Stationary Roping Practice Target Apparatus

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/631,621 filed Apr. 9, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

These teachings relate generally to roping practice.

Team roping is a rodeo event that requires two riders on horseback, the so-called “header” and the “heeler.” The event begins with a steer (typically larger than a calf) being released from a chute. The header is the first to act, with the goal of roping the steer around the horns, neck, or a combination thereof. After a successful head catch, the header wraps the rope around the saddle horn (called “dallying”) and turns the steer to expose its hind legs.

The heeler then attempts to rope both of the steer's hind legs. Catching just one leg incurs a time penalty. Team roping requires coordination and speed, and the clock stops when both riders have completed their catches, the steer is secured, and their horses are facing each other, pulling the ropes tight. Team roping is a direct reflection of the skills historically needed on ranches for catching and restraining cattle for branding or medical treatment.

Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale (though suggested dimensions for some embodiments may be shown in the drawings). For example, the visually apparent sizes and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the FIG.s may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present teachings. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment may not be depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present teachings. Certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein. The word “or” when used herein shall be interpreted as having a disjunctive construction rather than a conjunctive construction unless otherwise specifically indicated.

Generally speaking, these various embodiments provide a stationary roping practice target apparatus that simulates at least a portion of a running animal to serve as a roping practice target. By one approach, this stationary roping practice target apparatus can comprise a frame configured to rest on a substantially flat surface during use of the stationary roping practice target apparatus, a motor attached to that frame, and first and second leg appendages that are pivotally attached to the frame and that are operably coupled to the motor. When the motor is operating during use of the stationary roping practice target apparatus, these leg appendages move cyclically between forward positions and rearward positions to thereby imitate the rear legs of a running animal and thereby provide a realistic roping practice target.

By one approach, the apparatus can also include at least one spring configured to bias the first and second leg appendages towards the aforementioned rearward position.

The stationary roping practice target apparatus can include a portable power supply that is supported by the frame and that is selectively connectable to the motor via a switch that is also supported by the frame. So configured, power can be selectively provided to the motor via operation of the switch.

By one approach, the aforementioned motor operates at between 35 and 55 revolutions per minute. For many application settings, the motor can operate at about 45 revolutions per minute. In any event, the operation of the motor, in combination with linkage that couples the output of the motor to the appendages, can be such that the first and second leg appendages move cyclically between the forward position and the rearward position at a desired rate. By one approach, that rate is about 45 cycles per minute, which substantially correlates with the rate of a running animal such as a steer.

So configured, the stationary roping practice target apparatus can simulate at least the hindquarters portion of a running animal such as a steer. That action, in turn, can provide a realistic yet convenient target to permit a roping practitioner (and in particular a heeler) to practice their roping skills from a stationary vantage point.

These and other benefits may become clearer upon making a thorough review and study of the following detailed description. Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to, an illustrative example of a stationary roping practice apparatusthat is compatible with many of these teachings will first be presented. It will be understood that the specific details provided with respect to this example are intended to serve an illustrative purpose and are not intended to suggest any particular limitations with respect to these teachings.

In this example, the stationary roping practice apparatusincludes a frameand a first and second leg appendageas well as a motor (described and illustrated further below). This stationary roping practice apparatussimulates at least a portion (i.e., the hindquarters) of a running animal (in this case, a quadruped such as a steer). The stationary roping practice apparatusis “stationary” in the sense that it can be successfully used while the frameremains in a stationary location on the ground. As will be made clearer below, the first and second leg appendageare able to move forward and backwards (around a pivot point) by way of the aforementioned motor in order to imitate a running animal and to provide a more realistic target for a person practicing or demonstrating their roping skills. In this illustrative example, at no point during ordinary use and operation does any part of the first and second leg appendagetouch the ground.

Referring to bothand, the aforementioned frameincludes a base. The basecomprises a substantially planar member comprised, for example, of a suitable metal such as aluminum. Decorative features, such as the depicted star, can be formed on the surface of the baseor formed through the baseas desired.

If desired, aperturescan be formed through the base(for example, near the corners of the base). Attachment mechanisms, such as spikes, screws, or bolts can be disposed through these apertures to secure the baseto an underlying surface. For many if not most application settings, however, this stationary roping practice target apparatuscan be successfully utilized without providing any such securement.

With reference toand, the framealso includes a stand. This standincludes a vertical portionthat connects (for example, via welding) at its bottom to the aforementioned base. The standalso includes, in this illustrative embodiment, a horizontal portionthat connects at one end to the top of the vertical portionand at its opposing end to an upwardly angled portion. This standmay be comprised of a suitable metal, such as, for example, aluminum. The standmay be partially or wholly solid or hollow as desired, though the angled portioncan be at least partially hollow in order to receive and house at least part of the motor and linkage assembly described further below.

With reference toand, the first and second leg appendagescan be essentially identical to one another.depicts both sides of a single example of a leg appendage. In this example, each of the leg appendagesincludes a cut out portionformed through the upper half of the leg appendage. In this illustrative example, these leg appendageseach have an overall shape and size that resembles and matches the hind legs of a given quadruped, such as, but not limited to, a steer. In these regards, the lower portionof each leg appendageis somewhat angled by a few degrees with respect to the upper portionthereof. As is well illustrated in, this angled orientation provides a more realistic target for the roper.

presents a view of a bracket. This bracketincludes two flangesthat extend downwardly at a slight angle. These flangesare configured to be secured to the leg appendagesat the upper ends thereof. That securement may be provided using, for example, attachment members such as bolts. In this illustrative embodiment the bracketalso includes an arcuately-shaped cut-out portion.

illustrates that the lower portionof the standmay include a battery compartmentthat can contain a portable power supplysuch as a battery. In this illustrative example, the portable power supply is configured to provide 12 volts. The lower portionof the standalso includes, in this example, a switch. This switch is connected between the aforementioned motor and the portable power supplyto thereby selectively control the provision of electrical power from the portable power supplyto the motor and hence control the operating state of the motor.

Referring to, the upper ends of the first and second leg appendageare secured to a shaft that passes through four concentrically positioned pillow block bearingsthat are, in turn, secured to the free end of the angled portionof the stand. So configured, the first and second leg appendageare able to rotate back and forth (forward and backward) around the axis of the aforementioned shaftas denoted by the arrows.

The angled portionof the standalso serves to house a portion of a motor and linkage assembly. Visible inis an actuator armthat pivotally connects within the angled portionof the stand, a retraction springthat connects at a first end to the actuator armand at an opposing second end to a connection point within the angled portionof the stand, and a threaded rodthat pivotally connects at one end to an upper portion of the actuator armand at the opposing end to the aforementioned bracket. So configured, pivotal movement of the actuator armforward and backward will cause corresponding forward and backward pivotal movement of the first and second leg appendage.

Referring now to both, the aforementioned motor and linkage assemblywill be described in more detail. In this illustrative embodiment, the motorcomprises a 24 volt motor that is rated at 90 revolutions per minute at its output shaft. In this embodiment, the motoris provided with 24 volts from the portable power supply, and therefore provides 45 revolutions per minute at its output.

The output shaft of the motoris secured to a short extension rodthat has its free endpivotally connected to the first endof a drive rod. The drive rodhas its opposing endpivotally connected to the aforementioned actuator arm. The lower end of the actuator armis itself pivotally connected to an axlethat extends through to the opposite side of a vertical mounting platethat is secured to an inner surface of the angled portionof the stand. That axlealso passes through a pair of bearingsthat permit the axleto freely rotate.

So configured, rotation of the motor'soutput shaft will cause, via the above-described linkage, a cyclical forward and rearward synchronized movement of the first and second leg appendagesabout the aforementioned shaft. The retraction springserves to help bias the actuator armpivotally forward and to thereby bias the first and second leg appendagestowards being pivotally extended rearwardly.

By one approach, and as illustrated in, a covercan be affixed over the above-described movable assembly. This covercan serve to protect the working components of the stationary roping practice apparatusfrom inadvertent contact with a roper's lasso and can also help to protect attending humans from inappropriate contact with the mechanical workings of the stationary roping practice apparatus. This covercan be comprised of any suitable material such as metal, plastic, leather, and so forth.

By one approach, the stationary roping practice apparatusis comprised of materials that weigh, in the aggregate, in excess of 50 pounds. That weight can help the stationary roping practice apparatusto remain in position during use.

also illustrate a lassoin use with the stationary roping practice apparatus. Inthe first and second leg appendagesare shown in their furthest forward orientation and inthe first and second leg appendagesare shown in their furthest rearward orientation. In use, the cyclical movement of the first and second leg appendagesback and forth between these positions realistically mimics the gait of an animal such as a small steer notwithstanding that the stationary roping practice apparatusis, as a whole, “stationary” and not moving with respect to the ground. It will also be noted that, by one approach, no part of the first and second leg appendagesever touches the ground or the base. The foregoing features provide an excellent setting for a roper to learn and hone specific roping skills in a focused manner, and without the distractions that attend practicing with a live, moving animal.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. As one illustrative example, one or more sensors could be utilized to detect when a lasso has properly encircled and/or tugged on the first and second leg appendages, and those sensors could be used to stop the motor. Accordingly, it will be understood that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.