Roping dummy with washout simulation and neck pivot action
A roping simulator (sometimes referred to as a roping or practice dummy or sled) that is designed to mimic the natural movements and anatomy of roping cattle. Embodiments of the instant disclosure mimic the anatomy and movement of a roping cattle when the animal “washes out,” meaning that its back end slips and pivots during a turn. In various embodiments, the disclosed roping simulator also includes a feature whereby the head portion of the dummy rotates and pivots downward when a force is applied by a rope, simulating head movement of a live animal. In one embodiment, a sled assembly and a body assembly are connected to one another to form the roping simulator. The sled assembly is the component that makes contact with the ground. The body assembly is the component that provides roping targets, and that simulates the movement of live cattle.
1. A roping simulator comprising:
(a) a body portion having:
(i) a rear portion resembling an appearance of a body of a roping animal, the rear portion pivotable in a first direction when a centrifugal force is generated,
(ii) a head portion resembling an appearance of a head of the roping animal, the head portion pivotable in a second direction when a force other than the centrifugal force is applied to the head portion,
(iii) a body return spring biasing the body portion toward a body non-pivoted position, and
(iv) a head return spring biasing the head portion toward a head non-pivoted position, wherein when the body portion is in the body non-pivoted position and the head portion is in the head non-pivoted position, the body portion and the head portion are aligned with one another; and
(b) a sled portion connected to the body portion, the sled portion including a coupler for coupling to a vehicle such that when coupled, the vehicle pulls the sled portion and the body portion to simulate both forward movement of the roping animal and turning movement of the roping animal, said coupler configured such that when the vehicle turns, a generated centrifugal force causes the rear portion to pivot in the first direction, wherein whether the rear portion pivots in the first direction is regulated only by the body return spring and a pivot stop.
2. The roping simulator of claim 1 , wherein the head portion includes a first head portion pivot providing for rotational movement of the head portion, and a second head portion pivot providing for vertical movement of the head portion.
3. The roping simulator of claim 2 , which includes at least one spring to bias the head portion to a neutral rotational position.
4. The roping simulator of claim 2 , which includes at least one spring to bias the head portion to a neutral vertical position.
5. The roping simulator of claim 1 , wherein the pivot stop limits the amount the rear portion can pivot to approximately 70 degrees from a center line parallel to a forward direction of the roping simulator.
6. The roping simulator of claim 1 , wherein the pivot stop limits the amount the rear portion can pivot to approximately 70 degrees from a center line in the first direction and to approximately zero degrees from the center line in an opposite direction to the first direction, wherein the center line is parallel to a forward direction of the roping simulator.
7. The roping simulator of claim 1 , wherein the pivot stop limits the amount the rear portion can pivot to approximately 70 degrees from a center line in the first direction and to approximately 70 degrees from the center line in an opposite direction to the first direction, wherein the center line is parallel to a forward direction of the roping simulator.
8. The roping simulator of claim 1 , wherein the first direction is the same as the second direction.
9. The roping simulator of claim 1 , which further includes a leg portion connected to the body portion, the leg portion including a pair of leg components and a spring biasing the leg components away from one another.
10. The roping simulator of claim 9 , which further includes a motor connected to the body portion for imparting a hopping movement on the leg portion.
11. The roping simulator of claim 1 , which includes at least one body covering attached to the body portion.
12. The roping simulator of claim 1 , which includes a plurality of wraps to resemble the appearance of a cow.