AU776390B2

AU776390B2 - A saddle tree

Info

Publication number: AU776390B2
Application number: AU72070/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Trevor Graham James
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-12-07
Filing date: 2000-12-06
Publication date: 2004-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 2020-12-06
Also published as: AU7207000A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Trevor Graham JAMES Trevor Graham JAMES Address for Service: CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street, Brisbane, QId. 4000, Australia.

Invention Title: A SADDLE TREE Details of Associated Provisional Application: PQ4490 7 December 1999 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 A SADDLE TREE TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a saddle tree and particularly relates to a lightweight saddle tree which is still strong enough to withstand the heavy demands placed on it by horse and rider.

BACKGROUND ART A saddle tree is a rigid structure which is put into a saddle to provide shape and form to the saddle. A typical saddle tree consists of two side rails, a rear upwardly extending cantle and a front inverted U-shaped gullet or fork. Such saddle trees have traditionally been made of timber and it is also known to make the saddle trees out of laminated timber. The timber has the advantage that it will accept and hold tacks and screws which is a necessary part of the saddle manufacture and assembly. However, saddle trees made entirely of timber are not strong enough to withstand the heavy demands placed on it by horse and rider, and for this reason it is necessary to reinforce these trees with thick steel metal plates. The thick steel metal o plates must extend under each side rail to strengthen the side rails. The S metal plates are usually riveted to the side rails. A disadvantage with this known arrangement is that the weight of the saddle tree is increased. As well, the rivets or other fasteners do protrude from the metal plate and can provide a source of irritation to the horse.

Attempts have been made to manufacture the saddle tree from materials other than wood with metal plates. In order to provide the desired *strength, the saddle tree has to be quite thick and heavy. For instance, 25 attempts have been made to manufacture a saddle tree entirely of fibreglass material. While such a tree is strong, it is found that tacks or fasteners cannot be held by the fibreglass, which makes it difficult if not impossible to adequately secure the saddle to the saddle tree. Similarly, saddle trees manufactured from other lightweight composite materials have also found difficulty in accepting tacks or fasteners to allow a saddle to be properly attached to the tree.

3 The present invention is directed to a saddle tree which has a reduced weight by eliminating the steel plates extending along the bottom of the side rails, but which still has a timber frame to accept fasteners as a saddle is being attached to the tree.

It is an object of the invention to provide a saddle tree which may overcome the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In one form, the invention resides in a saddle tree which has side rails and a cantle, the side rails being formed primarily of wood and having a sheet of carbon fibre on each side of the wood, the sheet of carbon fibre extending from a front portion of each said side rail to the cantle.

It is found that by having the sheet of carbon fibre on each side of the side rails, the conventional steel plates can be removed while still providing adequate strength to withstand the demands by horse and rider.

The side rails are formed primarily of wood and may be in the form of laminated wood or wood composites. If desired, a lamination of wood together with other non-wood products could be used. The sheet of carbon fibre extends along each side of the wood. It is possible for the sheet to o 20 extend entirely about and totally encapsulate the side rails, but it is found that this is not necessary to provide the desired strength. The sheet of carbon fibre may be attached directly to each side of the wood, although it is envisaged that the carbon fibre may be applied over one or more intermediate layers between the wood and the carbon fibre. The carbon fibre can be in the 25 form of a roll of sheet material which can be cut to length and size and laid S. out on the side rails. A resin such as fibreglass resin or other type of settable resin can then be applied over the carbon fibre to bond the carbon fibre to the side rails. It is typical for the resin to completely encapsulate the side rails, and typically the entire saddle tree.

The saddle tree may have additional components to those of the side rails and cantle. For instance, the saddle tree may include a front gullet as well as various metal plates. The cantle is usually formed of laminated wood and is usually formed separately and then fixed to a rear portion of the side rails but in such a manner that the side rails have a rear flange extending behind the cantle.

The carbon fibre which extends along each side of the wood can extend along the portion of the side rails on which the saddle seat is positioned. Thus, the carbon fibre may extend from the front portion of the side rails to adjacent the cantle. It is possible for the carbon fibre to extend along the cantle to provide additional strength, and it is possible for the cantle to also be totally or partially covered by the carbon fibre. In practice, it appears that a carbon fibre sheet extending along the side rail and along a portion of the cantle is sufficient to provide the desired strength.

To provide additional strength and rigidity, a first metal plate may be fixed to each said rear flange of the side rails. Preferably, the plate is fixed to the top of each rear flange. The metal plate may be formed of aluminium and may have a thickness of between 1 to 3mm. The plate may have a portion extending past the join of the cantle to the side rail to provide strength in this area.

The saddle tree may include a forward inverted U-shaped gullet.

°o 20 The gullet may be formed of wood and particularly may be formed of laminated wood. The gullet has a top wall and a bottom wall. Carbon fibre may extend along the top wall of the gullet and may also extend along the bottom wall of the gullet. Suitably, the sheet of carbon fibre on each side rail may also extend over the gullet to provide additional strength to the join.

The top wall of the gullet may have a second plate fixed to it.

The second plate may be fixed to a forward part of each side rail, and to the .ooo gullet to provide rigidity.

A third metal plate may be fixed to and may extend along the bottom wall of the gullet and the third metal plate may also have a portion which is fixed to the front portion of the side rails. The sheet of carbon fibre extending along the bottom of the side rails may also overlap a portion of the bottom wall of the gullet to provide strength.

A fourth metal plate may be fixed to a bottom of the cantle and also to a bottom of the side rails to provide additional strength. The fourth metal plate may be formed from aluminium while the second and third metal plates may be formed of steel.

The third metal plate may have an upstanding lip which can extend over a portion of a side wall of the gullet.

In a more particular form, the invention resides in a saddle tree which has a pair of side rails, a rear cantle and a front gullet, the tree being formed primarily of wood, each said side rail having a sheet of carbon fibre on each side of the wood, the sheet of carbon fibre extending from a front portion of each said side rail and along at least part of the cantle, the side rails having a rear flange rearward of the cantle, a first metal plate fixed to a top of each said rear flange and having a portion extending a short distance past the join of the cantle to the side rail to provide strength to this region of the tree, a second metal plate fixed to and extending along a top of the gullet, a third o. metal plate fixed to and extending along a bottom of the gullet, and a fourth metal plate fixed to a bottom of the cantle and to a bottom of the side rails.

*l BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 20 Figure 1 is a side view of a saddle tree according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view from a rear (cantle) portion of the saddle tree looking down towards the gullet (front portion) of the saddle tree.

.i Figure 3 is a bottom view of the saddle tree of Figures 1 and 2.

o° 25 BEST MODE Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a saddle tree Saddle tree 10 has a length of approximately 50cm and a maximum width of approximately 30 to 40cm, it being appreciated that this can vary to suit. The saddle tree 10 has a pair of side rails 11, 12. Each side rail 11, 12 has a top outer wall and a bottom inner wall (the top outer wall being illustrated in Figure 1 and the bottom inner wall being illustrated in Figure Attached to the side rails 11,12 and at a rear portion thereof is a cantle 13. The cantle is formed of laminated wood and bridges the two side rails 11, 12 and is doweled or otherwise securely joined to each side rail 11, 12. Cantle 13 is attached adjacent an end portion of each side rail 11, 12 such that each side rail 11, 12 has a rear flange 14, 15. A metal loop 16 is attached to a rear portion of cantle 13.

A first metal plate in the form of an aluminium plate 17 is screwed to the top of each rear flange 14, 15. Plate 17 has a portion 18 which extends a short distance past the join of the cantle 13 to the side rail 11, 12 to provide strength to this region of the tree.

A front portion of each side rail 11, 12 is attached to a gullet 19.

Gullet 19 is in the form of an inverted U having divergent arms. Gullet 19 is formed of laminated wood and is attached to the front edges of side rails 11, 12.

Each of the side rails 11, 12 has a sheet of carbon fibre (shown in cross hatch with phantom outline) extending along the top outer wall. The sheet of carbon fibre is cut from a roll and is laid over the top outer wall of each side rail 11, 12. The sheet 20 extends along the side rail 11, 12 i *and up a portion of the cantle 13 (best illustrated in Figure 1).

ooo 20 Gullet 19 has a sheet of carbon fibre 21 extending over a top wall of the gullet 19 and has a sheet of carbon fibre extending along a bottom wall of the gullet (this sheet not being illustrated in the drawings). Also, the carbon fibre sheets 20 which are on the outer wall of each side rail 11, 12 :overlap the top wall of the gullet 19.

25 A second metal plate in the form of a strong steel plate 22 is fixed to and extends along the top of gullet 19. Steel plate 22 has a thickness of between 2 to 4mm and consists of a band having a width of approximately The steel plate 22 is riveted or otherwise fastened to the wooden gullet 19. The steel plate 22 has two ends and each end has a first lug 23 welded thereto, which is fastened to the top wall of the gullet 19 to provide additional strength, as well as a second lug 24 which extends over the top 7 wall of each side rail 11, 12 and is fastened thereto, and a steel finger 25 to hold the stirrups.

Figure 3 shows the features on the bottom of the saddle tree The bottom wall 29 of gullet 19 has a third metal plate in the form of a strong steel plate 30 which extends substantially along the underside of the gullet 19. Steel plate 30 has a lug 31 welded to the steel plate 30 which extends over the bottom wall of each side rail 11, 12 and is fastened to each side rail 11, 12. The front part of the carbon fibre sheet 26 also extends across the bottom wall of gullet 19. Gullet 19 is also provided with a sheet of carbon fibre extending along it but underneath steel plate The bottom wall of each side rail 11, 12 has a length of carbon fibre sheet 26 extending therealong and extending over the bottom wall of each rear flange 14, 15. A fourth metal plate in the form of a shaped aluminium section 27 is fastened to the bottom of cantle 13 by suitable fasteners. The section 27 also has two terminating plate-like portions 28 which extend over a portion of the bottom wall of each side rail 11, 12 and which is fastened to each side rail 11, 12. The section 27 is first attached to the cantle 13 and the side rails 11, 12 and thereafter the carbon fibre sheets 26 are laid along the side rails 11, 12 such that the carbon fibre sheets 26 extend over the portions 28.

The saddle tree reduces the weight of the finished saddle typically by around 3kg and allows the tree to be thinner than normal thereby allowing closer contact. A competitive rider will have an advantage with the lighter weight and closer contact that the saddle tree will allow.

eoo 25 The saddle tree is coated with a settable resin such as fibreglass after the aluminium plates have been attached but prior to attachment of the steel plates.

The aluminium plates are provided to add strength and for screwing into.

In the assembly, the timber framework of the side rails and the gullet is pressed into a mould layer by layer and glued so that when finished, the gullet 19 and side rails 11, 12 are laminated and one piece. The wood rear section (cantle 13) is doweled and screwed into place. The aluminium plates 17 are attached on the rear flanges 14, 15 and the cantle 13 for the purpose of adding strength and screwing into. The tree is then carbon fibre and fibreglass coated. This gives strength and protects the wood structure.

The steel plates 22, 30 are then attached to the top and the bottom of the gullet 19 and riveted through to prevent flex. The bottom steel plate 30 is provided with an upstanding lip 32 (best illustrated in Figure The lip, if desired, can extend and be welded to the bottom steel plate 30 and the top steel plate 22 of the gullet 19.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to the embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

o go

Claims

1. A saddle tree which has side rails and a cantle, the side rails being formed primarily of wood and having a sheet of carbon fibre on each side of the wood, the sheet of carbon fibre extending from a front portion of each said side rail to the cantle.

2. The saddle tree of claim 1, wherein the wood of the side rails in the form of laminated wood, a wood composite or a lamination of wood together with non-wood products.

3. The saddle tree of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the sheets of carbon fibre are attached directly to the wood.

4. The saddle tree of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein sheets of carbon fibre are applied over one or more intermediate layers between the wood and carbon fibre sheet.

The saddle tree of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cantle is formed primarily of wood in the form of laminated wood, a wood composite or a lamination of wood together with non-wood products.

6. The saddle tree of claim 5, wherein the cantle is joined to a rear portion of the side rails such that the side rails have a rear flange extending behind the cantle. 20

7. The saddle tree of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheets of carbon fibre extend along at least a portion of the cantle.

8. The saddle tree of claim 6 or claim 7, wherein a first metal plate is fixed to each said rear flange of the side rails.

9. The saddle tree of claim 8, wherein the first metal plate is fixed to the top of each rear flange.

The saddle tree of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the first metal plate is formed of aluminium.

11. The saddle tree of any one of claims 8-10, wherein the first metal plate has a portion extending past the join of the cantle to the side rail to provide strength in this area.

12. The saddle tree of any one of the preceding claims, further having an inverted U-shaped gullet joined to the front portion of each side rail.

13. The saddle tree of claim 12, wherein the gullet is formed primarily of wood in the form of laminated wood, a wood composite or a lamination of wood together with non-wood products.

14. The saddle tree of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the gullet has a top wall and a bottom wall, and sheets of carbon fibre extend along the top wall of the gullet and along the bottom wall of the gullet.

The saddle tree of claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the sheet of carbon fibre on each side rail also extends over at least a portion of the gullet to provide additional strength to the gullet-side rail join.

16. The saddle tree of claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the top wall of the gullet has a second plate fixed to it.

17. The saddle tree of claim 16, wherein the second plate is fixed to the forward portion of each side rail and to the gullet to provide rigidity.

18. The saddle tree of any, one of claims 14-17, wherein a third metal plate is fixed to and extends along the bottom wall of the gullet.

19. The saddle tree of claim 18, wherein the third metal plate has a portion which is fixed to the front portion of the side rails.

20. The saddle tree of claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the third metal 20 plate is made of steel.

21. The saddle tree of any one of claims 18-20, wherein the third metal plate has an upstanding lip which can extend over a portion of a side wall of the gullet.

22. The saddle tree of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a i*il 25 fourth metal plate is fixed to a bottom of the cantle and to a bottom of the side rails to provide additional strength.

23. The saddle tree of claim 22, wherein the fourth metal plate is formed from aluminium.

24. A saddle tree which has a pair of side rails, a rear cantle and a front gullet, the tree being formed primarily of wood, each said side rail having a sheet of carbon fibre on each side of the wood, the sheet of carbon fibre 11 extending from a front portion of each said side rail and along at least part of the cantle, the side rails having a rear flange rearward of the cantle, a first metal plate fixed to a top of each said rear flange and having a portion extending a short distance past the join of the cantle to the side rail to provide strength to this region of the tree, a second metal plate fixed to and extending along a top of the gullet, a third metal plate fixed to and extending along a bottom of the gullet, and a fourth metal plate fixed to a bottom of the cantle and to a bottom of the side rails.

The saddle tree of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a settable resin is used to bond the carbon fibre sheet to the wood.

26. The saddle tree of claim 25, wherein the settable resin is fibreglass resin.

27. The saddle tree of claim 25 or claim 26, wherein the resin completely encapsulates the side rails.

28. The saddle tree of any one of claims 25-27, wherein the resin completely encapsulates the entire saddle tree.

29. A saddle tree substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. .3. DATED this 6' day of December 2000 Trevor Graham JAMES By his Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO. *33333