Roping practice apparatus

Abstract

The present invention includes a mechanical roping apparatus and method for practicing animal roping, including an animal assembly comprising a front, a rear, and a frame; a leg assembly including leg members mounted at the rear of the animal assembly; one or more indicia selected from a vibrational cue, a visual cue, or an auditory cue, wherein the one or more indicia are configured to indicate to the user a proper time to rope a leg member using proper roping technique; two or more wheels or skids; and an arena float connected to the animal assembly, the arena float comprising: a float connector connected to the animal assembly; a float arm rotatably connected to the float connector to rotate in a vertical plane, the float arm comprising one or more float arm segments; and a leveler connected to the float arm and configured to level material of an arena surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mechanical roping apparatus for practicing animal roping comprising:
 an animal assembly comprising a front, a rear, and a frame;   a leg assembly mounted at the rear of the animal assembly-and including leg members;   one or more indicia selected from a vibrational cue carried by a user, a visual cue, or an auditory cue, wherein the one or more indicia are configured to indicate to the user a proper time to rope a leg member using proper roping technique;   two or more wheels or skids positioned to the right, left, or both of a longitudinal centerline of the animal assembly; and   an arena float connected to the animal assembly, the arena float comprising:
 a float connector connected to the animal assembly; 
 a float arm rotatably connected to the float connector at a proximate end of the float arm such that the float arm is configured to rotate in a vertical plane, the float arm comprising one float arm segment or two or more float arm segments, wherein the two or more float arm segments are rotatably connected in sequence such that each of the two or more float arm segments are configured to rotate in the vertical plane; and 
 a leveler connected to a distal end of the float arm and configured to condition material of an arena surface ahead of the wheels or the skids. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the float connector is a tow bar. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the float arm comprises wood, metal, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one float arm segment or the two or more float arm segments are configured to be rotated and fixed in position to adjust a height of the leveler relative to the arena surface. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more float arm segments are configured to be rotated and fixed to adjust an angle of the leveler relative to the arena surface. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the leveler comprises wood, metal, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the leveler comprises a rake with a plurality of tines; a brush with a plurality of bristles, wires, or filaments; a blade; a smooth surface; a roughened surface; or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the leveler is connected rotatably to the float arm and configured to roll over the arena surface as the apparatus is moved on the arena surface. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an indicia-actuation assembly comprising:
 an indicia-actuation wheel rotatably mounted on the frame in contact with the ground, wherein the indicia-actuation wheel is configured to rotate as the apparatus is moved over the ground;   an indicia-actuation pulley system comprising a pivot and quarter-circle plate rotatably mounted on the pivot and connected to the indicia-actuation wheel, wherein the quarter-circle plate is configured to rotate as the indicia-actuation wheel rotates; and   an indicia-actuation switch connected to the quarter-circle plate and to the one or more indicia and configured to operate the one or more indicia as the quarter-circle plate rotates.   
     
     
         10 . A leveler kit comprising:
 an arena float configured to be connected to a mechanical roping apparatus, the arena float comprising:
 a float arm configured to be rotatably connected to the float connector at a proximate end of the float arm such that the float arm is configured to rotate in a vertical plane, the float arm comprising one float arm segment or two or more float arm segments, wherein the two or more float arm segments are configured to be rotatably connected in sequence such that each of the two or more float arm segments are configured to rotate in the vertical plane; and 
 a leveler configured to be connected to a distal end of the float arm and configured to condition material of an arena surface ahead of the wheels or the skids; and 
   one or more fasteners configured to connect the float arm to a float connector of a mechanical roping apparatus, to connect the two or more float arm segments in sequence, or to connect the leveler to the float arm.   
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein the leveler comprises a rake with a plurality of tines; a brush with a plurality of bristles, wires, or filaments; a blade; or a roughened surface. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein the leveler is connected rotatably to the float arm and configured to roll over the arena surface as the apparatus is moved on the arena surface. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 10 , further comprising the float connector, wherein the float connector is configured to be connected to the mechanical roping apparatus and to the proximate end of the float arm. 
     
     
         14 . A method of conditioning an arena surface for a mechanical roping apparatus, the method comprising:
 providing the mechanical roping apparatus comprising:
 an animal assembly comprising a front, a rear, and a frame; 
 a leg assembly mounted at the rear of the animal assembly-and including leg members; 
 one or more indicia selected from a vibrational cue carried by a user, a visual cue, or an auditory cue, wherein the one or more indicia are configured to indicate to the user a proper time to rope a leg member using proper roping technique; and 
 two or more wheels or skids positioned to the right, left, or both of a longitudinal centerline of the animal assembly; 
   providing an arena float comprising:
 a float connector connected to the animal assembly; 
 a float arm rotatably connected to the float connector at a proximate end of the float arm such that the float arm is configured to rotate in a vertical plane, the float arm comprising one float arm segment or two or more float arm segments, wherein the two or more float arm segments are rotatably connected in sequence such that each of the two or more float arm segments are configured to rotate in the vertical plane; and 
   a leveler connected to a distal end of the float arm and configured to condition material of an arena surface ahead of the wheels or the skids;   connecting the arena float to the mechanical roping apparatus;   adjusting the height, angle, or both of the leveler relative to the arena surface to contact the arena surface; and   moving the mechanical roping apparatus on the arena surface, thereby conditioning the arena surface with the leveler.