Comfort bridge for an english saddle

Abstract

A comfort bridge for use with an English saddle. The bridge is formed of sole bend leather of a particular size, shape, and thickness positioned between a tree point and the back of the saddle tree. The bridge is placed on each side of the saddle and either placed within a panel or attached thereto. The bridge increases the structural support area by carrying the rider's weight over a larger area under the rider's leg. Each bridge is tapered around the edges to provide a smooth connection to the saddle panel, and provide for the comfort of the rider by avoiding the large material stuffing mass that has been traditionally used in the saddle panels of early designs.

Claims

1. An improvement for an English horse saddle having first and second panels extending along each side of a saddle seat, said improvement comprising: a first bridge formed from sole bend leather for insertion in said first panel, said first bridge having a length extending from a front edge of a horse saddle tree point to a back portion of the saddle under a tree rail located beneath said saddle seat; first material stuffing inserted in said first panel positioned alongside said first bridge forming a wedge shape; a second bridge formed from sole bend leather for insertion in said second panel, said second bridge having a length extending from a front edge of the horse saddle tree point to a back portion of the saddle under the tree rail beneath said saddle seat; second material stuffing inserted in said second panel positioned alongside said second bridge forming a wedge shape; wherein said first and second bridges with material stuffing are constructed and arranged to distribute the weight of a rider seated on said saddle across a length of each said bridge.

2. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said first and second bridge are constructed and arranged to conform to the torso of a horse.

3. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said sole bend leather has a thickness of about 6-8 mm.

4. The improvement according to claim 3 wherein said first and second bridge conform to the torso of an individual horse when the sole bend leather is subjected to heat and moisture allowing the sole bend leather to harden to the shape of the horse.

5. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said first bridge is a mirror image of said second bridge.

6. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein each said bridge includes a beveled edge to provide a smooth connection to the saddle under the rider's leg.

7. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein each said bridge has a length of about 300 mm.

8. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein each said bridge is attached to each said panel by lacing, stitching, glue or hook and loop attachment.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a saddle tree;

(2) FIG. 2 is a cut-away perspective view of FIG. 1 illustrating the bridge within a pocket;

(3) FIG. 3 is a cut-away perspective view of FIG. 1 illustrating the bridge with the tree point and tree rail over the bridge;

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross sectional top view illustrating the bridge placement;

(5) FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side view illustrating the bridge placement;

(6) FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating the pocket;

(7) FIG. 7 is a cross sectional end view depicting conventional panel shape with padding; and

(8) FIG. 8 is a cross sectional end view depicting panel shape with padding for the bridges of the instant invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(9) Detailed embodiments of the instant invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional and structural details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representation basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

(10) Referring now to the Figures, set forth is an English saddle tree 10 defined by a head 12 with tree points 26 and 30, and cantle 14. Parallel springs 16 and 17 extend from the gullet plate 18 to the rear cantle 14. This is preferably known as the English spring tree, forming a gullet cavity 22. A stirrup bar 24 is illustrated in securement with the gullet plate 18 and spring 17. A first end, tree point 26, of the gullet plate 18 is held within a first point pocket 28. A second end, tree point 30, of the gullet plate 18 is held within a second point pocket 31. A seat 32, having a front portion referred to as the pommel 34, attaches to the head 12, and a rear portion forms the cantle 14. The saddle 10 forms an adjustable head plate that incorporates a leather, wool-flocked, left side panel 38 that extends between the rear gusset 20 and a left side front gusset 40, and a second, right side panel 42 that extends between the rear gusset 20 and a right side front gusset 44.

(11) The instant invention consists of a first bridge 50, which is a rigid structure positioned under the tree point 52 and continues back under the rear portion 54 of the saddle tree. The first bridge 50 is constructed from sole bend leather having a predetermined rigidity, and is attached to the leather panel on the top side closest to a rider's leg. Similarly, a second bridge 60 is a rigid structure positioned under the tree point 52 and continues back under the rear portion 54 of the saddle tree. The second bridge 60 is also constructed from sole bend leather having a predetermined rigidity, and is attached to the leather panel 42 on the top side closest to a rider's leg. The first and second bridge 50, 60 can be attached on or in the top of the panel, either on the outside or as part of the panel by placement in a cavity that is formed by the panel. The tree point must be over the bridge, and the bridge must be under the tree point to extend to the back of the saddle under the tree rail under the seat of the rider. The bridge must start at the front edge of the tree at a minimum.

(12) The first and second bridge 50, 60 form a mirror image of each other. The sole bend material is more difficult to work with initially; however, over time the sole bend material will conform to shape of the horse. This bridge is preferably 6-8 mm thick, but always less than 10 mm in thickness. The edge of each bridge is beveled to provide a smooth connection to the leather saddle panel under the rider's leg. Each bridge is about 100 mm tall by about 300 mm long. The first bridge 50 is installed in the left panel 38 through the opening along the inside top edge and attaching the bridge to the panel by lacing, stitching, glue or hook and loop attachment. The left panel having a cavity for receipt of the first bridge. Material stuffing mass or “flocking,” of either natural or synthetic wool or foam 90 is placed in the cavity to form a wedge shape depicted in FIG. 8. The second bridge 60 is installed in the right panel 42 through the opening along the inside top edge and attaching the bridge to the panel by lacing, stitching, glue or hook and loop attachment. The right panel 42 having a cavity for receipt of the second bridge 60. Material stuffing mass 92 is placed in the cavity to form a wedge shape depicted in FIG. 8. A left side sweat flap 64 is optionally positioned beneath the left side leather panel 38, and a right side sweat flap 68 is optionally positioned beneath the right side leather panel 42.

(13) FIG. 7 depicts a conventional leather panel 80 with material stuffing 82. The material stuffing provides comfort to the horse, but causes the rider's leg to be positioned outwardly, which creates an awkward “chair seat” leg position for the rider. Similarly, leather panel 84 with material stuffing 86 causes the rider's leg to be positioned outwardly, which creates the chair seat leg position for the rider. FIG. 8 depicts the first leather panel 38 with the bridge 50 inserted within the panel 38 or attached to the outer surface of the panel closest to the rider's leg, under the tree point. Stuffing material 90 is used around the bridge 50 in a pattern that maintains the rider's leg close to the horse's body. Similarly, the second leather panel 42 with the bridge 60 is inserted within the panel 42. Stuffing material 92 is used around the bridge 60.

(14) All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.

(15) One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.

(16) The term “coupled” is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternative are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.” The term “about” means, in general, the stated value plus or minus 5%.