Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SHOCK ABSORBING ROPE INSERT FOR LIVESTOCK
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The
present application, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 111(b), claims the benefit
of the earlier filing date of provisional application Serial No. 61/959,304
filed August 20,
2013, and entitled "Shock Absorbing Rope" and of provisional application
Serial No.
61/904,692 filed November 15, 2013, and entitled -Shock Absorbing Rope Insert
for
Livestock."
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002]
The present invention relates to a flexible rope insert that allows for
limited stretching of the rope when roping livestock. This flexible rope
insert cushions
the shock load on horses and cattle that are stopped abruptly with a rope.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0003]
Rodeo contests have become popular in recent years, particularly in the
western states of the United States, and many cowboys and other western riders
have
become highly skilled in the performance of certain cattle handling feats,
such as
bulldogging, steer-roping, and calf-roping. Roping, for example, is
increasingly popular
as a family sport and today there are more than 100,000 members in the United
States
Team Roping Association. Ropers often exhibit their skills in competitions
where they
actively compete with each other for prize money before large audiences during
rodeo
perforniances.
[0004] For
example, the act of team roping consists of a header (horn roper) that
catches the horns of a steer and a heeler who ropes the heels (hind legs) of
the steer. The
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header catches the horns of the steer and begins leading the steer, so that
the steer is
positioned and available for the heeler to rope its hind legs. Sometimes when
the header
ropes the horns of the steer, the steer is stopped very abruptly causing
injury to the steer
and sometimes to the withers and fetlocks of the horse as well.
[0005] A need
exists for an improved means of roping steers and other livestock
to minimize the shock load on both the calf or steer being roped and the horse
from
which the calf or steer is roped from in order to avoid injuring either
animal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The
present invention provides a flexible rope insert having an elasticized
central portion that is capable of stretching. This stretchable rope insert
allows for
limited stretching of the rope when an animal is roped. This flexible rope
insert cushions
the shock load on a steer or other animal that is stopped too abruptly with a
rope.
[0007]
One embodiment of the present invention is a shock absorbing rope insert
including: a) a first annular end loop and a second annular end loop, wherein
each end
loop has an opening; b) an expandable shock cord joining the first and second
end loops,
wherein the shock cord is wound multiple times between the opening in the
first end loop
and the opening in the second end loop, wherein a first end and a second end
of the
wound shock cord are joined; and c) a stretchable elastomeric cover fitted to
cover the
wound shock cord and a portion of the first and second end loops.
[0008]
Another embodiment of the present invention is a shock absorbing rope
insert including: a) a first end loop and a second end loop, wherein each end
loop is
rounded with an opening; b) an expandable shock cord joining the first and
second end
loops, wherein the shock cord is wound multiple times between the opening in
the first
end loop and the opening in the second end loop, wherein a first end and a
second end of
the wound shock cord are joined and wherein the shock cord expands between 50%
and
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200% in length under a 500 pound force; and d) a stretchable elastomeric cover
fitted to
cover the wound shock cord and a portion of the first and second end loops.
[0009]
Yet another embodiment of the invention is a method of roping a steer
including the steps of: a) obtaining a shock absorbing rope insert, wherein
the rope insert
includes i) a first annular end loop and a second annular end loop, wherein
each end loop
has an opening; ii) an expandable shock cord joining the first and second end
loops,
wherein the shock cord is wound multiple times between the opening in the
first end loop
and the opening in the second end loop and wherein a first end and a second
end of the
wound shock cord are joined; and iii) a stretchable elastomeric cover fitted
to cover the
wound shock cord and a portion of the first and second end loops; b)
connecting the first
end loop of the rope insert to a first end of a lariat; and c) lassoing a
steer with a noose at
a second end of the lariat; whereby the expansion of the rope insert when the
steer is
lassoed reduces the likelihood of injury to the steer and the roping horse.
[0010]
Still another embodiment of the invention is a method of reducing injuries
I 5 to a horse and a steer during team roping, the method including the
steps of: a) obtaining
a shock absorbing rope insert, wherein the rope insert includes i) a first
annular end loop
and a second annular end loop, wherein each end loop has an opening; ii) an
expandable
shock cord joining the first and second end loops, wherein the shock cord is
wound
multiple times between the opening in the first end loop and the opening in
the second
end loop and wherein a first end and a second end of the wound shock cord are
joined
and wherein the expandable shock cord elongates from 50% to 200% in length
under a
500 pound force; and iii) a stretchable elastomeric cover fitted to cover the
wound shock
cord and a portion of the first and second end loops; b) connecting the first
end loop of
the rope insert to a first end of a lariat; and c) connecting the second end
loop to the
saddle horn of a heeler horse; and d) lassoing the legs of a steer or a calf
with a noose at
a second end of the lariat; whereby the expansion of the rope insert when the
steer is
lassoed reduces the likelihood of injury to the steer and heeler horse.
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[0011] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly several aspects
of the present
invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows
may be better
understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be
described
hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should
be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific
embodiment
disclosed might be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or redesigning
the structures
for carrying out the same purposes as the invention. It should be realized by
those skilled
in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit
and scope of the
invention as set forth in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] For a more complete understanding of the present
invention, and the
advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken
in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0013] FIGURE IA is an oblique view taken of one embodiment of the rope
insert.
[0014] FIGURE 1B is an oblique view of an end section of one
embodiment of
the rope insert.
[0015] FIGURE 2 is an oblique view of the interior components of
the rope inset.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Embodiments of the present invention include a flexible
rope insert having
an elasticized central portion that is capable of stretching. This stretchable
rope insert
allows for limited stretching of the rope when an animal is roped. This
flexible rope insert
cushions the shock load on a steer or other animal that is stopped abruptly
with a rope.
[0017] One embodiment of the rope insert 100, which lessens the
sudden impact
on an animal that is abruptly stopped when it is roped, is illustrated in
Figure 1. The rope
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insert 100 has two end loops 110 and a central portion 120. The rope insert
100 is
covered with an elastomeric material 130 that is stretchable.
[0018]
The insert interior 200 (i.e., the rope insert of Figure 1 without its outer
covering 130) is shown in Figure 2. The insert interior 200 also exhibits two
end
loops 210 and a central portion 230.
[0019]
The end loops 110 are typically circular or oval in shape and are
connected by the central portion 230. In addition, the end loops 110 are made
of a strong
material that is resistant to ultraviolet degradation and that is climate and
wear resistant.
The end loops 110 should have minimal stretching ability; preferably the end
loops will
not elongate more than 10% under a pressure force of at least 500 pounds.
[0020]
One embodiment of the end loops 110 is seen in Figure 1A. The internal
structure of this embodiment of the end loop 110 is shown in Figure 2. This
embodiment
of the end loop 210 is made of a strong cord material 202 such as parachute
cord. The
selected cord 202 exhibits minimal stretching ability and does not elongate
more than
10% when 500 pounds of force are applied to the ends of the cord material.
Each end
loop 210 is made by coiling a length of the cord material 202 multiple times
to form a
roughly oval loop with an opening. Although the number of coils of the cord
material
selected for each end loop 210 may vary widely, typically each end loop 210
will contain
three to six coils of the cord material 202.
[0021] Once the
cord material 202 has been coiled, the two ends of the cord
material are joined together using a square knot or any other joining means
known to one
skilled in the art. Two opposed sides of the coils of the cord material of
each end
loop 210 are pulled away from each other and are optionally wrapped, or double
wrapped, in a sturdy material for wear protection (e.g., a heat shrink
material). The two
end loops 210 are connected by the central portion of the rope insert as
illustrated in
Figure 2.
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[0022]
Another embodiment of the end loops 110 is seen in Figure 1B. This
embodiment of the end loop 110 is a metal ring. The metal rings are stable to
climate
conditions and are very wear resistant.
[0023]
The end loops 110, either the wrapped cord embodiment or the metal ring
embodiment. are joined by multiple loosely wound coils of a shock cord 230.
The shock
cord 230 is wound through the center opening of each end loop 110 for a
selected number
of coils. Although the number of coils of the shock cord used may vary widely,
typically
the shock cord 230 will be wound through the center of each end loop 110 from
three to
six times. The length of the wound shock cord is variable, but should be at
least two to
three times the diameter of the opening of one of the end loops.
[0024]
Once the two end loops 110 are connected with the shock chord windings,
the two ends of the shock cord 230 are joined using a square knot 240 or any
other
joining means known to one skilled in the art. The windings of the shock cord
230 are
typically held together by an elastomeric material 250, such as large rubber
bands. In
addition, the shock cord is optionally stabilized by joining one strand of the
shock cord,
on each side of the joining means 240, with an adjoining strand of the shock
cord using
an elastomeric material 260, which is the same or different from the material
250 used to
hold all of the windings of the shock cord together.
[0025]
The shock cord 230 must be flexible, strong and elastic. The shock
cord 230 must be able to elongate from 50% to 200% (i.e., a 10 inch length of
shock cord
must be able to elongate to a length of 15 inches to 30 inches) when subjected
to a 500
pound force. Preferably, the shock cord 230 will elongate 100% to 140% (i.e.,
a 10 inch
length of shock cord would be able to elongate to a length of 20 inches to 24
inches)
under a 500 pound force. For example, an elasticized rope such as a bungee
cord may be
used as the shock cord 230. However, any engineered stretchable cord that
meets the
requirements for the shock cord 230 may be used.
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[0026] Once the insert interior 200 is assembled the insert
interior is covered with
a stretchable elastomeric material 130. One example of a suitable elastomeric
material is
ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber, or EPDM. The stretchable elastomeric
material 130 must be able to stretch or elongate at least 100% and will
preferably
elongate from 150% to 400% under a 500 pound force. In addition, whatever
stretchable
material is used to cover the rope insert 100, it should be heat, ozone, and
weather
resistant.
[0027] Typically, the insert interior 200 is inserted into a
tubular elastomeric
material. The ends of the tubular elastomeric material are altered to cover
the entire rope
insert interior 200, except for a portion of each end loop. The wrapped rope
insert 100 is
shown in Figure 1A.
[0028] If the end loops 110 are made of a non-metallic material,
the portion of
each end loop that is not wrapped in the outer elastomeric wrap 130 is
typically covered
with a durable material. The end loop wrap 140, such as shown in Figure 2, is
typically a
flexible but minimally stretchable material that is climate and wear
resistant.
[0029] USE OF THE ROPE INSERT
[0030] The rope insert 100 is attached to a rope or lariat for
use in roping
livestock. The rope insert 100 is particularly used in certain rodeo events
such as team
roping, calf roping, and the like. Ropes having the rope insert 100 are also
used to tie up
horses or other livestock that are prone to pull back. The rope insert is much
needed for
the health and humane treatment of horses and cattle. The rope insert has been
endorsed
by ropers, veterinarians, horse trainers and stock contractors.
[0031] The rope insert 100 may be attached to a lariat or rope at
either end of the
rope or at any position in the central length of the rope. A lariat is defined
herein as a
rope having a noose at one end that is used to rope livestock. The end loops
110 are
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generally very similar or identical so that the rope insert 100 is typically
non-directional
in its attachment.
[0032]
The rope insert is often used in rodeo roping events with one end loop 110
attached to a lariat and the opposed end loop 110 attached to the saddle horn
either by a
quick release mechanism or by a rope that goes around the saddle horn. For
example in
team roping events, the roped calf or steer undergoes high pressure jerks that
can injure
the animal. In addition, the heeler horse often sustains injuries to its
fetlocks or withers
with the abrupt high pressures that the heeler horse experiences when a hard
running calf
or steer's legs are roped and the calf or steer is suddenly stopped. The use
of the rope
insert 100 significantly reduces the force of these high pressure jerks and
prevents horse
inj uries.
[0033]
Another use for the rope insert 100 is in training colts that tend to pull
back into standing up and minding. One end loop 110 is attached to the colt's
halter and
the other end loop to a fence such that as the colt tries to pull back a
light, constant
pressure on the halter is applied until the colt walks forward.
[0034]
When the rope insert 100 is used the shock cord 230 must be able to
stretch and act as a shock absorber. Of course, after the roped animal has
been released
the shock cord 230 must retract to its no load position.
[0035]
A variety of modifications to the rope insert 100 can be made without
departing from the spirit of the invention.
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