Harness for working animal – Halters
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-12
2001-03-13
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3643)
Harness for working animal
Halters
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199353
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to animal training devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a control halter used to train animals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Through the use of various aids, a handler can maintain remarkable control over a well-trained and well-behaved animal. Aids include cues given through touch and sound, and may be transmitted from a handler to the animal in the form of voice commands, weight shifts, as well as through harness tack, such as halters, bridles, saddles, and stirrups for horses. To train an animal to these aids, conditioning through a lengthy training process is typically required. However, in the training process as well as under duress, an animal may not respond as conditioned. In these situations, the animal may become dangerous to the handler and to itself, if control is not quickly gained.
There have been prior devices for controlling animals by applying pressure to various sensitive parts of an animal. Among the most ubiquitous is a bit, typically a metal bar, positioned in the animal's mouth. Bits are connected to reins which may be tensioned to place pressure on the bars mouth.
Other devices are designed to press downward on a portion of the animal's head. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,248, issued May 20, 1989 to W. Ruddock et al., describes a horse training halter having a cover that includes a hollow nose section and two hollow side sections. A cable is passed through the cover, and attached to pulleys at each end. A separate control line runs through each pulley. This halter exerts downward pressure on the horses nose upon pulling one or both of the control lines. As can be seen from the patent drawings, this device is designed for use while a handler is mounted on the horse to control both lines, similar to a bit and reins configuration.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,324,089, issued Apr. 13, 1982 to L. Hart et al. describes a control leader that includes brow and crown members looped over the ears of a horse, and a flexible leader member attached to the brow and crown members to hang freely therefrom. Downward pressure may be exerted on a horsels head from the brow and crown members through the leader member. This allows a handler to exert control while dismounted. Unfortunately, the handler must position himself or herself below and quite close to the animal to provide the downward component of force necessary to manipulate the leader properly, thereby exposing the handler to injury.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention allows a handler to exert controlling force while maintaining a safe distance from the animal. Accordingly, less risk of injury is posed to the handler in the use of the present halter when compared to those of the prior art. Further, pressure is applied between co-acting parts fitted to the animal's head through a single control line. Therefor, the relative position of the animal's head to the handler is of negligible consequence. This provides greater flexibility than previously available, and allows the halter to be used in training steps such as longing, without necessitating harsh artificial aids such as whips.
To accomplish this, the present invention provides a halter including a device that allows pressure to be exerted to a sensitive nose portion of an animal's head through a squeeze force between co-acting nose engaging portions on two side pieces of the device. The side pieces are substantially rigid and may have be curved to provide the overall device with an outwardly bowing configuration to more easily accommodate the animal's head. Nose engaging portions are provided as inward protrusions to be positioned under the tear bone of the animal.
The halter further includes a resilient bridging member between the side pieces which is fitted over the nose of the animal such that the side pieces extend down and under the animal's head. The bridging member biases the two side pieces to a position such that the nose engaging sections overlie the animal's nose without applying any discomforting pressure thereto. The resilient bridging member may include an arched spring wire or an arched spring band, preferably of metal construction. The bridging member may also include rigid sections, as long as resilient sections are provided for connecting the side pieces.
A control line interconnects the side pieces under the animal's head such that pull applied to the control line urges the pieces together, against the bias of the bridging member. The control line has a first end and second end. The first end is secured to one of the side pieces, and the second end is looped through the other side piece in one or more grommets or holes provided therein or thereon, and back through the first piece. The free second end of the control line may then be tensioned by pulling, which translates to a squeezing action where the side pieces are urged towards each other. When tension is removed on the control line, the resilient bridging member returns the device to its original position, and the squeezing force on the animal's nose is removed.
The device of the present invention may be secured to a conventional harness for placement on the animal. Alternatively, the device may include tack for independently securing it in place. To accomplish this, a harness strap may be attached at one end to one side piece and at the other end to the other side piece such that the nose engaging portions of the side pieces are disposed on opposing sides of the animal's nose proximate its tear bone with the harness strap forming a loop sized to engage the back of the animal's head. The harness strap may include multiple strap sections securable together to provide adjustability for accommodating different animal sizes. One or more strap section may accordingly include a fastener such as a buckle, and another section a plurality of fastening positions, such as buckle holes.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a harness equipped with a device for taming and/or controlling an animal that allows squeeze pressure to be exerted on the animal's nose.
It is another object of the invention to provide such a harness which may be manipulated through a single control line at safe lateral distances from the animal.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a harness that may be used in training or breaking steps in lieu of harsh artificial aids such as whips.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a harness with a device of simple and inexpensive construction which is fully effective in carrying out the other objects.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4324089 (1982-04-01), Hart et al.
patent: 4337610 (1982-07-01), Taylor
patent: 4589248 (1986-05-01), Ruddock et al.
patent: 5086611 (1992-02-01), Purdy
patent: 6062005 (2000-05-01), Roberts
Chladek Jim M.
White Sterling
Jordan Charles T.
Shaw Elizabeth
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