Patent Publication Number: US-6698168-B1

Title: Flexible harness saddle tree

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an improved saddle tree which forms a part of the upper band portion of a harness saddle of the type used for trotter and pacer horses who pull carts. 
     The conventional harness used for attaching a sulky or cart to a trotter or pacer horse, in general, comprises a narrow band which encircles the horse&#39;s body, rearwardly of the neck and forelegs. Typically, such a band is formed of an upper, inverted U-shaped part and a lower, generally U-shaped, girth strap part. The two parts are connected together to form the complete, roughly circular, band shape. The shafts or poles of the sulky, which are located on opposite sides of the horse and extend longitudinally of the horse, are connected to the upper part by suitable hitches. In addition, the reins, over-check strap and other straps that are utilized are connected or engaged with the upper part of the band. 
     The harness construction is essentially the same for either trotters or pacers. The essential differences between a trotter and a pacer horse relate to the gaits of the horses. In the case of a trotter, one foreleg and an opposite rear leg of the horse move forwardly and rearwardly together. For example, the left foreleg and the right rear leg move forwardly and rearwardly simultaneously. In the case of a pacer, the horse&#39;s foreleg and rear leg on the same side of the horse move forwardly and rearwardly at the same time. For example, the left foreleg and left rear leg would move forwardly and rearwardly during the running of the horse. The shafts of the sulky or cart, upon which the driver of the horse sits, are essentially the same in construction and are located on opposite sides of the horse. 
     The harness upper band part in the past included a harness tree which is an inverted U-shaped member that fits over and around the back and side portions of the horse. The harness tree, typically is covered on its upper and lower surfaces by suitable padding or strips of leather or plastic. In the past, such trees were formed of wood and more recently, have been formed of narrow, thin strips of metal. Thus, the tree, when arranged between covering flexible strips of leather or other padding, provides stiffness or substantial rigidity to the upper band part. However, the band upper part normally has some limited flexibility in the lateral direction, but substantially no flexibility in the longitudinal direction. 
     When a horse runs, the horse&#39;s body expands and contracts laterally during heavier than normal breathing. In addition, the opposite sides of the horse move in the horses longitudinal direction relative to each other as the horse&#39;s legs move forwardly and rearwardly. Thus, prior stiff or relatively rigid trees cause the harness band upper part to rub longitudinally and to chaff the sides and upper back portions of the horse. This is due to the relative longitudinal forward and rearward movements of the sides of the horse&#39;s body and the static, non-movement of the upper band portion of the harness. This action causes discomfort to the horse, particularly when running any substantial distances during training or during races. 
     The present invention is concerned with an improvement to the harness by constructing a harness tree which resiliently flexes laterally inwardly and outwardly and whose opposite sides resiliently flex longitudinally forwardly and rearwardly in response to the movements of the horse&#39;s body during heavy breathing and during leg movements when running. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention contemplates forming the harness tree, which is encased between upper and lower covering strips to form a composite harness upper band part, in a shape and of material, which enables the tree to resiliently flex laterally inwardly and outwardly of the horse&#39;s body, and longitudinally, in the forward and rearward direction of the horse, to conform to the movements of the portions of the horse&#39;s body which the upper band part overlaps. 
     The tree is formed of a thin, narrow, resilient plastic material which is of an inverted U-shape. Thus, the tree, encased between the upper and lower strips of the upper harness band, covers the horse&#39;s back and the upper portions of the horse&#39;s sides. 
     As the horse breaths inwardly and outwardly so that its body expands and contracts during breathing, particularly heavy breathing, the downwardly extending legs of the U-shaped tree resiliently flex towards and away from each other in accordance with the expansion and contraction movements of the side portions of the horse&#39;s body which are overlapped by the tree. Simultaneously, as the horse&#39;s opposite sides move longitudinally forwardly and rearwardly, relative to each other, the depending legs of the U-shaped tree independently resiliently flex forwardly and rearwardly with the moving side portions of the horse that the legs overlap. Hence, the moving upper band portion of the harness avoids or substantially reduces rubbing or chaffing the horse&#39;s body. This construction, provides a harness which flexibly and resiliently moves with the horse&#39;s overlapped body portions rather than remaining substantially stationary relative to the overlapped body portions. 
     An object of this invention is to provide a harness tree which is encased within the upper portion of the band forming a harness saddle, and which is formed of a material and is of a shape to resiliently flex inwardly and outwardly and forwardly and rearwardly of the horse in response to the movements of the horse&#39;s body to thereby cause the harness to similarly flex so that the harness and the horse&#39;s body are substantially stationary or immovable relative to each other. 
     A further object of this invention is to form a flexible harness tree which resists corrosion or deterioration that frequently occurs in prior saddle trees, particularly those formed of strips of metal. 
     Still a further object of this invention is to provide a harness particularly suited for trotter and pacer horses pulling a sulky or cart, which harness is comfortable to the horse during heavy breathing and longitudinal movements of the sides of the horse during running. 
     Still a further object of this invention is to provide a harness which is durable and resists damage due to the environment in which the harness is used. 
     An additional object of this invention is to provide a harness formed for serving as an anchor or connection point for an overcheck strap, which passes over the horse&#39;s head and neck to help maintain the horse&#39;s head high during running, without imposing an unnecessary or uncomfortable strain upon the horse. 
    
    
     These and other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following description of which the attached drawings for a part. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a trotter horse pulling a sulky or cart and shows the location and use of the harness saddle of this invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective, schematic view of the harness saddle. 
     FIG. 3 shows, in perspective, the three major elements forming the upper part of the harness saddle in disassembled relationship. 
     FIG. 4 is a reduced scale, end view of the saddle tree. 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, end view of the upper portion of the saddle tree. 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the lower surface of the central area of the saddle tree taken in the direction of arrows  6 — 6  of the FIG. 4, with the center plate, illustrated in dashed lines, positioned on the central area of the tree. 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary view showing, in cross-section, a portion of the saddle tree with the view taken in the direction of arrows  7 — 7  of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a portion of the saddle tree taken in direction of arrows  8 — 8  of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional schematic view showing the saddle tree sandwiched between an upper cover strip and a lower padding strip. 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional, schematic view taken in the direction of arrows  10 — 10  to illustrate the tapered fingers formed on the legs. 
     FIG. 11 is a view of the center plate which provides the anchor for the overcheck strap or any other portions of the harness strapping and, simultaneously serves to stiffen the center of the tree. 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the lower surface, of a modified central portion formed on the tree. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is intended to show a preferred embodiment of this invention and is exemplary in nature and not intended to limit this invention. 
     Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a harness saddle  10  positioned upon a horse  11 . The horse is indicated as being in the trotting position. However, the drawing is also intended to represent pacer horses or horses performing any other gait. 
     The horse is shown to be pulling a sulky or cart  12 . The cart, which is conventional, comprises a frame  13  with wheels  14  secured to the frame and a seat  15  upon which the driver  16  sits. The sulky includes a pair of forwardly extending shafts or poles  20  which are positioned on the opposite sides of the horse. The horse has a conventional bridle  21  and a conventional overcheck strap  22  extending from the bridle rearwardly of the horse to the harness saddle. The elongated reins  23  which extend from the bridle to the driver, pass through loops  24  or terrets which are secured on the saddle  10 . The shafts or poles  20  are connected to the saddle by conventional shaft hitches  25 . The hitches, loops or terrets, bridle and the sulky may vary depending upon the particular model or type used at any particular time. These items form no part of the present invention. Those skilled in the art would normally select the particular equipment they choose to use. 
     The harness saddle  10 , in general, forms a circular band that extends around the horse&#39;s body rearwardly of the base of the neck and rearwardly of the forelegs, as schematically shown in FIG.  1 . The saddle includes an upper band part  30 , in the form of an inverted U-shape. The saddle has a lower band part  31  or girth, which is connected to the upper band part by means of billet straps  34  and suitable buckles  35 . (See FIG.  2 ). When the saddle is placed upon the horse, encircling the horse&#39;s body from the upper surface of the horse around the belly of the horse, the straps are suitably tightened by their buckles to hold the harness saddle in its use position. 
     The harness saddle upper band part  30  comprises, as its main parts, a saddle tree  40  which is sandwiched between an upper cover  41  and a lower padding strip  42  which together form the saddle upper band part  30 . The upper cover strip  41  may be made of a suitable flexible plastic or leather material. The lower padding strip  42  may be made of a plastic or leather material which is suitably padded for providing more comfort to the horse. The saddle tree  40  is preferably formed of a suitable, flexible, resilient plastic material. The shape and operation of the saddle tree  40 , in general, is the focus of the invention herein. 
     Prior harness saddles, as mentioned, had saddle trees made of wood or a metal strip or combinations of elongated curved metal strips whose free ends have short plastic strips riveted thereto. The plastic strips form short extensions of the ends of the central metal strip. The conventional, prior saddle trees are generally stiff in the longitudinal direction, but some permit inward and outward lateral flexing. However, with conventional constructions, the harness saddles put considerable side pressure on the horses during heavy breathing when the horses&#39; sides expand and contract quickly. In addition, conventional saddles tend to rub or scuff the sides of the horses as the horses&#39; sides move forwardly and rearwardly relative to each other when the horses are running. The present saddle tree  40 , is formed of a flexible, resilient, relatively thin and narrow band of a plastic material which permits lateral, inwardly and outwardly directed, resilient, flexibility of the legs of the inverted U-shaped saddle. In addition, the legs of the inverted U-shaped saddle tree may resiliently flex forwardly and rearwardly, relative to each other, in the longitudinal directions of the horse. Thus, the saddle band moves with the movement of the horse&#39;s body so that the band and the horse&#39;s body are relatively stationary. That avoids the scuffing, rubbing or inwardly directed pressure previously associated with prior harness saddles. 
     The particular plastic chosen to form the saddle tree may be selected from commercially available plastics by those skilled in the art of plastic molding. The selected plastic material should be durable, flexible and be sufficiently resilient to flex during use as well as to resist the relatively harsh environments in which a harness saddle is used. That is, the plastic material should be capable of resisting cracking or breaking due to the repeated flexing laterally and longitudinally. Prior metal trees, typically formed of a narrow, thin, steel strip, tend to crack or break or to rust or otherwise deteriorate under the conditions of repeated flexing and ambient cold and hot weather conditions, and tend to accumulate moisture from sweat or rain. 
     The saddle tree herein is formed so that its upper central part or bight portion  44 , as will be described below, is generally relatively rigid or non-bendable, while the depending legs  45  tend to flex in the lateral and the longitudinal directions. 
     The saddle tree center portion  44  may be thickened or reinforced so that it is stiffer or less flexible than the integral legs  45  joined thereto. Thus, the bight or center portion  44  may be thicker than the legs  45  which are integral with and extend from the center portion. The exterior surfaces of the legs  45  are provided with outwardly bulged portions  46  that form flat channels. The leg inner surfaces, adjacent the center portion, are provided with inwardly extending, tapered comb-like rib formations  47 . These formations include a transverse base rib  48  extending transversely of the tree band. Tapered finger-like ribs  49  extend longitudinally from the base rib to form a comb-like formation. In addition, cross ribs  50  are formed across the comb-like finger formation. This formation provides a variable flexibility for the legs  45  in the general area where they join the center portion  44  of the tree. The taper of the ribs  49  provides for less flexibility near the center portion of the tree and provides increasingly more flexibility of the rib portions that are more distant from the tree center portion. 
     Elongated beads  51  are formed on the inner surfaces tree legs and extend in a generally elongated U-shape, as illustrated in FIG. 3, along the length of the legs. A center seat  53  is provided at the center portion  44  of the tree (see FIG. 6) to receive a metal plate  26  which serves as an anchor for connecting the conventional overcheck strap and adjustable back strap for the crupper. Simultaneously, the plate  26  stiffens the center portion  44  of the tree. The seat area  53  includes an integral stop  54  to engage and position the plate  26 . A boss  55  near the stop is formed in the seat area. Another boss  56  is formed in the middle of the seat. These bosses fit within corresponding openings formed in the plate  26 . Thus, the plate, see FIG. 11, includes an opening  59  to receive the boss  55  and a second opening  61  to receive the boss  56 . The plate may also have an opening  62  to overlie an opening  63  formed in the seat and an elongated, transversely arranged slot  66  for providing an anchor point for the back strap of the crupper. 
     Sockets or bushings  70  are mounted in the legs of the tree for receiving a mounting spindle portion  71  of the terrets  24  (see FIG.  3 ). Thus, a provision is made for the mounting of the terrets through which the reins may pass. 
     The comb-like, tapered finger configuration may be formed of a solid inwardly extending unitary, wedge shaped configuration or alternatively may be formed with separated tapered fingers, to provide gradual changes in flexibility of the legs near the upper, center portion of the tree. 
     When the tree is arranged between the upper and lower covering strips  41  and  42 , it is sandwiched between the strips by sealing the edges of the upper and lower strips together. If the strips are formed of a thin plastic material, a heat seal can be used join them together to encapsulate the tree  40  between them (see FIG.  9 ). Alternatively, if the strips are made of leather or of leather-like plastic sheet material, the edges of the upper and lower strips may be stitched or riveted together along their adjacent edges to encapsulate the tree between the strips. Thus, the assembled upper band portion of the harness saddle provides a sturdy construction that is flexible and resilient The amount of resiliency depends upon the resiliency of the plastic material that is utilized in forming the tree as well as the tapered configurations where the legs join the center portion. 
     FIG. 12 illustrates a modified tree having a narrowed central bight portion  74 . The opposite leg portions  75  resiliently flex relative to the bight portion. However, the tapered comb-like finger or rib formation  47  provides a variable flexibility at the opposite ends of the narrowed central portion. The seat  76 , formed at the center of the bight portion may also be provided with an extension  77  at one edge along with the stop  54  at its opposite edge. The extension may be formed with edge projections  78  and the stop  54  may be provided with edge projections  79  which help position the tree relative to its upper and lower cover strips (not shown). 
     This invention may be further developed within the scope of the following claims. Having fully described an operative, preferred modification or embodiment of this invention, I now claim: