WO1996007612A1

WO1996007612A1 - Childseat attach to a saddle-blanket

Info

Publication number: WO1996007612A1
Application number: PCT/SE1995/000996
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bibbi Inga Berit Maria Larson
Original assignee: Bibbi Inga Berit Maria Larson
Priority date: 1994-09-07
Filing date: 1995-09-06
Publication date: 1996-03-14
Also published as: SE9500037D0; SE9500037L; SE503299C2

Abstract

A device intended for use together with a conventional horse saddle (8) to form a child seat in front of and/or behind the saddle. The device comprises a horse-rug (1) of such shape and size that it extends out in front of and/or behind the saddle (8), and a cushion (7) intended for placing on the protruding portion of the horse-rug. The cushion is made of a material which adapts itself to the shape of the horse's back. In addition there are fastening means (4) for fixing of the cushion to the horse-rug.

Description

Childseat attach to a saddle-blanket. The present invention relates to a device intended for use together with a conventional horse saddle to form a child seat in front of/and or behind the saddle.

To give children early familiarity with horse-riding and shared experiences during a ride it is desirable to be able to permit a child to sit with the rider on the back of the horse in an easy and safe manner. To do this bareback or on a loose blanket is very difficult and dangerous, as the child can then easily slide off the horse. Furthermore, the rider must then devote a large portion of his attention to the child. Alternatively, use can be made of combined saddles as described in, for example, patent specification US-A-4 761 715. Such combined saddles are in the first place relatively expensive and in the second place less suitable for solo riding than conventional saddles.

The primary objective of the present invention is to achieve a simple device which can be manufactured at low cost and easily be combined with a conventional horse saddle to form a child seat in front of and/or behind the saddle.

This objective can be attained by means of a device of the kind indicated in the first paragraph which is characterized in that it includes a horse-rug of such shape and size that it extends out in front of and/or behind the saddle, a cushion intended to be placed on the protruding part of the horse-rug, which cushion is made of a material which adapts itself to the shape of the horse back, and fastening means for fixing of the cushion to the horse-rug.

By using such a device a conventional horse saddle of arbitrary design can be temporarily converted into a type of tandem saddle. When the extra cushion is removed the saddle functions in the normal manner.

With a device of this kind the child sits comfortably on the cushion and the risk of the child sliding off the horse is minimized. This is achieved in that the horse- rug is fixed in the ordinary way by the saddle, which is fastened to the horse, and in that the cushion for the child is fixed to the horse-rug.

It is to be preferred that the cushion is attached to the horse-rug in such a position relative to the saddle that the rear or front edge portion respectively of the cushion is bent up so that it forms a protection against the saddle and a support for the child. By this means the cushion will shape itself into a saddle-like shape suitable for the child.

Other distinguishing features of the invention will become apparent from the accompanying Claims.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the embodiment shown as an example on the appended drawing, wherein

Figure 1 shows the shape of a horse-rug made for use in connection with the invention, the said horse-rug being folded double in the Figure so that only one of the two symmetrical halves is shown.

Figure 2 shows the shape of a cushion designed according to the invention.

Figure 3 shows the horse-rug and the cushion according to Figure 1 and Figure 2 respectively together with a horse saddle.

Figure 4 corresponds to Figure 3, but with the equipment complemented with saddle bags.

Shown in Figure 1 is the one half of a horse-rug 1 , which may be sewn of a quilted cotton fabric and ribbon-edged. The horse-rug is fitted with conventional straps 2 and loops 3 for fixing to the saddle. Along the front and rear edges of the horse-rug are press-studs or similar fastening means such as velcro strips, zip fasteners etc. Reference numeral 5 designates eyelets or the like for passing through of strap-formed handles 6, see Figure 3. When in use the shown half of the horse-rug will be positioned on one side of the horse while the opposite, not shown half, will be position on the other side of the horse's back.

Shown in Figure 2 is the seat cushion 7 utilized according to the invention in the flat condition, the said seat cushion having a contour adapted to the horse-rug 1. The cushion may have a core of foam-plastic material adapted to the shape of the horse's back and to the child, with a thickness of a few centimetres. The cushion 7 is suitable covered with suede leather to give good friction against the horse-rug 1 and the child's riding-breeches.

The cushion 7 is fitted along its edges with press-studs 4 or similar fastening means for interaction with the press-studs on the horse-rug 1. The cushion also is fitted with eyelets corresponding to the eyelets of the horse-rug for reception of the handles 6. The handles 6 can appropriately be made in the form of leather straps with buckles.

Shown in Figure 3 is the equipment according to the invention arranged on a saddled horse, without, however, the horse itself being shown in the Figure. The horse-rug 1 is thus placed directly on the horse's back and affords a protection against the saddle 8, the stirrups of which are designated with reference numeral 9. The saddle is secured round the horse in the normal way with the aid of straps (not shown) and a girth 10 which runs through the straps 2 on the horse-rug 1.

In the shown embodiment a cushion 7 according to the invention is placed both in front of and behind the saddle and fixed to the horse-rug 1 with the aid of interaction press-studs 4. Furthermore handles 6 have been mounted in the eyelets intended for this purpose.

The horse-rug 1 extends out in front of respectively behind the saddle 8 so far that when the cushion 7 is fixed to its front respectively its rear edge and the front respectively rear edge of the horse-rug by utilizing the interacting press-studs the other edge of the cushion will be folded up against the saddle and form a protection against this. The saddle will then contribute to formation of a saddle¬ like seat for the child who is to sit on the cushion.

According to the invention the seat-forming cushion will be securely fixed to the horse in consequence of its attachment to the horse-rug 1 , for which reason the rider does not need to fear that the seat and with it the child will slide off the horse and can concentrate his or her attention on the horse. If so desired the cushion 7 can be provided with a stirrup or the like to support the child's feet.

In utilizing the invention one may choose to place the child in front of or behind the rider, depending on the age and experience of the child. Possibly two children can accompany the rider simultaneously. The smaller child, who is appropriately placed in front of the rider then has a handle 6 in front of him or her, while the more experienced child, who is then placed behind the rider, has a handle 6 behind him or her. Alternatively, a child placed behind the saddle can cling to the rider.

Apart from for small children a seat according to the invention can also be used to enable handicapped children of different ages to be taken along on riding trips.

Illustrated in Figure 4 is how an equipment according to the invention can be complemented with saddle-bags, which can be attached to the cushions 7 respectively directly to the horse-rug 1 in the same way as the cushions. The bags will thus be firmly secured and will not swing depending on the movements of the horse. Shown with reference numeral 12 is how straps, for example for securing a sleeping bag and a tent, can be attached to the cushion respectively to the horse-rug.

The present invention thus allows a large measure of flexibility in the choice of different equipment alternatives.

As has become apparent from the above it is possible by utilization of the invention to supplement any ordinary riding-saddle with a child seat in a very simple manner without requiring any intervention with the saddle. Without a child seat the saddle thus functions in the ordinary way. The invention has been described above in connection with a preferred embodiment, which obviously can be altered in respect of various details. One central characteristic of the invention is however that the child seat is primarily to be attached to the horse-rug so as not to require any intervention with the saddle. Obviously, if so should be desired, the saddle can also be fitted with fastening means for interaction with the other edge of the cushion, which however is not normally required.

Claims

WHAT I CLAIM AND DESIRE TO SECURE BY LETTERS PATENT IS

1. A device intended for use together with a conventional horse saddle (8) to form a child seat in front of and/or behind the saddle, cha racteri zed i n that it comprises a horse-rug (1 ) with such a shape and size that it extends out in front of and/or behind the saddle (8), a cushion (7) intended for placing on the protruding portion of the horse-rug, the said cushion being made of a material which adapts itself to the shape of the horse's back and fastening means (4) for fixing of the cushion to the horse-rug.

2. The device as claimed in Claim ^characterized in t h a t the cushion (7) is secured to the horse-rug (1) in such a position relative to the saddle (8) that the rear respectively front edge portion of the cushion is bent up so that it forms a protection against the saddle and a support for the child.

3. The device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, character¬ ized in that the front and rear edges of the cushion (7) have such shapes that they adapt to the front respectively rear edge of the horse-rug (1 ) and in that interacting fastening means (4) are provided along the front respectively rear edges of the cushion and the horse-rug.

4. The device as claimed in any one of Claims 1-3, character¬ ized in thata strap-shaped handle (6) is arranged to be attachable to the front and/or rear edge of the cushion (7).

5. The device is claimed in any one of Claims 1-4, character¬ ized in that the cushion (7) is covered with a material, for example suede leather, which gives large friction against the horse-rug (1) and the rider's breeches.

6. The device as claimed in any one of Claims 1-5, character¬ ized in that the said fastening means (4) comprise interaction male and female parts, such as press-studs, velcro strips, zip fasteners etc.

7. The device as claimed in any one of Claims 1-6,c haracter- ized i n t h a t it also includes saddle-bags (11) with fastening means for interaction with the said fastening means (4) on the horse-rug (1).