GB2311925A

GB2311925A - Head collar strain relief strap

Info

Publication number: GB2311925A
Application number: GB9607721A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Daynes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-04-13
Filing date: 1996-04-13
Publication date: 1997-10-15
Also published as: GB9607721D0

Abstract

A breakaway coupling fits between an existing buckle 7 and strap 6. The coupling comprises a further buckle 2 releasably connected to an additional strap 5, in turn connected to buckle 7. In use the strap 6 may be unbuckled from buckle 7 (fig 4) so that the release of the further buckle from the additional strap is possible if subjected to excessive force, or the strap may be buckled in the normal way (fig 3).

Description

Head Collar Strain Relief Strap Field of the Invention This invention relates to a device for attaching onto a head collar (a type of harness secured to the heads of horses and other similar livestock, and used to lead them around), which can then be left on the animal whilst it is turned out to graze. In the event of the head collar becoming caught up in an object, in or around the field, such as fencing, posts, tree branches or roots, feed or water troughs, etc., then the device would permit the head collar to safely break free of the animals head, thus reducing any possible danger to the animal that may be caused by it becoming entangled in such objects mentioned. The device would however also have the capability, when so selected, that it would be able to retain the original strength of the head collar, allowing it to withstand the pulling forces of the animal, such as can occur when moving and leading the animal around.

Review of Art Know to ADolicant Within the agricultural livestock, and predominately the equestrian field, horses and similar livestock are lead about by means of a harness attached to the animal's head, usually known as a head collar. These items, by the nature of the size and strength of the animals that they are used to lead around, have to be of a strong construction. They are most usually made from synthetic webbing-type materials, but may also be made of leather and other strong, flexible materials. They usually have metal buckles and fastenings to join the parts together, and to allow for a degree of adjustment, as well as for fitting and removing the head collar onto the animal.

There are times however when it is necessary to turn the animal loose into a field to graze with the head collar still attached, usually in order to catch the animal more easily.

Turning such animals out with head collars fitted can however be dangerous for the animal.

Should the animal get the head collar caught up on an object in or around the field, such as fence posts or fencing, tree branches or roots, water or feed troughs, or even their own feet, etc., the animal will tend to panic, pulling violently to try to free itself.

However, due to the strong construction of these head collars, the head collar will seldom break or pull free of the animal's head. This can therefore result in the animal badly injuring itself, and in the worst cases, dying as a result of such terrible accidents.

Therefore it is with a degree of reluctance that many people turn out animals with head collars attached. However, especially in the case of horses, it may be essential to, in order to help the owner catch the horse more easily.

Simply by making a head collar which broke away easily would not be the answer.

When the animal is being lead to or from a field, there may be occasions when it may pull on the head collar, or shy at objects, causing it to jerk the head collar free from its head.

If the head collar broke away from the animals head too freely, and when not required to do so, it could result in a number of animals breaking free from the person leading them. This could possibly result in more serious accidents occurring, than would simply happen from turning the horse out in a head collar which would not break free freely.

It would also not be convenient for the person leading the horse or animal to change over from one type of head collar to another when the horse reached the field. The likelihood is that the horse would simply gallop off once the first head collar was loosened.

The ideal solution would therefore be to have a head collar which could offer all of the strengths of a standard head collar when leading, yet when turned out to graze, to then offer strain relieving, separation properties, allowing the head collar to break free of the animals head, should a certain degree of pressure be applied, directly or indirectly.

It is believed that attempts have been made in the past to produce such head collars, but not with much degree of success and it is not known of any currently available commercially.

This may be due in fact to the increased production costs that the design would require, making them unpopular with the existing markets. Additionally, a great number of owners of horses and similar livestock have existing head collars, which tend to last for many years, which they would be reluctant to discard, simply in order to purchase a newer, more expensive head collar, even though it was safer.

This device then is not aimed at producing a new design of head collar that would give strength where required, whilst offering strain relieving, separation properties for safety, when required.

The design of this device is intended to be that of a separate item, designed to fit onto an existing standard head collar, whether old or new.

The device would allow the head collar to retain all of the strengths it is designed to have when leading a horse, or similar animal, but by slightly altering its fitting, the device would allow the head collar to pull freely away from the animals head, should it become caught up in such an object, as previously described.

The advantages that this device would offer are that it could be fitted to any existing head collar, no matter how old or new.

Its simple design would make the unit price much more appealing to potential purchasers, allowing them to 'retro-fit' it to their existing head collar, and thus transforming it into a safety head collar.

Summarv of the Invention According to the present invention, in one broad aspect, it provides a device, consisting of a series of straps, constructed from a strong, flexible material.

Onto one of these straps is fitted a buckle, or similar device that will allow for adjustment and retention of the material passing through it. This buckle, or device, will allow it to connect with certain straps on a head collar, or similar head harness device, as used for the movement of horses and similar livestock.

Joined to this strap is part of a fastener, or specific type of material, which is designed as such that it will release the adjoining part of the fastener or material, should a certain degree of strain or pressure be bore upon it, or any other part of the overall assembly onto which it is connected.

A second strap, is connected to the first strap, via the adjoining part of the fastener, or specific type of material, which is designed as such that it will release, should a certain degree of strain or pressure be bore upon it. This second strap will be prepared in such a way as to allow it to mate up with a buckle, or similar device which allows for adjustment and retention of the material passing through it, as might be fitted onto a head collar, or similar device used for the movement of horses and similar livestock.

Brief DescriDtion of Drawings A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not to scale, and for reference purposes only, in which: Figure 1 shows the two separate components which join together to make the strap as it may possibly be constructed, showing their relevant components and preparations.

Figure 2 shows the components of the Head Collar Strain Relief Strap, as it may appear when joined together via the fastener, or specific type of material, which is designed as such that it will release the adjoining part of the fastener or material, should a certain degree of strain or pressure be bore upon it.

Figure 3 shows the Head Collar Strain Relief Strap in section, as it may appear when connected onto a head collar, when set in the position to allow for the movement of the animal, utilising the full strength properties of the head collar.

Figure 4 shows the Head Collar Strain Relief Strap in section, as it may appear when connected onto a head collar, when set in the position to allow for safely turning out the horse, or animal, to graze, so that should undo strain or pressure be applied to the head collar, then it would allow the head collar to break freely away from the animal's head.

Figure 5 shows the Head Collar Strain Relief Strap, as it may appear when connected onto a head collar and fitted onto the head of a horse.

Technical Description The numbers refer to the drawings, which in conjunction with the rest of the text of this specification, it is believed contain sufficient information for the skilled addressee to put the invention into practice.

Referring to Figure 1, The Head Collar Strain Relief Strap consists of two straps, both made from a strong, flexible material 1.

Onto one of theses straps, a buckle or other similar adjustment and retention device 2, which allows it to mate up with a strap from the head collar 6 is secured. Also on the strap is part of a material or fastener 3 of such form that it will release should a certain degree of pressure be bore upon it.

Onto a second strap, the adjoining piece of the material or fastener 4 of such form that it will release should a certain degree of pressure be bore upon it, is attached. The end of this strap 5 is prepared in such a way as to allow it to mate up with a buckle or similar adjustment and retention device 7 as might be fitted to a standard head collar.

Figure 2, shows the two parts of The Head Collar Strain Relief Strap joined together via the material or fastener 3 / 4 of such form that it will release should a certain degree of pressure be bore upon it.

Figure 3, shows The Head Collar Strain Relief Strap in section, as it may appear when connected onto a head collar 8, when set in the position so as to allow movement of the animal, utilising the full strength properties of the head collar.

The head strap 6 from the head collar is connected through the buckle 2 on The Head Collar Strain Relief Strap, securely connecting it to the head collar. The remaining part of this strap 6, and the bottom part of The Strain Relief Strap 5 are then connected together, securely through the side buckle 7 onto the head collar 8.

This results in the head collar being connected up as normal, with The Head Collar Strain Relief Strap simply being joined into the usual head collar connection.

Thus, if the horse should pull back on the head collar whilst being led, all of the strain will be taken directly onto the head strap 6 as normal, bypassing the link of the Head Collar Strain Relief Strap, passing it directly onto buckle 7, fitted on the head collar 8.

Figure 4, shows The Head Collar Strain Relief Strap as it may appear when connected onto a head collar 8, when set in the position so as to allow for safely turning out the horse or animal to graze.

At the point of turning the animal out to graze, The Head Collar Strain Relief Strap is still left connected to the head collar via the buckle 2. The remaining part of the head strap 6 however, is eased completely out of the side buckle 7, leaving the bottom strap 5 of the Head Collar Strain Relief Strap connected to the buckle 7 of the head collar 8, this securing the head collar to the horse's head. The remaining part of the head strap 6 is tucked back into the bottom part of the buckle loop, so as to retain any excess strap, but not securing it firmly into the buckle.

If the horse should now pull or strain on the head collar, such as it would if it became caught up in an object, the strain would be taken directly by the link material or fastener 3 / 4 of such form that it will release should a certain degree of pressure be bore upon it.

This strain pressure would cause the joint to separate and thus cause the head collar to safely pull free of the horse's head, allowing the horse to move safely away.

Figure 5, shows The Head Collar Strain Relief Strap as it may appear when fitted onto a head collar 8, secured to a horse's head 9.

It shows The Head Collar Strain Relief Strap attached to the head strap 6 of the head collar, via the buckle 2 or similar device, attached to The Head Collar Strain Relief Strap.

The end strap 5 of The Head Collar Strain Relief Strap is then connected to the side buckle 7 of the head collar 8 holding the head collar securely onto the horse's head, regardless of which mode the strap is set at.

Claims

1) A Head Collar Strain Relief Strap, consisting of a series of straps, constructed from a strong, flexible material.

Joined to this strap is part of a fastener, or specific type of material, which is designed as such that it will release the adjoining part of the fastener or material, should a certain degree of strain or pressure be bore upon it or any other part of the overall assembly onto which it is connected.

2) A Head Collar Strain Relief Strap as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the strap is connected to the existing head collar via special fittings or connectors, which do not directly link up with any off the existing buckles or adjustment and retention devices connected to the head collar.

3) A Head Collar Strain Relief Strap as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2, wherein the straps are connected to the existing head collar via the adjustment and retention devices connected to the head collar, or by special fittings or connectors.

Joined onto these straps is a material or device which when a certain degree of strain or pressure is bore upon it, allows the material or device to stretch or deform to such a degree as to allow the head collar, or certain straps fitted, to extend sufficiently so that the head collar will enlargen enough to allow the head collar to safely pull freely of the animal's head.

4) A Head Collar Strain Relief Strap as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 and Claim 3, wherein the fastener, or specific type of material, or device, which is designed as such that it will release the adjoining part of the fastener or material or device, or stretch or deform to such a degree as to allow the head collar, or certain straps, to extend sufficient, should a certain degree of strain or pressure be bore upon it, is not joined to any off the straps, but is a separate, independent link, connected via other means.

5) A Head Collar Strain Relief Strap substantially as described herein, with references to figures 1-5 of the accompanying drawings.