Abstract:
A fly mask for horses has a cage structure supporting a mesh, the structure being formed of semi-rigid plastic splines which hold the mesh away from the eyes and most of the surfaces of the horse&#39;s head. In a preferred form the fly mask has protruding lines at the location of the splines, protecting the mask against excessive wear due to rubbing of the mask against posts or other building structure when worn. A detachable protective nose guard can be included.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to protective coverings for animals, and in particular the invention concerns a fly mask for horses, especially an eye guard, also effective for sun protection. 
     For large animals, horses tend to be sensitive and to have somewhat frequent veterinary problems. They can have a wide variety of skin problems, caused by environment, trauma, parasites and insects, among other things. 
     Flies and insects contribute to a number of skin problems and other disease, and can be a constant annoyance to a horse, sometimes contributing to nervous disorders. Also, horses of light color can sunburn, especially on the muzzle and about the eyes. 
     For insect and sun protection, many different horse masks and blankets have been proposed. Some fly masks have provided good protection against insects and some sun protection, but most fly masks engage against the horse&#39;s muzzle, hair and skin, including around the eyes, to such an extent as to annoy or irritate the horse almost to the extent of insects. Typically the masks are loose and unstructured. Horses often rub their heads, muzzles and eye area against posts or fences in an attempt to alleviate the contact or irritation caused by the mask, sometimes rubbing holes through the mask. 
     The prior art includes a considerable number of fly masks for horses, for protection against insects and sometimes also for sun protection. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,127,521, 6,128,891, 5,345,751, 4,662,156, and U.S. Pub. No. 2008/0092497. Of these patent documents, U.S. Pat. No. 8,127,521 describes a horse mask primarily for sun protection, but also to prevent invasion by insects. The patent describes a stiffening panel above the eyes, to hold the screen mesh away from the eyes. U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,891 shows a protective mask that includes a top portion conforming to the top of the horse&#39;s head, with two ear sleeves to receive the ears. A mesh face panel extends essentially from the ears down to the horse&#39;s nostrils. The protective mask of U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,156 includes convex eye pockets to hold the mesh away from the horse&#39;s eyes. 
     Another fly mask for horses, called “Rambo Plus Fly Mask”, comprises essentially a mesh cover for the ears, head, eyes and muzzle down to the nostrils, with straps to hold the mesh in place. This fly mask is apparently produced by Horseware Ireland and can be seen at the website hopevalleysaddlery.co.uk. 
     The prior fly mask devices tend to make excessive contact with the horse&#39;s face and muzzle, including immediately around the eyes. There is a need for a better protective horse mask, one that makes minimum and non-irritating contact with the horse&#39;s head, especially the eyes, while still alleviating the problem of insect infestation and irritation, and providing a degree of sun protection. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention greatly improves over prior horse fly masks with a protective device that includes a mesh or screen covering the head, brow, eyes and most of the muzzle, and optionally the ears, but with the mask device making minimal contact with the horse, due to the action of splines that act as a tenting framework to hold most areas of the mesh outwardly from the horse&#39;s muzzle, eyes and skin. 
     The splines, which are plastic strips retained within fabric channels or structural sleeves (e.g. Nylon) secured to the mesh, include a sagittal spline from the upper forehead down the top of the muzzle down approximately just below the bit position, and two side splines, one at left and one right, approximately at jaw level, extending at each side from a few inches below the ear to just behind the back of the mouth. In addition, a spline extends in the transverse direction, in a generally inverted U-shape, over the brow just above the eyes and with opposed ends connected (directly or indirectly) to the side splines. This brow spline also intersects with and is indirectly connected to the sagittal spline at or just above the upper brow. 
     The splines are pre-loaded into curving configurations, so as to hold the mesh away from the horse&#39;s eyes and skin in most areas, by being confined within the limited length of the fabric slots so that each spline is essentially in compression, prevented from straightening out to its full length. The splines form a cage-like structure floating the mesh above the brow and eyes somewhat in the manner of an arched-rib tent. 
     The fly mask separates at bottom, generally below the horse&#39;s throat. It can be secured together by hook/loop fasteners (VELCRO), which can comprise a double VELCRO connection with three layers. Alternatively, this can be a more secure and more contaminant-resistant closure material, one example of which is 3M DUAL LOCK closure. That material resists clogging by dirt, dust and other environmental particles. A row of snaps or other effective connectors could also be used. 
     Flexible transverse straps are secured to the fly mask at upper and lower ends, the forward strap intersecting with forward ends of the sagittal and side splines and being secured at bottom, and the upper strap preferably being behind the ears and again being securable at bottom. 
     The protective mask of the invention, with its spline construction, provides raised lines of relief at the exterior of the splines, that is, lines of slight protrusion from the mesh. These are reinforced so as to act as abrasion-resisting structures, to resist wear of the mesh if the horse rubs its head against posts or fences when wearing the protective mask. 
     It is an object of the invention to improve over prior protective masks for horses, with a reliable fly mask construction having a mesh that is held away from the horse&#39;s eyes, hair and flesh as much as possible via a tenting framework, while also resisting wear in the event the horse tries to rub the mask against posts, etc., and with provision for simple and convenient installation and removal of the mask from the horse. These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, considered along with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective side view showing a protective fly mask of the invention secured on the head of a horse. 
         FIG. 2  is a detail view showing an upper portion of the fly mask on the horse. 
         FIG. 3  is a further detail view showing the splines floating the mesh material over the horse&#39;s brow. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the protective fly mask prior to installation onto a horse. 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  are perspective and plan views showing an optional accessory that can be attached to the fly mask. 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  are schematic cross sections showing splines and their retention to the mesh. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a horse  10  wearing the protective fly mask  12  of the invention. As shown in the drawing, the fly mask is primarily constructed of a mesh  14  of appropriate size to keep out flies and irritating insects. It is secured together at a bottom opening  16 , via a closure  16   a ,  16   b  made by VELCRO hook and loop fasteners or by a more secure and robust closure 3M DUAL LOCK. At one closure side  16   a  is a patch of preferably loop material, and at the other side a flap or strap  16   b  with hook material (or vice versa). The mesh, in one preferred embodiment, extends from a front band or strap  18 , which wraps around the snout or muzzle a few inches behind the bit position  20  at the back of the mouth, shown at about mid-snout, rearwardly to just behind the ears, at a rear band or strap  22  which, from behind the ears, wraps around the neck and closes, along the rear of the closure, approximately at the throat. Relative to a halter, the front band  18  is approximately at the location of the halter&#39;s nose band and the rear band  22  is approximately at the location of the halter&#39;s crown piece and throat latch. 
     As mentioned above, the closure of the bottom opening  16 , which is located preferably in about the sagittal plane below the horse&#39;s muzzle and back of the neck, can be made with hook and loop fastener (VELCRO) material, and for greater security, this can be a double VELCRO closure, three layers. Thus, one of the closure sides, each of which is comprised of a fabric or webbing strip at the edge of the mesh, can have a double flap, i.e. two parallel strips forming a V, which can be formed of a strap foldable over a VELCRO patch as at  16   a . The two opposing faces of the V can have, for example, hook VELCRO material on both sides, facing inwardly. The other closure side has the opposing VELCRO material, e.g. the loop material, on both sides of the single strip, as at  16   b . This strip is placed in the V of the other side  16   a  of the closure and engaged by two VELCRO connections. 
     The mesh preferably is of woven plastic fibers, with opening size between about 0.7 mm and 2.0 mm, more preferably about 0.8 mm to 1.5 mm, or about 1 mm to 1.2 mm. One preferred type of mesh is TEXTILENE mesh (from Arizona Sun Supply, Inc.), formed of vinyl-coated polyester core yarn and often used for sun shades. The mesh can include an insect repellent incorporated in the outer layer. This can be an insect repellent such as described in Costa U.S. Pat. No. 7,887,826, or a fabric or coating treated with permethrin, a synthetic insecticide, or pyrethroid, a substance similar to a natural chrysanthemum insecticide. Many synthetic fabrics have incorporated compounds that give off a scent (and many plastics in themselves have a scent), and a scent which tends to repel flies is useful in the fly mask of the invention. 
     The fly mask  12  is held away from the brow and eyes and much of the muzzle and face of the horse, by a plurality of pre-loaded splines, each of which defines a bowed configuration to hold the fly mask away from contact with the horse in most areas of the head. This is in effect a tenting framework or exoskeleton forming a suspended canopy. The splines include a sagittal spline  24 , two opposed, left and right side splines  26  extending generally horizontally at about the jaw level, and a brow spline  28  in an inverted U-shape, over the brow. In this preferred embodiment the ears are covered by ear covers  30 , which can be a breathable fabric extending up through and sewn to the mesh as indicated. In another embodiment simple ear holes are provided, allowing the ears to be uncovered. 
     The splines are connected together, which can be indirectly via the fabric or via the structural sleeves  24   a ,  28   a  and  26   a  that connect with the bands  18 ,  22  and with each other, such as at the brow intersection of splines  24 ,  28  and at the rear jaw position where the splines  26  and  28  intersect, both sides. Together these splines form a cage that holds the mesh generally in a pre-formed configuration which minimizes contact with the horse&#39;s head, especially the eyes. At the brow the brow spline  28  actually arches above the brow, which can be an inch or more away from the brow, supported by the connection with the side or jaw splines  26 , thus acting as the support means for the ends of the brow spline. This holds the mesh well away from the eyes. The brow spline  28  preferably tends to push outwardly somewhat on the jaw splines  26 , which are themselves preloaded into an arched configuration as shown. Thus, not only the brow spline  28 , but also the side or jaw splines  26 , through most of their length, float away from the horse&#39;s skin. 
     Preferably each spline is a plastic strip which normally assumes a straight, flat configuration. The plastic material can be an injection molded or extruded polypropylene, polyethylene, or other plastic material that bends elastically through a range of bending, and each spline can be about ¼ inch or so in width and about ⅛ inch more or less in thickness, as an example (but depending on the type and hardness of the material used). The structural sleeves  24   a ,  26   a  and  28   a  are each formed of limited length so as to strictly confine the spline and to force the spline into an arched configuration. The splines are thus preloaded or prestressed into the desired arched configuration. It should be understood, however, that pre-shaped splines could be employed, splines that assume a normal and desired arched configuration before being contained within the sleeves. 
       FIG. 7  shows a spline and adjacent structure in cross section. The spline itself is shown at  28  (as an example), with the webbing sleeve shown at  28   a , confining the plastic spline. A base strip  34  supports the sleeve, and the base is secured to the mesh  14 . 
       FIG. 8  is another schematic cross section view showing that the splines could take a different form, being stitched to the outside of the mesh  14 , either directly or with a base layer between. In this case the splines, again formed of elastically-bendable plastic material, have stitching holes and are stitched to the outside of the mesh. In a preferred embodiment the illustrated spline  29  includes longitudinal ridges  29   a  that add stiffness to the spline and also serve to provide protruding rubbing surfaces that will engage against a post, fence, etc. if the horse attempts to rub the fly mask against objects. A single ridge  29   a  could be provided rather than the two parallel ridges shown. Note that if this construction is employed, it is preferred that the splines be preformed in a normal and desired arched configuration, as discussed above. 
     As secured in the fly mask, the splines exhibit bending strength or resistance within a desired range. For example, a spline of 11 inches length would deflect such that its center is displaced by about one inch when about 4 ounces to one pound of force is applied at center. In another embodiment the center would be displaced two inches when a force of about two to twelve ounces is applied at center. The transverse spline  28 , that holds the mesh away from the brow and eyes, preferably is somewhat stiffer, requiring approximately twelve ounces to 1.5 pound force to displace the center of the spline by about one inch. 
     It should also be understood that the framework defined by the splines could take a different form. For example, the tenting framework could be comprised of a wire frame, with all splines or wires secured together directly at intersections. These could be metal wires, a molded framework system, or splines of another material, fixed into a cage or framework prior to the mesh being secured onto the framework. A wire frame could be woven into the mesh. The mesh could then be connected by any effective means such as being laid over the framework and then secured by strips of structural fabric at inside and outside, so that each spline or wire is held to the mesh, and with the inner strip having a soft layer or cushioning where the horse&#39;s head will be contacted. 
       FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4  show details of the fly mask. In  FIG. 2  one of two ear sleeves  30  is seen extending upwardly from the mesh  14 , secured by stitching to a fabric hem  32  on the mesh. The arched spline sleeve  28   a  is also seen in better detail, shown with the spline floating the mesh considerably above the horse&#39;s brow. The left jaw mesh sleeve  26   a  is seen secured to a fabric base  34  and connected at the rear end of the spline sleeve  26   a  to the rear strap  22 . The brow spline sleeve  28   a  connects in a “T” intersection with the jaw spline sleeve  26   a , and this occurs at both sides of the head. 
     A preferred option is a loop tab  35  extending back from the top middle of the fly mask as shown in  FIG. 2 . This can be an extension of the fabric strip  34  that extends in the sagittal plane, or this can be a webbing strip that extends from just behind the transverse spline sleeve  28   a  back to intersect with the rear transverse band  22 , extending on to be the tab  35  that can be formed into a loop as indicated. The terminal end of the tab  35  can have a VELCRO hook and loop fastener patch  35   a  so that this end is brought around in loop fashion to be secured at  35   b  to opposing hook and loop fastener material. In this way the mask can be removed from the horse even at a remote location from the stable while trail riding, and the tab  35  can be looped around the halter, e.g. on the bridle crown piece, or any other strap on the horse to carry it. This loop can also be used to hang the mask in a barn or stable or a horse trailer when unused. The hook/loop fasteners allow quick removal and attachment. 
       FIG. 3  shows the sagittal spline sleeve  24   a , again secured to a base strip  34  and intersecting with and connected to the brow spline sleeve  28   a . As indicated, the fabric base strip  34 , also in the sagittal plane, preferably extends upwardly (back), between the ears to a connection with the rear strap  22  (intersection not shown). The fabric base strips  34  not only provide a layer for attachment of the spline sleeves, but also aid in construction and in an integrated appearance of the fly mask, by covering necessary seams in the mesh and securing the mesh sections together at such seams. 
       FIG. 4  shows the protective fly mask aside from the horse, indicating a preloaded, cage-like configuration created by the splines. Even though this tent-like shape tends to be assumed by the influence of the splines, the fly mask  10  can nonetheless be partially compressed by packaging to a configuration which is almost but not totally flat. When removed from the package the illustrated configuration returns. 
     As mentioned above, although fabric ear covers  30  are shown in the drawings, the invention also encompasses a pair of reinforced ear holes through which the horse&#39;s ears will extend, without covering the ears. Some horses will prefer the ears uncovered. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show a variation, an accessory for the fly mask in the form of a protective nose guard  40  that is securable to the front of the fly mask  10  when desired.  FIG. 6  shows the accessory  40  alone, in a top view. The nose guard includes a mesh  42  and a border fabric or hem  44 ,  46  (it can be a single piece of fabric or two pieces). With the mesh is preferably included a UV-protective layer, which may be at the bottom side of the mesh and indicated at  47 , providing added sun protection for the sensitive upper nose and muzzle surface of the horse. In a preferred embodiment this nose guard accessory is securable to the forward end of the fly mask  10  by VELCRO hook and loop fastener material, indicated at  48  on the border strip  44 , or by other appropriate connection such as snaps. If VELCRO is used, the rougher hook material  48  is located at the top side of the fabric border  44  of the accessory, so as to be securable to loop material (not shown) at the underside of the front band  18  of the fly mask. The nose guard covers the nostrils but does not wrap around the muzzle. 
     The above described preferred embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit its scope. Other embodiments and variations to these preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.