Harness for working animal – Breaking and training devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-20
2001-07-17
Kordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Harness for working animal
Breaking and training devices
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260338
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a restraint and training device for controlling the behavior of a horse or the like in order to obtain the compliance of the animal while performing activities that may involve some discomfort to the animal or while training the animal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Frequently, it is necessary to perform operations on an animal such as a horse, donkey, mule, or the like, that involve some discomfort to the animal. Such operations include saddling, vaccinating, loading and unloading the animal on and off a vehicle, drawing blood samples, shoeing, introducing a young horse to saddle and bridle, etc. In addition, during training of an animal, the animal may have to be put through training routines that may involve great exertion or that may not be particularly pleasant for the animal. During such operations the animal may become agitated and may react violently causing injury to itself and to bystanders. To date devices known as “twitches” have been used to restrain an animal while performing activities that may involve some discomfort to the horse. These conventional devices require at least two people to operate the devices successfully, unlike the present invention which can be operated by one person. Further, twitches pinch the animal's upper lip and cause pain to the animal. In fact twitches cause so much discomfort to the animal that, after the first few times the twitch is applied to the animal, the animal will begin to strenuously resist the application of the twitch to it's upper lip. In addition to the conventional twitches, other devices have been proposed in the prior art which put pressure on the regions behind a horse's ears and under the horse's upper lip to control the horse's behavior. However, none of the prior art devices provide the degree of adjustability, convenience, and safety of the present invention. Further, none have the unique structural features of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 233,631, issued to Dennis Magner on Oct. 26, 1880, shows a bridle having a bit. A chain is connected to the bit which fits under the upper lip of the horse. The Magner device does not allow pressure to be applied to the region under the horse's upper lip independently of the pressure applied to the corners of the horse's mouth by the bit.
U.S. Pat. No. 437,867, issued to Peter O'Connor on Oct. 7, 1890, shows a restraint device that puts pressure on the region of the horse's upper lip. The O'Connor device does not use a single continuous cord as in the present invention. Further, the O'Connor device lacks the double barrel sleeve and the double pulley of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 474,739, issued to Gibson R. Hollingsworth on May 10, 1892, shows a bridle for applying pressure to a horse's mouth by pulling on a single cord. The Hollingsworth device does not apply pressure to the region under the horse's upper lip.
U.S. Pat. No. 751,006, issued to Henry H. Poe on Feb. 2, 1904, shows a bridle having a system of pulleys for controlling the application of pressure to a bit. The Poe device does not apply pressure to the region under the horse's upper lip.
U.S. Pat. No. 804,700, issued to August L. Bethe on Nov. 14, 1905, shows a pivoting bit for a horse. The Bethe device does not apply pressure to the region under the horse's upper lip.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,351,620, issued to Samuel C. Canter on Aug. 31, 1920, shows a combination bridle and halter. The Canter device does not apply pressure to the region under the horse's upper lip.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,312, issued to Ralph N. Old, Sr. on Jul. 17, 1990, shows a bit having a chain that passes under the horse's lower jaw. The Old device does not apply pressure to the region under the horse's upper lip.
Swedish Patent Document Number 3798, by K. J. Petterson dated Sep. 14 1892, shows a bridle having a bit. A chain is connected to the bit which fits under the upper lip of the horse. The Petterson device does not allow pressure to be applied to the region under the horse's upper lip independently of the pressure applied to the corners of the horse's mouth by the bit.
European Patent Document Number 0 018 915, by Eric Le Tixerant dated Nov. 12, 1980, shows a bridle having pulleys for controlling the application of pressure to a bit. The Le Tixerant device does not apply pressure to the region under the horse's upper lip.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an equine restraint system or device which can be operated by a single person while allowing that person to carry out tasks such as leading, holding, saddling, and loading of the horse. The restraint system of the present invention has a portion that fits behind the horse's ears and a portion that fits under the horse's upper lip. The restraint system of the present invention has a single cord which can be pulled to simultaneously apply pressure behind the horse's ears and under the horse's upper lip. Application of pressure to these areas has a calming affect on the horse, allowing various activities to be performed on the horse.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an equine restraint system which simultaneously puts pressure on the nerve centers behind a horse's ears and under the horse's upper lip.
It is another object of the invention to provide an equine restraint system that can be operated by a single person.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an equine restraint system that can be adjusted in size easily.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an equine restraint system which reduces the possibility of injury to the horse and/or bystanders.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an equine restraint system which is convenient and easy to use.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 233631 (1880-10-01), Magner
patent: 437867 (1890-10-01), O'Connor
patent: 474739 (1892-05-01), Hollingsworth
patent: 751006 (1904-02-01), Poe
patent: 804700 (1905-11-01), Bethe
patent: 815424 (1906-03-01), Halliburton
patent: 843689 (1907-02-01), McClintock
patent: 985642 (1911-02-01), Tallman
patent: 1209724 (1916-12-01), Koepke
patent: 1351620 (1920-08-01), Canter
patent: 2804741 (1957-09-01), Cheesebro
patent: 3657863 (1972-04-01), Blair
patent: 4214420 (1980-07-01), Ferree
patent: 4941312 (1990-07-01), Old, Sr.
patent: 357924 (1922-09-01), None
patent: 0 018 915 (1980-11-01), None
patent: 340944 (1904-07-01), None
patent: 2 396 721 (1979-02-01), None
patent: 3798 (1892-09-01), None
Jeffers Equine Catalog, Fall 1999, p. 39.
K. V. Vet Catalog, 1999, p. 214.
TWITCH-NOT™ product brochure (date unknown).
TWITCH-NOT™ web page http://.homtown.com/twitch-not/main.htm (date unknown).
Abbott Yvonne R.
Kordan Charles T.
Litman Richard C.
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