Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of equid bits.

Background of the invention

A bit is a type of equid tack, used in equestrian activities, which assists a rider in communicating with the animal. A bit, usually made of metal or a synthetic material, is placed in the mouth of the equid and rests on the bars of the mouth in the interdental region where there are no teeth. It is important that the rider uses the right bit size. A bit that is too large will move from side to side causing cuts, sores or damage to the lips and inside of the mouth. Furthermore, a too large bit is not working correctly in the equid’s mouth and is not helping the rider to transmit clear aids. A bit that is too small will be pinching or squeezing the equid’s face and can again cause discomfort and damage.

Therefore, different sizes/widths of bits are available, but none of them are size adjustable.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution that can enable the equid rider to adjust the bit for use with different horses or for finetuning the with for an individual equid.

A first aspect relates to an equid bit comprising:

- a mouthpiece configured to be inserted into an equid's mouth, and comprising a centre portion and two side portions; and

- a pair of rein fastening means connected to the mouthpiece;

wherein each rein fastening means is releasable attached to each side portion; wherein a) each rein fastening means is configured to be attached to different positions along the length of a side portion, or b) each side portion is configured to be attached to different positions along the length of a rein fastening means. In the present context, the term“equid” as used herein refers to any animal of the family Equidae. Preferably, the equid is a horse. The present invention allows the user to adjust the bit width by releasably fastening each rein fastening in the right position along the length of a side portion. In an alternative configuration, each side portion is configured to be attached to different positions along the length of a rein fastening means, thereby allowing the user to adjust the bit width by releasably fastening each side portion in the right position along the length of the rein fastening means.

In one or more embodiments, each rein fastening means is configured to be attached to different positions along the length of a side portion; wherein each rein fastening means comprises a cavity adapted for receiving the free end of a side portion, and wherein the wall defining said cavity comprises a threaded screw hole extending therethrough; wherein each side portion comprises an elongated guide recess or a row of round recesses distributed along the length of the side portion; wherein a threaded screw is positioned within each threaded screw hole. Thereby, the threaded screw can engage within the elongated guide recess thereby locking the rein fastening means in the wanted position along the length of the side portion.

In one or more embodiments, the rein fastening means comprises a ring and a link; wherein the link comprises the cavity adapted for receiving the free end of a side portion. Preferably, the link, when attached to the free end of a side portion, forms part of the mouthpiece.

In one or more embodiments, each rein fastening means is configured to be attached to different positions along the length of a side portion; wherein each rein fastening means comprises a cavity adapted for receiving the free end of a side portion, and wherein the wall defining said cavity comprises a threaded screw hole extending therethrough; wherein each side portion comprises an elongated guide recess; wherein a threaded screw is positioned within each threaded screw hole. Thereby, the threaded screw can engage within the elongated guide recess thereby locking the rein fastening means in the wanted position along the length of the side portion.

In one or more embodiments, the bottom wall of the elongated guide recess inclines or declines towards the centre portion of the mouthpiece. This configuration prevents the rein fastening means from moving away from the centre portion in case that the threaded screw has loosened its grip within the elongated guide recess. In other words, even if the threaded screw has loosened a little, the mouthpiece will not widen considerably, thereby preventing discomfort for the horse.

In one or more embodiments, the rein fastening means comprises a ring and a link; wherein each side portion is configured to be attached to different positions along the length of the link; wherein each side portion comprises a cavity adapted for receiving a free end of the link, and wherein the wall defining said cavity comprises a threaded screw hole extending therethrough; wherein the link comprises an elongated guide recess or a row of round recesses distributed along the length of the side portion; wherein a threaded screw is positioned within each threaded screw hole. Preferably, the link, when attached within the cavity of a side portion, forms part of the mouthpiece.

In one or more embodiments, the rein fastening means comprises a ring and a link; wherein each side portion is configured to be attached to different positions along the length of the link; wherein each side portion comprises a cavity adapted for receiving a free end of the link, and wherein the wall defining said cavity comprises a threaded screw hole extending therethrough; wherein the link comprises an elongated guide recess; wherein a threaded screw is positioned within each threaded screw hole. Preferably, the link, when attached within the cavity of a side portion, forms part of the mouthpiece.

In one or more embodiments, the bottom wall of the elongated guide recess inclines or declines away from the centre portion of the mouthpiece. Even if the threaded screw has loosened a little, the mouthpiece will not widen considerably, thereby preventing discomfort for the horse.

In one or more embodiments, the elongated guide recess has closed ends. This configuration prevents the rein fastening means and the side portion from

disengaging without the threaded screw being completely loosened. Many types of centre portions are known within the art. The configuration of the present invention allows the user to exchange between mouthpieces with different types of centre portions.

In one or more embodiments, the centre portion and the two side portions are pivotably linked. The link may be a chain link, and wherein each of the centre portion, and the two side portions comprises at least one ring.

In one or more embodiments, the centre portion comprises a chain link.

To avoid that the different links and connections causes discomfort to the horse, they may be covered by a protective cover.

In one or more embodiments, the equid bit further comprises a protective cover adapted for covering the connection between a side portion and the centre portion.

In one or more embodiments, the equid bit further comprises a protective cover adapted for covering any links within the centre portion.

The protective cover is preferably made from an elastic material such as natural rubber, elastomer, latex, foam, or any kind of medical rubber, such as silicone.

In one or more embodiments, a side portion and the centre portion are angled relative to one another. Preferably the inner angle is within the range of 5-30 degrees, such as within the range of 10-25 degrees, e.g. within the range of 15-12 degrees.

A second aspect relates to an equid bit comprising:

- a mouthpiece configured to be inserted into an equid's mouth, and comprising a centre portion and two side portions; and

- a pair of rein fastening means connected to the mouthpiece;

wherein each rein fastening means is releasable attached to each side portion; wherein

a) each rein fastening means is configured to be attached to different positions along the length of a side portion, and wherein each rein fastening means comprises a cavity adapted for receiving the free end of a side portion, and wherein the wall defining said cavity comprises a threaded screw hole extending therethrough;

wherein each side portion comprises an elongated guide recess; wherein a threaded screw is positioned within each threaded screw hole; or

b) each side portion is configured to be attached to different positions along the length of a rein fastening means, and wherein each side portion comprises a cavity adapted for receiving the free end of a rein fastening means, and wherein the wall defining said cavity comprises a threaded screw hole extending therethrough;

wherein each rein fastening means comprises an elongated guide recess; wherein a threaded screw is positioned within each threaded screw hole.

In one or more embodiments, each rein fastening means is configured to be attached to different positions along the length of a side portion, and wherein each rein fastening means comprises a cavity adapted for receiving the free end of a side portion, and wherein the wall defining said cavity comprises a threaded screw hole extending therethrough; wherein each side portion comprises an elongated guide recess; wherein a threaded screw is positioned within each threaded screw hole.

In one or more embodiments, the bottom wall of the elongated guide recess inclines or declines towards the centre portion of the mouthpiece.

In one or more embodiments, each side portion comprises two elongated guide recesses; wherein the wall defining the cavity in each rein fastening means comprises two threaded screw holes extending therethrough and wherein a threaded screw is to be positioned within each threaded screw hole to anchor into a respective elongated guide recess.

In one or more embodiments, the rein fastening means comprises a ring and a link; wherein the link comprises the cavity adapted for receiving the free end of a side portion, and wherein the link, when attached to the free end of a side portion, forms part of the mouthpiece. In one or more embodiments, each side portion is configured to be attached to different positions along the length of a rein fastening means, and wherein each side portion comprises a cavity adapted for receiving the free end of a rein fastening means, and wherein the wall defining said cavity comprises a threaded screw hole extending therethrough; wherein each rein fastening means comprises an elongated guide recess; wherein a threaded screw is positioned within each threaded screw hole.

In one or more embodiments, the bottom wall of the

elongated guide recess inclines or preferably declines towards the sides of the mouthpiece.

In one or more embodiments, each rein fastening means comprises two elongated guide recesses; wherein the wall defining the cavity in each side portion comprises two threaded screw holes extending therethrough and wherein a threaded screw is to be positioned within each threaded screw hole to anchor into a respective elongated guide recess.

In one or more embodiments, the elongated guide recess has closed ends.

As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" or "approximately" one particular value and/or to "about" or "approximately" another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent "about", it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.

It should be noted that embodiments and features described in the context of one of the aspects of the present invention also apply to the other aspects of the invention. Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an equid bit in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an equid bit in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

Figure 3 shows a top view of a mouthpiece in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

Figure 4 shows a bottom view of a mouthpiece in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a mouthpiece in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

Figure 6 shows a pair of rein fastening means in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; Figure 7 shows a closeup view of a rein fastening means in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

Figure 8 shows two views, A and B, of a protective cover in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a mouthpiece in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of an equid bit in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; and

Figure 1 1 shows a cross-sectional view A-A of Figure 10. Detailed description of the invention

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an equid bit in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. The equid bit 100 is shown in its narrowest possible version, i.e. for an equid with a relatively small mouth. The equid bit 100 comprises a mouthpiece 200 configured to be inserted into the equid's mouth. The mouthpiece 200 comprises a centre portion 210 and two side portions. The two side portions are difficult to see in this configuration and are easier seen in Figure 2. In Figure 2, the equid bit 100 is shown in a relatively broad configuration, i.e. for an equid with a relatively broad mouth, where the side portions 220, 230 are seen.

The equid bit 100 also comprises a pair of rein fastening means 310, 320 (Figure 1 ) connected to the mouthpiece 200. The rein fastening means are releasable attached to each side portion and are shown comprising a link 314, 324, and a ring 316, 326 (Figure 2). Each link 314, 324 is configured to be attached to different positions along the length of a side portion 220, 230. Each link 314, 324 comprises a cavity 31 1 , 321 (Figures 6 and 7) adapted for receiving the free end 221 , 231 (Figure 3) of a side portion 220, 230, and the wall defining said cavity 31 1 , 321 comprises a threaded screw hole 312, 322 extending therethrough. In Figure 7, it is seen that the cavity 31 1 comprises two threaded screw holes 312, 313.

Figures 3 and 4 shows a top and bottom view, respectively, of a mouthpiece in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. Each side portion 220, 230 comprises two elongated guide recesses 222A/B, 232A/B. A threaded screw (shown as 317, 318 in Figure 1 1 ) is to be positioned within each threaded screw hole to anchor into an elongated guide recess. This configuration provides for double security, such that the risk of the link and the side portion accidentally disengaging is minimized.

Each link 314, 324, when attached to the free end of a side portion 220, 230, forms part of the mouthpiece as it partly covers the side portion 220, 230. The centre portion 210 comprises a chain link. Furthermore, each side portion and the centre portion are angled relative to one another. A different centre portion is shown in Figure 9, where a single link in its middle is shown with two holes. To avoid that the different links and connections causes discomfort to the equid, they may be covered by a protective cover 212 (Figure 5). Also, the link between the centre portion and each side portion may be covered by a protective cover 400 as shown in Figure 8. Figure 10 shows a perspective view of an equid bit in accordance with various embodiments of the invention, and Figure 1 1 shows the cross-sectional view A-A of Figure 10. Here, it is possible to see that the bottom wall of the

elongated guide recess 222 declines towards the centre portion 210 of the mouthpiece 200.

References

100 Equid bit

200 Mouthpiece

210 Centre portion

212 Protective cover

220 Side portion

221 Free end

222 Elongated guide recess

230 Side portion

231 Free end

232 Elongated guide recess

310 Rein fastening means

31 1 Cavity

312 Screw hole

313 Screw hole

314 Link

316 Ring

317 Screw

318 Screw

320 Rein fastening means

321 Cavity

322 Screw hole

324 Link

326 Ring

400 Protective cover