EP1321429B1 - Saddle for riding - Google Patents

Abstract

The saddle (1) for riding animals incorporates bolster covers (18, 20) which are filled with a granulate hardenable by means of pressure and/or heat. <??>An Independent claim is also included for a method for producing a saddle which adapts to the anatomy of a particular riding animal.

Description

The invention relates to a saddle for mounts, with a covered with leather or the like saddle tree, which has resting on the back of the mount costumes or bars, the costumes or bars provided with formed as a bubble-shaped covers padding and adapted to the anatomy of the mount, and wherein the sheaths are filled or fillable with a mass which can be deformed in situ on the back of the mount.

After, especially in equestrian sports in recent years, more and more the realization has prevailed that no two horses in the area in which the saddle rests, have the identical back in anatomical terms, responsible riders have increasingly passed over to her horse special Mass saddles to have made. In the conventional saddles, this is a relatively complicated process in which the back of the horse must first be measured, which requires special equipment, after which then in the saddlery halfway the measured back shape adapted saddle is made. In the case of the so-called English saddles of the classic cavalry, the upholstery provided on the costumes of the saddle, which are filled with kapok or similar fibers, are accordingly padded individually. With the saddles of the western riding the bars of the saddle tree are shaped accordingly even before the manufacture of the saddle. Apart from the fact that in both cases this is a very elaborate and thus expensive way of working, this still has the additional disadvantage that the respective saddle is only usable for a particular horse and does not fit other horses again, so that the owner, when he gains a new horse, must also have a new saddle made.

A saddle of the above type is known from DE 43 97 182 T1 in its basic design. In this known saddle essentially non-deformable pads are made on horseback itself by prefilled shells are foamed with a two-component foam in place. In order to achieve a precise fit, in this case three arranged between the saddle and mount hollow body are inflated with compressed air, thereby simulating a state corresponding to the weight of a rider. This known saddle is very cumbersome to manufacture, with the addition that the foaming is comparatively unsuitable for the purposes mentioned, since it is relatively difficult to control.

From DE 198 05 802 A1 a method for producing an intermediate layer for the individual adaptation of a saddle saddle-supporting animals is also known, wherein such intermediate layers or pads are to be introduced either between the saddle and the saddle blanket or between the saddle blanket and the back of the animal. Here, an adaptation to the anatomical conditions are to be made directly on horseback by the intermediate layer is filled by a plastically moldable or foamable mass or liquid. Disadvantage of this known method is also in the difficult controllability of foamable masses and beyond in the fact that the substantially loose intermediate cushion can change their position in use and therefore do not meet the intended purpose.

From AT 402 285 B, which is considered to be the closest prior art, there is further known a riding saddle in which pillows evacuable between the saddle tree and the horse are filled with a granular material. These granulated pillows are immediately attached to the saddle tree without the possibility to replace them. As a granular material here hard foam balls with a diameter of 3-7 mm, for example, from compressed Styrofoam proposed. It is to be expected that such a filling deteriorates because of the abrasion between the balls in their quality, so that the intended purpose is likely to be unattainable in the long run.

From DE 299 23 655 U1 a saddle blanket is also known, which has stitched chambers which are each filled with a granulate, in particular buckwheat.

The invention is based on the object, a completely novel construction of a saddle and a completely new To provide methods of adaptation or special manufacture of such a saddle for an individual mount, in which none of the above-mentioned disadvantages occurs.

In a saddle of the type defined above, this object is achieved in a first alternative in that the casings are filled with a self-consolidating by pressure and / or heat granules.

An alternative solution of the problem underlying the invention in a saddle of the type defined above is that the sheaths are filled with an ethylene-vinyl acetate. Such ethylene-vinyl-acetates are available on the market under the designation "Thermoflex" and are known, for example, from use in ski boots.

It is obvious that here for the first time an actual, individual adjustment of the important bearing surface of the saddle on the mount is possible by the otherwise prefabricated saddle with respect to the wing which rests on the mount, is adapted directly to the mount and this without difficulty, since the invention used alternatives are not burdened with the difficult manageable foaming of plastic foams.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the envelopes are connected to one each with each costume or bar Carrier plate attached. As a result, the prefabrication of the saddle itself is considerably simplified.

In detail, the invention can be further developed in that the casings are detachably fastened to the carrier plates, or that alternatively or additionally the carrier plates are detachably fastened to the costumes or bars. As a result, the advantage is achieved that when changing the mount in which only a readjustment of the actual support surface of the saddle is required to the back of the mount, no longer the entire saddle must be replaced, but adapted only either the cases with the shape variable mass again be replaced or the support plates including such cases.

For this purpose, it is preferable to form the detachable connection as Velcro fasteners, push-button connections or the like, as a result of the replacement is non-destructive and extremely simple.

In the alternative embodiment according to the invention, in which the casings are filled with an ethylene-vinyl acetate, preference is given to an ethylene-vinyl acetate having a content of about 80.degree. Expansion temperature used. Such substances and masses are known and can be found in the ski boot sector be used in the saddles of the invention with equal advantage.

In this embodiment, a preferred embodiment according to the invention can be created by the fact that in the ethylene-vinyl acetate in the shells an electric heating element is embedded. This makes it particularly easy to soften the ethylene-vinyl acetate for adaptation by the hoses are heated by the electric heating element immediately before fitting to the mount. In addition, the saddle in the event of a change of horses easily be adapted again.

It is preferred that the heating element is removably disposed in a channel and thus the stress of the saddle is not exposed.

Another object of the invention is a method for producing such individually adapted to the anatomy of the mount saddle, in which initially made a saddle tree and covered with leather or the like, and in which resting on the back of the mount upholstery on the costumes or bars the saddle is shaped according to the anatomical conditions of the back, wherein the pads are filled with a shape-variable mass, the saddle is placed on the back of the mount and adapting to the anatomical conditions of the back of the mount in situ on the mount by molding and fixing the deformable mass is carried out, the object underlying the invention is achieved in that the pads are produced as bubble-shaped shells and filled with the shape-changing mass, and that as a shape-variable mass in heat supply deformable foams, ethylene-vinyl acetates self-setting or hardening granules are used.

In this case, the upholstery can also be produced as bubble-shaped casings and can already be filled during production with the foams deformable by heat, ethylene-vinyl acetates, self-hardening or hardening granules.

When fitting such a saddle, the envelopes filled with the ethylene vinyl acetate are heated to the softening temperature and then adjusted by placing the saddle on the back of the mount.

In the manufacture of the saddle suitable for this purpose, it is particularly preferred to embed a heating element in the ethylene-vinyl acetate mass or to arrange it in a removable removable channel, and to generate the heating by electric current.

The use of ethylene-vinyl-acetates with or without heating element offers the advantage that such a saddle can be easily adapted to another mount when changing the mount without difficulty.

Further advantageous details are specified in further subclaims.

• Figur 1 eine schematische Schnittansicht des erfindungsgemässen Sattels auf dem Rücken eines Reittiers, wobei es sich bei Figur 1 um einen sogenannten englischen Sattel handelt;
• Figur 2 eine Figur 1 in allen Einzelheiten entsprechenden Schnittansicht eines erfindungsgemässen Sattels in der Westernbauweise;
• Figur 3 eine schematische Schnittansicht durch eine der Trachten des Sattels gemäss Figur 1 und
• Figur 4 eine Figur 3 entsprechende Schnittansicht einer abgewandelten Ausführungsform.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments exemplified in the drawings. It shows:

• Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of the saddle according to the invention on the back of a mount, wherein it is a so-called English saddle in Figure 1;
• Figure 2 is a detail of Figure 1 corresponding sectional view of a saddle according to the invention in the Western construction;
• Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view through one of the costumes of the saddle according to Figure 1 and
• Figure 4 is a Figure 3 corresponding sectional view of a modified embodiment.

As shown in the schematic views of Figures 1 and 2, the saddle, generally designated 1, which is shown in Figure 1 in the English construction and in Figure 2 in the Western construction and which is shown on the back 3 of a mount 2, a Saddle tree 4 on. The saddle tree 4 has in the illustrated in Figure 1 construction of an English saddle costumes 6 and 8 and in the illustrated in Figure 2 construction of a Western saddle bars 10 and 12.

The costumes 6 and 8 and the bars 10 and 12 are provided with cushions 14, 16, the unit formed thereby being adapted to the anatomy of the mount in the back region.

According to the invention, the upholstery 14 and 16 are formed as bubble-shaped envelopes of suitable material such as synthetic fibers, skins or leather. In the illustration according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the casings 18 and 20 are shown filled with a shape-changeable mass designated generally by 22, wherein the filling can take place in situ on the back 3 of the mount 2 or beforehand. In any case, the shape variable mass 22, ie the shape of the sheaths 18, 20 and thus the shape of the costumes 6 and 8 and the bars 10 and 12 is adapted directly to the shape of the back 3 of the mount 2.

In order to facilitate the manufacture of the saddle 1, the sheaths 18 and 20 are each attached to a support plate 24 connected to each costume 6 and 8 or bar 10 and 12, which on the one hand gives the sheaths 18, 20 a certain dimensional stability and, on the other hand, as below will be explained in more detail, an exchange when changing the mount easier.

For this purpose, either the sheaths 18 and 20 are releasably secured to their support plates 24, or the support plates 24 themselves are releasably secured to the 6 and 8 or bars 10 and 12, it being understood that it is also possible to detachably secure both between the sheaths 18 and 20 and the support plates 24, 26 and between the support plates 24 and the costumes 6 and 8 or bars 10 and 12 to provide.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the releasable fastener 26 in all three cases may consist of hook-and-loop fasteners, snap fasteners or the like.

For example, it is advantageous to use a shape-variable mass such that the casings 18 and 20 are already filled with a self-solidifying granulate during application to the mount 2, so that the granules are only required for adaptation heat up or put under pressure, for example by the Angurten or the rider weight.

Alternatively, the casings 18 and 20 may also be filled with a granulate before the saddle 1 is placed on the back 3 of the mount, which is fixed by a separate fixer to be added. In this case, after the granules have been distributed after placing the saddle 1 on the mount 2 according to the anatomical conditions, filled by an opening provided on each of the casings 18, 20 inlet 28 of the consolidator, so that the shape achieved is thereby fixed ,

In a further alternative, the casings 18, 20 can be filled with an ethylene-vinyl acetate, as is known, for example, from the footwear sector, in particular ethylene-vinyl acetates which have an expansion temperature of about 80 ° C. ,

In this case, heat is applied before applying and adjusting the saddle 1 to sufficiently soften the ethylene-vinyl acetate so that the pads 14 and 16 are fitted to the back 3 of the riding animal 2. The heating can be done for example by means of a hair dryer, but a preferred detail is illustrated for this purpose in Figure 4. As shown, in this case in the envelopes 18 and 20 contained ethylene-vinyl acetate, an electric heating element 30 embedded or removably disposed in a correspondingly shaped channel, so that for adjusting the saddle 1 only electrical current to the in the two sheath 18th and 20 contained heating elements must be connected so that the ethylene-vinyl acetate can be heated directly to the necessary temperature for adjusting.

Some embodiments of the saddle according to the invention and the method for its production have been explained above. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes and modifications may be made without departing from the subject matter of the claims, which is considered to be consistent with the anatomical shape of the spine directly and directly on the mount between the actual saddle and back support surface.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 =

saddle

2 =

mount

3 =

move

4 =

saddle tree

6 =

Seek

8 =

Seek

10 =

bar

12 =

bar

14 =

pad

16 =

pad

18 =

shell

20 =

shell

22 =

Dimensions

24 =

support plate

26 =

Detachable connection

28 =

inlet

30 =

heating element

32 =

Facility

34 =

Valve

Claims (16)

1. Saddle (1) for mounts (2) having a saddle tree (4) covered with leather or the like, which is having panels (6, 8) or bars (10, 12) resting on the back (3) of the mount (2) and having bladder-shaped covers (18, 20) forming cushions (14, 16) which are adapted to the anatomy of the mount (2) and, wherein the covers (18, 20) are filled with a mass (22) being variable in shape in situ on the back (3) of the mount (2), characterised in that the covers (18, 20) are filled with a granulate which is self-consolidating by pressure and/or heat.
2. Saddle (1) for mounts (2), having a saddle tree (4) covered with leather or the like, provided with panels (6, 8) or bars (10, 12) resting on the back (3) of the mount (2), wherein the panels (6, 8) or bars (10, 12) are formed as bladder-shaped covers (18, 20) forming cushions (14, 16) and being adapted to the anatomy of the mount (3) and, wherein the covers (18, 20) are filled with a mass (22) being variable in shape in situ on the back (3) of the mount (2), characterised in that the covers (18, 20) are filled with an ethylene-vinyl-acetate.
3. Saddle for mounts according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the covers (18, 20) are fixed each on a carrier plate connected with the panel (6, 8) or bar (10, 12).
4. Saddle according to claim 3, characterised in that the covers (18, 20) are removably fixed on the carrier plates (24).
5. Saddle according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the carrier plates (24) removably are fixed on the panels (6, 8) or bars (10, 12).
6. Saddle according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the removable connection (26) is consisting of velcro-closures or snap fasteners or the like.
7. Saddle according to any of the claims 2 to 6, characterised in that the covers (18, 20) are filled with an ethylene-vinyl-acetate having an expansion temperature of about 80°C.
8. Saddle according to claim 7, characterised in that within the ethylene-vinyl-acetate in the covers (18, 20) there is embedded an electric heating element (30).
9. Saddle according to claim 8, characterised in that the heating element (30) is positioned removably in channels provided in the covers (18, 20).
10. Method for producing a saddle (1) which individually can be adapted to the anatomy of a mount (2) in which firstly a saddle tree (4) is manufactured and is covered with leather or the like and in which the cushions (14, 16) resting on the back (3) of the mount (2) provided on the panels (6, 8) or bars (10, 12) of the saddle (1) are shaped corresponding to the anatomic conditions of the back (3), wherein the cushions (14, 16) are filled with a mass (22) being variable in shape, the saddle (1) is positioned on the back (3) of the mount (2) and thereafter the adaptation to the anatomic conditions of the back (3) of the mount (2) in situ on the mount (2) is done by shaping and fixing the mass (22) being variable in shape, wherein the cushions (14, 16) are produced as bladder-shaped covers (18, 20) and are filled with the mass (22) variable in shape, characterised in that as the mass (22) being variable in shape foams being mouldable under the addition of heat, ethylene-vinyl-acetates, self-solidifying granulates or granulates durable with a hardener are used.
11. Method according to claim 10, characterised in that the covers (18, 20) being filled with the ethylene-vinyl-acetate are heated to the softening temperature and thereafter are adapted to the back (3) of the mount (2).
12. Method according to claim 11, characterised in that a heating element (30) is embedded into the ethylene-vinyl-acetate mass and that the heating of the mass (22) is performed by electric current.
13. Method according to any of the claims 10 to 12, characterised in that the shaping and fixing of the mass (22) variable in shape is performed under the weight of a rider.
14. Method according to any of the preceding claims 10 to 13, characterised in that the covers (18, 20) are fixed on carrier plates (24) which are connected with the panels (6, 8) or the bars (10, 12) of the saddle (1).
15. Method according to claim 14, characterised in that the carrier plates (24) and/or covers (18, 20) are fixed by means of releasable fasteners (26).
16. Method according to any of the claims 10 to 13, characterised in that the covers (18, 20) and/or carrier plates (24) exchangeably are fixed by means of velcro-closures, snap fasteners of the like.

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