drive mechanism coupled between the upper
frame and a stationary base frame for moving the support column
and the body portion relative to the stationary base frame.
However, the support column and the body portion may not be
moved relative to the stationary base frame in an elliptical and
reciprocating action. In addition, the drive mechanism is also
solidly coupled between the upper frame and the stationary base
frame such that the support column and the body portion also may
not be moved relative to the stationary base frame in an elliptical
and reciprocating action and also may not be moved relative to the
stationary base frame in different moving stroke.
U.S. Patent No. 6,402,626 to Beaty discloses a typical bucking
machine also comprising a drive mechanism coupled to the rider
support with one or more crank arms and/or links and/or spin wheels
and/or spin shafts, and a rotating frame for supporting the rider
support for allowing the rider support to be driven to simulate the
bucking and/or spinning motions of a rodeo animal attempting to
unseat its rider.
However, the rotating frame may only be rotated relative to the
stationary base frame but not be moved relative to the stationary
base frame in an elliptical action and also may not be moved relative
to the stationary base frame in different moving stroke.
U.S. Patent No. 6,866,594 to Greenwood discloses a typical polo
training apparatus comprising a body portion having a lower frame
portion, and a drive mechanism coupled between the lower frame
portion of the body portion and a fixed frame for driving the lower
frame portion of the body portion to simulate the polo training
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operation.
However, the fixed frame and the lower frame portion of the body
portion may not be moved relative to the supporting ground or plane
in an elliptical and reciprocating action and also may not be moved
relative to the cranks and the swing arms of the drive mechanism in
different moving stroke.
U.S. Patent No. 6,964,614 to Tsai discloses a typical riding device
also comprising a seat plate coupled to a front spindle and a rear
spindle of a drive mechanism with cranks and swing arms
respectively, for driving the seat plate to simulate the bucking
and/or spinning motions of a rodeo animal attempting to unseat its
rider.
However, the seat plate is also solidly coupled to the drive
mechanism with the cranks and the swing arms, such that the seat
plate may not be moved relative to the cranks and the swing arms of
the drive mechanism in an elliptical and reciprocating action and
also may not be moved relative to the cranks and the swing arms of
the drive mechanism in different moving stroke.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a
rodeo or riding device including a rider support or saddle supported
on a carrier which is movable relative to a base by the user or by an
actuating device in an elliptical and reciprocating action for
allowing the rider support also to be moved relative to the base in
the elliptical and reciprocating action.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a riding device
comprising:-
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a base including a column and a stud extended upwardly from the
base,
a crank device rotatably attached to the stud of the base with an
axle and rotatable relative to the base in a cyclic and reciprocating
action,
a carrier including a front portion pivotally coupled to the column
of the base for swinging relative to the base, and including a rear
portion pivotally coupled to the crank device for moving cyclically
relative to the base and for swinging relative to the base and for
allowing the carrier to be moved in an elliptical and reciprocating
action relative to the base by the crank device, and
a rider support supported on the carrier and moved in concert with
the rider support for supporting a rider, and the carrier and the rider
support being movable relative to the base in an elliptical and
reciprocating action by the rider.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front and upper perspective view of a riding device in
accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a rear and upper perspective view of the riding device;
FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of the riding device;
FIG. 4 is another partial exploded view of the riding device;
FIG. 5 is a side plan schematic view of the riding device;
FIG. 6 is a side plan schematic view similar to FIG. 5, illustrating
the operation of the riding device; and
FIGS. 7, 8, 9 are side plan schematic views illustrating the other
arrangements of the riding device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
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Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a riding device comprises a stationary base
including such as an I-shaped structure for increasing the
stability of the base 10, and including a column 11 extended
upwardly therefrom, such as extended upwardly from one end or the
5 front portion 18 of the base 10, and including a stud 12 extended
upwardly therefrom, such as extended upwardly from the other end
or the rear portion 19 of the base 10, and including a crank device 13
or one or more (such as two) cranks 13 rotatably attached to or
supported on the base 10, such as rotatably attached to the stud 12
10 with an axle 14 and rotatable relative to the base 10 in a cyclic and
reciprocating action. A bearing or pivot pole 15 is attached to the
free end portion of each of the cranks 13.
A carrier 30 is to be supported on the base 10 and is to be moved
relative to the base 10 in an elliptical and reciprocating action, and
includes one or more (such as two) levers 31, 32 having one end or a
front portion coupled together with a front barrel 33 which is
pivotally coupled to the base 10, such as pivotally coupled to the
one end or the front portion or the front column 11 of the base 10
with a pivotal link 16 and a pivot pin 17, in which the pivotal link 16
is downwardly dependent on or from the front column 11 of the base
10 for allowing the one end or the front portion or the front barrel 33
of the carrier 30 to be pivoted or rotated relative to the front column
11 of the base 10 and to be moved forwardly and rearwardly relative
to the base 10 in a reciprocating action, best shown in FIGS. 5-6. It
is preferable that the carrier 30 includes a bar 34 coupled between
the middle portion of the levers 31, 32 for forming a stable or solid
structure to the carrier 30.
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The carrier 30 includes a rear end or rear portion 35 pivotally
coupled to the pivot poles 15 of the cranks 13 directly (FIG. 7) or
indirectly with a pendulum 50 for allowing the rear portion 35 of the
carrier 30 to be moved forwardly and rearwardly and upwardly and
downwardly or cyclically relative to the base 10 by or with the
cranks 13 (FIGS. 5-6) and also to be swung relative to the cranks 13
and the base 10 with the pendulum 50. A housing 36 is disposed on
the carrier 30, such as attached to or disposed on the bar 34 of the
carrier 30 and extended upwardly from the bar 34 of the carrier 30
for supporting a seat cushion or saddle or rider support 37 thereon in
order to support a rider 8 (FIGS. 5-6) on the rider support 37. For
example, the rider support 37 includes a post 38 extended
downwardly therefrom and slidably engaged into the housing 36 and
adjustable up and down relative to the housing 36 and the carrier 30,
and adjustably secured to the housing 36 and/or the carrier 30 with a
lock or latch device 39.
In operation, as shown in FIGS. 5-6, the rear portion 35 of the
levers 31, 32 or the carrier 30 may be moved forwardly and
rearwardly and upwardly and downwardly or cyclically relative to
the base 10 in the reciprocating action with the pivot poles 15 or the
cranks 13, and may also be moved or swung forwardly and
rearwardly relative to the base 10 in the reciprocating action with
the pendulum 50, and the one end or front portion or the front barrel
33 of the carrier 30 is pivotally coupled to the base 10 with the
pivotal link 16 and the pivot pin 17 for allowing the front portion or
the front barrel 33 of the carrier 30 to be moved forwardly and
rearwardly or to be swung relative to the base 10 in the reciprocating
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action such that the carrier 30 may be caused to move relative to the
base 10 in an elliptical and reciprocating action by the cranks 13 and
by the rider 8, and/or by the moment of inertia when the users or
riders 8 are stepped onto the carrier 30. The rider support 37 may be
moved or adjusted up and down along the housing 36 and relative to
the carrier 30 according to the different heights of the users or riders
8.
A weight member or fly wheel 20 is rotatably attached to the base
10, such as rotatably attached to the stud 12 of the base 10 with the
axle 14 for allowing the axle 14 and the cranks 13 and the fly wheel
to be rotated in concert with each other. A wheel or follower 21 is
also rotatably attached to the base 10, such as rotatably attached to
an extension 22 of the base 10 with a shaft 23, and the shaft 23 is
coupled to the fly wheel 20 with a coupling device 24 (FIG. 4), such
15 as a coupling belt 24, a gearing mechanism (not shown), a
sprocket-and-chain mechanism (not shown) or the like for allowing
the follower 21 to be rotated or driven relative to the base 10 by the
fly wheel 20. The coupling of the fly wheel 20 to the follower 21
may thus be formed or acted as a speed reduction mechanism.
20 The riding device further includes a driving or actuating means or
device 4 disposed and provided and arranged for coupling to the
cranks 13 in order to rotate the cranks 13 relative to the base 10 in
the cyclic and reciprocating action, or for moving the carrier 30 and
the rider support 37 relative to the base 10 in an elliptical and
reciprocating action, for example, the actuating means or device 4
includes a pair of levers 40 having a middle portion 41 rotatably or
pivotally attached to the base 10, such as rotatably attached to the
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stud 12 of the base 10 with a spindle 42, and having a first or rear
end or portion 43 pivotally coupled to the pivot poles 15 or the
cranks 13 with a beam 44 for allowing the cranks 13 and the axle 14
to be driven or rotated relative to the base 10 or the stud 12 by the
levers 40, and having a foot pedal 45 attached to the second or front
end or portion of each lever 40 for being stepped and depressed by
the rider 8.
In operation, as shown in FIGS. 5-6, the foot pedals 45 or the front
portions of the levers 40 may be stepped and depressed by the rider
8 to actuate the beams 44 to operate or to move the cranks 13 and
then to move the carrier 30 relative to the base 10 in the elliptical
and reciprocating action, and to allow the rider 8 to train or to
exercise his lower muscle groups, the fly wheel 20 and the follower
21 may apply a resistive force to the cranks 13 and the axle 14 and
the carrier 30. The levers 40 and/or the beams 44 may be operated as
a moving or actuating means for moving the carrier 30 and the rider
support 37 relative to the base 10 in the elliptical and reciprocating
action. The levers 40 each may include two or more segments or
sections solidly or detachably secured together.
The actuating means or device 4 may also be removed from the
base 10 (FIGS. 8, 9), and the carrier 30 may be caused to move
relative to the base 10 in an elliptical and reciprocating action by the
cranks 13 and by the rider 8, and/or by the moment of inertia when
the users or riders 8 are stepped onto the carrier 30 or are conducting
the rodeo or riding exercises.
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