Bit for horses

The bit for horses comprises a bit bar formed from a moulded article with an oval or circular cross-section and made from a resilient-elastic material having a high abrasive resistance, which conically widens from the center of the two moulded article ends provided with the through-bores for rings for fixing the reins, accompanied by the formation of a central, narrow, resilient-elastic web extending over a short section and has frontally flattened horse tongue contact surfaces, which leads to a bit bar with high abrasive resistance, adequate central mobility and which is advantageous for the horse's tongue.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a bit for horses, comprising a bit bar 
with terminal through-bores for receiving rings or ring-like elements for 
fixing the reins. 
Numerous different horse bit constructions are known. All these bits have 
in common a bit bar, which is constructed in one piece or in two pieces 
and in the latter case the two bit bar pieces are interconnected by means 
of an articulation or chain. At their outer ends they have through-bores 
for receiving rings, to which the reins are fixed. These bit bars are made 
from metallic materials, such as iron, with the advantage that on placing 
the bit in the horse's mouth, the latter is at body temperature, whereas 
the bit is a cold object, so that the initial reaction of many horses is 
unfavourable thereto. Thus, in the case of external temperatures below 
0.degree. C., it is necessary to warm the bit, so that it is roughly at 
mouth temperature. Bit bars made from rubber-coated steel or iron members 
or wires also have disadvantages, in that they are subject to high 
abrasion, which has a disadvantageous effect on the behaviour of the 
horse. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention solves the problem of providing a bit for horses, 
which is pleasant for the horse's mouth and tongue, is not subject to 
abrasion and is always under tension when breaking in, riding or driving 
the horse. In addition, it aids mastication or chewing, so that even 
horses with sensitive mouths accept the bit, which ensures an adequate 
freedom for the tongue and has a high stability, despite its flexibility. 
According to the invention the problem is solved by a bit of the 
aforementioned type, wherein the bit bar comprises a moulded article with 
an approximately oval or circular cross-section made from a 
resilient-elastic, incompressible material having a high abrasive 
resistance, particularly a crosslinked polyurethane elastomer, which 
widens conically from the centre to the two moulded article ends provided 
with through-bores, accompanied by the formation of a central, narrow, 
resilient-elastic web extending over a short portion and which on either 
side of the central web has flattened horse tongue contact faces extending 
parallel to the longitudinal axes of the through-bores and from the web to 
the moulded article ends, together with a smooth, slide-like surface. 
The bit constructed according to the invention provides a bit bar which 
will be accepted by any horse which, although made in one piece, is as 
mobile as if it were interrupted in the centre. This bit leads to the 
following further advantages. 
Due to the fact that the bit is made from a resilient-elastic material, 
particularly a crosslinked polyurethane elastomer, the allergies which 
otherwise occur when using steel and iron bits are avoided. 
As a result of the high abrasive resistance, there is no abrasive action of 
the horses tongue against the bit, as is the case with rubber or 
rubber-coated iron bar or steel wire bits, in which abrasion takes place 
in much the same way as the erasing effect of an eraser. 
Static charging, as normally occurs with metal bits is avoided. 
The bit is pleasant for the horse's tongue and chewing is assisted. As a 
result of the tongue contact surfaces on the bit, good tongue contact is 
ensured. 
Despite a certain mobility of the two lobar bit bar end portions centrally 
interconnected via the resilient-elastic web, the bit is kept under 
tension. 
The bit slides well in the horse's mouth, due to the slide-like surface of 
the bit bar. 
Good receptiveness of the bit by the horse even in the case of external or 
ambient temperatures below 0.degree. C. 
Despite the central mobility of the bit bar, the latter is very durable. 
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention according 
to claim 2, the bit bar comprises an arcuately bent moulded article with 
an oval or circular cross-section, made from a resilient-elastic material 
having a good abrasive resistance and in particular a crosslinked 
polyurethane elastomer and is centrally provided with a torsionally stiff 
web worked into the moulded article extending in the longitudinal 
direction of the latter and maintaining the latter with its bow shape, the 
web length being smaller than the moulded article length, permits a 
bending of the ends of the moulded article towards one another and which 
after removing a pressure or tension acting on the moulded article ends 
springs back into its position maintaining the bow shape of the moulded 
article. 
Apart from the aforementioned advantages, a bit bar constructed in this way 
has the further advantage that no twisting or turning of the bit bar is 
possible when a differing tension is exerted on the bit. The bit bar is 
preferably used in connection with a bridle or curb bit. On tightening the 
resins, a lever action is exerted on the rod-like elements or bow-shaped 
elements holding the bit bar, as is the case e.g. with a Pelham bit, so 
that the rider exerts better tension via the reins. As a result of the 
torsionally stiff web in the moulded article forming the bit bar and which 
can only be bent in one direction, it is ensured that on tightening the 
reins the two free ends of the bit bar are moved towards one another, so 
that the bit bar is bent somewhat further out of its slightly prebent 
basic position, but on slackening tension on the reins the bit bar springs 
back into its initial position, i.e. the basic position as a result of the 
special material selection and the resilient-elastic web. There is also no 
twisting or turning of the bit bar in the case of a non-uniform tightening 
of the reins, because the web embedded in the bit bar moulded article 
comprises a torsionally stiff shaped member. 
In addition, according to claim 3, the invention relates to a bit bar made 
from a rod-like moulded article with an oval or circular cross-section and 
formed from a resilient-elastic material having a high abrasive 
resistance, particularly a crosslinked polyurethane elastomer, whose 
moulded article has in its central region a portion bent upwards in 
arcuate manner running parallel to the longitudinal axes of the 
through-bores provided in the moulded article ends. This construction of 
the bit bar has the special advantage that it can be used in the case of a 
curb bit and simultaneously it is advantageous with respect to the horse's 
tongue. 
This bit bar has a certain instability, i.e. flexibility, despite adequate 
stability, so that even in the case of a non-uniform tightening of the 
reins, twisting or turning of the bit bar is prevented. 
Further adantageous developments of the invention can be gathered from the 
subclaims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Bit 100 comprises according to FIGS. 1 and 2 a bit bar, which is 
constructed as a moulded article 10. The latter has two lobar portions 
10c, 10d, widening conically towards its ends 10a, 10b and which are 
resiliently-elastically interconnected by means of a central narrow, short 
web 11. The diameter of web 11 is somewhat smaller than the diameter in 
the vicinity of ends 10a, 10b of moulded article 10. 
Through-bores 12, 13 are provided in the moulded article ends 10a, 10b and 
through these are passed rings 14', 15' or ring-like elements for the 
connection of reins (not shown in the drawings), and which are made from a 
corrosion-resistant material, such as chromium steel or the like. 
The moulded article 10 has an approximately oval or circular cross-section 
and in the front horse tongue contact area on either side of the central 
web 11 has horse tongue contact surfaces 15, 16, which extend from web 11 
to the moulded article ends 10a, 10b and which are parallel to the 
longitudinal axes passing through through-bores 12, 13, whilst being 
worked from the material of moulded article 10 in the form of superficial 
flattened portions, so that the moulded article 10 has planar surfaces in 
the manner shown in FIG. 3, which ensures advantageous properties with 
respect to the horse's tongue. 
The moulded article 10 is made from an abrasion-resistant plastic and 
particularly a rubber-elastic plastic, such as e.g. a crosslinked 
polyurethane elastomer, known under the tradename Vulkollan and which is 
surprisingly particularly suitable for producing the bit bar, in order to 
achieve the indicated advantages. Thus, due to the rubber-elasticity of 
web 11 of moulded article 10 it is resilient-elastic and also has a 
recovery capacity, so that in the case of slight bending down of the bit 
bar ends 10a, 10b towards one another they can be automatically returned 
to the stretched position whereas there is only a slight bending aside on 
tightening the reins. It must be particularly stressed that these plastics 
lead to an extremely high uniformity or regularity of the surface of 
moulded article 10, which then has the slidelike properties. It is 
possible to use all plastics with heat-imparting or radiating 
characteristics. The horse tongue contact surfaces 15, 16 also serve to 
protect the tongue. 
Moulded article 10 can also be made from an abrasion-resistant plastic and 
specifically from an incompressible plastic, such as e.g. silicone rubber 
which, despite its incompressibility has a certain elasticity, so that web 
11 of moulded article 10 is resilient-elastic and also has a recovery 
capacity. As a result on slightly bending the bit bar ends 10a, 10b 
towards one another, they can be returned into the stretched position, 
whereas there is only a slight bending aside on tightening the reins. 
Incompressibility is understood to mean that property of plastic where, on 
exerting a pressure on the plastic, the pressed-in portion returns to its 
initial position again after removing the pressure without showing any 
rebound elasticity, as is the case with normal rubbers. The same 
characteristics are also obtained when using polyurethane-based plastics 
and polyurethane can have a higher strength than other plastics. 
The bit shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and designated by reference numeral 200 also 
comprises a bit bar constituted by moulded article 110, which is also 
provided with through-bores 12, 13 at its ends 110a, 110b, through which 
can be passed the bow-shaped elements 214, 215. The latter are used for 
connecting the reins and to the halter curb bit cheek strap (not shown in 
the drawing) and made from corrosion-resistant materials, such as chromium 
steel or the like. 
Moulded article 110 has an approximately oval or circular cross-section and 
has a through flattened portion 15 in the front horse tongue contact area 
(FIGS. 5 and 6). Moulded article 110 is made from the same materials as 
moulded article 10 of the embodiment of FIG. 1. 
It is particularly advantageous in connection with this bit bar that as a 
result of the resilient elasticity of the moulded article 110 on slightly 
bending the ends 110a, 110b thereof towards one another they can be 
automatically returned to the given basic position, but that bending can 
take place on tightening the reins. 
As a result of the bow-shaped elements 214, 215 used, bit 200 of FIG. 4 is 
a curb bit, whereof the aforementioned elements are connected in per se 
known manner to the curb bit cheek strap of a halter. As both the 
bow-shaped elements 214, 215 are identically constructed, element 214 is 
described in greater detail hereinafter. 
This bow-like element 214 comprises a bar 216, whose upper end carries a 
ring 217, to which is connected the curb bit cheek strap of the halter. 
Ring 217 is positioned at the free end of bar 216 in such a way that the 
imaginary extension of the bar extends through the centre of ring 217. The 
free lower end of the bow-like element 214 also has a ring 219, which is 
fixed thereto in a laterally displaced manner, i.e. towards bar 216 (FIGS. 
4 and 7). 
In the central area, bar 216 carries an upwardly directed half-ring 218 and 
the portion 216 bounded thereby is 216a. Portion 216a forms the slide and 
guide portion for the bit bar, i.e. for moulded article 110. 
As shown in FIG. 5, moulded article 110 of bit 200 is prebent in arcuate 
manner and has a web 50, which is surrounded by the material of moulded 
article 110, i.e. is embedded in the material of the latter. Web 50 is 
shorter than moulded article 110. Web 50 is also prebent and in accordance 
with the arcuate configuration of the moulded article 110. Web 50, worked 
into the moulded article 110, prevents any twisting of the bit bar, if 
different tensile forces are exerted thereon, indicated by arrows Y, Y1 in 
FIG. 5. 
However, moulded article 110 with its web 50 is constructed in such a way 
that a slight bending of the moulded article ends 110, 110b in the 
direction of arrows Y, Y1 is possible on tightening the reins. Due to the 
material used for the production of moulded article 110 and web 50, after 
the removal of the tension exerted on the bit bar, it returns to its basic 
position shown in FIG. 5. This springing back is aided by web 50, which is 
e.g. made from a prebent spring steel, which allows a bending in the 
direction of arrow X, but does not permit bending in the opposite 
direction. In addition, web 50 is constructed as a profiled member, so as 
to be firmly integrated with the material of shaped article 110 and in 
order to increase the torsional stiffness of the bit bar. Independently of 
web 50 arranged in moulded article 110, the latter can also have the shape 
and design of moulded article 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2. 
The bit 300 of FIGS. 8 and 9 also has a bit bar constructed as a moulded 
article 310, having at its ends 310a, 310b through-bores 12, 13, through 
which are passed rings or bow-like elements 314, 315, which are used for 
connecting the reins and e.g. to the curb bit cheek strap of the halter 
(not shown in the drawing). 
Moulded article 310 also has an approximately oval or circular 
cross-section. A through flattened portion 15 is provided on moulded 
article 310 in the front horse tongue contact area. It is also possible to 
provide two flattened portions 15 adjacent to the moulded article ends 
310a, 310b. (FIG. 8). Flattened portion or portions 15 correspond to the 
flattened portion of moulded article 10. 
This moulded article 310 is made from the same material as moulded article 
10. It is particularly advantageous with this material selection, that the 
moulded article 310 is resilient-elastic and also has a recovery capacity, 
which ensures that in the case of a slight bending of the moulded article 
310a, 310b, they are automatically returned into the given basic position, 
but that bending can take place on tightening the reins. 
In its central area 310c, moulded article 310 has an upwardly arcuately 
bent portion 18 running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the 
through-bores 12, 13 provided in ends 310a, 310b of moulded article 310 
(FIG. 9). As a result of this special construction, it is ensured that the 
tongue has adequate freedom. This moulded article 310 can have a 
construction corresponding to the moulded article 10, to the extent that 
article 310 has in its central area 310c a tapered web.