FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is a waterproof blanket for horses or other members of the equine family.

PRIOR ART

It is well known to use blankets for horses or other equines to cover these animals to keep them warm and dry in bad weather, cold and/or rain.

Many earlier documents describe horse blankets. Examples include the following.

Document WO 2018/187772 illustrates a horse blanket that includes a first element forming a blanket to protect the horse from cold and wet weather. When necessary, in colder weather, the animal's protection can be increased by inserting one of several possible insulators in a space provided between the layers of the blanket. The outer layer of the blanket is waterproof and weatherproof, while the inner layer that rests on the horse has a comfortable surface for the horse. The outer layer has one and preferably two elongated access openings, positioned on the left and right sides of the horse, for inserting, removing or changing the insulating inserts.

Document US 6,009,693 illustrates a waterproof horse blanket that includes a portion of mesh material for ventilation of the horse's back. The mesh material is protected by a waterproof top cover that protects it and prevents water from wetting the horse while allowing breathing through the mesh openings. The front edge of the top cover is attached to the blanket by means of a continuous seam along a front hem that encloses a plastic tube sufficiently thick to provide a raised structure to slightly raise the front edge of the cover in relation to the blanket and mesh material. The top cover is also stitched to the deck at specific points around its sides and back edge, so that relatively long segments of the side and back perimeter are not attached to the deck. Thus, a flow of air produced by the wind or movement of the horse is able to flow between the top cover and the mesh material, thus producing ventilation.

Document US 2013/263561 Al illustrates a blanket for animals comprising a main panel, a bottom panel and a set of fasteners. The main panel extends over the back of an animal, for example a horse. The lower panel extends over the belly of the animal. The first set of fasteners connects the main body panel and the lower panel.

The main body panel may include a neck portion, while the lower panel may include a belly panel and a chest panel.

A first side of the bottom panel is connected to the main body panel via a series of fasteners. A second side of the bottom panel is also connected to the main body panel via a series of fasteners. Or, the second side of the bottom panel is connected to the main body panel by a seam

Document US 340 332 A illustrates a protective blanket A covering an animal with a portion of the neck, side parts and a belt on the belly of the animal.

In case of a sheep, the blanket may have holes or openings for attaching the animal's wool.

One aim of the present invention is to realize a waterproof blanket for equines that has improved capabilities to handle rain and other negative effects of bad weather, and at the same time is easy to apply and comfortable for the animal.

A further purpose of the present invention is to achieve the above results in a simple and cost-effective manner.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention achieves the above-described purposes by means of a waterproof blanket for equines comprising a upper blanket layer intended to come into contact with the equine’s back and a lower blanket layer intended to be closed on the equine’s belly, where the lower blanket layer is connected to said upper blanket layer, wherein free flaps are attached to said upper blanket layer, which extend from the forelegs to the hindlegs of the equine and which can be moved away from said lower blanket layer, wherein each of said free flaps forms a band which follows of the sides of the blanket and which acts as a drip surface, characterized by the fact that in each of the bands having the function of a drip surface, a spacer shim is inserted inside the free flaps, configured to keep the upper blanket layer detached from the lower blanket layer at all times to prevent the function of the drip surface from failing. Among the advantages of this solution is the fact that the waterproof horse blanket has, in the area above the lower blanket layer folded under the belly, free flaps, which allow water to fall on the ground without wetting the rest of the blanket and the horse.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the lower blanket layer has front portions to at least partially cover the front limbs of the equine and rear portions to at least partially cover the hindlegs of the equine.

In addition, the upper blanket layer has a back portion to cover the equine's tail.

According to one aspect of the invention, the lower blanket layer is intended to be closed on the belly of the equine by the use of buckle- adjustable fastening straps.

Further features of the invention can be deduced from the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent in the light of the detailed description that follows with the help of the accompanying drawings:

- Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a horse wearing the equine waterproof blanket according to an embodiment of the present invention;

- figure 2 illustrates a rear view of a horse wearing the equine waterproof blanket of figure 1 ; and

- Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a detail of the equine waterproof blanket in figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME FORMS OF EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The invention will now be described with initial reference to Figure 1, which illustrates a side view of a horse C wearing the equine waterproof blanket, according to an embodiment of the present invention, globally referred to by the numerical reference 10.

The equine waterproof blanket 10 of the invention has an upper blanket layer 12 intended to contact the back of the equine and a lower blanket layer 19 intended to be closed over the belly of the equine by the use of laces 22.

In the waterproof equine blanket 10 of the invention, free flaps 20,20' are attached to the upper blanket layer 20 which develop from the forelimbs A to the hindlegs P of equine C and which can be moved away from the lower blanket layer 19 (Figure 2).

The 20,20' free flaps form a band on both sides of blanket 10 and act as a drip surface.

It should also be noted that a spacer shim 200 configured to keep layer 12 of the upper blanket detached from layer 19 of the lower blanket at all times in each of the free flaps 20,20' to prevent the function of drip surface 20 from failing (Figure 3).

The free flaps 20,20' are joined to the upper blanket layer 20 by respective seams 21,21'.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the free flaps 20,20' have a width of between 1 and 30 cm.

As mentioned above, the free flaps allow water to fall to the ground without wetting the rest of the blanket and the horse C.

Added to this is the fact that the upper blanket layer 12 has a posterior portion 17 to cover the equine tail C.

As can also be seen in Figure 2, which illustrates a rear view of a horse wearing the equine waterproof blanket 10, where it can be seen that the lower blanket layer 19 is intended to be closed over the equine's belly C by the use of fastening laces 22 that can be adjusted by means of fastening buckles 24.

Thus, an important aspect of the invention lies in the fact that between the upper blanket layer 12 and the lower blanket layer 19 the upper part 12 and the lower part 19 on both sides and along its entire length, the blanket is provided with a band which acts as a real drip surface, thus preventing water from flowing into the lower part 19 of the blanket, for example under the belly and along the equine's limbs.

Of course, modifications or improvements may be made to the invention as described without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed below.