Jump Cup

Abstract

A jump cup for supporting a cross bar between two jump standards includes an attachment region to hold the jump cup on a standard, a support region to hold an end of a cross bar, and a lock region to prevent the attachment region from sliding out of the standard. The support region has multiple support members to distribute the weight of the cross bar, and the force of a horse coming down on the crossbar, such that the jump cup does not dangerously deform. A safety mechanism is also presented that allows for release of the support region from the attachment region if a threshold force is applied to the support region.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A jump cup for holding an end of a cross bar on a jump standard, the jump cup comprising:
 a support region adapted to hold an end of a cross bar, the support region having a plurality of support members;   an attachment region having a pin and a connector, the pin going into a hole in a jump standard and the connector connecting the pin and the support region; and   a locking region comprised of a protrusion that extends rearward to engage the jump standard and prevent the pin from sliding out of the hole.   
     
     
         2 . The jump cup of  claim 1 , wherein each of the support members is curved upward, with each support member being aligned with the other support members so as to define a concave cylindrical cup geometry. 
     
     
         3 . The jump cup of  claim 1 , further comprising a safety mechanism disposed on the connector, the safety mechanism arranged to release the support region from the pin upon application of a release load on applied to the support region. 
     
     
         4 . The jump cup of  claim 2 , wherein the safety mechanism is a coupler having a first side and a second side, the first side being rigidly connected to the pin and the second side being releasably connected to the support region, whereby a threshold force applied to the support region will release the support region from the pin. 
     
     
         5 . A jump cup for holding an end of a cross bar on a jump standard, the jump cup comprising:
 a support region adapted to hold an end of a cross bar;   an attachment region having a pin and a connector, the pin going into a hole in a jump standard, and the connector connecting the pin and the support region;   a locking region comprised of a protrusion that extends rearward to engage a jump standard and prevent the pin from sliding out of the hole; and   a safety mechanism disposed on the connector, the safety mechanism arranged to release the support region from the pin upon application of a release load on applied to the support region.