Patent Publication Number: US-11377343-B2

Title: Adjustable gullet plate with interchangeable portions

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present specification relates generally to gullet plates and more specifically to a gullet plate with radially adjustable joints and interchangeable parts that may be installed in a saddle tree system and adjusted incrementally to accommodate different horse body shapes or changes therein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A proper fit between a saddle and a horse&#39;s body shape is paramount to not only maximizing comfort and freedom of movement while riding, but also minimizing risk to a horse&#39;s health and well-being. Horses have historically been an asset both in work and sport and, as competitive riding became increasingly popular, the saddle industry evolved to meet the various demands of those seeking the best riding equipment. Different saddle types, like English, Western, and military saddles, were devised with the diverse needs of contemporary riders in mind and with each unique saddle reflecting the different demands a horse and rider may encounter. 
     Nonetheless, there are several common goals in designing the saddle trees that provide saddles with their shape and fit. All saddle trees must bridge the withers, appropriately distribute weight, and balance the rider. Furthermore, saddle fitting must focus on numerous factors to ensure that performance, comfort, and the health of the horse are not impeded by a poor fit. In particular, a proper fit must account for saddle balance, wither clearance, gullet channel for spinal clearance, gullet width, panel contact, billet alignment, saddle straightness, saddle length, tree angle, and tree width. Absent a calculated match between any of these factors to a horse&#39;s body shape, a horse may experience significant health problems and a restricted range of movement. 
     Even after accounting for these various factors, a horse&#39;s body shape may change. Muscular atrophy is common among horses who do not receive consistent training and may even occur in response to an ill-fitting saddle during active training. Changes in muscle mass and posture can also occur rather quickly, with mere weeks of training, or a lack thereof, causing a horse to gain or lose muscle mass. 
     These common and often recurring changes in horse body shape can cause several health problems if unaddressed with a refitted saddle. For example, a horse may experience muscle tightness at the front edge of its shoulder blades if the gullet plate pinches at the withers on the trapezius muscle, causing the horse to contract the muscle to avoid pain. A horse may also experience lameness if the insertion of the trapezius is pinched at the withers, once more, because of a saddle gullet plate that is too narrow in tree width and tree angle. Horses may also twitch, lose hair, blister, buck, or exhibit shortened strides or other movement limitations if subjected to an ill-fitting saddle. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for improvements in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an adjustable gullet plate comprised of two apex portions, an adjustable apex joint, at least one terminal portion, at least one adjustable terminal joint, wherein the two apex portions are connected to the adjustable apex joint in the center, and wherein at least one of the apex portions is connected to the at least one terminal portion at the at least one adjustable terminal joint, and wherein the apex portions and the at least one terminal portion contain interlocking elements, and wherein the adjustable apex joint and the at least one adjustable terminal joint are secured using at least one fastener. 
     According to an embodiment, the adjustable gullet plate may be further comprised of at least two terminal portions connected to each other at an at least second adjustable terminal joint. 
     According to an embodiment, the two apex portions and the at least one terminal portion are interchangeable with different apex portions or terminal portions to optimize saddle fit. 
     According to an embodiment, the interlocking elements are spaced at equal radial increments of known radial displacement. 
     According to an embodiment, the dimensions and designs of the two apex portions and the at least one terminal portion of the adjustable gullet plate are configured for use in an English saddle. 
     According to an embodiment, an interior width or an interior angle between any combination of the apex portions or the at least one terminal portion can be increased or decreased using the adjustable apex joint or the at least one adjustable terminal joint to optimize saddle fit, even asymmetrically. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a saddle system comprised of a saddle tree, a gullet, at least one saddle tree covering, and an adjustable gullet plate further comprised of two apex portions, an adjustable apex joint, at least one terminal portion, at least one adjustable terminal joint, wherein the two apex portions are connected to the adjustable apex joint, and wherein at least one of the apex portions is connected to the at least one terminal portion at the at least one adjustable terminal joint, and wherein the apex portions and the at least one terminal portion contain interlocking elements, and wherein the adjustable apex joint and the at least one adjustable terminal joint are secured using at least one fastener. According to a preferred embodiment, there is one adjustable apex joint and two adjustable terminal joints, each of which is secured by a single fastener. 
     According to an embodiment, the adjustable gullet plate is secured to the saddle tree using at least one installation fastener. According to a preferred embodiment, the adjustable gullet plate is secured to the saddle tree using at least four installation fasteners on each side—two on each apex portion, and two on each terminal portion. 
     According to an embodiment, the dimensions and designs of the two apex portions, the at least one terminal portion, the saddle tree, and the saddle tree covering, are configured for use in an English saddle. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of adjusting an adjustable gullet plate while the adjustable gullet plate is installed in a saddle system, comprised of accessing at least one fastener securing at least one adjustable apex joint or at least one adjustable terminal joint of the adjustable gullet plate, loosening the at least one fastener to disengage interlocking elements on any combination of at least one apex portion or at least one terminal portion to permit radial movement of the at least one apex portion or the at least one terminal portion, adjusting the radial displacement of any combination of the at least one apex portion or the at least one terminal portion to adjust at least one interior tree angle or at least one interior tree width to fit a horse&#39;s body shape, and tightening the fastener to engage interlocking elements on any combination of the at least one apex portion or the at least one terminal portion to prevent radial movement of the at least one apex portion or the at least one terminal portion. 
     According to an embodiment, the method of adjusting an adjustable gullet plate is based on at least one equally spaced radial increment of the interlocking elements. 
     According to an embodiment, the method of adjusting an adjustable gullet plate could create an asymmetric or symmetric configuration to fit a horse&#39;s body shape. This is determined by adjusting at least one of the terminal portions, not the apex portion. According to an embodiment, the apex portions can be adjusted for tree width and tree angle symmetrically only, whereas the terminal portions can be adjusted asymmetrically for tree angle. 
     Other aspects and features according to the present application will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The principles of the invention may better be understood with reference to the accompanying figures provided by way of illustration of an exemplary embodiment, or embodiments, incorporating principles and aspects of the present invention, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates how tree width and tree angle affect saddle fit; 
         FIGS. 2( a ) to 2( b )  show a front and top view of an adjustable gullet plate, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  shows an embodiment with interlocking elements and a screw-based fastener; 
         FIGS. 4( a ) to 4( d )  show an adjustable gullet plate installed in a saddle, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  shows front, off-center views of different adjustable gullet plate embodiments with apex and terminal portions of different dimensions, curvature, and design; 
         FIG. 6  shows an adjustable gullet plate with only one terminal portion and only one adjustable terminal joint, according to an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 7  shows an adjustable gullet plate in an asymmetric configuration, according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The description that follows, and the embodiments described therein, are provided by way of illustration of an example, or examples, of particular embodiments of the principles of the present invention. These examples are provided for the purposes of explanation, and not of limitation, of those principles and of the invention. In the description, like parts are marked throughout the specification and the drawings with the same respective reference numerals. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and in some instances proportions may have been exaggerated in order to more clearly to depict certain features of the invention. 
     According to an embodiment, this description relates to adjustable gullet plates with radially adjustable joints and interchangeable parts that may be installed in a saddle tree system and a method of adjustment to accommodate different horse body shapes or changes therein. 
     According to an embodiment, the present description relates to an adjustable gullet plate comprising two apex portions, an adjustable apex joint, at least one terminal portion, at least one adjustable terminal joint, wherein the two apex portions are connected to the adjustable apex joint, and wherein at least one of the apex portions is connected to the at least one terminal portion at the at least one adjustable terminal joint, and wherein the adjustable apex joint and the at least one adjustable terminal joint are secured using at least one fastener. 
     According to an embodiment, the present description relates to interlocking elements housed within either end of apex portions and within at least one end of at least one terminal portion and which may be equally spaced at about 5° radial increments. 
     According to an embodiment, the present description relates to an adjustable gullet plate with dimensions and designs of two apex portions and at least one terminal portion configured for use in an English saddle. 
     According to an embodiment, the present description relates to adjusting the interior tree width or interior tree angle between any combination of the apex portions or the at least one terminal portion using an adjustable apex joint or at least one adjustable terminal joint. According to an embodiment, the apex portions can be adjusted for tree width and tree angle symmetrically only, whereas the terminal portions can be adjusted asymmetrically for tree angle. 
     According to an embodiment, the present description relates to securing an adjustable gullet plate to the saddle tree using at least one installation fastener. According to an embodiment with two apex portions and two terminal portions on each side of the adjustable gullet plate, the adjustable gullet plate is fastened to the saddle tree with a total of 9 fasteners—one at the top, and two for each portion on each side. 
     Adjusting Tree Angle and Tree Width to Ensure Asymmetric or Symmetric Saddle Fit 
     Matching tree angle and tree width to a horse&#39;s naturally uneven conformation and body shape is instrumental in ensuring a proper saddle fit and minimizing the risk of injury to both horse and rider. A mismatched tree angle or tree width (on either side of the horse) can also affect saddle balance, wither clearance, panel contact, saddle straightness, spinal clearance, saddle length, balance alignment point and billet alignment, which can further impede a rider&#39;s ability to compete to the best of their ability. 
     Both tree angle and tree width are largely determined by the structure and dimensions of the gullet plate installed in a saddle tree. The angle of the tree must be adjusted to match the angle of a horse&#39;s shoulders. As a horse moves, the shoulders will rotate upwards and backwards, and an appropriate tree angle must match the angle of the horse&#39;s shoulders as it moves. 
     Similarly, the tree width at the gullet plate of a saddle must be wide enough for a horse&#39;s shoulders to rotate freely under the tree. However, if the tree width is too wide, the entire saddle may rock or slip during riding or the back half of the saddle may twist to one side or the other. If the tree width is too narrow, the horse will experience scapular damage and possible muscle atrophy with increased risk of injury to the horse and rider, as the horse&#39;s ability to move freely is grossly impeded. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates how saddle fit is generally determined by adjusting tree angle and tree width. Three different saddle tree widths matched to the widths of a horse&#39;s withers  1100 ,  1110 , and  1120  and three different saddle tree angles  1200 ,  1210 , and  1220  are shown to illustrate the impact of increasing or decreasing such tree widths or tree angles in fitting a saddle to a horse&#39;s body shape. Wider withers ought to be fitted with a wider tree width, whereas the broader a horse&#39;s shoulders relative to its withers, the more likely a broader tree angle would be suitable. 
     In reducing the risk of injury, it is important to match the dimensions of the saddle to the unique contours of a horse&#39;s body. Consequently, saddles are best fitted where both tree angle and tree width are adjusted together. Merely adding flocking to or removing flocking from the vertical panels of a saddle will not adequately solve problems arising from a mismatched tree angle or tree width. Instead, the gullet plate must be either replaced or adjusted. 
     However, matching a gullet plate to the unique musculature and posture of a horse can be a nuanced and difficult exercise. This exercise is further complicated by the natural cycles of muscle growth and posture change that accompany regular training and riding or muscle atrophy that may occur when a horse is not receiving regular exercise. 
     Thus, gullet plates must be reassessed regularly to determine whether refitting is necessary. If a gullet plate needs to be replaced, various saddle components often need to be disassembled to access and remove the old gullet plate and install a new plate that matches the new dimensions of the horse. Furthermore, a rider may need to own a multitude of gullet plates of different dimensions to ensure appropriate saddle fit throughout a riding season. Professionals refitting a saddle may also need to conduct some trial and error in evaluating an appropriate fit because the dimensions of a saddle may not be adjusted via gullet plate replacement while the saddle is on a horse. This further adds to the overall duration and complexity of a saddle refitting. There is also some risk of damage to the saddle if removal and installation are not conducted carefully by a trained expert. For example, some of the more delicate leather or synthetic materials may tear if gullet plate swapping is conducted too hastily or haphazardly. 
     Every horse&#39;s musculature and posture are unique and there are often subtle differences in angle and width at multiple points across its back. Inaccurate fits result from the use of saddle trees configured in such a way that does not reflect the natural shape of a horse&#39;s body and the resulting ill-fitting saddles may harm a horse and impede rider performance or comfort. 
     Consequently, increasing the number of possible saddle configurations by introducing additional points of adjustment on a gullet plate that reflect the natural, generally uneven shape of a horse can help ensure saddles fit comfortably without the need for replacing one ill-fitting gullet plate with an entirely different gullet plate. Using radially adjustable joints and interchangeable gullet plate parts improves the speed and accuracy of a saddle fitting and methods that permit gullet plate adjustment while installed in a saddle reduce the burden on and requisite expertise of the party performing the adjustment. A method of adjustment may be intuitive and easy to conduct such that riders can self-adjust the gullet plate to match the configuration of a saddle to their horse&#39;s body shape and would only have to use common household tools, if any. This is increasingly important when considering that horses go through regular cycles of muscle gain and loss and that nearly all horses have some degree of natural asymmetry to their body shape. Furthermore, such asymmetry cannot be adequately accommodated in saddle fitting by making a symmetric change to the saddle&#39;s structure. Put another way, such symmetric changes may increase the suitability of the saddle&#39;s fit on one side of the horse to the detriment of the other side. 
     An Adjustable Gullet Plate that Accurately Matches Horse Body Shape on Both Left and Right Sides 
     According to an embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2( a ) , there is an adjustable gullet plate with interchangeable parts designed as two apex portions  2100  and  2110  connected to an adjustable apex joint  2200  at one end and each connected to one of two terminal portions  2300  and  2310  at one of two terminal joints  2400  and  2410  at the other end of the apex portions. According to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2( a ) , three screw-based fasteners  2500 ,  2510 , and  2520  are used to secure interlocking elements housed within either end of the two apex portions and within one end of each of the two terminal portions.  FIG. 2( b )  shows a top side view of the same embodiment. 
     According to an embodiment as shown in  FIG. 3 , there are interlocking elements  3100  and  3110  housed within the ends of any combination of apex or terminal portions  3200  and  3210  and which may be used to secure the adjustable gullet plate in a desired configuration with the use of a screw-based fastener  3300 . According to a further embodiment, the interlocking elements may be of different depths to more securely lock any combination of apex or terminal portions into an adjusted configuration. According to an embodiment, the interlocking elements are spaced at equal radial increments. According to a further embodiment, the interlocking elements are spaced at known radial increments of about 5°. 
     According to an embodiment, an adjustable gullet plate may be installed in a saddle. According to a further embodiment, the saddle includes a saddle tree, gullet plate, and at least one saddle tree covering. According to a further embodiment, the adjustable gullet plate is secured to the saddle tree using at least one installation fastener. According to an embodiment comprised of two apex portions and one terminal portion, at least five installation fasteners are used to secure the gullet plate to the saddle tree on the side with the terminal portion, with one at the top of the apex portion and two for each portion of the apex and terminal portions, and at least one or two more installation fasteners on the side with only the apex portion. According to embodiments shown in  FIGS. 4( a ) to 4( b ) , an adjustable gullet plate  4100  is installed in a saddle tree  4200  of a saddle using installation fasteners  4300 ,  4310 ,  4320 ,  4330 , and  4340  and is covered by leather saddle seat on top ( 4400  and  4410 ) and by gullet leather on the bottom. According to an embodiment shown in  FIG. 4( c )  and  FIG. 4( d )  where the adjustable gullet plate is configured for use in an English saddle, the saddle tree coverings of the saddle may be comprised of leather or synthetic material, or any combination thereof and may include a seat  4500 , skirt  4505 , panel  4510 , flap  4515 , pommel  4520 , cantle  4525 , and waist  4530  or at least one knee roll  4535 , stirrup leather, stirrup leather keeper, stirrup pad, stirrup iron, stirrup bar, D-ring  4540 , seat nail  4545 , billet  4550 , or buckle guard  4555 . 
     According to an embodiment, the apex and terminal portions of an adjustable gullet plate can be removed and replaced in a piece-wise manner. According to a further embodiment, an apex or terminal portion may be removed and replaced with an apex or terminal portion of different dimensions and design. Such a replacement can be done to match the dimensions and design of an apex or terminal portion to the natural contours of a horse&#39;s body. 
     According to an embodiment as shown in  FIG. 5 , adjustable gullet plates comprised of apex portions  5100  and  5110 ,  5200  and  5210 , or  5300  and  5310  and terminal portions  5120  and  5130 ,  5220  and  5230 , or  5320  and  5330  are of different dimensions and designs and are secured using screw-based fasteners  2500 ,  2510 ,  2520  to create configurations suitable to different horse body shapes or riding purposes. Apex and terminal portions may be manufactured to replicate the natural shape of a horse&#39;s body and used interchangeably with other apex and terminal portions to further optimize fit. 
     According to an embodiment as shown in  FIG. 6 , an adjustable gullet plate is comprised of, at minimum, two apex portions  2100  and  6100 , one terminal portion  2300 , one adjustable apex joint  2200 , and one adjustable terminal joint  2400  secured using two screw-based fasteners  2500  and  2520 . 
     According to an embodiment, the gullet plate is comprised of two apex portions and more than one terminal portion. According to a further embodiment, terminal portions may be connected successively to increase the number of points of adjustment on an adjustable gullet plate. This consequently increases the number of configurations available to optimize fit. 
     According to an embodiment, the adjustable gullet plate can be adjusted while installed in a saddle. Screw-based fasteners can be accessed through small leather covered apertures on a saddle and loosened to disengage the interlocking elements securing any combination of at least one apex portion or at least one terminal portion. Once loosened, the portions of the gullet plate can be moved radially to adjust the configuration of a gullet plate and match its configuration to a horse&#39;s body. Upon identifying a desired configuration, the screw-based fasteners can be tightened to once more engage the interlocking elements on any combination of gullet plate portions to prevent unintended radial movement. According to a further embodiment, the saddle apertures for accessing the screw-based fasteners covered by small leather flaps to protect the joints from the elements. 
     According to an embodiment as shown in  FIG. 7 , the adjustable gullet plate shown in  FIGS. 2( a ) and 2( b )  may be configured asymmetrically by adjusting any combination of interior angles at an at least one adjustable terminal joint  2400  or  2410  to change the orientation of an adjustable terminal portion  2300  or  2310  or an interior width of the gullet plate. Since many horses have inherent asymmetry to their musculature and may exhibit a preference for one bilateral side over the other, an asymmetrically configured saddle can help accommodate and correct otherwise harmful asymmetry in a horse&#39;s body shape. This reduces the risk of injury, improves a rider&#39;s performance, and can help ensure the overall health and longevity of the saddled horse. 
     According to an embodiment with interlocking elements equally spaced at or at about known increments, the gullet plate can be adjusted in a calculated and trackable manner that maximizes accuracy and precision. If a horse&#39;s muscle mass is known to fluctuate throughout a riding season, a user of the adjustable gullet plate may document by what radial degree adjustments are made throughout a season to help expedite subsequent fitting adjustments. For example, if a horse&#39;s muscle mass is known to increase over the course of a riding season to peak at a 5° increase for the apex joint and 10° increase for each of two adjustable terminal joints, a rider can reference this historical adjustment data to anticipate that, in subsequent seasons, the horse will likely peak again at a 5° increase for the apex joint and 10° increase for each of two adjustable terminal joints. Asymmetric or symmetric gullet plate adjustments throughout a riding season can then be scheduled to reflect the horse&#39;s historical cycle of muscle gain and loss and any changes in posture. 
     Lastly, being able to assign quantitative data to changes in posture or horse muscle growth during a riding season provides a loose indicator of some aspects of a horse&#39;s health. Meaningful inferences can then be drawn from these data. For example, if a horse has historically required a 5° increase for the apex joint and 10° increase for each of two adjustable terminal joints due to a gain in muscle mass over the course of a riding season but fails to meet these benchmarks in a subsequent season, it may indicate a lack of appropriate exercise and training or other health problems. 
     Various embodiments of the invention have been described in detail. Since changes in and or additions to the above-described best mode may be made without departing from the nature, spirit or scope of the invention, the invention is not to be limited to those details but only by the appended claims. Section headings herein are provided as organizational cues. These headings shall not limit or characterize the invention set out in the appended claims.