Riding crop

Abstract

Riding crop (0) comprising a handle (1) extending lengthwise along a longitudinal axis (1x) of the handle and a shaft (2) extending lengthwise along a shaft axis (2x) passing through two longitudinal ends of the shaft (2), the handle (1) being mechanically connected to the shaft (2). In a plane in which said longitudinal axis (1x) of the handle (1) and said shaft axis (2x) extend, the longitudinal axis (1x) of the handle and the shaft axis (2x) form an angle (A) between 120 degrees and 175 degrees. FIGURE IN ABRIDGED DIAGRAM: [Fig. 2]

Description

Title of the invention: Riding crop

[0001] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of riding crops.

[0003] Riding crops of a type are known comprising a handle extending lengthwise along a longitudinal axis of the handle and a riding crop shaft extending lengthwise along a shaft axis passing through two longitudinal ends of the shaft, the handle being mechanically connected to the shaft.

[0004] The whip allows instructions to be transmitted to the mount by touching it with the whip, however the mount may be disturbed in the event of involuntary contact with the whip.

[0005] This may result in failure to transmit instructions / orders to the mount and unnecessary stress on the mount.

[0006] SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention aims in particular to at least partially reduce the aforementioned drawbacks associated with the whips of the prior art. Summary of the invention

[0008] To this end, according to the invention, there is provided a riding crop comprising a handle extending lengthwise along a longitudinal axis of the handle and a riding crop shaft extending lengthwise along a shaft axis passing through two longitudinal ends of the shaft, the handle being mechanically connected to the shaft, the riding crop according to the invention being essentially characterized in that in a plane in which said longitudinal axis of the handle and said shaft axis extend, the longitudinal axis of the handle and the shaft axis form an angle of between 120 degrees and 175 degrees.

[0009] Due to the salient angle, between 120 and 175 degrees, which is formed between the longitudinal axis of the handle and the rod axis (the rod axis being the axis which passes through the two longitudinal ends of the rod, whether this rod is straight or curved), the longitudinal axes of the handle and the rod are angularly offset (i.e. they are not coaxial).

[0010] This angle extending from the handle to the rod allows the rider mounted on the mount and holding the whip handle in one hand, with the rod of the whip extending from the little finger side of that hand, to perform an external rotation of the hand, i.e. a supination movement, while maintaining a distance between the side of the mount and the end of the rod (i.e. the end of the rod which is distal to the whip handle).

[0011] This angle allows during the supination movement of the hand carrying the whip to have a distance between the rod and the side of the mount which is greater than what it would be if the rider performed the same gesture with a straight whip in hand.

[0012] As a result, with the riding crop according to the invention, during the supination movement, the risk of the end of the rod, which is distal to the handle, involuntarily touching the frame is limited.

[0013] Thus, the rider can perform the supination movement which is particularly useful for transmitting instructions to the mount via one of the reins while limiting the risk of having involuntary contact between the whip and the flank of the mount.

[0014] The quality of communication with the mount is improved since there is less risk of having involuntary contact of the whip with the mount.

[0015] Supination is the external rotation movement of the forearm, bringing the palm of the hand from the bottom to the top when the forearm is horizontal.

[0016] During the supination movement of the hand, the radius and the ulna of the forearm become substantially parallel to each other, whereas during the pronation movement, the radius and the ulna gradually cross.

[0017] The whip according to the invention thus allows:

[0018] - an improvement in the rider's gestures and posture (the rider having less need to spread / pivot the arm carrying the whip to limit involuntary contact between the whip and the mount);

[0019] - to facilitate the supination movement of the hand carrying the riding crop (the riding crop curved not limiting the supination movement), which allows when turning, a supinated rein hold to guide the nose of the mount towards the side where the mount turns (the mount thus having an adapted / tangent curvature along the trajectory to follow);

[0020] - an improvement in the locomotion of the mount / horse (line locomotion straight, curved, two-track is no longer disturbed by involuntary orders resulting from involuntary contact with the whip); - an educational improvement (for example, children can learn the ideal position, called the “opening rein” with the palm upwards, nails towards the sky, paying less attention to the position of the whip rod); - facilitating landing on the right foot at the obstacle by allowing the “inner wrist to be opened” while maintaining a gap between the whip rod and the mount;

[0021] - to facilitate the supination of the rider's hand necessary for the orientation of the rein so that the tip of the horse's nose is on the side of the curve of the mount when seen from above.

[0022] The whip according to the invention also allows an improvement in animal welfare because it does not easily touch the mount but only when the rider wishes, for example by increasing the amplitude of the supination movement.

[0023] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the following description of particular and non-limiting embodiments of the invention. Brief description of the drawings

[0024] Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, among which:

[0025] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] depicts a rider sitting on a mount and carrying a riding crop right of the prior art;

[0026] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] describes the rider seated on the mount but carrying a riding crop according to the invention which has a salient angle A which is formed between the longitudinal axis of the handle and the axis of the rod, the axis of the rod passing through longitudinal / terminal ends of the rod (this angle A is between 120° and 175° and it is oriented away from the mount so as to move the terminal end of the riding crop away from the side of the mount);

[0027] [Fig.3a] [Fig.3a] shows a side view of the whip according to the invention observed along an observation direction perpendicular to the plane in which the longitudinal axis Ix of the handle 1 and the rod axis 2x extend, the salient angle A being apparent here, in this particular embodiment, the whip 0 comprises a flap 20 forming a terminal end of the whip 0, the flap 20 being secured to the distal end of the rod 2;

[0028] [Fig.3b] [Fig.3b] shows a front view of the whip 0 according to the invention illustrated in [Fig.3a], the whip being observed here in a direction of observation parallel to the plane in which the longitudinal axis Ix of the handle 1 and the axis of the rod 2x extend, this [Fig.3b] making it possible to illustrate the shape and arrangement of the clapper 20 relative to the rod 2;

[0029] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] shows a side view of the whip 0 according to the invention, in a particular embodiment where the whip comprises a mechanism 30 for adjusting the angle A formed between the handle 1 and the rod 2;

[0030] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] shows a side view of the whip 0 according to the invention, in a particular embodiment where the rod 2 of the whip 0 is curved in the plane in which the longitudinal axis Ix of the handle 1 and the axis of the rod 2x extend, the rod 2 is here fixed / embedded with respect to the handle but it could also be connected to the handle by an angle adjustment mechanism A like that illustrated in [Fig.4], DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] As indicated previously, and illustrated in Figures 2, 3a, 3b, 4 and 5 which show different embodiments of riding crop 0 according to the invention, the crop comprises:

[0032] - a handle 1 extending in length along a longitudinal axis Ix of the handle; And - a riding crop rod 2 extending in length along a rod axis 2x passing through two longitudinal ends of the rod 2, the handle 1 being mechanically connected with the rod 2.

[0033] In the various embodiments of the invention, the whip 0 is essentially characterized in that in a plane in which said longitudinal axis Ix of the handle 1 and said rod axis 2x extend, the longitudinal axis Ix of the handle and the rod axis 2x which are intersecting with each other form an angle A of between 120 degrees and 175 degrees.

[0034] This angle A extends around a point where the axes Ix and 2x intersect each other and it is measured from the handle axis Ix which passes inside the handle, to the rod axis 2x.

[0035] The advantage of the riding crop 0 according to the invention is apparent by comparing [Fig.l] which shows a rider using a straight riding crop of the prior art with [Fig.2] which shows the same rider, substantially in the same position as in [Fig.l], while using a riding crop 0 according to the invention.

[0036] In the ideal position for holding the reins 40 adopted in figures 1 and 2, the rider has his forearm substantially horizontal, the palm of the hand carrying the whip 0 is oriented upwards and the rod 2 of the whip extends towards the little finger of the hand.

[0037] As can be seen in [Fig.l], the rider has difficulty adopting this ideal position because the end C of the right riding crop of the prior art quickly comes into contact with the side F of the mount M during the supination movement of the hand carrying the riding crop.

[0038] In [Fig.l], when the rider wants to perform the supination movement, to avoid contact of the end C of the whip with the flank F, he must be particularly attentive and his hand must be moved away from the outside of the mount, the rider then moves away from the ideal position for holding the reins 40.

[0039] In the event of involuntary contact with the whip, the mount is unnecessarily stressed, which can generate stress.

[0040] The mount must learn to distinguish between contact with the whip associated with an order to be executed and involuntary contact which must be ignored by the mount.

[0041] Contrary to this, as illustrated in [Fig.2], with the riding crop 0 according to the invention which has an angular offset between the handle axis 1 and the rod axis 2, the rider can easily adopt / maintain the ideal position for holding the reins 40 without the terminal end C of the riding crop involuntarily coming into contact with the flank F of the mount M.

[0042] Thus, the mount is less stressed by unnecessary contact from the whip.

[0043] The rider can thus remain on his mount, in a natural position / position ideal reins holding position 40, also called the "opening rein" position, while holding the whip in hand and being more precise in the orders transmitted via the reins and via the whip.

[0044] The angle A formed between the longitudinal axis Ix of the handle 1 and the shaft axis 2c which extend in the same plane makes it possible to increase the capacity for movement in supination of the hand carrying the whip while keeping the end C of the whip at a distance from the side F of the frame M.

[0045] Preferably, said angle A is equal to 140 degrees to within plus or minus 5 degrees.

[0046] This particular angle value is considered suitable for the majority of rider morphologies (this particular angle value normally makes it possible to avoid contact of the rod with the rider's thigh).

[0047] In certain embodiments of the whip 0, such as those illustrated in figures 2, 3a, 3b, 4, the rod 2 is rectilinear, the rod axis 2x which passes through the longitudinal ends of the rod 2 extending in the rod, over the entire length of the rod.

[0048] This embodiment makes it easier to manufacture the rod 2 while making the riding crop easier to use.

[0049] Alternatively as illustrated in the embodiment of [Fig.5], the rod 2 is curved along its length between the longitudinal ends of the rod 2.

[0050] Although the manufacture of such a rod is made more complex, such a curved rod can have the advantage of adaptation to a particular rider's morphology.

[0051] The shape and amplitude of the curvature of the rod can be adapted to the morphology of the rider.

[0052] More particularly, as illustrated in the embodiment of the whip of [Fig.5], the curvature of the rod may be in the form of a concave arc whose concavity is oriented opposite the longitudinal axis Ix of the handle 1.

[0053] This embodiment is interesting because the end of the rod can come to tangent the flank F of the mount M to have a progressive contact of the rod against the flank.

[0054] In certain embodiments of the whip 0 such as that illustrated in [Fig.4], the handle 1 can be mechanically connected to the rod 2 by means of an adjustment mechanism 30 of said angle A.

[0055] This adjustment mechanism 30 selectively adopts an angle adjustment configuration in which the angle A can be adjusted and a whip use configuration in which the angle A is kept invariant.

[0056] This adjustment mechanism 30 is useful for adapting the value of the angle to the rider's needs.

[0057] This angle adjustment mechanism 30 A is preferably arranged to allow pivoting of the rod 2 relative to the handle 1 around a pivot axis Y perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Ix of the handle 1.

[0058] In this embodiment, the whip is preferably provided with a locking mechanism selectively adopting a locking configuration in which said pivoting of the rod relative to the handle is prohibited and a release configuration in which said pivoting of the rod relative to the handle is permitted.

[0059] Thus, the locking mechanism in the locking configuration maintains the whip in said whip use configuration and the locking mechanism in the release configuration maintains the whip in said angle adjustment configuration A.

[0060] As illustrated in the embodiment of [Fig.4], the adjustment mechanism 30 of said angle A is preferably arranged to allow pivoting of the rod 2 relative to the handle 1 around a pivot axis Y perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Ix of the handle.

[0061] The adjustment mechanism 30 may have a portion secured to the handle 1 and a portion secured to one end of the rod 2 on the handle 1 side.

[0062] One of these portions of the adjustment mechanism 30 may comprise a yoke provided with an end slot in which a proximal end of the other of these portions is mounted as a yoke so that these portions can pivot relative to each other around said perpendicular axis Y.

[0063] In this example, the adjustment mechanism 30 may comprise a clamping axis of the yoke which is at least partially threaded to adjust the width of the slot as a function of a tightening torque applied to the clamping axis, this clamping axis defining said perpendicular axis Y.

[0064] Thus, the clamping axis is arranged to transmit a force promoting friction of the internal faces of the yoke against external faces of the proximal end of said yoke-mounted portion.

[0065] Optionally, the clamping axis can pass through the yoke and through the proximal end of the rod 2, extending along said pivot axis Y perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Ix of the handle 1.

[0066] Optionally, the locking mechanism may comprise complementary surfaces formed on the slot and on the portion mounted as a yoke in the slot, these complementary surfaces forming obstacles opposing the pivoting of the rod 2 relative to the handle 1 when these complementary surfaces are brought into contact with each other under the effect of a clamping force exerted by the clamping axis.

[0067] Optionally, the clamping axis may have, on one side, a head for receiving a clamping tool for forcing the pivoting of the clamping axis and a threaded end into a complementary tapping formed in one of the sides of the yoke.

[0068] In the example illustrated in [Fig.4], the head of the clamping shaft has slots for receiving a tightening torque transmitted via a cruciform end of a clamping tool.

[0069] The riding crop, as illustrated in [Fig.5], may have a wrist strap arranged (near the handle) to pass around the rider's wrist while the rider holds the handle in his hand.

[0070] The wrist strap allows the whip to be held when the user releases the handle 1.

[0071] Such a wrist strap can be used in any embodiment of the riding crop according to the invention.

[0072] Still to improve the ergonomics of the riding crop, the handle 1 may have a flexible surface to provide a non-slip character when it is held in the hand.

[0073] As illustrated in Figures 3a to 5, the handle preferably has first and second obstacles 51, 52 which each extend lengthwise along the longitudinal axis of the handle.

[0074] These first and second obstacles 51, 52 are placed on either side of the handle 1 to oppose a rotation of the handle 1 along its longitudinal axis Ix when the user holds the handle tight between the palm and the fingers of his hand.

[0075] With this arrangement, one of the first and second obstacles may be in contact against the palm of the gripping hand while the other of these obstacles is in contact against the fingers of the gripping hand.

[0076] Thus, the handle makes it possible to maintain a stable orientation of the rod 2 relative to the hand in order to correctly orient the whip.

[0077] The orientation of the obstacles 51, 52 relative to the rod 2 may possibly be variable.

[0078] For this purpose, the obstacles 51, 52 can be formed on an annular ring 53 arranged around a central part 54 of the handle 1.

[0079] This annular ring 53 is shaped: - to be able to turn with respect to the central part 54 of the handle while the hand does not exert any tightening force on the ring; and - to prevent the ring 53 from rotating relative to the central part 54 when the ring 53 is tightened manually (the tightening generates a friction force between the ring 53 and the central part 54).

[0080] The ergonomic handle allows the user to easily find the stable and ideal position of the rod in relation to his hand.

[0081] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the terminal / longitudinal end C of the whip may be formed by the terminal / longitudinal end of the distal rod 2 of the handle 1.

[0082] Alternatively, as illustrated in Figures 3a, 3b, 4, and 5, the terminal / longitudinal end C of the whip may be formed by a clapper 20 attached to the terminal / longitudinal end of the rod 2 which is distal from the handle 1.

[0083] This flap 20 is preferably of flattened shape and preferably extends in width in a direction which is perpendicular to said plane in which said longitudinal axis of the handle and said rod axis extend.

[0084] The clapper 20 is wider than the rod 2 which allows a distribution of the forces against the side F of the frame compared to the case where the forces would be distributed only via the rod 2.

[0085] In the present case, the flapper 20 has a flattened shape and widens in width towards the terminal / longitudinal end C of the whip which is distal from the handle.

[0086] Finally, the rod 2 is preferably flexible and elastic in longitudinal flexion which allows it to be given a dynamic appearance.

[0087] For this purpose and without this being limiting of the invention, the rod may be made up of fibers extending lengthwise along the rod and a polymer-type binder connecting these fibers together.

[0088] For example, these fibers can be glass or carbon fibers and the binder is for example a polyester.

[0089] It is also contemplated that the rod may be made of wood and / or leather, with the handle being made of a polymer material and / or wood and / or leather (such as braided leather).

[0090] The connection between the handle and the rod can be made, for example, using an intermediate piece.

[0091] This intermediate part may be made of a material other than the material constituting the rod and / or the material constituting the handle.

[0092] The intermediate piece may be made of metal or polymer material.

[0093] In the case of a rod / handle connection with an intermediate part, for example made of polymer material, it can be envisaged that a material constituting the deformable part is plastically deformable:

[0094] - above a predetermined minimum adjustment force / torque applied between the handle and the rod so as to allow a variation of said angle A; and / or

[0095] - above a minimum deformation temperature of the polymer material (thus, the intermediate rod / handle connecting piece can be heated to adjust the angle A and then cooled to fix an invariable angle A value).

[0096] In the case where the rod and the handle are made of wood, the rod and the handle could be a single piece of curved wood, for example by a steam heat treatment process or a plurality of pieces of wood glued together or braided together.

Claims

Claims

1. Riding crop (0) comprising a handle (1) extending in length along a longitudinal axis (Ix) of the handle and a riding crop shaft (2) extending in length along a shaft axis (2x) passing through two longitudinal ends of the shaft (2), the handle (1) being mechanically connected to the shaft (2), characterized in that in a plane in which said longitudinal axis (Ix) of the handle (1) and said shaft axis (2x) extend, the longitudinal axis (Ix) of the handle and the shaft axis (2x) form an angle (A) of between 120 degrees and 175 degrees and in that the handle has first and second obstacles (51, 52) each extending in length along the longitudinal axis (Ix) of the handle (1),these first and second obstacles being placed on either side of the handle to oppose a rotation of the handle along its longitudinal axis when the user keeps the handle clamped between the palm and the fingers of his gripping hand, said first obstacle then being located between the palm and the ends of the fingers of said gripping hand.

2. A riding crop according to claim 1, wherein said angle (A) is equal to 140 degrees plus or minus 5 degrees.

3. A riding crop according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the shaft is straight.

4. A riding crop according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein between the longitudinal ends of the rod (2), the rod (2) is curved along its length.

5. Riding crop according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the handle (1) is mechanically connected with the rod (2) via an adjustment mechanism (30) of said angle (A) selectively adopting an angle adjustment configuration in which the angle (A) can be adjusted and a crop use configuration in which the angle (A) is kept invariant.

6. Riding crop according to claim 5, in which the adjustment mechanism (30) of said angle (A) is adapted to allow pivoting of the rod relative to the handle around a pivot axis (Y) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (Ix) of the handle (1).

7. A riding crop according to claim 6, comprising a locking mechanism selectively adopting a locking configuration in which said pivoting of the rod relative to the handle is prohibited and a release configuration in which said pivoting of the rod relative to the handle is permitted, the locking mechanism in the locking configuration maintaining the whip in its whip use configuration and the locking mechanism in the release configuration maintaining the whip in the angle adjustment configuration (A).

8. Riding crop according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the handle (1) is mechanically connected with the rod (2) by means of an intermediate part made of at least one plastically deformable material above a predetermined minimum adjustment torque applied between the handle and the rod so as to allow a variation of said angle A.

9. A riding crop according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the handle has a soft surface to provide a non-slip character when gripped in the hand.

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