Hinged Safety Stirrup With Guide Arm For Foot Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing horse riding stirrups fail to ensure immediate and secure release of the rider's foot during a fall, with prior safety stirrups either being ineffective in preventing foot entrapment or requiring sufficient lateral pressure for release, leading to potential injuries.
Innovation Solution
A safety stirrup design featuring a second side arm hinged around a rotation axis, with a safety arm that rotates to guide the foot out and prevent reentry, utilizing elastic or magnetic means to ensure reliable disengagement without hindrance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hinged side arm is used to enable lateral disengagement of the user's foot, then safety is improved by allowing foot release, but the foot may be caught between the two components when the stirrup opens
Solution Approach 1:
A safety arm is introduced as an intermediary component between the hinged side arm and the user's foot. This safety arm actively guides the foot during the opening movement and prevents it from being caught between the components, thereby resolving the contradiction between enabling foot release and preventing foot entrapment
2Reliability
If the stirrup frame structure opens to release the foot, then safety is improved, but the movable arms may return the user's foot inside the stirrup frame structure if lateral opening pressure is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The safety arm performs preliminary action by guiding the foot outward during the opening movement before the stirrup frame fully opens. This preliminary guidance ensures the foot is positioned outside the frame structure and prevents subsequent reentry, even when lateral opening pressure is insufficient
3Reliability
If elastic or magnetic means are used to ensure reliable disengagement, then safety is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The safety arm is designed to utilize the existing lateral opening pressure from the user's foot to activate the disengagement mechanism. The system serves itself by converting the user's natural movement during a fall into the force needed to open the stirrup, eliminating the need for additional elastic or magnetic components and reducing manufacturing complexity
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The present invention relates to a safety stirrup (1) for horse riding, comprising a frame structure (2) provided with a portion (3) for hooking to a stirrup strap, a support element (4) for the user's foot, and a first side arm (6) adapted to rigidly connect a first edge portion (4A) of said support element (4) to said hooking portion (3). Said stirrup (1) also comprises a second arm (7) extending between a second edge portion (4B) of said support element (4) and said hooking portion (3) to define a stirrup opening (20) adapted to be engaged, when in use, by the user's foot. Said second side arm (7) is hinged with a first end portion (7A) to said frame structure (2) and being rotatably movable between a closed position, in which said second side arm (7) laterally defines said stirrup opening (20), and an open position, wherein a free end (7B) of said second side arm (7), opposite said joint end portion (7A), is spaced from said frame structure (2), allowing the sidewise exit of the user's foot from said stirrup opening (20). In particular, said safety stirrup (1) also comprises a safety arm (8) rigidly connected to said second side arm (7) at said end portion (7A) and movable integrally therewith in the passage between said closed position and said open position to guide the exit of the user's foot and to prevent it from accidentally re-entering.