Abstract:
An exercise saddle tree and method of construction that utilizes the inherent strength characteristics, defined by wood grain, growth rings, and wood type, of natural wood to create a stronger, low-weight saddle tree design. In addition, the present invention alters a standard saddle tree design and form to distribute the concussive force of horse and rider in a more uniform manner across the structure of the saddle tree.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to saddle trees, which are frames used in horse saddles to provide strength and shape. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   A saddle for a horse is typically constructed using a saddle tree, which is generally overlayed with leather to form the seat and other structures of the saddle. Conventionally, saddle trees have been constructed of wood or of wood and metal, such as steel or iron. Within the last several decades, there has been an increasing use of composite materials, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,116 (Brown) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,988 (Anderson). 
   The use of new materials was spurred by several important saddle tree design considerations. First and foremost is the desire for a durable saddle tree. Saddles and saddle trees are subjected to repetitive impacts as the rider&#39;s body “bounces” on the back of the horse. This impact stress is particularly acute in exercise saddles because a race horse is exercised at a faster gate than a range or trail horse. Eventually, these stresses at the flexure points cause an irreparable fracture of the saddle tree. The relatively short life span of a saddle tree, therefore, is due mainly to the stresses upon certain of its flexible members. To combat these flexure stresses, wooden saddle trees are typically carved from a single piece of wood. 
   A second important design characteristic is for a flexible saddle tree. While many saddle tree designs incorporate rigid metal components to address the durability issue, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,698 (Swain), these designs typically lack flexibility. This can result in injury to either horse or rider. In addition, these metal designs tend to be more malleable than wooden designs, that is they have a tendency to become misshapen from the repeated pounding exerted on saddles due to the concussion between the rider&#39;s body and the horse&#39;s body. 
   In the past, saddle tree manufacturers have made use of composite materials, such as thermoplastic or rubber to provide a durable, flexible, and nonmalleable design. Many of these designs have met with limited success and still suffer from the problem of breakage associated with conventional designs. 
   The present invention is a saddle tree for use with an exercise saddle. An exercise saddle is used to exercise race horses and should mimic a racing saddle in terms of the positioning and weight of the rider on the horse. Whereas a racing saddle typically does not incorporate a saddle tree, an exercise saddle, which is used for much longer periods of time than a racing saddle, needs to incorporate a saddle tree that provide adequate support to prevent injury to the rider. Therefore, a saddle tree for an exercise saddle needs to incorporate the durability, flexibility, and nonmalleability of a standard riding saddle, but must do so in a lightweight form. Such a design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,988 (Anderson) using thermoplastic materials; however, in practice, the saddle trees using composite materials suffer from breakage to as great an extent as do wood or wood-metal designs. Therefore, the focus of the current invention is to incorporate these four design considerations (weight, durability, flexibility, and non-malleability) into a saddle tree for use in a better-engineered, wooden saddle tree. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The current invention focuses on designing a lightweight saddle tree for use with exercise saddles that blends the design considerations of flexibility, durability, and non-malleability in a light-weight form. As such, the invention uses wood as the material of choice because it is durable and does not tend to become misshapen. However, rather than forming the tree from a single piece of wood, the tree is comprised of three components. The first is an arched pommel portion that fits securely over the withers of a horse. The other two pieces are symmetrical arms which extend towards the horse&#39;s flank. The extending arms are connected to the pommel portion by way of a tenon-and-mortise joint and are oriented in a manner to best distribute the force of the rider downward through the saddle tree to the back of the horse. By orienting the grain of the extending arms perpendicularly to the grain of the pommel portion, the saddle tree has added flexibility not available in one-piece wooden saddle trees. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a three-dimensional view of the exercise saddle tree of the current invention. 
       FIG. 2A  is the back view of the pommel portion of the exercise saddle tree. 
       FIG. 2B  is the top view of the pommel portion. 
       FIG. 2C  is the side view of the pommel portion. 
       FIG. 2D  is a cross-sectional view of the pommel portion. 
       FIG. 3A  is the top view of an extending arm of the exercise saddle tree. 
       FIG. 3B  is the side view of an extending arm. 
       FIG. 3C  is a partial cross-sectional view of an extending arm. 
       FIG. 4A  is the top view of the assembled exercise saddle tree. 
       FIG. 4B  is the back view of the assembled exercise saddle tree. 
       FIG. 4C  is the side view of the assembled exercise saddle tree. 
       FIG. 5  is the side view of a prior art exercise saddle tree. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the exercise saddle tree is comprised of three separate components, pommel portion  200  and extending arms  301  and  302 , which connect to the pommel portion at joint  104 . The extending arms will be mirror images of one another and therefore this description will discuss the extending arms and the related features in the singular. For the purpose of describing the invention lateral axis  101  runs down the spine of the horse from the head to the rear of the horse. Horizontal axis  105  runs approximately across the shoulders or withers of the horse. The lateral plane is the plane running through the lateral axis that is parallel to the ground, which is further assumed to be level. The vertical plane is the plane running through the lateral axis that is perpendicular to the ground. 
     FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2B , and  FIG. 2C  are the back, side, and top view, respectively, of pommel portion  200 . The pommel portion is a symmetrical, U-shaped arch dimensioned to fit over the withers of a horse. The pommel portion will be centered approximately over lateral axis  101  ( FIG. 2B ). As shown in  FIG. 2A , legs  201  and  202  form the two equal sides of isosceles triangle  203 , where apex angle  204  is positioned above rounded edge  205  of the pommel portion. Apex angle  204  will vary depending on the width required of the saddle. Each leg  201  and  202  of the arch is of a sufficient length  206  to extend downward on the withers/shoulders of the horse to a point where the pommel does not rock back and forth across the withers. In the claims, length L refers to length  206 . 
   The pommel portion will have a maximum width  207  ( FIGS. 2B and 2C ) and depth  208  ( FIG. 2A ). In the claims, width E refers to width  207 . The pommel will have this maximum width and depth on the uppermost part of arch  209  ( FIG. 2A ) and on the upper part of each leg. The width and depth will taper slightly on the lower part of each leg. On rearward-facing side  211  ( FIG. 2C ) of each of the legs of the pommel portion, above point  212  ( FIGS. 2A and 2B ), where the leg begins to taper, is mortise  213  into which tenon  306  ( FIGS. 3B ,  4 A, and  4 B) of extending arm  301  will be fitted. Mortise  213  will be of depth  214  ( FIG. 2A ) that is slightly greater than one-third of depth  208  ( FIG. 2A ) of the pommel portion. Mortise  213  will have width  215  ( FIGS. 2B and 2C ) which must be less than or equal to width  207  of the pommel portion. Length  216  ( FIG. 2A ) of mortise  213  will be slightly greater than width  305  ( FIG. 3A ) of tenon  306 , thus allowing, as depicted in  FIG. 4A , tenon  306  to fit snugly into mortise  213 . In the claims, width W refers to width  305 . 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B  show the top and side views, respectively, of left-side extending arm  301 . The extending arm is of length  303  that is significantly less than length  206  ( FIG. 2A ) of the leg of the pommel portion. In the claims, length X refers to length  303 . The reasons for specific limitations on the length of the extending arm are described more fully below. 
   The extending arm will have a maximum depth  304  ( FIG. 3B ) that is equal to depth  208  ( FIG. 2A ), thereby allowing extending arm  301  and pommel portion  200  to have a smooth surface at joint  104 , as shown in  FIG. 4A . In the claims, depth D refers to depth  304 . Head end  307  ( FIG. 3B ) of the extending arm will be tenon  306  ( FIG. 3B ) that connects (as depicted in  FIG. 4A ) to mortise  213 . To ensure a snug fit, the maximum width  305  ( FIG. 3A ) and maximum depth  308  ( FIG. 3B ) of tenon  306  will be slightly less than length  216  ( FIG. 2A ) and depth  214  ( FIG. 2A ), respectively, of mortise  213 . In the claims, depth G refers to depth  308 . As shown in  FIG. 3A , the tenon will have inside edge  309  and outside edge  310 . Inside edge  309  will be the edge closer to apex rounded edge  205  ( FIG. 2A ) of the arch of the pommel portion when tenon  306  is inserted into mortise  213 . As shown in  FIG. 3A , length  311  of inside edge  309  is slightly shorter than length  312  of outside edge  310 . In the claims, length A refers to length  311  and length B refers to length  312 . This will cause inside angle  401  of joint  104  to be slightly less than 90°, as depicted in  FIG. 4A , thereby causing the tail end of the extending arm to rest on the horse&#39;s back closer to the animal&#39;s spine. This orientation will distribute the rider&#39;s weight in a manner to decrease the resultant stresses on the saddle tree. 
   The pommel portion, shown in  FIG. 2D , is comprised of seven separate pieces of wood which are laminated together. A piece of wood exhibits a grain (the arrangement of its wood fibers along the vertical growth direction of a tree) and circular growth rings. Grain  220  ( FIG. 2C ) of these seven pieces of wood will run in the direction of horizontal axis  105  and down the legs of the pommel portion. To achieve the arched form of the pommel the individual boards will be bent, or curved, before being glued together. To give the combined pieces of wood the greatest strength, the growth rings of the middle piece of wood will be oriented in the opposite direction from the outer pieces of wood. Said otherwise, board edges  230  that are toward the interior of a tree should abut against board edges  231  that are toward the interior of the tree and board edges  232  that are toward the exterior of a tree should abut against board edges  233  that are toward the exterior of the tree. 
   The extending arm is comprised of seven separate pieces of wood laminated together. Grain  315  ( FIG. 3A ) of all seven pieces runs down lateral axis  101  of the saddle. The wood grain of each piece of wood is oriented such that it does not align with the grains of the pieces to which it is laminated, as depicted in  FIG. 3C , which shows such orientation for two abutting pieces of wood. Said otherwise, board edges  330  and  331  are oriented so that the grain of each does not realign as if to reform the growth rings of the original wood. 
     FIGS. 4A ,  4 B, and  4 C show the top, back, and side views, respectively, of assembled saddle tree  400 . Tenon  306  ( FIG. 4A ) of an extending arm will be inserted into mortis  213  ( FIG. 4A ) of the pommel portion. The extending arms will angle slightly inward (see  FIG. 4A ) along lateral axis  101  and slightly upward (see  FIG. 4C ) in relation to lateral plane  110 . Grain  315  ( FIG. 4A ) of the extending arm will run along lateral axis  101  and roughly perpendicular to grain  220  ( FIG. 4A ) of the pommel portion. 
     FIG. 5  shows an example of a prior art saddle tree. This figure is not intended to encompass all previous prior art saddle trees. These views will be used merely to demonstrate the effect of the design decisions of the saddle tree encompassed within the present invention. Notably, the extending arms of  FIG. 5  are longer than the legs of the pommel portion. In addition, the extending arms are angled slightly downward from the horizontal plane. These characteristics are present in a great many prior art saddle trees. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 4B and 4C , the weight of the rider will exert a downward force  402  on the extending arms which exerts pressure  415  at all points along the extending arms. This downward force will dissipate in three manners. First, some of the force will result in bending  403  ( FIG. 4B ) of the midspan of the extending arms toward the horse&#39;s back. Second, some of the force will be transferred to tail end  340  ( FIG. 4C ) of the extending arms. Third, some of the force will be transferred to the pommel portion by way of joint  104  ( FIG. 4A ). This force will be exerted along vector  410  ( FIG. 4C ) that is comprised of a directional component and a magnitude component. These directional and magnitudinal components will vary with the amount of bending  403  ( FIG. 4B ) of the extending arms and placement of the joint in relation to the rider and the pommel portion. Saddle trees show the greatest tendency to break in midspan, due to the bending of the extending arms, and at the joint, due to the magnitude and direction of forces exerted on the joint by the rider. Therefore, the strength of the joint and its spatial relation to the rider and the pommel portion becomes more critical to preventing breakage. 
   Many saddle trees incorporate steel to fortify against this breakage, but the addition of steel drastically increases the weight of the tree. The present invention strengthens the saddle primarily by laminating the pieces of wood that are used to build the tree and by incorporates several design choices. First, primarily as a mechanism to reduce the chance of the wood of the extending arms splitting, the grain of the extending arm runs along lateral axis  345  of the extending arm, rather than along tangential axis  350  of the extending arm ( FIG. 4C ). In those prior art saddle trees that are carved from a single piece of wood, the grain all runs in one direction. In a single-piece construction where the grain runs along the lateral axis, the grain on the pommel portion would run along the width, rather than along the length of the pommel portion, thus weakening of the pommel portion. Apart from breakage in the midspan of the extending leg and at the joint, splitting of the pommel portion along the direction of the horse&#39;s spine is one of the largest causes of failure of a saddle tree. The present invention combats this pommel-splitting problem by running the grain across lateral axis  105  on the pommel portion to reduce the likelihood of splitting or breakage of the pommel portion. 
   A second design choice incorporated in the present invention to fortify against greater bending tendency and altered force vector  410  exerted on the joint involves the placement of joint  104  ( FIG. 4A ) on the pommel portion. The joint is located slightly lower on the pommel portion. As the joint is moved lower on the pommel portion, angle  401  ( FIGS. 4A and 4C ) of the joint in relation to the lateral plane is decreased. Therefore, a greater amount of the force is exerted on tangential axis  350  ( FIG. 4C ) and less is exerted on lateral axis  345  ( FIG. 4C ) of the extending arm. Tangential axis  350  has a greater ability to absorb the stress applied by this force and therefore the possibility of splitting is further reduce. 
   A third design choice incorporated in the present invention involves the angling of the extending arms in relation to the lateral plane. The extending arms are angled slightly upward in relation to lateral plane  110  (depicted in  FIG. 4C ), creating angle  401 , that is less than 90°. This again alters force vector  410 . Compared to a design in which the extending arms are parallel to the lateral and vertical axes, a greater amount of force is exerted on outside edge  310  ( FIG. 3A ) of tenon  306 . Again this force is exerted on tangential axis  350  ( FIG. 4C ) of the extending arm, which has a greater ability to absorb stresses. 
   A fourth design choice involves the dimensions and composition of tenon  306  of the extending arms. First, as depicted in  FIG. 3A , outside edge  310  of the tenon, which will be absorbing a greater amount of stress, is slightly longer than inside edge  309 , thereby increasing its ability to absorb stresses. Secondly, as depicted in  FIG. 3C , the growth rings of the pieces of wood comprising the extending arm are aligned such that the board edges  330  that are toward the interior of a tree should abut against board edges  331  that are toward the interior of the tree. The tenon, which is situated depthwise in the center of the extending arm, will incorporate both pieces of wood and will therefore be similarly strengthened. 
   A fifth design choice involves the choice of wood used to build the saddle tree. The invention uses wood with a greater ability to absorb tangential forces. One such wood is red oak, but other wood types with a higher relative ability to absorb tangential forces may also be used, depending on availability and price. 
   The construction of the saddle tree comprises several steps. First, the pieces of wood for each of the three component pieces are chosen, planed to appropriate dimensions, aligned (as described above), bent (in the case of the pommel portion), glued, and clamped. After drying, the rough form, with squared edges, of the pommel portion and each extending arm is cut from the combined pieces of wood. Third, the mortise and tenon portions are cut on the pommel and extending arms, respectively. Next, the tenons on the extending arms are glued into the mortises on the pommel portion. After the assembled tree is given sufficient time to dry, the pommel legs and extending arms are tapered appropriately. Finally, additional hardward, such as stirrup locks, are connected as needed. All of the above operations can either be performed by hand, can be accomplished with numerically-controlled woodworking equipment, or can be achieved with any combination of available woodworking technologies and tools available. 
   Thus has been described an exercise saddle tree and the method of manufacturing such a saddle tree. Although the description above contains examples of specific embodiments of the invention, these descriptions are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention should be limited only by the appended claims and their equivalents.