Horseback Riding Safety System with Electromechanical Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current horseback riding safety systems fail to provide adequate balance and mobility for riders, often restricting movement and not effectively preventing falls or releasing the rider in case of a horse's instability, and lack adaptability to different horse and rider sizes.

Innovation Solution

A safety system comprising a belt with a quick lock fastener and electromechanical mechanism, adjustable structure with L-shaped sections, and position sensors that automatically release the rider upon falling and can be adapted to various horse and rider sizes through adjustable components like Hirth couplings and telescopic bars.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rigid belt is used to keep the rider in the saddle, then the rider is prevented from falling, but the rider's movement and learning are greatly limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverider safetyVSAvoidrider movement freedom
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic elements including telescopic bars that can extend and retract, articulated rigs with rotational joints, and elastic bands that provide flexible connection. These dynamic components allow the safety system to adapt to the rider's movements while maintaining safety, resolving the contradiction between rigid protection and movement freedom.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If long securing straps are used to allow rider movement up and down while trotting, then the rider can move freely, but the rider cannot be prevented from falling laterally

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverider movement freedomVSAvoidlateral fall prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs asymmetric anchoring with a front anchor positioned forward and rear anchors positioned backward, creating a triangular stabilization configuration. This asymmetric arrangement provides both vertical movement freedom through long straps and lateral fall prevention through the geometric stability of the anchored configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Reliability

If two rear anchors are used to protect against lateral falls and forward falls, then lateral and forward fall protection is improved, but the rider is not prevented from falling backwards and is kept in suspension indefinitely

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral and forward fall protectionVSAvoidrider position recovery
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a quick-release mechanism that is pre-configured and ready to activate automatically upon detection of a fall condition. Position sensors detect the rider's position and trigger the release mechanism beforehand, allowing rapid deployment that prevents the rider from being suspended indefinitely and enables quick position recovery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If side reels are used to deploy belts when the rider stands up and take them in when the rider sits down, then the belts adapt to rider position, but the rider's movement is delayed or stopped

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebelt deployment adaptationVSAvoidrider movement speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical reel system with an elastic band connection system. The elastic bands naturally extend and retract based on rider movement without mechanical intervention, eliminating the delay and stopping effect caused by reel mechanisms while maintaining adaptability to rider position changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

5Stability of the object's composition

If securing means are incorporated in the saddle itself, then the safety system is integrated, but the saddle becomes complex and cannot be used by riders who do not require this feature

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem integrationVSAvoidsaddle complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the safety system into separate modular components: an independent adjustable structure with anchors that can be positioned on or near the saddle, and a separate belt system with quick-release mechanisms. This segmentation allows the safety features to be added or removed independently of the saddle, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining integration where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system maintains rider balance and mobility while preventing falls in any direction, automatically releasing the rider from the harness during horse instability and accommodating different horse and rider dimensions, enhancing safety and learning efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

position sensors that automatically release the rider upon falling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPosition sensing: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

The solenoid (60) is susceptible to actuating to open said clasp

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic actuation: Solenoid

Data Source

PatentEP2769955B1Safety system for horseback riding
Publication Date: 2016.06.01 RODRIGUEZ OJEDA RODRIGO
  • EP2769955B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2769955B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2769955B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a safety system for horseback riding which keeps the rider balanced on the saddle, comprising: - a belt (4) - a clasp (6) consisting of an electromechanical mechanism that can be coupled to the ends of the belt, - a position sensor (8) operatively connected with the clasp, such that it can open or close it, and - an adjustable structure comprising two L-shaped sections (1) joined to one another at their top part, such that once they are connected to one another, they have a parallel horizontal sector (1'), and a vertical sector (1") at the end of which both L-shaped sections are joined; the adjustable structure comprising two rigs (2) where each rig is joined in an articulated manner to the free end of the horizontal sector of each L-shaped section by means of an anchoring element (3), such that the belt is joined to the rigs by means of at least one band (5) and the clasp is joined to the adjustable structure.