US 4,044,531 AGranted

Protective nose shield for race horses and the like

OwnerJohn L. Marchello, Gerald F. Trotterinventors

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Abstract

A dual purpose protective nose shield for race horses which includes a pair of generally cup-shaped reverse air scoops positioned over the horse's nostrils. Each scoop has a rearwardly flared deflection shield which prevents cold frigid air and/or mud or other foreign debris from the track from impinging directly upon the nostrils. The rearwardly facing breathing port of the scoop channels inhaled and exhaled air into an air space which is formed by the scoop about the nostril. The incoming cold air is warmed as it contacts the outgoing exhaled air and by the body heat generated by the portion of the horse's face over which it is channeled so as to prevent damage to the nostrils and impaired or shallow breathing often caused by the direct inhalation of cold frigid air.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A protective nose shield for race horses and the like whose head and face portions normally carry bridle means, said protective nose shield comprising a pair of reverse air scoop members and fastening means operably coupling said air scoop members to said bridle means and about portions of said horses face for adjustably positioning each of said air scoop members over one of the horse's nostrils, each of said air scoop members including a domed portion forming an air space about the nostril, a rearwardly flared deflection surface integral with the front of said domed portion for diverting foreign debris and cold air away from the nostril area, said domed portion including an inwardly facing rim portion adapted to rest comfortably against the horse's face and to fit relatively closely thereto to prevent the passage of cold air or foreign debris into said air space from the front or side of said domed portion, and a rearwardly facing breathing port in the rear of said domed portion at the opposite end of said domed portion from said deflection surface for channeling the inhaled and exhaled air into and out of said air space such that the cold incoming air is at least slightly warmed by contact with the warmer exhaled air and by the body heat generated by the portion of the horse's face over which the incoming air is drawn.

A dual function nose shield for a race horse or the like comprising a deflector shield for preventing foreign debris and cold air from impinging directly upon the horse's nostril, the forward and side edge portions of said deflector shield being adapted to rest comfortably against the horse's face and to fit relatively closely thereto to prevent the passage of cold air or foreign debris between said edge portions and that portion of the horse's face against which said edge portions are disposed, a convex portion contiguous with the rear of said deflector shield for forming a semi-enclosed air space adjacent said nostril, the front and side portions of said semi-enclosed air space being closed to the passage of air into said air space by said edge portions of said deflector shield, and a rearwardly facing air scoop opening at the rear of said convex portion for channeling inhaled and exhaled air into and out of said air space so as to at least partially heat relatively cold incoming air before it enters the nostril by contact with the warm exhaled air and the heat generated by the portion of the horse's face over which the incoming air is channeled, and means for adjustably positioning said deflector shield, including said convex portion and said rearwardly facing air scoop, in operative position over the horse's nostril.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.