Abstract:
A system for roping practice by horse mounted individuals uses a wheel mounted target simulating a live animal and a spring driven tow cable arrangement to impart movement to the target. The system includes means to restrain the target against movement until released by a latch actuated by a hand line held by the horse mounted person or an assistant. The target rolls freely on wheels and includes a brake that causes the target to stop quickly when the tow cable tension is relieved. Construction of the target frame is such that various commonly available molded plastic steer heads can be attached.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The art of roping of animals on ranches for the purposes of counting, medical treatment, and general handling has developed into various sports involving horse mounted individuals roping running animals in the quickest possible manner. Practice of the sport is problematic as a limited number of live animals are available, and repetitive roping of them imparts cumulative stress to the animal. Consequently, many efforts have been made to build mechanical apparatuses to allow practice of roping skills. The simplest of these consist merely of a non-moving roping target that simulates a target animal, or sometimes just the head of a target animal. More sophisticated solutions to the need use a construction that simulates a target animal and is towed by some means such that the horse mounted roper must pursue the moving target and cast the rope about the target while moving. Finding a suitable means of towing the target is a considerable challenge as evidenced by the many schemes that have been patented. 
   DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
   Various devices and systems for the purpose of enabling roping practice without the use of live target animals are known to the art. Among these are U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,779 which describes an apparatus in which a towrope attached to the roper&#39;s horse imparts forward motion to a wheel mounted roping target by means of the rope passing over various pulleys attached to appropriately positioned fixed posts positioned around the perimeter of the practice field. This system, while workable, imposes severe limitations on the movement of the roper and horse because of the attachment of the towrope. Representative of various roping practice systems that use electrical or engine driven towing apparatuses is U.S. Pat. No. 3,711,098. This patent depicts a wheeled towing apparatus utilizing an electric motor to pull in a tow cable attached to a simulated target animal. This and other inventions of this type have the disadvantage of weight and expense of the motor driven towing apparatus. When the apparatus is electric motor driven there is the additional disadvantage of the necessity of either having a connection to an electric line, or large electric storage batteries. U.S. Pat. No. 3,947,033 discloses a steer roping practice device that uses a cart mounted target animal towed by a winch driven by an inertia motor, but this too requires an outside power source to build up the inertia in the motor. U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,926 teaches a target animal carried by an electric motor driven cart that derives its power from on-board batteries. This arrangement does obviate the need for a tow rope, but imposes the considerable expense and weight of a motor driven cart and sufficient batteries to power the cart during a practice session. U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,618 is representative of systems in which the roping target is constrained to move in a circle. In this particular device motivating power is supplied by an engine mounted in the cart that carries the target. The motor imparts movement to the cart by means of speed reduction components connected to a drive wheel under the cart. In devices of this type, the circular track imposed on the target movement is not representative of the path of live target animals. Additionally the engine driven target cart is heavy and difficult to transport from one location to another. 
   It may be seen then, that the roping practice apparatuses known to the art have numerous disadvantages, and there is an obvious need for a better roping practice system. Accordingly, several object and advantages of this invention are:
         a) to provide a roping practice system that does not require an outside power source   b) to provide a roping practice system that does not require electric battery power for movement of the roping target   c) to provide a roping practice system that causes relatively straight line movement of the roping target   d) to provide a means of imparting motion to a roping target by means of a tow rope reel powered by a light, inexpensive, and easily transportable driving means   e) to provide a roping practice system that allows the unaided roper to cause the initiation of movement to a ready, but stationary target while mounted on a horse   f) to provide a roping practice system wherein the roping target comes to a safe stop after traveling a predetermined distance       

   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention improves on the prior art by providing a roping training system that allows an unaided roper to effectively practice the art of roping. The system comprises three basic modules including a simulated animal body roping target portion, a power spring driven rotary reel that winds in a towrope attached to the target, and a latch assembly that restrains motion of the target until released by actuation of the latch by the roper. The simulated animal body target portion is depicted as a steer, but could be other types of animals. This target portion is of wheeled construction, and includes braking means to bring the roping target motion to a stop after a predetermined distance has been traveled. The braking means is kept inactive by the tension of the towrope while the wheeled target is in the ready position, and during the towing phase of the target movement. The rotary reel is such that commercially available hose reels can be effectively used. A stop bumper fixed to the towrope stops the winding in of the towrope by the reel after a predetermined distance of target travel. When this stop bumper stops the towrope windup, the tension on the towrope is relaxed, and the braking means brings the target to a stop. Each of the three modules of the system is of strong but lightweight construction such that an unaided individual can lift each module for transportation. 

   
     BRIEF DECRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the overall practice roping system 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the wheeled roping target 
       FIG. 3  is expanded view of the rear portion of the target showing brake detail 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the latch dock assembly 
       FIG. 5  is a detailed view of the reel assembly 
       FIG. 6  is an expanded side view of the latch assembly 
       FIG. 7  is a detailed side view of the reel assembly showing the spiral spring 
       FIGS. 8A ,  8 B, and  8 C depict a sequential view of the brake operation 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   With reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the major modules of this practice roping aid are roping target  1 , latch dock assembly  2 , towrope reel assembly  3 , and towrope  7 . Roping target  1  is assembled from three major subassemblies, comprising top frame assembly  5  to which are fixed front frame assembly  4 , and rear frame assembly  6  by means of fasteners  20 . Top frame assembly  5  is constructed such that any of several commercially available simulated steer heads  21  can be fixed to it. One or more wheels  9  are rotatably fixed to front frame assembly  4  along with front mounting plate  13  and towrope guide  31 . Similarly one or more wheels  9  are rotatably fixed to rear frame assembly  6 . Brake assembly  16  is rotatably fixed to rear frame assembly  6  such that brake tines  17  are oriented in a generally forward and downward direction with brake connector loop  18  fixed to the front of hinged portion  17 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , rear frame assembly  6  is shown with latch loop  23  fixed to rear frame  12 . Shown in detail is brake assembly  16  rotatably fixed to rear frame  12  by means of brake hinge  19 . Towrope  7  is shown connected to brake connector loop  18  by way of towrope hook  22 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 4 , latch dock assembly  2  is shown in a perspective view. Ground spike guides  28  with respective ground spikes  27  are fixed at the back of latch dock frame  30 , and dock guides  29  are formed at the front of wheel tracks  32 . Arrows show the direction of operational movement of the ground spikes  27 . Latch assembly  33  comprising latch body  26  and latch hook  25  is fixed to the top portion of latch dock assembly  2 . Latch lanyard  24  is attached to latch hook  25  and runs through lanyard guide  34 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5 , towrope reel assembly  3  is depicted in perspective with towrope  7  wound around towrope reel  35  and extending through reel guide  36  and towrope bumper  8  with towrope hook  22  fixed to the outer end. Towrope reel  35 , rotatably supported by reel frame  37 , is commonly available as a heavy duty commercial hose reel. The reel frame  37  is itself fixed to reel frame base  38 . One or more ground spike guides  28  are fixed to reel frame base  38 . Ground spikes  27  are shown slidably located within their respective guides  28  with the direction of operational movement shown by arrows. 
     FIG. 6  shows a side view of latch assembly  33  comprising latch body  26  with latch hook  25  rotably fixed to it. Latch lanyard  24  is tied to latch hook  25  with the direction of operational movement shown by an arrow. A portion of latch dock frame  30  is shown with latch assembly  33  fixed to it. A portion of rear frame  12  of roping target assembly  1  is shown with latch loop  23  locked in place in latch body  26  by latch hook  25 . An arrow placed on partial rear frame  12  shows the direction of operational travel of roping target  1 . 
     FIG. 7  is a cutaway side view of towrope reel assembly  3  comprising a commonly available commercial heavy-duty hose reel  35  with associated reel spiral spring  39 , and hose guide  36 . Reel body  35  and reel frame  37  are shown in dashed lines to indicate obscuring by reel body  35  in this figure. Towrope hook  22  is shown fixed to an end of towrope  7  which is pictorially shown as being spirally wound around reel  35 . It should be noted that the above description and the associated figures are for explanation of the basic concepts of the invention, and should not be construed as a limitation on the types of play-out and rewind reels that would serve the purpose of this invention. Various common types of electrical cable, water hose, hydraulic hose, or lifting cable reels would all be adaptable for use as towrope reels for the purposes of this invention. 
     FIGS. 8A ,  8 B, and  8 C show a partial view of rear frame assembly  6  and roping target assembly  1 . Depicted is the progressive braking action of brake assembly  16  of the invention. In  FIG. 8A , brake assembly  16  is shown lifted away from the earth  40  by the tension in towrope  7  applied through tow hook  22 . In  FIG. 8B  relaxation of tension in towrope  7  has allowed brake tines  17  to come in contact with earth  40  as inertia continues to move target  1  in the direction shown by the arrow. In  FIG. 8C , the final forward movement of target  1  has caused brake tines  17  to pierce the surface of earth  40  sufficiently to bring target  1  to a full stop. 
   OPERATION OF THE INVENTION 
   This roping practice system, although effective for practice in roping a variety of animals, is depicted in the figures with a commercially available simulated steer head  21 . In a typical operational sequence the user of this roping practice system might transport the system to the practice area in the back of a pickup truck, or SUV. Unlike other roping practice systems, the invention disclosed herein breaks down into subassemblies that can be easily lifted by a single person, and transported in even small SUV&#39;s. Arriving at the roping practice area, the user would remove the major subassemblies and place them on the ground. Roping target  1  would then be assembled from the three major subassemblies, comprising top frame assembly  5  to which are fixed front frame assembly  4 , and rear frame assembly  6  by means of fasteners  20 . At this point in the operation roping target  1  is ready for use. The user would then position towrope reel assembly  3  at a location appropriate to the desired travel of roping target  1 , and fix it in place on the ground by driving ground spikes  27  through spike guides  28  into earth  40  with an appropriate hammer. 
   With towrope reel assembly  3  in place, the user would then position latch dock assembly  2  at the desired starting position for roping target  1  travel during practice. After orienting latch dock assembly  2  with latch assembly  33  pointed generally toward towrope reel assembly  3 , the user would then use a common hammer to fix it in place on the ground by driving ground spikes  27  through spike guides  28  into the earth  40 . 
   The user would then roll roping target assembly  1  backwards onto latch dock assembly  2 , see  FIG. 1 , with rear wheels  10  initially guided by dock guides  29  onto wheel tracks  32 . See  FIG. 4 . Continuing to move roping target  1  backward on wheel tracks  32  causes latch loop  23  to come into contact with the tapered front portion of latch body  26 , thus guiding it into contact with latch hook  25 . The final movement of latch loop  23  first lifts latch hook  25  and then allows it to fall back into place as shown in  FIG. 6 . In this position, roping target  1  is restrained from movement in the direction of towrope reel assembly  3 . When it is desired to allow target  1  to be pulled into motion by towrope reel assembly  3 , the user would pull on latch lanyard  24 , thus lifting latch hook  25  and releasing latch loop  23 . It should be understood that the above description and the associated figures are for clarity of understanding of the concept of the invention only, and various types of commonly available latches and catches would serve the purposes of this invention. 
   Grasping towrope hook  22 , the user would then pull towrope  7  in the direction of target assembly  1  thus causing towrope reel  35  to rotate against the opposing torque which spiral spring  39  exerts on reel  35 . See  FIG. 7 . As the user brings towrope hook  22  to target  1 , towrope hook  22  is passed through towrope guide  31  and hooked into brake connector loop  18  on brake assembly  16 . See  FIG. 2 . With the connection of towrope  7  to brake assembly  16  the tension in the towrope causes brake tines  17  to be lifted away from earth  40  as brake assembly  16  rotates slightly about brake hinge  19 . See  FIG. 8A . 
   At this point in the operational sequence of the invention, roping target  1  is ready to be released from latch dock  2  for a roping practice run. When ready for a practice run, the user of the system would pull on latch lanyard  24  thus causing latch hook  25  to rotate in latch body  26  releasing latch loop  23 . Now released, target  1  is caused to move in the direction of towrope reel assembly  3  by the rewind torque of towrope reel  35  causing towrope  7  to wind up on reel  35 . 
   If the user successfully ropes target  1 , the horse will hold the target against the tension in towrope  7  until the user moves the target back in the ready position in latch dock  2  as described above. If the target is not roped prior to the end of its predetermined travel distance, towrope bumper  8  comes in contact with reel guide  36  and stops the movement of the towrope. See  FIG. 5 . At that moment in time, the inertia of the target will cause it to continue in motion, thus relieving the tension in the towrope. See  FIG. 8B . The relaxation of the tension in the towrope will allow the weight of brake assembly  16  to cause rotation of brake assembly  16  such that brake tines  17  first come in contact with earth  40 , and then enter earth  40  sufficiently to stop movement of the target. See  FIG. 8C . 
   The sequence can then be repeated by moving the target back into latch dock assembly  2  as described above.