EP2159188A1 - Saddle tree with flexible tongue - Google Patents

Abstract

The saddle tree (1) has a seat surface including a rounded V-shaped section (20) with a gradient such that a flexible tongue (7) is formed. The flexible tongue extends in a middle region of the seat surface. A damping element (8) i.e. belt, is fastened to the flexible tongue, limitedly counteracts bending of the tongue and damps flexibility of the tongue. The damping element is guided through the section such that a fastener (21) is arranged at a seat side of the saddle tree. An iron head stabilizes a chamber curve (3).

Description

The invention relates to a saddle tree with a flexible tongue and a saddle with such a saddle tree.

Saddle trees serve as a core or framework for a saddle to rest on the back of a mount, such as a horse, a donkey or a pony. So-called eventing saddles, which are suitable for a variety of tasks, such as light jumping and recreational riding, enjoy particular popularity in popular sports. Traditionally, saddle trees are made of wood or plastic.

The seat of the saddle is supported by the top of the saddle tree, inasmuch as in the following is also spoken of a seat of the saddle tree.

In order to increase the seating comfort, the Applicant already uses a tongue cut out of the seat surface of the saddle tree for damping the seat of the saddle. Over the length of the tongue, the damping can be adjusted during manufacture, cf. DE 20 2007 006 992 U1 ,

The invention is based on the object to significantly increase the comfort of a saddle tree with a flexible tongue and specify a saddle with such a saddle tree.

The object is achieved by a saddle tree having a seat surface, wherein the seat surface has an incision with such a course that a flexible tongue is formed. The tongue extends in a central region of the seat. Characterized is the saddle tree by a damping element which is fixed in contact with the tongue on the saddle tree and dampens the flexibility of the tongue.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims and are explained in more detail below.

The invention is based on the recognition that the damping can be set by the design of the tongue alone only to a limited extent. In particular, the areal extent of the tongue and the achieved damping interact with each other. Thus, in a prior art flexible tongue, a large tongue requires soft cushioning.

Furthermore, the invention is based on the idea to use an additional damping element. This is attached to the tongue to the saddle tree and can thus dampen the flexibility of the tongue. In particular, so large tongues can be realized with a tight damping.

Overall, the invention makes it possible to set the damping largely free, so that the damping in a very simple way for each riding person individually adjustable and also changeable. The individual wishes can be met so easily.

The damping element may be, for example, a steel spring which is fastened to the underside, that is to say the support side, of the saddle tree in contact with the tongue. In this case, the steel spring may be attached to the saddle tree at one or two points, for example via a screw connection, as known from ski boots for attachment to the shell. A particularly preferred damping element, a belt, is presented below.

If a rider sits in the saddle, the tongue is bent downwards, whereby the damping element counteracts the bending of the tongue to a limited extent.

The saddle tree itself may also consist of a metal or a plastic, in particular a glass fiber reinforced plastic, ideally made of 2% glass fiber reinforced polypropylene (PPH).

The incision can be realized in any way, such as milling. The tongue is preferably disposed in the saddle tree below the seating surface of the saddle in a central region thereof. It is preferred if the incision for forming the tongue is arranged completely in the surface of the saddle tree, thus representing no incision from the edge.

The Applicant has found that an arrangement of the tongue in the central region of the seat is essentially suitable for all Europeans, also gender-independent.

Preferably, the damping element is fastened to the saddle tree with two fasteners, the tongue lying between these fastenings. This may be about the two attachments on the underside of the saddle tree or even one of the fasteners on the top and the other at the bottom of the saddle tree.

In a preferred embodiment, the damping element is guided through the incision, which is preferably arranged between at least two fastenings of the damping element. In this case, a first of the fasteners on the support side of the saddle tree and the second of the fasteners on the seat side of the saddle tree is arranged.

If the tongue is aligned in front, then the damping element is ideally with the first attachment to the support side in the rear of the saddle tree, ie behind the saddle, attached, for example. At the rear edge of the saddle tree, passed through the incision and with the second attachment to the top of the saddle tree, in front of the tongue, thus on the foreland side, attached. Thus, a bending of the tongue downwards can be counteracted particularly well.

If the tongue is aligned to the rear, then the saddle-tree-side attachment is preferably arranged in front of the tongue and the seat-side attachment preferably behind the tongue.

Preferably, the damping element is a, in particular elastic, belt. For example, a belt, as it is known from the production of upholstered furniture with spring core, a so-called padded belt.

Alternatively, as already mentioned above, a spring, in particular a steel spring, may be preferred.

The incision preferably has the shape of a, in particular rounded, "V". The tip of the "V" preferably points to the front; so the pubic bone can be relieved particularly well.

In a preferred embodiment, the saddle tree has a chamber vault for forming the chamber width of the saddle and a gullet for stabilizing the same, which runs transversely to the length of the saddle tree along the chamber curvature, wherein the gullet iron is arranged at the top.

On their front side, that is to say on the side facing the head of the animal, saddles usually have the so-called chamber curvature. This serves to record the withers of the animal. If the withers are tall and narrow, the vaulting of the chamber must be high and narrow; if the withers are low and broad, the opposite is true. The width of the chamber curvature is also referred to as chamber width.

The saddle tree as the framework of a saddle determined by its design, the chamber curvature and thus the chamber width of the saddle. For the sake of linguistic simplicity, the corresponding curvature of the saddle tree is therefore also referred to here as chamber curvature.

The chamber width of a saddle is not necessary fix. It is known to adapt these by subsequent deformation individually to the animals.

The saddle tree as a whole is exposed to great mechanical loads, the chamber buckling mainly spreading forces. Therefore, below the saddle tree, ie at the bearing side, often a frame attached, which extends over a Much of the length and width of the saddle tree extends. The front section of such a frame, the so-called gullet, supports the vault from below. The gullet itself is preferably designed band-shaped over a large part of its length. It is thereby, also over a large part of its length, oriented transversely to the length of the saddle tree, so, with applied saddle, across the spine of the riding or Packtieres. The shape is adapted to the chamber curvature of the saddle tree. The gullet iron thus counteracts a spreading of the chamber curvature and keeps this burden of -. B. made of wood or plastic - body of the saddle tree largely far away. Gullets or the entire frame are usually made of metal, they can be made in particular of steel.

The mechanical load of the gullet iron can be immense. However, the maximum possible thickness of the cullet is limited because otherwise it would stick out of the support side and injure the animal. Therefore, high strength requirements must be placed on the material of the gullet iron. Special steels are used to meet these material requirements. Corresponding steels are expensive and, if more disadvantageous, may not be available at will.

This aspect is based on the additional idea that a gullet iron on the one hand does not have to be integrated into a frame and on the other hand can sufficiently support the saddle tree, if it is not arranged on the support side, but on the side facing away from the support side top of the saddle tree. Again, the gullet can counteract a spread of chamber vault.

The mechanical stress is better distributed to the gullet and the body of the saddle tree; the saddle tree body itself takes on more stress, since the spreading forces acting on the support side now initially act exclusively on him and are taken part of him proportionately according to its bending stiffness. To Erzeilung a desired, z. B. particularly high proportion, it is only necessary to produce the saddle tree from a suitably rigid or mechanically resilient material. This can be about metal or a plastic, in particular a glass fiber reinforced plastic. Very particular preference is given to polypropylene (PPH) with a glass fiber content of 1% to 5%, in particular 2%. Glass fiber reinforced plastics are particularly good at absorbing mechanical stress.

These measures considerably reduce the material requirements for the gullet, since the body of the saddle tree can carry a much larger share; if necessary, usual structural steel is sufficient.

Further, an overhead gullet can be easily varied in thickness, because there is no limit to the top - the seat for a riding person is located behind the chamber vault.

The flexural rigidity increases cubically with the strength; due to this relationship, the required flexural rigidity can be easily adjusted. Also, a less resilient material for the saddle tree body can be used if only the top arranged gullet iron is designed sufficiently thick.

With an overhead gullet and sufficiently rigid material for the saddle tree body can even be waived altogether on a frame below the saddle tree. This is also an advantage in that riders saddle components made of metal, which are facing the horse, are fundamentally skeptical, as they fear that the horse can carry wounds through the metal parts. Thus, it has already occurred in attached to the bottom of the saddle tree frame that frame parts, especially gullets, have partially solved by the saddle tree body and push down or stand. The result is wounds on the back of the animals.

Furthermore, the chamber width can be adjusted more easily in the case of corresponding saddle trees. The chamber width is adjusted by bending the chamber curvature. For this purpose, the saddle tree is clamped in a suitably designed vice and possibly facilitates bending with a heat source. When the saddle trees according to the state of the art must be strong on the alignment of the saddle tree when inserting be respected, since the gullet is otherwise warped slightly.

In such saddle trees, the force distribution succeeds more uniformly, accordingly, the gullets do not distort so easily and the adjustment of the chamber width can also be made more accurately. The chamber width can thus be set easier than before and thus also locally, for example at a dealer; Submitting to the manufacturer is largely unnecessary.

As already mentioned above, corresponding gullets are preferably not integrated into a frame.

Said gullet iron run transversely to the longitudinal direction of the saddle tree; accordingly, one end of the cork blade is on the left and one end of the cullet is on the right of the center line along the longitudinal direction of the saddle tree. It is preferred to provide in each case a stirrup-belt holder in the region of these ends of the gullet iron. Ideally, these are integrally formed from the gullet iron.

An additional attachment, such as a riveting or screwing, is not necessary. Therefore, no fasteners, such as due to material fatigue due to shear forces to break here.

As an alternative to the one-piece design of the stirrup-belt holder from the gullet iron, it is preferable to make the stirrup-belt holder exchangeable, for example in order to respond to customer requests. The stirrup-belt holders can be attached to the saddle tree or to the gullet by riveting or screwing.

Preferably, the stirrup-belt holder has a crash spring, such as a snapper; This applies both to the one-piece and the interchangeable design of the stirrup-belt holder. The stirrup-belt holder may be surrounded by a sleeve.

The connection between gullet and saddle tree serves only to fix the gullet. In a preferred embodiment, the gullet is therefore only riveted to the saddle tree. This is structurally very simple.

In addition to the upper gullet, a lower gullet may be located at the bottom of the chamber vault of the saddle tree, with or without being bound into a frame.

Saddle trees are usually waisted, so that the vault on the left and right each forms a wing. It is preferred to cut the chamber vault between the two wings from the edge of the saddle tree. This can be done approximately from the front edge of the saddle tree, preferably centrally in the apex region, ie in the region of the greatest curvature of the curvature, and along the center line. Such cuts facilitate the bending of the saddle tree for adjusting the chamber width. Particularly advantageous are two parallel cuts, which extend beyond the gullet iron to a maximum of the gullet iron, whereby a sufficient deformability is ensured, however, the bending stiffness is not impaired too much.

The object is also achieved by a saddle with a saddle tree according to the invention.

Preferably, the saddle on a seat pad for padding a seat. The seat cushion is placed over her saddle tree side on the saddle tree and has a saddle tree side open chamber for forming an air cushion under the glutes of a riding person.

Seat pads for riding saddles are applied to the saddle tree for padding riding saddles, usually glued. The saddle tree is usually configured flat below the seat of the saddle. As a material, for example, a foam, such as polyurethane (PU) can be used for such a seat cushion.

The damping of conventional seat covers depends on the given material on the thickness of the support, so that for a given thickness of the seat cushion and also predetermined material, the damping can not be adjusted.

Here, the cushioning of the seat cushion is also adjusted by an air cushion. This allows adjustment of the damping at the same thickness and the same material of the support.

A corresponding seat pad is, for example, directly, placed on the saddle tree a saddle and glued if necessary. The air in the open to the saddle tree side chamber is initially compressed under load, such as by a seated riding person. If the chamber is at least largely closed tightly with the saddle tree, it forms at a certain compression, at least temporarily, a balance; the volume of the air cushion is then at least largely stable. If the chamber is not hermetically sealed to the outside, of course, air can escape, but also re-flow when the load is reduced.

Any riding saddle can be made particularly comfortable with such a seat pad. In particular, by selecting a suitable chamber size, the damping can be adjusted.

The exact geometry of the saddle tree or saddle plays no role, as long as the chamber can be at least partially sealed by the saddle tree itself or additional material between the saddle tree and seat cushion.

Preferably, the seat cover is made with PU foam.

The shape of the chamber can be chosen comparatively freely, since the compression of the air takes place everywhere in the chamber substantially at the same time.

Usually saddle trees are fitted. The seat of the saddle is usually located between the waist and the rear edge of the saddle tree. Accordingly, it is preferable to design the seat pad so that the chamber or the chambers between the waist and the rear edge of the saddle tree, ie direction Hinterzwiesel, come to rest.

In one embodiment, the seat cushion has two open to the saddle tree side chambers, which are each arranged under a buttock of the rider.

Preferably, the centers of these chambers are about 10 cm to 13 cm apart. The notifying party has determined through extensive testing that this distance is appropriate for most people of European descent. The buttocks of women are on average about 1 cm farther apart than the buttocks of men, but this can easily be taken into account by the width of the chambers.

Seat pads are usually equipped with thickening, in particular so that the thickening or thickening of the full saddle between the waist of the saddle tree and its rear edge are. Preferably, chambers according to the invention are arranged in such thickenings.

Preferably, each of the chambers has one, possibly rounded, rectangular basic shape. Accordingly, the air cushioning does not need to be tailored exactly to a specific person, because there is a margin for each of the chambers in the longitudinal direction and in the width direction. Preferably, each of the chambers is between 2 cm and 5 cm long and between 1 cm and 3 cm wide. Preferably, the longitudinal direction of each of the chambers is aligned along the longitudinal direction of the saddle tree.

The seat cover is placed on the saddle tree, possibly over intermediate material, so that an air exchange between the chamber or the chambers and their surroundings is braked by the support on the saddle tree.

If the seat cushion lies directly on the saddle tree, the air exchange is slowed down by the contact of the chamber edges with the saddle tree.

Preferably, the seat pad is glued to the saddle tree. The seat cushion can be held so well and an air flow between the chamber and the environment can be prevented. Ideally, the chambers are even hermetically sealed.

The preceding and following description of the individual features relates both to the saddle tree and to the saddle, although this is not explicitly mentioned in detail in each case; The individual features disclosed in this case can also be essential to the invention in combinations other than those shown.

Fig. 1

zeigt einen Sattelbaum von der Seite mit einer flexiblen Zunge in der Sitzfläche, einer Kammerwölbung auf die noch ein Kopfeisen aufgesetzt werden kann und eine noch aufzulegende Sitzauflage.

Fig. 2

zeigt den Sattelbaum aus Fig. 1 von unten.

Fig. 3

zeigt den Sattelbaum aus den Figuren 1 und 2 von oben.

Fig. 4

zeigt die Kammerwölbung eines Sattelbaums mit einem oben angeordneten Kopfeisen von oben.

Fig. 5

zeigt die Sitzauflage aus Fig. 1 von unten.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments, without wishing to restrict the invention by the examples:

Fig. 1

shows a saddle tree from the side with a flexible tongue in the seat, a chamber curvature on the still a gullet can be placed and a still aufgelegende seat pad.

Fig. 2

shows the saddle tree Fig. 1 from underneath.

Fig. 3

shows the saddle tree from the FIGS. 1 and 2 from above.

Fig. 4

shows the chamber curvature of a saddle tree with an overhead iris from above.

Fig. 5

shows the seat pad Fig. 1 from underneath.

For the same or corresponding features, the same reference numbers are used across the figures.

Fig. 1 shows - with some supervision - a saddle tree 1 from the side. Above the saddle tree 1, a seat pad 2 is shown. Seat cover 2 and saddle tree 1 lie, except for their distance, to each other, as in a complete saddle (not shown).

The saddle tree 1 is made of polypropylene (PPH) with 2% glass fibers. The seat cover 2 is made of polyurethane (PU) foam.

The saddle tree 1 forms at its front end, left in the figure, a chamber bulge 3 for receiving the withers of a mount. The chamber vault 3 runs left and right, viewed from the center line of the saddle tree in the longitudinal direction, in each case a wing 4.

Between the wings 4, two parallel cuts 5 are shown, which begin at the front end of the saddle tree and extend a few centimeters substantially parallel to the center line in the saddle tree 1 in. These two incisions 5 facilitate a deformation of gullets (see. Fig. 2 and 4 ) for adjusting the chamber width.

Between the cuts 5, a rivet 6 is arranged for fixing an additional head iron (not shown; Fig. 2 ) below the chamber vault 3.

In the complete saddle (not shown), the seat support 2 is placed on the saddle tree 1, wherein between the seat cover 2 and the saddle tree 1 on the chamber curvature 3 a gullet (see. Fig. 4 ) is attached.

At the chamber vault 3, left in FIG. 1 , joins a clearly waisted area in the middle. Behind the waisted area of the saddle tree 1 widens again and forms a seat there. The buttocks of a rider are usually located between the waist and the rear maximum width of the saddle tree 1 when riding.

In the middle region of the saddle tree 1, ie in the front region of the seat, a flexible tongue 7 is shown to increase the seating comfort. The tongue 7 is realized by a rounded "V" shaped cut-out in the saddle tree (better to see in FIG Fig. 2 ). The tongue 7 is arranged so that the tip of the "V" points to the chamber curvature and is approximately at the level of the waist of the saddle tree and the broad side of the "V" is approximately equal to the rear maximum width of the saddle tree, so that when riding the Pubic bone is relieved.

An elastic padded belt 8 is used for damping the flexible tongue 7. The padded belt 8 is first mounted on top of the saddle tree 1, in front of the tongue 7. Next, the padded belt 8 is guided by the cutout under the tongue 7 and also attached to the bottom of the saddle tree 1 (see. Fig. 2 ).

At each of the wings 4, a stirrup-belt holder 9 is releasably secured, here via a riveting 11, for example. But also via a screw (not shown). So that a stirrup leather (not shown) does not accidentally slip out of the stirrup leather holder 9, it has a snap closure 10, or snapper for short. In the horizontal orientation shown, the snapper 10 readily allows a stirrup belt to be inserted into the stirrup-belt holder 9. If the snap-action catcher 10 points upward, it will resist the sliding out of the stirrup-belt. The stirrup-belt holder 9 may be surrounded by a sleeve (not shown).

Fig. 2 shows the saddle tree Fig. 1 from underneath. The upholstery belt 8 is guided by the "V" -shaped and completely in the surface of the saddle tree 1 cutout 20, while supporting the tongue 7 from below and is attached 21 in the rear of the saddle tree.

Alternatively, if necessary in addition, a steel spring (not shown) may be attached to the underside of the saddle tree 1 in contact with the tongue 7. The steel spring, for example, is fastened in front of and behind the tongue 7. Possibly. It is even enough to fasten the steel spring at just one point.

Here you can see the additional lower head iron 22 made of steel, which in conjunction with an upper gullet iron (see. Fig. 4 ) the chamber vault 3 supports. The lower gullet 22 is fixed via a riveting 6 and 23 on the saddle tree 1.

Fig. 3 shows the saddle tree 1 from the FIGS. 1 and 2 in a top view. Here you can see well the arrangement of the tongue 7, and that the padded belt 8 is secured 30 before the tongue 7.

Fig. 4 shows the front part of another saddle tree 1, which also has a chamber curvature 3 and 4 wings. Just like the saddle tree from the FIGS. 1 to 3 this saddle tree 1 consists of PPH with 2% glass fibers.

One placed on the saddle tree 1 seat cover 2, it is a seat cover 2 as in Fig. 1 is shown, is folded away in the front area to reveal the view of a steel iron 41 steel. This gullet 41 is disposed on the chamber curvature 3 and counteracts a spreading of the same. The gullet 41 extends over a large part of its length band-shaped transversely to the length of the saddle tree 1 at the chamber vault 3 along. At the ends of the head iron 41 in each case a stirrup belt holder 9 is formed integrally with snapper 10. The overhead chisel 41 is fixed to the saddle tree 1 via rivets 42. The head 41 is made of common conventional structural steel and has a thickness in the range of 1 mm to 10 mm.

In Fig. 5 is the seat cushion 2 from the FIGS. 1 and 4 shown from below. Between the waist and the rear end, the seat cushion 2 has two substantially parallel thickenings 50 in the longitudinal direction. In the front region of these thickenings 50, ie between the waist and the maximum width of the seat support 2, a downwardly open, rounded rectangular chamber 51 is introduced into each of the thickenings 50.

The chambers 51 are arranged so that they usually come to lie below the buttocks of a riding person in a full saddle. The chambers are about 4 cm long and 2.5 cm wide; their centers are about 12 cm apart.

The seat cover 2 is glued to one of the saddle trees 1 shown above. The air cushion then contained in the chambers 51 increase the seating comfort.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

saddle tree

2

seat cushion

3

chamber vault

4

wing

5

cuts

6

rivet

7

tongue

8th

Polstergurt

9

Stirrup leather holders

10

snapper

11

clinch

20

countersink

21

attachment

22

gullet

23

clinch

30

attachment

41

gullet

42

rivet

50

thickening

51

chambers

Claims (10)

Saddle tree (1) with a seat, wherein
the seating surface has a recess (20) with a profile such that a flexible tongue (7) is formed, which extends in a central region of the seating area,
characterized by a damping element (8) which is fixed in contact with the tongue (7) on the saddle tree (1) and dampens the flexibility of the tongue (7). A saddle tree (1) according to claim 1, wherein the damping element (8) is fixed to the saddle tree (1) at a first attachment (21, 30) and to a second attachment (21, 30) and the tongue (7) is interposed therebetween Fasteners (21, 30) is arranged. Saddle tree (1) according to claim 2, in which the damping element (8) is guided through the notch (20) such that the first attachment (21, 30) on the support side of the saddle tree (1) and the second attachment (21, 30) is arranged on the seat side of the saddle tree (1). A saddle tree (1) according to claim 3, wherein the first attachment (21, 30) is located on the rearward side and the second attachment (21, 30) is located on the frontward side. Saddle tree (1) according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the damping element (8) is a belt (8). Saddle tree (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the damping element (8) is a steel spring. Saddle tree (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the notch (20) is designed as a rounded "V". Saddle tree (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7 with a support side for resting on the back of a mount and an upper side facing away from the support side, also with
a chamber curvature (3) for forming the chamber width of the saddle and
a gullet (41) for stabilizing the chamber curvature (3),
which extends transversely to the length of the saddle tree (1) along the chamber curvature (3), wherein the gullet iron (41) is arranged at the top. Saddle with a saddle tree (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8. Saddle according to Claim 9, having a seat support (2) for cushioning a seat surface of a saddle, with
a saddle tree side for resting on the saddle tree (1) and a saddle tree side open chamber (51) for forming an air cushion under the buttocks of a riding person.

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