Direct contact rein

Details Direct contact rein Direct contact rein

1999-10-06

2001-05-01

Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)

Harness for working animal

Reins

C054S007000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06223508

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to reins for use with a bit for controlling the direction of a domestic riding animal, such as a horse, mule or donkey, when the animal is being ridden. In particular, the invention relates to a rein having an integral connector at the bit end for directly attaching the rein to a bit, thus providing direct contact between the bit in the animal's mouth and the rider's hands.
During a long period of history of horsemanship, various devices have been invented to assist the rider in controlling the animal and causing it to move in the desired direction. Refinement of the control devices has resulted in the now familiar tack arrangement illustrated in
FIG. 1
of a bridle
1
comprised of straps which adjustably fit around the animal's head
2
, a metal bit
3
including a mouthpiece
4
adapted to fit in the animal's mouth and extend over and atop its tongue, and a set of reins
5
which are conventionally attached to end rings
6
of the bit
3
at either side of the animal's mouth.
There are two basic styles of Western reins: split reins which are two separate reins, and the romal rein, schematically illustrated (not to scale) in
FIG. 2
, which is one continuous rein
7
forming a loop
8
, and a third part (the romal)
9
which hangs from the loop
8
and is attached to it by a connector
10
. Most conventional braided romal reins are made by hand braiding leather around a heavy nylon rope core that extends through the entire length of the continuous rein, including oval loops
11
. The oval loops
11
extend from the bit end
12
of the rein and are formed by turning the ends of the covered (braided) core to the inside and securing them by tightly braiding a terminal “barrel”
18
around them. Various ornamentations may be added to the reins, such as the illustrated braided leather buttons
16
, knots
17
, and barrels
18
, or, in many cases, more ornate silver ornamentations.
For over two hundred years, conventional braided romal reins have been made with the oval braided loops
11
at the bit end
12
and a pair of removable braided connectors
13
(
FIG. 3
) for connecting each of the braided loops
11
to an end ring
6
of the bit
3
. This conventional rein/connector design has been problematic because the loose joints created between the braided connector and the end ring of the bit, and again between the braided connector and the oval loop of the rein, cause a loss of direct contact between the rider's hands and the bit in the animal's mouth.
For many years, riding and saddlery professionals have attempted to overcome this problem. For example, one reported solution has been to run a stiff wire from the rein, along the connector, to the bit, and to tape or wire the whole unit together. However, this type of connection has now been declared illegal by the International Arabian Horse Association and the American Horse Show Association (AHSA). Recently, a leather connector
14
(
FIG. 4
) has been developed that attempts to more rigidly connect the bit ring
6
with the braided loop
11
at the bit end
12
of the rein by means of a chicago screw
15
. However, this design still requires a separate “connector” piece between the bit ring and the loop at the end of the reins and does not provide tight connections at either the rein end or the bit end. This connector also is not very stiff because a lightweight piece of leather must be employed to be thin enough to fit through the end ring of the bit.
In view of the foregoing, there is still a need for a rein design, that effectively provides direct contact between the bit in the animal's mouth and the rider's hands. In particular, there is a need for eliminating the problem of loose connections between a rein and the bit, such as those that presently exist when using conventional braided romal reins.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a rein having a bit end that is directly attachable to the bit, without a separate connecting piece between the rein and the bit. The rein may be any type of rein, such as a split rein or a romal rein, but is preferably a romal rein and, more preferably, a braided romal rein. In one embodiment of the invention, the bit end of the rein terminates in a rigid member that is integral with the rein and which has a connector portion configured to directly connect the rein to the end ring of the bit. In one embodiment of the invention, the term “rigid” refers to a member that has a strength and stiffness that is approximately equivalent to the strength and stiffness of an 8 ounce (oz.) piece of leather normally used in strap goods, such as reins and bridles. As used herein, the term “ounce” when referring to the weight of various leather pieces means ounces per square foot, as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, e.g., for describing leather thickness.
In another embodiment of the invention, the bit end of the rein terminates in a metal member that is integral with the rein and which has a connector portion configured to directly connect the rein to the end ring of the bit. The metal member may comprise one or more selections from the group consisting of silver, brass, copper, nickel, aluminum, chrome, gold, bronze, iron, steel, tin, and alloys of the foregoing. The metal member may comprise a solid metal or alloy, or may comprise a base metal electroplated or overlaid with another metal. For example, the metal member may comprise a base metal with a layer of another metal, such as sterling silver, chrome, or gold, or combinations of these, or alloys of these metals with another metal, such as copper, or the like. It may be desirable that the overlaid or electroplated metal on the surface of the base metal has a thickness sufficient for engraving of ornamentation.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a fastener, which fastens the connector portion of the rigid member or the metal member of the rein to the end ring of the bit, is configured to be incrementally adjustable by the user, such that the direct connection of the rein to the end ring of the bit ranges from a tight rein/end ring connection, to a loose connection in which the connector portion of the rein rotates freely on the end ring to a degree regulated by the user. For example, a tight connection is desirable in certain circumstances, such as for training purposes, because it provides better leverage between the rein and the bit. However, the amount of leverage suitable for training purposes is not suitable when showing horses under AHSA rules, which require that the rein freely rotate on the end ring of the bit.
Because the entire length of the rein of the invention, including the portion that connects to the bit, is a continuous construction, without a separate connecting piece between the rein end and bit, the former problem of a loose joint at the rein end, such as that encountered, for example, in conventional braided romal reins, is eliminated. Thus, the rein of the invention provides direct contact between the bit in the animal's mouth and the rider's hands.
In the first embodiment of the invention, it is preferred that the rigid member at the bit end of the rein comprises at least three layers, i.e., two thin, lightweight outer layers, preferably of leather, and one or more inner reinforcing layers of material, such as plastic coated cotton webbing, vinyl coated nylon material, and the like. The reinforcing layer(s) is the major source of the strength and stiffness of the rigid member. The outer and inner layers are secured to each other for part or all of their length by sewing, glueing, binding, or other means of attachment known to those skilled in the art. For aesthetic purposes, the outer layers of the rigid member can be type- and/or color- matched to the leather used in the braided portion of the rein. An important feature of this embodiment of the rigid member is that the required strength and stiffness can be achieved by employing a reinforcing layer that is thin (e.g., {fraction (1/16)

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