AU2007203443B1 - Pressure-Relieving Girth - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Applicant: Pressure-Relieving Girth Greg Grant Australia Pty Ltd The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it, known to us: TECHNICAL FIELD The invention described herein relates generally to straps or similar devices used for fitting and securing objects to an animal's body and includes devices for supporting parts of an animal's body. In particular, the invention is directed to an improved saddle girth for securing a saddle about the chest or lung region of an animal, such as a horse.

BACKGROUND ART Saddle girths for horses are used with all styles of saddles. Girths are typically made of O leather and extend around and beneath the chest of the horse. Such a girth usually has two or

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(Ni three buckles at each end for attachment to a corresponding billet or saddle strap on each side of the saddle. The buckles and/or saddle straps should provide a mechanism to adjust the girth in order to secure the saddle on the back of the horse. Generally, this is accomplished by pulling the saddle strap through the buckle until taut and then holding the saddle strap at that position by inserting the tongue of the buckle through the punch holes of the saddle strap.

Girths typically allow considerable movement of the saddle laterally and longitudinally on the horse when performing rapid action events such as jumping, dressage or polo. For example, in a polo game, the rider will place more weight on the stirrup on the side of the horse where the ball is to be hit, tending to cause the saddle to laterally rotate several degrees to that side. Saddles also shift along the longitudinal axis of the horse during equestrian events like jumping. This saddle movement is dangerous and disconcerting to the rider and can also cause sores and chafing on the horse's withers, shoulder blades, and/or back. Further, the girth's repeated side-to-side and/or front-to-back movement can irritate the horse's ribcage and/or skin along the chest and sides of the horse.

A primary factor in saddle movement and the associated problems caused thereby is the traditional design of girths. Many popular horses do not have a flat chest but rather have a barrel or rounded chest, such as Arabian and Quarter horses. A barrel chest is broad at the midsection to form the apex of the chest and narrows considerably toward the front and the rear of the horse. Traditionally, girths are straight and wrapped across the apex of the horse's chest directly beneath the point at which the girth is attached to the saddle. However, the tapering of the chest away from the apex permits the girth to slide forward and backward along the horse's chest which allows the saddle to slip back and forth longitudinally along the spine of the horse.

The secure fitting of an object to an animal's body is routinely accomplished in a number of ways. For example, dedicated clothing or fastening straps in many shapes and forms are well known and used. Hlowever, when an object is to be secured at or near the chest region of an animal the normal movement of this region by the action of breathing results in significant and rhythmic alteration of the chest girth of an animal. Generally allowance is made for such e movement by the use of elastic straps, or straps with elastic attachments at the ends. H-owever, when maximum security is required for fitting, the straps used are often over-tightened in an effort to ensure security. Such over-tightening can potentially impede the breathing or muscle action of the animal around the chest region or thoracic limbs and introduce discomfort. In the 0 case of a race horse, such impediments can greatly reduce the racing performance of the animal.

Cl It is an aim of the invention to provide a girth which overcomes or ameliorates one or more of the disadvantages or problems described above, or which at least provides the consumer with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a saddle girth comprising: a resilient girth band comprising a broadened central portion which in situ spans the sagital plane of an animal to which the saddle girth is fitted, the girth band further comprising an inelastic strip attached to a face of the band adjacent each edge thereof and thereby forming a space between said strips over essentially the entire length of said girth band; .0 an elastic strap fixed to each end of each inelastic strip; and a connector at the free end of each elastic strap for connecting the girth to a saddle.

With regard to the embodiment of the invention defined above, the resilient girth band can be fabricated from any suitable natural or synthetic material provided that the material is extensible. A preferred material is a synthetic material such as vinyl.

In a preferred embodiment, the girth band comprises two layers of material and a layer of padding between the layers of material. The padding can be any material which increases the comfort of the girth band on the animal, while allowing the broadened central portion to expand with movement of the chest of the animal. preferably, the girth band comprises two layers of vinyl joined at the edges, and a layer of sponge padding between the vinyl layers.

3a Girth bands can be provided in different lengths to allow use of the girth by a broad range of animals in terms of chest measurement. Generally, the girth band is from 40 cm to 150 cm in length.

[Text continues on page 4.1 The inelastic strip attached to the face of the band can be fabricated from any inelastic material, but is preferably fabricated from a woven synthetic material. Most preferred is the use of nylon or a polyester in the manufacture of the inelastic strip. The inelastic strip can adopt any configuration on the face of the band which ensures that the strip surrounds the broadened central portion on the face of the band. Preferably, two adjacent inelastic strips are attached to an end of the band; each strip is attached along a first length of the band; crossed over the adjacent strip at a position before attachment adjacent the edge of the broadened portion of the band; and crossed over the adjacent strip once again on the opposite side of the broadened portion; and attached along a second length of the band to the opposite end of the band.

The resilient girth band can optionally have fitted thereto a ring for attaching a martingale by way of a clasp on the latter. To ensure the secure fitment of the ring to the band, the ring is advantageously within a looped end of a strap transversely fixed across the broadened central portion of the band. The transverse strap typically spans the inelastic strips at the edges of the band and is fixed to those strips as well as to the band per se. The transverse strap typically comprises the same inelastic material as the strips at the edges of the band.

In addition or as an alternative to the martingale attachment means described in the preceding paragraph, the girth band can have fixed thereto a short strap which can be formed into a loop by way of a connector such as a buckle. This short strap is longitudinally disposed with respect to the girth band and is attached thereto at the centre of the broadened portion of the band. Like the transverse strap, the short longitudinal strap typically comprises the same inelastic material as the strips at the edges of the band.

The transverse strap and the short longitudinal strap will be described in greater detail below.

The elastic straps attached to the ends of the inelastic strips can be manufactured from any suitable elastic material, and can be attached to the band by any practicable means, but are preferably attached by means of stitching.

The elastic strap can be fixed to the end of the inelastic strip by any practicable means, but is preferably stitched to the strip such that the strap is also attached to the girth band. The elastic strap can be attached to the strip such that the elastic strap (and attached connector) extend beyond the end of the girth band. Alternatively, the elastic strap can be attached to the strip such that the elastic strap (and attached connector) do not extend beyond the band. The

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Sformer configuration is preferred when the saddle is for general horse-riding, and the latter when the saddle is for dressage.

The connector can be any suitable buckle or clasp. The connector is advantageously a N buckle of the sort generally used for connecting a girth to a saddle.

M 5 In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practice, one or more preferred embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with Oreference to the accompanying drawings.

OBRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a top view of an embodiment of the saddle girth of the invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of a further embodiment of the saddle girth of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring firstly to Figure 1, a saddle girth 1 of the invention comprises a resilient girth band 2 with a broadened central portion 3. Girth I further comprises an inelastic strip, 4 and attached to a face of the band adjacent each edge thereof, commencing at an end 6 of the strip, then attached along a first length 7 of the band, crossing over the adjacent strip at a position 8 where the band broadens before being attached adjacent the edge of the broadened portion 3 of the band, to cross over the adjacent strip once again at a position 9 on the opposite side of the broadened portion. The strip is then attached along a second length 10 of the band up to end 11 of the strip.

An elastic strap, 12 to 15, is fixed to each end of each inelastic strip, with a buckle, 16 to 19, respectively, at the free end of each elastic strap for connecting the girth to a saddle.

The buckles 16 to 19 in this embodiment of the invention are positioned within the length of girth band 2. This configuration of saddle girth I is mainly used for dressage.

A strap 20 is transversally attached across the broadened central portion 3 of girth band 2 between the two inelastic strips 4 and 5. A receiving ring 21 is within a loop 22 at an end of the transverse strap 20. This ring is used for attachment of a martingale (not shown in the drawing).

In addition, a further strap 23 is attached to transverse strap 20 and broadened central portion 3 of girth band 2. Strap 23 can be formed into a loop by virtue of a buckle at a free end thereof into which the opposite free end is inserted. Strap 23 when looped is used for fitting a martingale (not shown in the drawing) to the saddle girth.

A variant of the Figure 1 saddle girth is depicted in Figure 2. The saddle girth 24 of Figure 2 comprises: a resilient girth band 25 with a broadened central portion 26; inelastic strips 27 and 28 attached to a face of band 25 adjacent each edge thereof; elastic straps 29 to 32 fixed at each end of inelastic strips 27 and 28 with a buckle, 33 to 36, respectively, at the free end of each elastic strap for connecting the girth to a saddle. Saddle girth 24 also includes a N transverse strap 37 with receiving ring 38, and a longitudinal strap 39 which can be formed into a loop by way of buckle 40 at an end thereof. As with straps of Figure 1, ring 38 and strap 39 (when looped) are used for attaching a martingale (not shown in the drawing) to saddle girth 24.

It can be appreciated from Figure 2 that elastic straps 29 to 32 and buckles 33 to 36 extend beyond the ends 41 and 42 of band 25. This configuration of the saddle girth is mainly used for general horse-riding.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the girth is placed under an animal on which a saddle is balanced. The face of the girth not shown in the figures spans the sagital plane of the animal, such that the opposite face of padded central portion 3 (Figure 1) or 43 (Figure 2) contacts and covers the chest region of the animal which moves during breathing. The opposite faces of the remaining portions of the girth band contact the sides of the animal in the conventional manner, and the buckles-16 to 19 of Figure 1 or 33 to 36 of Figure 2-are connected to the saddle, also !0 in the conventional manner.

The configuration of the inelastic strips 4, 5, 27 and 28 around a central portion 3 and 26 of the saddle girth of the invention results in a girth which can safely be tightened on an animal without risk of damage to the chest of the animal, or impedance of breathing of the animal. The resilient central portion 3 and 26 allows movement of the chest of the animal as the animal breathes, while the inelastic strips 4, 5, 27 and 28 secure the girth to the saddle and to the animal, preventing movement of the saddle on the animal.

In addition, the padding in the central portion 3 and 26 of the band ensures comfort for the animal to which the girth is applied.

The foregoing embodiments are illustrative only of the principles of the invention, and various modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention is capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways and in other embodiments. It is also 7 to be understood that the terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The term "comprise" and variants of the term such as "comprises" or "comprising" are S used herein to denote the inclusion of a stated integer or stated integers but not to exclude any other integer or any other integers, unless in the context or usage an exclusive interpretation of the term is required.

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Claims (10)

1. A saddle girth comprising: a resilient girth band comprising a broadened central portion which in situ spans the sagital plane of an animal to which the saddle girth is fitted, the girth band further comprising an inelastic strip attached to a face of the band adjacent each edge thereof and thereby forming a space between said strips over essentially the entire length of said girth band; an elastic strap fixed to each end of each inelastic strip; and a connector at the free end of each elastic strap for connecting the girth to a saddle.

2. The saddle girth of claim 1, wherein the band is padded.

3. The saddle girth of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the band is manufactured from PVC foam sandwiched between sheets of a synthetic material.

4. The saddle girth of claim 3, wherein the synthetic material is synthetic leather.

The saddle girth of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inelastic strip is a woven material manufactured from nylon or a polyester.

6. The saddle girth of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an inelastic strip crosses the other inelastic strip at the junction of the broadened central portion and narrower portion of the girth band.

7. The saddle girth of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a strap across the broadened central portion of the band, wherein the strap has associated therewith a ring for attaching a martingale.

8. 'The saddle girth of any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a strap fixed to the center of the broadened central portion of the band, wherein the strap can be formed into a loop for attaching a martingale..

9. The saddle girth of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the connector is a buckle.

10. A saddle girth substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2. Date: 7 September 2007