Abstract:
The saddle pads have a lower covering layer of a comfort fabric formed from a passive performance fiber. In use this layer lies against the back and sides of a horse and acts to wick perspiration from the horse. The perspiration is then absorbed by the cushioning layer which consists of a polymeric foam backing. The foam backing is, in turn, covered by another hydrophilic layer, which in one embodiment is synthetic sheepskin and in the other is a cloth cover. The saddle pads are constructed with a withers relief gusset.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to equine saddle pads, and more particularly to saddle pads having superior moisture-wicking capacity. The moisture-wicking capacity removes perspiration from the saddle area and enhances localized cooling of the horse. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   A saddle pad is placed between the horse and the saddle and is traditionally structured from felt, cotton, wool, and sheepskin. More recently cushioning materials such as artificial sheepskin, polyurethane foams and other plastic foams of both open- and closed-cell configurations have been used. 
   Typically, in constructing saddle pads, extra care is taken to protect the withers and back of the horse from irritation from the weight and movement of the saddle and rider. The saddle pad also needs to enhance the stability of the saddle mounting so that slippage from the proper location on the horse&#39;s back is avoided. 
   In the disclosure which follows, significant attention is paid to the materials of construction and the teachings of prior art fibers have been considered. From 1970 to date E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del. through the DuPont Dacron Research Laboratory in North Carolina and the Central Research and Development in Delaware developed a family of passive performance fibers utilizing microfiber filaments. These materials are described briefly in the article entitled Viewpoint: 21 st  Century Fibers,  International Fiber Journal  (August, 1999-Vol. 14, Issue 4). The DuPont development of sculpted fibers variously described as oblong, four-channel and scalloped-oval, longitudinally grooved fibers are the subject, among others, of U.S. Pat. No. 3,914,488 to Gorrafa and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,591,523, 5,626,961, 5,736,243 and, 6,013,368 to Aneja. The sculpted fibers (not round) led to the introduction of the COOLMAX® product group of fibers. Further background of this art is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,961, which background is incorporated herein by reference. 
   In the past, several saddle pad patents and published patent applications have come to the attention of the inventor hereof. These are: 
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               Published Patent Applications 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Appl. No. 
               Inventor 
               U.S. Cl. 
               Pub. Date 
             
             
                 
                 
             
             
                 
               2003/0177742 
               Brownlie 
               54/66 
               Sep. 25, 2003 
             
             
                 
               2002/0162307 
               Arnold 
               54/66 
               Nov. 7, 2002 
             
             
                 
               2002/0104295 
               Rauch 
               54/66 
               Aug. 8, 2002 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   
     
       
             
           
             
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               U.S. Patents 
             
           
        
         
             
                 
               Patent No. 
               Inventor 
               U.S. Cl. 
               Issue Date 
             
             
                 
                 
             
             
                 
               6,459,015 
               Lyon 
               604/368 
               Oct. 1, 2002 
             
             
                 
               6,421,989 
               Leson 
                54/66 
               Jul. 23, 2002 
             
             
                 
               5,575,139 
               Green 
                54/66 
               Nov. 19, 1996 
             
             
                 
               5,353,577 
               Thurston 
                54/66 
               Oct. 11, 1994 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   Brownlie, U.S. patent application 2003/0177742, teaches a two-chambered inflatable interface pad with each chamber having a foam core within a valved, thin-skinned envelope. 
   Arnold, U.S. patent application No. 2002/0162307, teaches a numnah having a foam polymer base layer and a planar polymer foam scrim layer attached thereto. The foam polymer layer in the first embodiment is of closed-cell, cross-linked polyolefin foam; and in the other embodiment, of open-cell PVC foam. 
   Rauch, U.S. patent application No. 2002/0104295, teaches a multi-layer saddle pad of non-woven polypropylene foam. The layers are maintained free of any permanent attachments along the periphery. 
   Lyon, U.S. Pat. No. 6,459,015, teaches a disposable saddle blanket of non-woven polypropylene for absorbing and dispersing therewithin the perspiration from the horse or pony. 
   Leson, U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,989, teaches a two-panel saddle pad constructed of a thermoformed polymeric material with longitudinal channels in the panels and a connector strip therebetween. 
   Green, U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,139, teaches a non-slip saddle pad that, when in use, has an innermost layer of open-celled plastic foam (with the cellular structure exposed) in direct contact with the horse. The open cells act like suction cups to reduce slippage of the saddle. 
   Thurston, U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,577, teaches a reversible saddle pad in which billet keepers can, upon reversing the pad, be moved through an aperture to the opposite side of the saddle pad and avoid the billet keepers irritating the horse. Both sides of the pad have a fleece-like covering. 
   While the above patented saddle pads use synthetic materials, there still remains a wicking-absorption-evaporation problem which remains unresolved by the combinations shown. 
   The patents referred to herein are representative of the present state-of-the-art, but do no singly or in combination exhibit the characteristics of the moisture-wicking saddle pad presented, infra. The citing of the patents is not intended as an admission that any such patent constitutes prior art against the claims of the present application. Applicant does not waive any right to take any action that would be appropriate to antidate or otherwise remove any listed document as a competent reference against the claims of this application. 
   Other technical problems are overcome or resolved by the invention disclosed herein. The innovative approach in the design and construction of the saddle pad hereof is contained in the description which follows. 
   SUMMARY 
   The disclosed invention provides a saddle pad, shown in two embodiments, each having a lower covering layer of a comfort fabric formed from a passive performance fiber. In use this layer lies against the back and sides of a horse and acts to wick perspiration from the horse. The perspiration is then absorbed by the cushioning layer which consists of a polymeric foam backing. The foam backing is, in turn, covered by another hydrophilic layer, which in one embodiment is synthetic sheepskin and in the other is a cloth cover. Details of construction are included below as is a description of a withers relief gusset. 
   OBJECTS AND FEATURES OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a saddle pad utilizing a microfiber filamentous fabric with a high rate of moisture wicking; 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a layered saddle pad construction that enhances and optimizes wicking and absorption of perspiration; 
   It is a yet further object to provide a layered saddle pad construction that is light weight and combines comfort fabric with a foam backing layer for cushioning; 
   It is a feature of the present invention to use a comfort fabric made from passive performance fibers, such as a COOLMAX® fabric. 
   Other objects and features of the present invention become apparent by the review of drawings and specification which follow. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings similar parts in the various views are provided with the same reference designators. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the moisture-wicking saddle pad of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 4  taken along line  4 — 4 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the moisture-wicking saddle pad of the present invention, similar to  FIG. 1 , but being styled differently and having a different upper shell structure; 
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of  FIG. 5 ; and 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 6  taken along line  8 — 8 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   For the purposes of this Description, the definitions of “passive performance fibers” and “comfort fabrics” are derived from the article in the  International Fiber Journal  and the DuPont patents cited hereinabove. A passive performance fiber is defined as a sculpted fiber, generally scalloped oval in cross section and having longitudinal grooves in the surface thereof which grooves create a mechanism for wicking away or transporting water from a body. A “comfort fabric” is defined as one utilizing a passive performance fiber and employed in an article that wicks perspiration away from a body. 
   In the first embodiment a moisture-wicking saddle pad is constructed entirely from synthetic materials. The structure is layered and provides optimal comfort for the horse by having a unique arrangement using recently developed comfort materials. In this embodiment, the pad is constructed with an upper shell which is peripherally attached to the lower shell assemblage and thus may be considered to be a self-binding pad. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 4  the saddle pad of the first embodiment is shown and is referred to generally by the reference designator  10 . The upper shell  12  is a synthetic fleece body  14  mounted on a substrate or an open-weave backing material  16 . Unlike natural fleece and, because there are no natural oils to wash off, synthetic fleece  14  retains its compressibility and memory after numerous washings. As noted in Leson, U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,989, supra, saddle pads constructed from natural materials such as raw wool, upon use, lose the natural oils during cleaning and have substantial changes in physical properties. 
   As best seen in the cross-sectional view  FIG. 4 , the perimeter or outer edge  18  is rolled to form a binding portion  20  that surrounds a lower shell  22 . The lower shell  22  is an assemblage of a foam pad  24  and an outer cloth cover  26  fashioned from a fabric constructed of a microfiber filament—a passive performance fiber—described in greater detail hereinbelow. The foam pad  24 , which acts to cushion the impact forces experienced during a ride, is a polymeric cushion foam. The cushion foam is either an open- or a closed-cell plastic foam selected from a cross-linked, low-density polyethylene; ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA); or, polyurethane. It is noted that such foams are most often admixtures of open and closed cells with the “open” and “closed” designation following the predominant cell structure. 
   In this embodiment, the foam pad  24  is attached to cover  26  by an hour glass quilting stitch  28  which is both decorative and functional. The all-over stitching  28  precludes the shifting or bunching up of the pad  24  relative to the cover  26 . As mentioned previously the cover  26  is manufactured from a passive performance fiber under license from DuPont and is known as COOLMAX® fabric, a comfort fabric. The fiber is a sculpted fiber that when extruded is scalloped-oval in cross-section and has a plurality—four or more—of longitudinal channels. Products utilizing fabrics of these fibers are known for moisture-wicking superiority and special applications of the material continue to be found. Because the wicking characteristic is a function of the channeling of the fiber, the wicking does not change with fabric maintenance. 
   A nylon webbing or strap  30  is attached to the topside of saddle pad  10  and, when the pad is placed on the horse, the webbing follows the spine of the horse and bridges the two symmetrical sides of the saddle pad  10 . Upon installation the forward portion of the strap  30  is constructed to be pulled upwards so that the area surrounding the withers of the horse is relieved. 
   Other nylon webbing or straps are mounted on the upper shell  12  to aid in the installation of the saddle pad  10  and saddle (not shown). These include girth straps  32  and  34  and billet straps  36  and  38 . 
   In use, the saddle pad  10  of the embodiment just described wicks the perspiration of the horse along the fiber channels of the COOLMAX® comfort fabric  26  and transports the perspiration through the foam pad  24  to the area of most highly hydrophilic material, namely, the synthetic fleece  14  of upper shell  12 . Thus, after a ride when the saddle pad is demounted from the horse, the inner surface is dry and the outer surface is wet. Additionally, because synthetic materials are used, washing or hosing down the pads will not change the physical properties thereof. 
   Turning now to the second embodiment, another moisture-wicking saddle pad is shown which follows the same principles of construction as the above. In the drawing for this embodiment parts similar to those in the first embodiment are afforded reference designators “100” units higher. Thus, girth strap  132  is analogous to girth strap  32  of the first embodiment. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 5 through 8 , the second embodiment is shown and is referred to generally by the reference designator  110 . The upper shell or cover  112  is a plain fabric such as cotton or nylon and, as a portion of the pad extends, when installed, beyond the saddle, the color of the cover can be selected to match the silks of the owners. Further, in the embodiment as the upper shell  112  is a cloth cover, the binding is external double-roped binding  115 . 
   As best seen in the cross-sectional view  FIG. 8  the perimeter or outer edge  118  is attached by the double-roped binding  115  to a lower shell  122 . Like the prior embodiment the lower shell  122  is an assemblage of a foam pad  124  and an outer cloth cover  126  of COOLMAX® fabric. Here, the COOLMAX® fabric is 65% polyester and 35% COOLMAX® pique. As this embodiment lacks the extremely hydrophilic fleece cover, the foam for cushioning, while selected from the same materials, is optimally more sponge-like and holds more of the perspiration wicked away by the COOLMAX® fabric. 
   The foam pad  124  is sandwiched between upper shell  112  and lower shell  122  by the hour-glass quilting stitch  128  which, in this embodiment, penetrates all three layers. The stitching performs the same function as described above. 
   In the second embodiment, the central bridge  130  terminates at the forward end  131  thereof in a withers relief gusset or insert  133 . This structure relieves stress on the withers of the horse. Because of the use of a cloth cover  112 , the withers relief means  133  is more prominent in this embodiment. The nylon webbing for girth straps  132  and  134  and for billet, straps  136  and  138  are analogous to those of the first embodiment. 
   In use, the saddle pad  110  of the second embodiment wicks the perspiration of the horse along the channeled, sculpted fibers to the sponge—like foam mass therebehind. The superior wicking of the lower shell  122  results, after use, in the surface thereof being dry. This has been found to minimize irritation from saddles and saddle pads. 
   It is understood that variations and modifications of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. Further, the present invention is not limited by the embodiments disclosed, but only by the appended claims when read together with the foregoing specification.