Adjustable saddle
OwnerDanny Kroetchinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable saddle for a horse or other animal includes a pommel with substantially opposed lower ends, a seat member connected to the pommel and a pair of substantially opposed gripping members comprising flexible panels configured to contact the flanks of the animal. The panels have rearward portions fastened to the seat member and forward portions which are substantially free of contact with the seat member. An adjustment means connects at least one of the forward portions to the pommel. The adjustment means is configured to cause the panels to flex between a retracted position where the gripping members are relatively widely spaced and a gripping position where the gripping members are relatively closely spaced together. The gripping position provides gripping action against the upper body of the animal when the saddle is in use.
Claims15
An adjustable saddle for a horse or other animal comprising:
- a pommel with substantially opposed lower ends,
- a seat member connected to said pommel;
- a pair of substantially opposed gripping members comprising a freely flexible panel configured to contact the flanks of said animal, said panel having a rearward portion affixed to the underside of said seat member and a forward portion having a lower area which is substantially free of contact with said seat member;
- and
- an adjustment means connecting said forward portions of said panel to said lower end of said pommel, said adjustment means configured to impart an inward curvature by flexure of the forward portion of said panel thereby providing gripping action against the upper body of said animal wherein said adjustment means comprises a hinge system, said hinge system comprising:
- a first plate connected to an end of said pommel;
- and a second plate attached to said forward portion of said panel, said first plate connected to said second plate with a hinge;
- wherein said hinge is configured to define an axis of flexure of said panel transverse to the axis of said hinge;
- wherein said hinge system further comprises an extendable member from an external surface of said pommel, said extendable member passing through an opening in said pommel and contacting said second plate, wherein extension of said extendable member permits opening of said plates and retraction of said extendable member permits closure of said plates.
An adjustable saddle for a horse or other animal comprising:
- a pommel with substantially opposed lower ends,
- a seat member connected to said pommel, said seat member having a central axis extending from front to rear corresponding to the front and rear of said animal;
- at least one flexible panel comprising a rear portion attached to and directly contacting the underside of said seat member and a forward portion having a lower area free from direct contact with the seat member to permit said lower area of said forward portion to flex inwardly more than said rear portion;
- and
- an adjustment means comprising a first plate connected to an end of said pommel, a second plate attached to said lower area of said forward portion of said panel, and a hinge wherein said first plate is connected to said second plate by said hinge,
- said adjustment means further comprising an extendable member spaced from said hinge and engaged to said plates for maintaining said hinge plates in a predetermined fixed angular relationship, wherein said extendable member is configured to adjust said angular relationship, wherein tightening said extendable member increases the spacing between said lower end of said pommel and said lower area of said panel to impart inward flexing of said lower area of said panel from a retracted position to a gripping position to grip the upper body of said animal,
- wherein said hinge is configured to define an axis of flexure of said lower area of said panel transverse to the rotational axis of said hinge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.