Abstract:
A tack cart for transporting and storing tack. The cart includes a conveying member and a storage member mounted thereto. The storage member may be detached from the conveying member and may be mounted onto an independent support located remote from the tack cart. The storage member includes at least one saddle support member which may be detachably mounted on one of the conveying member and the storage member. The cart may further include a detachable bridle support that is receivable on one of the conveying member, the storage member and the independent support.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The invention relates generally to wheeled carts and more particularly to a wheeled cart for transporting and storing horse saddles and other equipment. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Horse saddles are heavy, cumbersome pieces of equipment. The weight and shape of the saddles make it difficult to move them around with ease. When horse owners are involved with horse shows, they have a problem moving the saddles, bridles and other supplies from their trailers to the provided stalls. Space is at a premium at horse shows and consequently there is a problem storing the saddles and other tack in a place and manner which makes them conveniently available, yet out of the way. 
     Problems may also be experienced at an owner&#39;s stables where the area where tack is stored is some distance from the horse stall. A rider would therefore have to carry the saddles and bridles from the storage area to the stall—a tedious and tiring task. 
     A number of wheeled tack carts have been proposed in the prior art to assist horse owners in transporting their tack. Some of the U.S. patents which have been granted for tack carts include U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,663 (Scripter); U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,049 (Goring), U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,312 (Starita et al) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,078 (Paton). 
     Scripter (U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,663) discloses a wheeled cart which is designed to transport one saddle at a time. When the user reaches their destination, a ground support is pivoted outwardly from the main frame to allow the cart to stand independently. The saddle is removed and the cart may be folded up for storage. This cart does not provide a way for transporting bridles or any other supplies unless they are draped over the saddle. Additionally, if the cart is used to transport a saddle to a stall where space is at a premium, such as at a horse show, the cart cannot be used to store the saddle efficiently as it takes up additional floor space in the stall. 
     Goring (U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,049), discloses a tack cart which may be used to transport one saddle. The cart includes a storage box which can be used to transport bridles and other supplies. As with the cart proposed by Scripter, the Goring cart becomes a problem for temporarily storing tack in an area where space is tight. In fact the cart is more problematic in that it cannot be folded for storage. 
     The cart proposed by Starita et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,747,312), is also designed for the transportation of one saddle and it may be collapsed for storage. The cart is designed to carry a wide array of supplies. This device is however problematic when space is tight—it may be used to hold a saddle and supplies but takes up valuable floor space; or it can be folded away for storage-leaving nothing to hold the saddle and bridles. 
     Finally, the cart proposed by Paton, U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,078, is adapted to carry more than one saddle at a time and can be separated to form a saddle holding rack and a separate cart for transporting other supplies. This cart does not, however, address the problem with taking up valuable stall space while still providing a device for holding saddles and bridles. If the saddle holding rack is separated from the cart, it still occupies floor space in the stall. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a tack cart that may be used to transport and store tack. The tack cart includes a conveying member and a storage member. The storage member may be detached from the conveying member and may be mounted onto an independent support located remote from the storage member. The storage member may include at least one saddle support member that may be detachably mounted on either the conveying member or the storage member. The cart may further include a detachable bridle support that is receivable on the conveying member or the storage member or the independent support. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best modes in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles of the invention, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the horse tack cart; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the horse tack cart; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the second frame member disengaged from the tack cart and in a position for engaging a stall wall or door; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second frame member in position on a stall wall with the saddle supports in position for engaging the second frame member; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second frame member engaged on a stall wall; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the second frame member engaged on a stall wall and supporting a saddle thereon; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the second frame member through line  7 — 7  of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the saddle support attachment to the second frame member through line  8 — 8  of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the tack cart with the saddle supports detached. 
    
    
     Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the specification. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The tack cart, shown generally at  10 , includes a base  12 , a first frame  14  attached to base  12 , a second frame  16  releasably attachable to first frame  14 , and at least one saddle support  18  which is detachably receivable on either the first or second frame  14 ,  16 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2, base  12  of tack cart  10  is substantially rectangular having two parallel side bars  20   a ,  20   b , and first and second end bars  22 ,  24 . Wheels  26  may be mounted to second end bar  24  so that cart  10  may be easily rolled from place to place. Leg  28  mounted on first end bar  22  prevents cart  10  from accidentally rolling away when the cart is not in motion. The top of the leg  28  is joined to function like a handle. Struts  30  are provided between first and second end bars  22 ,  24  to strengthen base  12  and to provide an additional support surface to hold articles carried on tack cart  10 . While struts  30  are shown as extending between first and second end bars  22 ,  24 , it is to be understood that they can also extend between side bars  20   a ,  20   b  or can take any other position or configuration which will either strengthen base  10  or add support surface for carrying articles. The number and placement of both wheels  26  and legs  28  may also be changed without departing from the scope of this invention. 
     First frame  14  is substantially rectangular, having side rails  32   a ,  32   b  and first and second end rails  34 ,  36 . First end rail  34  forms a handle for tack cart  10  and may be slightly rounded. First ribs  38  extend between side rails  32   a  and  32   b . First ribs  38  may be of any suitable cross section to enable them to engage saddle supports  18 . First frame  14  is attached to base  12  with brackets  40  which are secured to either struts  30  or side rails  20   a ,  20   b . A first nut  42  and bolt  44  are provided to releasably secure the second end rail  36  to the second end bar. First nut  42  may be provided with an enlarged head so as to be easily handled by the user. When first nut  42  is removed, first frame  14  may be pivoted into contact with base  12  so that cart  10  may be stored in a collapsed position (not shown). 
     Second frame  16  is similar to first frame  14  in appearance, having side posts  46   a ,  46   b , and first and second end posts  48 ,  50 . Second ribs  52  extend between side posts  46   a ,  46   b  and are configured to receive saddle supports  18 . At least one hook  54  is provided to engage first frame  14 . While hooks  54  are shown engaged with second end post  50 , they may be located in any other suitable position on second frame  16  so as to releasably hold first and second frames  14 ,  16  together. Second nut  56  and bolt  58  secure second frame  16  to first frame  14 . However, any other suitable securement mechanism may be employed such as a strap with a buckle, a strap with velcro, bungee cords, clips, etc. 
     At least one saddle support  18  is receivable on either first ribs  38  of first frame  14  or second ribs  52  of second frame  16 . Any suitable mechanism may be used to engage the saddle supports on braces  38  or ribs  52 . As shown in FIG. 2, pairs of hooks  60  may be provided to engage ribs  38  or ribs  52 . A bridle support  62  is also receivable over first ribs  38  or second ribs  52  for transporting bridles and the like. 
     Tack cart  10  of the present invention is used in the following manner: 
     First frame  14 , and engaged second frame  16 , are rotated away from base  12  and are locked into the upright position shown in FIG. 9 by screwing nut  42  onto bolt  44 . (Nut  42  is provided with an enlarged handle so as to be easily manipulated by the user.) As shown in FIG. 9, without saddle supports  18  installed on first frame  14 , the tack cart  10  can be used to transport bales of hay and other articles (not shown). The bales are placed on base  12 , resting on struts  30  and against first frame  14 . 
     When it is desired to transport saddles and bridles, saddle supports  18  are positioned on first ribs  38 , bridle support  62  is placed over first ribs  38  as shown in FIG.  1 . Saddles  64  may then be placed onto saddle supports  18 . When the user reaches the stall, second frame  16  is detached from first frame  14  by unscrewing the second nut  56  and bolt  58 . Hooks  54  are disengaged from second end bar  24  so that second frame  16  is independent of tack cart  10 . In the embodiment shown (FIG.  3 ), second frame  16  is rotated upside down through 180 degrees. In embodiments where hooks  54  are not positioned in the manner shown in FIG. 2, there may be no need to rotate second frame  16  once it is detached from first frame  14 . Hooks  54  are used to releasably secure second frame  16  to a suitable support such as a stall door or wall  66  (FIG.  4 ). Saddle supports  18  are then attached to second frame  16  by engaging hooks  60  over second ribs  52  (FIGS.  5  through  8 ). Saddles  64  may then be positioned on the saddle supports  18 . Bridle support  62  may be positioned on either second frame  16  or directly onto stall wall  66 . The saddles and other tack are therefore supported above the ground in a manner that allows for maximum utilization of space within the stall. The first frame  14  may be collapsed onto base  12  so that frame  14  and base  12  may be stored away easily in a small space. 
     When it is time to leave the show, saddles  64  are removed from saddle supports  18 , saddle supports  18  are removed from second frame  16  and are re-engaged with the first ribs  38 ; second frame  16  is rotated through 180 degrees (in the case of the embodiment shown) and is re-engaged with first frame  14 . The saddles are re-positioned on saddle supports  18  and the cart may be wheeled to the next desired location. 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
     Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention are by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. 
     Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles of the invention, the manner in which the horse tack cart is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, and combinations are set forth in the appended claims.