Abstract:
The inventive saddle pads are for placement between a saddle and a horse&#39;s back, or between a saddle and the rider, for therapeutic and cushioning protection for the horse and for the rider. The saddle pads incorporate a perforated honeycomb cellular structure which contours to the horse&#39;s back and/or the saddle to provide uniform load distribution. The honeycomb cells of the pad are aligned perpendicular to the horse&#39;s back and flex with movement to reduce shear forces against the horse&#39;s skin. The ability of the honeycomb to contour and flex with the movement helps keep the pad securely in place, eliminating rubbing and chafing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to saddle pads for therapeutic and cushioning protection for the horse and for the rider.  
           [0002]    The saddle pads of the present invention incorporate a perforated honeycomb cellular structure which contours to the horse&#39;s back and/or the saddle and provides uniform load distribution. The cellular structure relieves pressure by distributing it away from “hot spots.” As a result, bony areas of the horse and/or the rider “feel” the same pressure as the surrounding anatomy.  
           [0003]    When compressed when they are between the saddle and the horse, the honeycomb cells line themselves perpendicular to the horse&#39;s back and flex with movement to reduce sheer forces against the horse&#39;s skin. The ability of the honeycomb to contour and flex with movement helps keep the pad securely in place, eliminating rubbing and chaffing.  
           [0004]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the honeycomb structures are incorporated within a surrounding fabric or leather pad portion.  
           [0005]    In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, the honeycomb pad is shaped and utilized to be placed independently between the saddle and the horse or between the saddle and the rider.  
           [0006]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the portion of the pad that is positioned over the horse&#39;s shoulders at the withers is provided with honeycomb cells that are more rigid than the honeycomb cells in the remainder of the pad. This provides greater protection to the horse where greater pressure is normally applied to the horse in situations such as a working cowboy standing in the stirrups and securing his/her position on the horse by pressing with the inside of his/her legs against the horse&#39;s shoulders.  
           [0007]    In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, the pad is formed with a self-supporting contour. Preferably, the contour placed in the region of the horses shoulders and withers is curved upwardly more than the contour at the rearward end of the pad. This pad is made by molding the pad as is conventional with other embodiments but then folding the pad over on itself and pressure sealing the folded pad in a substantially arcuate line of the pad and core adjacent the folded edge so the pad itself establishes a curved contour. With this embodiment, the pad can be switched back and forth so that either of the two broad surfaces can form the upper or outwardly exposed surface of the pad. With this construction in one embodiment of the present invention, the color of the different sides of the same pads can be selected to conform with the color traditionally used for different types of horse show riding such as white for dressage and black for hunter-jumper.  
           [0008]    Since the pad in the present invention is made from a biomaterial which is not affected by moisture or sweat, it is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and odor resistant. Both the honeycomb core and the covers are machine washable and dryer safe.  
           [0009]    In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, the saddle pad is made of a honeycomb core that has a single perforated thermoplastic elastomeric facing and the opposite face of the pad is covered with a cloth material such as stretch nylon which provides even greater ventilation for the horse. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a plane view of a saddle bag in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view with the top cover sheet partially broken away in the foreground and with the position of the walls of the honeycomb core illustrated in phantom in the far rear background.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the equal pressure characteristics of the saddle pad of the present invention when partially or highly compressed.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a schematic elevational view illustrating how the cells of the saddle pad flex to diffuse lateral forces.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a western saddle pad incorporating aspects of the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of an English saddle pad incorporating aspects of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a side perspective view illustrating a close contact show pad incorporating aspects of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a dressage pad incorporating aspects of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8A is an enlarged perspective view of the end of the structure shown in FIG. 8, with the saddle pad with a perforated honeycomb insert portion partially withdrawn from its normal position.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a bare-back and training pad incorporating features of the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9A is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 9, with the honeycomb insert partially removed from its storage position.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 is an alternative embodiment of the present invention incorporating cellular honeycomb of different flexibilities.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 11 is a plane view of the initial formation of a saddle pad for producing a contoured pad.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 12 is a view showing the structure of FIG. 11 folded in position for molding to establish a contour.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 13 is a plane view of the rib in a mold to establish a curved edge to the folded pad shown in FIG. 12, which produces a contoured pad.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the pad formed from the sequence of use of FIGS.  11 - 13 .  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 15 is a front view taken along line  15 - 15  of the structure shown in FIG. 14.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 16 is a rear elevational view taken along line  16 - 16  of the structure shown in FIG. 14.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 17 is an elevational sectional view of a portion of a saddle pad in accordance with the another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0029]    Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a plane elevational view of a saddle pad  20  made in accordance with the present invention having two side panel portions  22 , each containing a perforated honeycomb structure consisting of a perforated cellular core and perforated cover panels wherein the cover panels are thermal compression bonded around the periphery  26  of the pad and along a separation portion  28  centrally and longitudinally of the pad where the pad will fold over the top of the horse&#39;s back.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2 illustrates a section  44  of the honeycomb material that makes up each of the panels  22  of the pad  20 . The honeycomb section  44  is formed with a perforated honeycomb core  48  and perforated facing sheets  49  and  50 . The dashed lines  51  illustrate the normal full coverage of the top facing sheet  49 . At the periphery of each panel portion  22  and at the separation portion  28  the edges of the sheets  49  and  50  are pressed down and thermal bonded together around the periphery  26  of the pad.  
         [0031]    The honeycomb core  48  is made from sheets of a selected grade thermoplastic elastomeric material that has been pre-formed such that a matrix of small holes  59  exists throughout. The sheets are compression bonded together in spaced intervals staggered between alternating sheets as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,039,067, 5,180,619 and 5,617,595 and incorporated herein by reference. The resulting stack is then cut into strips which when expanded create a honeycomb network of elongated generally hexagonal-shaped cells  52 .  
         [0032]    Each cell  52  of the honeycomb core  48  is defined by four generally S-shaped wall segments, each interior wall of which is shared by an adjacent cell. The wall segments of each cell  52  include a single thickness wall portion  54  and a double thickness wall portion  56 .  
         [0033]    The upper and lower faces  58  and  60  of the walls forming several cells are deformed during a planerization operation as disclosed in the referenced patents to stabilize the honeycomb core and prevent the expanded strip stock from collapsing. The facing sheets  49  and  50 , cut from sheets of resilient thermoplastic material, are then compression bonded to the upper and lower faces  58  and  60 . The addition of the facing sheets  49  and  50  strengthens the core.  
         [0034]    By perforating both the honeycomb core and the facings, the weight of the material is reduced while the resiliency and flexibility is increased. The weight is reduced because perforations reduce the overall quantity of the material comprising the honeycomb and facing. Similarly, the flexibility is increased because there is less material to constrain each segment of the material from bending. The resiliency, or ability of the structure to spring back to its original form from being compressed, is also enhanced by virtue of the additional passages through which air can return to fill the cells. It will be appreciated that the resilient but damped restorative characteristics of the structure make it an excellent absorber of shock waves.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 3 illustrates how the honeycomb cellular structure contours to the horse&#39;s back and provides uniform load distribution, and FIG. 4 illustrates how the honeycomb cells align themselves perpendicular to the horse&#39;s back and flex with movement to reduce sheer forces against the horse&#39;s skin.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 5 illustrates a western saddle pad provided on each side with a zippered panel  50  which contains a removable honeycomb insert. The underside is lined with breathable wool that works with the ventilated honeycomb to keep the horse&#39;s back cool. The top line of the pad is split and connected with breathable wool to further promote ventilation. Ample honeycomb in the rear of the pad easily accommodates the extra weight of saddle bags. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, in a western saddle pad as shown in FIG. 5, each of two separate panels of honeycomb are sealed on their perimeters on three sides and then the two unsealed perimeter portions of the two panels are heat sealed together to provide a single panel with a middle center seal.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 6 discloses an English saddle pad embodiment of the invention preferably made from plush, ultrasuede that is both durable and machine washable. The zippered cover  60  contains two removable honeycomb panel inserts that are anatomically-shaped to insure maximum protection for the horse. Breathable wool on the underside of the pad works with the ventilated honeycomb to wick away moisture and minimize sweat. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, in an English saddle pad a single honeycomb panel is sealed around its perimeter and one of the facing sheets of the honeycomb panel is cut along the middle of the panel. The panel is then folded along the facing sheet cut, and the folded panel is thermally sealed along the center cut.  
         [0038]    In the embodiment of FIG. 7, a close contact show pad  70  has a concealed zipper  72  in the rear of the pad which contains a removable honeycomb panel. The cover is made of high-quality wool fleece with the underside being a breathable cotton quilt. Both the honeycomb and the cover are machine washable and dryer safe. In accordance with another embodiment of this invention, the honeycomb panel of the show pad is provided on one side with a fabric that is heat sealed around the periphery of the pad.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 8 illustrates a dressage pad which contains two removable honeycomb inserts in a cover made of natural, cotton quilt. Both the honeycomb and the cover are machine washable and dryer safe. FIG. 8A illustrates the honeycomb insert  80  partially removed from its normal position.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 9 illustrates a bare-back and training pad, and FIG. 9A illustrates the honeycomb panel partially removed.  
         [0041]    Referring now to FIG. 10, there is an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the separation portion  28 ′ of the saddle pad  20 ′ is open near the front of the pad where the withers of the horse would be located. The front portion  24 A of the pad  20 ′ adjacent the open separation  28 ′ is formed of honeycomb cells that are more rigid than the honeycomb cells in the remainder of the pad. This construction provides greater protection to the shoulder area of the horse when a rider is in working position clamping the rider&#39;s legs to the horse for stability. In an alternative embodiment of saddle pad shown in FIG. 10, the front portions  24 A of the panel or other portions and/or the entire panel are made stiffer by applying a thing denser and/or stiffer perforated honeycomb layer having an outer perforated facing sheet is applied on top of the facing sheet of the honeycomb panel.  
         [0042]    FIGS.  11 - 16  illustrate the manufacture of a self-supporting contoured pad  100  resulting therefrom. This pad is made by molding a pad  102  shown in FIG. 11 as is conventional with other embodiments but with a wider section in the middle of the pad toward the front end of the pad. This pad  102  is then folded along a center line as shown in FIG. 12 and then placed in a sealing mold as shown in FIG. 18 with an arcuate thermal sealing ridge  130  to form an arcuate seal at the position designated  120  in FIG. 12, and wherein the excess portion of the foam pad to the right of the line  120  in FIG. 12 is trimmed to leave the contoured pad as shown in FIGS.  14 - 16 . Because this self-supporting contoured pad  100  is reversible with the identical contour, one face sheet can be made of white material for use in dressage and the other face sheet can be made of black material for hunter-jumper shows. A single pad can then be used for different shows.  
         [0043]    A cross-sectional view of a final embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 17, wherein the honeycomb panel contains only one face panel thermal compression bonded to the core. The cells are open at the other face which is then covered with a breathable, stretch nylon fabric. This pad with the nylon fabric placed against the skin of a horse provides a higher degree of ventilation to the horse&#39;s skin. The honeycomb panel of this embodiment without the second facing sheet is more flexible and drapes easier than the honeycomb panel with two facing sheets.  
         [0044]    As will be appreciated from the foregoing description, many of the embodiments include the saddle pad contained in a pocket in another pad or saddle. Other embodiments include the pad as a separate element that can be positioned between the saddle and the back of the horse. Additionally, the same or a similar pad can be placed on top of the saddle underneath the rider to provide cushioning and therapeutic features for the rider.