EP4003903B1 - Noseband pad - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a noseband pad according to claim 1. Nosebands are known as part of snaffles and/or double bridles (bridles). A bridle is used for riding and draft animals and has a noseband that leads over the animal's row of teeth in the area of the nasal bone. The noseband can have relief elements such as pads (cf. DE 10 2016 212 102 A1 and DE 20 2014 101552 U1 ), which ensure that the noseband exerts less pressure on the nasal bone.

WO 2010/054341 A1 discloses a method of manufacturing a custom-made device comprising placing reference points on a patient's body by placing markings on the body indicating a location of an edge of the device; taking a plurality of digital photographs of the body and the markings with a photogrammetry method; processing the digital photographs to obtain a digital representation of a surface of the body and the location of the edge of the device; storing the digital representation of the surface of the body and the rim of the device in a computer memory; creating a design for the device with an outer surface, an inner surface corresponding to the surface of the body and the edge of the device corresponding to the markings; and fabricating the device by a rapid prototyping process using an energy beam directed at a bath of liquid or powdered material, the device being of modular construction.

WO 2015/120271 A1 describes three-dimensional (3D) printed clothing and any wearable objects as well as processes and methods for their production. Image information obtained from a person, e.g. B. Images and information relating to a person's body or body parts are used to create a garment or wearable item with a tailored fit. In particular, the teaching of this document provides for the acquisition of data from a subject (e.g. using image acquisition devices, methods and software) and the use of the data to create a model (e.g. a virtual model) that turn to creation of a subject-specific garment or other wearable item.

DE 20 2018 105964 U1 discloses a halter particularly for placement on a head of an animal, such as a horse, the animal having a nose, a chin, two cheeks, a poll, two cheekbones, two cheekbones lower margins and a lower jaw, with between each of the cheekbones and the lower jaw a natural notch is formed so that two natural notches are formed. The halter has a nose strap for placement around the nose, and the halter has a poll/cheek strap for placement around the poll and both cheeks. The halter also has a first connection section and a second connection section, with the noseband and the poll/cheek strap being end-mounted in the first and second connection sections. The halter further includes a lower jaw strap (to be placed around the lower jaw and between the two connecting sections, the first connecting section being designed to be arranged at a lower edge of the lower jaw and at a lower edge of the cheekbone and the second connecting section to be arranged at the lower edge of the lower jaw and the other lower edge of the cheekbones and/or wherein the lower jaw strap is designed to be located in the natural indentations between each of the cheekbones and the lower jaw and/or wherein an overall length of the noseband is three times, preferably four times and in particular five times the overall length of the lower jaw strap.

Bridles and/or double bridles are available in a very large number of different designs, in different materials, which are suitable for different purposes and races or skull shapes.

With the vast majority of bridles and/or double bridles or bridles you will find a browband, headpiece, noseband and cheekband.

These basic elements can be replaced by a variety of other elements such. B. supplement or connect additional belts, straps, loops, buckles, metal rings or chains in a wide variety of ways and can be expanded by additional guide elements (eg bits, reins, etc.) depending on the intended use or be modified.

All snaffles and/or double bridles and bridles have in common that they are tied or strapped around the animal's head and lie directly on the animal's skin in order to exert more or less strong pressure in order to guide or steer and brake the animals can.

However, it is painful and even harmful for the animal if the pressure becomes too great, e.g. B. too tight tightening of the noseband, since there are many nerves in the area of the nasal bone, among other things, and the animals are very sensitive there, especially on the lateral nasal bone.

It is common in tournament sport for a steward to check the noseband buckle after the competition. This is usually done using the two-finger method, checking whether two vertically superimposed fingers fit between the strap and the lateral nasal bone (between the nasal bone and the facial ridge), to check whether the buckle of the noseband is set correctly. If the pressure is too high, i. H. If the fingers do not fit, there is a violation of the national and international regulations.

This method is subjective and imprecisely vulnerable and possibly dangerous for the steward, since on the one hand every person has different sized fingers and an animal that is tense after the competition could react unexpectedly and thus injure the steward.

In contrast, the object of the invention is to create a possibility with which the noseband pressure can be set or determined in a reproducible manner but tailored to the animal, which in turn allows better adjustment thereof. Further tasks are pressure reduction and measurability.

To solve this problem, a noseband pad according to claim 1 is proposed. Configurations are listed in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, it has been recognized that when a noseband pad for attachment to the noseband faces the animal, in particular a horse Side comprising an elongate flexible base body with a first end area, a second end area and a central area in between, the central area being arranged resting on the nasal bone, with a sandwich construction of the central area with an inner lattice structure of interlaced lattice bars between the upper and lower side to create a has elastic flexibility, it is possible to adjust the pressure of the noseband on the nasal bone via the design of the lattice structure, to distribute it evenly and to dampen it at the same time.

In other words, the cushion is adapted to the shape of the skull and, in order to distribute the pressure, has a load-optimized design of lattice structures on the inside according to the bionic principle of the flow of forces. In particular, the design of the lattice structure is suitable for additive manufacturing.

In a preferred embodiment, a pressure sensor system is arranged in the central area, in particular a sensor that changes its electrical resistance under the effect of force or pressure or deformation, and the pressure sensor system is electrically connected to a controller for control and data transmission and power supply, so that it is possible to continuously determine the pressure of the noseband on the nasal bone and thus to determine or correct an improper adjustment of the noseband.

In a preferred embodiment, the pressure sensor system is equipped with a central circular sensor.

A circular load cell equipped with at least one DMS (strain gauge) sensor is particularly preferably used.

Alternatively, the pressure sensor system could have a strip shape with several measuring points, so that it is possible to determine the pressure distribution over the length and/or width of the noseband.

Round and/or strip-shaped sensors can be used as sensors.

These can also be FSR (Force Sensing Resistor) sensors.

To increase the accuracy, the sensor (or the sensors) of the pressure sensor system is arranged on the underside of the base body towards the nasal bone or embedded in it.

In other words, the sensor is preferably a circular DMS sensor (strain gauge) or alternatively a flat, strip-shaped, or point-shaped FSR (Force Sensing Resistor) sensor. The sensor can be arranged in the form of a load cell on the underside of the cushion and connected to the electronics.

It makes sense for the base body to have a receptacle in the first end area for the controller. This allows the pad to be used without external wiring during normal use.

In order to obtain further data from the animal, the controller can have at least one further sensor system for determining a parameter selected from temperature, movement, acceleration, location (GPS).

The controller preferably includes a radio module for external data exchange, in particular a Bluetooth or WLAN module.

This makes it possible to read out and further process the data using a mobile device such as a laptop or smartphone. In addition, a (possibly removable) data memory (e.g. SD card, on-chip memory) can be included, which stores the data in addition to the Bluetooth connection. It is also conceivable that the controller has an integrated, readable memory.

It makes sense for the base body to have a receptacle in the second end area for the power supply. This is preferably a battery or a rechargeable accumulator. The electrical connection to the controller is made by means of a cable harness either through the edge of the base body or preferably through an external bracket or bridge, which therefore does not affect the damping capacity and therefore the pressure measurement.

For temporary attachment to the noseband, several holders can be arranged distributed over the length on the upper side (of the base body), each consisting of opposing projections, the legs of which stand up laterally and face each other or protrude inwards.

It is particularly preferred if the base body is produced in one piece by means of additive manufacturing, preferably made of thermoplastic polyurethane, tailored to the dimensions of the respective skull shape. The use of other flexible materials such as TPC (thermoplastic copolyester elastomers) is also conceivable.

In other words, it is a custom made pad, preferably 3D printed, made of TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) that clips on under the horse's noseband to more evenly distribute the pressure momentarily applied to the horse's nasal bone via the shape of the product, and thus distributed via the horse's nose and continuously determined using sensors.

In addition, there is a pocket on both ends of the cushion, which accommodates the electronics on one side and the battery on the other.

The electronics include a computer chip and a Bluetooth radio. The data from the sensor indicate the forces or pressure that affects the nasal bone and is continuously measured and read out with a smartphone app via the Bluetooth interface. To determine the pressure, the raw data from the sensor, which is in volts, is converted into grams. In addition, the computer chip contains a temperature sensor, a movement sensor and a gyroscope as an acceleration sensor, the data from which can also be continuously measured and read out with the app via the Bluetooth interface and displayed in a simplified way.

Also described is a system for manufacturing the described custom noseband pads, comprising an input unit for feeding the system with data from the animal's skull; with an automated determination unit for determining the optimized geometric dimensions of the Base body of the noseband pad based on the data fed in and a check of the base body based on the adjusted base body; with a calculation unit for calculating manufacturing data from the optimized geometric dimensions of the base body; with a manufacturing unit for manufacturing the base body using the manufacturing data by additive manufacturing.

Photos of the skull from different perspectives or 3D scans from a 3D scanner are suitable as data from the head or skull of the animal.

This makes it possible to provide a tailor-made, i.e. individually adapted, and therefore optimally fitting noseband pad for each animal or horse, since the base body is now made to measure using additive manufacturing (3D printing).

In other words, individually adaptable base bodies for the noseband pads are produced on the basis of the animal data using the 3D printing process.

It is therefore possible to use it optimally without storing it.

The system for producing tailor-made base bodies or noseband pads thus comprises at least the input unit, the determination unit, the calculation unit and the production unit as system components.

The input unit serves to feed the system with imaging data of the animal's skull. The imaging data or digital data can be generated as photos via smartphone or camera or 3D scan data in order to create a 3-dimensional data model.

This imaging data can B. be read into the system via a website form.

The determination unit can now calculate optimized geometric dimensions of the base body based on the skull data that has been fed in.

The determination unit can be fully automated, partially automated or completely manually generate an optimized geometry of the noseband with the help of the customer, which is included in the calculation unit.

By means of a visualization of the affected part of the body, the dimensioning can be controlled digitally or, alternatively, determined or changed by the user and the production data for the 3D printing can thus be defined indirectly.

The system can therefore have a visualization and control unit for the simultaneous visualization of the imaging data (e.g. augmented reality) and a base body image based on the optimized geometric dimensions of the base body for visual control.

The calculation unit can then calculate production data from the optimized geometric dimensions of the base body and the system can pass this on to the production unit. The calculation unit can generate so-called STL files for additive manufacturing from the optimized 3D model of the base body.

The production unit is then used to produce the base body using the production data by additive manufacturing.

Manufacturing data for the individual base body are calculated from the individually generated data and processed accordingly to form a 3-dimensional image, and this is then manufactured using the additive process.

The system can include a suitably configured computer or a smartphone app, and one or more servers programmed to provide the input unit, the determination unit and the calculation unit and via a suitable interface with the manufacturing unit to transmit the manufacturing data connect to.

The input unit could also be used as a user interface in the form of an input mask, such as B. a website form, be designed in which the data is selected and released for uploading.

The use of artificial intelligence is also conceivable. For this purpose, the digital

Data is continuously evaluated and identified using a medical image classifier based on a deep convolutional neural network (cnn) in order to identify stressed anatomical regions (pressure points or points) of the nasal bone or skull.

This model consists of a classification branch and an attention branch. The classification branch functions as a unified feature extraction classification network, and the classification branch exploits the correlation between class labels and the areas of pathological irregularity and allows the model to focus on the pathologically abnormal regions.

The system allows a completely digital process (process chain) to be carried out to manufacture the individualized base body for the noseband pads.

1. 1. Erzeugung der bildgebenden Daten durch den Kunden.
2. 2. Einspeisen bzw. Hochladen der entsprechenden Fotos oder Scan-Daten in das System in der Eingabeeinheit; dabei kann eine Skalierung bzw. /Maßstabsanpassung der Daten erfolgen.
3. 3. Dimensionierung der geometrischen Dimensionen des Grundkörpers durch die Ermittlungseinheit (z. B. neuronales Netzwerk).
4. 4. Das System kann durch geeignete Algorithmen optional die festgelegte Dimensionierung auf Plausibilität prüfen.
5. 5. Es erfolgt im Rahmen einer Visualisierung zumindest eine Kontrolle über eine skalierte visuelle Darstellung des optimierten Grundkörpers mit seinen Abmessungen und Dimensionen auf einem Bildschirm. Optional kann dies auch via Augmented Reality erfolgen.
6. 6. Anhand der so freigegebenen Daten werden die Herstellungsdaten berechnet und somit der Herstellungsvorgang nach deren Übermittlung an die Herstellungseinheit gestartet.
7. 7. Je nach Verfügbarkeit, kann die Herstellung auf einem 3D-Drucker dezentral bzw. örtlich näher an der Bestellung erfolgen.

In such a procedure, the following steps can be performed:

1. 1. Creation of the imaging data by the customer.
2. 2. Feeding or uploading the corresponding photos or scan data into the system in the input unit; the data can be scaled or scaled.
3. 3. Dimensioning of the geometric dimensions of the base body by the determination unit (e.g. neural network).
4. 4. The system can optionally check the specified dimensioning for plausibility using suitable algorithms.
5. 5. As part of a visualization, at least one check is carried out via a scaled visual representation of the optimized base body with its measurements and dimensions on a screen. Optionally, this can also be done via augmented reality.
6. 6. The manufacturing data is calculated on the basis of the data released in this way, and the manufacturing process is thus started after it has been transmitted to the manufacturing unit.
7. 7. Depending on availability, the production on a 3D printer can be decentralized or locally closer to the order.

Fig. 1

unterschiedliche Ansichten eines Nasenriemenpolsters gemäß der Erfindung;

Fig. 2

weitere Ansichten des Nasenriemenpolsters aus Figur 1;

Fig. 3A, B

Ansichten zweier Varianten des Nasenriemenpolsters aus Figur 1 ohne Elektronik;

Fig. 4

eine schematische Ansicht eines Systems zur Herstellung des Nasenriemenpolsters aus Figur 1;

Fig. 5

eine schematische Ansicht der elektronischen Komponenten des Nasenriemenpolsters aus Figur 1 und

Fig. 6

eine Veranschaulichung des Einsatzes des Nasenriemenpolsters aus Figur 1 am Pferd zeigen.

Further details of the invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing

1

different views of a noseband pad according to the invention;

2

more views of the noseband pad figure 1 ;

3A,B

Views of two variants of the noseband pad figure 1 without electronics;

4

Figure 12 shows a schematic view of a system for manufacturing the noseband pad figure 1 ;

figure 5

Figure 12 shows a schematic view of the electronic components of the noseband pad figure 1 and

6

an illustration of the use of the noseband pad figure 1 show on the horse.

In the figures 1 and 2 a noseband pad designated as a whole with 1 is shown in different views.

The noseband padding 1 for attachment to the noseband on the side facing a horse consists essentially of a base body 2 and includes electronic components 100 accommodated therein (cf. figure 5 ), which include a pressure sensor 101, a controller 102 and a power supply 103.

The base body 2 is an elongated, flexible, one-piece body made of 3D-printed TPU, which describes an arcuate shape when viewed from the side, so that it can be placed on the animal's skull from above, encompassing it.

The base body 2 is provided with a first end region 3, a second End area 4 and an intermediate middle area 5, wherein the middle area 5 is arranged resting on the nasal bone in the use position (on the adjacent noseband).

The pressure sensor system 101 is arranged in the central area 5 . A circular strain gauge is used as the sensor, which is arranged on the underside towards the nasal bone, for which purpose a receiving pocket 7 is provided. In the position of use, the sensor thus rests directly on the nasal bone. In addition, a cover could also be provided.

Another receptacle 8 behind a flap 9 is provided in the first end area 3 for the controller 102 .

A third receptacle 10 behind a corresponding flap 11 is provided in the second end area 4 for the power supply 103 .

Flaps 9 and 11 are designed in one piece with the base body 2 .

The two receptacles 8 and 10 are connected via an external bridge 12 in which a cable connection (not shown) runs between the controller 102 and the power supply 103 .

The central area 5 has a sandwich construction 13 with an inner lattice structure 14 made up of crossed lattice bars between the upper side 17 and the lower side 16 in order to produce elastic flexibility between the nose bone and the strap.

The lattice structure 14 has a load-optimized design according to the bionic principle of the design appropriate to the flow of forces and is also optimized for 3D printing. It enables elastic flexibility in the heavily stressed central area, which leads to an even distribution of pressure and damping on the nasal bone.

On the top 17 several holders 18 are distributed over the length, each consisting of opposing projections 19, the first leg 20 are laterally up and the second leg 21 opposite each other assign or protrude inwards.

Since the holders 18, like the entire base body 2, are made of flexible TPU, the base body 2 can be hung on the noseband via the brackets 18.

The electronic components 100 (cf. figure 5 ) include, as mentioned, the pressure sensor system 101, a controller 102 and a power supply 103. The power supply 103 is connected to the controller 102 via a cable connection 104 and the controller 102 in turn is connected to the pressure sensor system 101 via a cable connection 105.

The controller 102 includes a further sensor system 106 for determining the temperature, a sensor system 107 for determining the movement and a sensor system 108 for determining the acceleration.

Furthermore, the controller 102 has a radio module for external data exchange, which is designed as a Bluetooth module 109 . A USB interface 110 is also provided for reading out the internal data memory, which is in the form of an SD card 111 .

in the in Figure 3A , B, the base body 2* or 2** is in principle the same as that described above, but without electronics, so that the receptacles 7, 8 or 10 are unnecessary and therefore consist of an elastic grid. It is therefore the simplest form of the noseband pad according to the invention without "electronics".

In addition, as in variant 2**, all flaps and receptacles or configurations dependent on sensors and electronics can be dispensed with.

In figure 4 1 is a schematic view of the system, generally designated 200, for manufacturing custom bases.

The system 200 includes an input unit 202 for feeding the system with imaging data of the horse's skull. In the present case, these are photos or a 3D scan 203, with which several photos are generated from the horse in the area of the skull, which can be sent via a suitable interface 204, e.g. B. website on the Internet, are uploaded to an appropriately programmed server 205.

An automated determination unit for determining the optimized geometric dimensions of the base body based on the photos or 3D scans that have been fed in and for checking the base body based on the adapted base body is set up on the server 205 .

All areas of the base body are optimized. For this purpose, the imported photos or 3D scans are first measured in the determination unit 206 and the geometric dimensions of the base body are optimized 207.

The customer can use a scaled visualization 208 z. B. on the corresponding website on his end device, check the optimized geometric dimensions of the base body based on the photos and 3D scans, adjust them if necessary and release them 209. This also applies to the sub-areas.

Using an advisory unit 210 connected to the server 205 via the Internet 212, manufacturing data are calculated from the optimized geometric dimensions of the base body.

This production data is then sent to a 3D printer 211 as a production unit and is used to control it in order to ultimately produce the one-piece base body from TPU with the optimized geometric dimensions by additive manufacturing. The 3D printer can work according to the SLS process.

A digital process chain for producing a base body 2 looks as follows:
In the first step I, the imaging data of the horse's head are generated by the customer 203 .

The photos or 3D scans are then digitally uploaded to the system 200 via the website on the server 205 (step II).

Then there is a visualized and scaled representation of the body part as well as a dimensioning of the geometric dimensions of the base body by the determination unit and control or adjustment based on the experience of the doctor (step III).

In the fourth step IV, the system uses suitable algorithms to check the specified dimensioning for plausibility.

Thereafter, as part of the visualization 208, the scaled visual representation of the optimized base body with its measurements and dimensions is checked on a screen (step V) and then the customer must release the data (step VI).

The production data are calculated in step VII on the basis of the data released in this way and finally the production process is started after it has been transmitted to the 3D printer 211 (step VIII).

In use according to the variant figure 1 and 2 the base body 2, as shown schematically in figure 6 indicated attached to the noseband of the horse P, so that the holders 18 grip the belt and the main body 2 of the noseband pad 1 rests against the horse's skull when the belt has been buckled.

The controller 102 records the data via the sensors 101 - 108 and transmits this via Bluetooth to a suitable mobile device, such as a smartphone S, on which an evaluation and display app is running.

Thus, pressure data, movement data, position data and temperature data can be tracked.

Claims (11)

1. A noseband pad (1) for attachment to the noseband on the side facing the animal, in particular horse, comprising an elongated flexible main body (2) with a first end region (3), a second end region (4) and a center region (5) there between, wherein in use, the center region (5) rests on the nasal bone, characterized in that it has a sandwich construction (13) of the center region (5) with an inner grid structure (14) of interlaced grid struts between the upper and lower sides (17, 16) to create elastic flexibility.
2. The noseband pad according to claim 1, characterized in that a pressure sensor system (101), in particular a sensor which changes its electrical resistance under the action of force or pressure or deformation, is arranged in the center region (5), and the pressure sensor system (101) is electrically connected to a controller (102) for activation and data transmission and to a power supply (103).
3. The noseband pad according to claim 2, characterized in that the pressure sensor system (101) has a circular centrally attached strain gauge sensor.
4. The noseband pad according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the sensor is arranged on the lower side towards the nasal bone.
5. The noseband pad according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 4, characterized in that a receptacle (8) is provided in the first end region (3) for the controller (102).
6. The noseband pad according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the controller (102) comprises at least one further sensor system (106) for determining a parameter selected from temperature, motion, acceleration, location.
7. The noseband pad according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the controller (102) has a radio module (109) for external data exchange, in particular a Bluetooth or WLAN module.
8. The noseband pad according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the controller (102) has a data memory (111).
9. The noseband pad according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 8, characterized in that a receptacle (10) is provided in the second end region (4) for the power supply (103).
10. The noseband pad according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that multiple holders (18) are arranged on the upper side (17) distributed over the length, each consisting of opposing projections (19), the legs (20, 21) of which stand up laterally and face each other from opposite sides or protrude inwardly.
11. The noseband pad according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main body (2) is customized and produced in one piece by means of additive manufacturing, preferably from thermoplastic polyurethane.

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