Retractable Equine Blinker Cups for Adjustable Vision Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing equine control devices, such as blinkers and winkers, either fail to adequately focus a horse's vision on the racetrack or require constant jockey intervention, leading to potential performance issues and ethical concerns with whip use.
Innovation Solution
A retractable cup member system mounted on a hood that can be selectively activated by the jockey to restrict the horse's vision, allowing controlled focus on the racetrack when needed, with options for mechanical or electronic activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If blinkers are used to limit the horse's field of vision, then the horse's focus on the racetrack is improved, but the horse's ability to respond to jockey commands and conserve energy is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the blinker system adjustable and reconfigurable during the race. The cup members can be moved between different positions (retracted, partially extended, fully extended) to dynamically adapt the horse's field of vision based on the race situation and jockey commands, resolving the contradiction between maintaining focus and responding to commands.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the vision restriction function into multiple independent cup members that can be individually adjusted. This segmentation allows selective restriction of different parts of the horse's field of vision, enabling the jockey to maintain focus on the track while preserving peripheral vision for detecting jockey commands and surrounding conditions.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cheaters or winkers are used to partially limit the horse's field of vision, then the horse's distraction is reduced, but the horse's focus on the racetrack is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by allowing continuous adjustment of the cup members' extension position and orientation. This enables precise control over the degree and direction of vision restriction, transforming the fixed parameter approach of traditional cheaters/winkers into a variable system that can optimize focus while minimizing distraction.
3Measurement precision
If the jockey uses the whip to impact the horse's ability to focus, then the horse's focus on the racetrack is improved, but animal welfare concerns and ethical issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (the adjustable cup member system) that mediates between the jockey's control needs and the horse's focus requirements. This intermediary allows the jockey to control the horse's vision and focus without direct physical contact using the whip, reducing animal welfare concerns while maintaining effective control.
4Measurement precision
If constant jockey intervention is used to control the horse's vision, then the horse's focus is maintained, but the device complexity and jockey workload increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle through the spring-loaded automatic extension mechanism. When the cup members are released, they automatically extend to the desired position using stored elastic energy, eliminating the need for complex motorized systems or constant jockey intervention to maintain vision control.
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a control device for an equine, comprising a hood adapted to be positioned over a head of the equine, the hood having a pair of eye openings to accommodate the equine's eyes; a retractable cup member mounted at least partially about the eye openings of the hood; and an activation device mounted on said hood so as to be activated by a rider of the equine to move the retractable cup member between a non-activated state and an activated state; wherein when the retractable cup member is in the non-activated state the retractable cup member does not substantially restrict the field of vision of the equine and when the retractable cup member is in the activated state the retractable cup member restricts the field of vision of the equine.