US3847408A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Single shaft sulky
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-09-13
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Granted: 1974-11-12
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Expires: 1991-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A flexible harness racing sulky structure for providing an interaction between the driver, sulky and horse to obtain improved performance is disclosed. The sulky comprises a streamlined, flexible arch having a pair of wheels supported at its outer ends on individual axles, the axles being mounted behind the torsional axis of the arch. A single, flexible shaft is secured to the midpoint of the arch and extends upwardly and forwardly for a single point connection to the horse''s harness, the length of the shaft being adjustable to provide a spring constant dependent upon the characteristics of the horse. A driver''s seat is adjustably secured to the midpoint of the arch, and extends rearwardly thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 J King
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:23
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62C; B62C1/00; B62C1/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A sulky for use in harness horse racing, comprising: arch axle frame means having an elastic axis and having first and second ends; wheel means secured to each of said first and second ends of said arch axle frame means, the rotational axes of said wheel means being placed aft of the elastic axis of said arch axle frame means to produce a drag-reducing castoring action in said wheel means; an adjustable seat secured to and extending aft of said arch axle frame means; and a shaft having a single point connection adapted to be secured to the harness of a horse, said shaft being secured to said arch axle frame means and extending upwardly and forwardly over said horse when said sulky is connected to the horse''s harness, said shaft, seat, and arch axle frame means being flexible and having a spring constant to produce a fore and aft motion of said sulky at a frequency which conforms to the gait of the horse.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A sulky for use in harness horse racing, comprising: arch axle frame means having an elastic axis and having first and second ends; wheel means secured to each of said first and second ends of said arch axle frame means, the rotational axes of said wheel means being placed aft of the elastic axis of said arch axle frame means to produce a drag-reducing castoring action in said wheel means; an adjustable seat secured to and extending aft of said arch axle frame means; and a shaft having a single point connection adapted to be secured to the harness of a horse, said shaft being secured to said arch axle frame means and extending upwardly and forwardly over said horse when said sulky is connected to the horse''s harness, said shaft, seat, and arch axle frame means being flexible and having a spring constant to produce a fore and aft motion of said sulky at a frequency which conforms to the gait of the horse.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The sulky of claim 1, wherein said arch axle frame means is generally U-shaped, having a cross member to which said seat and said shaft are secured and first and second depending leg portions at said first and second ends to which said wheel means are secured.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The sulky of claim 1, wherein said shaft is adjustable in both length and height, whereby said shaft will fit horses of various conformations and gaits.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sulky of claim 3, wherein said shaft is a single shaft connected to the midpoint of said cross member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The sulky of claim 4, wherein said single point connection for said shaft comprises a ball joint connector placed centrally on the back pad of the horse''s harness.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
157 words
A sulky for use in harness horse racing, comprising: arch frame means having first and second ends; wheel means secured to the ends of said arch axle means; adjustable seat means secured to and extending aft of said arch axle means; and shaft means having a rearward portion secured to said arch axle frame means and a forward portion curving upwardly and adapted to extend over a horse and to be secured to a single point on the harness of said horse, said shaft means, seat means, and arch axle frame means being flexible and having a spring constant to produce a fore and aft motion of said sulky at a frequency which conforms to the gait of the horse, and said shaft means being adjustable in both length and height, whereby said shaft means will fit horses of various conformations and natural gaits to produce the greatest sustained speed when operated by drivers of different weights.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
157 words
A sulky for use in harness horse racing, comprising: arch frame means having first and second ends; wheel means secured to the ends of said arch axle means; adjustable seat means secured to and extending aft of said arch axle means; and shaft means having a rearward portion secured to said arch axle frame means and a forward portion curving upwardly and adapted to extend over a horse and to be secured to a single point on the harness of said horse, said shaft means, seat means, and arch axle frame means being flexible and having a spring constant to produce a fore and aft motion of said sulky at a frequency which conforms to the gait of the horse, and said shaft means being adjustable in both length and height, whereby said shaft means will fit horses of various conformations and natural gaits to produce the greatest sustained speed when operated by drivers of different weights.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
The sulky of claim 6, wherein said spring constant (k) combines with the effective mass (m) of the driver and sulky to produce a natural frequency (f) of fore and aft motion expressed by the equation f 1/2 k/m, said length and height of said shaft means being adjustable to produce a frequency (f) that will match the frequency of the vertical motion of the horse at its maximum speed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
The sulky of claim 7, wherein said seat is adjustable to vary the distance between said seat and said arch axle frame means, whereby the distance may be adjusted for a particular driver to give the proper amount of lift to the horse, the position of said seat and the natural frequency of said sulky producing a periodic lift and forward thrust that is transferred to the horse through its harness to permit the horse to attain maximum speed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The sulky of claim 8, wherein the rotational axes of said wheel means are placed aft of the flexural and torsional axis of said arch axle frame means to produce a castoring effect in said wheel means when said arch axle frame means flexes and to produce a forward thrust action in said sulky.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-11 | 1978-05-13 | 1978-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-11 | 1982-05-13 | 1982-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-11 | 1986-05-13 | 1986-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |