GB2256895A

GB2256895A - Saddle locking device

Info

Publication number: GB2256895A
Application number: GB9203833A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Malcolm Douglas Hodgkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-02-22
Filing date: 1992-02-22
Publication date: 1992-12-23
Also published as: GB9203833D0

Abstract

A locking device for a riding saddle comprises a mounting plate (10) adapted for wall mounting with security screws, a fixed saddle supporting arm (14) projecting from the mounting plate, a saddle-clamping arm (26) hinged to the mounting plate for movement between closed and open positions relative to the saddle-supporting arm, and a locking device (22, 38) for locking the two arms against opening from a closed saddle clamping position. <IMAGE>

Description

Saddle Locking Device This invention relates to a device for locking riding saddles to prevent theft thereof when the saddles are not in use, for example being in storage or on display in a shop.

A known saddle locking device comprises a pair of rods or bars, pivotted together at one end, which can be closed around the spine of a saddle and fixed in the closed position around the saddle by a padlock. By means of a chain attached to the pair of rods or bars, the saddle can thus be fixed to a secure fitting on a wall, the chain being secured by a second padlock.

The known locking device is awkward to use and is relatively easily circumvented by cutting the security chain. The saddle can then be removed with the pair of rods or bars still locked closed around it, but these can be forcefully released at a later time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved and more secure locking device for a riding saddle.

According to the invention, a locking device for a riding saddle comprises a mounting plate adapted for fixing to a wall, a lower saddle supporting arm fixedly projecting from the mounting plate, an upper saddle clamping arm pivotally mounted to the mounting plate above the saddle supporting arm, and means for locking the two arms together when the upper arm is in a closed saddle clamping position.

The locking means may be constituted by a padlock, but is preferably constituted by a cam lock carried on a hinged plate attached to one of the arms, preferably the saddle clamping arm, whereby, in the saddle clamping position of the saddle clamping arm, the cam lock can be engaged with and locked to a keeper on the other arm.

The locking means is preferably situated at the end of the two arms remote from the mounting plate.

A conventional riding saddle, other than a racing saddle, has padded regions on both sides of the central spine or tree and, on the underside, immediately underneath the central spine, a gulley between the two padded regions.

Preferably, the two arms of the locking device of the present invention are adapted to clamp the padded regions of the saddle between them, so that no strain is imposed on the central spine when the addle is clamped.

At the same time, the arrangement of the arms is such that the saddle cannot be manipulated out from between the arms when the arms are locked together. Assistance in this respect may be gained from a part of the lower saddle supporting arm over which the gulley on the underside of the saddle is received with clearance when the saddle is set down on the saddle supporting arm ready to be clamped in position.

A spring may act between the saddle clamping arm normally to urge said arm into an open position.

Preferably, the mounting plate is fixable to the wall by means of one way security screws, provided in combination with the locking device.

Conveniently also, the holes in the mounting plate for receiving mounting screws include at least one hole which is obscured by a shield on the saddle clamping arm when said arm is in its saddle clamping position. This makes it difficult to gain access to the mounting screw or screws behind the shield if attempt is made to detach the complete locking device from the wall.

A practical embodiment of saddle locking device in accordance with the invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a pictorial view of the locking device, with the saddle clamping arm shown separated; and Figure 2 shows the locking device in side elevation.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated saddle locking device comprises a mounting plate 10 having holes 12 by means of which the plate is fixable to a wall by one way security screws.

Welded to the mounting plate 10 is a saddle supporting arm 14 having three legs as shown, the central leg 16 being elevated above the level of the two outer legs 18 which at the free ends of said legs join together in a U-formation 20.

This U-formation 20 fixedly carries a hollow keeper 22 having an aperture 24 for receiving the operational cam of a cam lock. A welded stay 25 strengthens the fixing of the complete arm 14.

A saddle clamping arm 26 is pivotally connected to the mounting plate 10 above the saddle supporting arm 14, and is normally urged open, away from said saddle supporting arm 14, by means of a spring 28 connected between an arch 29 on the saddle clamping arm and the mounting plate.

The saddle clamping arm 26 has two shaped legs 30, which close together at a central region 32 of the arm and join together in a wide loop 34 at the free end of the arm.

Hinged to the loop 34 is a plate 36 carrying a cam lock 38.

The arm 26 is pivotally connected to the mounting plate 10 by means of hollow bosses 40 on the mounting plate 10, said bosses being apertured at 42 at the front to receive the ends of the legs 30 of the arm 26 with clearance for pivotal movement. Hardened steel pins 42 secure the ends of the legs 30 within the bosses 40. These pins 42 are initially punched into position through a single access hole 44 in the side wall of each boss 40 and, when inserted, are contained entirely within the bosses so that removal of said pins and thus release of the saddle clamping arm is substantially impossible.

The arm 26 also carries a shield 46 bridging the two legs 30 at a point close to the mounting plate 10. When the saddle clamping arm 26 is locked in the saddle clamping position, the shield covers the two mounting screws used at the mounting holes 12A of the mounting plate, thus denying access to these screws.

In use, when a saddle is to be locked up, it is placed down centrally on the saddle supporting arm 14, so that the gulley on the underside of the saddle is received over the elevated central leg 16. The -saddle clamping arm is then lowered, and the cam lock 38 engaged with and locked to the keeper 22.

The outer legs 18 of the lower arm and the shaped legs 30 of the upper arm clamp the padding of the saddle between them, without imposing any strain on the saddle tree. Due to the shapes of the arms, including the elevated leg 16 of the arm 14, it is impossible to manipulate the saddle out from between the locked together arms. This result is achievable with a single size of locking device for all saddle sizes from the minimum to the maximum.

Various modifications of the above-described and illustrated embodiment are possible within the scope of the invention hereinbefore defined.

Claims

1. A locking device for a riding saddle comprising a mounting plate adapted for fixing to a wall, a lower saddle supporting arm fixedly projecting from the mounting plate, an upper saddle clamping arm mounted to the mounting plate above the saddle supporting arm for movement between closed and open positions relative to said saddle supporting arm, and means for locking the two arms together when the upper arm is in a closed saddle clamping position.

2. A locking device according to claim 1, in which the upper saddle clamping arm is pivotally mounted to the mounting plate.

3. A locking device according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the locking means is constituted by a cam lock carried on a hinged plate attached to one of the arms whereby, in the saddle clamping position of the saddle clamping arm, the cam lock can be engaged with and locked to a keeper on the other arm.

4. A locking device according to claim 3, in which the cam lock is mounted on the saddle clamping arm and the keeper on the saddle supporting arm.

5. A locking device according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which the locking means is situated at the end of the two arms remote from the mounting plate.

6. A locking device according to any of claims 1 to 5, in which the two arms of the locking device are adapted to clamp the padded regions of a saddle between them, so that no strain is imposed on the central spine of the saddle when the saddle is clamped.

7. A locking device according to claim 6, in which the saddle supporting arm has a part over which the gulley on the underside of a saddle is received with clearance when the saddle is set down on the saddle supporting arm ready to be clamped in position.

8. A locking device according to claim 7, in which the saddle supporting arm has two laterally spaced saddlesupporting side bars and a raised central bar.

9. A locking device according to any of claims 1 to 8, in which a spring acts on the saddle clamping arm normally to urge said arm into an open position.

10. A locking device according to any of claims 1 to 9, in which the mounting plate is fixable to the wall by means of one way security screws, provided in combination with the locking device.

11. A locking device according to claim 10, in which holes in the mounting plate for receiving mounting screws include at least one hole which is obscured by a shield on the saddle clamping arm when said arm is in its saddle clamping position.

12. A saddle locking device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.