Patent Publication Number: US-7914386-B1

Title: Bucking horse simulator apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to bucking horse simulation devices and more particularly pertains to a new bucking horse simulation device for providing a simulated bucking horse movement for instruction and entertainment purposes using a structure that is actuated by being pulled by a vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a frame that has a first lateral side, a second lateral side and a front end. A hitch connector is attached to and extends away from the front end. An axle is attached to the frame. A pair of support wheels is attached to opposite ends of the axle. Each of the first and second lateral sides has one of the support wheels positioned adjacent thereto. A post is attached to and extends upwardly from the frame. The post is spaced from each of the first and second lateral sides and has an upper end. A beam has a first end and a second end. The upper end of the post is pivotally coupled to the beam between the first and second ends. A cover is positioned on the beam. The cover includes a central wall mounted on and extending along an upper surface of the beam and a pair of side walls each attached to and extending downward from the central wall. A drive wheel is rotatably mounted to the frame. A leg is attached to the drive wheel. An arm is attached to the beam between the first end and the post. The arm is attached to the leg at a point spaced from an axis of rotation of the drive wheel so that rotation of the drive wheel alternatively pulls and pushes the arm toward the beam to cause lifting and lowering of the first end of the beam. The hitch connector is coupled to a vehicle to pull the frame and rotate the drive wheel. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a bucking horse simulator apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1  of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a side in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 6  thereof, a new bucking horse simulation device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 6 , the bucking horse simulator apparatus  10  generally comprises a frame  12  that has a first lateral side  14 , a second lateral side  16 , and a front end  18 . A hitch connector  20  is attached to and extends away from the front end  18 . An axle  22  is attached to the frame  12 . A pair of support wheels  24  is attached to opposite ends of the axle  22 . Each of the first  14  and second  16  lateral sides has one of the support wheels  24  positioned adjacent thereto. The frame  12 , axle  22 , support wheels  24  and hitch connector  20  are generally conventional to trailers. A decking  26  may be positioned on the frame  12  and coverings  28  positioned over the support wheels  24 . 
     A post  30  is attached to and extends upwardly from the frame  12 . The post  30  is spaced from each of the first  14  and second  16  lateral sides. The post  30  has an upper end  32 . A beam  34  has a first end  36  and a second end  38 . The upper end  32  of the post  30  is pivotally coupled to the beam  34  between the first  36  and second ends  38 . 
     A cover  40  is positioned on the beam  34 . The cover  40  includes a central wall  42  that is mounted on and extends along an upper surface of the beam  34  and a pair of side walls  44  each being attached to and extending downward from the central wall  42 . The side walls  44  each have an outer convex surface. A wedge member  46  is attached to and extends upwardly from the central wall  42 . The wedge member  46  may be moved laterally along the central wall  42  to adjust it for the body size of a person sitting on the cover  40 . The wedge member  46  may be held down by straps  48  or fasteners. This also allows different wedge members  46  to be positioned on or taken off of the cover  40 . A grip  50  is attached to the wedge member  46 . A plurality of rings  52  is attached to the cover  40 . Each of the side walls  44  has at least one of the rings  52  coupled thereto. The rings  52  may be D-rings and the straps  48  may also be attached to the rings  52 . The cover  40  is made from a rigid material, which may be a metallic material, plastic material, fiberglass material, or the like, and the straps  48  may be used for securing the wedge member  46  in place by securing the straps  48  to the rings  52  or by inserting fasteners through the straps  48  attached to the wedge member  46  into the cover  40 . A pad  54  is mounted on the cover  40  to provide comfort for a person riding on the cover  40 . 
     A drive wheel  56  is rotatably mounted to the frame  12 . A leg  58  is attached to the drive wheel  56 . An arm  60  is attached to the beam  34  between the first end  36  and the post  30 . The arm  60  is attached to the leg  58  at a point spaced from the an axis of rotation of the drive wheel  56  so that rotation of the drive wheel  56  alternatively pulls and pushes the arm  60  toward the beam to cause lifting and lowering of the first end  36  of the beam  34 . This provides the simulation of the movement of a bucking horse as it is being ridden. A plurality of springs  62  is attached to and extends between the beam  34  and the post  30  to bias the beam  34  toward a horizontal orientation. While traveling over uneven ground, the springs  62  help to pull the beam  34  back to a horizontal position. 
     In use, the hitch connector  20  is coupled to a vehicle  70  to pull the frame  12  and rotate the drive wheel  56 . A person sits on the cover  40  and holds the grip  50  while the cover  40  is tilted back and forth. The movement of the vehicle  70  can also be used moving the frame left and right as well as forward and backward though it is presumed that the vehicle  70  will move at relatively low speeds such as less than 10 mph and even less than 5 mph. This will allow a person to learn how to ride a bucking horse in a more controlled manner. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.