Abstract:
A stirrup for a harness able to create a safe anchorage for footwear without damaging the sole of the said footwear. The stirrup guarantees anchorage of the sole in all conditions of use and is particularly easy to clean.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a stirrup, and specifically to one for the harnesses of horses used to provide a valid support for the rider&#39;s foot. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The stirrups comprise a stirrup body, generally of a ‘U’ shape, and a base positioned so as to connect with the branches of the stirrup body. 
         [0003]    The body of the stirrup and the base form a lodging for footwear. 
         [0004]    Specifically, a tread is joined to the base able to form a safe anchorage for the sole of the footwear. 
         [0005]    State-of-the-art stirrups comprising treads are known of, usually in metal, comprising a number of ribs bent upwards from the opposite side of the support base. 
         [0006]    The known state-of-the art solutions present numerous drawbacks in that they tend to rapidly ruin the soles of the footwear. 
         [0007]    In fact, to improve the grip of the sole, the ribs are thin and sharp so as to penetrate at least partially the same sole. This way the sole is quickly damaged. 
         [0008]    In addition in the known state-of-the art stirrups, if the foot is placed on the edge of the stirrup, often the ribs do not ensure a safe grip for the shoe which therefore tends to slip. 
         [0009]    Lastly, the state-of-the-art stirrups tend to inevitably get covered in mud which obstructs and covers the ribs limiting the anchorage function to the sole of the footwear. The known state-of-the-art stirrups prove hard to remove the mud from. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The aim of the present invention is to produce a stirrup which resolves the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the technical note. 
         [0011]    Such drawbacks and limitations are resolved by a stirrup in accordance with claim  1 . 
         [0012]    Other forms of embodiment of the stirrup according to the invention are described in the subsequent claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be evident from the description below, made by way of an indicative and non-limiting example of its preferred embodiments, wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a stirrup according to a form of embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view in separate parts of the stirrup in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of an enlarged detail of the stirrup in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  shows a plan view of an enlarged detail of the stirrup in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0018]    The elements or parts of elements common to the forms of embodiment described below will be denoted by the same reference numeral. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    With reference to the aforesaid figures, reference numeral  4  globally denotes a stirrup for harnesses. 
         [0020]    The stirrup  4  comprises a stirrup body  8 , having a pair of branches  12  positioned in a ‘U’ configuration and comprising a base  16  positioned so as to connect the branches  12  of the body of the stirrup  8 , so that the stirrup body  8  and the base  16  form a seat  18  for footwear. 
         [0021]    The stirrup  4  comprises a tread  20 , joined to said base  16  and able to provide a safe anchorage for the sole of the footwear. 
         [0022]    Advantageously, said tread  20  comprises a number of ribs  24  bent upwards on the opposite side of the base  16  so as to constitute a blocking element for the sole of the footwear. 
         [0023]    Preferably, said ribs are of an essentially triangular shape. 
         [0024]    According to one form of embodiment, said triangular profile comprises a curved connection portion  28  at the apex  30  of said profile. 
         [0025]    According to one form of embodiment, the ribs  24  are aligned with each other and arranged at least in a first row  34 , extending in a transverse direction, essentially perpendicular to said branches  12  of the body of the stirrup  8 . 
         [0026]    According to one form of embodiment, the ribs  24  are arranged in at least a first and second row  34 , 38  and are staggered from each other so that the apex  30  of a first row  34  is aligned with a connection groove  40  between two consecutive ribs  24  of the second row of ribs  38 . 
         [0027]    Preferably, said first and second rows of ribs  34 , 38  are parallel to each other. 
         [0028]    Preferably, the ribs  24  of the single rows of the tread are the same as each other and arranged with a uniform spacing. 
         [0029]    Advantageously, at least two rows  34 , 38  of consecutive ribs  24  form a window  44  on said tread  20 , able to facilitate the removal of mud between said ribs. 
         [0030]    Advantageously, said tread  20  comprises at least one rib  24  at one edge  48  of the tread  20  facing the footwear. 
         [0031]    Preferably, the tread  20  comprises a number of ribs  24  aligned in series with each other, at said edge  48  of the tread. 
         [0032]    According to one form of embodiment, the ribs  24  are aligned parallel to said edge  48 . 
         [0033]    According to one form of embodiment, the series of ribs  24  positioned on the edge  48  is interrupted at a joint portion  50 . 
         [0034]    Preferably, the joint portion  50  is positioned at the middle portion of the edge  48 , in relation to the branches  12  of the ‘U’ portion. 
         [0035]    According to one form of embodiment, the ribs  24  are essentially perpendicular to said base  16 . 
         [0036]    According to a further form of embodiment, the ribs  24  of two adjacent rows  34 , 38  converge with each other, on the opposite side to the associable base  16 . 
         [0037]    The method of producing a stirrup according to the present invention comprises the phase of organizing the incision of a plate able to form the tread  20  of the stirrup  4 , so that said incision has a sinusoidal profile. 
         [0038]    For example the incision may be performed by laser or by a slicing machine. 
         [0039]    In addition, the method comprises the phase of bending back the portions of incision of the tread  20  towards the opposite side of the associable tread  20 , so as to form the ribs blocking the sole. 
         [0040]    As may be appreciated from the description, the stirrup according to the present invention overcomes the drawbacks presented in the technical note. 
         [0041]    In fact, the special conformation of the tread permits safe anchorage of the sole without ruining the sole of the footwear. 
         [0042]    In addition, thanks to the presence of a row of ribs at the edge of the tread, a perfect anchorage of the sole is ensured even when the sole of the footwear is placed on the very edge of the same without risk that the foot might slip. 
         [0043]    Furthermore, thanks to the configuration of the ribs which form continuous channels, the removal of surplus mud is particularly easy and may be performed simply by beating the stirrup against an obstacle. 
         [0044]    A technician skilled in this area, may make numerous modifications and adjustments to the stirrups described above so as to satisfy contingent and specific requirements, all contained within the sphere of the invention as defined by the following claims.