Harness for working animal – Bridle
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-30
2004-02-17
Swiatek, Robert P. (Department: 3643)
Harness for working animal
Bridle
C054S024000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06691497
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to tack used for a horse's headgear, e.g. cavesons, halters, bridles, crown pieces, curb chains and curb straps and more specifically to a horse's headgear for use in humanely controlling a horse's movements. The invention is particularly well-suited for a caveson for use with horses in which the caveson allows for limited movement of the horse's mouth, for a halter which permits limited movement of the horse's head in an upward direction and keeps the horse's mouth soft, and for a bridle which permits limited movement of the horse's head in an upward direction and for a contoured crown piece which permits a broader bearing surface on a horse's poll.
A portion of horse's headgear that encircles a horse's head is frequently referred to as a headstall. The headstall is used in a bridle and a halter. The bridle used in riding is the headgear with which a horse is governed and which carries a bit and reins. The bit enables the rider of the horse to turn and to stop the horse. The bridle is not used to tie the horse or to restrain the horse. The bridle is customarily made of a headstall having a framework of rigid, inelastic (non-elastic) materials such as thick bridle leather straps (or stiff woven strap-like materials like nylon straps) having a rigid bit. The framework of the headstall of the bridle includes a number of portions. The portions of the bridle may be made adjustable for the size of the horse's head and for fastening around the horse's head by the use of engageable adjustable fasteners, such as buckles, hooks, snaps, or VELCRO® strips (Velcro Industries B.V. Limited Company Assignee of Netherlands Castorweg 22-24 Curacao Netherlands) used with engaging portions such as connecting straps having holes or apertures, corresponding snap parts or mating VELCRO® strips for adjustable engagement of the fastener; hereinafter the aforementioned engagable fasteners and engaging portions are referred to as “fastening means”.
A bridle in which only one bit is used is called a single bit bridle. The plurality of portions of a single bit bridle encircling and conforming to a horse's head include a crown piece (also known as a head band or headpiece), a brow band, a throat latch (also known as a throat lash), two cheek pieces, means for connecting portions to one another, bit attachments for holding the bit and for holding the reins. The crown piece rests on the area on the top of the horse's head on the edge of the skull bones behind its ears. The crown piece connects on either side of the horse's face to cheek pieces. The cheek pieces are disposed on the horse's cheeks on opposite sides of the horse's face. The brow band is connected to the crown piece and to the cheek pieces and is disposed in front of the horse's ears and above the horse's eyes on the horse's brow. The cheek pieces, the crown piece and the brow band are connected to the throat latch which is disposed under the horse's jowl. Each cheek piece has an end bearing a bit attachment which holds the bit and to which the reins are attached.
Another design of a bridle, called a “double bridle” or “show bridle”, bears a second bit. In the double bridle, the structure is as previously described for the single bit bridle, but a second pair of cheek pieces is added to the framework of the bridle. The second pair of cheek pieces may extend from the crown piece or may be integral with a second crown piece disposed at the connection of the brow band and first crown piece. Each cheek piece of the second pair of cheek pieces has an end bearing a bit attachment which holds a second bit (a snaffle bit). Yet, alternatively, a snaffle piece is used with a single bit bridle. The snaffle piece is a leather strap extending around the horse's head and bearing a snaffle bit. The snaffle piece connects on the browband and is disposed under the crown piece, has a pair of cheek pieces with each end of the cheek pieces bearing a bit attachment for the snaffle bit. Either the single bit bridle or the double bit bridles may be worn with a caveson which will be described later.
As is known in the tack art, a curb bit is sometimes used with a bridle. The curb bit is used in association with a curb chain or curb strap which is a chain or strap which is adjustably hooked or buckled onto the curb bit. The curb chain runs through the horse's chin groove and is positioned under the horse's chin. The curb chain (or strap) prevents the bit from sliding in the horse's mouth.
In contrast to a bridle, a halter is headgear used for leading the horse. It is used mainly in the stable to lead the horse or to tie it. The halter comes in two types. One type is a work halter, the other type is a show halter. The work halter (also known as a head collar or barn halter) is the headgear used in training horses to accustom the horse to wearing headgear and following on a lead. The work halter typically includes a frame work of a plurality of inelastic portions, typically made of leather or other stiff woven strap-like materials, interconnected by fasteners or connectors or other attachments. The portions of the work halter may be affixed to one another and/or may be made adjustable to fit the horse's head size and/or may be fastened around the horse's head by the use of is fastening means. The portions of the work halter include a crown piece, two cheek pieces, a throat latch, a noseband, a jaw band, a connector strap, and means for connecting portions to one another. In contrast to the bridle, the work halter does not include a bit. The crown piece rests on the area on the top of the horse's head on the edge of the skull bones behind the horse's ears. The crown piece connects on either side of the horse's face to the cheek pieces. The cheek pieces are disposed on the horse's cheeks on opposite sides of the horse's face. The cheek pieces and the crown piece are connected to the throat latch which is disposed under the horse's jowl. Extending down the horse's face and above the horse's mouth is the noseband. The noseband is part of a headstall of the work halter that passes over the horse's nose. The cheek pieces attach to the noseband on top of the horse's face and to the jaw strap (also called the chin strap) on the bottom. The jaw strap is disposed under the horse's mouth. The jaw strap in turn connects to the throat latch via an under jaw connector strap. A connector, typically an O-ring is used to connect the under jaw connector strap to the jaw strap. A lead rope is connected to the connector when the horse is being trained to follow on the lead rope. With the work halter, unlike the bridle, there is no pressure on the horse's mouth because there is no bit.
The show halter is used when horses are shown in hand. The show halter tends to be smaller and much tighter than the work halter. The show halter has a plurality of inelastic portions, interconnected into a frame-work which fits around the horse's head. The show halter is typically an interconnected framework of leather straps. The straps are usually a slim leather and quite close fitting, since the horse wears no bridle or caveson with the show halter. Sometimes the straps are a fine, rolled leather. Other show halters are made of more rigid leather straps. The portions of the show halter include a crown piece, a pair of cheek pieces, a noseband, a jaw strap and a throat latch. Sometimes the crown piece and the cheek pieces are integral with each other; other styles of show halters have the crown piece and cheek pieces having fastening means, for adjustment to the horse's head size. The crown piece is disposed on the area on the top of the horse's head on the edge of the skull bones behind its ears. The crown piece connects or extends on either side of the horse's face to the cheek pieces. The cheek pieces a
Mondial Industries Ltd.
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.
Swiatek Robert P.
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