EP4566984A1 - Riding saddle with saddle tree elements with intermediate connection of ball and socket joints - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a riding saddle (1) comprising support cushions (2) and a saddle tree (3), wherein the saddle tree (3) comprises a seat element (4), a gullet (5) and cushion plates (6) each coupled to the gullet (5) and the seat element (4), wherein the riding saddle (1) can be positioned on an animal's back by placing the cushion plates (6) with the support cushions (2) interposed, wherein two operatively released cushion plates (6) are each coupled by means of a coupling device (10) to a respective gullet leg (9) of the gullet (5), and that two operatively released cushion plates (6) are each coupled by means of a coupling device (10) to the seat element (4) in the region of the cantle (7).

Description

The invention relates to a riding saddle for animals, in particular for horses, with saddle tree elements with interposed ball joints. The saddle tree of a riding saddle is the supporting element of the saddle. It is usually made of wood, plastic, or carbon and is covered with padding. A conventional saddle tree can be constructed in one piece and, with a blanket or appropriate padding in between, rests on the horse's back, thus supporting the rider's weight.

A riding saddle should, on the one hand, transmit the rider's movements to the animal in such a way that the animal can sense the commands transmitted by this movement, and, on the other hand, still allow the animal itself sufficient freedom of movement so that the animal is pain-free and can exploit its full range of motion, with the saddle impeding it as little as possible. These requirements are contradictory with regard to the design of the riding saddle. In order to optimally transmit the rider's movements and also to ensure the rider the best possible comfort, safety, and influence, the part of the saddle tree closest to the rider must be as stiff as possible and ergonomically shaped to suit the rider's sitting position. In contrast, the shape of an animal's back is generally not complementary to the rider's buttocks and leg position, so the saddle tree, or the saddle in general, must have a different shape in the area closest to the animal. Since the animal, when in motion, also exhibits different back curvatures depending on its movement pattern, the area of the saddle tree closest to the animal should, if possible, not be stiff, while allowing for a natural curvature of the animal's back. Furthermore, the rider's movement-induced commands must be transferable to the animal's back.

According to the introductory words, a saddle tree is the component or components that form the stabilizing internal structure of a riding saddle.

From the DE 44 14 789 Al a riding saddle became known, the saddle tree of which is formed from three saddle tree elements with the interposition of elastic bearings, whereby the bearings are designed in such a way that they allow a slight tilting movement between the associated Areas of the saddle tree elements. However, the embodiments of a riding saddle disclosed in this disclosure have the disadvantage that the animal's freedom of movement is particularly restricted transversely to the relevant direction of movement. Furthermore, no option is provided for specifically adapting the riding saddle to the physiology of the animal's back, which can result in the riding saddle not sitting optimally on the animal's back, which reduces the rider's safety, the transmission of commands, and the animal's ergonomics.

The object of the present invention was to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a riding saddle that can be adapted to the specific physiology of an animal and further promotes safety and comfort for the rider as well as a reliable transmission of the haptic commands to the animal.

This task is solved by a riding saddle according to the requirements.

The riding saddle device according to the invention with ergonomic positionability on an animal's back comprises support cushions and a saddle tree which can be positioned or fixed in position on an animal's back by interposing the support cushions and with the aid of a saddle girth, wherein the saddle tree comprises a preferably one-piece seat element with a cantle for providing a seat for a rider, a gullet and cushion plates each coupled to the gullet and the seat element, wherein the riding saddle can be positioned on an animal's back by resting the cushion plates with the support cushions interposed and can be fixed in position with the saddle girth.

The riding saddle is further characterized in that a total of four cushion plates are provided, wherein two operatively released cushion plates with respective support cushions are coupled by means of a coupling device to a respective gullet leg of the gullet plate and that two operatively released cushion plates with respective support cushions are coupled by means of a coupling device to the seat element in the region of the cantle.

The term "operably connected" means that the respective panel plates are not directly connected to each other and are each designed as an independent element of the saddle. According to the invention, the panel plates are indirectly connected exclusively via the respective coupling devices and the respective components of the saddle tree. In particular, it can be provided that a respective support cushion is provided for each of the four cushion plates, wherein the support cushions are also operatively separated from one another.

A gullet plate is a yoke-like element whose shape is modeled on the shoulder and/or neck area of a rideable animal in order to ensure that the saddle rests as gently as possible in this area. A gullet plate can have two gullet plates which, when the saddle is mounted, can extend from the area of the cervical spine of an animal in sections towards the flanks of the animal. The term gullet plate does not necessarily mean that this element is made of iron or metal. Rather, modern saddle construction, and thus also a gullet plate, can be formed or formed from carbon mats. It can be provided that the seat element and the gullet plate are not formed as individual elements, but that these two parts are connected as one piece, or that these elements or subcomponents of a saddle tree, i.e. the seat element and the gullet plate, are formed as one piece. The seat element can therefore be designed to include the gullet plate, with the seat element being constructed as a one-piece component with a seat surface, cantle, and gullet iron shanks made of carbon mats or other rigid materials. Accordingly, the term "gullet plate" can be understood as a synonym for the terms "gullet element" or "gullet plate section." In the following, the term "gullet plate" is therefore used to refer to an element of the saddle tree, regardless of whether this element is designed independently or as an integral part or section of the seat element.

A panel is a plate-shaped element that provides a surface for a support cushion, ensuring that the saddle rests gently on an animal's back. A panel can preferably be rigid and therefore stable or dimensionally stable to accommodate a coupling element for coupling to other components of the saddle tree. The shape of a panel can be flat, but also curved or arched, in order to ensure that the support on an animal's back is as free from point pressure points as possible, i.e., without zones or areas with increased pressure relative to other areas of the panel.

A cantle can be understood as a backrest-like bulge in the seat or seat element, opposite the gullet. This bulge or backrest supports the rider's buttocks. When the saddle is mounted, the cantle is closest to the horse's buttocks, and the gullet is closest to the horse's head, so that the cantle is opposite the gullet.

The riding saddle according to the invention is designed in such a way that the animal ridden by means of the riding saddle can move as naturally as possible, in that the four contact surfaces of the support cushions do not lie in the area of the spine of the animal and thus the back is relieved or a natural arching of the back is possible, especially when the animal is moving, despite the riding saddle.

This ergonomic positioning of the saddle offers several benefits for the horse. It reduces the strain on the animal's back, especially on a horse ridden in it. This can lead to a reduction in back problems such as tension or pain. It also improves the horse's freedom of movement, which can lead to better performance.

The saddle according to the invention also offers advantages for the rider. The rider sits more securely in the saddle, as the saddle's curvature prevents it from shifting when the animal moves. This can improve rider safety. Furthermore, communication between rider and horse is facilitated, as the rider can better feel the horse's back, and the rider's tactile commands can be reliably transmitted thanks to the cushions' constant, firm support.

Furthermore, the saddle according to the invention improves the freedom of movement of the animal mounted on it. The specific arrangement of the support panels in conjunction with the saddle tree allows the animal to freely arch its back while moving. This is important for the health of the animal, especially a horse, and its performance.

Furthermore, it may be expedient if the coupling device comprises a joint device, a displacement unit and a relatively a pin that can be fixed in position relative to the sliding unit, the joint device comprising a ball joint with a pin receptacle, a ball socket, and a mounting plate coupled to the ball socket, the pin being receivable in the pin receptacle of the ball joint and being positionally fixable, the sliding unit being positionally fixable with the cushion plate, and the mounting plate being positionally fixable with the gullet plate or the seat element. By coupling the cushion plates by means of the coupling device, which comprises the joint device, the force transmission of the weight force and the rider's haptic commands into the cushion plates can be improved. Furthermore, the special design of the coupling device means that the position of the cushion plates can be adapted to the physiology of the saddled animal, so that the riding saddle is ergonomically positioned on the animal's back.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the pin on the sliding unit, in the non-positioned state, is guided with the sliding unit by means of a guide element and is displaceable relative to the sliding unit in at least one first displacement direction, which is aligned substantially parallel to a mounting surface of the sliding unit. This allows the positioning of the cushion plates to be adapted to the specific physiology or specific body structure of an animal that is to be saddled using the saddle.

Furthermore, the sliding unit can be provided with elongated holes for receiving fastening means for fixing the sliding unit to the cushion plate. In the non-positionally fixed state, the sliding unit can be displaced or positioned relative to the respective cushion plate by displacing the fastening means in the elongated holes in a second displacement direction, which is oriented substantially parallel to the mounting surface of the sliding unit and orthogonal to the first displacement direction. This further improves the positionability of the cushion plates with regard to the specific physiology of an animal.

[5] Another advantageous embodiment is one in which the joint device comprises a locking pin fixed to the ball joint, wherein the mobility of the joint device is locked by means of the locking pin at least about a pin axis of the pin. This prevents the plate elements from being freely pivotable in all possible directions of movement of the ball joint. This is advantageous in that The rider's haptic commands can be transmitted to the animal in a more favorable manner by blocking the joint's mobility, at least around the pivot axis. In other words, this prevents the saddle from wobbling around on the animal's back, which further increases the rider's safety.

According to a further development, it is possible for the locking pin to extend from the ball joint into a recess in the ball socket, wherein the recess in the ball socket is formed in sections in the direction along the pivot axis, so that the mobility of the joint device is locked by means of the locking pin exclusively around the pivot axis. Thus, the joint device is only locked in its rotational movement around the pivot axis. This makes it possible for the position of the cushion plates to be adapted to the respective support on the animal in each movement sequence during the movement of a saddled animal and to adapt while the animal is being ridden. However, rotation around the pivot axis is still avoided, so that the saddle still does not wobble and the rider's haptic commands can be reliably transmitted to the animal.

Furthermore, it may be expedient for the riding saddle to include a girth, wherein the girth is coupled to the seat element in a central region of the seat element. This central girth allows the saddle to be applied directly around the animal's belly, in particular around the belly of a horse, which protects the horse's posture and causes fewer pressure points and pain points when preparing the horse compared to other girths. Alternatively, a V-girth or a gullet girth is also conceivable with the saddle according to the invention. In any case, the central girth also promotes the free movement of the respective coupling device.

For a better understanding of the invention, it is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures.

Fig. 1

eine mögliche Ausführungsform eines Reitsattels;

Fig. 2

eine mögliche Ausführungsform der Kopplungsvorrichtung;

Fig. 3

einen Querschnitt der Kopplungsvorrichtung;

They show in a highly simplified, schematic representation:

Fig. 1

a possible design of a riding saddle;

Fig. 2

a possible embodiment of the coupling device;

Fig. 3

a cross-section of the coupling device;

By way of introduction, it should be noted that in the differently described embodiments, the same parts are provided with the same reference symbols or the same component designations The disclosures contained in the entire description can be applied analogously to identical parts with identical reference symbols or identical component designations. The positional information chosen in the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc., also refers to the directly described and illustrated figure, and these positional information must be applied analogously to the new position in the event of a change in position.

In the Fig. 1 A possible embodiment of the riding saddle 1 is shown in a highly simplified and schematic representation. The riding saddle 1 is designed to ensure the most ergonomic positioning possible on an animal's back. The riding saddle 1 can comprise four support cushions 2 and a saddle tree 3. The saddle tree 3 can comprise a seat element 4, preferably formed in one piece, a gullet plate 5 connected to the seat element 4 or fixed in position therewith, and cushion plates 6. The seat element 4 can have a cantle 7 and a seat surface 8 for the rider, with the cantle 7 being designed as a type of backrest for supporting the rider's buttocks. The gullet plate 5 can have a shape complementary to the shoulder or neck area of the animal that can be prepared using the riding saddle 1, with the gullet plate 5 having two gullet plates 9, each extending from the animal's spine to the flanks when the riding saddle 1 is mounted. The cushion plates 6 can be designed as flat or curved plates or plates that complement the shape of the saddled animal due to the respective positioning.

Furthermore, it can be provided that one cushion plate 6 is coupled to the seat element 4 by means of a respective coupling device 10 in the area of the cantle 7 on both sides of the spine of a saddled animal. Furthermore, it can also be provided that one cushion plate 6 is coupled to a respective gullet leg 9 by means of a respective coupling device 10 in the area of the gullet 5 on both sides of the spine of a saddled animal. Thus, two cushion plates 6 are coupled to the seat element 4 and two cushion plates 6 are coupled to the gullet 5 by means of a respective coupling device 10. The riding saddle 1 can be placed on the cushion plates 6 with the interposition of a respective support cushion 2 on the back of an animal. The respective cushion plates 6 are not operatively connected to one another, except that they are coupled to components of the saddle tree 3 by means of a respective coupling device 10. Thus, four cushion plates 6 are provided.

It can also be provided that a support cushion 2 is assigned to each cushion plate 6, so that four support cushions 2 are provided, wherein the respective support cushions 2 have no operative connection to one another, except for the connection with components of the saddle tree 3.

The riding saddle 1 can further comprise a saddle girth, wherein the saddle girth can be coupled to the seat element 4 in a central region 11 of the seat element 4 in order to be able to fix the riding saddle 1 in its position relative to the animal by encircling the belly of a saddled animal by means of the saddle girth.

In the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 a possibly independent embodiment of the coupling device 10 is shown in a highly simplified and schematic representation, wherein the same reference numerals or component designations are used for the same parts as in the previous Fig. 1 To avoid unnecessary repetition, please refer to the detailed description in the previous Fig. 1 pointed out or referred to.

The Fig. 1 shows the coupling device 10 for coupling the cushion plates 6 with the seat element 4 or respectively with the gullet iron 5. The Fig. 2 shows a cross section through this possible embodiment of the coupling device 10. The coupling device 10 is described below in a synopsis of the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 described.

The coupling device 10 can comprise a joint device 12, a sliding unit 13, and a pin 14 that can be coupled to the sliding unit 13 and fixed in position relative to the sliding unit 13. The joint device 12 can comprise a ball joint 15 with a pin receptacle 16, a ball socket 17, and a mounting plate 18 coupled to the ball socket 17. In the assembled state of the joint device 12, the pin 14 can be received in the pin receptacle 16 of the ball joint 15 and fixed to the ball joint 15. Furthermore, in the assembled state of the riding saddle 1, the sliding unit 13 can be coupled to the cushion plate 6, and the mounting plate 18 can be coupled to the gullet plate 5 or the seat element 4, each in a fixed position. An alternative embodiment is also conceivable in which the sliding unit 13 can be coupled to the gullet iron 5 or the seat element 4 and the mounting plate 18 can be coupled to the cushion plate 6 in a positionally fixed manner.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the pin 14 is guided on the displacement unit 13 by means of a guide element 19 and is displaceable relative to the displacement unit 13 in at least one first displacement direction 20, which is aligned substantially parallel to a mounting surface 21 of the displacement unit 13. In addition, it can also be provided that the displacement unit 13 has elongated holes 22 for receiving fastening means 23 for fixing the displacement unit 13 to the cushion plate 6, wherein the displacement unit 13 is displaceable relative to the respective cushion plate 6 by displacing the fastening means 23 in the elongated holes 22 in a second displacement direction 24, which is aligned substantially parallel to the mounting surface 21 of the displacement unit 13 and orthogonal to the first displacement direction 20. As a result, the pin 14 can be displaced relative to the displacement unit 13 within the guide element 19 and, in addition, the entire displacement unit 13 can be displaced relative to the respective cushion plate 6 at right angles to this displacement direction. Thus, the position of the respective cushion plate 6 can be easily adjusted relative to the seat element 4 or relative to the gullet iron 5. The pin 14 can, as can be seen from a summary of the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 visible, for example, by means of a wedge element 25 and a first lock nut 26 in the pin receptacle 16 and further fixed in position by means of a second lock nut 27. This exemplary embodiment of the fixation of the pin 14 relative to the ball joint 15 and relative to the mounting surface 21 of the displacement unit 13 enables the cushion plates 6 to be adjusted as easily as possible. However, the invention is not limited to this type of position fixation and adjustability, since alternative embodiments would also be conceivable as to how the components of the coupling device 10 can be adjusted and fixed in position relative to one another.

Furthermore, it can also be provided that the joint device 12 comprises a locking pin 28 fixed to the ball joint 15, wherein the mobility of the joint device 12 is locked by means of the locking pin 28 at least about a pin axis 29 of the pin 14. In particular, according to the illustrated possible embodiment of the coupling device 10, it can be provided that two locking pins 28 are included, wherein the locking pins 28 protrude from the ball joint 15 into a respective recess 30 in the ball socket 17, wherein the recesses 30 in the ball socket 17 are each formed in sections in the direction along the pin axis 29, so that the mobility of the joint device 12 is locked by means of the locking pin 28 exclusively about the pin axis 29. As a result, the free mobility of the joint device 12 is restricted in order to better transmit the haptic commands of a rider to the back of the mounted animal.

The embodiments show possible embodiments, whereby it should be noted at this point that the invention is not limited to the specifically illustrated embodiments thereof, but rather various combinations of the individual embodiments with one another are also possible and this possibility of variation lies within the skill of the person skilled in the art in this technical field due to the teaching of technical action by means of the objective invention.

The scope of protection is determined by the claims. However, the description and drawings must be used to interpret the claims. Individual features or combinations of features from the various embodiments shown and described may represent independent inventive solutions. The problem underlying the independent inventive solutions can be derived from the description.

All information on value ranges in this description is to be understood as including any and all sub-ranges thereof, e.g. the information 1 to 10 is to be understood as including all sub-ranges starting from the lower limit of 1 and the upper limit of 10, i.e. all sub-ranges begin with a lower limit of 1 or greater and end with an upper limit of 10 or less, e.g. 1 to 1.7, or 3.2 to 8.1, or 5.5 to 10.

For the sake of clarity, it should finally be pointed out that, in order to better understand the structure, some elements have been shown out of scale and/or enlarged and/or reduced in size.

Reference symbol list

1

Riding saddle

2

cushion

3

saddle tree

4

Seat element

5

gullet iron

6

cushion plate

7

Hinterzwiesel

8

Seat

9

Gullet leg

10

coupling device

11

Middle range

12

Joint device

13

shifting unit

14

cones

15

ball joint

16

tenon holder

17

ball socket

18

Mounting plate

19

Guide element

20

First shift direction

21

Mounting surface

22

slot

23

Fasteners

24

Second shift direction

25

wedge element

26

First lock nut

27

Second lock nut

28

locking pin

29

Pin axis

30

recess

Claims (7)

Riding saddle (1) with ergonomic positioning on an animal's back, comprising support cushions (2) and a saddle tree (3), wherein the saddle tree (3) comprises a seat element (4) with a cantle (7) for providing a seat surface (8) for a rider, a gullet (5) and cushion plates (6) coupled to the gullet (5) and the seat element (4), wherein the riding saddle (1) can be positioned on an animal's back by placing the cushion plates (6) with the support cushions (2) interposed,
characterized in that
two operatively released cushion plates (6) are coupled by means of a respective coupling device (10) to a respective gullet leg (9) of the gullet (5) and that two operatively released cushion plates (6) are coupled by means of a respective coupling device (10) to the seat element (4) in the region of the cantle (7). Riding saddle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling device (10) comprises a joint device (12), a sliding unit (13) and a pin (14) which can be coupled to the sliding unit (13) and which can be fixed in position relative to the sliding unit (13), wherein the joint device (12) comprises a ball joint (15) with a pin receptacle (16), a ball socket (17) and a mounting plate (18) coupled to the ball socket (17), wherein the pin (14) can be received in the pin receptacle (16) of the ball joint (15) and can be fixed in position, wherein the sliding unit (13) can be coupled to the cushion plate (6) and the mounting plate (18) can be coupled to the gullet plate (5) or the seat element (4) in a position-fixable manner. Riding saddle (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the pin (14) is guided on the displacement unit (13) by means of a guide element (19) and is displaceable relative to the displacement unit (13) in at least one first displacement direction (20) which is aligned substantially parallel to a mounting surface (21) of the displacement unit (13). Riding saddle (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the sliding unit (13) has elongated holes (22) for receiving fastening means (23) for fixing the sliding unit (13) to the cushion plate (6), wherein the sliding unit (13) can be displaced by displacing the fastening means (23) in the elongated holes (22) in a second displacement direction (24) which is substantially parallel to the mounting surface (21) of the sliding unit (13) and is aligned orthogonally to the first displacement direction (20), is displaceable relative to the respective cushion plate (6). Riding saddle (1) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the joint device (12) comprises a locking pin (28) fixed to the ball joint (15), wherein the mobility of the joint device (12) is locked by means of the locking pin (28) at least about a pin axis (29) of the pin (14). Riding saddle (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking pin (28) projects from the ball joint (15) into a recess (30) in the ball socket (17), wherein the recess (30) in the ball socket (17) is formed in sections in the direction along the pin axis (29), so that the mobility of the joint device (12) is blocked by means of the locking pin (28) exclusively about the pin axis (29). Riding saddle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the riding saddle (1) comprises a saddle girth, wherein the saddle girth is coupled to the seat element (4) in a central region (11) of the seat element (4).

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