Abstract:
A spur attachable to a boot is provided. The spur includes a body comprising a first arm, a second arm, a third arm, a fourth arm, and a neck with a head disposed on the distal end of each arm. The first arm, the second arm, the third arm, and the fourth arm are configured to be forward relative to a heel of the boot and the neck is configured to be rearward relative to the heel of the boot, and the third arm and fourth arm are configured to tighten a single strap attached to the head disposed on the distal end of each arm when the neck drops relative to the boot.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of the priority date of the provisional patent application with U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/324,883 (Attorney Docket No. 17668/002001), filed on Apr. 16, 2010, in the United States of America, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Further, this application is related to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 17688/002003), filed on the same date as the present document and entitled “Horse Riding Spur Mechanism,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The referenced applications are in the name of and owned by the same inventor. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Traditional horseback riding spurs are formed in a substantially “c” shape, such that they may fit around the heel of a boot. The spur may include a body, which may have a neck (the part that may contact a horse) and arms (which may allow for attachment to a boot by straps). 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a spur attachable to a boot. The spur includes a body having a first arm, a second arm, a third arm, a fourth arm, and a neck and a buckle disposed on the distal end of each arm, in which the arms are configured to be forward relative to a heel of the boot and the neck is configured to be rearward relative to the heel of the boot, and in which the third arm and fourth arm are configured to tighten a single strap attached to the buckles when the neck drops relative to the boot. 
         [0004]    In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a spur attachable to a boot. The spur includes a body having a first arm, a second arm, and a neck, a first bar comprising eyelets and attached to a distal end of the first arm, a second bar comprising eyelets and attached to a distal end of the second arm, in which the first arm and the second arm are configured to be forward relative to a heel of the boot and the neck is configured to be rearward relative to the heel of the boot. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Features of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1A  shows a perspective view and  FIG. 1B  shows a side view of a traditional spur. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a traditional spur attached to a boot. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3A  shows a perspective view and  FIG. 3B  shows a side view of a spur in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows a spur in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure attached to a boot. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of a spur in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  shows a side view of a spur in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of a spur in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  shows a side view of a spur in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9A  shows a partial side view of a spur in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG. 9B  shows a top view of the spur of  FIG. 9A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    During the use of spurs, either during riding or while walking when off of a horse, a spur that may be attached to the heel of a boot may slide and/or fall such that it may become ineffective and/or a nuisance to the user. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a traditional spur  100  is shown. Spur  100  may have a body  101  including a neck  105  and arms  110  and  111  extending therefrom. Body  101  may form a bell-shaped yoke such that neck  105  may be located at a “back” of spur  100 , and arms  110  and  111  may extend in a “forward” direction. Neck  105  may be a removable and/or interchangeable neck that may include a threaded connection (not shown). The threaded connection may allow for different types of necks, such as shanks and/or rowels, to be installed on spur  100 . 
         [0017]    Spur  100  may be attached to a boot (see,  FIG. 2 ), and, as defined herein, the backward and forward directions are in relation to the heel of the boot. Spur  100  may be made of aluminum, iron, brass, steel, plastic and/or any other suitable metal and/or material. 
         [0018]    The spur may be attached to the heel of a boot by use of a strap or straps that may be wound through eyelets of the spur (see  FIG. 2 ). Heads  120  and  121  may be located at the front end of arms  110  and  111 , respectively. A strap may be wound through heads  120  and  121 , extending around a circumference of the boot. Heads  120  and  121  may be provided with pairs of eyelets  130  and  131 , respectively. Each pair of eyelets  130  and  131  may allow for the strap to be wound through heads  120  and  121 , thereby attaching spur  100  to a boot. 
         [0019]    Now, referring to  FIG. 2 , a spur  200  is shown attached to a boot  290 . Spur  200  may have a neck  205  and an arm  210 . A second arm (not shown) may be on the other side of boot  290 . As noted above, neck  205  may be at the back of spur  200 , such that neck  205  is rearward in relation to a heel  291  of boot  290 . Arm  210  may extend in a forward direction in relation to heel  291  of boot  290 . 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , spur  200  may be attached to boot  290  by a strap  280  that may extend over the top of boot  290  and, also, may extend beneath boot  290  wrapping a complete circumference of boot  290 . Accordingly, strap  280  may be a continuous length of leather, or other suitable material, that may be looped around boot  290  to thereby secure spur  200  to boot  290 . In order to secure strap  280  and spur  200  to boot  290 , a buckle  281  may be attached to a first end of strap  280 . Buckle  281  may be a metallic buckle that may be securely attached to strap  280  at the first end, and may connect to a second end of the strap  280  by a bar placed through holes of strap  280  (not shown). Further, spur  200  may be held onto boot  290  by strap  280  that may be fed through eyelets (not shown) of head  220 . 
         [0021]    As a result of a single head, and, as such, the location of the eyelets, at the forward end of a spur, a single pivot point for the spur may exist. Accordingly, if any slack or looseness may exist in the strap, the neck of the spur may drop relative to the boot. In the event the spur may drop, the spur may become entangled on items or may not sit properly on the boot so that the spur may not be as effective. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , a modified spur in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.  FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of spur  300  and  FIG. 3B  is a side view of spur  300 . 
         [0023]    Similar to spur  200 , spur  300  may have a body  301  with a neck  305  and arms  310  and  311  extending therefrom. At the forward end of arms  310  and  311  may be heads  320  and  321 , respectively. Heads  320  and  321  may have pairs of eyelets  330  and  331 , respectively, so that a strap (not shown) may be fed therethrough, as described above. Spur  300  may also include a second pair of arms  312  and  313  extending forward from body  301 . Arm  312  may extend in a downward direction at an angle  308  from arm  310 . Angle  308  may be any angle that may allow for arm  312  to extend head  322  to a lower position than head  320 , relative to the boot to which spur  300  may attach. Furthermore, angle  308  may vary depending on a rider&#39;s foot and/or boot size. A corresponding arm  313  may extend downward from arm  311  at the same angle  308 . Arms  312  and  313  may be made of the same material as spur  300  and the complete spur may be formed as a single body or arms  312  and  313  may be added separately by welding and/or any other means of attachment. Alternatively, arms  312  and  313  may extend in upward directions at an angle from arms  310  and  311 , respectively. 
         [0024]    Now referring to  FIG. 4 , spur  400  is shown attached to a boot  490 . Spur  400  may be similar to spur  300  and may include a neck  405 , a first arm  410 , and a second arm  412 . Arm  412  may extend downward from arm  410  at an angle  408 . Spur  400  may be attached to boot  490  by a strap  480 . Strap  480  may be fed through heads  420  and  422  of arms  410  and  412 , respectively. Strap  480  may wrap around boot  490 , and lock in place with buckle  481 , as described above. 
         [0025]    As arms  410  and  412  may be separated by angle  408 , arms  410  and  412  may prevent spur  400  from falling in a downward direction towards heel  491  of boot  490 . Arms  410  and  412  may allow for strap  480  to tighten in the event that neck  405  of spur  400  may fall in a downward direction thus preventing spur  400  from falling. Heads  420  and  422  may provide two points of contact with strap  480  such that a tightening of strap  480  may prevent neck  405  from falling in a downward direction. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 5-7  show side views of alternative embodiments of spurs in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , spur  500  is shown. Spur  500  may have a body  501  with a neck  505  at a rear end and an arm  510  extending in a forward direction. Arm  510  may have a bar  540  disposed on a forward end thereof. Bar  540  may allow for two heads  520  and  522  to be located at the side of a boot to which spur  500  may be attached. Heads  520  and  522  may provide similar support to that described above, as a strap (not shown) may be fed through eyelets  530  and  532  of heads  520  and  522 , respectively. Although spur  500  is shown with bar  540  disposed at an offset angle such that bar  540  is not perpendicular to arm  510 , those skilled in the art will appreciate that bar  540  may be set and/or placed at any angle with respect to arm  510 , including bar  540  being perpendicular to arm  510 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , spur  600  is shown. Spur  600  may have a body  601  with a neck  605  at a rear end thereof and a forward extending arm  610 . Arm  610  may have a bar  640  disposed on a forward end thereof, with heads  620  and  622  located at the distal ends of bar  640 . Bar  640  may be a curved bar such that bar  640  may have two sections, one section curved upward, with relation to a boot that spur  600  may be attached, and one section that may be curved downward, as shown. Accordingly, bar  640  may be substantially “C” shaped. Further, although spur  600  is shown as a “C” shape, those skilled in the art will appreciate that bar  640  may incorporate straight sections, such that bar  640  forms a substantially “Y” and/or “V” shape, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0029]    Although spur  600  is shown with bar  640  providing upward and downward sections of equal length, the sections may be of variable length.  FIG. 7  shows spur  700  with a body  701  and a neck  705 . An arm  710  may extend forward from body  701  and a bar  740  may be located at the forward end of arm  710 . Bar  740  may be curved, as shown, with an upper section of bar  740  longer than a lower section of bar  740 . Accordingly, an offset may exist between the location of heads  720  and  722  located on the distal ends of bar  740 . Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the upper and lower sections of bar  740  may be of variable length, and may have curvature and/or angles of inclination varied from that shown, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0030]    Now referring to  FIG. 8 , a spur  800  in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. Spur  800  may have a body  801  with a neck  805  extending rearward and a forward extending arm  810  with a bar  840  located at the forward end of arm  810 . Bar  840  of spur  800  may include eyelet  830  and eyelet  831  on ends of bar  840 . Eyelets  830  and  831  may be separated by a rail  850  running through the middle of bar  840 . Bar  840  may also be attached to arm  810  by a locking mechanism  860 . Further, bar  840  may be removable and/or adjustable with respect to arm  810 . Bar  840  may be rotatable about locking mechanism  860 , such that bar  840  may be oriented in a forward leaning direction, a rearward leaning direction, or may be perpendicular to arm  810 . A stop  815  may be provided to prevent bar  840  from rotating too far in any direction and may provide for stability to bar  840 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , a detailed view of bar  940  and locking mechanism  960  of spur  900  is shown.  FIGS. 9A and 9B  show only the forward end of arm  910 , and the rest of spur  900  is similar to that described above, particularly, the complete structure of spur  900  is similar to that shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0032]    Bar  940  may include a single pair of eyelets, upper eyelet  930  and lower eyelet  931 , as described above. Eyelets  930  and  931  may allow for a strap (not shown) to be fed through eyelet  930  at the top of bar  940 , drawn over bar  940  and a rail  950  defining an interior of head  920 , and then fed through eyelet  931  at the bottom of bar  940 . Accordingly, the strap may cover bar  940 . Alternatively, a strap may be fed in the opposite direction, as on the other side of a boot to which spur  900  may be attached. Accordingly, a strap may be fed through eyelet  931  at the bottom of bar  940  first, be drawn over bar  940 , and then fed through eyelet  930  at the top of bar  940 . 
         [0033]    As noted, bar  940  may be adjustable along a rail  950  that may define an interior opening of bar  940 . Rail  950  may allow bar  940  to be adjusted vertically along rail  950  and may allow for bar  940  to be rotated about a pivot point that may be a threaded shaft  962 . Threaded shaft  962  may be part of a locking mechanism  960  that may include threaded shaft  962  (shown in  FIG. 9B ), a threaded nut  964 , and a cap  966 . Particularly, bar  940  may be locked into place by threaded nut  964  and cap  966  of locking mechanism  960  so as to prevent bar  940  from sliding and/or moving along rail  950  and/or rotating about threaded shaft  962 . Although locking mechanism  960  is described with a threaded shaft  962 , a threaded nut  964 , and a cap  966 , those skilled in the art will appreciate that alternative locking mechanisms may be used without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, a smooth shaft may be provided and a snap and/or clipping mechanism may provide the locking mechanism, such as a pin lock. Further still, nut  964 , cap  966 , and/or any other locking mechanism may be removable or may be permanently affixed to shaft  962 . Accordingly, bar  940  may be permanently affixed to spur  900  or may be removable from spur  900 , thus allowing for the ability to change and/or replace bar  940 . 
         [0034]    Further, arm  910  of spur  900  may include a stop  915 . Stop  915  may be a portion of arm  910  that may prevent bar  940  from fully rotating about threaded shaft  962 . As shown, stop  915  may be a tapered surface with a largest thickness at a forward end of arm  910  and thinning as stop  915  tapers toward a neck (not shown) of spur  900 . Stop  915  may also have a curved forward edge such that bar  940  may have a large arc of rotation. Alternatively, those skilled in the art will appreciate that stop  915  may have a vertical forward edge, or any other form and/or shape of stop may be used, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0035]    Moreover, although bar  940  is shown as angled in the shape of a parallelogram, those skilled in the art will appreciate that bar  940  may have alternative shapes and/or angles, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, a bar of rectangular shape may be employed. Furthermore, arcuate bars, similar in shape to that shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  may be employed without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that bar  940  may have two sets of eyelets, similar to that shown in  FIGS. 3-7 , without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0036]    Advantageously, spurs in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may allow for a non-falling spur. Specifically, a spur in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may prevent a loose strap from allowing a spur to drop relative to a heel of a boot to which the spur may be attached. 
         [0037]    While the disclosure has been presented with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments may be devised which do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.