Such a stirrup assembly is known from German Patent Specification 173.669 (1906).

German Patent Specification 10.587 (1880) discloses a stirrup which is sprung with two springs situated at a distance from each other. The use of sprung stirrups in principle has the advantage that they afford greater comfort to both the rider and the horse, without the rider's control over the horse being reduced. In the case of the construction described in the abovementioned German patent specification the various parts situated relative to each other are exposed to the environment, and their functioning will quickly deteriorate owing to the penetration of dirt (sand and the like), or they will even become totally blocked. Furthermore, in the case of this construction there is a possibility of users becoming caught between the moving parts.

This construction also has the disadvantage that it is relatively large, which makes it less attractive.

German Patent Specification 173.669 discloses a construction with two springs.

The stirrup hangs from the strap by means of a weak auxiliary spring. The end at which the spring is fastened to the stirrup is provided with a shoulder fitted on the pin extending from the stirrup. The diameter of the shoulder is greater than the aperture in a plate which is connected to a spring, which spring is likewise connected to the strap and is relatively stiff. If the shoulder reaches the plate when pressure is put upon the stirrup, the weaker spring will no longer be effective and the more rigid spring will largely take over the weight. Here again the various parts are exposed to the environment, and there is also the risk that during the recoil parts of the rider (such as his trousers) will become trapped within the closing spring. Besides, such a construction is not very compact, and the positioning of the stirrup part relative to the strap in principle can be unlimited, which can lead to permanent deformation of the springs.

WO 00/39023 PCT/NL99/00810 It is the object of the present invention to provide a stirrup assembly which does not have the abovementioned disadvantages.

This object is achieved in the case of the assembly described above in that the first part comprises a projection extending from the foot accommodation area and accommodated inside said spring construction, which projection at the free end is provided with a cup, said second part comprising a bush which accommodates the spring construction, which bush near the free end is provided with a supporting surface for the spring construction, said spring construction being fitted between said cup and said supporting surface.

Unlike the abovementioned German Patent Specification 173.669, the spring works between the cup and the supporting surface. This means that the movement path of the stirrup relative to the strap is limited, and no permanent deformation of the spring can occur. By making the first part, which is to be fastened to the girth, in the form of a bush which is closed all round and in which the spring construction is confined, it is ensured that it is no longer possible for fingers or other parts of the body of the rider or other persons to become trapped during the spring movement.

Owing to the fact that the cup, which is connected to the first part and is supported on the spring construction, extends inside the bush, dirt is prevented as far as possible from penetrating. This situation can be improved even further if the cup is accommodated in a close fit inside the bush. The construction described above can be of a compact design and makes it possible to design the spring construction in any desired way. It is thus possible, for example, to fit the spring construction, consisting of two springs fitted concentrically relative to each other, with opposite directions of helix. A particularly easily controllable spring behaviour can be obtained in this way.

In addition to or instead of the springs, shock absorbers can also be present. A shock absorber operated by fluid pressure, such as a shock absorber operated by oil pressure, water pressure or gas pressure, can be fitted for this purpose. Fitting the pin in the bush in this way means that unlimited rotation of the second part relative to the first part is possible, so that problems with incorrect positioning of the girth relative to the bearing surface for the rider cannot occur, or can easily be solved if they do occur.

It is pointed out that a spring construction to be fitted between stirrup and girth is known from US Patent Application 2,109,209. This spring construction consists of a tube which is connected in the centre to the girth. A pin which is connected to the stirrup by way of a further strap construction extends through the tube. A bearing

plate is present in the centre of the bush, on either side of which bearing plate springs are fitted. The pin described above extends through a clear aperture in the bearing plate and is supported on the two springs both at the top and at the bottom. This construction has the disadvantage that it is of considerable length, that a projecting part is present, and that while completing a certain spring travel the spring cup comes out of the bush either at the top side or at the bottom side, and at that moment very dangerous situations where parts of persons become trapped can occur and dirt can penetrate the construction.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the distance of the cup from the base of the projection of the second part is adjustable. This means that an adaptation to the weight of the rider and other circumstances which are important for riding can be provided.

The actual stirrup, i. e. the second part, can be provided with a number of special features, which can either be designed in combination with the above, i. e. the stirrup assembly, or can also be realized as such in the case of any other stirrup.

A first proposal is to make the bearing surface of the foot of metal. In other words, rubber blocks fitted in an aperture in the bearing surface are no longer used, as in the prior art, but a metal grid is used. Certainly if the latter is made integral with the actual stirrup part, loss will not be a problem, while in addition simple production is possible and self-cleaning properties can be achieved through a suitable choice of the grid. A second special feature which can be achieved independently of the one described above is that the connecting parts extending from the bearing surface for the foot to some type of fastening to the girth extend at an angle to the bearing surface.

This angle is such that, viewed in the direction of riding, said connecting parts extend towards the rider's heel. Such an angle is preferably approximately 20°. By this measure, the heel of the rider is kept low. It is pointed out that this construction must be distinguished from constructions in which the bearing surface is fastened in a hinged manner to the connecting parts. In the case of the present invention the fastening is a fixed one.

The invention will be explained below with reference to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically and partially cut away a first embodiment of the stirrup assembly according to the invention;

WO 00/39023 PCT/NL99/00810 Fig. 2 shows diagrammatically and partially cut away a second embodiment of the stirrup assembly according to the invention; and Fig. 3 shows the stirrup assembly according to the invention in combination with a rider's foot.

The stirrup assembly according to the invention is indicated in its entirety by 1 in Fig. 1. The stirrup assembly is composed of a first part 2 and a second part 3. The first part 2 is connected by way of a pin 4 to a conventional girth 5. The first part 2 is substantially composed of a bush 6, provided with extension lips 7 which have apertures in which pin 4 is accommodated. The bush is shown as a round bush, but it can be of any other conceivable shape. On the underside bush 6 is provided with a bearing edge 8 on which two coil springs rest, an external coil spring 9 and an internal coil spring 10. These springs are disposed coaxially relative to each other, and it can be seen from the drawing that they have opposite directions of helix. Such coil springs can be any spring known in the prior art and can be, for example, springs such as those used in the case of valve springs in automotive engineering. Any known spring steel or titanium and the like can be used as the material for the springs.

The second part 3 is the actual stirrup part. It is composed of a bearing part 16 for the rider's foot, from which bearing part two connecting parts 18 extend. A foot accommodation area 15 is bounded between the connecting parts 18 and the bearing part 16 for the foot. The connecting parts 18 meet and extend further as pin 13, which is provided with screw thread 14 near its free end. Cup 11 is pushed onto this screw thread 14. A self-locking nut 12 is fitted on cup 11. The height of the cup 11 relative to pin 13 can be set with the aid of this self-locking nut 12. Cup 11 is supported on the other side on the top side of the coil springs 9 and 10. Pin 13 extends through the inside of bush 6. Designing cup 11 in such a way that it fits accurately inside bush 6 ensures that material is prevented from penetrating by way of cup 11 into the space lying below it. If desired, it is possible to fit a sealing plug above cup 11, which sealing plug may or may not move along with the movement of cup 11. Bearing part 16 for the foot is provided with a metal grid integral therewith. The use of a grid construction 17 ensures that dirt no longer accumulates, but falls through onto the ground.

Apart from the springs, all the other parts of the stirrup assembly can be made of stainless steel. Part 3 can in particular be made by casting. However, it will be

WO 00/39023 PCT/NL99/00810 understood that any other material known in the prior art and any other production method known in the prior art can be used.

The spring construction is designed in such a way that, for example, a maximum stroke of approximately 20 mm is achieved at a load of 1300 N. Of course, a different preload can be obtained by adjustment of the preload on the springs by tightening nut 12 to a greater or lesser extent relative to stem 13. The use of two springs means that a slightly progressive characteristic can be obtained, but it has been found that this is not absolutely essential for optimum functioning of the construction described above. What can be guaranteed by the placing of two springs inside one another is that even after a great number of fluctuating loads fracture or essential fatigue still does not occur in the springs.

In order to prevent any dirt at all from penetrating into the spring construction, the construction according to Fig. 2 is proposed. This construction is indicated in its entirety by 21 and is likewise composed of a first part 22 and a second part 23. In the case of this embodiment a bush 25 which extends from the connecting parts 28 is fitted around bush 26. The pin described above is in the form of a bolt 33. A threaded stopper 40 provides a closure at the top side. Bolt 33 is provided on the underside with a hexagonal socket 41, by means of which the bolt can be turned, in which manner the preload can be varied when cup 31 is at a standstill. In this case the cup 31 can be fitted in such a way that, for example by way of projecting lugs 34, it is movable in the longitudinal direction, but is not rotatable, so that when there is any rotation of bolt 33 it does not rotate along with the latter. With this construction, complete sealing can be obtained at the top side, so that dirt cannot penetrate.

In Fig. 3 it is shown diagrammatically that the connecting parts 18 extend at an angle relative to the bearing part 16 for the foot. Reference numeral 19 indicates the boot of the rider, and the angle which connecting part 18 forms relative to the boot is indicated by a. a preferably lies between 10 and 40°, and is more particularly approximately 20°. The use of such an angle means that the heel of the rider is positioned slightly obliquely, which gives an optimum riding position.

It can be seen clearly from the above that numerous variants of the construction described above are possible. These variants can be combined with any other design detail known in the prior art and are considered to lie within the scope of the appended claims.