Racing saddle
AssigneeOrtho-Flex Saddle Co., Inc.
InventorRoy L. Brown
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved saddle tree is provided, which flexibly confirms to a horse's back to accommodate the physically characteristics of a given horse, and incorporates a damping system to preclude excessive vibrations in the flexible materials. The saddle tree includes a pair of laterally spaced apart, flexible synthetic skirts connected by a spanning member and a seat element. The seat element is coupled with the respective skirts at two forward pivot mountings, and the spanning member extends between the skirts at a rearward position. The seat element carries a skid assembly at a position just rearward of the pommel, and this assembly deforms under compressive loading to provide damping action. The cantle portion of the seat element slidably and frictionally engages the top of the spanning member.
Claims12
A damped saddle tree having progressively loaded spring panel skirts, comprising:
- a pair of resilient skirts adapted to conformably overlie a horse's back, each skirt presenting a forward portion and a rearward portion;
- a spanning element coupled with each of said skirts;
- a seat member positioned above said skirts and slidably engaging said spanning element;
- means for coupling said seat member to said skirts in a manner allowing pivotal and sliding motions;
- said seat member having a resiliently deformable region intermediate said forward and rearward portions, said deformable region having less rigidity than said pommel and cantle portions and including means for damping vibrations traveling between a horse and rider.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.