Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A sulky for use in harness horse racing, including an arch axle frame having an elastic axis and having first and second ends, wheel means including an axle and a wheel secured to each of said first and second ends of said arch axle frame, the rotational axes of said wheel means being placed aft of the elastic axis of said arch axle frame to produce a drag-reducing castering action in said wheel means, and an adjustable seat secured to an extending aft of said arch axle frame, the improvement comprising: a pair of spaced upwardly and forwardly extending, flexible shafts secured to said arch axle on either side of said seat, said shafts being angled inwardly toward each other and having a tear drop-shaped, streamlined cross section with one longitudinal edge being rounded and the opposite longitudinal edge being tapered, the shafts being canted so that the cross-sectional axes of said shafts diverge downwardly and outwardly at an angle parallel to the direction of air flow about a horse harnessed to said sulky.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A sulky for use in harness horse racing, including an arch axle frame having an elastic axis and having first and second ends, wheel means including an axle and a wheel secured to each of said first and second ends of said arch axle frame, the rotational axes of said wheel means being placed aft of the elastic axis of said arch axle frame to produce a drag-reducing castering action in said wheel means, and an adjustable seat secured to an extending aft of said arch axle frame, the improvement comprising: a pair of spaced upwardly and forwardly extending, flexible shafts secured to said arch axle on either side of said seat, said shafts being angled inwardly toward each other and having a tear drop-shaped, streamlined cross section with one longitudinal edge being rounded and the opposite longitudinal edge being tapered, the shafts being canted so that the cross-sectional axes of said shafts diverge downwardly and outwardly at an angle parallel to the direction of air flow about a horse harnessed to said sulky.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The sulky of claim 1, wherein said arch axle frame has a tear drop-shaped, streamlined cross section with one longitudinal edge being rounded and facing in a forward direction and the opposite longitudinal edge being tapered in a rearward direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sulky of claim 2, wherein said shafts and said arch axle frame are tubular, and constructed of high strength steel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
The sulky of claim 3, wherein the first and second ends of said arch axle frame comprise first and second substantially vertical end segments, and wherein said arch axle frame further comprises a substantially horizontal central segment joined to said first and second end segments by corresponding first and second angled, intermediate segments, said shafts being connected to said arch axle frame at the junctures of said central segment and said intermediate segments at an angle of cant of about 10 degrees from the vertical.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The sulky of claim 4, wherein said shafts are connected to said arch axle frame at an angle of between 15° and 20 degrees from the horizontal when said arch axle frame is in a vertical plane, and wherein said shafts are angled inwardly toward each other to form an angle of about 10 degrees between the shafts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The sulky of claim 5, further including safety bar means secured to said arch axle frame, extending over each wheel, and connected to its axle, said safety bar means each comprising a thin, flat bar of a generally oval cross section having its smallest dimension facing the flow of air during motion of the sulky.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
The sulky of claim 6, further including reinforcing bar means secured between each wheel axle and a corresponding one of said shafts, said reinforcing bar means each comprising a thin flat bar of generally oval cross section with its largest dimension being in a generally vertical plane at the wheel axle and in a generally horizontal plane at the shaft, whereby its smallest dimension faces the flow of air during motion of the sulky.