CA1170130A

CA1170130A - Flyguard for horses

Info

Publication number: CA1170130A
Application number: CA000386052A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Jeanette Reynolds
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: REYNOLDS JEANETTE
Priority date: 1981-09-16
Filing date: 1981-09-16
Publication date: 1984-07-03

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A nose guard for preventing flies and other insects entering the nose of an animal includes a generally cylindrical body with a cup-shaped bottom end formed of a material having sufficient flexibility to be folded for packaging or storage, and being sufficiently rigid that the guard retains substantially the shape given to it when unfolded. A hollow border is provided around the top periphery of the body for receiving a drawstring for tightening the guard on the animal's nose. The drawstring passes over the animal's head to secure the guard in position on the animal. Flaps are provided in the top sides of one version of the guard, so that the guard can be used effectively on, for example, a horse, with a western-style bit and rein arrangement, double rein Pelham bit and snaffle.

Description

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This invention relates to a nose guard for animals such as horses, show cattle, sheep or dogs, ancl in particular to a guard for pre-venting the entry of flies into -the animal's nostrils. The invention is, however, particularly useful for horses, and the following description is specific thereto.
A nose or fly guard is used on horses to permit the free floh of air, while protecting the nostrils from flies. The problem of flies entering the nose can be a very serious problem particularly with show jumpers. If a large number of -Flies enter the nostrils, the flies become impacted and cause the horse considerable discomfort, and thus necessitates removal under tranquilization by a veterinarian. Nose guards designed to overcome this problem are disclosed, for example, by Canadian Patents Nos.
130,2~1, which issued to W. H. Quail on January 3, 1911; 134,707, which issued to J. G. Parkin on August 1, 1911; 176,521, which issued to P.
Cottingham et al on April 24, 1917; and 309,17~, which issued to L. C.
Medearis on March 10, 1931, and U.S. Patent No. 2,073,511, which issued to P. J. Brownson on March 9, 1937.
Most of the devices disclosed by the above mentioned patents include a wire mesh or screen, which is relatively heavy, expensive, sub-ject to corrosion and difficult to mount in straps or the like for placing the guard on the nose of a horse.
The object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight nose guard for a horse which is relatively inexpensive, easy to use and structurally simple.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a nose guard for , . .--~ :~'71 ~3~

a horse comprising a generally cylindr;cal body of meshed fabric with a closed, substantially hemispherical bottom end and an open top end, said fabric having a flexibility such that the body can be folded, and when un-folded, will retain the cylindrical shape; a border of soft material on the open upper end of said body for at least partially engaying the nose of a horse when in usej and strap means for mounting said body around the nose of a horse so that the body covers the mouth and nostrils of the horse, said strap means perm;tting adjustment of the size of the open top end of the body, whereby the guard can be used on horses having different nose sizes.
The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate three embodiments of the invention, and wherein:
Figure 1 is a partly sectioned, perspective view from above of a nose guard in accordance with the present invention for use with a snaffle bit and rein arrangement;
Figure 2 is a side view of the guard of Figure 1 mounted on a horse's nose;
Figure 3 is a front view of the guard of Figures 1 and 2 in use;
Figure 4 is a perspective view -from above of a nose guard in accordance with the present invention for use with a western-type Pelham or snaffle bit and rein arrangements;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a nose guard similar to that of Figure 4 with a different strap arrangement, and a flap opening to ac-.

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commodate various bit and rein systems, Figure 6 is a side view of the guard oF Figure 4 in use on a horse; and Figure 7 ;s a front view of the guards of Fiyures 4 and 5 in use on a horse.
With reference to Figures L to 3 of the drawings, the simplest form of nose guard in accordance with the present invention~ wh;ch is gen-erally ;nd;cated at 1, ;s ;ntended for use on a nose 2 of a horse 3 for preventing the entry of fl;es or other insects into nostrils 4 of the horse.
The guard 1 includes a generally cylindrical body 5 of a meshed fabr;c.
Actually, the body 5 tapers downwardly slightly from an open top end 6 to a substantially hemispherical closed bottom end 7. The meshed fabric used to form the body 5 is a somewhat rigid mater;al wh;ch substantially retains its shape, but which can be folded for ease of storage. The material must allow for free flow of air, but should not be so light or flexible that it is drawn into the horse's nostrils. A suitable material is that known as Perma Screen (trade mark).
The body 5 is divided into upper and lower portions 8 and 9 joined by a seam5 then a strip 10, of soft, pliant material such as felt, ~20 is sewn onto the body 5 over the seam. ~n fact, the lower portion of the body 5 is formed using a circular sheet of meshed fabric which is pleated and curved to a cup shape, the edges being gathered into pleats 11 which assist ;n maintaining the shape of the guard 8. These pleats may, there-fore, be formed in various s;zes dependent upon the size of nose guard required, i.e., pony - I~" pleats, cob - 1" pleats, horse - 3/4" pleats.

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The top edge (not shown) of the lower portion and the bottom edge of the upper portion of the body 5 are sewn to the inside of the strip 10.
The upper portion 8 of the body 5 is defined by a rectangular panel connected to the strip 10. The ends of the panel are overlapped and sewn together under a vertical rear strip 12 of felt or other suitable trim.
A hem or border 13 extends along the circular top edge of the upper portion 8. The border 13 is defined by, for example, two 1" strips o-F separate material ioined at a center edge to define a strip of inverted U-shaped cross-section. The top and bottom edges of the border are sewn to the top edge of the panel defining the upper portion 8 of the body 5.
A strap defined by a string 14 is permanently mounted in the border 13. One end of the string 14 is doubled over on itself to form a loop 15 in the border 13. Such one end is connected to the main body of the string 14 by stitching 16. The string 14 extends completely around the inside of the border 13, through the loop 15 and then through a metal eyelet 17 in the outer wall of the border 13. The string 14 is threaded through eyelets 18 in a flat strip 19 of felt. In use, outer free end 20 of the string 14 is passed through an eyelet 21 in the side of the border 13 opposite the eyelet 17, and is looped back on itself and tied in a knot to form a loop for passing around the horse's head.
Tabs 23 are provided on the border 13 -For connecting the body 5 to the leather strap, halter or bridle, and collar or nose band (not shown) which passes around the horse's nose immediately above the bit which helps to secure the bit and reins in position. Each tab 23 is a rectangular strip of felt, backed with, for example, twill tape for ~ ~7( ~L3~

strength, and sewn to the inside edge of the border 13 at strategic points.
Velcro (trade mark) pads 24 and 25 are provided on the upper end of the tabs 23 and on the outside surface of the border 13. In use, the tabs 23 are looped around the lower leather nose bands referred to hereinbefore.
It will be noted (Figures 2 and 3) that when the nose guard 1 is used in a snaffle situation, rings 26 (one shown) connected to the bit (not shown), the bottom ends of the straps 27 for holding the b;t and the rings in position on the horse's head and the front ends of the re;ns 28 are at least part;ally in the guard.
Referring now to Figure 4~ a second embodiment of the invention designed for use with western-type bit and re;n arrangements will now be described, it being appreciated that the same arrangements could be used with either a Double Rein Pelham bit or plain snaffle bit (the so-called combination model). Wherever possible, the reference numbers of Figures 1 to 3 have been used to identify the same or similar elements (this also applies to the description of the guard of F;gure 5).
In the guard of Figure 4, generally indicated at 30, the upper portion of the body 5 is defined by -front and rear rectangular panels 31 and 32 of material which are connected to the chin seam, or strip 10 so that their ends 33 and 34 overlap, preferably at least 2", at the sides of the body 5. Fabric strips 35 and 36 are provided on the free ends of the panels 31 and 32, respectively. Hems or borders 37 and 38 extend along the top edge of each panel 31 and 32, respectively. Each of the borders 37 and 38 is defined by a rectangular strip of material which is doubled over on itself to define a strip of inverted U-shaped cross-sectional con-., ~; - , ' , "

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figuration which is mounted on the top edge of the panel 31 or 32.
Free ends 33 of the panel 31 def;ne flaps which overlap the free ends 34 of the panel 32. Such free ends are provided with opposed strips 39 of Velcro (trade mark) for releasably interconnecting the free ends. The top edge o-f the free end 33 is stepped, i.e., provided with a shoulder 40, so that the ends 33 and 34 can be ;nterconnected below the border 38. The border 38 is the same length as the top edge of the panel 32 and the border 37 is the same length as the panel 31, extending freely above the shoulder 40. The interior of the free ends 41 and 42 of the border 37 are provided with Velcro strips 43 for engaging opposed Velcro strips 44 near the ends 45 and 46 of the border 38.
A pair of straps defined by strings 47 and 48 are provided for tightening the guard on the nose 2 of the horse. The first string 47 is secured in one end 41 of the front border 37 by stitching 49 and extends around the periphery thereof inside the border. The string 47 passes around the border 37 through an eyelet 50 in the outside of the other end 42 of the border 37. The string 47 is threaded through eyelets 51 in a flat strip 52 of fabric. In use, outer free end 53 of the string 47 is passed through an eyelet 54 near the end of the border 38, and is looped back on itself and tied to form a loop for passing around the horse's head adjacent to and behind the ears. The second string 48 is sewn into the border 38 at one end by stitching 55, passes around the border 38 on the interior thereof, and out of the other end 46 of the border. The free end 56 of the string 48 can be tied to the string 47 at the eyelet 50. The strings 47 and 48 are slidable in the border 37 and 38, so that the cir-~ .

cumference of the open top end 6 of the guard is reduced when the strings are pulled tighter.
Tabs 23 are provided on -the front and rear borders 37 and 38 for connecting the guard to the leather strap, br-idle or halter (not shown) which passes around the horse's nose immediately above the bit. If desired, the free end 53 of the string 48 can be looped under the nearest tab 23 on the border 37, and then tied to end 53.
The guard of Figure 5, which is generally indicated at 60, is substantially identical to that of Figure 4, the only diFference being the strap structure for holding the guard on a horse's head. In the guard 60, a single string 61 is employed. The string 61 extends completely around the interiors of the borders 37 and 38. One end 62 of the string 61 is connected to the main body of the string near the free end 46 of the border 38 by a metal sleeve or metal top 63 to form a loop 64. The string passes completely around the borders 37 and 38, re-enters the border 38, passes through the loop 63 to the free end 42 of the border 37, exits through eye-let 50, and then follows the same path as the string 47 of the guard of Figure 4 to the eyelet 54. The string passes through the eyelet 54 in the border 37, under the nearest tab 23 in such border and is knotted to it-self at 64 (on the left isde always of the horse).
With the Pelham bit and rein arrangement (Figure 6), the flaps defined by the free ends 33 of the panel 31 are required. At least the double reins 65 and possibly portions of the rings (not shown) at the ends of the bit project through the flaps. In each case described hereinbefore, i.e., Hunter/Jumper - snaffle bits, or for Dressage or Western, the string 14, 47 or 61 ls passed through loops 66 at the ends of the top strap 67 of the harness arrangement, known as the brow bands.
While the strips of material used to connect the top and bottom port;ons of the guard and to form the top borders have been described as being soft and pliant, in fact~ such strips have a strong inner layer, preferably of perma-screen net, and a soft and pliant outer layer, i.e., felt, twill or leather can be employed. The particular material employed is not critical, but the material in contact with the horse's nose should not be rough or cause discomfort.
It will also be appreciated that flaps 33 (Figures 4, 5, and 6) are provided so as to accommodate various types of bridle and bit ar-rangements, for example, a double bridle, as used in advanced dressage; a polo bridle and also angled western bits. In such arrangements, however, it is preferable that the flap opening extends forwardly into the nose end of the guard (as shown in dotted line in Figure 4), to provide a fully open guard that spreads out for ease of fitting over the nose of the an;mal.
It will, however~ be understood that various modificat;ons, changes and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation, detail and manner of construction of the overall structure, and the separate elements disclosed herein, without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention.

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Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR
PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A nose guard for an animal comprising a generally cylindrical body of meshed fabric with a closed, substantially hemispherical bottom end and an open top end, said fabric having a flexibility such that the body can be folded, and when unfolded, will retain said cylindrical shape;
a hollow border on the open top end of said body for at least partially engaging the nose of an animal when in use; and strap means for mounting said body on the nose of an animal so that the body covers the mouth and nostrils of the animal, said strap means permitting adjustment of the size of said open top end of the body, whereby the guard can be tightened on the nose of an animal.

2. A nose guard according to claim 1, wherein said animal is a horse, and said guard includes flap means in the sides of said body for receiving reins, whereby the guard can be used with various bit and rein arrangements.

3. A nose guard according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said flap means extends substantially into said hemispherical bottom end for ease of fitting to said animal.

4. A nose guard according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said strap means includes a string extending around the interior of said border, said string forming a loop over the top of the open top end of the body for mounting the guard on the nose of the animal.

5. A nose guard according to claim 1 or 2, including tab means on the open top end of said body for forming loops for connecting the body of the guard to a bit harness arrangement on the nose of the animal.

6. A nose guard according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said body comprises at least a first upper panel and a second lower panel, joined one to the other; said second lower panel being provided with pleats sufficient to maintain the shape of said lower panel when in use.