Abstract:
A stirrup assembly for aiding a rider when mounting a horse provides a stirrup assembly wherein part or all of the side of a stirrup can be rotated down into a locked horizontal position to become a step. The act of pulling down the movable side part compresses a strong return spring. When the movable side part is fully down, a latch is set which keeps it from returning. What was part of the stirrup side can now be used as a step for mounting and is quickly returned to its original upright position by the return spring when the rider steps on the latch release.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Ser. No. 11/796,060 filed in Apr. 26, 2007 entitled “Horse Mounting Aid Assembly,” the full disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, and priority of which is hereby claimed. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the field of horsemanship and equestrian equipment, and more particularly to a stirrup that can be transformed into a mounting aid. In one of its forms, the mounting aid will keep the rider safe during both mounting and riding. 
         [0003]    The stirrups form part of conventional horse mounting equipment; they are positioned on both sides of the saddle and assist a rider in mounting a horse and in maintaining balance while riding. A stirrup is normally positioned so that the rider&#39;s feet rest on the stirrup bed when mounted comfortably on the horse. Depending on the height of the horse and/or the rider, it is many times very difficult to mount the horse when the stirrups are adjusted properly for riding. A mounting block or a ‘leg up’ may be required for the person to mount the horse. These aids are not always available. 
         [0004]    The present invention contemplates elimination of prior art drawbacks and provision of a stirrup assembly that assists the rider in the mounting process and hinges for storage so as not to interfere during horse riding. 
         [0005]    The present invention is unique in that it can be manufactured in either an English or Western style and will transform into a form that will assist a person when mounting a horse from the ground. In one of its forms it will be safer than a conventional stirrup whether mounting or riding. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a stirrup assembly wherein part or all of the side of a stirrup can be rotated down into a locked horizontal position to facilitate mounting a horse. The act of pulling down the movable side part compresses a strong return spring. When the movable side part is fully down, a latch is set which keeps it from returning until the rider steps on the latch release. The step is therefore easily returned to its original position without interfering with the rider&#39;s movements. 
         [0007]    These and other objects of the invention are achieved through a provision of a horse mounting stirrup assembly for either a Western-style stirrup or an English-style stirrup. The stirrup assembly has a stirrup iron and as a stirrup aid unit secured to the bottom portion of the stirrup iron. The stirrup aid unit is pivotally mountable on the stirrup base to move between a normally upright position and a latched position extending below the bottom portion, the stirrup aid unit comprising a foot rest oriented a distance below the bottom portion when the stirrup aid unit is in a latched position. 
         [0008]    The rider first moves the stirrup aid unit from a normally upright position into a latched horizontal position against the force of a compression spring that tends to return the stirrup aid unit to its upright position. In the down latched position, the footrest of the stirrup aid unit is about 4-5 inches below the bottom portion of the stirrup footrest. The user then places the foot on the mounting aid and mounts into the saddle. Once in the saddle, the rider pushes on a latch that extends through the bottom portion of the footrest, releasing the stirrup aid unit for return to its upright position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the stirrup assembly in accordance with the present invention secured on an English stirrup, in a down and latched position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the device in accordance with the present invention in an upright position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the present invention in a down and latched position with the rider&#39;s boot engaging the normally upright stirrup side. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the mounting aid returned to its upright position by the restoration spring, with the rider&#39;s boot in the stirrup. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a detail view showing the latch toggle butted against the blocking pin which is fixed in the pivot shaft, thus blocking the return rotation of the mounting aid by the restoration spring 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a detail view showing the latch toggle being held down by the blocking pin which rotates with the step and the step shaft. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Turning now to the drawings in more detail, numeral  10  designates the stirrup assembly, or mounting aid assembly device in accordance with the present invention. The stirrup assembly  10  is a modified English-style stirrup, or stirrup iron, although it will be understood that the claimed features of the stirrup may be used for western-style stirrups, as well. 
         [0017]    The stirrup  10  comprises a stirrup iron  12  and a hinged stirrup aid member unit  14  secured to the stirrup iron  12 . The stirrup iron  12  has a general shape resembling an inverted letter “J.” The stirrup iron  12  has a top ridge  16  and an intermediate bridge  18 . An opening  20  is formed between the bridges  16  and  18  to allow engagement with the stirrup leather (not shown). The stirrup iron  12  of the stirrup assembly  10  has a pair of opposed side portions  22 ,  24  and a bottom portion  26 . A rider&#39;s foot rests on the bottom part  26  when the rider has mounted on the horse. 
         [0018]    The side portions  22 ,  24  are unitary connected to extend on opposite ends of the intermediate bridge  18 . The side portion  22  is shorter than the side portion  24 , such that a space  23  is formed between the lowermost tip  28  of the side portion  22  and an end of the bottom part, or footrest  26 . The side portion  24  is securely attached to the bottom portion  26 . 
         [0019]    As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the side portion  24  has a V-shaped part  30  comprised of a pair of spaced member  32 ,  34 . Of course, if desired the side portion  24  can be formed as a single side member having substantially uniform thickness from top to bottom. 
         [0020]    The stirrup aid unit  14  is hingedly secured to the upper portion  12 ; it comprises a securing unit  42  attached to, and extending below the bottom portion  26  of the stirrup iron  12 . The stirrup iron assembly  10  further comprises a stirrup aid member  46 , which is hingedly secured to the securing unit  42  by a hinge pin  45 . The stirrup aid member  46  comprises a first part  50  and a second part  52 , which extends at a substantially right angle to the first part  50 . The second part  52  may have an enlarged surface area so as to provide a firmer footing for a rider who is mounting a horse. If desired, the second part  52  may have a looped configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0021]    The longitudinal dimension of the first part  50  is smaller than the longitudinal dimension of the foot rest  26 . When the stirrup aid member  46  pivots, the corner  51 , which connects first part  50  to the second part  52 , moves against a free end  27  of the foot rest  26 , while the second part  52  orients vertically and extends across the space  23 . Preferably, the length of the second part  52  is selected to reach but not damage a free end  25  of the side portion  22 . 
         [0022]    The toggle link hinge pin  48  is secured between a pair of parallel hinge brackets  56 ,  58 . A compression spring  60  is mounted between the brackets  56 ,  58  to force the toggle link down into a latched position shown in  FIG. 5 . Items  42 , 43 , 70  are just different locations on the one piece toggle link which is hinged at  48 . 
         [0023]    The end  43  is designed to block the forward motion of the pin  47 , which is embedded in the footrest hinge  45 . The blocking pin  47  rotates with the step shaft (denoted both  45  and  51 ) which is secured to the step itself. 
         [0024]    A free end of the toggle ling  42  has a tip  70 , which extends through an opening  74  formed in the bottom portion  26 . When a user positions the foot in a stirrup iron  12 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , the tip  70  becomes depressed, rotating the toggle link and causing the end  43  to move up from in front of the blocking pin  47 , allowing the restoring spring to return the step into its upright position. 
         [0025]    In operation, the user moves the stirrup aid member  46  downwardly, causing it to rotate around the pivot shaft ( 45  or  51 ) against the resistance of the restoring spring which is coiled around said shaft. The stirrup aid member  46  is forced into an unlatched position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The user then places the foot on the second part  52  ( FIG. 3 ) and swings onto a saddle. Once in the saddle, the user steps on the tip  70 , depressing the tip  70  downwardly, in the direction of arrow  71  (( FIG. 2 ), which causes the stirrup aid member  46  to pivot upwardly into a nesting position within the stirrup iron  12 . The phantom lines in  FIG. 2  illustrate the arc of the pivotal movement of the stirrup aid member in the direction of arrow  73  into a latched position shown in solid lines in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0026]    It is envisioned that only one of the stirrups need to be modified with the stirrup aid member, for instance the left side. The right support may not be needed. Western-style stirrups can be modified in a similar manner to provide safety and convenience to the rider. The safety member  46  extends along the lines usually occupied by the stirrup proper and prevents the user&#39;s foot from entangling in the stirrup aid member  46  in case of a fall. The restoring spring will retain device  46  in the upright position shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4  as soon as the toggle link end  70  is pushed down. 
         [0027]    The stirrup assembly  10  can be formed from a strong non-corrosive material, such as steel and the like. The bottom foot rest  26  and the second part  52  of the stirrup aid member  46  are oriented generally horizontally, with the second part  52  being located below the bottom portion  26 . The distance of the stepping surfaces between the second part  52  and the bottom part  26  can be six inches or more. The rider rests a toe of the footwear on the foot rests  52  and  26  and the mounts the saddle in the usual manner. 
         [0028]    It will be understood that the size of the assembly  10  can differ, depending on the desired length of the stirrup attachment to accommodate a child or a grown person. Each of the assemblies can be configured so that a predetermined distance from the ground is afforded for each rider for mounting the horse. The stepping surfaces, on which the rider&#39;s foot temporarily rests, can be dimensioned for accommodating different types of footwear, boots, shoes, etc. 
         [0029]    Many other changes and modifications can be made in the design of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I, therefore, pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.