GB2222357A - Reins and other harness straps - Google Patents

Abstract

Harness straps, e.g. reins or bridle cheek pieces are formed to give added strength and durability by at least that part of the strap (10) which operatively forms a loop or bight around e.g. a bit ring is of laminated construction comprising a pair of leather strips (12, 14) may be provided by splitting a common leather workpiece part-way along its length, and a reinforcing strip (16) strength fabric or other material bonded therebetween, a base or cross-piece (24) of an anchoring means such as a hooked stud (18) for securing said loop or bight being located between the reinforcing strip (16) and the underlying back leather strip (14). <IMAGE>

Description

REINS AND OTHER HARNESS STRAPS This invention relates to harness straps formed substantially of leather, particularly but not exclusively reins and bridle cheek pieces.

The object of the invention is to provide said straps which are particularly strong and durable so that they are reliable and safe in use, and which are neat and pleasing in appearance.

According to the invention there is provided a harness strap having a stud, buckle or other anchoring means at an intermediate position along its length, the end portion of the strap beyond said position being operatively turned back on itself and releasably secured by said anchoring means to form a loop or bight to connect the strap to a bit ring or other component in use, is characterised in that at least that part of the strap including said end portion and extending therefrom past said intermediate position comprises a pair of leather strips with a reinforcing strip of a high strength flexible material bonded therebetween, a base or cross-piece of the anchoring means being located between said reinforcing strip and the underlying back one of the leather strips so that said reinforcing strip provides resistance against forces tending to tear the anchoring means from the remainder of the strap in use and also against tensile forces acting along at least said end portion of the strap.

Preferably said pair of leather strips are provided by splitting a leather workpiece part-way along its length from one end so that an opposite end portion of the strap is a single piece of leather.

The reinforcing strip is preferably a length of fabric webbing woven from high strength artificial fibre such as that supplied under the Trade Mark ''NYLON' and the bonding is effected by use of an appropriate adhesive. The strips forming the strap may be further secured by stitching in the traditional manner, preferably using high strength rot-proof thread, e.g.

again of an artificial fibre such as that supplied under the said Trade Mark 'NYLONS'.

A loop or loops for receiving said end portion adjacent to the anchoring means, e.g. on each side thereof in the case of a stud, may be formed from leather in known manner and will preferably also be secured between said strips in the same way as the anchoring means itself, i.e. passing beneath the reinforcing strip.

The invention further resides in a method of manufacturing a harness strap including the steps of splitting an elongate leather workpiece part-way along its length from one end thereof to form a pair of front and back leather strips, inserting a reinforcing strip of high strength flexible fabric between said front and back strips, bonding said strips together e.g. by the use of an adhesive, and securing a stud, buckle or other anchoring means at an intermediate position along the strap with a base or cross-piece thereof secured between the back leather strip and the reinforcing strip so bonded.

Some embodiments of the invention are now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: rigure 1 is an exploded view showing the assembly of a rein strap embodying the invention; Figure 2 shows the same part of said rein strap in finished condition and Figure 3 is a side elevation of a bridle cheek piece embodying the invention and secured to a bit ring.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 a rein strap 10 forming one half of a pair of reins is shown, in practice said strap would be of substantial length but for clarity only the part which is secured to the bit ring in use and which is subjected to the greatest wear and tear is shown.

This part of the strap has a laminated construction formed by taking a solid elongated leather workpiece and splitting it from one end part-way along its length as far as the point indicated at A in the drawings so as to form a pair of front and back leather strips 12, 14.

A co-extensive reinforcing strip 16 is inserted between strips 12 and 14. Said strip 16 is of a durable high strength flexible fabric, typically a woven webbing of artificial fibre such as that sold under the Trade Mark "NYLON" or the like and the three strips are bonded together conveniently by the use of an appropriate adhesive on assembly.

The laminated portion of the strap so formed includes the end portion which is operatively turned back on itself to form a bight or loop for releasable engagement with the bit ring of a bridle and extends past an intermediate position which is provided with an anchoring means for securing said loop or bight.

In the example shown the anchoring means is in the form of a hook like metal stud 18 of known kind which is engaged with an aperture 20 in the extreme end part of the strap in known manner, said end part also being passed through a pair of leather loops 22 positioned one on each side of stud 18 to hold the extreme end part in parallel overlying relationship to the front of the intermediate portion in the region of the stud.

The operative part of stud 18 projects rigidly from an elongate base portion 24 (shown in Figure 1) and on assembly this base portion is positioned between the back leather strip 14 and the underface of the reinforcing strip 16 so that the shank of the stud passes through the latter strip and through the front leather strip 12. In this way the bonding of the reinforcing strip 16 over the top of base portion 24 gives substantially added strength and security in that any forces tending to pull the stud out of the strap and/or acting longitudinally of the strap thereon which would otherwise tend to tear or stretch the leather are resisted by the reinforcing strip 16.

The loops 22 are also assembled so that they are passed below the reinforcing strip 16 and above back strip 14 again giving added security and strength.

The assembled strap is finished by stitching along the edges in traditional manner, preferably using a nonrotting high strength thread of an artificial fibre such as that sold under the Trade Mark "NYLON" for durability and added strength.

Those parts of the bridle, e.g. the reins and cheek pieces in particular, which are connected to or adjacent to the bit are subjected to hard wear in use and are also subjected to sweat and saliva which is liable to cause deterioration and loss of strength, e.g. due to rotting, of traditional stitched leather components particularly if they are not looked after carefully by application of dressing etc. Failure of these components due to breakage can have most serious consequences as control of the ridden or driven horse or other animal will be lost suddenly and possibly at a critical moment. The insertion of the reinforcing strip 16 adds very substantially to the strength and durability of this essential part of the rein strap and the security of the stud or other anchoring means and it is anticipated that the safe life of such components will be considerably extended. This added strength is achieved without affecting the appearance and feel of the rein strap and the extra manufacturing processes involved can be carried out in an economical manner so that this advantageous construction can be provided at reasonable cost having regard to its added safety and durability.

Due to awareness of the danger of the stud 18 pulling out of a traditionally constructed rein strap some users have preferred that the anchoring means takes the form of a buckle with its cross piece secured to the strap. This arrangement may be preferred for some applications in combination with the invention in which case said cross piece would be located below the reinforcing strip 16, i.e. between that and the back leather strip 14 so that all pulling forces on the buckle would be resisted by the reinforcement.

Figure 3 shows the invention applied to the cheek piece 30 of a bridle, this is a short strap provided with a buckle 32 at one end and which is operatively formed into a loop or bight 34 at its other end for releasable engagement with the bit ring 36 in the same way as the rein strap 10. The construction of strap 30 is exactly the same as above described, a single leather workpiece is split from one end as far as point A to form front and back leather strips 12a, 14a with a reinforcing strip 16a bonded therebetween, the stud 18a having its base portion 24a secured below the reinforcing strip and the loops 22a also passing beneath said strip.

For some applications the front and back leather strips could be separate pieces of leather i.e. not provided by splitting a single workpiece, in which case the laminated construction incorporating the reinforcing strip could extend the full length of the strap or could lie only along an end portion thereof.

In the case of a rein strap the part remote from the bit end portion may be spliced to or provided with a rubber hand grip portion in known manner.

Claims (9)

1. A harness strap having a stud, buckle or other anchoring means at an intermediate position along its length, the end portion of the strap beyond said position being operatively turned back on itself and releasably secured by said anchoring means to form a loop or bight to connect the strap to a bit ring or other component in use, is characterised in that at least that part of the strap including said end portion and extending therefrom past said intermediate position comprises a pair of leather strips with a reinforcing strip of a high strength flexible material bonded therebetween, a base or cross-piece of the anchoring means being located between said reinforcing strip and the underlying back one of the leather strips so that said reinforcing strip provides resistance against forces tending to tear the anchoring means from the remainder of the strap in use and also against tensile forces acting along at least said end portion of the strap.

2. A strap as in Claim 1 wherein said pair of leather strips are provided by splitting a leather workpiece part-way along its length from one end so that an opposite end portion of the strap is a single piece of leather.

3. A strap as in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the reinforcing strip is a length of fabric webbing woven from high strength artificial fibre.

4. A strap as in Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the bonding is effected by use of an adhesive.

5. A strap as in any preceding claim wherein the strips are further secured by stitching.

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6. A strap as in any preceding claim including a loop for receiving said end portion when secured by the anchoring means, said loop being secured between said strips by passing between the reinforcing strip and the underlying back one of the leather strips.

7. A harness strap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of manufacturing a harness strap including the steps of splitting an elongate leather workpiece part-way along its length from one end thereof to form a pair of front and back leather strips, inserting a reinforcing strip of high strength flexible fabric between said front and back strips, bonding said strips together, and securing a stud, buckle or other anchoring means at an intermediate position along the strap with a base or cross-piece thereof secured between the back leather strip and the reinforcing strip so bonded.

9. A method of manufacturing a harness strap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.