Abstract:
Example hay nets for providing hay to horses are disclosed. A disclosed example hay net includes a mesh body forming a bag, having a securing member at a first position relative to the body of the net, a mouth formed at a second position relative to the body of the net, the first position being spaced from the second position, and a strap engaging the net adjacent the first position to secure the strap relative to the body of the net adjacent the first position, and engaging the net adjacent the second position to secure the strap relative to the body of the net adjacent the second position, wherein the length of the strap between the first and second positions is variable whilst maintaining engagement between the strap and the net adjacent both the first and second positions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to United Kingdom Patent Application No. GB1115470.5, filed 7 Sep. 2011 and United Kingdom Patent Application No. GB1121809.6, filed 19 Dec. 2011 which are incorporated by reference herein without disclaimer. 
       FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a hay net, and in particular but not exclusively, to a feeding net for providing hay to horses. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Horses are typically fed hay (dried grass) as a large proportion of their diet, or in some cases, their entire diet. To keep their digestive systems functioning correctly, horses naturally graze constantly throughout the day, and, as such, some horses have a tendency to become unsettled or stressed if they do not have a constant supply of food to graze on. Moreover, if their food supply is intermittent, the horse may overeat whenever the food supply is replenished, and this may have an adverse effect on the horse&#39;s health. 
         [0004]    There are three main ways in which hay is given to a horse—loose on the ground, in a manger fixed to an inside stable wall or in a hay net. 
         [0005]    Where hay is provided on the ground, it can become mixed with mud and droppings, which may result in a significant proportion of the hay being wasted, as a horse will not eat soiled feed. The loose hay can also be trampled over a large area, creating a large amount of mess which must be cleared up. 
         [0006]    Whilst use of a manger is advantageous as it contains the hay and keeps the majority of the hay from being soiled, mangers tend to be fixed in one place. In contrast, a hay net can be used in a variety of locations—in a stable, field or horse box, and can readily be moved with the horse. The hay net is typically suspended from a fixture on a wall or a fence. This allows a horse to pull hay through the apertures in the net, whilst keeping the hay in a fixed location and reducing the amount of hay coming into contact with the ground. 
         [0007]    However, there are a number of problems associated with the use of hay nets. Once a net is loaded with hay, it may be very heavy and therefore hard to lift up in order to hang it above the ground. To prevent a horse from becoming tangled with a net, particularly once the net has been emptied, it is preferable to hang the net a significant distance above ground level. Furthermore, a net full of hay generally forms a rounded volume which can be awkward to carry, and difficult to lift off the ground to a position where it can be supported comfortably. 
         [0008]    Another drawback of a standard hay net is that a rope or cord is used to tie the net to a support structure. This involves a user having to lift the net up into place, pull the rope down to the base of the net, feed it through the base of the net and then pull it back up as high as possible before tying a knot to hold the net in place. The knot needs to hold the net in place without tightening so much that it is impossible to untie one the net is empty. A quick release knot is therefore usually used. This can, however, come undone as the horse tugs on the net during feeding. It is also common for horses, particularly young horses, to pull at the net, and to play with it once it is empty. Such activity may also cause the knot to become untied. If this happens, the net may remain attached its support but hang down close to the ground, or it may come off the support and fall to the ground. Either way, the forelimbs of the horse may become entangled in the empty net, and this may result in serious injury being caused to the horse. The risk is particularly serious if the net is still attached to the support at the time. 
         [0009]    The present disclosure seeks to reduce or overcome one or more of the above problems. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    According to a first embodiment we provide a hay net, the net comprising a mesh body forming a bag, having a securing member at a first position relative to the body of the net, a mouth formed at a second position relative to the body of the net, the first position being spaced from the second position, and a strap engaging the net adjacent the first position to secure the strap relative to the body of the net adjacent the first position, and engaging the net adjacent the second position to secure the strap relative to the body of the net adjacent the second position, wherein the length of the strap between the first and second positions is variable whilst maintaining engagement between the strap and the net adjacent both the first and second positions. 
         [0011]    The strap may be an elasticated strap. 
         [0012]    The strap may be releasably secured relative to the body of the net adjacent the first and second positions. 
         [0013]    The strap may include a fastening element for closing the mouth of the net. 
         [0014]    The strap may comprise the fastening element. 
         [0015]    The hay net may further include a guide formation disposed around at least a portion of the mouth for receiving the fastening element. 
         [0016]    The guide formation may comprise a plurality of loops. 
         [0017]    The securing member may comprise a ring. 
         [0018]    A first attachment arrangement may be provided towards a first end of the strap. 
         [0019]    A second attachment arrangement may be provided towards a second end of the strap, the second attachment arrangement being a clip engageable with at least one of the first attachment arrangement and the securing member. 
         [0020]    One or both of the first and second attachment arrangements may be at least one of a clip or a loop suitable for securing to a clip. 
         [0021]    The first attachment arrangement may be securable to the second attachment arrangement. 
         [0022]    The hay net may include a further securing member disposed adjacent the second position. 
         [0023]    The hay net may further comprise a guide formation disposed around at least a portion of the mouth for receiving a fastening element for closing the mouth of the net, the strap being releasably secured to the securing member towards a first end, a second end which engages with the guide formation, and a toggle which is mounted on two portions of the strap extending from the guide formation, the toggle engaging with the two portions of the strap on which it is mounted substantially to prevent movement of the strap relative to the toggle, and being manually operable out of locking engagement with the said portions of the strap to permit movement of the strap relative to the toggle. 
         [0024]    The guide formation may comprise a plurality of loops. 
         [0025]    The toggle may comprise a body, a clamping member which is movable relative to the body, and a resilient biasing element which urges the clamping member to clamp the strap between it and the body, and thereby substantially prevent movement of the strap relative to the toggle. 
         [0026]    The resilient biasing element may comprise a spring. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following figures, of which, 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  shows a net according to an embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  shows the strap of the net of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  shows a net according to a second embodiment; 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  shows the strap suitable for use with the net of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  shows the net of  FIG. 3  fitted with the strap of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  shows a net according to a third embodiment; 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  shows a cross-section through an embodiment of a toggle suitable for use in the third embodiment; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 8  shows a cross-section through the toggle shown in  FIG. 7  in the closed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0036]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, a net  10  is provided, the net being formed in a standard manner from a plurality of strands that are tied or knotted to one another to form a meshed bag. Whilst in this example the strands shall be referred to as rope strands, it should be understood that alternative materials such as twine or cord may be used, or any other material suitable for net-making, as is known in the art. At a first position  14  relative to the net  10  multiple strands are tied or otherwise secured relative to one another, to form a ‘closed end’ of the bag. A securing member  22  is provided at the first end  14 , to which strands may be secured. The securing member  22  may be a ring made of steel. 
         [0037]    At a second position on the net  12 , spaced from the first position  14 , an opening is formed  16  defining a mouth  16  of the bag. A continuous mesh wall  20  of the net is formed between the mouth  16  and the closed first end  14 , the wall  20  defining a volume for receiving hay or the like. The mouth  16  of the net may comprise a strand of rope around its circumference, to which strands of the wall of the net are secured, or may comprise lengths of a plurality of strands that are knotted together around the opening. 
         [0038]    The bag formed by the net may be oriented so that the first position  14  defines the ‘bottom’ of the bag, and the second position  12  defines the ‘top’, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0039]    The strands of the net may be secured (typically knotted  26 ) to one another in a regular pattern such that the apertures defined therebetween form squares, rectangles or triangles (but are in no way limited to those shapes). 
         [0040]    A guide formation  24  may be provided adjacent the mouth of the net  16 . In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the guide formation comprises a plurality of loops  24  (and shall hereinafter be referred to as loops) formed from strands of rope, or any other suitable material, at positions spaced around the circumference of the mouth  16 . The loops are suitable for receiving a fastening element, which may be threaded through the loops to form a draw-string around the mouth of the net. The fastening element comprises a length of elasticated material, or alternatively a length of rope, cord, twine, or any other suitable material. 
         [0041]    In a first embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1 , the net includes a strap  30  which comprises a length of elasticated material  32  which forms the fastening element. By drawing the fastening element through the loops  24  and tightening it so as to draw the loops  24  towards one another, the mouth of the bag may be closed and held in a closed formation. 
         [0042]    The term ‘closed’, in this instance, is not intended to mean that the net is sealed, but that it is closed to the extent that the net walls  20  at the second position  12  are brought sufficiently close to one another to prevent large quantities of hay held within the net falling out of the net through the mouth  16 . Optionally, the ends of the fastening element may then be knotted together, to fasten the mouth  16  in its closed formation. 
         [0043]    In use, a quantity of hay may be placed inside the net, through the open mouth of the net, so that it is held within the net. Hay is commonly provided in bales, part-bales, or slices of a bale (referred to in the art as ‘flakes’), which give it a compact form. While it is possible for small clumps or strands of the hay to be pulled or to fall through the apertures of the net, the compact form of the hay means that, in general, strands tend not to fall through the apertures in the mesh walls of the net unless they are pulled through the apertures (by a horse feeding, for example). 
         [0044]    In use, the net may be supported on a support structure, such as a hook or a ring positioned on a wall, post or fence, so that the net is held above ground level. A horse may then feed from the net by pulling strands or clumps of hay from within the net, through the apertures in the walls of the net, using its teeth. 
         [0045]    To support the net on a support structure, a strap  30  is provided. The strap comprises a body  32  formed of a length of elasticated material, having a first  31   a  and a second  31   b  end. First and second attachment arrangements  38 ,  34  are provided at first  31   a  and second  31   b  ends of the body of the strap, respectively. In the example shown, the strap is provided with a first ring  36  at its first end  31   a , and a second ring  34  at its second end  31   b . A karabiner clip  38  is attached to the first ring  36 , to allow the first end  31   a  to be fastened to the securing member  22  at the first position  14  on the net. 
         [0046]    To attach the strap  30  to the body of the net, the strap may be secured to the guide formation at the mouth  16  of the net and the securing member  22  at the bottom of the net. 
         [0047]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , where the guide formation comprises a plurality of loops  24 , the second end  31   b  of the strap passes through each of the loops  24  around the mouth  16  of the net, forming the fastening element for closing the mouth of the bag. Rather than a knot being tied in the fastening element, to hold the mouth  16  closed, the strap  30  passes through the second ring  34  at the second end  31   b  of the strap  30 . The strap  30  passes down to the bottom of the net  12 , where it passes through the securing member  22  before returning to the mouth  16  of the net, where the clip  38  is clipped onto the second ring  34  at the mouth  16  of the net. 
         [0048]    The elasticated body  32  of the strap  30  allows the strap to stretch, so that the strap  30  extends between the mouth  16  and the securing member  22 . Tension in the body  32  of the strap  30  causes the strap  30  to remain tight, thus holding the mouth  16  of the net in its closed formation whilst the second end  31   b  of the strap is held relative to the first end  31   a  of the strap, as shown in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. 
         [0049]    Whilst in this example, the clip  38  is secured to the strap  30  via ring  36 , in another embodiment, the clip  38  may be attached directly to the body  32  of the strap  30 , by way of a further loop, rather than by attachment to a ring  36 . It is contemplated that the attachment arrangements may comprises any combination of hooks, loops, clips, and the like. 
         [0050]    Whilst in the example illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the clip  38  is secured to the ring  34  at the mouth of the net it could equally be secured to the securing member (ring  22 ) at the base of the net. 
         [0051]    In the example given, the strap  30  is provided with the ring  34  at its second end  31   b , but it should be understood that alternative attachment arrangements may be provided. For example, the ring may be replaced by a loop formed by the strap  30  itself. This would, for example, enable a user to secure the strap  30  to a net where the loops  24  forming the securing member are too small for a ring to pass through. Alternatively, the ring may be replaced by a further clip  138   b , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In the embodiment of strap  130  shown in  FIG. 4 , the two clips  138   a ,  138   b  are each secured to a loop  134   a ,  134   b  at either end of the strap  130 . It will be appreciated, however, that one or both clips  138   a ,  138   b  could be secured to a ring at the end of the strap. 
         [0052]    By virtue of the use of two clips  138   a ,  138   b , the second clip  138   b  may be secured to the second end  131   b  of the strap  130  after the strap  130  has been threaded through the loops  24 . In other words the further clip  138   b  could be removed before threading the second end  31   b  of the strap  30  through the guide formation (in this example the loops  24 ) and then replaced at the second end  31   b  of the strap when the strap is fully engaged with the guide formations. Similarly, the first clip  138   a  may be secured to the first end  131   a  of the strap  130  after the first end  131   a  of the strap has been passed through the securing member  22 . 
         [0053]    The hay net  12  may be used as follows. 
         [0054]    Advantageously, the second end  31   b  of the strap  30  is attached to the guide formation  24  before the net  12  is filled. After the net is filled, the mouth  16  of the net  12  may then be closed by threading the first end  31   a  of the strap through the second ring  34 . The first end  31   a  of the strap is then drawn down towards the bottom of the net  12 , and the clip  38  passed through the securing member  22  at the bottom of the net  12 . The first end  31   a  of the strap  30  is then pulled back to the mouth  16  of the net  12  where it is clipped to the second ring  34 . Alternatively, the clip  38  may be clipped to the securing member  22 . 
         [0055]    To support the net  10  relative to a support structure, where the support structure is provided with a hanging loop or ring, or a bar, for supporting the net  12 , the first end  31   a  of the strap  30  may be passed through the hanging loop or around the bar either before being passed through or clipped to the securing member  22  or after being passed through the securing member  22  but before being clipped to the second ring  34 , or, more preferably, both. 
         [0056]    The hay net  12  could, of course be hung from a hook simply by placing one or both of the portions of the strap  30  between the securing member  22  and the second ring  34  over the hook. 
         [0057]    The tension in the body  32  of the strap ensures that the mouth  16  of the net is held in its closed formation, and the net  10  is supported from the support structure by the strap  30 . The elasticity in the body  32  of the strap makes it relatively easy to secure the strap  30  relative to the securing member  22  when the net is full of hay, and is heavy, since the strap  30  will stretch under force applied by a user. Therefore, by pulling the strap  30  to extend it, a user can simply attach the clip  38  at the first end  31   a  of the strap to the ring  34  at the second end  31   b  of the strap  30 , to secure the net relative to the support structure. 
         [0058]    An advantage of using a clip  38  and a ring  34  (or loop) to connect the first  31   a  and second  31   b  ends of the strap is that the clip  38  will not come undone without a user manually unfastening it. Previously, it has been necessary for a user to tie a knot between the rope used to tie up the net and the net itself, in order to support the net relative to a support structure. However, it may be awkward to tie a knot whilst holding the net in position. Furthermore, the knot may not be strong enough to support the net, or the knot may be tied poorly, such that the net will eventually fall to the ground. Use of a clip  38 , such as a karabiner clip, overcomes this problem. 
         [0059]    It will be apparent that alternative arrangements for attaching the respective ends of the strap  30  to the securing member  22 , and to each other, may be used. 
         [0060]    An alternative embodiment of a net  110  is shown in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. The net  110  of  FIG. 3  has mesh walls  120  formed of strands, with a first securing member  122  at a first position  114 , and a mouth  116  formed at a second position  112 . In this embodiment, a second securing member  128  is provided adjacent the mouth  116  of the net  110  at its second position  112 . In the example shown, both of the first and second securing members are rings, preferably made of steel. 
         [0061]    In this case, the strap  30 ,  130  may be used in much the same way as in the first embodiment, but rather than pass the strap  30 , 130  through the second ring  34  or clip  138   a  at the second end  31   b ,  131   b  of the strap  30 ,  130  to close the mouth  116  of the net  112 , the strap  30 ,  130  may pass through the second securing member  128 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Where the version of the strap  130  shown in  FIG. 4  is used, the two clips  138   a ,  138   b  may be clipped together (as illustrated in  FIG. 5 ), or one or both may be clipped to the second securing member  128 . 
         [0062]    The net  112  may be connected to a support structure in a similar way to the net of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0063]    It will be appreciated that the net shown in  FIG. 3  could equally be used with a strap with a clip at one end and a loop or ring at the other end. In this case, rather the clip would be connected to the loop or ring rather than to another clip. 
         [0064]    In both embodiments, a separate fastening element (not shown), which may be a length of cord or rope, may be used to assist in closing the mouth of the net. The fastening element may then be knotted in order to hold the mouth of the net in its closed formation. In this case, where the strap  30 ,  130  is used in conjunction with the net  112  shown in  FIG. 3 , the strap need only engage with the second securing member  128  at the mouth  116  of the net  112 —it need not engage with a guide formation to close the mouth  116  of the net  112 . Where the strap  130  shown in  FIG. 4  is used, one of the clips  138   a  may be clipped to the first securing member  122  and the other of the clips  138   b  may be clipped to the second securing member  128 , or both clips  138   a ,  138   b  may be clipped to the same securing member  122 ,  128 , whilst the body  132  of the strap  130  passes through the other securing member  122 ,  128 . 
         [0065]    In an alternative embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the strap  230  is preferably made from an inelastic rope or cord, and carries at its first end  231   a  a clip  238  (which may be secured to the strap  230  by a loop or ring  236  as described above in relation to  FIGS. 1 to 5 ) and adjacent its second end  231   b  a toggle  240 . By toggle  240  we mean the kind of device which grips one, or more strands of rope or cord on which it is mounted so as to substantially prevent movement of the rope or cord relative to the toggle  240 , and which is manually operable to release its grip on the or each strand of rope or cord, thus allowing movement of the rope or cord relative to the toggle  240 . 
         [0066]    One suitable embodiment of toggle  240  is illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . This toggle  240  includes a body  242  with an aperture  244 , in use one or more strands of rope or cord  246  passing through this aperture  244 . The toggle  240  also includes a clamping member  248  which is located within the body  242 , and which has a corresponding aperture  250 . There is a resilient biasing member, typically a helical spring  252 , which acts between the body  242  and the clamping member  248  to move the two apertures out of alignment with one another as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The clamping member also includes an operating part  254  which extends out of the body  242  so that a user may move the clamping member  248  against the biasing force of the spring  252  to bring the two apertures  244 ,  250  into alignment, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0067]    When the apertures are aligned by a user as in  FIG. 7 , the toggle may be slid along a strand of rope cord  246  on which the toggle  240  is mounted. When the clamping member  248  is released so that the apertures  244 ,  250  move out of alignment, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , frictional forces between the rope/cord  246  and the body  242  and clamping member  248  prevent movement of the rope/cord  246  relative to the toggle  240  (at least not without applying significant force to the toggle  240  and/or rope/cord  246 ). 
         [0068]    Returning to  FIG. 6 , just as in the first embodiment, the second end  231   b  of the strap  230  passes through the guide formation  224  around the mouth  216  of the net  212 . The toggle is mounted on both portions of the strap  230  emerging at either end of the guide formation  224  so that the toggle can be operated to release its grip on the strap  230 , and the strap pulled through the toggle  240  to substantially close or open the mouth  216  of the net. When the mouth  216  of the net  212  is closed or opened to the desired extent, the toggle may be released to grip the strap and prevent the mouth  216  of the net  212  from opening, or closing, respectively. 
         [0069]    After filling the net  212  and using the toggle  240  to close the mouth  216  of the net  212 , the clip  238  at the first end  231   a  of the strap  230  is clipped to the securing member  222  at the base of the net  212 . As with the first and second embodiments, the strap  230  may be passed through a hanging loop or ring prior to the clip  238  being clipped onto the securing member  222 . 
         [0070]    Whilst the strap  230  illustrated in  FIG. 6  is a single piece of rope or the like with a first end  231   a  and a second end  231   b , it may comprise a continuous loop or cord or rope with no free ends. In this case, the strap would form a loop which passes through the securing member ring  222 , through the toggle  240 , around the guide formation (loops  224 ) through the toggle  240  again and back to the securing member, ring  222 . 
         [0071]    In further alternative embodiments, the guide formation may comprise one or more sleeves provided around a proportion of the circumference of the mouth. A net of this embodiment may be closed by drawing the strap or a fastening element, such as a length of rope or twine, through the sleeve and tightening the fastening element around the mouth, so as to close the mouth. 
         [0072]    It may be desirable to limit the amount of hay that may be pulled through the apertures of a net at once, in order to slow down the rate at which a horse may feed from the net. To achieve this, the mesh walls may be provided with smaller apertures. 
         [0073]    The net according to the present disclosure therefore provides a simplified method of connection to a support structure, whilst ensuring that the mouth of the net is held closed. Furthermore, use of a strap as described herein allows a user to carry a quantity of hay, using the net. In the first and second embodiments, the elastic property of the strap allows a user to easily lift the strap so as to position it over a shoulder, to allow the hay to be lifted using the net, so that the net need not be lifted high off the ground. Additionally, a user need not bend low to position the strap over a shoulder, since the strap stretches when pulled by the user. 
         [0074]    When used in this specification and claims, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components. 
         [0075]    The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of an arrangement for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.