Portable, collapsible steeplechase hurdle or fence

Claim 2

A portable, collapsible steeplechase hurdle comprising a barrier member having an edge adapted to rest on the ground in an erected condition of the hurdle in which said barrier member extends substantially upward from the ground, support legs pivotally connected, at one end, to said barrier member for swinging relative to the latter between erected positions in which said legs extend downwardly from said barrier member for engagement with the ground in back of said edge and stored positions in which said legs lie against said barrier member, and bracing linkage means pivotally connected to said barrier member and said legs and being movable between extended and collapsed positions respectively corresponding to said erected and stored positions of said support legs, said bracing linkage means passing through an intermediate stressed position in being moved to said collapsed position for retaining said bracing linkage means against inadvertent removal from said collapsed position.

Claim 3

A portable collapsible steeplechase hurdle according to claim 1, in which said barrier member has a first channel member opening upwardly at the edge of said barrier member which is uppermost in said erected condition of the hurdle, and a second channel member extending along said edge which is adapted to engage the ground and opening toward said first channel member, and further comprising a hedge-simulating member adapted to be secured selectively in said first channel member in said erected condition of the hurdle and in said second channel member when the hurdle is collapsed for convenient storage and transport.

Claim 4

A portable, collapsible steeplechase hurdle comprising a barrier member having an edge adapted to rest on the ground in an erected condition of the hurdle in which said barrier member extends substantially upward from the ground, support legs pivotally conneCted, at one end, to said barrier member for swinging relative to the latter about a first pivot axis that is parallel to, and spaced from said edge of the barrier member, first bracing links pivotally connected, at one end, to said barrier member for swinging relative to the latter about a second pivot axis that is parallel to said first pivot axis and spaced a predetermined distance from the latter in the direction toward said edge of the barrier member, second bracing links each pivotally connected, at one end, to the other end of a respective one of said first bracing links for swinging relative to the latter about a third pivot axis that is parallel to said second pivot axis, the other ends of said second bracing links being pivotally connected to said support legs for swinging relative to the latter about a fourth pivot axis that is parallel to said first pivot axis and spaced from the latter in the direction toward the other ends of said support legs, the pivotally connected first and second bracing links being substantially longitudinally aligned with each other in said erected condition for directing said support legs downwardly from said first axis with said other ends of said legs spaced rearwardly from said edge of the barrier member, and said predetermined distance between said first and second pivot axes being slightly smaller than the amount by which the sum of the distances between said second and third pivot axes and between said first and fourth pivot axes, respectively, exceeds the distance between said third and fourth pivot axes so that, when said third pivot axis is displaced toward said barrier member beyond a plane extending through said first and second axes, said first and second link members and said support legs are relatively folded to collapsed positions adjacent said barrier member and retained against inadvertent removal from said collapsed positions.

Claim 5

A portable, collapsible steeplechase hurdle comprising a barrier member having an edge adapted to rest on the ground in an erected condition of the hurdle in which said barrier member extends substantially upward from the ground, support legs pivotally conneCted, at one end, to said barrier member for swinging relative to the latter about a first pivot axis that is parallel to, and spaced from said edge of the barrier member, first bracing links pivotally connected, at one end, to said barrier member for swinging relative to the latter about a second pivot axis that is parallel to said first pivot axis and spaced a predetermined distance from the latter in the direction toward said edge of the barrier member, second bracing links each pivotally connected, at one end, to the other end of a respective one of said first bracing links for swinging relative to the latter about a third pivot axis that is parallel to said second pivot axis, the other ends of said second bracing links being pivotally connected to said support legs for swinging relative to the latter about a fourth pivot axis that is parallel to said first pivot axis and spaced from the latter in the direction toward the other ends of said support legs, the pivotally connected first and second bracing links being substantially longitudinally aligned with each other in said erected condition for directing said support legs downwardly from said first axis with said other ends of said legs spaced rearwardly from said edge of the barrier member, and said predetermined distance between said first and second pivot axes being slightly smaller than the amount by which the sum of the distances between said second and third pivot axes and between said first and fourth pivot axes, respectively, exceeds the distance between said third and fourth pivot axes so that, when said third pivot axis is displaced toward said barrier member beyond a plane extending through said first and second axes, said first and second link members and said support legs are relatively folded to collapsed positions adjacent said barrier member and retained against inadvertent removal from said collapsed positions.

Claim 6

A portable, collapsible steeplechase hurdle according to claim 3; in which said barrier member is curved in the direction extending from said edge adapted to rest on the ground to the opposite edge which is uppermost in said erected condition with the concave side of said barrier member facing rearwardly, and said first and second pivot axes are respectively disposed adjacent said uppermost edge and said edge adapted to engage the ground, with the concavity of said barrier member affording space to accommodate said link members and legs in said collapsed positions thereof.

Claim 7

A portable, collapsible steeplechase hurdle according to claim 4; in which said barrier member has a first channel member extending along said uppermost edge and opening upwardly in said erected condition of the hurdle, and a second channel member extending along said edge adapted to engage the ground at the concave side of the barrier member and opening toward said first channel member; and further comprising a hedge-simulating member adapted to be secured selectively in said first channel member in said erected condition of the hurdle and in said second channel member when the hurdle has said link members and legs in said collapsed positions for convenient storage and transporation.

Claim 8

A portable, collapsible steeplechase hurdle according to claim 3; further comprising ground engageable load bearing plates pivoted at said other ends of the leg supports for swinging relative to the latter between rearwardly directed horizontal positions, when said legs are directed downwardly from said first pivot axis, and stowed positions folded against the respective support legs, when the latter are in said collapsed positions thereof.

Claim 9

A portable, collapsible steeplechase hurdle according to claim 5; in which said load bearing plates have apertures for receiving stakes by which the hurdle may be anchored in position.

Claim 10

A portable, collapsible steeplechase hurdle according to claim 6; in which said load bearing plates are pivoted on said fourth pivot axis and are engageable with said other ends of the respective support leGs for limiting the swinging of said load bearing plates to said rearwardly directed horizontal positions.

Claim 11

A portable, collapsible steeplechase hurdle according to claim 3; in which said first and second pivot axes are disposed adjacent opposite edges of said barrier member, and said fourth pivot axis is disposed adjacent said other ends of the support legs.

Claim 12

A portable, collapsible steeplechase hurdle according to claim 3; in which support legs are inclined downwardly and rearwardly from said first pivot axis when said first and second bracing links are longitudinally aligned so that the load of said barrier member on said legs tends to retain said bracing links in said aligned relationship.