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Apparatus and system for roping practiceRelated Patent Categories: Education And Demonstration, Physical EducationApparatus and system for roping practice description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050282128, Apparatus and system for roping practice. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates devices for to roping skills training, and more particularly relates to automated training devices for practicing roping skills. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Roping is perhaps one of the oldest skills practiced by those engaged in cattle ranching operations. It remains a vital skill for those involved in handling cattle on the open range and in other settings, even in the most modern of ranching operations. [0005] Interest in developing roping skills and in roping competition has also steadily increased, particularly with the advent of rodeo and jackpot team roping, which has become one of the more popular forms of equestrian competition. Currently, over a hundred thousand team ropers compete each year for millions of dollars in prize money. These competitions are held throughout the West, Mid-West and Southern States. [0006] Team roping is a form of roping that involves one team member, the header, roping the head and the other team member, the heeler, roping the hind legs of the steer. Because of the highly competitive nature of this event, a high level of proficiency involving split second timing is required for the header. The high level of proficiency required can only be developed through a considerable amount of repetitive practice. [0007] Because there is only a limited number of practice animals and limited facilities for practicing, finding opportunities to practice roping skills on live animals is difficult. Furthermore, obtaining and maintaining a collection of livestock and a large arena with the required facilities is very costly. Also, it is very difficult to make efficient use of one's time in practicing with live animals. Accordingly, there has long been a need for alternative means for practice and training. [0008] Training devices of various kinds have been developed through the years to assist in the training of headers. Since most headers prefer to rope just the horns of the steer, a simple training device is a set of horns that can be affixed to a bale of hay or some other anchoring object. Another simple device may include a dummy steer head, with dimensions approximating a typical steer head and with horns of a fixed length. Such devices may be mounted on a mobile object such as an all terrain vehicle (ATV) or a simulated steer pulled behind a motor vehicle to provide for some in-motion training from horseback. [0009] Such devices provide an alternative means for practicing steer head roping without the use of live animals. However, even though existing devices may be mounted on mobile platforms, the existing devices do not closely simulate the movement of a live animal. In particular, live animals frequently move their heads up and down, from side to side, and also twist their heads especially when being pursued by a roper. In fact, particular head movement patterns are characteristic of certain breeds of steers. Consequently, head movements need to be considered and compensated for by a header, and therefore it is desirable that a steer roping practice device be capable of simulating the head movements in real-time. [0010] What is needed are an apparatus and system for roping training that animate movement of an animal shaped head in real-time. Beneficially, such an apparatus and system would be capable of imitating real-time head movements that characterize various breeds. Additionally, the invention would be capable of mounting various shapes of dummy steer heads and various shapes and lengths of horns. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available roping trainers. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide an apparatus and system for roping practice that overcome many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in the art. [0012] The apparatus, in one embodiment, is configured to animate a simulated animal head by swiveling the head about a point corresponding to the attachment point of the neck to the head of a live animal. The apparatus is configured to move the head to a specified pitch angle, yaw angle, and head rotation, thereby simulating the head movements of a live animal. A programmable control unit issues commands to actuators that move the head. In one embodiment the control unit may store one or more sequences of actuator commands and the timing thereof, that create characteristic real-time head movements that may correspond to a selected species of animal. [0013] The apparatus is further configured, in one embodiment, to animate the head by interposing a neck member between the animal head and the frame, and swiveling the neck member about a point corresponding to the attachment point of the neck to the body of a live animal. The apparatus is configured to move the neck member to a specified pitch and yaw angle, thereby simulating the movement of the neck and head of a live animal. A programmable control unit issues commands to actuators that move the neck. In one embodiment the control unit may store one or more sequences of actuator commands and the timing thereof, that create characteristic head and neck movements that may correspond to a selected brand or species of animal. [0014] In a further embodiment, the apparatus may be configured to include removable and interchangeable heads such that the physical characteristics of a live animal as well as the characteristic movements may be simulated. Removable and interchangeable horns may be attached to the head, providing the user with a way to configure the apparatus to simulate animals with long and short horns, and with different horn shapes. [0015] A system of the present invention is also presented for roping practice. The system may be embodied with a frame, an animated animal head attached to the frame, and an interface to the animated animal head wherewith the controller memory may be programmed, or with which the animal head may be directly controlled. In one embodiment the system may include a mobile frame whereby the animated head movement is combined with forward motion of the system to provide for in-motion training from horseback. In another embodiment the frame may include a steer shaped body. [0016] Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment. [0017] Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention. [0018] These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: [0020] FIG. 1 is a side view illustration depicting one embodiment of a roping practice system of the present invention; [0021] FIG. 2 is a side view illustration depicting one embodiment of a head actuation assembly of the present invention; Continue reading about Apparatus and system for roping practice... Full patent description for Apparatus and system for roping practice Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Apparatus and system for roping practice patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Apparatus and system for roping practice or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Rosary Next Patent Application: Method for experiment using scientific phenomenon evaluation apparatus, and scientific phenomenon evaluation apparatus Industry Class: Education and demonstration ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Apparatus and system for roping practice patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.13042 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Daimler Chrysler , DirecTV , Exxonmobil Chemical Company , Goodyear , Intel , Kyocera Wireless , 174 |
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