US3802706A

US3802706A - Motorized roping steer

Info

Publication number: US3802706A
Application number: US00277348A
Authority: US
Inventors: N Hamm
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-08-02
Filing date: 1972-08-02
Publication date: 1974-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-09

Abstract

A roping practice device for use in training of horses and individuals in roping of animals includes a body member with spaced front and rear ground engaging members adapted to effect movement of the body member along a ground or operating surface in response to operation of drive members operatively connected to the front and rear ground engaging members and foldable or swingable projecting members mounted on the body member and adapted to be engaged by a lariat and adapted to release the lariat in response to a pull on the lariat.

Description

Hamm

[ 4] MOTORIZED ROPING STEER [76] Inventor: Norman R. Hamm, Box 17, Perry,

Kans. 66073 I 22 Filed: Aug. 2, 1972 21 App1.No.: 277,348

[52] US. Cl 273/l05.2, 119/29, 46/104,

, 46/123 [51] Int. Cl F4lj 9/00 [58] Field of Search 119/29; 273/1052; 46/105, 46/106, 107, 108,109, 110, 149, 150

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,303,821 2/1967 Harris 273/1052 490,319 I 1/1893 'Shreiner 46/110 3,579,905 5/1971 Radfordm; 46/77 2,819,900 21/1958 Bracken 273/1052 2,791,434 5/1957 Wheeler ...-46/l05 3,503,655 4/1950 C0kins.... 46/105 3,386,201 6/1968 Kelly 1 46/149 3,711,098 1/1973 MCCOI'd.; 273/1052 11] 3,802,706 1 Apr. 9, 1974 3.022070 2/1962 Schlau 272/31 R V FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 794,163

4/1958 Great Britain 46/105 Primary Exqminer-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind v Attorney, Agent, or Firm'-Fishburn, Gold & Litman 5 7 ABSTRACT nected to the front and rear ground engaging members and foldable or swingable projecting members mounted on the body member and adapted to be engaged by a lariat and adapted to release the lariat in response to a pull on the lariat.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures MOTORIZED ROPING STEER The present invention relates to roping practice devicesand more particularly to a mobile roping practice device having foldable projecting members to be engaged by a lariat. r

The principal'obje'cts of the present invention are: to provide a roping practice device for use 'in training of horses and individuals in roping of animals wherein the device is mobile and has foldable or swingable projecting members adapted to the engaged by a lariat; to provide such a device having portions thereof adapted to be engaged by a lariat and to quickly release the lariat in response to a pull on the lariat; to provide such a roping practice device having at least one pair of leg members with portionsfoldable or swingable in response to engagement by and a pull on a lariat and adapted to retain the lariat thereon while in the folded condition; to povide such a device wherein the leg members are each alternately raised and lowered and alternately moved forwardlyand rearwardly one at a time; to provide such a roping practice devicehaving a travelling movement similar tothat of cattle; to provide such a roping practice device adapted to travel in a defined path; to provide such a device having novel drive means adapted to effect forward movement of the device along a ground surface and wherein the path is circular; and to provide such a roping practicedevice which. is economical to" manufacture, durable in construction, positive in opera'tion,*and particularly well adapted for the proposed use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustrating and example certain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features of the roping practice device.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of aroping practice device em bodying features of the present invention.

FIG. .2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the roping practice devicewith portions broken away to better v illustrate the component parts. 7

on line 4-4, FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 55, FIG. 3. Y

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view at a scale larger than FIGS. 2 to 5 inclusive and showing one leg member in a folded position andwith a lariat in engagement therewith and retained thereon.

increasing the stability thereof when a lariat is in engagement therewith.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed'herein are not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the arts to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriate detailed structure.

In the disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a roping practice device for use in training of horses and individuals in roping of animals and the like. The roping practice device 1 includes a body member 2 with front ground engaging means 3 and rear ground engagadapted to cooperatively effect generally forwardly movement'of the body member 2 along a ground or other suitable operatingsurface 5.i n response to operation of drive means, as later described, operatively connected to the front ground engaging means 3 and to the rear ground engaging means 4. Foldable or

swingable projecting members

6 and 7 are mounted on the body member 2 and adapted to be engaged by alariat and adapted to release the lariat in response to a pull on the lariat.

The body member 2 is illustrated as having an upper frame 7 portion formed of transversely or laterally spaced

side members

8 and 9 and with suitable transverse bracing members 10 extending therebetween.

The body member 2 also includes a'front end frame portion depending from a front or forward end of the upper frame portion and the illustrated front end frame portion includes a pair. ofdepending arms 11 and 12 and preferably suitable transverse bracing members therebetween. V

A shaft 14 extends between the depending arms 11 and 12 of the front end frame portion and has respective opposite ends thereof rotatably mounted thereon,

as in suitable bearings. An elongated axle 15 has intermediate portions thereof rotatably mounted on respective lower ends of the depending arms 11 and 12. The

axle 15 has endportionsextending laterally beyond the FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a normal position of projecting members on the roping practice device for engagement by a lariat.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the projecting members in a folded or retracted position for release of the lariat in response to a pull on the lar- FIG. 9 is an enlarged-fragmentary side elevational view atthe' scale of FIGS. 2 to 5 inclusive and showing an additional feature of the roping practice device for depending arms 11 and 12 and suitable wheels 16 and It is desirable to enclose a portion of the body mem- I bet 2 and at least a portion of the component parts of the roping practice device 1 both for appearance and for safety of the horses and individuals. Therefore, a housing 18 is suitably mounted on the body member 2 for a closing at least an upper portion thereof. In the illustrated structure, suitable

transverse members

19 and 20 extend between the housing 18 and the

side members

8 and 9 of the upper frame portion of the body member 2 for supporting the housing 18 thereon.

It is desirable to control the movement of the roping practice device land to limit movement of the roping practice device 1 to a specific area and to adefined path. The path may be any form with a suitable guide or control and in the structure-illustrated, the path is circular and a suitable connection, such as a hook or whereby the roping practice device 1 travels in a generally circular path about the stationary member 23.

In t the illustrated structure, the drive means is mounted on a platform 24 positionedforward of the front end portion of the body member 2 and the platform 24 provides support for a motor 25 which is operatively connected to the front ground engaging members 3 and to the rear ground engaging members 4. In the illustrated structure, the platform 24 is a generally planar member having spaced arms 26 and 27 suitably supported on the axle l5.

Suitable braces

28 and 29 extend from the platform 24 and are suitably connected to the side member's 8 and 9 of the body member 2, as by welding, bolts, or the like, thereby providing a substantially rigid support forthe motor 25.

The. illustrated front ground engaging members 3 comprise the wheels 16 and l7 and the rear ground engaging members 4 comprise a pair of laterally spaced

leg members

30 and 31 each positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides ofthe body member 2. The

leg members

30 and 31 are alternately raised and lowered and alternately moved forwardly and rearwardly with a lower end thereof being engageable with the ground surface 5. I

in the illustrated structure, the

leg members

30 and 31 each have an upper portion 32 and a lower portion 33. The respective upper portions 32 of the leg members30 and 31 are each pivotally connected to the drive means, as later described. The

leg members

30 and 31 each have suitable hinge means 34 intermediate the ends thereof and connecting the respective upper portion 32 and lower portion 33 whereby the leg members wil fold when engaged by a lariat and in response to a pull thereon.

It is desirable to maintain the lower portion 33 in longitudinal alignment with the upper portion 32 of each of the

leg members

30 and 31. Therefore,

ears

35 and 36 extend outwardly from the upper portion 32 and the lower portion 33 respectively and are positioned in adjacent facing relation when the respective upper and lower portions 32 and 33' are in longitudinal alignment.

The

ears

35 and 36 each have suitable apertures therein to permit an elongated rod 37 to extend there-- through. The rod 37'has suitable enlarged

portions

38 and 39 on respective opposite ends thereof with a suitable resilient member 40, such as a helical spring, sleeved on the elongated rod 37 and positioned between one of the ears and a respective one of the enlarged portions of the rod 37, for example, between the ear 35 on the upper portion 32 and the enlarged portion 38 whereby the spring 40 is adapted to urge the respective upper and

lower portions

32 and 33 of the

leg members

30 and 31 into longitudinal alignment and maintain said alignment until the leg members are engaged by the lariat and apull is applied to same.

The

leg members

30 and 31 are each adapted to be engaged by a lariat and to fold when so engaged. It is desirable to maintain the lariat in engagement with the respective leg member while said leg member is folded.

Therefore, each lower portion 33 of the

leg members

30 and 31 has a finger 41 with one end thereof pivotally mounted thereon and adapted to have the other or free end 42 thereof extend laterally beyond the lower portion 33 of the respective leg member and be engaged by the lariat. Each of the

leg members

30 and 31 has an elongated connecting member 43'having one end thereof pivotally connected to the finger 41 intermediate the ends thereof and the other end pivotally con-- nected to the upper portion 32 of the respective leg member.

When the

leg members

30 and 31 have the upper and

lower portions

32 and 33 thereof in longitudinal align ment, the finger 41 is in an inclined or sloping position having the free end 42 of the finger 41 positioned within a space defined by front and rear edges of the respective leg member. When the leg member is engaged by a lariat and apull is applied to the lariat, the lower portion 33 of the respective leg member is moved toward a rear end of the body member 2 and the free end 42 of the finger 41 is moved to a position extending laterally beyondthe lower portion 33 of the respective leg member whereby the finger 41 is adapted to be engaged by the lariat when the lower portion 33 of the respective leg member is moved out of alignment with the upper portion 32 to thereby retain the lariat thereon while the upper and lower portions32 and 33 are out of longitudinal alignment.

The motor 25 on the platform 24 is operatively con: nected to the

wheels

16 and 17 and to the

leg members

30 and 31 for effecting a generally forward movement of the roping practice device 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the motor 25 has a suitable gear reduction unit operatively connected thereto for driving a shaft 44 extending outwardly therefrom. The shaft 44 may be operatively connected to the axle 15 and the

leg members

30 and 31 in any suitable manner, however, in theillustrated structure, a sprocket 45 is mounted on the shaft 44 and a sprocket 46 is mounted on the shaft 14 extending between the depending arms 11 and 12 of the front end portion of the body member 2 and a suit- A second sprocket 51 is also mounted on the shaft 14 extending between the depending arms 11 and 12 and a forward shaft 52 extends laterally between the

side members

8 and 9 of the upper frame portion of the body member 2 and preferably adjacent the forward end thereof andthe shaft 52 has a sprocket 53 thereon with a suitable endless chain 54 extending between the

sprockets

51 and 53 whereby rotation of the shaft 14 effects rotation of the shaft-52. A rear shaft 55 extends laterally between the side.

members

8 and 9 of the upper frame portion of the body member 2 and is positioned adjacent a rear end thereof and the shaft 55 has a sprocket 56 thereon which is aligned with a sprocket The drive means includes first and second rotatable members spaced apart along a longitudinal axis and eachhaving portions extending in opposed relation from the longitudinal axis. One of the rotatable members has the upper portions 32 of the leg members and 31 pivotally connected to the respective portions in opposed relation. The other of the rotatable members has one end of a respective one of a pair of connecting links pivotally connected to a respective one of 1 the portions in opposed relation with the longitudinal axis ofsaid other rotatable member and with the other laterally spaced generally planar'discs 59 each mounted on a respective opposite end of the shaft 52 and a rear pair of laterally spaced and generally planar discs 59 each mounted on a, respective opposite end of g the shaft 55. The

discs

59 and 60 are positioned adjacent opposite sides of the body member 2 and preferably exterior sides of the

side members

8 and 9 whereby rotation of the

shafts

52 and 55 effects like rotation of the pairs of

discs

59 and 60 respectively.

The

leg members

30 and 31 each have an upper end of the upper portion 32 thereof pivotally connected to a respective one of the discs 60adjacent the periphery thereof whereby rotation of the discs 60 alternally raises and lowers the

leg members

30 and 31 and alternately moves same forwardly and rearwardly. The upper ends of the

leg members

30 and 31 are mounted in diametrically opposed relation with a. longitudinal axis of the shaft 55 whereby rotation of the discs 60 raises one leg member while lowering the other leg member and moves one leg member forwardly while moving the other leg member rearwardly to simulate natural leg movement of animals.

Each of the

leg members

30 and 31 has one end of a respective elongated link 61 pivotally mounted thereon intermediate the ends of the upper portion 32 thereof and each elongated 'link 61 has the other end thereof pivotally mounted on a respective one of the discs 59 on the forward or front shaft 52 whereby rotation of the

discs

59 and 60 alternately moves the upper portion 32 of the

leg members

30 and 31 forwardly and rearwardly and raises and lowers same in a coordinated pattern of movement.

The projecting

members

6 and 7 are positioned adjacent a forward end of the housing 18 and are shaped to resemble horns of an animal. In the illustrated strucbers 6 and 7 is illustrated as a generally'cylindrical rod or shaft rotatably mounted in the bearing portions in the receiving member 63. It is desirable to limit rotation of the projecting

members

6 and 7 within selected limits, therefore, abutments and 66 extend from the base portion 62 of the projecting

members

6 and 7 respectively, with the

abutments

65 and 66 being engageable with

respective arms

67 and 68 extending outwardly from a forward end of the housing 18 adjacent and forward of the projecting

members

6 and 7 respectively thereby defining respective forward limits of movement of the projecting members 6 and '7. Rearward movement of respective horn portions of the

pro jecting members

6 and 7 permits a lariat to slide from same. The top of the housing 18 defines the rearward limit of movement of the horn portions of the projecting

members

6 and 7.

It is desirable that the

arms

67 and 68 be substantially rigid, therefore, a pair of sets of bracing

members

69 and 70 are positionedon respective opposite sides of the housing 18 and one end of each of the bracing

members

69 and 70 is secured to an outer end of the

respective arms

67 and 68 and the other end of each of the bracing

members

69 and 70 is secured to the hous- I ing 18, forwardly and rearwardly respectively of the

arms

67 and 68 and at respective opposite sides thereof.

It is also desirable to return the projecting members 6 and to a selected position, therefore, suitable resilient members, such as a tension springs, are mounted within the housing 18 and each preferably has one end connected to the receiving member 63 or the housing .18 and the other end'connected to the base portion 62 of a respective one of projecting

members

6 and 7 to thereby rotatethe respective base portion 62 to a selected position for engagementby a lariat.

F1049 illustrates an additional feature of the roping support 71 positioned substantially forward of the front ground engaging means 3. The forward support 71 is adapted to cooperate with the front ground engaging means 3 for supporting the device 1, particularly when either of the

leg members

30 and 31 are engaged by a lariat and a pull is applied to the lariat.

The illustrated forwardsupport 71 includes a wheel 72 rotatably supported on a suitable axle 73. A pair of laterally spaced struts 74 and 75 each extend between a forward end or portion of the housing 18 and respective oppositejend portions of the axle 73. It is desirable to provide bracing for the struts 7'4 and 75, therefore, a pair of laterally spaced bracing members 76 and 77 have one end thereof suitably secured to the

struts

74 and 75 respectively and the other end thereof secured to the depending arms 11 and 12 respectively of the front end portion of the body member 2.

In one manner of using a roping practice device constructed as illustrated and described, the stationary member 23 is fixedly mounted in the ground surface 5 at a selected location and respective opposite ends of t the tie member 22 are connected to the stationary member 23 and to the hook or eye 21 on the forward end of the housing 18. The motor 25 is started thereby effecting rotation of the

wheels

16 and 17. and movement-of the

leg members

30 and 31. The upper ends of the

leg members

30 and 31 are mounted on therespective discs 60 and in opposed relation and substantially equal spacing from the axis of the shaft 55 whereby one leg member is rising while the other'leg member is de scendingto thereby permit the lower portion 33 of one of the leg members to be engaged by a lariat and folded in response to a pull on the lariat. When oneof the leg members is in the folded position, the free end 42 of the finger 41 thereon moves to a position extending beyond the respective lower portion 33 whereby the lariat will be engaged with the finger 41 thereby holding the lariat thereon until the leg is permitted to move to a position having the upper and

lower portions

32 and 33 thereof aligned which moves the finger 41 and permits the lariat to be moved from the respective leg member. When the lariat engages the projecting

members

6 and 7 on the forward end of the housing 18, the projecting members are rotated rearwardly in response to a pull on the lariat. The receiving members 63 and the base portions 62 of the projecting

members

6 and 7 therein are positioned in such a manner that free ends of the horn portions of the projecting

members

6 and 7 move toward each other when turned rearwardly by the lariat so that the lariat automatically moves out of engagement with the projecting

members

6 and 7 and the spring or springs return the

abutments

65 and 66 on the base portions base portions 62 of the projecting

members

6 and 7 toward the.

arms

67 and 68 respectively and to the original position.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be lim-,

ited to the specific form or arrangement of part thereindescribed and shown.

What I claim and desire to secure by letters Patent is:

l. A roping practice device comprising:

a. a body member having opposite ends and opposite sides;

b. spaced surface engaging means mounted on said body member and adapted to effect movement of said body member along an operating surface; said spaced engaging means comprising:

1. a pair of laterally spaced wheels positioned adjacent one of the opposite ends of said body memher, said wheels each being positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body members;

2. a pair of laterally spaced leg members positioned adjacent the other of the opposite ends of said body member, said leg members each being positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body member and having an upper end and a surface engaging lower end;

0. drive means mounted on said body member and operatively connected to said surface engaging means for driving same; said drive means includes:

7 1. power means operatively connectedto said pair of wheels for effecting rotation thereof;

2. a first pair of laterally spaced rotatable members said membersof said first pair of rotatable members each being positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite 'sides of said body member 4. a pair of elongated links each being positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body member and having one end thereof pivotally mounted on a respective one of said members of said first pair of rotatable members in spaced relation to the axis thereof; and the other end thereof pivotally mounted on a respective one of said leg members; and Y 5. means operatively, engaging said power means and said first pair and said second pair of rotatable members for effecting rotation thereof and alternately forward and rearward movement of the surface engaging ends of said leg members and alternately raising and lowering of said lower ends, said forward and rearward movement of said leg members being relative to the movement of the body member along the operating surfaces;

d. projecting means mounted on said body member and adapted to be engaged by a lariat. 2. A roping practice device as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

and intermediate the ends of said body member;

3. a second pair of laterally spaced rotatable members said members of said second pair of rotatable members each being positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body member and adjacent the other of the opposite ends of said body member, said pair of leg members each having the upper end thereof pivotally mounted on a respective one of said members of said second pair of rotatable members in spaced relation to the axis thereof;

a. said leg members are each elongated members having an upperportion and a lower portion;

b. said leg members each have hinge means intermediate the ends thereof and connecting the upper portion and the lower portion together;

i c. said hinge means are adapted to permit the lower portion of said leg members to move toward'one of the opposite ends of said body member when engaged by a lariat; and j d. means are mounted on each of said leg members to urge the upper portion and the lower portion thereof into alignment.

3. A roping practice as set forth in claim 2 including:

a. a pair of fingers each having one end thereof pivotally mounted on a respective lower portion of said .-leg. members and adapted to have the other end thereof extend laterally beyond the lower portion of the respective leg member; and

b. a pair of elongated connecting members each having one end thereof pivotally connected to a respective one of said fingers and another end thereof pivotally connected to the upper portion of the respective leg member and adapted to move the other end of said respective finger to a position extending laterally beyond the lower portion of the respective leg member whereby said finger 'is adapted to be engaged by a lariat when said lower portion of the respective leg member is moved out of alignment with the upper portion of the respective leg member to retain the lariat while the upper and lower portions are out of alignment. A roping practice device comprising: a. a body member having a front end and 'a rear end and opposite sides; b. spaced surface engaging means mounted on said body member for effecting movement of said body member along an operating surface, said surface engaging means having a front portion positioned adjacent the front end of said body member and a rear portion positioned adjacent the rear end of said body member; I c. drive means mounted on said body member and operatively connected to said front portion and to said rear portion of said surface engaging means for driving said front portion and said rear portion;

d. power means operatively connected to said drive means for effecting operation thereof;

e. projecting means mounted on said body member and positioned adjacent the front end thereof and adapted to be engaged by a lariat, said projecting means including:

l, a pair of spaced receiving members mounted on said body member and adjacent one of the opposite ends thereof; I v

2. a pair of projecting members each having a base portion thereof rotatably mounted in a respective one of said receiving members, said projecting members each having a horn portion extending from the base portion thereof and movable toward said body member in response to a pull on a lariat in engagement therewith; and

3. means connected to said projecting members for returning the horn portion thereof to an original position.

5. A roping practice device comprising:

a. a body member having a front end and a rear end and opposite sides;

b. spaced surface engaging means mounted on said body member for effecting movement of said body member along an operating surface, said surface engaging means having a front portion positioned adjacent the front end of said body member and a rear portion positioned adjacent the rear end of said body member;

c. drive means mounted on said body member and operatively connected to said front portion and to said rear portion of said surface engaging means for driving said front portion and said rear portion;

e. projecting means mounted on said body member and positioned adjacent the front end thereof and adapted to be engaged by a lariat;

f. the front portion of said surface engaging means comprises a pair of laterally spaced wheels rotatably mounted on said body member, said wheels the opposite sides of said body member;

g. the rear portion of said surface engaging means comprises a pair of laterally spaced leg members each positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body member, said leg members each having an upper end and a lower surface engaging end;

h. said drive means includes a front pair and a rear pair of laterally spaced and rotatably mounted members, said members of said front pair and said rear pair each being positioned adjacent a respec tive one of the opposite sides of said body member, said leg members each having the upper end thereof pivotally mounted on a respective one of said members of said rear pair of said rotatably mounted members; and

i. said drive means includes a pair of elongated links each positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body member and having one end thereof pivotally mounted on a respective one of said members of said front pair of rotatably mounted members and the other end thereof piveach being positioned adjacent a respective one of 4 r i otally mounted on a respective oneof said leg members and means operatively engaging said power means and said front pair of rotatably mounted members and said rear pair of rotatably mounted members for effecting rotation thereof and alternately forward and rearward movement of the surface engaging lower endsof said leg members and alternately raising and lowering of said lower ends, said forward and rearward movement of said leg members being relative to the movement of the body member along the operating surface. 6. A roping practice device as set forth in claim 5 wherein:

a. said leg members are each elongated members having an upper portion and a lower portion;

b. said rotatably mounted members of said rear pair of rotatably mounted members are mounted and positioned in coaxial relation and the upper ends of said upper portions of said leg members are mounted in substantially opposed relation and substantially equal spacing from the axis of the mounting of said rotatably mounted members of said rear pair of rotatably mounted members;

c. said leg members each have hinge means intermediate the ends thereof and connecting the upper portion and lower portion thereof together:

(1. said hinge means each are adapted to permit the lower portion of said respective leg member to 'move toward the rear end of said body member when engaged by a lariat;

e. means are mounted on each of said leg members to urge the upper portion and the lower portion thereof into alignment; and

f. means are mounted on each of said leg members to engage a lariat and to retain same on said leg member in response to movement of the lower portion thereof toward the rear end of said body member.

7. A roping practice device comprising:

a. abody member having a' front end and a rear end and opposite sides;

v b. spaced surface engaging means mounted on said body for effecting movement of said body member i driving said rear portion and said wheels of saidfront portion; a

e. horn simulating means mounted on said body member adjacent 'the front end thereof and adapted to be engaged by a lariat, said horn simulating means having laterally spaced elongte members with base ends and free ends;

f. means movably mounting said base ends onthe body portion with the free ends normally substantially spaced apart and-projecting therefrom generally forwardly therefrom, said mounting means permitting movement of said horn simulating means to reduce the spacing of said free ends and release of a lariat in response to pulling force of the lariat engaged with said horn means; g. resilient means connected to the horn simulating v means and mounting to return the free ends to the normal spaced forwardly projecting position.

8. A roping practice device as set forth in claim 7 includingz a. an elongated tie member having one end thereof connected to said body member and positioned adjacent one end of said body member; and

b. a stationary member fixedly mounted on the operating surface and having the other'end of said tie member connected thereto whereby the roping practice device travels in generallyeircular path about said stationary member.

9. A roping practice device comprising:

a. a body member having a front end and a rear end and opposite sides;

b. spaced surface engaging means mounted on said body for effecting movement of said body member along an operating surface, said surface engaging means having a front portion positioned adjacent the front end of said body member and a rear portion positioned adjacent the rear end of said body member, said front portion including laterally spaced wheels;

c. horn simulating means mounted on said body member adjacent the front end thereof and having laterally spaced portions projecting generally forwardly thereof;

d. the rear portion of said surfaces engaging means having a pair of laterally spaced elongate leg members each positoned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body member, said leg members each having an upper end and a lower surface engaging end;

e. leg mounting means on said. body and rotatable on an axis extending transversely of said body;

f. means on upper portions of said legs pivotally mounted on said rotatable leg mounting. means with the pivotal axis spaced from said transverse axis for orbital movement of said pivotally mounted means in response to rotation of said leg mounting means;

. drive means carried by said body member and operatively connected to said front portion and to said rear portion of said surface engaging means for driving said wheels of said front portion and for rotating said leg mounting means;

h. power means operatively connected to said driv 10. A roping practice device as set forth in claim 9 including: I

a. a housing mounted .on said body member and enclosing. same and at least a portion of said drive means;

b. an elongated tie member having one end thereof fixedly connected to said housing adjacent the front end of said body member; and

c. a stationary member fixedly mounted on the operating surface and having the other end of said tie member connected thereto whereby the roping I practice device travels in a generally circular path about said stationary member.

Claims

1. A roping practice device comprising: a. a body member having opposite ends and opposite sides; b. spaced surface engaging means mounted on said body member and adapted to effect movement of said body member along an operating surface; said spaced engaging means comprising: 1. a pair of laterally spaced wheels positioned adjacent one of the opposite ends of said body member, said wheels each being positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body members; 2. a pair of laterally spaced leg members positioned adjacent the other of the opposite ends of said body member, said leg members each being positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body member and having an upper end and a surface engaging lower end; c. drive means mounted on said body member and operatively connected to said surface engaging means for driving same, said drive means includes: 1. power means operatively connected to said pair of wheels for efFecting rotation thereof; 2. a first pair of laterally spaced rotatable members said members of said first pair of rotatable members each being positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body member and intermediate the ends of said body member; 3. a second pair of laterally spaced rotatable members said members of said second pair of rotatable members each being positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body member and adjacent the other of the opposite ends of said body member, said pair of leg members each having the upper end thereof pivotally mounted on a respective one of said members of said second pair of rotatable members in spaced relation to the axis thereof; 4. a pair of elongated links each being positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body member and having one end thereof pivotally mounted on a respective one of said members of said first pair of rotatable members in spaced relation to the axis thereof; and the other end thereof pivotally mounted on a respective one of said leg members; and 5. means operatively engaging said power means and said first pair and said second pair of rotatable members for effecting rotation thereof and alternately forward and rearward movement of the surface engaging ends of said leg members and alternately raising and lowering of said lower ends, said forward and rearward movement of said leg members being relative to the movement of the body member along the operating surfaces; d. projecting means mounted on said body member and adapted to be engaged by a lariat.

2. a pair of laterally spaced leg members positioned adjacent the other of the opposite ends of said body member, said leg members each being positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body member and having an upper end and a surface engaging lower end; c. drive means mounted on said body member and operatively connected to said surface engaging means for driving same, said drive means includes:

2. a first pair of laterally spaced rotatable members said members of said first pair of rotatable members each being positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body member and intermediate the ends of said body member;

2. A roping practice device as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said leg members are each elongated members having an upper portion and a lower portion; b. said leg members each have hinge means intermediate the ends thereof and connecting the upper portion and the lower portion together; c. said hinge means are adapted to permit the lower portion of said leg members to move toward one of the opposite ends of said body member when engaged by a lariat; and d. means are mounted on each of said leg members to urge the upper portion and the lower portion thereof into alignment.

3. A roping practice device as set forth in claim 2 including: a. a pair of fingers each having one end thereof pivotally mounted on a respective lower portion of said leg members and adapted to have the other end thereof extend laterally beyond the lower portion of the respective leg member; and b. a pair of elongated connecting members each having one end thereof pivotally connected to a respective one of said fingers and another end thereof pivotally connected to the upper portion of the respective leg member and adapted to move the other end of said respective finger to a position extending laterally beyond the lower portion of the respective leg member whereby said finger is adapted to be engaged by a lariat when said lower portion of the respective leg member is moved out of alignment with the upper portion of the respective leg member to retain the lariat while the upper and lower portions are out of alignment.

4. a pair of elongated links each being positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body member and having one end thereof pivotally mounted on a respective one of said members of said first pair of rotatable members in spaced relation to the axis thereof; and the other end thereof pivotally mounted on a respective one of said leg members; and

4. A roping practice device comprising: a. a body member having a front end and a rear end and opposite sides; b. spaced surface engaging means mounted on said body member for effecting movement of said body member along an operating surface, said surface engaging means having a front portion positioned adjacent the front end of said body member and a rear portion positioned adjacent the rear end of said body member; c. drive means mounted on said body member and operatively connected to said front portion and to said rear portion of said surface engaging means for driving said front portion and said rear portion; d. power means operatively connected to said drive means for effecting operation thereof; e. projecting means mounted on said body member and positioned adjacent the front end Thereof and adapted to be engaged by a lariat, said projecting means including:

5. A roping practice device comprising: a. a body member having a front end and a rear end and opposite sides; b. spaced surface engaging means mounted on said body member for effecting movement of said body member along an operating surface, said surface engaging means having a front portion positioned adjacent the front end of said body member and a rear portion positioned adjacent the rear end of said body member; c. drive means mounted on said body member and operatively connected to said front portion and to said rear portion of said surface engaging means for driving said front portion and said rear portion; d. power means operatively connected to said drive means for effecting operation thereof; e. projecting means mounted on said body member and positioned adjacent the front end thereof and adapted to be engaged by a lariat; f. the front portion of said surface engaging means comprises a pair of laterally spaced wheels rotatably mounted on said body member, said wheels each being positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body member; g. the rear portion of said surface engaging means comprises a pair of laterally spaced leg members each positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body member, said leg members each having an upper end and a lower surface engaging end; h. said drive means includes a front pair and a rear pair of laterally spaced and rotatably mounted members, said members of said front pair and said rear pair each being positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body member, said leg members each having the upper end thereof pivotally mounted on a respective one of said members of said rear pair of said rotatably mounted members; and i. said drive means includes a pair of elongated links each positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body member and having one end thereof pivotally mounted on a respective one of said members of said front pair of rotatably mounted members and the other end thereof pivotally mounted on a respective one of said leg members and means operatively engaging said power means and said front pair of rotatably mounted members and said rear pair of rotatably mounted members for effecting rotation thereof and alternately forward and rearward movement of the surface engaging lower ends of said leg members and alternately raising and lowering of said lower ends, said forward and rearward movement of said leg members being relative to the movement of the body member along the operating surface.

5. means operatively engaging said power means and said first pair and said second pair of rotatable members for effecting rotation thereof and alternately forward and rearward movement of the surface engaging ends of said leg members and alternately raising and lowering of said lower ends, said forward and rearward movement of said leg members being relative to the movement of the body member along the operating surfaces; d. projecting means mounted on said body member and adapted to be engaged by a lariat.

6. A roping practice device as set forth in claim 5 wherein: a. said leg members are each elongated members having an upper portion and a lower portion; b. said rotatably mounted members of said rear pair of rotatably mounted members are mounted and positioned in coaxial relation and the upper ends of said upper portions of said leg members are mounted in substantially opposed relation and substantially equal spacing from the axis of the mounting of said rotatably mounted members of said rear pair of rotatably mounted members; c. said leg members each have hinge means intermediate the ends thereof and connecting the upper portion and lower portion thereof together; d. said hinge means each are adapted to permit the lower portion of said resPective leg member to movc toward the rear end of said body member when engaged by a lariat; e. means are mounted on each of said leg members to urge the upper portion and the lower portion thereof into alignment; and f. means are mounted on each of said leg members to engage a lariat and to retain same on said leg member in response to movement of the lower portion thereof toward the rear end of said body member.

7. A roping practice device comprising: a. a body member having a front end and a rear end and opposite sides; b. spaced surface engaging means mounted on said body for effecting movement of said body member along an operating surface, said surface engaging means having a front portion positioned adjacent the front end of said body member and a rear portion positioned adjacent the rear end of said body member, said front portion including laterally spaced wheels; c. drive means carried by said body member and operatively connected to said front portion and to said rear portion of said surface engaging means for driving said rear portion and said wheels of said front portion; d. power means operatively connected to said drive means for effecting operation thereof; e. horn simulating means mounted on said body member adjacent the front end thereof and adapted to be engaged by a lariat, said horn simulating means having laterally spaced elongate members with base ends and free ends; f. means movably mounting said base ends on the body portion with the free ends normally substantially spaced apart and projecting therefrom generally forwardly therefrom, said mounting means permitting movement of said horn simulating means to reduce the spacing of said free ends and release of a lariat in response to pulling force of the lariat engaged with said horn means; g. resilient means connected to the horn simulating means and mounting to return the free ends to the normal spaced forwardly projecting position.

8. A roping practice device as set forth in claim 7 including: a. an elongated tie member having one end thereof connected to said body member and positioned adjacent one end of said body member; and b. a stationary member fixedly mounted on the operating surface and having the other end of said tie member connected thereto whereby the roping practice device travels in generally circular path about said stationary member.

9. A roping practice device comprising: a. a body member having a front end and a rear end and opposite sides; b. spaced surface engaging means mounted on said body for effecting movement of said body member along an operating surface, said surface engaging means having a front portion positioned adjacent the front end of said body member and a rear portion positioned adjacent the rear end of said body member, said front portion including laterally spaced wheels; c. horn simulating means mounted on said body member adjacent the front end thereof and having laterally spaced portions projecting generally forwardly thereof; d. the rear portion of said surfaces engaging means having a pair of laterally spaced elongate leg members each positoned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body member, said leg members each having an upper end and a lower surface engaging end; e. leg mounting means on said body and rotatable on an axis extending transversely of said body; f. means on upper portions of said legs pivotally mounted on said rotatable leg mounting means with the pivotal axis spaced from said transverse axis for orbital movement of said pivotally mounted means in response to rotation of said leg mounting means; g. drive means carried by said body member and operatively connected to said front portion and to said rear portion of said surface engaging means for driving said wheels of said front portion and for rotating said leg mounting means; h. power means operatively connected to said drive means for effecting operation thereof; i. a pair of elongated links each positioned adjacent a respective one of the opposite sides of said body member and having one end thereof pivotally connected to a respective one of said leg members in spaced relation to the pivotal mounting means on said rotatable leg mounting means and operative to effect alternate forward and rearward movement of the surface engaging lower ends of said leg members as the pivotal mounting orbits in response to rotation of said rotatable leg mounting means to provide a walking action.

10. A roping practice device as set forth in claim 9 including: a. a housing mounted on said body member and enclosing same and at least a portion of said drive means; b. an elongated tie member having one end thereof fixedly connected to said housing adjacent the front end of said body member; and c. a stationary member fixedly mounted on the operating surface and having the other end of said tie member connected thereto whereby the roping practice device travels in a generally circular path about said stationary member.