Abstract:
Improved surcingle sets useful with equestrian equipment, and methods of making the surcingle sets, are provided. One such surcingle set ( 200 ) for use with equestrian equipment includes a male component ( 250 ) and a female component ( 210 ). The male component has an extension ( 260 ) extending from a surface ( 268 ) thereof. The female component has a coupling hole ( 220 ) disposed therethrough, the coupling hole including a first hole ( 222 ) and a smaller second hole ( 224 ) connected to the first hole. An inner surface of the coupling hole has a friction layer ( 214 ) disposed thereover. The friction layer has a greater coefficient of friction than the extension. By increasing the friction between the extension and the coupling hole, the extension has a more secure fit in the hole and the likelihood for unintended slippage between the extension and coupling hole is reduced.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to surcingle sets, and more specifically, to improved surcingle sets which will be particularly useful with equestrian equipment and methods of making the surcingle sets.  
         [0002]     The use of horses for both work and play typically requires a variety of accessories and equipment. For example, most people ride horses using a saddle. Underneath the saddle may exist a blanket or liner of sorts to protect the horse from saddle movements. Various saddle bags and other blankets also may be used. For most of this equipment it is desirable to have an attachment mechanism to firmly couple the equipment to the horse or to another piece of equipment on the horse. A variety of clips and belts are typically used. In some cases, surcingle sets are used.  
         [0003]     As shown in  FIGS. 1A-1B , a prior art surcingle set  100  includes a male member  110  and a female member  120 . Male member  110  has a T-shaped extension  112  which is received by a slotted extension  122  in female member  120 . Slotted extension  122  has a lip  124  which holds T-shaped extension  112  in place when male and female members  110 ,  120  are coupled. As can be visualized with reference to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , T-shaped extension  112  must be rotated ninety degrees (90°) relative to slotted extension  122  prior to insertion into slotted extension  122 . Once T-shaped extension  112  has been received in slotted extension  122 , male component  110  is again rotated ninety degrees (90°) relative to female component  120  to lock the two members  110 ,  120  together as shown in  FIG. 1B . Although these type of surcingle sets  100  provide some benefits, one disadvantage is the requirement that one or both members  110 ,  120  be rotated to couple the two members. Further, movements of the horse, including running, jumping and the like, may cause the coupled surcingle set to decouple. Improvements are desired.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention relates generally to surcingle sets, and more specifically, to improved surcingle sets for use with equestrian equipment and methods of making the surcingle sets. Surcingle sets of the present invention will be useful for a wide range of equestrian equipment, and provide for a more secure attachment. Surcingle sets of the present invention also will be useful in non-equestrian fields. For example, bags, backpacks, camping gear, sporting equipment, and a wide range of other items which require an attachment device will be able to make use of surcingle sets of the present invention.  
         [0005]     In one embodiment of the present invention, a surcingle set for use with equestrian equipment includes a male component and a female component. The male component has an extension extending from a surface thereof. The female component has a coupling hole disposed therethrough, the coupling hole including a first hole and a smaller second hole connected to the first hole. An inner surface of the coupling hole has a friction layer disposed thereover. The friction layer has a greater coefficient of friction than the extension. By increasing the friction between the extension and the coupling hole, the extension has a more secure fit in the hole. Further, the likelihood for unintended slippage between the extension and coupling hole is reduced. In some aspects, the extension or the male component has a second friction layer disposed thereover, to further increase the friction between the extension and the coupling hole.  
         [0006]     In some aspects, the female component includes an inner layer and an outer layer, with the outer layer comprising the friction layer. The inner layer includes a metal in some aspects. The metal inner layer helps provide structural strength to the surcingle set. In alternative aspects, the friction layer includes a plastic, a rubber, or the like. The extension is a mushroom-shaped extension in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the extension has a bulbous tip or enlarged end disposed at an end of a stem. The stem has a smaller width or diameter than a tip width or diameter. In some aspects, a width of the extension tip is smaller than the first hole width and larger than the second hole width. In this manner, the enlarged extension end is adapted to be received through the first hole, but is not adapted to be received through the smaller second hole. The stem portion is adapted to slide between the first hole and the second smaller hole. This may occur, for example, upon the application of a force to the extension that is greater than the increased level of friction.  
         [0007]     In some aspects, the male and/or female component(s) further include an opening passing therethrough for coupling the male and/or female component(s) to an equestrian equipment piece. The equestrian equipment may be a blanket, leg guard, bag, or the like.  
         [0008]     The present invention further provides methods of making a surcingle set for use with equestrian equipment. One such method includes providing a male component having an extension, and providing a female component inner layer. The inner layer has a coupling hole disposed therethrough, with the coupling hole having a first hole and a smaller second hole connected to the first hole. The method further includes coating the female component inner layer with an outer layer that has a higher coefficient of friction than the inner layer. The male and/or female components may be attached to one or more equestrian pieces of equipment.  
         [0009]     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIGS. 1A-1B  are overall views of prior art surcingles;  
         [0011]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are overall views of female and male components, respectively, of a surcingle set according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a partial cutaway view of a female surcingle set component according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3B  is an overall view of a female surcingle set component inner layer according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIGS. 3C-3E  are schematic top, rear and side views of the female component depicted in  FIG. 2A ;  
         [0015]      FIGS. 4A-4C  are schematic top, front and side views of the male component depicted in  FIG. 2B ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5A  is an overall view of a coupled surcingle set according to an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0017]      FIGS. 5B-5D  are schematic top, side and front views of the coupled surcingle set shown in  FIG. 5A . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     With reference to  FIGS. 2A-5D , an embodiment of a surcingle set  200  according to the present invention will be described. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the various components within the scope of the present invention. Further, the following description is intended to be illustrative of the invention and not limiting. Surcingle sets of the present invention will have a wide variety of uses in a number of different fields which require a secure attachment device. For example, surcingle sets of the present invention will be useful in the equestrian field, and may be used for coupling blankets, bags, leg guards, saddles, and other equipment to horses or other draft animals. Surcingle sets of the present invention will be particularly useful on the horse blankets described in U.S. application Ser. No. ______, entitled “ Horse Blankets And Methods of Making,”  filed contemporaneously herewith, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, the surcingle sets will be useful for coupling the equipment directly to the animal, while in other embodiments the surcingle sets will be useful for coupling equipment to another piece of equipment.  
         [0019]     In one embodiment, surcingle set  200  includes a female component  210  ( FIG. 2A ) and a male component  250  ( FIG. 2B ). Female component  210  includes a base portion  216  and an attachment portion  218 . Base portion  216  has an opening  230  disposed therethrough. Opening  230  is adapted to receive straps, bands, or other attachment devices which pass through opening  230  for coupling female component  210  to equestrian equipment. While depicted as an elongate slot, opening  230  may have other shapes within the scope of the present invention. Base portion  216  also may be shaped differently in alternative embodiments.  
         [0020]     As shown in  FIGS. 3A-3E , attachment portion  218  includes a coupling hole  220  disposed therethrough. In one embodiment, coupling hole  220  includes a first hole  222  and a second hole  224 . First hole  222  has a greater width or diameter  232  than a width or diameter  234  of second hole  224 . In a particular embodiment, first and second holes  222 ,  224  are connected together by a channel  226 . In other embodiments, first and second holes  222 ,  224  are coupled together without a channel.  
         [0021]     In one embodiment, female component  210  includes an inner layer  212  and an outer layer  214 . As can be seen in  FIG. 3B , in one embodiment inner layer  212  is a hard or rigid layer over which outer layer  214  is disposed. In a particular embodiment, inner layer  212  is a metal, a ceramic, or the like. In some embodiments, outer layer  214  is a plastic, a rubber, polyethylene, a ceramic, or the like. Female component  210  may be manufactured by first forming inner layer  212  using standard molding, casting or the like techniques. Outer layer  214  is then formed over the desired portion of inner layer  212 . Outer layer  214  may be sprayed, wiped, molded, cast or otherwise applied to inner layer  212 . In other embodiments, inner layer  210  is submerged in a container holding outer layer  214  in liquid form, removed from the container and dried. Other manufacturing techniques also are possible within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0022]     As can be seen with reference to the dotted lines in  FIGS. 3C-3E , in one embodiment outer layer  214  completely encompasses inner layer  212 . In another embodiment, outer layer  214  is disposed over the exposed surfaces of opening  220 . In this embodiment, only the surfaces of opening  220 , which are adapted to engage male component  250 , have outer layer  214 . In a particular embodiment, outer layer  214  has a greater coefficient of friction than does inner layer  212 . In this manner, outer layer  214  provides greater resistance to the male component as further described below. Female component  210  has a thickness  236  as shown in  FIG. 3D . Thickness  236  may be a uniform thickness, or thickness  236  may vary at different positions of female component  210 .  
         [0023]     An embodiment of male component  250  is further depicted in  FIGS. 4A-4C . Male component  250  includes a base portion  252  and an attachment portion  254 . Base portion  252  has a slot or opening  280  passing therethrough, similar to opening  230 . Slot  280  is adapted to permit the coupling of male component  250  to straps, bands, buckles, or the like associated with equestrian equipment. Again, base portion  252  and/or slot  280  may have different shapes in alternative embodiments of the present invention. Attachment portion  254  includes an extension  260  which extends from a surface  268  of male component  250 . In one embodiment, extension  260  is a generally mushroom-shaped extension  260 . In another embodiment, extension  260  has a bulbous tip  262  disposed at an end of a stem  264 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 4B and 4C , tip  262  has a greater width or diameter than does stem  264 . Tip  262  is disposed at a height  266  from surface  268 . Height  266  in some embodiments corresponds to a length of stem  264 .  
         [0024]     In a particular embodiment, at least a portion of male component  250  further includes an outer layer. The outer layer (not shown) of male component  250  may cover the entire male component  250 , or may cover only a portion of male component  250 . In one embodiment, the outer layer covers only extension  260 . In another embodiment, the outer layer covers stem  264 . Male component  250  outer layer may comprise a variety of materials, including rubber or the like, and may be manufactured in a similar or same fashion as the outer layer for female component  210 . In a particular embodiment, the outer layer over male component  250  has a higher coefficient of friction than does the underlying layer of male component  250 . Further, in one embodiment some or all of male component  250  has an outer layer while female component  210  does not. In this manner, male component  250  provides the increased friction layer to produce a more secure coupling of male and female components  250 ,  210 .  
         [0025]     Turning now to  FIGS. 5A-5D , the operation of surcingle set  200  will be described. As can be seen, the use of surcingle set  200  involves the coupling of female component  210  with male component  250 . This coupling occurs by female component  210  receiving extension  260  within the larger, first hole  222 . Extension  260 , and more specifically tip  262 , has a width or diameter that is less than or equal to width or diameter  232  of first hole  222 . Further, height  266  is greater than or equal to thickness  236  of female component  210 . As a result, female component  210  and/or male component  250  may be slid relative to each other so that stem  264  slides from first hole  222  into second hole  224 . In one embodiment, stem  264  passes from first hole  222  through channel  226  into second hole  224 . In another embodiment, stem  264  passes from first hole  222  directly into second hole  224 . In a particular embodiment, the sliding of stem  264  from first hole  222  into second hole  224  requires the application of a sliding force to extension  260  and/or to male component  250  that is greater than the friction between stem  264  and the exposed portion of coupling hole  220 .  
         [0026]     Further, the width or diameter of tip  262  is preferably greater than width or diameter  234  of second hole  224  such that male component  250  and female component  210  remain coupled. More specifically, tip  262  cannot slip directly through second hole  224 , but can only be passed through first hole  222 . In this manner, male and female portions  250 ,  210  are decoupled by sliding stem  264  back into first hole  222  and removing tip  262  through first hole  222 .  
         [0027]     In one embodiment, a width  270  of stem  264  is about equal to a width  238  of channel  226 . Further, in the embodiment in which first and second holes  222 ,  224  are connected without channel  226 , width  238  corresponds to the opening in the adjoined portion of holes  222 ,  224 . In this manner, stem  264  may be slid between first hole  222  and second hole  224  with the application of force to male component  250  and/or female component  210  in the desired direction. In a particular embodiment, width  270  of stem  264  is slightly greater than width  238  of channel  226  or the opening between first and second holes  222 ,  224 . In this embodiment, stem  264  and/or the outer layer portion  214  disposed within coupling hole  220  compresses to permit stem  264  to pass through the narrower channel or opening  226 . Upon receipt into smaller hole  224 , an even greater force must be applied to extension  260  to cause stem  264  to pass through the narrowed channel or opening  226  in coupling hole  220 . In a preferred embodiment, the material comprising outer layer  214  of female component  210  provides increased friction between stem  264  and the exposed surfaces of coupling hole  220 . In this manner, coupled components  210 ,  250  remain in the desired orientation.  
         [0028]     A more secure surcingle set coupling results by requiring a greater sliding force to be applied to one or both components  210 ,  250  to change the coupling orientation of extension  260  within coupling hole  220 . This is particularly important on horses or other larger animals as their movement may produce two hundred kilograms (200 kg) or three hundred kilograms (300 kilograms) or greater force on surcingle set  200 . This force is typically greater than the maximum force plastic locking clips can resist. Further, surcingle set  200  maintains its structural integrity in the event the horse jumps or moves suddenly to create the large pulling force.  
         [0029]     The invention has now been described in detail. However, it will be appreciated that the invention may be carried out in ways other than those illustrated in the aforesaid discussion, and that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is not intended to be limited by those specific example, but rather to be accorded the scope represented in the following claims.