RIDING SADDLE

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for seating a rider on an animal, preferably a horse, said device comprising: a first side frame member (20) having a proximal end, a distal end, and a middle section extending therebetween; a second side frame member (22) having a proximal end, a distal and a middle section extending therebetween, wherein the first and second frame members are attached in such a way as to create a sitting area for the rider between said first and said second frame members.

Description: RIDING SADDLE The present invention relates to a device for seating a rider on an animal , preferably a hcrsε , and to the use of such a device for seating a rider . The f irst riders rode bareback on hcrses without saddles , and held on to the horse by -he mane . The first leather saddles were developed by riders in the Asiatic steppes about 2000 years ago and enabled the riders to engage in combat , gallop after the enemy , f ire arrows and the like all the time whilst remaining on the horse , which leads to the situation wherein the horse is uncontrollable and unpredictable , a dangerous state of affairs for both rider and horse . During these last 2000 years the basic design of the saddle has remained the same , wherein the saddle is built up around a central , solid , inflexible " tree " which extends centrally along the backbone of the horse . The rider sits on a seat arranged above this tree whilst the remaining parts of the saddle are built up therearound . A disadvantage of these known saddles , is that they are relatively inflexible , which , when being placed on a moving horse whereby the backbone is constantly changing in form, leads to irritation , pain and sometimes inj ury for the horse . An obj ect of the present invention is to provide an improved saddle which substantially overcomes one or more of these problems . According to a f irst aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for sealing a rider on an animal , preferably a horse , said device comprising : - a first side frame member having a proximal end , a distal end, and a middle section extending therebetween, - a second side frame member having a proximal end, a distal end and a middle section extending therebetween, wherein the first and second frame members are attached in such a way as to create a sitting area for the rider between said first and said second frame members . Since according to the present invention, the traditional central, solid tree is now replaced by a first and second side frame member which does not extend along the backbone of the horse, but which is arrangeable on either side of the backbone to provide a sitting area therebetween, a seating device is provided which exerts substantially less pressure directly onto the horse's backbone in comparison with known saddles . The rider now sits directly above the backbone of the horse without the solid tree being arranged between the rider and the backbone of the horse. This enables the rider to sit, as it were, directly on the back of the horse, whereby the rider is able to effect a better control of the horse. Moreover, since the central, solid, inflexible tree is no longer necessitated with the device according to the present invention, injuries to the horse resulting from misformed trees, damage to the saddle itself due to a bent tree for example, and a painful seating position for the rider can be obviated. The frame members are preferably equipped with support pads pivotally arranged thereunder tc support the frame on the animal's back. In this way the device is able to react and move according to the movements of the horse's back to effect a secure, reactive seating whereby irritation points due to uneven pressure which can lead to injury to the horse are substantially obviated. Further details and characteristics of the device according to the present invention are to be found in the claims . 3 According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to the use of the above device for seating a horse rider. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for assembling the device comprising the steps of: a) pivotally arranging a frame comprising: - a first side frame member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a middle section extending therebetween, - a second side frame member having a proximal end, a distal and a middle section extending therebetween, wherein the first and second frame members are attached in such a way as to create a sitting area for the rider between said first and said second frame members, - a distal joining frame member for joining the distal ends of the first and second side frame members together, - a proximal joining frame member for joining the proximal ends for the first and second side frame members together on an undercover, and b) arranging a seat on this frame. The invention will now be further elucidated by means of the following description and figures wherein: - figure 1 is a perspective view of a saddle according to the present invention, - figure 2 is a perspective, partially cut away exploded view of the saddle according to the present invention. A saddle 1 comprises a seat 2 having a pommel 4 and a removable cantle 6 arranged on a frame 8, block flaps 10, stirrup supports 12 depending from the frame 8 along with stirrup irons 14 attached thereto, stirrup leathers 16 and a girth 18 (figure 1) . 4 The frame 8 comprises a first side frame member 20, a second side frame member 22, a front (proximal) joining frame member 24 and a rear (distal) joining frame member 26 (figure 2) . Two roughly heart-shaped support pads (28) pivotally depend from the junctures of the side frame members 20, 22 and the front frame member 24, which support parts 28 are pivotally attached to the frame by means of universal joints 30. Two rectangular support pads 32 depend from the frame at the juncture between the side frame members 20, 22 and the rear frame member 26 and are also joined thereto by means of universal joints 34. Since the support pads 28, 32 are attached to the frame by universal joints 30, 34, the support pads are able to remain flat against the horse's back, whilst the contour thereof changes during the movement of the horse, whereby these support pads 28, 32 fully cooperate with the changing movement of the horses back. Since the frame is connected to the support pads 28, 32 by universal joints 30, 34, the support pads move substantially independently to the frame, whereby the frame, and thereby the seat remains substantially still on the horse. In this manner, irritation of the horse's back by means of a saddle exerting uneven pressures during movement of the horses back is substantially obviated. The pads may also be equipped with silica gel layers/pressure distributors for comfort. An undercover 36, which is continuous with the block flaps 10 is arranged under the frame and is provided with profiled cut outs 38 which extend around the front support pads 28. A seating element 40 comprising a silica gel cushion is arranged between the side frame members 20, 22, the front frame member 24 and the rear frame member 26. A removable cantle element 42 is arranged on the rear frame member 26 by means of two terminal pin members 44 arrangeable in the rear frame member 26 and a central 5 gripping stem 48 which grips around said rear member 26. Hence, the saddle according to the present invention can be equipped with different cantles, in order to provide a saddle for different uses. Since both the cover 36 and the seating element 40 comprise silica gel layers, a massaging and pressure distribution effect is provided for the back muscles of the horse to provide good comfort. Furthermore, since the rider does not now actually sit on an inflexible tree, but rather between the frame members on the silica gel seating element, the frame members are much less susceptible to heavy wear and tear, which leads to an increased lifetime of the saddle. The seat 2 including pommel 4 are arranged over the silica gel seating element 40 and frame as shown in figure 1. The invention is not limited to the description, but is rather determined by the following claims .

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Device for seating a rider on an animal, preferably a horse, said device comprising: - a first side frame member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a middle section extending therebetween, - a second side frame member having a proximal end, a distal and a middle section extending therebetween, wherein the first and second frame members are attached in such a way as to create a sitting area for the rider between said first and said second frame members . 2. Device according to claim 1, further comprising a distal joining frame member for joining the distal ends of the first and second side frame members together. 3. Device according to claims 1 or 2 , further comprising a proximal joining frame member for joining the proximal ends for the first and second side frame members together. 4. Device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the distal and/or proximal ends of the side frame members are connected to the joining members by means of one or more universal joints. 5. Device according to any of the preceding claims further comprising one or more support means pivotally mounted under the frame by one or more universal joints for supporting the frame on the back of the animal . 6. Device according to claim 5 wherein the support means comprise pad-like members mounted at junctions between the side frame members and the proximal and distal joining frame members respectively. 7 7. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a stirrup depends from each of the side frame members . 8. Device according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a seating element mounted in the seating area between the frame members, which seating element preferably comprises a silica gel cushion. 9. Device according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a flexible layer mounted under the frame members and seating element for preventing direct contact of the frame members with the animal. 10. Device according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a flexible cover mounted over the frame members and seating element. 11. Use of a device according to any of the previous claims for seating a rider on an animal, preferably a horse. 12. Method for assembling a device according to any of the previous claims, comprising the steps of: a) pivotally arranging a frame comprising: - a first side frame member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a middle section extending therebetween, - a second side frame member having a proximal end, a distal and a middle section extending therebetween, wherein the first and second frame members are attached in such a way as to create a sitting area for the rider between said first and said second frame members, - a distal joining frame member for joining the distal ends of the first and second side frame members together, - a proximal joining frame member for joining the proximal ends for the first and second side frame members together on an undercover, and b) arranging a seat on this frame.

Inventors: VAN KEKEN THEODORUS JOZEF MARI, VAN KEKEN, THEODORUS, JOZEF, MARIA
Applicants: KEKEN THEODORUS JOZEF MARIA VA, VAN KEKEN, THEODORUS, JOZEF, MARIA
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B68C1
IPC codes: B68C1