Field of the invention

This invention relates to a novel saddle system, and in particular a saddle system for equestrian use which includes a position adjustable handle to allow for riders of different heights, reach and/or ability and to accommodate movement of the horse and/or rider during use.

Background of the invention

In general when riding a horse or other animal it is common to use a saddle suitably secured to the horse on which a rider can sit, providing increased comfort to the rider and to the animal as a result of the improved distribution of rider load across the back of the horse. The saddle will normally incorporate a short transverse loop towards the front of the saddle as a handle for the rider, often referred to as a balance strap, which may be used in place of or in addition to the conventional reigns or neck strap, in particular for novice riders.

This handle or strap is however of limited size and generally lacks any form of adjustment in order to suit the particular preference or size and reach of an individual rider.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a saddle system which addresses the above mentioned problems.

Summary of the invention According to the present invention there is provided a saddle system comprising a harness adapted to be secured to an animal; and a handle mounted to the harness via a coupling which is adapted to permit the handle to rotate relative to the harness.

Preferably, the handle is mounted to the harness by a pair of the couplings located in spaced relationship to one another.

Preferably, the or each coupling is adapted to enable the handle to be displaced relative to the harness in multiple independent degrees of freedom. Preferably, the or each coupling comprises a ball and socket joint. Preferably, the ball is secured to the harness and the socket is provided in the handle.

Preferably, the or each coupling comprises a lock operable to releasably lock rotation of the handle relative to the harness.

Preferably, the lock is operable to lock rotation of the handle relative to the harness in a first degree of freedom but to allow at least limited rotation of the handle relative to the harness about a second degree of freedom.

Preferably, the first and second degrees of freedom are substantially orthogonal to one another.

Preferably, the lock comprises a circumferentially extending array of first teeth on the ball and a selectively meshing set of second teeth in operative association with the socket.

Preferably, the second teeth are reversibly displaceable into and out of engagement with the first teeth.

Preferably, the lock comprises an annular band surrounding the ball and from which the first teeth project, the annular band being fixed relative to the ball about a first diametrically extending axis and rotatable relative to the ball about a second diametrically extending axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

Preferably, the socket comprises an annular channel shaped and dimensioned to house the annular band.

Preferably, the second teeth are spring biased into contact with the first teeth.

Preferably, the lock comprises a latch operable to releasably secure the second teeth in or out of engagement with the first teeth.

Preferably, the handle comprises a pair of opposed legs and a cross member extending between the legs.

Preferably, each of the legs is adjustable in length.

Preferably, each of the legs comprises a telescopic portion.

Preferably, each leg may be fixed at a number of different lengths.

Preferably, the handle comprises at least one articulated joint. Preferably, the articulated joint is located on the cross member.

Preferably, the harness is arranged to extend around the neck and/or chest of an animal.

Preferably, the harness comprises a first strap arranged and dimensioned to be located around the neck of an animal and a second strap arranged and dimensioned to be located around the chest of the animal.

Preferably, the harness comprises a third strap connecting the first strap to the second strap. Preferably, the harness comprises a cinch or a girth.

Preferably, the harness is adapted to allow a saddle to be secured to for formed integrally with the harness.

Preferably, the harness comprises an integral saddle liner.

As used hereinafter, the terms“lateral” and“longitudinal” are intended to described directions of displacement relative to a direction of travel of the horse and rider to which the saddle system of the present invention are fitted.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a saddle system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a front elevation of a saddle system shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 illustrates a side elevation of the saddle system Figure 4 illustrates a plan view of the saddle system

Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of a handle forming part of the saddle system, in isolation from the remainder of the system;

Figure 6 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the lower portion of one leg of the handle illustrated in Figure 5; Figure 7 illustrates a sectioned end elevation of the lower portion of the leg illustrated in Figure 6, with a lock engaged;

Figure 8 illustrates a sectioned side elevation of the lower portion as illustrated in Figure 7, with the lock engaged;

Figure 9 illustrates the sectioned side elevation of Figure 8 but with the lock disengaged; and

Figure 10 illustrates the sectioned side elevation of Figure 9 with a latch engaged to retain the lock in the disengaged position.

Detailed description of the drawings

Referring now to the accompanying drawings there is illustrated a saddle system, generally indicated as (10) which is particularly but not exclusively intended for equestrian use, although the skilled person will of course understand that the saddle system (10) may be adapted for use with any other suitable animal or the like. The saddle system (10) described and shown is a preferred embodiment and it will again be understood by a person skilled in the art that the non-essential features may be varied as required and that the size, shape and/or materials chosen for the individual components may be varied, once the underlying functionality of the essential elements of the invention are maintained.

The saddle system (10) comprises a harness (12) which is adapted, as described in detail hereinafter, to be secured about the neck and/or chest of an animal, in particular a horse (not shown) the saddle system (10) additionally comprising a saddle or saddle liner (14) which may be secured to or formed integrally with the harness (12). The saddle liner (14) will generally define the area on the animal’s back on which a conventional saddle will be located and suitably secured as is well known in the art. Mounted to the harness (12) is an articulable handle (16) whose orientation and dimensions may be adjusted as hereinafter described, in order to allow a rider to customise the dimensions, reach and operation of the handle (16), in addition to damping the transmission of force from the horse to the rider during movement.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated the harness (12) comprises a first strap (18) which extends, in use, around the neck of the horse or other animal, and may be secured by any suitable means such as buckles, clasps, or the like, a second strap (20) which in use extends around the chest of the animal, and again is secured by any suitable means, and preferably a third strap (22) which is arranged to connect the first strap (18) and the second strap (20) in order to provide greater stability to the harness (12) when secured to the animal. The saddle liner (14) extends rearwardly from the harness (12) and in the embodiment illustrated is formed integrally with the harness (12). The handle (16) is comprised of a pair of legs (24) extending between the upper free ends of which is a cross member (26) which in use defines that portion of the handle (16) to which a user will preferably hold onto while riding the horse or other animal. Each of the legs (24) is secured to the harness (12) via a coupling (28) which will be described in greater detail hereinafter. In essence the pair of couplings (28) are operable to allow the position and orientation of the handle (16) to be varied in order to both allow customisation for individual riders, in addition to allowing some movement during use in order to accommodate the horse’s movement while still providing the suitable support to the rider. While a particular design of the coupling (28) is described in detail hereinafter, the essential functionality, which may be achieved in any number of other mechanical configurations, is that the couplings (28) selectively allow the handle (16) to be articulated relative to the harness (12), and in particular to be displaceable in a first degree of freedom and independently in a second degree of freedom.

In the preferred embodiment the first degree of freedom is fore and aft rotation of the handle (16) in order to allow the handle (16) to be drawn closer to the rider or pushed forward away from the rider and thus toward the head of the horse. This fore and aft direction may also be referred to as longitudinal displacement of the handle (16) relative to the direction of normal forward movement of the horse, or rotation of the handle (16) about a first axis XX as shown in Figure 5. The second degree of freedom is side to side displacement of the handle (16), which may also be referred to as lateral displacement of the handle (16), and is represented as rotation of the handle (16) about a second axis YY shown in Figure 5.

It will be understood that displacement in the second degree of freedom is not strictly rotation of the entire handle (16) about the second axis YY, but rather that each of the legs (24) will undergo rotation about the second axis YY defined by the respective coupling (30) and that the cross member (26) may be flexible or otherwise articulated in order to accommodate this rotation of each of the legs (24).

In the preferred embodiment illustrated each coupling (28) comprises a ball (30) which is suitably secured to the harness (12) and a socket (32) in which the ball (30) is captured and which is integrally formed in a lower portion (34) of the respective leg (24). In the embodiment illustrated the ball (30) is spilt into an inner half (36) and an outer half (38) with a pair of threaded bores extending between the halves (36), (38), thereby allowing a pair of bolts (not shown) to be passed from the harness (12) into the ball (30) in order to both secure the ball (30) to the harness (12) and to secure the inner half (36) to the outer half (38). The lower portion (34) of each leg (24) is also preferably formed from two moulded halves which therefore allow the ball (30) to be captured therebetween, before the halves are suitably secured to one another, for example using screws, adhesive, or any other functional alternative. The saddle system (10) further comprises a lock (40) in each leg (24) which comprising a set of first teeth (42) provided on the exterior of an annular band (44) such as to effectively form a ring type gear which in use circumscribes the ball (30). A diametrically extending axle (46) extends across the interior of the annular band (44) and in use is captured within a correspondingly shaped and dimensioned channel (48) formed between the inner and outer halves (36), (38) of the ball (30). In this way the ball (30) and annular band (44) are rotatable relative to one another about a first axis defined by the axle (46) but are fixed relative to one another for rotation about a second axis extending perpendicular to the first axis and which can be defined as an axis of rotation of the annular band (44). As the annular band (44) defining the first teeth (42) sits outwardly of the surface of the ball (30) the socket (32) includes a central annular channel (48) having a diameter larger than the diameter of the spherical portion, and which is shaped and dimensioned to house the annular band (44). The annular channel (48) thus effectively captures and constrains the annular band (44) so that while the ball (30) and socket (32) allow the lower portion (34) to rotate on the ball (30) about multiple degrees of freedom the annular band (44) will be captured within the annular channel (48) and will therefore remain in a fixed position relative to the lower portion (34).

The lock (40) additionally comprises a plunger comprising a set of second teeth (52) which are displaceable into an out of register with the first teeth (42), and in the embodiment illustrated by providing a passage (54) extending from a free end of the lower portion (34) into the annular channel (48) of the socket (32), in which passage (54) the portion of the plunger (50) incorporating the second teeth (52) is located. The plunger (50) additionally comprises an actuator (56) located outside of the passage (54) at the free end of the lower portion (34), and therefore accessible by a user in order to allow the plunger (50) to be manually displaced from the locked position as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 in which the second teeth (52) engage and mesh with the first teeth (42), and an unlocked position as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 in which the second teeth (52) are disengaged from the first teeth (42). While the second teeth (52) are disengaged from the first teeth (42) there is no restriction of the motion between the ball (30) and socket (32) thus allowing the lower portion (34) to rotate unhindered in multiple degrees of freedom, for example fore and aft and side to side.

However when the lock (40) is engaged such that the second teeth (52) are meshed with the first teeth (42), the lower portion (34) is prevented from rotating around the circumference of the ball (30) about which the annular band (44) is located, thereby locking motion about this first degree of freedom, which in the embodiment illustrated corresponds to fore/aft rotation of the handle (16). The handle (16) can however still undergo displacement about the second degree of freedom

corresponding to lateral movement, as the annular ring (44) can still rotate on the axle (46) even when the first and second teeth (42), (52) are meshed.

The lock (40) preferably additionally comprises a latch (58) which is transversely displaceable relative to the plunger (50) and across the passage (54) so as to be selectively locatable behind a shoulder (60) formed on the plunger (50), or a notch (62) formed above the shoulder (60), thereby allowing the plunger (50) to be locked in either the engaged or disengaged positions. The latch (58) is also externally accessible at a side wall of the lower portion (34) adjacent to the lower end thereof. It will of course be appreciated that any other suitable functional alternative for the plunger (50) and latch (58) may be employed.

Each leg (24) further comprises an upper portion (64) which in the embodiment illustrated is telescopically received within the lower portion (34) and is slidable in and out of the lower portion 34 in order to allow the overall length of each of the legs (24) to be adjusted. A clamp (66) is provided at the upper end of the lower portion (34) and is operable to lock the upper and lower portions (64) (34) relative to one another, thereby providing reach adjustment to the handle (16). The handle (16) may additionally comprise an articulated joint such as a hinge (68) in the cross member (26), in order to provide some flexibility which allows the handle (16) to move and flex as the rider and horse move together. The various parts of the handle (16) may also be formed from a resiliently deformable material such as a suitable polymer or the like in order to further improve this range of movement while still providing suitable support as a handle (16).

Turning then to the operation of the saddle system (10), the harness (12) is initially fitted to the animal and suitably secured, for example via the straps (18), (20), (22), or by any other suitable means. A saddle (not shown) is then preferably fitted over the saddle liner (14) and secured to the animal. A rider may however choose not to use a saddle (not shown) and to sit directly on the liner, which allows the rider to feel the full movement of the horse, which may be beneficial for therapeutic purposes. At this point the rider may mount the animal, sitting on the saddle (not shown) if fitted before adjusting the position of the handle (16) to suit the rider’s size and/or riding preferences. To make adjustments to the reach of the handle (16) the pair of clamps (66) are opened and the overall length of the legs (24) adjusted to suit the rider. The clamps (66) are then closed in order to fix the reach of the handle (16).

In order to adjust the fore/aft motion or position of the handle (16) the lock (40) on each of the legs (24) is disengaged by releasing each latch (58) and drawing each plunger (50) downwardly away from the free end of the lower portion (34) of the respective leg (24). This acts to draw the second teeth (52) out of register with the first teeth (42). With the first and second teeth (42), (52) disengaged from one another, and the ball (30) fixed to the harness (12), the respective leg (24) can rotate on the ball (30) in multiple degrees of freedom, thereby allowing the entire handle (16) to be rotated towards or away from the rider until a desired position is established, at which point the rider may elect to engage the locks (40) in order to fix the handle (16) from undergoing any further forward or rearward rotation about axis XX. The rider may however elect to leave the locks (40) disengaged in order to allow the handle (16) to float freely during use.

Regardless of whether the locks (40) are engaged or disengaged the arrangement of the ball (30) and socket (32) allow each of the legs (24) to rotate about the second axis YY in order to effectively allow lateral displacement of the handle (16), during which rotation the annular band (44), which may or may not be locked for rotation by the second teeth (52) is nevertheless able to rotate on the fixed ball (30) about the axis defined by the axle (46), in order to permit the above mentioned rotation about the second axis YY to facilitate the lateral displacement of the handle (16). The lateral movement both facilitates putting on and off the saddle (not shown), in addition to avoiding restriction of the horse’s movement while walking. The optional hinge (68) in the cross member (26) additionally facilitates this flexibility to accommodate the horse’s movement while still retaining a support structure for the rider, and can therefore be considered to act as a damper between the horse and rider in order to reduce the transfer of jarring motion from the horse to the rider.

The saddle system (10) of the present invention thus provides a relatively simple means of allowing the handle (16) to be both adjustable in position and optionally free to move in multiple degrees of freedom during use such as to provide some isolation to the rider from the movement of the horse.