Patent Abstract:
Horse hoods, horse neck covers, and methods of making same which result in at least improved fit and comfort, are provided herein. One such horse hood or neck cover includes a base portion (110), an upper neck portion (120), and a gusset (140) coupled between the base portion and the upper neck portion. Each of the portions and gusset may be generally symmetric relative to a common centerline (160). The gusset is adapted to provide a hinged movement of the upper neck portion relative to the base portion when the upper neck portion is rotated relative to the base portion. In this manner, the neck cover has an expansion feature when a horse (300) or other animal wearing it lowers its head, to graze, drink, eat, or the like.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to horse covers, and more specifically, to horse hoods, horse neck covers, and methods of making same which provide improved fit and comfort. 
   Horse blankets are commonly used to keep horses warm when they are not being ridden or worked. Blankets may range from a thin summer sheet similar to a T-shirt, to a thicker winter blanket. Blankets for outdoor use may be waterproof, while blankets used only in stables or indoors may not be waterproof. In addition to blankets, neck covers and hoods also may be used to keep the horse warm, and in some cases dry. Horse hoods may extend along a horse&#39;s neck and cover a portion of the horse&#39;s face. Horse neck covers may extend along the horse&#39;s neck, but stop behind the ears. Horse neck covers and hoods often are used in conjunction with the horse blankets. 
   Unfortunately, horse hoods and neck covers can restrict the horse&#39;s neck movements, particularly when connected to the horse blanket. For example, when the horse bends its head down, the neck cover can pull on the blanket, causing it to lift up and be misshaped. Even stretchable neck covers provide resistance to the horse&#39;s movement, due at least in part to the stretching of the material. Improvements are desired in at least fit and comfort. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to horse covers, and more specifically, to horse hoods, horse neck covers, and methods of making same. Horse hoods and neck covers of the present invention are designed to provide improved fit and/or greater comfort when in use on the horse. While described as a horse neck cover, neck covers of the present invention also may be used with other draft animals, farm animals, or domesticated pets. A neck cover according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a base portion, an upper neck portion, and a gusset coupled between the base portion and the upper neck portion. Each of the portions may be generally symmetric relative to a common centerline. The gusset is adapted to provide a hinged movement of the upper neck portion relative to the base portion when the upper neck portion is rotated relative to the base portion. In this manner, the neck cover has an expansion feature when the horse or other animal wearing it lowers its head, to graze, drink, eat, or the like. 
   In one aspect, the gusset is hingedly coupled to a lower edge of the base portion and a lower edge of the upper neck portion. In one aspect, the gusset is generally disposed under the base portion and the upper neck portion when the base portion and upper neck portion are in a first positional relationship. The gusset may be a foldable, generally triangular-shaped insert disposed between the base portion and the upper neck portion. 
   In some aspects, the base portion is adapted to be coupled to a horse blanket, and/or the upper neck portion further includes a face cover portion. In this later embodiment, the face portion covers at least a portion of the horse&#39;s face, forehead, forelock, poll, crest, nose, ears, and the like. 
   In one embodiment, the base portion and/or upper neck portion includes a generally wind resistant outer material around a filler material. The gusset also may be a wind resistant material. In some embodiments, the gusset does not have a filler material to facilitate folding of the gusset material under and/or between the base and upper neck portions. Couplers also may be included for coupling together opposing edges of the upper neck portion, and/or opposing edges of the base portion. In this manner, the neck cover is maintained on the horse. 
   In another embodiment, a horse neck cover according to the present invention has right and left side portions adapted to lie along a horse&#39;s neck and extend down the right and left sides of the horse&#39;s neck, respectively. The horse neck cover includes a first segment having right and left side edges and a front edge. The first segment may be coupled to a horse blanket in some embodiments. A second segment is coupled to the first segment right and left side edges. In some aspects, the first and second segments each have a crown portion positioned generally symmetrically between the respective right and left side edges. The crown portion or center line is adapted to lie along the horse&#39;s neck. A gusset is coupled between the first segment front edge and the second segment back edge. The gusset is adapted to allow relative rotational movement of the second and first segments. 
   In one aspect, the relative rotational movement includes a rotational movement of the second segment relative to the first segment about an axis of rotation generally formed where the second segment is coupled to the first segment right and left side edges. The relative rotational movement is provided by a horse lowering its head or neck in some aspects. In another aspect, a common seam is formed by the right side edges of the first and second segments to which the gusset is coupled. Similarly, a common seam may be formed by coupled left side edges of the first and second segments to which the gusset is coupled. 
   In one aspect, the gusset has its greatest length between the first segment front edge and the second segment back edge at the crown portions. The gusset may further comprise a foldable material which is adapted to fold between the first and second segment crown portions. In this manner, the neck cover has an expandable feature to provide increased comfort and improved fit for the horse. 
   In one aspect, the gusset is at least partially folded under the first or second segment. This may occur, for example, when the second segment is in a non-rotated state such that the first segment front edge and the second segment back edge are generally adjacent each other. Similarly, the first segment front edge and the second segment back edge are spaced apart when the second segment is in a rotated position. In this position, the gusset may be at least partially exposed between the first segment front edge and the second segment back edge. By moving in this manner, the horse hood or neck cover does not rub unnecessarily on the horse&#39;s neck or withers which would cause unnecessary chafing, rubbing or irritation to the horse&#39;s neck or withers. If coupled to a blanket, the gusset helps prevent or reduce the likelihood that the blanket will be pulled upward or otherwise move out of place when the horse lowers its head. 
   The present invention further provides methods of making horse hoods and neck covers. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a base portion having right and left side edges and a front edge, and providing an upper neck portion having right and left side edges and a back edge. The base portion right side edge at the front edge is coupled to the upper neck portion right side edge at the back edge. The base portion left side edge at the front edge is coupled to the upper neck portion left side edge at the back edge. A gusset is coupled between the base portion front edge and the upper neck portion back edge. 
   In some aspects, the gusset is further coupled to the right side edges and/or the left side edges of the base portion and the upper neck portion. The gusset may comprise a foldable material adapted to fold under the base portion front edge and the upper neck portion back edge. In one aspect, the coupling of the right and left side edges of the base portion and upper neck portion define right and left hinge points adapted to permit relative rotation between the base portion and the upper neck portion. 
   The base portion may be further coupled to a horse blanket, and a face cover may be further coupled to the upper neck portion. Alternatively, the upper neck portion includes the face cover portion. 
   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 
       FIGS. 1A–1B  are simplified side views of a neck cover according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a simplified side view of the neck cover of  FIGS. 1A–1B  for use with a horse blanket; and 
       FIGS. 3A–3B  are simplified side views of the neck cover of  FIGS. 1A–1B  on a horse. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1A–1B , an embodiment of a horse neck cover  100  according to the present invention will be described. While this embodiment is described having multiple features, alternative embodiments of the present invention may have one or more of these features individually, or in combination. With respect to  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment horse neck cover  100  has right and left side portions. Only the left side portion is depicted in  FIGS. 1A–1B . In a preferred embodiment, horse neck cover  100  is generally symmetrical in shape about a centerline or crown  160 . In this embodiment, the right side portion of neck cover  100  will have at least some of the features depicted in the left side portion. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the use of the terms front, back, top, bottom, left and right are intended to describe the configuration of neck cover  100  when draped over a horse  300  as shown in  FIGS. 3A–3B . When neck cover  100  is not on a horse, the front, back, left, and right nomenclature may be reversed or altered. 
   Neck cover  100  includes a first segment  110  and a second segment  120 . In one embodiment, first segment  110  is a base portion  110  and second segment  120  is an upper neck portion  120 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1B , a gusset  140  is disposed between first portion  110  and second portion  120 . In one embodiment, gusset  140  is coupled to both portions  110  and  120  by a stitching, by a separate strip of material, with an adhesive, or the like. In a particular embodiment, gusset  140  is coupled to a front edge  114  of first portion  110  and is coupled to a back or rear edge  126  of second portion  120 . First portion  110  includes a back edge  116  and a side edge  112 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1B , side edge  112  is a left side edge when neck cover  100  is disposed on a horse. 
   Second portion  120  includes a front edge  124  and a side edge  122 . In one embodiment, side edges  122  and  112  are coupled together. In a particular embodiment, side edges  122  and  112  define a single seam extending from back edge  116  to front edge  124 . The seam may comprise the same materials as portions  110  and  120 , or a different material. In some embodiments, second portion  120  further includes one or more couplers  150 . In a particular embodiment, coupler  150  wraps underneath the horse&#39;s neck or throatlatch, and is used for coupling a right side of second portion  120  to the depicted left side of second portion  120 . Coupler  150  may be a wide range of couplers including, for example, a hook and loop fastener such as Velcro®. 
   When neck cover  100  is in a first configuration, rear edge  126  of second portion  120  and front edge  114  of first portion  110  are disposed generally adjacent each other. In this configuration, gusset  140  is disposed at least partly under first portion  110  and/or second portion  120 . In another embodiment, gusset  140  folds, collapses, scrunches or otherwise compresses together underneath first portion  110  and/or second portion  120 . In some embodiments, a portion of gusset  140  may be disposed between back edge  126  and front edge  114  when neck cover  100  is in the configuration shown in  FIG. 1A . 
   When the wearer of neck cover  100  lowers their head or neck, neck cover  100  takes on the second configuration as depicted in  FIG. 1B . More specifically, a relative rotation occurs between first and second portions  110  and  120 . Typically, second portion  120  rotates relative to the first portion  110 . This rotation may occur about a rotation point or rotation region  170 , that is generally at the interface between edges  122  and  112 . The counter clockwise rotation of second portion  120  (as depicted in  FIG. 1B ) causes rear edge  126  to separate from front edge  114 , exposing some or all of gusset  140 . In this manner, first portion  110  does not significantly move, slide, or pull when the wearer of neck cover  100  causes a rotation of second portion  120 . Instead, first and second portions  110 ,  120  separate to expose gusset  140 . Further, gusset  140  is, in one embodiment, not a substantially stretchable material. As a result, there is no resistance to the rotation of second portion  120  relative to first portion  110 . Rotation of second portion  120  causes gusset  140  to unfold, unfurl, unbunch, or the like. Hinge point or rotation regions  170  may be a fixed seam portion coupling edges  112  and  122 . In alternative embodiments, hinge point  170  may include a rotation device to permit rotation of edge  122  relative to edge  112 . This may include a pin, a spool-shaped device, a grommet, or the like adapted to permit the relative rotation between portions  110  and  120 . 
   As depicted in  FIG. 1B , gusset  140  may comprise a generally triangular-shaped gusset. In this embodiment, gusset  140  may have a shorter length  142  adjacent edges  122  and  112 , and a longer length  144  along crown  160 . 
   In one embodiment, first and second portions  110  and  120  are made of nylon, wool, cotton, other natural or synthetic fibers, or the like. The material may be breathable, to allow perspiration or other liquid to evaporate through the material of portions  110 ,  120 . In a particular embodiment, first and second portions  110 ,  120  comprise a generally wind resistant material to protect the wearer of neck cover  100  from wind, rain, and other elements. In one embodiment, first and second portions  110 ,  120  comprise one or more sheets of wind resistant material disposed around a filler material. The filler material may comprise a wool, cotton, polyester, foam, or other filling. The filler material is adapted to provide additional warmth to the wearer of neck cover  100 . 
   In one embodiment, gusset  140  comprises the same or identical materials as first and second portions  110  and  120 . In one embodiment, gusset  140  also includes a filler material disposed within an outer, generally wind-resistant material. In another embodiment, the filler material of gusset  140  is of reduced thickness compared to the filler material of first and second portions  110 ,  120 . In this manner, gusset  140  folds more easily under and/or between first and second portions  110 ,  120 . In another embodiment, gusset  140  comprises a generally wind-resistant material similar or identical to that used in the outer layer of first and second portions  110  and  120 , but does not include a filler material. This further increases the ability of gusset  140  to fold, collapse, scrunch, or otherwise fit under and/or between first and second portions  110  and  120 . 
   In one embodiment, neck cover  100  is manufactured by providing first portion  110  and second portion  120  as generally depicted in  FIG. 1A . The first portion edge  112  is coupled to the second portion edge  122  on both the right and left sides, and on the left side depicted in  1 B. This coupling of edges  122  and  112  may, in one aspect, include sewing a single seam or strip of edge material along or over edges  112  and  122 . Gusset  140  is coupled between the first portion front edge  114  and second portion rear edge  126 . Gusset  140  may be coupled to front edge  114  by stitching or otherwise attaching a seam or hem to the first portion  110  and gusset  140 . Gusset  140  may be coupled to rear edge  126  by stitching or otherwise coupling a seam or hem to second portion  120  and gusset  140 . Gusset  140  may be further coupled to edges  122  and  112  on the left and right side of neck cover  100 . The coupling of gusset  140  to edges  112 ,  114 ,  122  and/or  126  may occur before, during, or after edges  112  and  122  are coupled together. 
   In one embodiment, neck cover  100  further includes a face cover (not shown in  FIGS. 1A–B ). For example, neck cover  100  may include an extension of second portion  120  that is adapted to extend over a portion of the horse&#39;s head and may cover some or all of the horse&#39;s face. In one embodiment, the face cover includes cutout portions adapted to receive the horse&#39;s ears, and may also include eyeholes so that the horse can see through the face cover. In another embodiment, the face cover is coupled to front edge  124  using a variety of coupling devices including Velcro, adhesive, stitching, or the like. In this manner, a customized face cover may be affixed to neck cover  100  in one embodiment. 
   As previously noted, in some embodiments neck cover  100  is used in conjunction with a blanket  200 . Blanket  200  may be a wide range of blanket types, thickness, sizes and the like. Blanket  200  may be made from one or more sheets or pieces of waterproof blanket material, or non-waterproof material. In some embodiments, blanket  200  is a multi-layered blanket for use in colder climates or seasons. Alternatively, blanket  200  is a thinner material for use in warmer climates or warmer seasons. Blanket  200  may comprise some or all of the same material as neck cover  100 . 
   In one embodiment, blanket  200  includes one or more couplers to hold the blanket on the horse. For example, in one embodiment, the coupler includes one or more belly bands. As shown in  FIG. 2 , a first band portion  242  is stitched or otherwise attached to the left side portion of blanket  200 . A second band portion  240  couples to first band portion  242  using a coupling device  250 . Second band portion  240  has an end or other segment that is coupled, stitched or otherwise attached to the right side portion of blanket  200  (not seen in  FIG. 2 ). Second band  240  then extends underneath the horse to attach to first band portion  242 . Coupling device  250  operates to hold band portions  240  and  242  together to help maintain blanket  200  on a horse. As shown in  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment two crossing second band portions  240  are used to help affix blanket  200  to a horse. Other band arrangements or combinations may be used within the scope of the present invention. For example, a single combination of band portions  240 ,  242  may be used. Alternatively, two bands are used that do not cross as depicted in  FIG. 1 . Other coupling mechanisms also fall within the scope of the present invention. 
   Additional details on blanket  200 , and coupling devices  250  for use with the present invention are found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/949,727, entitled “ Surcingle Sets and Methods of Making ,” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/949,726, entitled “ Horse Blankets And Methods of Making ,” both filed Sep. 24, 2004, both assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and the complete disclosures of both incorporated herein by reference. 
   In some embodiments, blanket  200  further includes one or more couplers  220  for coupling a blanket front edge  210  to neck cover  100  as schematically depicted in  FIG. 2 . Front edge coupler  220  may include a coupling mechanism similar to coupler  250  in one embodiment. In another embodiment, coupler  220  comprises a ring that is sewn or otherwise attached to blanket  200 . Neck cover  100 , and more specifically base portion  110 , includes a coupling apparatus (not shown) adapted to engage and/or be coupled with coupler(s)  220 . For example, base portion  110  may include one or more ring couplers, lobster claw couplers, surcingle components, latches, belts, snaps, zippers, elastic, or the like that are adapted to connect to coupler(s)  220 . In one embodiment, the coupler(s) associated with base portion  110  are disposed on an inner surface of base portion  110 . This coupler is adapted to engage coupler  220 . In another embodiment, the couplers of base portion  110  are disposed near or at back edge  116 . In still another embodiment, neck cover  100  is integrally formed with blanket  200 , so that separate couplers are not needed. In another embodiment, neck cover  100  is sewn to blanket  200 . In particular, neck cover second portion back edge  116  may be sewn to blanket front edge  210 . 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B  depict neck cover  100  used by a horse  300 . Neck cover  100  as depicted is used in conjunction with blanket  200 . However, in other embodiments neck cover  100  is used without blanket  200 . Neck cover  100  may be coupled to blanket  200  as described in conjunction with  FIG. 2 . In another embodiment, neck cover  100  has a sufficiently sized first portion  110  that extends over at least a portion of blanket  200 . For example, first portion  110  may extend over the withers portion of blanket  200 . In this embodiment, coupling device between  100  and  200  may not be needed, or alternatively is hidden under first portion  110 . 
     FIG. 3A  depicts neck cover  100  showing centerline  160  generally falling along the horse&#39;s neckline and a portion of the horse&#39;s withers. Again, depending on the size of neck cover  100 , the crown or centerline  160  of neck cover  100  may extend along the centerline of the horse&#39;s back. In some embodiments, neck cover  100  includes a face cover or hood portion, as schematically shown by dotted lines  310 . The face cover or hood portion may be coupled to second portion  120  using a variety of fasteners including ones similar to coupler  220  or base portion  110  coupler(s). In an alternative embodiment, the face cover or hood portion is sewn to second portion  120 . In still another embodiment, second portion  120  is integrally formed with a face cover or hood portion. In this embodiment, front edge  124  lies along the horse&#39;s nose. 
     FIG. 3B  depicts horse  300  extending their head forward or lowering their head such that neck cover  100  operates as previously described. More specifically, the lowering of the neck or head of horse  300  causes a rotation of second portion  120  relative to first portion  110  about hinge region  170 . As a result, gusset  140  is exposed, but gusset  140  still provides a protective cover to the horse&#39;s neck. Further, the rotation of neck cover  100  as depicted in  FIG. 3B  minimizes or helps prevent tugging or pulling on first portion  110 . In the embodiment in which neck cover  100  is not coupled to blanket  200 , the rotation of the horse&#39;s head causing gusset  140  to be exposed helps prevent or minimize the movement of first portion  110  relative to blanket  200 . In this manner, the two components covering horse  300  are not moving or sliding relative to each other to any significant degree. As a result, increased comfort and fit are provided for horse  300 . In embodiments in which neck cover  100  is coupled to blanket  200 , the expansion of neck cover  100  by exposing gusset  140  also reduces or eliminates pulling on blanket  200  causes by the movement of horse  300 &#39;s neck or head. Again, increased comfort and fit may be achieved. 
   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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0