Patent Publication Number: US-2018044164-A1

Title: Saddle fastening device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a fastening device, and more particularly to a fastening device for fastening a horse saddle securely on a horse&#39;s back for riding on the horseback by a rider. 
     2. The Prior Arts 
     Horse racing is popular in western counties, like Spain and United Kingdom; there are schools for horse training. Horse training refers to a variety of practices that teach horses to perform certain behaviors when asked to do so by humans. In addition, horseback riding is used as therapy for children with disabilities, like those suffering from cerebral palsy, and it brings effective results. Hence, most people have positive views as far as horseback riding concern. 
     Prior to riding on a horseback, a saddle should be mounted on the horseback and which goes around two lateral sides of the horse&#39;s stomach and is secured by a saddle fastening device that includes a buckle which tongue is inserted into a punch hole of a belt for buckling up with the buckle, thereby preventing untimely removal of the saddle from the horseback. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional saddle fastening device that includes a rectangular buckle body  1  having two side rods  2 , a T-shaped tongue  3  connected pivotally to the buckle body  1  via a spring unit  4  and a reinforced rod  5  interconnecting the side rods  2  in such a manner to define a clearance (A) between the reinforced rod  5  and the T-shaped tongue  3 . Note that the clearance (A) is intended for passage of a fastening belt therethrough. It is noted that the conventional saddle fastening device has the following drawbacks. 
     (1) As best shown in  FIG. 1 , two protrusions  6  are formed at a junction between the T-shaped tongue  3  and the side rods  2  of the buckle body  1  such that during the tightening of the conventional fastening device relative to the saddle, the protrusions  6  will abut against the lateral portions of the horseback, thereby causing discomfort to the horse upon which the conventional saddle fastening device is applied. 
     (2) As best shown in  FIG. 1 , a gap  7  is formed between one side rod  2  and the adjacent protrusion  6  during the fabrication process to permit pivotal connection of the T-shaped tongue  3 . Since T-shaped tongue  3  is fabricated separately and its two opposite ends are latter inserted into the protrusions  6 , the gap  7  is too large for the respective opposite end and hence causes wobbling of the two opposite ends of the T-shaped tongue  3  in the protrusions  6 . 
     (3) It is noted that the clearance (A) between the reinforced rod  5  and the T-shaped tongue  3  is too narrow such that a user finger cannot be inserted into the clearance (A) for manipulating the T-shaped tongue  3  for insertion a free end of the tongue  3  into a punch hole of a fastening belt during the buckling up of the conventional saddle fastening device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a saddle fastening device, in which a hooking tongue can be quickly inserted into a punch hole in a fastening belt so that a horse saddle can be securely mounted on a horseback and which does not cause discomfort to the horse due to free from poking by a pointed portion. 
     A saddle fastening device in accordance with the present invention includes: a buckle body having a transverse rod, two side rods extending transversely from two opposite ends of the transverse rod and a reinforced rod interconnecting the two side rods, the two side rods having an upper side surface defining a first pivot portion and a second pivot portion spaced apart from the first pivot portion and projecting upward from the upper side and a lower side surface generally extending in a horizontal direction; an abutment surface defined by a lateral side of the side rods and is generally flat; a main tongue unit including a pivot lever portion having two opposite ends connected pivotally to the second pivot portion of the buckle body and a hooking tongue extending outward from a center of the pivot lever portion toward and transversely crossing the reinforced rod so as to define a clearance therebetween; a spring sleeved around the pivot lever portion in such a manner to bias the hooking tongue and one of the side rods of the buckle body; a trust rod having two opposite ends connected pivotally to the first pivot portion of the buckle body and a central portion that is located between the opposite ends and that is formed with an annular recess to permit resting of a free end of the hooking tongue therein due to biasing action of the spring; and wherein, the hooking tongue, the reinforced rod and the trust rod cooperatively define a slide space thereamong such that the clearance determines a size of the slide space. 
     Preferably, the hooking tongue of the main tongue unit is formed with a positioning hole at one side thereof while one of the side rods of the buckle body is formed with an insert hole. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the spring is a torsion spring having two distal ends extending respectively into the positioning hole of the hooking tongue and the insert hole in one of the side rods of the buckle body so as to permit resting of the free end of the hooking tongue in the annular recess of the trust rod. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the clearance defined between the hooking tongue and the reinforced rod ranges a distance of 2 mm to 10 mm. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the clearance defined between the hooking tongue and the reinforced rod ranges a distance of 4 mm. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the first pivot portion defines a pair of through holes to permit extension of the two opposite ends of the trust rod therein. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the second pivot portion defines a pair of pivot holes to permit extension of the two opposite ends of the pivot lever portion therein. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the reinforced rod is generally curved toward the pivot lever portion of the main tongue unit. 
     One distinct aspect of the present invention resides in that since the first and second pivot portions extend outwardly from the upper side surface of the side rods while the lower side surface of the side rods extend in the horizontal direction. At the same time, the abutment surface defined by a lateral side of the side rods and is generally flat such that during the tightening of the saddle fastening device of the present invention relative to the saddle, the abutment surface abutting against the horse does not cause discomfort thereto, thereby eliminating the drawback resulted from the use of conventional saddle fastening device. Moreover, the clearance defined between the hooking tongue and the reinforced rod ranges a distance of 2 mm to 10 mm, which facilitates extension of a user&#39;s finger thereinto in order to manipulate the hooking tongue for insertion into a punch hole in a fastening belt or removal of the hooking tongue from the punch hole in the fastening belt. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional saddle fastening device; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a saddle fastening device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded and perspective view of the saddle fastening device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view the saddle fastening device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a user&#39;s finger manipulating a hooking tongue in order to insert the same into a punch hole of a fastening belt of the saddle fastening device of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates how the saddle fastening device of the present invention is in application so as to secure a horse saddle on the horseback of a horse. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 , wherein  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a saddle fastening device of the present invention;  FIG. 3  is an exploded and perspective view of the saddle fastening device of the present invention; and  FIG. 4  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view the saddle fastening device of the present invention. As shown, the saddle fastening device of the present invention is used together with a fastening belt  71  in order to secure a horse saddle  70  on the horseback of a horse, as best shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     The saddle fastening device of the present invention accordingly includes a buckle body  10  having a transverse rod  11 , two side rods  12  extending transversely from two opposite ends of the transverse rod  11  so as to form a generally U-shape, and a reinforced rod  13  interconnecting the two side rods  12 . The reinforced rod  13  is generally curved and extends toward the transverse rod  11 . The two side rods  12  have a first side surface defining a first pivot portion  121  and a second pivot portion  122  spaced apart from the first pivot portion  121  and projecting upward from the first side and a second side surface generally extending in a horizontal direction. In this embodiment, the first pivot portion  121  defines a pair of through holes  1211  while the second pivot portion  122  defines a pair of pivot holes  1221 , the purpose of which will be explained in the following paragraphs. 
     An abutment surface  20  is defined by a lateral side of said side rods  12  and is generally flat. In this embodiment, an upper side surface of the side rods  12  serves as the first side surface so that the first and second pivot portions  121 ,  122  project upwardly from the upper side surface of the side rods  12  while a lower side surface of the side rods  12  serves as the second side surface. To be more specific and in this embodiment, the lower side surface of the buckle body  10  serves as the abutment surface  20 . 
     A main tongue unit  30  includes a pivot lever portion  31  having two opposite ends connected pivotally to the pivot holes  1221  of the second pivot portion  122  and a hooking tongue  32  extending outward from a center of the pivot lever portion  31  toward and transversely crossing the reinforced rod  13  so as to define a clearance (B) therebetween. Preferably, the clearance (B) defined between the hooking tongue  32  and the reinforced rod  13  ranges a distance of 2 mm to 10 mm. To be more specific and in this embodiment, the clearance (B) defined between the hooking tongue  32  and the reinforced rod  13  ranges a distance of 4 mm Note that the hooking tongue  32  of the main tongue unit  30  is formed with a positioning hole  321  at one side thereof and one of the side rods  12  of the buckle body is formed with an insert hole  123  adjacent to the second pivot portion  122 . 
     A spring  40  is sleeved around the pivot lever portion  31  in such a manner to bias the hooking tongue  32  and one of the side rods  12  of the buckle body  10 . In this embodiment, the spring  40  is a torsion spring  41  having two distal ends  411  extending respectively into the positioning hole  321  of the hooking tongue  32  and the insert hole  123  in one of the side rods of the buckle body  10  so as to apply a biasing force on the hooking tongue  32 . 
     A trust rod  50  has two opposite ends connected pivotally to the through holes  1211  of the first pivot portion  121  of the buckle body  10  and a central portion that is located between the opposite ends and that is formed with an annular recess  51  to permit resting of a free end of the hooking tongue  32  therein due to biasing action of the torsion spring  41 . In this embodiment, since the trust rod  50  is rotatable relative to the buckle body  10 , a fastening belt  72  can be wrapped slidably around the trust rod  50  when it is desired as best shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     In the present invention, the hooking tongue  32 , the reinforced rod  13  and the trust rod  50  cooperatively define a slide space  60  thereamong in such a manner that the clearance (B) determines a size of the slide space  60 . In this embodiment, the slide space  60  is provided to permit extension of a user&#39;s finger thereinto in order to manipulate the hooking tongue  32 , a detailed action of which will be given in the following. 
     To further understand the saddle fastening device of the present invention, please see the following paragraphs. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-4  and  FIGS. 5 and 6 , for mounting a saddle  70  on a horseback by using the saddle fastening device of the present invention, the saddle  70  is disposed first of all on the horseback in such a manner that two fastening belts  71  encircle around the stomach of the horse while other two fastening belts  72  extend downward from the other side of the saddle  70 . Since each buckle body  10  is connected to each of the fastening belts  71 , the horse rider can extend his finger into the slide space  60  in order to manipulate the hooking tongue  32  away from the trust rod  50  against the biasing action of the torsion spring  41 , thereby providing a gap between the hooking tongue  32  and the trust rod  50 . At this time, the distal end of the fastening belt  72  can be inserted into the clearance  60  and is wrapped around the trust rod  50  and is pulled so as to tighten the fastening belt  72  relative to the buckle body  10 . After the tightening action, the free end of the hooking tongue  32  is allowed to extend into the nearest punch hole  721  in the fastening belt  72 , thereby finishing mounting of the saddle  70  securely on the horseback. Note that only a single hand is required for pulling and fastening the belt  72  and handle the hooking tongue  32  in order to insert into the punch hole of the belt  72  in the saddle fastening device of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in the same manner, when it is desired to dismantle the saddle  70  from the horseback, the horse ride can use his two fingers pulling the distal end of the fastening belt  72  while another finger is used to lift the hooking tongue  32  away from the buckle body  10 , thereby removing the free end of the hooking tongue  32  out of the punch hole  721  of the fastening belt  72 . 
     One aspect of the present invention resides in that since the first and second pivot portions  121 ,  122  project outwardly from one side surface of the side rods  12 , while the other side surface of the side rods  12  is substantially flat and simultaneously serving as the abutment surface  20  such that the abutment surface  20  abuts smoothly against the horse body during the tightening of the fastening belt  72  relative to the buckle body  10 , thereby eliminating the discomfort caused to the horse when the conventional saddle fastening device is applied. In addition, the clearance (B) defined between the hooking tongue  32  and the reinforced rod  13  ranges from 2 mm to 10 mm, which, in turn, determines the size of the slide space  60  to facilitate extension of the rider&#39;s finger thereinto to manipulate the hooking tongue  32  with respect to the trust rod  50 . 
     Comparing  FIGS. 1 and 2  again, note that there is no clearance  7  present in the second pivot portion  122  of the buckle body  10  of the saddle fastening device of the present invention, no wobbling action of the two opposite ends of the pivot lever portion  31  is resulted after the pivotal connection of the pivot lever portion  31 . 
     Some advantages provided by the saddle fastening device of the present invention are as follows: 
     (1) Since the first and second pivot portions  121 ,  122  project outward from one side surface of the side rods  12  while the other side of the side rods  12  is substantially flat and simultaneously serving as the abutment surface  20  such that the abutment surface  20  abuts smoothly against the horse body during the tightening of the fastening belt  72  relative to the buckle body  10 , thereby eliminating the discomfort caused to the horse when the conventional saddle fastening device is applied. 
     (2) The clearance (B) defined between the hooking tongue  32  and the reinforced rod  13  ranges from 2 mm to 10 mm, which, in turn, determines the size of the slide space  60  to facilitate extension of the rider&#39;s finger thereinto to manipulate the hooking tongue  32  with respect to the trust rod  50 . 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.