GB2310123A

GB2310123A - Decorative browband

Info

Publication number: GB2310123A
Application number: GB9603192A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gillian Irene Raffaelli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-02-15
Filing date: 1996-02-15
Publication date: 1997-08-20
Also published as: GB9603192D0

Description

BROWBAND DEVICES This invention relates to bridles for animals, in particular bridles for horses, and more particularly to browbands used in said bridles.

A bridle for a horse comprises an arrangement of flexible straps, usually formed from leather, which can be coupled together around the head of the horse, reins and, usually, a bit. Commonly, the arrangement of flexible straps comprises a headpiece, a browband, a throat latch, two cheek pieces and a noseband, and includes various buckles to provide a means of adjustably securing the bridle around the head of the horse. The browband is usually a plain strap having attachment loops at the ends thereof, and is coupled to the straps fonninq the headpiece, the throat latch and the cheek pieces of the strap arrangement by threading said straps sequentially through the attachment loops of the browband. This is a somewhat complex procedure which must be carried out to assemble the bridle before it is positioned and secured upon the head of the horse.

Consequently, it is normal practice to retain the bridle in an assembled condition, with the browband threaded in place on the associated straps of the strap arrangement, when the bridle is removed from the horse.

There are many competitive equestrian events in which owners of horses show their horses in order to compete in various competitions, and a very high standard of presentation and appearance of the horse is required in order to succeed at such competitions. In order to reach such a high standard, it is necessary to devote much time and effort in grooming the horse by cleaning and brushing it thoroughly. Moreover, in some competitions, it is also permitted for the owner of the horse to embellish the bridle of the horse in order to complement the presentation and appearance of the horse.

This is quite often done by decorating the browband of the bridle with a variety of plaited coloured and decorated ribbons. Alternatively, the plain browband is removed from the bridle and is replaced by a pre-decorated browband.

A problem that can arise at some equestrian events is that in some of the competitions at those events it is an essential requirement that the bridle used should not carry any embellishment or unnecessary decoration thereon, whereas in other competitions held at the same events owners are permitted to embellish or decorate the bridles of the horses being shown if they wish to do so. Often these two different types of competition occur close to, if not sequentially, to one another during an equestrian event.Consequently, if an owner wishes to show the horse wearing a bridle with a plain browband in one competition, and then to show the same horse wearing a bridle with an embellished browband in a succeeding competition, it will be necessary for the owner to physically remove the bridle from the horse, unthread the plain browband from the associated straps of the bridle, replace the plain browband with the embellished browband, thread the associated straps of the bridle through the attachment loops of the embellished browband, and then replace the bridle upon the horse.

This can be a difficult and time-consuming procedure, particularly if the horse becomes excited during the procedure. This problem can be overcome with a browband device according to the present invention.

A browband device according to the present invention, for embellishing a plain browband of a bridle of a horse, comprises a band of flexible material terminated at each end with a releasable attachment means adapted to engage said end securely to a respective end portion of said plain browband, said band having an outer decorated surface and an inner surface provided with releasable means adapted to retain said browband device aligned with and overlapping said plain browband, said browband being releasably attachable to, and detachable from, said plain browband of said bridle without needing to remove said bridle from said horse.

Preferably, the releasable attachment means at each end of the browband device is adapted to thread through a respective attachment loop of the plain browband of the bridle.

Advantageously, the browband device, when in position upon the plain browband of the bridle, completely covers the plain browband from view.

The band portion of the browband device may be formed from a single decorative flexible material, or may be formed as a two-part construction comprising a core band of a flexible material such as leather, a synthetic plastics material such as polyethylene, polypropylene or nylon, or a thin strip of steel sheet, covered by one or more decorative fabric materials or ribbons.

The releasable attachment means at either end of the band portion of the browband device may be press-studs, interengageable strips of releasable fastener material, resilient clips or interengageable magnets and steel strip. Preferably the releasable attachment means comprise pairs of interengageable strips of releasable fastener material, each pair comprising one strip which is provided with a plurality of hook-like elements and the other strip which is provided with a plurality of looped elements which are engaged by the hook-like elements of the one strip when the two strips of the respective pair are pressed together. One such releasable fastener material is available commercially under the Registered Trade Mark VELCRO.

The outer decorated surface of the band portion of the browband device may be formed by impressing or printing a decorative pattern upon the outer surface of the flexible material forming the band portion.

Alternatively, the outer decorative surface may be formed from a layer of decorative material deposited on the outer surface of a core band of flexible material, or from one or more coloured fabric ribbons plaited in a decorative pattern over the core band.

The releasable means provided on the inner surface of the band portion of the browband device may comprise one or more Velcro fabric loops, each of which is fastened around a respective portion of the plain browband to retain the browband device in alignment with the plain browband. Alternatively, other releasable means may be used, such as one or more resilient clips, or by providing the inner surface with one or more areas having a high coefficient of friction or inherent tackiness, or by shaping a core band with a shallow C-shape in cross-section, 50 that the core band can be clipped into position over the plain browband of the bridle.

The invention and how it may be performed are hereinafter particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a view of a typical bridle for a horse, showing the position of a browband of the bridle; Figure 2 shows a view of the bridle shown in Figure 1, mounted on the head of a horse; Figure 3 shows a front view of a browband device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a rear view of the browband device shown in Figure 3; and Figure 5 shows a view of the bridle shown in Figure 1, when fitted with a browband device as shown in Figures 3 and 4, mounted on the head of a horse.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, these show an typical horse bridle 10 which comprises a headpiece strap 12, a browband strap 14, a throatlatch strap 16, two cheek piece straps 18 and 20, a noseband 22, a snaffle bit 24, and reins 26. As can be seen from Figure 1, the typical horse bridle comprises a somewhat complex arrangement of straps coupled together by a series of adjustable buckle connectors, with the straps comprising the headpiece 12, throatlatch 16 and cheek pieces 18,20 passing through attachment loops provided on the ends of the browband 14. Figure 2 illustrates the bridle 10 in place on the head 28 of a horse, and shows how the browband 14 is positioned on the forehead of the horse, and works in conjunction with the remaining straps of the bridle to retain the bridle securely in place upon the head 28 of the horse.

It will be readily appreciated from a study of Figures 1 and 2 that the removal of the browband 14, and the replacement thereof by another, ornamented, browband (not shown) would be extremely difficult and time-consuming without the removal of the bridle 10 from the horse.

Turning now to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, these show front and rear views of a browband device 30 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Browband device 30 comprises a decorative band 32 of flexible material which includes a flexible core strap (not shown), formed from a flexible material such as leather or a synthetic polymeric material such as polyethylene, polypropylene or nylon, which core strap is closely wrapped in two fabric ribbons 34 and 36 of contrasting colours, such as red and black, to form the attractive patterned strip of adjacent triangular areas extending the length of the decorative band 32, as shown in Figure 3.

A depending, trapezium-shaped, decorative portion 38 is secured to each end of the decorative band 32. Each decorative portion 38 comprises a strip of a stiff core material, such as a polymer-coated card (not shown) which is encased in a decorative sewn cover formed from two fabric materials 40 and 42 of contrasting colours, such as red and black, arranged in a striped pattern as shown in Figure 3.

A decorative rosette 44 is secured to each end of the decorative band 32 so as to cover the juncture of the end of the band 32 with the upper end of the respective decorative portion 38, as can be seen in Figure 3.

Each end of the decorative band 32 is provided at the rear of the band with a releasable attachment means 46 in the form of interengageable strips 48 and 50 of VELCRO releasable fastener material. Strip 48 is formed of a flexible material, to one surface of which is secured a length of hooked VELCR greleasable fastener material 52 having an exposed surface comprising a plurality of hook-like elements (shown schematically).

Strip 48 is fastened at one end to the respective end of the decorative band 32 and extends upwardly therefrom, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, when the attachment means 46 is in a released position. A rear portion of strip 50 is secured to the rear surface of the respective decorative portion 38 by a strongly adherent adhesive material.

Strip 50 is a length of looped VELCRO releasable fastener material which has an exposed surface provided with a plurality of looped elements (also shown schematically).

Secured to the rear surface of said decorative band 32 are three flexible strips 54, each having exposed surfaces thereon carrying the components of a releasable fastener material such as VELCRO (R.T.M.), each strip 54 being spaced equidistant from one another along the rear surface of the decorative band 32, as can be seen in Figure 4. Flexible strips 54 constitute releasable means adapted to retain the browband device 30 aligned with and overlapping any plain browband 14 of a bridle 10 to which the browband device 30 is secured, and are shown in both Figures 3 and 4 in their released state. As can be seen in Figure 3, an upper portion of each flexible strip 54 has a pad 56 of hook-like elements secured to the exposed surface thereof as seen in Figure 3.Similarly, a lower portion of each flexible strip 54 has a pad 58 of looped elements secured to the exposed surface thereof as seen in Figure 4.

The application of the browband device 30 to a plain browband 14 of a bridle 10 is a simple, quick procedure, without any need to remove the bridle 10 from the head 28 of the horse The browband device 30 is positioned above the plain browband 14 so that the rear surface of the decorative band 32 is facing the person applying the browband device 30, the decorative band 32 is aligned with the plain browband 14, and the two flexible straps 48 are pointing downwards towards, and are aligned with, the respective attachment loops on the plain browband 14. Each of the flexible straps 48 is then threaded through the respective attachment loop on the plain browband 14 in front of the associated straps passing through that attachment loop.

The browband device 30 is then swung towards the person applying the browband device 30, and downwards relative to the plain browband 14, pivoting about the flexible strips 48 threaded through the respective attachment loops on the plain browband 14, until the looped elements on the exposed surfaces of the respective strips 50 on the depending portions 38 of the browband device 30 securely engage with the corresponding hooked elements on the exposed surfaces of the strips 52 on the flexible strips 48. This procedure positions the rear surface of the decorative band 32 into contact with the front surface of the plain browband 14, and anchors the ends of the browband device 30 over the respective ends of the plain browband 14.

Each of the flexible strips 54 is then secured in position around an adjacent portion of the plain browband 14 by folding the upper portion of the flexible strip 54 downwards around the back of said adjacent portion of the plain browband 14 whilst simultaneously folding the lower portion of the flexible strip upwards around the back of said adjacent portion of the plain browband 14 until the pad of looped elements 58 on this lower portion comes into contact with, and engages, the pad of hook-like elements 56 on the upper portion of the flexible strip 54. This procedure retains the browband device 30 securely in position, aligned with and overlapping the plain browband 14.Consequently, the appearance of the bridle 10 to an observer has changed from that of a bridle having a plain browband 14 to that of a bridle having a decorative browband, namely the decorative browband device 30 as shown in Figure 5.

The decorative browband device 30 will remain securely in position over the plain browband 14 throughout the procedure of showing the horse wearing the bridle 10 in an equestrian competition. Once the competition is over, the decorative browband device 30 may be quickly and easily removed from the plain browband 14 without any need to remove the bridle 10 from the head 28 of the horse, by reversing the procedure for applying the decorative browband device 30 to the plain browband 14.

Modifications may be made to the construction and appearance of this preferred embodiment of the invention without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus, for example, the exposed surfaces of the strips 54 may be formed with looped elements and the respective exposed surfaces of the strips 50 may be formed with hook-like elements. Similarly, the positions of the pads 56 and 58 on each flexible strip 54 may be reversed. A lesser or greater number of the flexible strips 54 may be provided on the rear surface of the decorative band 32, or they may be replaced with any other suitable attachment means, such as resilient clips.

The size, shape and decorative appearance of the preferred browband device 30 are features that may be varied or changed in order to modify the visual attractiveness of the browband device 30, provided that the inventive features of the preferred browband device 30 described hereinbefore remain unchanged.

An alternative modification of the present invention, within the scope of the present invention, embodies the concept of using two separate browband devices to replace the usual plain browband 14 of the bridle 10. The first browband device has the shape, size and appearance of the plain browband 14, and comprises a band of flexible material, such as leather, which is terminated at each end with a releasable attachment means adapted to engage around the respective group of leather straps in the bridle which are usually retained within the respective attachment loop of the plain browband so as to anchor said end of the first browband device to said respective group of leather straps.Preferably the releasable attachment means comprises a releasable attachment loop which connects to a releasable fastener, such as a press-stud device or a releasable fastener material such as VELCRO, mounted on a rear surface of the first browband device, so that the first browband device, when mounted on the bridle, has the same visual appearance as the plain browband 14 that it replaces.

The second browband device is similar to the first browband device in construction, but has a band portion with an outer front surface thereof embellished by decorative material. Thus the outer decorated surface of the band portion of the second browband device may be formed by impressing or printing a decorative pattern upon the outer surface of the flexible material forming the band portion. Alternatively, the outer decorative surface may be formed from a layer of decorative material deposited on the outer surface of a core band of flexible material, or from one or more coloured fabric ribbons plaited in a decorative pattern over the core band.

This alternative modification of the present invention is utilised by initially replacing the normal plain browband 14 of the bridle 10 with the first browband device, before the bridle 10 is fitted into position on the head of a horse. The horse is then ready to compete in such competitions as show hunter class competitions without any change needed to the bridle.

If, subsequently, it is desired to enter the horse in a competition such as a side saddle class competition, where a decorative browband is permitted on the bridle, the first browband device can be quickly and easily detached from the bridle without removing the bridle from the horse, and then the second, decorative, browband device can be quickly and easily attached to the bridle in place of the first browband device, again without any need to remove the bridle from the horse. It will be appreciated that the second browband device may be replaced on the bridle by the first browband device just as easily and quickly, without any need to remove the bridle from the horse.

A browband device according to the present invention provides a quick and easily-applied means for changing the appearance and visual appeal of a bridle of a show horse during the course of an equestrian event.

The design of a preferred embodiment of the device is such that it is easy to position and fasten in place around a plain browband of the bridle of the show horse whilst the bridle is in position on the show horse, and it is quickly and easily removable from the bridle with minimal disturbance of the show horse. Consequently, it need only be fitted to the plain browband of the bridle shortly before the horse is shown in a competition, which decreases the risk of getting the browband device dirty.

Moreover, the browband device may be made from materials that are washable, so that the browband device can be readily cleaned after use. Since the browband device does not need to be made of leather, the costs of the materials used to make the device may be less than the cost of leather, and the design of the device is such that the device could be produced by machine manufacture with less cost than hand manufacture.

Claims

Claims:

1. A readily-removable browband device for embellishing or replacing a plain browband of a bridle of a horse, which browband device comprises a band portion of flexible material terminated at each end with a releasable attachment means adapted to engage said end securely either to a respective end portion of said plain browband or to said bridle, said band portion having an outer decorated surface and being releasably attachable to, and detachable from, said bridle without needing to remove said bridle from said horse.

2. A readily-removable browband device, for embellishing a plain browband of a bridle of a horse, comprising a band portion of flexible material terminated at each end with a releasable attachment means adapted to engage said end securely to a respective end portion of said plain browband, said band portion having an outer decorated surface and an inner surface provided with releasable means adapted to retain said browband device aligned with and overlapping said plain browband, said browband device being releasably attachable to, and detachable from, said plain browband of said bridle without needing to remove said bridle from said horse.

3. A browband device according to claim 2, in which the releasable attachment means at each end of the browband device is adapted to thread through a respective attachment loop of the plain browband of the bridle.

4. A browband device according to claim 2 or 3, in which the browband device, when in position upon the plain browband of the bridle, completely covers the plain browband from view.

5. A browband device according to claim 2 or 3, in which the band portion of the browband device is formed from a single decorative flexible material.

6. A browband device according to claim 2 or in which the band portion of the browband device is formed as a two-part construction comprising a core band of a flexible material, covered by one or more decorative fabric materials or ribbons.

7. A browband device according to claim 6, in which the core band of flexible material is leather.

8. A browband device according to claim 6, in which the core band of flexible material is a synthetic plastics material.

9. A browband device according to claim 8, in which the core band of flexible material is polyethylene.

10. A browband device according to claim 8, in which the core band of flexible material is polypropylene.

11. A browband device according to claim 8, in which the core band of flexible material is nylon.

12. A browband device according to claim 6, in which the core band of flexible material is a thin strip of steel sheet.

13. A browband device according to claim 2 or 3, in which the releasable attachment means at either end of the band portion of the browband device comprise press-studs.

14. A browband device according to claim 2 or 3, in which the releasable attachment means at either end of the band portion of the browband device comprise interengageable strips of releasable fastener material.

15. A browband device according to claim 14, in which the releasable attachment means at either end of the band portion of the browband device comprise pairs of interengageable strips of releasable fastener material, each pair comprising one strip which is provided with a plurality of hoo-lie elements and the other strip which is provided with a plurality of looped elements which are engaged b the hook-like elements of the one strip when the two strips of the respective pair are pressed together.

16. A browband device according to claim 2 or 3, in which the releasable attachment means at either end of the band portion of the browband device comprise resilient clips.

17. A browband device according to claim 3, in which the releasable attachment means at either en of the band portion of the browband device comprise interengageable magnets and steel Strip.

18. A browband device according to any one ~~ claims 2 to 5, in which the outer decorated surface the band portion of the browband device is formed by impressing a decorative pattern upon the outer surface of the flexible material forming the band portion.

19. A browband device according to any one of claims 2 to , in which the outer decorated surface of the band portion of the browband device is formed by printing a decorative pattern upon the outer surface of the flexible material forming the band portion.

20. A browband device according to any one of claims 5 to 12, in which the outer decorated surface of the band portion of the browband device is formed from a layer of decorative material deposited on the outer surface of the core band of flexible material.

21. A browband device according to any one of claims 5 to 12, in which the outer decorated surface of the band portion of the browband device is formed from one or more coloured fabric ribbons plaited in d decorative pattern over the core band mf fleN material.

22. A browband device according to any the preceding claims 2 to 21, in which the releasable means provided on the inner surface of the band portion Of the browband device comprises one cr more fabric loops of releasable fastener material, each of '4hich is fastened around a respective portion of the plain browband to retain the browband Device in a grlmerlt vIth the Isl browband.

23. A browband device according to any one of the preceding claims 2 te 21, in which the releasable means provided on the inner surface cf the band portion of the browband device comprises one or more resilient clips.

24. A browband device according te any one of the preceding claims 2 to 21, in which the releasable means provided on the inner surface of the band port ion of the browband device comprises one or more areas on said inner surface having a high coefficient of frizticn.

25. A browband device according to any one cf the preceding claims 2 te 21, in whIch the releasable means provided on the inner surface of the band port Ion of the browband device comprises one cr more areas on said inner surface having inherent tackiness.

26. A browband device according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 21, In which the releasable means provided on the inner surface of the band portion of the browband device comprises a resilient core band shaped with a shallow shape in cross-section, so that the core band can be clipped into position over the plain browband of the bridle.