EP4296220A1

EP4296220A1 - Device for horse bridles with bits

Info

Publication number: EP4296220A1
Application number: EP23178177.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gustavo Sugliano Olivera
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-06-22
Filing date: 2023-06-08
Publication date: 2023-12-27
Also published as: ES1294806U; ES1294806Y

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for horse bridles with bits that is made up of a biomechanical articulator or piece (1) that is integral with any of the parts that make up a bridle, placed individually, on some of the parts (2) thereof, or on several, by means of through holes at the ends (3) thereof that can be fastened with screws or similar joining means to each piece of the bridle, providing articulation and movement between each part or piece that make up a horse bridle with a bit.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to file a device capable of acting as an articulator for the different parts or pieces of existing horse bridles with bits in order to transform any model or version into a biomechanical bridle, which, being articulated by means of this novel piece, acquires free and natural movements in all directions.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This novel device for horse bridles with bits has a special application in the equestrian sector, wherein a biomechanical system with these features is required.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

On the market, there are already several types of bridles used for horse riding that aim to hold the bit in the horse's mouth to be able to steer it by means of reins connected to the same.
With the anatomical designs thereof, many of them have managed to improve the comfort of the horse in several ways, but all of them without exception have joints for the fixed parts thereof that do not accompany the movements of the head, face, neck, poll, etc. of the horse, in other words, up to the present, all of them lack movement in the entire assembly, meaning they are static bridles, with seams or fixed joints at the end of each part that makes up the same, the present invention being the first device to transform them into biomechanical bridles by means of the articulator, which acquires movement by being joined by screws or similar joining means that allow for the rotation and turning of the ends thereof, making it possible for each one of them to move freely and accompany the natural movement of each part of the head on which it acts when the horse moves.
Biomechanics is the study of movement -in this case of horses- and the present invention is the first accessory or complementary piece able to incorporate said features into horse bridles with bits, regardless of the size, model, version, design and individual or particular features thereof.
In the current state of the art, and according to the search in databases and on the Internet, some accessories or devices can be found which, although they do not perform the same function or placement in bridles with bits, could be the closest ones to do so, given that they are related to bridles. Among them we can find:
Document US6553747B1 , titled "Combined hackamore bridle and bit assembly for a horse", relates to:
A combined hackamore bridle and bit assembly for a horse having an improved arrangement of straps and pivoting hinge connections between various elements of the hackamore. Pivot pins are provided for pivotally securing the noseband to the rein levers. In addition, a chin-engaging curb or chin chain is pivotally secured to the rein levers. A bit is provided which is attached to left and right bit rings. A cheek strap is attached to each bit ring and a cheek strap is attached to each pivot pin. Connecting straps are provided between the bit rings and the ends of the rein levers and a rein is attached to the connecting straps so that pulling the rein causes the connecting straps to simultaneously pull the bit rings and the rein levers.
This is a horse-steering device or system that consists of levers outside the mouth to press on the horse's nose in order to control and steer the horse, and it always needs to be actuated by the reins and addresses the issue of improved steering by being external (outside the horse's mouth). The technical effect described in document US6553747B1 of using an integral piece is to provide the rider with better leverage against the horse's head and nose, which solves the objective technical problem of providing additional control when the horse has a bit in its mouth.
Document WO2019043657A1 , titled "Bridle use as harness for communicating with horses" discloses:

a. Horse bridle (1) used as a harness to communicate with horses, comprising:
- Noseband (10),
- Crownpiece (12)
- Cheekpieces (14), the lower end (22) of which is fixed to the connecting fork (16) that slides freely along the sliding pin (18) laterally fixed to the noseband (10), which allows a self-adjustment of the position of the cheekpiece, (figure 3). The sliding pin extends tangentially and parallel to the annular direction of extension of the noseband. The ends of the sliding pin are inserted into the respective pockets (28) formed in the noseband.
- Connecting fork (16) which, in turn, comprises:
  1. a. cheekpiece coupling portion (20), which has a slot (24) through which an eyelet 14' formed at the lower end of the cheekpiece (14) passes,
  2. b. sliding portion (22), having a through-hole (26) into which the sliding pin (18) is slidably inserted

In WO2019043657A1 , the lower end of the cheekpiece, which is fixed to the connecting fork, allows the same to slide freely along the sliding pin fixed laterally to the noseband. The technical effect is to allow a self-adjustment of the position of the cheekpieces with respect to the noseband and to redistribute the weight and tension of the bridle. In this case, a piece inserted in the noseband was used to allow the cheekpiece to couple and slide without articulating or providing biomechanics to the horse's head. It adapts to the different measurements and better positioning of the cheekpiece, but it does not apply to other aspects of bridles.
Document WO2011007246A1 titled "Bridle for horse" describes:

a. Horse bridle, comprising:
b. Browband (1), between the ends of which two headpieces are arranged, which are fastened
c. Front head restraint or headpiece (2), the one closest to the horse's ears, which in turn comprises:
- attachment strap (4), which is used to adjust the strap (8) and which regulates the length of the bit (21)
- attachment strap (5), used to adjust the throatlatch (10)
- cheek straps (8)
- throatlatch (10)
d. Rear head restraint or headpiece (3), comprising:
- attachment strap (6), used to adjust the noseband cheek strap (9)
- cheek straps (9),
- attachment point (12)
- attachment strap (7), used to adjust the throatlatch (11)
e. Auxiliary cheek straps (11 and 13), located under the horse's throat and intersecting at a crossing and sliding piece (14)
f. A crossing and sliding piece (14)

In document WO2011007246A1 , the crossing and sliding piece (14), in which each auxiliary cheek strap can slide, produces the technical effect of keeping the two headpieces in place above the horse's neck and therefore contributes to exerting less pressure on the horse's neck muscles.
The objective technical problem is to reduce pain in the head, ears and neck of the horse and, ultimately, to increase the comfort of the animal.
Document US2017081171A1 , titled "Ergonomic bridle for equines", discloses:

a. A bridle for horses, comprising a band (1), in turn formed by:
- lateral pieces (2) joined by a joining element to an upper bridge (3) and a frontal bridge (4).
- upper bridge (3)
- frontal bridge (4).
- crescents (5) installed at the ends of the band
- cheek belts (6) to attach to the bit, using a joining element
- bit (7)
- noseband (8) connected to a throatlatch (9).
- throatlatch (9), formed by two curved belts (10), which are joined together in the area of the lower maxilla of the equine.

In this document, the geometry of the throatlatch, the crescents and the cheek belts produce the technical effect of ergonomically adapting to the horse's head, solving the technical problem of relieving the cervical movement, the ears, the facial muscles in general and also increasing visual range, but without movement at the joints of each one of them.
These differences have technical effects that solve different technical problems, and it does not appear that a person skilled in the art could arrive at the claimed solution in an obvious way by combining US6553747B1 with another recovered prior art document.
Due to the previously mentioned reasons, in the current state of the art, no type of system, device, complement, accessory or part with the technical features of the present invention has been found.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This novel biomechanical articulator for bridles with bits is made up of a part that is integral with any of the parts that make up the same, without distinction, acting as a mobile support, providing articulation and movement between each part or piece that make up a horse bridle with a bit.
The articulator is made up of a piece with holes at both ends.
Each of the ends is joined to any of the pieces of a work bridle by means of screws or joining means that allow the rotation and/or turning movement thereof.
It allows all movements in the muscles of the face, neck, poll, forehead, nose, mouth, throat, etc to be freed, controlling the pressure, accompanying the change in volume and shape of the muscles.
The piece it is made up of is entirely adaptable to the rest of the head in terms of shape, material, colour, texture, etc.
The size and opening in the holes thereof can vary.
The composition thereof can be soft, semi-rigid or rigid.
The location or placement thereof may be in the browband, cheekpieces, poll band, noseband, throatlatch, as well as in any other piece or part that make up a bridle in all of the areas thereof, without distinction.
By means of the bridle articulator, pressure is reduced and distributed and the friction from movement is absorbed, protecting and entirely freeing the horse's head.
Each of the pieces that make up the bridle rests on different muscles, joints, bones, nerves and vessels of the horse's head, able to move by means of the articulator between different pieces, which has rotating ends given that it is joined by screws or similar joining means that allow the rotation thereof, achieving for the first time that all the movements of the bridle in their entirety are free in all directions, linked directly to the biomechanics of the horse.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complete the description made herein, and for the purpose of helping to make the features of the invention more readily understandable, this description is accompanied by a set of drawings constituting an integral part of the same, which by way of illustration and not limitation represents the following:

Figures 1 and 1A: Side view of a bridle with a bit installed on an upwardly moving horse, with articulators (piece 1) joining the cheekpiece to the neck band.
Figures 2 and 2 A: Side view of a bridle with a bit installed on a horse at rest, with articulators (piece 1) joining the cheekpiece to the neck band.
Figures 3 and 3A: Side view of a bridle with a bit installed on a downwardly moving horse, with articulators (piece 1) joining the cheekpiece to the neck band.
Figure 4: Side view of a bridle with a bit installed on a horse at rest, with articulators (piece 1) joining the cheekpiece to the neck band and with articulators (piece 1) joining the cheek piece to the browband.
Figure 5: Side view of a bridle with a bit installed on a horse with articulators (piece 1) between the different pieces.
Figure 6: View of an articulator (piece 1) with the holes thereof to join the pieces by means of screws or similar joining means that allow the turning movement thereof.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen in the attached figures, the bridle articulator is made up of a piece (1) that is integral with the parts where the bridle is placed individually, locally or completely (2) by means of holes at the ends (3) thereof that will be fastened by screws, bolts, or similar joining means that allow free, tilting and turning movement for each piece to which it will provide movement and articulation.
It can be made of any material that is rigid, semi-rigid or soft and lined with leather, or plastic, coated by any protective material, with or without padding.
The articulator can be curved, straight, thin, thick, wide, narrow or have different shapes, being tubular, flat, solid, hollow, etc.
Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention, as well as a way of putting it into practice, it must only be added that said invention may undergo certain variations in shape, arrangements and materials, as long as said alterations do not substantially alter the features claimed below.

Claims

A device for horse bridles with bits, characterised in that it is made up of a biomechanical articulator or piece (1) that is integral with any of the parts that make up a bridle, placed individually on some of the parts (2) thereof, or on several, by means of holes at the ends (3) thereof that will be fixed with screws or similar joining means, on each piece of the bridle for which it will provide movement and biomechanical articulation.
The device for horse bridles with bits according to claim 1, characterised in that each hole at the two ends of the piece (1) is joined to the pieces of the bridle by means of screws, bolts or similar joining means, as long as they allow free, tilting and turning movement thereof to provide free movement and articulation of each piece to which it is joined.