Geometrical instruments – Gauge – Anatomical
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-31
2002-01-01
Hirshfeld, Andrew H. (Department: 2859)
Geometrical instruments
Gauge
Anatomical
C033S561300, C033S452000, C119S174000, C054S001000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06334262
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to the measurement of the compound curved surfaces of animal backs and the corresponding surfaces of saddles. In particular, this invention is directed to a device having articulated transverse linkages for defining the compound curved surface of animal backs and saddles with numerical values. This invention includes a formula to determine the amount of deflection of the animal's back caused by the weight of the rider so that that the correct fit of the saddle can be determined. Employing the preferred method of measurement the formula can be adjusted to compensate for additional factors such as breed, age or conditioning by employing interface pressure measurement.
2. Related Art
For centuries, people have ridden animals with a multitude of different saddles, but with very little scientific understanding of the effect of the saddle on the animal. The issue of saddle fit is not only important in the context of the humane treatment of the animal, but has even greater importance to equestrians who participate in sports that demand greater athletic performance from the animal. Signs of saddle related trauma include behavior problems, tenderness, loss of hair, white hairs, open sores, and certain forms of lameness.
Current methods of saddle fitting include using baling wire, flexible curves, cardboard templates, and plaster casts. The most sophisticated device is a pegboard. This centuries old device is comprised of a flat board with usually about one hundred holes through which dowels are fitted. By placing this device on the animal's back and adjusting the individual dowels so that they each just touch the surface of the animal a mirror image of the shape of the animal's back can be duplicated.
The disadvantage to the pegboard device and all other methods currently employed is that the effect of the weight of the rider is not considered. While the current commercial understanding of saddle fit assumes that the shape of the mirror image of the animal's back is the preferred saddle fit, objective pressure measurement has proven this not to be true. By employing U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,379 A Curve Conforming Sensor Array and Method for Measuring Pressures between a Saddle and a Horse it has been revealed that the weight of the rider causes sufficient deflection to the animal's back to cause the saddle not to fit. The reason for this is that the animal's back sags a little bit under the additional rider weight, which is significant enough to cause “bridging” meaning that the saddle only touches on the wither and the loin of the animal, causing trauma to the animal.
A more significant disadvantage to all prior devices and methods to fit saddles is that these devices and methods do not provide any numerical or calibrated measurement. Without numerical values the error in these devices cannot be determined or corrected.
Prior to 1993, there had never been an objective method to determine saddle fit. U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,379. This interface pressure measurement device can be used to adjust the saddle to the animal by trial and error, however; this is not practical in general commerce. Another disadvantage to this sensor array is that it does not provide the three-dimensional coordinates required to relate the shape of the saddle to the shape of the animal's back, so the correct saddle can be chosen or adjusted to fit the animal.
However, by employing this interface pressure measurement device in conjunction with a three dimensional measurement gauge made according to the invention, the amount of deflection in the animal's spine caused by the weight of the rider can be determined and reduced a formula and the formula can be adjusted to compensate for additional factors, such breed, age or conditioning by employing interface pressure measurement.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
This disclosure describes a Gauge and Method for measuring animal backs and saddles in order to provide objective numerical values to determine saddle fit. By application of this preferred embodiment of this device and this method of measurement the compound curved surface of animal backs and their corresponding saddles can be determined.
The present invention overcomes the limitation of previous known prior art. In particular, this invention permits a series of numbers to define the twist and arc which comprise the compound curved surface of animal backs and their corresponding saddles as well as a formula to compensate for the deflection in the animal's back caused by the weight of the rider. Employing the preferred method of measurement additional factors such as breed, age or conditioning can also be compensated by employing interface pressure measurement.
In general, by using the calibrated measurements from this Gauge, the incremental effect of the weight of the rider on the animal's back can be approximated to determine a more accurate size and shape of saddle for a particular animal and rider combination. The age of the animal, the style of riding, the type of saddle and the conditioning of the animal will also affect this calculation. By using the calibrated measurements a variety of interrelationships can be easily calculated to determine a superior fitting saddle.
To verify that these calculations are in fact accurate or to refine the rider and animal weight compensation formulas, we must use the Curve Conforming Sensor Array and Method for Measuring Pressures between a Saddle and a Horse disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,379.
This technology consists of a pressure sensitive pad attached to a computer. The pad contains an array of 256 pressure sensors that measures 24 inches by 32 inches. To use this pressure sensitive pad, the pad is placed between the animal and the saddlelpad combination and is connected to the computer. When the rider mounts the animal, the system graphically displays a variable color map that shows the amount of pressure and the location of the pressure exerted by the saddle and rider on the animal.
If the Gauge or the computer scan reveals that the saddle is “bridging,” causing high pressure on the withers and loin, the measurement of the arc of the saddle can be increased incrementally to permit the saddle to contact the back of the animal and evenly distribute the weight over the entire saddle panel. Conversely, if the gauge or the computer scan reveals that the saddle “rocks,” causing high pressure only on the middle of the back of the animal (no contact on the withers or loin), the arc of the saddle can be decreased to permit the saddle to contact the back of the animal and evenly distribute the weight over the entire saddle panel.
This invention is generally directed to a gauge for measuring the curvature of the back of an animal along transverse directions comprising first, second, third and fourth elongate arms. The first and second elongate arms extend in a line and have ends joined for pivoting about a first axis transverse to the line. The third elongate arm extends transverse to the first line and is mounted relative to the first and second arms for pivoting about a second axis transverse to the first axis. The fourth arm also extends transverse to the line and is mounted relative to the first and second arms for pivoting about a third axis also transverse to the first axis. The gauge is positionable on the back of an animal with the first and second arms aligned along the spine and each arm in contact with the surface of the back of the animal.
A preferred gauge and method of measurement according to the invention employs a mechanical device having articulated transverse linkages comprising a parallelogram assembly having the first arm as one link, an opposing link, and further comprising a hub member, with transverse opposing arms or wings, each of the wings being pivotingly joined to the hub member for defining shape and indicia to determine a series of angles, and thereby be able to describe angles and arcs in order to determine the convex and concave portions of po
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