EP0865409B1 - Protecting and transporting device for a horse-riding saddle - Google Patents

Description

The object of the present invention is to provide a system for protecting the parts exposed to wear and deterioration of a riding saddle, during handling, the ground, transport, more this system allows to carry the saddle easily, instead of carrying it on the arm which is inconvenient and tiring, and ability to carry at least two at a time, it allows the saddle to be placed on the ground vertically, without the help of a wall, or any other vertical support, it also allows to store the saddle on a horizontal bar, which avoids the costs of a saddle holder, or several saddles depending on the length of the bar: so on a 5 meter bar, we can store 11 stools, if they have this system, and in case they do not have one, it will require 11 saddles which is much more expensive.

There are also covers where you put the saddle entirely inside and close it slides, but does not protect fragile parts as effectively of said saddle, moreover the covers do not allow the laying on the ground of the saddle vertically without the support of a wall, or other vertical support, no more than it allow for ease of storage.

The document EP-A-0423969 describes a riding saddle support allowing the storage and the transport of such a saddle and represents the preamble of independent claim 1.
The object of the invention is to provide a solution to such a problem, by providing a versatile device according to independent claim 1. according to other characteristics: the first element bears on the cantle by a part of an envelope in the form of curved gutter with section e nU or in a semicircle, open horizontally in the direction of the cantle and whose curvature allows it to follow the outline of said cantle, the curved part of the first element has the appearance of a crescent moon whose concave part is hollowed out over its entire length to define the gutter part intended to wrap the cantle, the convex part being situated on the external side and in that from the middle of the length, under the lower part and on the internal side projects perpendicularly a longitudinal projecting part, the upper part of which is slightly rounded in the transverse direction to come to bear under the cantle.

The second element in the form of a narrow jaw has, according to a first mode of realization the appearance of a hand in a mitt, "the thumb" forming the part of lower jaw and the "four fingers" grouped together the upper jaw part so as to define a narrower lower jaw part and in that the face upper part of the lower jaw is slightly rounded in the direction transverse over the entire length, the underside of the upper jaw is slightly concave in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction, so that to marry respectively the lower and upper parts of the pommel.

The connecting means between the two elements are constituted by a strap.

The first and second jaw-shaped element in this case have means of reception and connection to the strap are made up: - on the first element, a slit or loop located in the middle of the length of the rear rounded shape crescent moon and oriented in a transverse and vertical plane, and completed by preferably by a second slot, or passing, under the underside of the projection, oriented along a horizontal and longitudinal plane, - and on the second element of a slot oriented in a vertical and transverse plane, located behind the jaw, preferably supplemented by a second slot, or pass, disposed on the part upper of the upper jaw, oriented in a horizontal and longitudinal plane.

The second element extends away from the jaw opening and beyond from the slot by a shoe whose end is flat in the transverse direction and is flat or curved longitudinally, oriented perpendicularly and slightly inclined relative to the axis of the jaw, and intended to ensure the support on the ground of the saddle, in a vertical position, after a 90 ° pivoting of the latter.

The crescent moon shape of the gutter of the first element has a part thicker rear in the central part which tapers at the ends, these last which can be provided with spaced grooves, arranged in planes transverse from the edge of the upper part continuing on the rear face and passing under the lower part to join the other edge, so as to increase the flexibility allowing it to conform to the profile of the cantle.

The bottom of the gutter of the first element may include in the middle part a slight dish.

The lower projection of the first element has an upper face whose orientation in the longitudinal direction is between a horizontal direction and a direction slightly curved upwards with one end slightly raised from the plan containing the crescent-shaped part.

According to another characteristic, the assembly also includes an element forming carrying handle provided with at least one slit connecting to the strap and in that said handle has two branches, for example in the shape of an inverted L slightly closed or U open and provided, on the lower part of the branch horizontal upper and near the internal angle with the branch arranged vertically, with a concavity allowing stable support on a horizontal bar of hanging support, and in that the slot (s), or loops, are located horizontally at the bottom of the vertical branch going from the front to the rear side of this branch, possibly with an inclination facilitating blocking of the strap.

The assembly may further include an apron element having a profile stirrup-shaped device seen from the front, intended to protect the front parts from quarters of the saddle, provided with at least one pass, or at least one slit for connection to the strap located in the center and at the top of said apron, this apron being intended to be linked to the strap under the lower part of the second element.

Figure 1:vue éclatée par rapport à une selle.

Figures 2,3,4:vues en perspective, de dessus et arrière du premier élément coopérant avec le troussequin.

Figure 5 vue en coupe selon A-A de la Figure 3

Figures 6,7,8,9,10:vues respectivement en perspective, en plan, de dessous et de dessus et de face du deuxième élément coopérant avec le pommeau selon un premier mode de réalisation.

Figures 11,12:sont des vues de profil en plan et de face de la poignée.

Figure 13 :vue d'ensemble des éléments reliés entre eux seuls.

Figure 14 vue d'ensemble des éléments solidarisés à une selle en position de transport.

Figure 15 vue en position de repos au sol, la selle étant basculée.

Figure 16 vue de ces éléments à partir de l'arrière de la selle en position de stockage accrochée à une barre

Figure 17 vue en perspective de l'ensemble représenté Figure 16, celle-ci faisant apparaítre en outre un tablier de protection.

Figure 18 vue de face seul du tablier

Figure 19 vue de face de l'ensemble avec le tablier en position d'utilisation sur le deuxième élément

Figures 20,21:vues de profil et de dessus d'un deuxième mode de réalisation du deuxième élement

By way of illustration, diagrams are attached in order to fully understand the invention, with the aid of the description which follows, referenced in the diagrams, without limitation the preferred embodiments of the elements which relate to the device, these diagrams represent :

Figure 1: exploded view in relation to a saddle.

Figures 2,3,4: perspective, top and rear views of the first element cooperating with the cantle.

Figure 5 sectional view along AA of Figure 3

Figures 6,7,8,9,10: respectively perspective, plan, bottom and top and front views of the second element cooperating with the knob according to a first embodiment.

Figures 11,12: are side plan views and front view of the handle.

Figure 13: overview of the elements linked together alone.

Figure 14 overview of the elements secured to a saddle in the transport position.

Figure 15 seen in rest position on the ground, the saddle being tilted.

Figure 16 view of these elements from the rear of the saddle in the storage position attached to a bar

Figure 17 perspective view of the assembly shown in Figure 16, the latter also showing a protective apron.

Figure 18 only front view of the deck

Figure 19 front view of the assembly with the apron in the use position on the second element

Figures 20,21: side and top views of a second embodiment of the second element

With reference to these drawings, the device according to a nonlimiting embodiment comprises:
a first element 1 figure 2-3-4-5 which consists of a gutter 9 with in the center a light dish 12 it aims to marry the cantle 5 figure 1 of a riding saddle, according to the model , the curve and the width of said cantle, the outer ends of the gutter are provided with grooves 13 in order to facilitate the opening of the crescent-shaped curve of the gutter 9; on the lower part is a slot 11 to allow passage to a strap 3 figure 1 to connect and fix all the elements on the saddle; transversely with respect to the gutter, under the lower part and on the internal side projects a projecting part 10 with a slight transverse rounding on the upper part, said projection comes to be applied under the cantle in the direction of the underside of the seat 7 figure 1 ; under the lower part of this projection is a slot 14 to allow passage to the strap.
The second element 2 as shown in FIGS. 6-7-8-9-10 comprises: - an upper jaw 15 with its lower part slightly concave in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction as is clearly seen in FIG. 10, on its upper part is a slot 20 Figure 6-7-9-10 which aims to allow passage to the strap 3, - and a lower jaw 16; these two jaws, through the opening 28 which they define, are intended to marry the knob 6 in Figure 1 of the saddle; behind the closure of these jaws, there is a vertically oriented slot 19, intended to allow passage to the strap 3, this element is continued by a shoe 17 here provided flat on which is in this case laterally close to its end 21 at least two peripheral notches 18, the end of the shoe 21 of flat shape intended to rest on the ground, the grooves more or less separated with an inclination relative to the flat of the end 21, on the side of the face bottom of the shoe, are intended to be able, in the groove of the groove, to saw in a washer the end of the shoe in order to give another inclination to the element 2 when it is placed on the ground on its dish, this allows adapt it to different saddle models. In the case of an end face having a curvature in the longitudinal direction, these grooves are superfluous, the support being effected whatever the inclination taken along the line of tangency between the curved surface and the ground.

In order to improve the comfort of manual transport of the assembly by strap 3, it is further provided a handle 3 front view Figure 11 and side view Figure 12, with a slot 22 to allow passage to the strap 3, connecting all the elements together. This handle is L-shaped inverted, slightly closed and provided on the part lower of the upper horizontal branch 23 and near the internal angle with the branch arranged vertically 24 with a concavity 25 allowing stable support on a horizontal hanging support bar figure 16-17, in addition to its function of transport by hand, illustrated in figure 14.

An overview of the elements connected together without the saddle is illustrated in Figure 13.

Figure 14 shows the elements secured to a saddle, in the transport position, with also a protective apron 26.This protective apron 26 aims to protect the fronts of the quarters 8 figure 1 of the saddle, in the center and at the top of the said apron there are two slots 27 to allow passage to the strap 3, in order to connect it under the lower part of element 2 figure 17-19.

A saddle fitted with these elements can be placed on the ground vertically, the saddle being tilted, pressing on part 21 of shoe 17 of element 2 as shown in figure 15.

In a nonlimiting manner, the element 1 in figure 2 comprises a gutter, which aims to marry the cantle of a riding saddle, with a U-shaped section, this U can be more or less open as illustrated in Figure 5 section AA, it can also have a semicircular section.

The protruding part 10 in FIG. 5 is slightly curved with the end rising, it can also be more or less straight, and more or less long.

The external faces of the gutter can be flat, or curved.

The jaws 15-16 of element 2 in figure 6-7 can be more or less deep and more or less wide.

The lower part of the upper jaw 15 may be more or less concave in the longitudinal direction in figure 6 and in the transverse direction in figure 10.

The upper part of the lower jaw 16 figure 6-10 can be more or less rounded in the transverse direction, but may also have a slight flat in the transverse medium over the entire length.

According to Figures 20 and 21, the second element is no longer in the form of a muffle as illustrated in Figures 6 and 10, but in the form of a U-shaped profile defining a jaw by the branches (15) and (16) of the always concave U internally for the upper branch (15) and internally flat or convex for the lower branch (16), the said U being extended towards the rear by a part shoe (17) having in cross section an inverted T profile as shown or in U, the soul of the T or the branches of the U forming reinforcement or strut, thus making it possible to lighten and strengthen this element, the bottom part (21) of the U (17) or T (17) being curved on itself at the end to define the support zone at ground.

Claims (11)

1. Device for facilitating transporting by hand and storing a horse saddle, characterised in that the device is intended to protect the portions of this horse saddle, namely the pommel and the cantle which are the portions most exposed to wear and deterioration during handlings, horse box transports and placing on the ground, said device being constituted by a first jaw-shaped element (1) intended to take support on the cantle, and a second narrow deep element (2), also jaw-shaped, for mounting via its opening (28) orientated towards the pommel portion said pommel of the saddle, and in that it further comprises linking means between the two elements (1) (2) for keeping in support opposite these two elements (1) (2) on the saddle, and in that the two elements (1) (2) are made of a semi-rigid material such as plastic, rubber or resin.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the first jaw-shaped element (1) takes support on the cantle via a gutter-shaped casing portion (9) bent with a U section or into a semi-circle open horizontally in the direction of the cantle and whose curve is able to marry the contour of said cantle, and in that the bent in portion has the aspect of a moon crescent whose concave portion is recessed over its entire length so as to define the gutter portion (9) casing the cantle, the convex portion being situated on the outer side, and in that from the middle of the length under the lower portion and from the internal side projects a longitudinal projecting portion (10) whose upper portion is slightly rounded in the transversal direction so as to come under the cantle in a direction below the seat.
3. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the second narrow jaw-shaped element 2) has the appearance of a U with rounded branches or of a hand in a mould, the "thumb" forming the lower portion (16) and the four fingers collectively the upper portion (15) so as to define a narrower lower portion, and in that in the upper face of the lower portion (16) is slightly rounded in the transversal direction over the entire length, the lower face of the upper portion (15) being slightly concave in the longitudinal and transversal directions.
4. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the linking means between the two elements (1) (2) are constituted by a strap.
5. Device according to claims 1 and 4, characterised in that these elements (1) (2) comprise strap linking and receiving means constituted on the first element (1) of an aperture (11) situated at the middle of the length of the rear rounded portion of the moon crescent portion and orientated along a vertical transversal plane, and possibly a second aperture (14) or loop under the lower face of the projection (10) orientated along a longitudinal horizontal plane, and on the second element (2) an aperture (19) orientated along a transversal vertical plane situated behind the jaw and possibly a second aperture (20) or loop placed on the upper portion of the upper jaw orientated along a longitudinal horizontal plane.
6. Device according to claim 1 or 3, characterised in that the second element (2) is extended opposite the opening (28) of the jaw by a shoe (17) whose extremity is transversally flat and is flat and bent inward in the longitudinal direction orientated perpendicularly and slightly slanted with respect to the arrangement of the axis of the jaw for supporting the saddle on the ground in a vertical position, after a tilting of 90°.
7. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the moon crescent shape of the gutter (9) of the first element (1) has a thicker rear portion at the central portion which becomes more refined on the extremities, as well as spaced grooves (13) placed in transversal planes starting from the edge of the upper portion continuing on the rear face and passing under the lower portion so as to join the other edge for providing flexibility so as to conform to the profile of the cantle.
8. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the bottom of the gutter (9) of the first element (1) comprises a light flat piece (16).
9. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the projection (10) of the first element (1) has one upper face whose orientation in a longitudinal direction is between a horizontal direction and a direction slightly bent upwards with one extremity slightly raised with respect to the plane containing the moon crescent-shaped portion.
10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it further comprises an element (4) forming a transport handle fitted with at least one loop or an aperture (22) for linking to the strap (3), and in that said handle comprises two inverted L, slightly closed or open U-shaped branches (23) (24) and provided on the lower portion of the upper horizontal branch (23) and close to the internal angle with the branch placed vertically a concavity (25) allowing stable support on a horizontal hooking support bar, and in that the aperture (22) or loop is situated horizontally to the lower portion of the vertical branch (24) extending from the internal face of the L to the external face.
11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it further comprises an element (26) forming an apron having a peripheral profile with a stirrup shape seen from the front and intended to protect the front portions of the segments of the saddle and fitted with at least one loop or aperture (27) for linking to the strap (3) situated at the centre and top of said apron.

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