EP2982642A1

EP2982642A1 - Girth for horses

Info

Publication number: EP2982642A1
Application number: EP15178909.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Carsten Engelke
Original assignee: Prestige Italia SpA
Current assignee: Prestige Italia SpA
Priority date: 2014-08-04
Filing date: 2015-07-29
Publication date: 2016-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2035-07-29
Also published as: DK2982642T3; EP2982642B1

Abstract

A girth for horses (1), which comprises at least one elongated body (2) which has, substantially at its ends (2a), respective elements (3) for engagement with corresponding connecting portions which are integral with a saddle, the girth (1) comprising a breastplate (4) which is associated with the elongated body (2) and is intended to be arranged during use so as to face the chest region of the horse; the breastplate (4) has, at its surface (4a) intended to face the chest region, at least one perimetric raised portion (5) which extends along at least one portion of the peripheral edge of the breastplate (4).

Description

The present invention relates to a girth for horses.
A girth is an item of tack that passes under the "barrel" or chest of the horse, and other saddled animals, in order to secure the saddle.
The girth is generally made of leather or of synthetic material and comprises one or more straps which are intended to be arranged about the chest of the animal.
The girth is associated with a breastplate, which is intended to be arranged at the height of the sternum of the horse, and the purpose of which is to reduce localized pressure owing to the tightening of the straps.
Conventional girths, although widespread, are not however devoid of drawbacks.
In fact often the use of a girth can determine inflammation to the stomach, weakness or "girthiness" (when the horse panics and refuses to be strapped).
In order to reduce such drawbacks, solutions have been proposed which involve, for example, the use of elastic straps, breastplates made of soft material, and even treatments with medicines, but none of the proposed solutions has been found to be particularly effective.
The aim of the present invention is to eliminate, or at least drastically reduce, the above mentioned drawbacks by providing a girth that is extremely comfortable.
Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to make available a girth which, thanks to a lower pressure on the sternum of the horse, is capable of ensuring that the horse has a greater freedom of movement.
Another object of the present invention is to devise a girth that is extremely practical and which is low cost, so as to make its use advantageous from an economic viewpoint as well.
This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a girth for horses according to claim 1.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a girth for horses, which are illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view from inside of a girth according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a view from outside of the girth according to the invention;
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, with the covering flap open.

In the embodiments illustrated, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.
The present invention relates to a girth for horses, which is generally designated with the reference numeral 1.
The girth 1 comprises at least one elongated body 2 which has, substantially at its ends 2a, respective elements 3 for engagement with corresponding connecting portions which are integral with a saddle.
For the purposes of example, the engagement elements 3 can comprise respective buckles 3a which may be connected to the elongated body 2 by way of interposition of elastic connecting elements.
The girth 1 comprises a breastplate 4, which is associated with at least one elongated body 2.
In particular, the breastplate 4 is intended to be arranged during use so as to face the chest region of the horse.
According to the present invention, the breastplate 4 is provided, at its surface 4a which is designed to face the chest region, with at least one perimetric raised portion 5 which is extended along at least one portion of the peripheral edge of the breastplate 4.
Preferably, as among other things shown in the figures, the perimetric raised portion or portions 5 extends/extend substantially along the entire peripheral edge of the breastplate 4.
Advantageously, the breastplate 4 has a single perimetric raised portion 5 which extends substantially along the entire peripheral edge of the breastplate 4.
According to a preferred embodiment, the breastplate 4 comprises, at the surface 4a which is designed to face the chest region and is defined inside the perimetric raised portion 5, at least one ribbing 6, which is arranged and extends substantially parallel to the elongated body 2.
Conveniently, the breastplate 4 comprises, at its surface 4a which is designed to face the chest region and is defined inside the perimetric raised portion 5, a plurality of ribbings 6 which are arranged and which extend substantially parallel to the elongated body 2.
Preferably, the breastplate 4 can slide along the elongated body 2.
According to a particularly important aspect of the present invention, the girth 1 comprises means 10 of limiting the sliding extent of the breastplate 4 along the elongated body 2.
With particular reference to Figure 3, the limiting means comprise an abutment element 11 which is supported by the elongated body 2 and which, in the condition for use, is arranged between two locking elements 12 which are integral with the breastplate 4.
Conveniently, both the abutment element or elements 11 and the two locking elements 12 extend substantially at right angles to the elongated body 2.
The locking elements 12 can comprise respective elastic bands while the elongated body, substantially in the central region with respect to its extension, can have two mutually opposite elements which define the abutment elements 11.
The fact that the locking elements 12 are constituted by elastic bands makes it possible to separate, if the need should arise, the elongated body 2 from the breastplate 4.
The girth 1 further comprises means for connection between the elongated body 2 and the breastplate 4.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the connection means are provided by the locking elements 12.
Conveniently, the breastplate 4 comprises a closure flap 7, which is arranged on the outer surface 4b which lies opposite to the surface 4a.
The flap 7 is, in particular, adapted to allow, when open, access to the connection means.
The flap 7 can be connected or sewn to a peripheral region of the surface 4b of the breastplate 4, while at the other end it can have coupling means, for example of the type with Velcro® 7a, which can be engaged with a corresponding region 7b defined on the breastplate 4.
Obviously, there is no reason why the girth 1 cannot have the breastplate 4 made in a single body with the elongated body 2.
The perimetric raised portion 5 and/or the ribbings 6 are made of soft material such as, for example, latex, rubber, neoprene etc..
Use of the girth 1 for horses according to the invention is evident from the foregoing description.
In practice it has been found that the girth according to the invention makes it possible to distribute uniformly, and over an ample surface, the force exerted on the elongated body.
The particular shape structure of the breastplate, and in particular the presence of the perimetric raised portion, makes it possible to provide an air "cushion" between the breastplate and the chest region with consequent increase of comfort for the horse.
Thanks to the (limited) ability to slide between the elongated body and the breastplate, all lateral movements are effectively canceled out.
All the characteristics of the invention, indicated above as advantageous, convenient or similar, may also be missing or be substituted by equivalent characteristics.
The girth for horses according to the invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. VR2014A000199 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A girth for horses (1), which comprises at least one elongated body (2) which has, substantially at its ends (2a), respective elements (3) for engagement with corresponding connecting portions which are integral with a saddle, said girth (1) comprising a breastplate (4) which is associated with said at least one elongated body (2) and is intended to be arranged during use so as to face the chest region of the horse, characterized in that said breastplate (4) has, at its surface (4a) intended to face the chest region, at least one perimetric raised portion (5) which extends along at least one portion of the peripheral edge of said breastplate (4).
The girth according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one perimetric raised portion (5) extends substantially along the entire peripheral edge of said breastplate (4).
The girth (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a perimetric raised portion (5) which extends substantially along the entire peripheral edge of said breastplate (4).
The girth (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said breastplate (4) comprises, at the surface (4a) intended to face the chest region and defined inside said perimetric raised portion (5), at least one ribbing (6) which is arranged substantially parallel to said elongated body (2).
The girth (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said breastplate (4) comprises, at its surface (4a) intended to face the chest region and defined inside said perimetric raised portion (5), a plurality of ribbings (6) which are arranged substantially parallel to said elongated body (2).
The girth (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said breastplate (4) can slide along said elongated body (2).
The girth (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (10) for limiting the sliding extent of said breastplate (4) along said elongated body (2).
The girth (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for connection between said elongated body (2) and said breastplate (4), said breastplate comprising a closure flap (7) which is arranged on the outer surface (4b) which lies opposite the surface (4a) and is adapted to allow, when open, access to said connection means.
The girth (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said breastplate (4) is provided in a single body with said elongated body (2).