Adjustable Cross Piece Socket Assembly for Equestrian Jumps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing jump structures for equestrian competitions do not allow for adjustable cross piece bars without removal, leading to potential falls and delays in competitions due to fixed heights and inability to secure bars against varying impact forces.
Innovation Solution
A cross piece socket assembly that secures and releases cross piece bars based on impact forces, featuring a cradle socket that retains the bar during normal jumps and releases it when impact forces exceed safe limits, allowing for adjustable heights without removing the bar, using a hoop support with rest brackets for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cross piece bars are fixed in place permanently, then stability and reliability are improved, but adaptability for height adjustment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cross piece bar is designed to transition between fixed and movable states dynamically. During normal operation, the bar remains securely fixed in the cradle socket, providing stability. When impact forces exceed the retention threshold, the bar automatically releases and becomes movable, falling away to prevent horse injury. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between fixed stability and adjustable adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the retention parameter of the cross piece bar based on impact force magnitude. The cradle socket is designed with specific geometric parameters (depth, width, angle) that create a retention force sufficient for normal jumps but insufficient for excessive impacts. This parameter-based control allows the bar to maintain stability during normal use while automatically becoming adjustable (releasable) when safety thresholds are exceeded.
2Reliability
If cross piece bars are secured firmly against impact forces, then reliability is improved, but safety deteriorates due to inability to release during excessive impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful effect of excessive impact forces into a beneficial automatic release mechanism. When impact forces exceed safe thresholds, the cradle socket's design causes the cross piece bar to release automatically, transforming the potentially harmful fixed barrier into a safe, removable obstacle that prevents horse and rider injury.
Solution Approach 2:
The cross piece bar transitions from a static, firmly secured state to a movable, fallen state based on impact force dynamics. The cradle socket is designed to provide firm retention during normal impacts while automatically releasing during excessive impacts, creating a dynamic safety system that adapts to the severity of the force applied.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cross piece bars are removed and repositioned for height adjustment, then adaptability is improved, but time consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service functionality where the cross piece bar automatically positions itself during adjustment. When the hoop support is moved to a different height location, the bar remains retained in the cradle socket and is automatically positioned at the new height without requiring removal, manual handling, or reinstallation. This eliminates the time-consuming operations of traditional bar removal and repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the adjustment function from the bar retention function. The hoop support structure is designed to be independently movable along the post, while the cross piece bar remains securely retained in the cradle socket. This segmentation allows the support structure to be repositioned without affecting the bar, enabling quick height adjustments without bar removal.
4Reliability
If multiple users are required for bar removal and repositioning, then operational safety is improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service operation where a single user can perform height adjustments independently. The cradle socket design automatically retains the cross piece bar during the entire adjustment process, eliminating the need for multiple users to support or stabilize the bar. The user simply moves the hoop support to the desired location, and the system handles the bar retention and positioning automatically.
Data Source
AI summary
A cross piece socket assembly includes a first resting bracket spaced from a second resting bracket. The cross piece socket assembly further includes at least one hoop support. The hoop support includes a hoop anchor portion selectively engageable with one of the first and second resting brackets. First and second arms extend from the hoop anchor portion. A cradle socket is fixed between the first and second arms, and the cradle socket is configured to secure the cross piece bar within the cradle socket where the cross piece bar is struck with an impact force less than an impact force capable of causing a horse or rider to fall. When repositioning the cross piece bar at a different height the hoop anchor portion is disengaged from the first resting bracket and moved to the second restring bracket with the cross piece bar continuously secured in the cradle socket.