GB2274048A

GB2274048A - Safety headcollar

Info

Publication number: GB2274048A
Application number: GB9300138A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sandra Anne Blight
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-01-06
Filing date: 1993-01-06
Publication date: 1994-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 2013-01-06
Also published as: GB2274048B; GB9300138D0

Abstract

An equestrian headcollar comprises a part that separates if the headcollar becomes snagged. The separable part is preferably a hook and loop fastener 16 which may be rendered inoperative by the use of a bridging piece connected between studs 18 or 19 and stud 23. <IMAGE>

Description

HEADCOLLARS TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to headcollars for horses and ponies. The term "headcollar" as used herein is intended to cover foal slips for use with foals.

BACKGROUND These days, headcollars are often manufactured from tough plastics webbing, which is inexpensive and wear resistant. However, this material presents a serious potential risk to a horse or pony which is turned out into a field wearing the headcollar. Should the headcollar become entangled with a tree branch, fence, post or similar protruding article, there is a danger that the animal will be unable to free itself and will suffer serious injury or death.

An aim of the present invention is to overcome this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The headcollar proposed in accordance with the present invention has a head piece incorporating a weak link which is designed to give way, releasing the headcollar when the headcollar is subjected to a pull of sufficient strength.

The weak link may take various forms, for example, the head piece may incorporate a material having a lower breaking strain than the remainder of the head piece.

However, the form of link which has been found to give the best results is one which comprises a pad having a multiplicity of hooks which is engageable with a complimentary pad having a multiplicity of loops. The two pads may be secured to a common length of webbing which is threaded through a ring member and doubled back on itself so that the two pads can be mutually engaged.

In order to give the headcollar increased the strength when leading an animal, a bridging piece is preferably provided which can be releasably connected across the weak link. The bridging piece may be provided with stud fasteners to engage on opposite sides of the weak link.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a general view of a headcollar for an adult horse, Figure 2 is a detailed view of a weak link provided in the headcollar, Figure 3 is a further view of the weak link with a bridging piece provided in a non operative position, Figure 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3, but showing the bridging piece in a operative position, and Figure 5 is a general view of a foal slip form of the headcollar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring firstly to Fig. 1, the headcollar is generally of a conventional configuration formed of polyamide or any other suitable high strength material.

A pair of metal rings 1 and 2 are joined by a throat lash 3 and each ring is joined to a respective cheek piece 4 and 5. The opposite ends of the cheek pieces are secured to opposite sides of a nose band 6, incorporating a buckle 7 for size adjustment. The throat lash 3 is joined to the nose band by a further strap 8. The rings 1 and 2 are further joined by a head piece 10 which includes a buckle 11 for length adjustment. One end of the head piece is looped through the ring 2 and connected permanently by a rivet 12. The opposite end of the head piece is connected to the other ring 1 by a weak link arrangement, which will now be described in detail with reference to Figs 2 to 4.

The end of the head piece 10 is provided with a pair of connection pads 16, one of which is provided with a multiplicity of hooks and the other of which is provided with a multiplicity of loops. The two pads 16 are slightly spaced along the length of the head piece so that when the end is looped through the ring 1 and folded back on itself, the two pads 16 can be mutually engaged. The engagement thus provided is sufficient to hold the head piece to the ring 1 in normal use, but should the headcollar become entangled with an object when worn by an animal, a sufficiently larg.e pull will enable the two pads 16 to become disengaged, thereby freeing the head piece 10 from the ring 1. Once the head piece has become free the animal will normally slip out of the headcollar, thereby avoiding serious injury.

It will be noted in Fig. 2 that the end portion of the head piece which is looped through the ring 1 carries a pair of spaced studs 18 and 19 on the opposite side to the pad 16. These enable a short bridging piece 20 (Fig. 3) having a pair of complimentary studs 21, 22 to be connected for stowage purposes. In this position the bridging piece 20 is in-operative. However, when the headcollar is to be used for leading an animal the bridging piece 20 can be connected between one of the studs 18 and a further stud 23 which is secured to the main portion of the head piece. The bridging piece therefore prevents the pads 16 from becoming disengaged and effectively over-rides the weak link arrangement.

Fig. 5 shows a foal slip in which a pair of metal rings 31 and 32 are connected by cheek pieces 34 and 35 to an adjustable nose band 36. A pair of throat lashes 33A and 33B connect the rings 31 and 32 to a further ring 38 which is engaged with the nose band 36. The ring 38 also carries a lead strap 39 for leading an animal. An adjustable head piece 40 is secured to the rings 31 and 32 in the same manner as the head piece of Figs 1 to 4.

It will thus be appreciated that in both forms of the headcollar described above, the weak link arrangement provides an invaluable safety feature, which means that an animal can be turned out whilst still wearing the headcollar without risk of serious injury. On the other hand, by engaging the bridging piece 20, the headcollar can be used as normal for leading the animal.

Claims

11. An equestrian headcollar safety strain release mechanism comprising a special webbing wrap brass ring, being secured by a two part stitched to the webbing on opposing surfaces

sect i or'-'und a Vel c r" 11arial A An An equestrian headcollar safety strain release mechanism as claimed in Claim 1, with over-ride securing by a press stud popper strap across the webbing free end to adjacent webbing.

An equestrian headcollar safety strain release mechanism as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, with popper strap storage facility on outer surface of safety area.