HORSE BRIDLE MOUTHPIECE

Abstract

The disclosure of the present invention relates to a HORSE BRIDLE MOUTHPIECE or more specifically to a horse bridle mouthpiece having side shanks and a moveable intermediate link connected to the ends of the side shanks using a ring and ball joint fitted into a tapered slot.

The ring and ball joint configured to provide optimal control of the mouthpiece to convey clear signals to the horse and provide an improved fit and comfort.

Claims

1. A horse bridle mouthpiece comprising; a pair of side bars, each side bar having, a shank end, an articulation end, an articulation cutout formed through the articulation end, the articulation cutout having, a ball cutout, a tapered slot portion, a central link, the central link having, a first end and a second end, an articulation cutout formed in each end, the articulation cutouts having, a ball cutout, a tapered slot portion, a pair of standoff balls, the articulation end of each side bar configured to interlock with articulation cutout formed in one of the ends of the central link having, one of the standoff balls installed in each of the ball cutouts of articulation end of the side bars and in the ball cutout of one of the ends of the central link, and, the articulation end of each side bars extending into the tapered slot of the articulation cutout formed in each of the ends of the central link, and, each of the ends of the central link extending into the tapered slot of the articulation cutout formed in the articulation end of the side bars.

2. The mouthpiece of claim 1 wherein, the central link is a linear bar.

3. The mouthpiece of claim 1 wherein, the central link is a curved port.

4. The mouthpiece of claim 1 wherein, the articulation end of the side bars is flattened having a first face and a second face.

5. The mouthpiece of claim 4 wherein, one of the first face and a second face contacts an inside surface of the tapered slot portion of the articulation cutout formed in one of the ends of the central link.

6. The mouthpiece of claim 1 wherein, the tapered slot portion of the articulation cutout of the central link is wider than the thickness of the articulation end of the side bar.

7. The mouthpiece of claim 1 wherein, the tapered slot portion of the articulation cutout of the side bars is wider than the thickness of the central link.

8. The mouthpiece of claim 1 including, a relief cutout formed in the tapered slot of the articulation cutout of the articulation end of the side bar.

9. The mouthpiece of claim 1 including, a relief cutout formed in the tapered slot of at least one of the articulation cutouts of the central link.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011] The following description of the embodiments can be understood in light of the Figures which illustrate specific aspects of the embodiments and are part of the specification. Together with the following description, the Figures demonstrate and explain the principles of the embodiments. In the Figures the physical dimensions of the embodiment may be exaggerated for clarity. The same reference numerals or word descriptions in different drawings represent the same element, and thus their descriptions may be omitted.

[0012] FIG. 1, a perspective view of a horse bridle bit,

[0013] FIG. 2A, is a perspective view of a mouthpiece having a straight central link,

[0014] FIG. 2B, is a top view of a mouthpiece have a port central link,

[0015] FIG. 3A, a top view of the side bar articulation end,

[0016] FIG. 3B, is an explode view of the side bar articulation end, standoff ball and port central link, and,

[0017] FIG. 3C is top view of a partially assembled mouthpiece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the disclosure claimed.

[0019] In describing and claiming the present disclosure, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set out below. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms a, an, and the include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, the terms comprising, including, containing, characterized by, having, and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.

[0020] The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0021] An embodiment of a horse bridle bit mouthpiece 100, shown in FIG. 1, including side bars 110, a central link 120, and the bridle bit side shanks 131. Side bars 110 including a first articulation end 111 attached to the central link 120 and a second shank end 132 configured to be attached to the side shanks 131 using a moveable joint 130. The moveable joint 130 configured to allow the side bars 110 to move perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the side shanks 131 but also allowing the side shanks 131 to impart a rotational moment into the sidebars 110 and manipulated the configuration of the mouthpiece 100.

[0022] FIGS. 2A and 2B are embodiments of the mouthpiece 100 having side bars 110 and a central link 120. Side bars 100 having an articulation end 111 forming a ring including two opposing faces 118, and a substantially flat side surface 119. An articulation cutout 112 is formed through faces 118, the articulation cutout having a ball cutout 113 with a tapered slot portion 114 extending down to a flat cutout base 115. The central link 120 also having articulation ends 121 having faces 128 and a side surface 129. The articulation ends 121 of the central link 120 having an articulation cutout 122 formed reciprocal to the articulation cutout 112 formed in the side bars 110. Articulation cutouts 122 having a ball cutout 123 with a tapered slot cutout 124 extending down to a flat base cutout 125. Standoff ball 117 is configure to hold the articulation end 111 of the side bar 110 into the tapered slot cutout portion 124 of the articulation cutout 122 formed in the central link 120, and hold the articulation end 121 of the central link 120 into the tapered slot cutout portion 114 of the articulation cutout 112 of the side bar 110. As shown in FIG. 2A the central link 120 is linear bar style and the central link 120 is a port as shown in FIG. 2B.

[0023] FIGS. 3A through 3C are one embodiment of a horse bridle mouth piece including a sidebar 110 having an articulation end 111 including an articulation cutout 112 formed through the articulation end 111. The articulation end 111 being a narrowed portion having two substantially flat faces 118 and a side surface 119 formed perpendicular to the side surfaces 118. The articulation cutout 112 including a ball cutout portion 113 with a tapered slot portion 114 extending down to a substantially flat base 115 of the articulation cutout 112. The central link 120 formed having articulating ends 121 including articulation cutouts 122 formed to correspond reciprocally with the articulation cutout 112 formed in the articulation ends 111 of the side bars 110. The articulation cutouts 122 having a ball cutout 123 with a tapered slot portion 124 extending down to a flat base portion 125. A standoff ball 117 configured to fit into the ball cut outs 113, 123 forcing the articulation end 111 of the side bar 110 into the tapered slot 124 of the central link 120 and the articulation end 121 of the central link 120 into the tapered slot 114 of the side bar 110. The standoff ball 117 also works to provide a bearing surface in the resulting joint. The overall movement in the joint can be manipulated by varying the width of the tapered slots 114, 124 or by varying the thickness or width of the articulation ends 111, 121. More precise control of the joint flexure can be achieved by creating a cutout relief 116 (shaded area FIG. 3A) designed to reduce interference between the tapered slots 114, 124 and the articulating end sides 118, 128. The concept of a cutout relief 116 is equally applicable to the articulation ends 121 of the center link 120.