US2960964A - Racetrack protective device - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 22, 1960 w. A. MURPHY 2,960,964

RACETRACK PROTECTIVE DEVICE Filed Sept. 26, 1958 INVENTOR.

MLA/AM ,4- MURPHY RACETRACK PROTECTIVE DEVICE William A. Murphy, 909 Bryant Ave., New Hyde Park, N.Y.

Filed Sept. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 763,684

6 Claims. (Cl. 119-155) J This invention relates generally to race tracks, and is especially concerned with a novel device for protecting race track running surfaces during practice use thereof.

As is well known, the inner region of the track surface is subject to the most use and resultant wear, by

the natural tendency of horse and rider to seek a position United State P cumbersomeand inconvenient for the track operating personnel, and more important, these obstacles are dangerous in that the horses ankles or legs are likely to be injured by striking the obstacles.

. It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a highly improved device for use in conjunction with race tracks which effectively protect the inner region of the running surface along the inner rail during training or practice sessions, without likelihood of injury to horses or riders coming in contact with the protecting devices.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device of the type described which is adapted for convenient removal, as during official races, and replacement when the track is used for training.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a race track protective device having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs which is extremely simple in construction, durable over long periods of use, entirely safe and reliable in operation, and which can be economically manufactured, installed and maintained.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing part of a race track having protective devices of the instant invention employed in conjunction therewith;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing a single protective device of the instant invention, somewhat enlarged, and partially broken away to conserve space;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view taken from the left side of Fig. 2, but illustrating the protective device removed or apart from the inner rail of the track; and

Fig. 5 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 2 showing a device of the present invention employed with an innor track rail of the hedge type.

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Patented Nov. 22, 1 960 Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the running surface of a race track is there designated 10, and includes an inner region 11 along which extends an inner track rail, generally designated 12. The rail 12 includes a longitudinally extending, generally horizontal top member 13, see Fig. 2, spaced above the surface 11 of the inner track region and carried by a plurality of spaced :part, depending legs 14 embedded in the ground surace.

At locations spaced along the rail 12 are a plurality of protective devices of the present invention, respectively designated 15, 16 and 17.

One such device 17 is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and in eludes an elongate member or arm 18 extending generally horizontally outward from the rail 12 over the inner' track region 11. The arm 18 is spaced above the running surface 11 a distance approximately equal to the shoulder height of a horse. The inner end region 19 of the arm 18 extends closely over the rail top member 13 and is provided entirely on the inner side of the latter with arm mounting means 20. The mounting means is constituted of a generally vertically disposed tubular member or shaft 21 fixed to the inner side of the rail top member 13 and a rail leg 14 by suitable brackets 22. The fixed tubular member or bushing 21 has its upper end open for the removable insertion therethrough of a pivot member or rod 23 fixed to the inner end region 19 of the arm 18 by a right angle connectisng piece 24 and dc.- pending generally vertically from the inner arm end. The pivot or rod 23 is rotatably received in the bushing 21, and the connecting member 24 slidably abuts the upper end of the bushing, to thereby mount the generally horizontal arm 18 for rotation about the generally vertical axis of the pivot member 23.

Provided on the outer end of the arm 18, remote from the rail 12, is a relatively soft or yieldable cap member 25 for safe engagement with a running horse.

The arm 18 is yieldably retained in a position extending outward from and generally normal to the rail 12 by a pair of resiliently extensile members or springs 26 disposed on opposite sides of the arm and each connected between the arm and the rail top member 13. More specifically, the arm 18 is provided with a collar 27 fixed to the arm at a location adjacent to but spaced outward from the rail top member 13. Projecting laterally outward from the collar or shoulder 27, on opposite sides of the arm 18, are a pair of loops or eyes 28, while a pair of loops or eyes 29 are fixed to the rail top member 13, depending from the underside thereof, on opposite sides of and spaced from the mounting construction 20. The resiliently extensile elements or springs 26 each has its opposite ends connected between a respective pair of eyes 28 and 29 on opposite sides of the arm 18, and cooperate to resiliently urge the arm to its illustrated position of Fig. 3 extending generally normal to and outward from the rail 12, while permitting the arm to rotate about the vertical axis of its mounting means 20 upon deflection by a passing horse.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, a protective device is illustrated which is substantially identical to the protective device 17 of Figs. 1-4. However, the protective device is employed in conjunction with an inner rail 12a in the form of a hedge. In this embodiment, a post 14a is embedded in the ground and projects upward therefrom within the hedge 12a, being provided on its upper end with the fixed cross member or top piece 13a extending longitudinally of the race course. The mounting structure 20a of the protective device 17a is secured to the upright 14a and top cross piece 13a in the same manner as in the previously described embodiment, and the resiliently yieldable extensile elements 26a are connected between the arm 18a of the device 17a and the top member 13a in the same manner as the extensile elements 26. Of course, operation of the protective device 17a is the same as that of the protective ..de-

vice I7. a v 7 From the foregoing, it is seen that the instant invention provides a protective device ifor :the .inner 'o'rJra'iI regions of a race course during practice or'trainingsessions, which .fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions *of manufacture and use.

Although the presentv invention'has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example 'for purposes of clarity .ofnnderstanding, it is understoodth'at certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of'the appended claims. Other resiliently extensile elements maybe employed in lieu of springs 26.

What is claimed is:

I1. In combination, an endless :horse racingtrack, an'inner rail extending about said track on the inner side thereof, an am having one end mounted on said 'rail for free swinging movement about a generally vertical axis and having its other end projecting transversely from said inner rail generally horizontally outward over the inner region of said track and terminating short of the outer side of said track, a relatively .soft end piece on said projecting arm end, and resiliently yieldable means connected to said arm for urging the latter'to its outwardly projecting position while permitting swinging movement of said arm about said axis.

.2. The combination according to claim .1, .said -arm being spaced above the track surface approximately shoulder height of a horse.

3. The combination according to claim 1, said end piece comprising a cap engaged over the projecting end of saidarm.

4. The combination according to claim 1, said resiliently yieldable means comprising a pair of resiliently extensile elements each having one end connected to said arm at a location spaced from said rail and having its other end connected to saidrail on opposite sides of said arm.

5. In combination, a horse racing track, an inner rail extending along said track, an arm extending transversely outward from said rail over said i track, means mounting the inner end of said arm Torswing'ing'movement of said arm about-a generally vertical axis,.a relatively soft end piece on the outerend of said arm, and a pair resiliently extensile elements each having one end fixed to said arm at a location spaced from said rail and having its other end connected to said rail for resiliently urging said arm to its outwardly extending position while permitting swinging movement of said arm about said generally vertical axis.

'6. ThecOmbination according'to claim 5, said mounting means comprising "a generally vertically disposed upwardly opening bushing fixed to'said rail, and a generally vertically depending-pivotelement fixed to the inner end of said arm and rotatably engaged in said bushing.

References Cited-invtherfile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 673,997 Chapman May 14,1901 1,659,;713 Whalen Feb. 21, "1928 '2,7ll,037 "Tallman June '21. 1955 2,731,744 Schnell Jan. 24, 1956 2,770,219 Ferris Nov. 13, 1956 2,393,142 Logan July 7,- 1959

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