U.S. patent application number 12/726860 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-22 for handy spur structure.
This patent application is currently assigned to EASTWEST INTERNATIONAL (TAIWAN) ENTERPRISES. Invention is credited to HSI-CHANG CHANG.
Application Number | 20110225937 12/726860 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44646103 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110225937 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHANG; HSI-CHANG |
September 22, 2011 |
HANDY SPUR STRUCTURE
Abstract
A handy spur structure including: a spur main body, which is a
curved rigid body adapted to a configuration of a heel section of a
rider's shoe/boot, the spur main body having two end sections each
of which is formed with at least one strap slot, a strap being
passable through the strap slots of the spur main body and fastened
around an instep of the shoe/boot to secure the spur main body to
the shoe/boot, the spur main body having at least one post outward
protruding from a middle section of the spur main body; and a soft
and elastic lining member disposed on an inner circumference of the
spur main body. Multiple recessed/raised anti-slip stripes are
formed on a surface of the lining member for keeping the spur
structure from slipping on the shoe/boot and avoiding abrasion
thereof.
Inventors: |
CHANG; HSI-CHANG; (Taichung,
TW) |
Assignee: |
EASTWEST INTERNATIONAL (TAIWAN)
ENTERPRISES
Taichung
TW
|
Family ID: |
44646103 |
Appl. No.: |
12/726860 |
Filed: |
March 18, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
54/83.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43C 17/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
54/83.1 |
International
Class: |
A43C 17/02 20060101
A43C017/02 |
Claims
1. A handy spur structure comprising: a spur main body, which is a
curved rigid body adapted to a configuration of a heel section of a
rider's shoe/boot; and a lining member disposed on an inner
circumference of the spur main body, the lining member being made
of a soft and elastic material.
2. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein multiple
recessed/raised anti-slip stripes are formed on a surface of the
lining member.
3. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spur
main body has two end sections each of which is formed with at
least one strap slot, whereby a strap can be passed through the
strap slots of the spur main body and fastened around an instep of
the rider's shoe/boot.
4. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spur
main body has two end sections each of which is formed with at
least one strap slot, whereby a strap can be passed through the
strap slots of the spur main body and fastened around an instep of
the rider's shoe/boot.
5. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spur
main body has a post outward protruding from a portion of the spur
main body, which portion is adjacent to the heel section of the
rider's shoe/boot.
6. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spur
main body has a post outward protruding from a portion of the spur
main body, which portion is adjacent to the heel section of the
rider's shoe/boot.
7. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spur
main body has a post outward protruding from a portion of the spur
main body, which portion is adjacent to the heel section of the
rider's shoe/boot.
8. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the spur
main body has a post outward protruding from a portion of the spur
main body, which portion is adjacent to the heel section of the
rider's shoe/boot.
9. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spur
main body is a U-shaped rigid body.
10. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
spur main body is a U-shaped rigid body.
11. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
spur main body is a U-shaped rigid body.
12. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
spur main body is a U-shaped rigid body.
13. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
spur main body is a U-shaped rigid body.
14. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
spur main body is a U-shaped rigid body.
15. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the
spur main body is a U-shaped rigid body.
16. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
spur main body is a U-shaped rigid body.
17. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
lining member is made of thermoplastic urethane (TPU)
elastomer.
18. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
lining member is made of thermoplastic urethane (TPU)
elastomer.
19. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
lining member is made of thermoplastic urethane (TPU)
elastomer.
20. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
lining member is made of thermoplastic urethane (TPU)
elastomer.
21. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
lining member is made of thermoplastic urethane (TPU)
elastomer.
22. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
lining member is made of thermoplastic urethane (TPU)
elastomer.
23. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the
lining member is made of thermoplastic urethane (TPU)
elastomer.
24. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the
lining member is made of thermoplastic urethane (TPU)
elastomer.
25. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein the
lining member is made of thermoplastic urethane (TPU)
elastomer.
26. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 11, wherein the
lining member is made of thermoplastic urethane (TPU)
elastomer.
27. The handy spur structure as claimed in claim 13, wherein the
lining member is made of thermoplastic urethane (TPU) elastomer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a handy spur
structure, and more particularly to a spur structure, which is
anti-slip and anti-wear and is not liable to abrade the surface of
a shoe/boot.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A conventional spur is secured to the heel of a rider's boot
by means of a strap for contacting the belly of a horse. U.S. Pat.
No. 7,552,576, entitled "spur with removable end piece", discloses
a spur for equitation. The spur includes a U-shaped main body and
an end piece for contacting a portion of a body of an animal being
ridden. The main body includes two arms terminating in ends. Each
end has slots, through which a strap may be threaded for securing
the spur to a rider's boot or shoe. The main body further includes
a protruding post terminating in a flattened portion. The end piece
is removably attached to the post. In use, the main body is fitted
onto a heel section of the rider's boot or shoe. Then the strap is
passed underneath the boot or shoe and fastened around an instep
thereof to secure the spur to the boot or the shoe.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,931, entitled "strap-attached spur",
discloses a substantially U-shaped body with two lateral bars and a
base part between the lateral bars. Each lateral bar has a free
end. Two spur strap eyelets are provided for in each free end of
each lateral bar. A spur protrudes from a middle section of the
base part in opposite direction from the two lateral bars. In use,
the base part is fitted onto a heel section of a rider's shoe/boot.
A spur strap is passed through the strap eyelets of the lateral
bars and fastened around an instep of the shoe/boot to secure the
spur to the shoe/boot.
[0006] In horse riding, the spur secured to the heel of the rider's
boot frequently contacts the belly of a horse. Therefore, the spur
must have a certain structural strength to ensure durability. Most
of the traditional spurs are made of metal materials. Such
metal-made spur has a considerably heavy weight and is manufactured
at higher cost. Thanks to the advance of material technique and
processing method, many kinds of hard plastic-made spur products
have been developed recently. The existent spur products (including
the spur structures disclosed in the above two patents) are all
single-material products with relatively high hardness.
Accordingly, the surface of the shoe or boot is very liable to be
abraded by the spur under the friction. Moreover, both the spur
structure and the shoe or boot have polished surfaces in contact
with each other and the spur structure is secured to the shoe or
boot simply by means of the strap. As a result, in use of the spur,
the spur tends to slip on the shoe or boot and displace or deflect
away from its true position. This will cause inconvenience in use
of the spur.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to
provide an improved handy spur structure, which can increase
friction force between the spur structure and a rider's shoe/boot
to avoid slippage of the spur structure on the shoe/boot.
[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide
the above improved handy spur structure in which a portion in
contact with the shoe/boot has better anti-wear property so that
the lifetime of the spur product is prolonged.
[0009] It is still a further object of the present invention to
provide the above improved handy spur structure in which the
portion in contact with the shoe/boot is soft and elastic so that
the abrasion of the shoe/boot can be minimized.
[0010] To achieve the above and other objects, the handy spur
structure of the present invention includes a spur main body and a
soft and elastic lining member. The spur main body is a curved
rigid body adapted to a configuration of a heel section of a
rider's shoe/boot. The lining member is disposed on an inner
circumference of the spur main body.
[0011] In the above handy spur structure, multiple recessed/raised
anti-slip stripes are formed on a surface of the lining member for
keeping the spur structure from slipping on the shoe/boot and
avoiding abrasion thereof.
[0012] In the above handy spur structure, the spur main body has
two end sections each of which is formed with at least one strap
slot. A strap can be passed through the strap slots of the spur
main body and fastened around an instep of the shoe/boot to secure
the spur main body to the shoe/boot.
[0013] The present invention can be best understood through the
following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing that the spur structure
of the present invention is connected with a strap; and
[0017] FIG. 4 is a side view showing the application of the present
invention to a boot.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 4. The handy spur structure of
the present invention includes a spur main body 1 and a lining
member 2. The spur main body 1 is a curved (substantially U-shaped)
rigid body made of hard plastic. The spur main body 1 has two end
sections each of which is formed with at least one strap slot 11
for a strap 3 to pass therethrough. A middle section of the spur
main body 1 has an outward protruding post 12. The lining member 2
is disposed on a portion of an inner circumference of the spur main
body 1 that is liable to contact a shoe/boot 4. The lining member 2
can be made of thermoplastic urethane (TPU) elastomer or the like
material. The lining member 2 is soft, elastic, anti-wear and
bending-resistant. In addition, multiple recessed/raised anti-slip
stripes 21 are formed on a surface of the lining member 2 for
increasing friction force.
[0019] In use, the spur main body 1 is fitted onto a heel section
of a rider's shoe/boot 4. Then the strap 3 is passed underneath the
shoe/boot 4 and fastened around an instep of the shoe/boot 4 to
secure the spur main body 1 to the heel section of the shoe/boot 4.
In this case, the post 12 rearward extends from the heel section.
The lining member 2 is positioned between the spur main body 1 and
the shoe/boot 4 in contact therewith to serve as a soft and elastic
cushioning member. Under such circumstance, the surface abrasion of
the shoe/boot 4 can be reduced. Moreover, the material of the
lining member 2 has a property of high adhesion and is formed with
the anti-slip stripes 21. Therefore, the spur main body 1 is not
liable to slip on the shoe/boot 4 away from its true position.
Accordingly, the rider can more conveniently use the spur structure
to control a horse.
[0020] In conclusion, the handy spur structure of the present
invention is anti-slip and anti-wear and is not liable to abrade
the surface of the shoe/boot 4.
[0021] The above embodiment is only used to illustrate the present
invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many
modifications of the above embodiment can be made without departing
from the spirit of the present invention.
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