Patent Publication Number: US-8112975-B1

Title: Saddle horn cover apparatus

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     Applicant(s) hereby incorporate herein by reference any and all U.S. patents and U.S. patent applications cited or referred to in this application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Aspects of this invention relate generally to saddle horn covers, and more particularly to a saddle horn cover apparatus configured for engagement on a saddle horn to provide padding thereon while a user is performing various horseback riding activities. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     By way of general background, over the years, many different sporting-type activities have developed in the context of horseback riding. One such horseback riding activity is called team roping, also known as heading and heeling. Team roping is a rodeo event that features a steer and two mounted cowboys or cowgirls. The first roper is referred to as the “header,” who ropes the front of the steer, usually around the horns; the second is the “heeler,” who ropes the steer by its hind feet. Team roping is the only rodeo event where men and women compete equally together, in either single gender or mixed gender teams. Cowboys originally developed this technique on working ranches when it was necessary to capture and restrain a full-grown animal. The header must rope the steer with one of three legal catches: clean horn catch (around both horns), a neck catch (around the neck) or a half-head catch (around the neck and one horn). The header then takes a dally, which means a couple of wraps of the rope around the neck of the saddle horn. Speed is important and some have lost fingers in this event. Once the header has made the dally, he will turn his horse, usually to the left, and the steer will follow, still running. The heeler waits until the header has turned the steer. When he or she has a clear way, he throws a loop of rope under the running steer&#39;s hind legs and catches them. As soon as the heeler also dallies tight, the header turns his horse to directly face the steer and heeler. Both horses back up slightly to stretch out the steer&#39;s hind legs, immobilizing the animal. As soon as the steer is stretched out, an official waves a flag and the time is taken. The steer is then released and trots off. A successful professional-level team takes between four and twelve seconds to stretch the steer, depending on the length of the arena. At lower levels, a team may take longer, particularly if the heeler misses the first throw and has to try again. Because speed is such an important factor in this sport, every movement by the header and heeler is critical and, thus, performed as fast as possible. Because of this, the header and heeler frequently hit their hands on the head of the saddle horn as they attempt dally their ropes as quickly as possible. Saddles, including the saddle horn, are typically made of a hard underlying material, such as wood or fiberglass, and then covered with rawhide and/or leather. Thus, hitting one&#39;s hand on a hard saddle horn in team roping or other horseback riding activities can cause serious hand injuries, specifically to the metacarpal bones. 
     The following art defines the present state of this field: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 426,934 to Heffernan discloses a removable cover for riding saddles composed of a foldable water-proof fabric having a seat portion adapted to cover the seat of the saddle, and provided with a pocket at one edge to engage the end of the saddle, a strap at the opposite edge of the seat portion, side flaps depending from the side edges of the seat portion, and securing straps and hooks around the edges of the side flaps. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 515,239 to Leupold discloses an attachment for side saddles by the use of which the rider&#39;s skirt will be effectually prevented from catching on the pommel during the act of dismounting or when thrown. The attachment consists of an elastic strap provided at one end with means for fastening it to the saddle, at the opposite end with loops to secure it to the lower pommel and at an intermediate point with a pocket adapted to be secured to the upper pommel. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,106,648 to Graves discloses a front rigging for swell fork riding saddles comprising a strap with a mid-portion and two sets of two elongated strap members each, said sets extending oppositely from opposite ends of the mid-portion, and the strap members at their free ends being formed into ring engaging loops, each set of strap members being longer than the mid-portion and arranged in embracing relation to the respective swells of the swell fork. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,388,530 to Parker discloses a roping saddle horn assembly adapted to be mounted upon a saddle tree comprising an inner core having a polygonal shape in cross-section, means for connecting one end of said inner core to a saddle tree, a head detachably connected to the other end of said inner core, and an outer removable rubber tubular sleeve of similar polygonal shape in cross-section constituting a friction generating material surrounding said inner core and extending from beneath said head to said connecting means. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,707,827 to Strang discloses a strip of rubber having strap extensions at each end which are wrapped around the horn of a western saddle to increase the friction thereof, and the strap ends are secured together by the Conway buckle, and the excess strap ends are cut after the wrap is completed. The rubber thereby increases the friction and a lariat rope is wound around the wrap in roping cattle in the usual way, but requires a less number of turns of the rope around the rubber-wrapped saddle horn. 
     G.B. Patent No. 2,050,136 to Smith discloses a saddle cover comprising a functional surface for contacting a rider&#39;s legs, the surface having little friction against human skin and a backing anti-slip surface for contacting the saddle. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,075 to Motsenbocker discloses an improved saddle comprising a saddle tree which is padded and upholstered on its top. The saddle tree is attached to a padded and flexible saddle skirt by connecting flaps which are affixed to the top of the skirt and which overlie marginal portions of the upholstered tree. Screws or other fasteners are employed to connect the flaps to the upholstered tree. Preferably four flaps are provided, one at each corner of the tree. Cinch rings are mounted on the forward pair of flaps. A stirrup strap is passed through slots in the tree about the middle thereof. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,821 to Hiser discloses a protective cover for use with a riding saddle comprising a flexible central panel having side panels depending from its respective opposite sides for enclosing the stirrup leathers of the riding saddle. The flexible central panel has a sleeve attached to a front portion for receiving a saddle horn. According to this arrangement, the cover adjusted about the saddle by a drawstring inserted therethrough a casing defined by a folded edge of the flexible central panel, which permits the protective cover to be fitted onto riding saddles of different sizes. In order to maintain a snug fit of the flexible central panel to the riding saddle, the flexible central panel also includes elastic webbing, allowing the protective cover to conform to the complex curvature of the saddle. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,006 to Jones discloses a rubber fitting for installation on the saddle horn of a conventional saddle, to enhance friction with the rope during the cattle roping process, and to remain securely attached to the horn as long as needed, being a one piece hollow cylindrical fitting in the form of a sleeve of molded rubber of a type which will produce good friction with the rope wrapped thereon, with an inner diameter sufficiently undersized in relation to the saddle horn that it achieves a tight, tensioned fit over the saddle horn, though large enough that it can be stretched to be installed over the saddle horn after soap lubrication of the saddle horn and the interior of the fitting; having alternate forms for differing pommel and forks of various saddle and horn geometries of different conventional saddles, with suitable angling of the top and bottom edges of the fitting for achieving optimum fit with the pommel, fork and saddle horn geometry of each saddle model, so that the bottom of the fitting, when installed, will fit flush against the saddle&#39;s pommel and fork, so that the rope may not work under the bottom edge of the fitting; and so that the forward edge of the top of the fitting will fit beneath the forwardly projecting cap at the top of the saddle horn, so as to further resist forces tending to lift the fitting off the saddle horn. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,775,965 to Yarbrough discloses a quick release designed as a safety tool for heelers participating in the sport of team roping. During the history of team roping numerous heelers have cut off fingers and hands, when wrapping the rope around the horn of their saddle in an effort to pull the rope tight around the steer&#39;s hind legs. This quick release was designed to eliminate the dally (wrapping the rope around the horn) process. The quick release strap is wrapped around the saddle horn and buckled into place. The end of the rope is placed in the loop of the quick release. After the steer is roped, the heeler pulls on the release and the rope is freed, thus eliminating any chance of fingers or hands being caught between the rope and the horn. For added safety, the rope can be released whether it is tight or loose. 
     G.B. Patent No. 2,418,125 to Ratcliffe discloses a waterproof cover for a riding saddle having pouches on its underside to receive the saddle flaps and oblong openings through which the stirrup leathers and irons can be passed, the openings being protected by waterproof flaps. The cover is made in two parts joined to provide a substantially saddle-shaped cover and is held in position over the saddle by a tensioning cord which passes through tabs spaced around the periphery of the underside of the cover. 
     The prior art described above teaches various types of saddles, protective covers for saddles, and friction-enhancing attachments configured for engagement with the neck of a saddle horn. However, the prior art fails to teach a saddle horn cover apparatus configured for engagement with a saddle horn in order to provide padding over that portion of the saddle while a user is performing various horseback riding activities. Aspects of the present invention fulfill these needs and provide further related advantages as described in the following summary. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects of the present invention teach certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the exemplary advantages described below. 
     The present invention solves the above described problems by disclosing a saddle horn cover apparatus for providing padding over at least a portion of a saddle horn. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a cover sized for engagement on the saddle horn. A padding is configured for being received within the cover in a position between the saddle horn and an inner surface of the cover. Thus, with the apparatus so engaged on a saddle horn, the apparatus provides padding to protect the user from injuring their hands while performing various horseback riding activities, such as team roping. It should be noted that while team roping is used as an exemplary horseback riding activity, the present invention is not so limited, and can be used in conjunction with a wide range of horseback riding activities now known or later developed. Additionally, because nearly every saddle horn has relatively the same geometric shape and dimensions, the present invention can be used nearly universally on any saddle horn. Thus, in its exemplary embodiment, the saddle horn cover apparatus is a one-size-fits-all device, though certainly custom-fitting saddle horn covers may be practiced according to aspects of the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope. 
     A primary objective inherent in the above described apparatus is to provide advantages not taught by the prior art. 
     Another objective is to provide such an apparatus that is capable of providing padding over at least a portion of a saddle horn. 
     A further objective is to provide such an apparatus that is capable of removable engagement on a wide range of saddle horns. 
     A still further objective is to provide such an apparatus that provides a cover configured for selectively receiving a padding. 
     Other features and advantages of aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of aspects of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate aspects of the present invention. In such drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view thereof in use as engaged on a saddle horn; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a further perspective view thereof; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view thereof; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view thereof as engaged on a saddle horn, taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention providing a neck padding; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention as engaged on a saddle horn. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The above described drawing figures illustrate aspects of the invention in at least one of its exemplary embodiments, which are further defined in detail in the following description. 
     With respect to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of a saddle horn cover apparatus  10  for providing padding over at least a portion of a saddle horn  12  ( FIG. 2 ) while a user  14  ( FIG. 2 ) is performing various horseback riding activities. Saddle horns are well known in the art, and typically comprise a proximal horn head  16  and a distal horn neck  18  ( FIG. 8 ). The apparatus  10  itself comprises a cover  20  configured for removable engagement on the saddle horn  12 . Preferably, the cover  20  is made of a relatively flexible material, such as leather. However, other materials, both flexible and non-flexible, as well as methods of manufacture, now known or later developed, may be substituted, including but not limited to a molded or formed rubberized material. In an alternate embodiment, the cover  20  is permanently secured to, or integral with, the saddle horn  12 . 
     A head portion  22  of the cover  20  is sized for encasing the horn head  18  when the apparatus  10  is engaged on the saddle horn  12 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The head portion  22  further defines a first opening  24 , shown best in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , which is sized for allowing the horn head  16  to pass therethrough. A neck portion  26  of the cover  20  is integral with the head portion  22 , preferably about a perimeter  28  of the first opening  24 . The neck portion  26  extends distally from the head portion  22  and terminates in a second opening  30 , also sized for allowing the horn head  16  to pass therethrough. The neck portion  26  itself is configured for encasing at least a portion of the horn neck  18  when the apparatus  10  is engaged on the saddle horn  12 . The first and second openings  24  and  30  are interconnected, thereby forming a single continuous opening in the cover  20  for allowing the saddle horn  12  to be inserted therethrough. 
     In one embodiment, shown best in  FIG. 1 , the neck portion  26  provides a slit  32  extending between the first and second openings  24  and  30 , thereby forming a pair of opposing flaps  34 . The slit  32  functions to enlarge the diameter of the second opening  30 , allowing the apparatus  10  to be more easily engaged and disengaged on the saddle horn  12 . In a further embodiment, shown in  FIG. 7 , the flaps  34  each provide a means for selectively closing the slit  32  to cooperate in securing the apparatus  10  in place once it is engaged on the saddle horn  12 . Preferably, the means for selectively closing the slit  32  is a snap  36  or similar fastening means. However, other types of fastening means now known or later developed, such as hook and loop fasteners, may be substituted. 
     As shown best in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , a soft head padding  38  is configured for being received within the head portion  22  in a position between the horn head  16  and an inner head surface  40  of the head portion  22 . The head padding  38  is preferably made of a resilient material, such as foam or gel. However, other types of soft, resilient material, now known or later developed, may be substituted. In the preferred embodiment, the head padding  38  is selectively removable, thus allowing head paddings  38  of varying degrees of resiliency to be interchangeably used in the apparatus  10 . In an alternate embodiment, the head padding  38  is permanently secured within the head portion  22 . Preferably, when the apparatus  10  is engaged over the saddle horn  12 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , the head padding  38  is substantially in contact with an upper surface  42  of the horn head  16 . Thus, when the user  14  is performing various horseback riding activities, such as team roping, their hands  44  are protected from injury, should they strike the saddle horn  12 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     In one embodiment, as best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , a bottom surface  46  of the head padding  38  provides a recess  48  sized and configured for receiving the upper surface  42  of the horn head  16  therein, thereby creating a more secure engagement between the apparatus  10  and the saddle horn  12  and discouraging the head padding  38  from shifting while the apparatus  10  is in use. 
     In an alternate embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the apparatus  10  merely comprises the head padding  38  without the cover  20 . Thus, the head padding  38  is directly engagable on the upper surface  42  of the horn head  16  by way of stitching, adhesives, or any other permanent or non-permanent engagement means, now known or later developed, the head padding  38  in this alternative embodiment effectively functioning as both the cover and the padding. 
     In a further embodiment, as best shown in  FIG. 7 , a soft neck padding  50  is configured for being received within the neck portion  26  in a position between the horn neck  18  and an inner neck surface  52  of the neck portion  26 . Similar to the head padding  38  described above, the neck padding  50  is preferably made of a resilient material, such as foam or gel. However, other types of soft, resilient material, now known or later developed, may be substituted. In the preferred embodiment, the neck padding  50  is selectively removable, thus allowing neck paddings  50  of varying degrees of resiliency to be interchangeably used in the apparatus  10 . In an alternate embodiment, the neck padding  50  is permanently secured within the neck portion  26 . Additionally, in one embodiment, the head padding  38  is integral with the neck padding  50 . In another embodiment, the head padding  38  and neck padding  50  are two separate pieces. 
     While aspects of the invention have been described with reference to at least one exemplary embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here, that the inventor(s) believe that the claimed subject matter is the invention.