WO1995005878A1

WO1995005878A1 - A post and rail assembly

Info

Publication number: WO1995005878A1
Application number: PCT/AU1994/000494
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leslie Valentine Pellow
Original assignee: Saferace Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 1993-08-23
Filing date: 1994-08-23
Publication date: 1995-03-02

Abstract

A post and rail assembly (10) for use as a running rail adjacent a horse racing surface (11), the assembly (10) having an elongate rail of hollow PVC pipe (12) in this case being 110 mm to 150 mm in diameter. A plurality of spaced apart posts (13, 14 and 15) are set at 1.5 m intervals and these support the rail (12) so that the rail extends generally parallel to the racing surface (11). Each post (13) is coupled to the rail (12) using a rail release means in the form of a generally C-shaped clip (13) so that when a jockey collides with a post, the post is automatically released from the rail.

Description

"A POST AND RAIL ASSEMBLY"

TECHN ICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a post and rail assembly particularly suited for but not limited to equine sports including all forms of horse racing. BACKGROUND ART

Horse racing is frequently carried out using a moveable running rail disposed adjacent a racing surface. The rail is typically a channel section rigidly cantilevered to steel posts with the posts being located at spaced intervals along the rail. These running rails have contributed to serious injury and fatalities during racing accidents. The rail has been known to fracture and break on impact providing a "spear" capable of impaling a horse or a jockey. Frequently accidents involve falls away from the rail but on occasions jockeys have been thrown over the rail with considerable forward momentum. When a jockey collides with a post under these circumstances, serious injury and sometimes fatal injuries have occurred.

OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to alleviate at least to some degree the aforementioned problems associated with the prior art. In one aspect therefore, the present invention resides in a post and rail assembly for use as a running rail adjacent a horse racing surface, the assembly having an elongate rail, a plurality of spaced apart posts supporting the rail so that the rail extends generally parallel to the racing surface and rail release means coupling the posts and rail together so that if during an accident a jockey collides with a post, the post is automatically released from the rail.

The elongate rail is preferably a hollow tube of lightweight material.

Typically any polymeric material including UV stabilised PVC of the type used in outdoor furniture is employed. The rail can be rigid, flexible or inflatable.

Where the rail has a flexible wall, it can be filled with a suitable filler including displaceable media such as polystyrene beads.

Each post is typically also made from this same material or similar material as the rail. The posts are preferably generally S-shaped having a foot end and an opposed rail end so that the rail is cantilevered above the racing surface when coupled to the posts. Advantageously, the posts are made from rigid metal and have a ground extending portion which extends generally in contact with the ground, an intermediate upstanding portion extending upwards at approximately 90° to the ground extending portion and a cantilevered portion protruding out above the racing surface.

The foot end preferably includes a post pivot assembly having a pivot axis so that when the post is released from the rail, it can pivot or swing about the foot. The pivot axis is set generally transverse to the rail. The foot end of the post is preferably held in a foot assembly. The foot assembly can be of any form but is typically a hollow block holding ballast. The hollow block preferably includes a hole recess or other means for securing the block to the ground using a suitable fastener.

The fastener preferably provides an axis of rotation so that the block can rotate about the fastener when under load.

The fastener can be a stake driven into the ground but more preferably a screw stake is employed so that the screw stake can be screwed into or out of the ground using a suitable tool.

Each post is preferably braced using one or more braces. Preferably a single diagonal brace is employed extending from adjacent the rail end to a point adjacent the foot end of the post. The brace preferably passes through a passage in an intermediate portion of the post and is freely disposed in the passage so that the post can flex relative to the brace.

The posts are preferably equally spaced and are typically positioned at less than 2m spacing with 1 .5m being preferred.

The rail release means can be any means which enables release of the post from the rail. Typically, the rail release means includes a hand insertable clip action coupling bridging between the rail and post. The rail release means preferably includes a hollow body having an elongate resiliently expandable mouth disposed so that the rail can be inserted through the mouth so that the hollow body of the release means surrounds a major portion of the rail adjacent the post. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention can be more readily understood and be put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:- Figure 1 is a pictorial view illustrating a preferred post and rail assembly according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of a typical post but in this case employing a brace; Figure 3 is an end view of a post;

Figure 4 is a detailed view illustrating a rail release means suitable for use with the assembly of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 is a part view illustrating part of a foot assembly suitable for use with the assembly of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 is a pictorial view illustrating a further embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a section through the embodiment of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an alternative embodiment of a rail release means; and Figure 9 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

METHOD OF PERFORMANCE Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 , there is illustrated a post and rail assembly 10 for use as a running rail adjacent a horse racing surface 1 1 , the assembly 10 having an elongate rail of hollow PVC pipe 12 in this case being 1 10mm to 1 50mm in diameter. A plurality of spaced apart posts 1 3, 14 and 1 5 are set at 1 .5m intervals and these support the rail 12 so that the rail extends generally parallel to the racing surface 1 1 . Each post 13 is coupled to the rail 12 using a rail release means in the form of a generally C-shaped clip 1 3 so that when a jockey collides with a post, the post is automatically released from the rail.

The clip 1 6 of the post 14 is shown separated from the rail and as can be seen, the clip 16 includes a mouth 14 and because the clip 16 is made from plastics material, the mouth 14 is resiliently expandable and so that it can be clipped over the rail 12 into the position shown in respect of posts 1 3 and 1 5. Each post 1 3 is made from 50mm PVC pipe UV stabilised and semi- flexible in consistency and includes a rail end 1 7 carrying the clip 1 6 and a foot end 18 secured adjacent the racing surface 1 1 by a pair of metal brackets 1 9 and 20. In this case, the running rail is a moveable running rail so the brackets 19 and 20 are secured in place using stakes (see Figure 5).

It will be appreciated from the illustration of Figure 1 that the end portion 21 of each post is disposed to pivot or rotate in the brackets 1 9 and 20 about a pivot axis generally transverse to the running rail once the clip 1 6 is released from the rail. It will also be appreciated that due to the selection and consistency of the

PVC material used in the posts, the post can be made sufficiently rigid but still locally flexible to withstand accidental blows to the end portion 21 when stakes are being driven through holes in the brackets 1 9 and 20.

Referring now to Figure 2, a second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated and as this embodiment shares features in common with the embodiment of Figure 1 , where appropriate like numerals have been used to illustrate like features. The only difference between the embodiment of Figure 2 and the Figure 1 embodiment is the inclusion of a diagonal brace 22 which enables less rigid plastics to be used in the post 1 3. The brace 22 extends through a through-hole 23 so that the post 13 is free to slide along the brace 22 and flex relative thereto so that the post and rail assembly still retains a higher degree of resilience to impact during accidents.

Referring to Figure 4, there is illustrated in more detail the clip 1 6 and as can be seen, the clip includes a generally C-shaped plastics body portion 24 and rolled lips 25 and 26 defining the mouth 14 and a collar 27 which can be fitted to the post.

Referring to Figure 5, there is illustrated a portion of the foot end 18 showing a stake 27 having a collar 28 and head 29, the stake being fully driven home and the collar being provided to enable extraction of the stake using a suitable tool.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, there is illustrated a further embodiment 30 of the present invention. In this case a foot assembly 31 is employed, the foot assembly 31 is hollow for holding ballast, including sand or water. A vertical screw threaded stake 32 is used to hold the foot assembly in place so that the foot can rotate on the ground. The post 1 3 plugs into the foot assembly and is separable from the foot assembly and the clip 33 so that the post and rail assembly is fully collapsible.

Figure 8 illustrates the clip 33 having a downwardly open mouth 34 to enhance separation of the clip 33 from the rail 12 due to downward force.

Figure 9 is a further embodiment 35, this time employing a 90° angle between the ground entry portion 36 and intermediate upright portion 37. It will be appreciated from the foregoing that whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present invention, many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1 . A post and rail assembly for use as a running rail adjacent a horse racing surface, the assembly having an elongate rail, a plurality of spaced apart posts supporting the rail so that the rail extends generally parallel to the racing surface and rail release means coupling the posts and rail together so that if during an accident a person collides with a post, the post is automatically released from the rail and moves with the person in response to the collision.

2. A post and rail assembly according to claim 1 wherein the elongate rail is a hollow tube of lightweight polymeric material.

3. A post and rail assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the posts are generally S-shaped having a foot end and an opposed rail end so that the rail is cantilevered above the racing surface when coupled to the posts.

4. A post and rail assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the posts are made from rigid metal and have a ground extending portion which extends generally in contact with the ground, an intermediate upstanding portion extending upwards at approximately 90° to the ground extending portion and a cantilevered portion protruding out above the racing surface.

5. A post and rail assembly according to claim 3 wherein the foot end includes a post pivot assembly having a pivot axis so that when the post is released from the rail, it can pivot or swing about the foot, the pivot axis being set generally transverse to the rail.

6. A post and rail assembly according to claim 1 wherein the posts are generally S-shaped having a foot end and an opposed rail end, the foot end having a foot assembly comprising a hollow block holding ballast.

7. A post and rail assembly according to claim 6 wherein the hollow block includes a hole, recess or other means for securing the block to the ground using a fastener.

8. A post and rail assembly according to claim 1 wherein the post is held in position by a foot assembly including a block held in place by a fastener, the fastener being a stake driven into the ground, the stake being a screw stake so that the screw stake can be screwed into or out of the ground using a tool.

9. A post and rail assembly according to claim 1 wherein the rail release means includes a hand insertable clip action coupling bridging between the rail and post.

10. A post and rail assembly according to claim 1 wherein the rail release means includes a hollow body having an elongate resiliently expandable mouth disposed so that the rail can be inserted through the mouth so that the hollow body of the release means surrounds a major portion of the rail adjacent the post.

1 1 . A post and rail assembly according to claim 10 wherein the rail release means includes a downwardly open mouth.