Harness for working animal – Bridle – Bits
Reexamination Certificate
2003-04-10
2004-12-28
Nguyen, Son T (Department: 3643)
Harness for working animal
Bridle
Bits
Reexamination Certificate
active
06834482
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to harness animal tack and accessories, and more particularly to a bridle bit for horses and the like. The present bridle bit has swivel cheek components, but rather than integrating the swiveling cheek components with their corresponding nose band and/or headstall purchase ring or eye, thus causing the purchase ring to swivel in unison with the swivel cheek component, the present invention immovably affixes the upper or purchase ring with the mouth bar of the bit, with only the lower, rein attachment ring or eye and “dee” eye or ring swiveling in unison according to rein pull.
2. Description of the Related Art
The utility of larger animals for various purposes, i.e., as a power source, for pulling a heavy load, riding, etc., has been recognized for ages. However, it is also apparent that some form of control must be provided in order to cause the animal to perform as desired. Accordingly, halters, reins, leashes, and/or other restraining devices began to be developed when animals began to be domesticated and employed for various purposes.
Numerous variations and improvements upon the basic harness, halter, and rein concept have been developed over the years, with the term “tack” being applied to the wide range of equipment used in the handling and control of large domesticated animals, particularly horses. Early in the development of such equipment, it was found that the placement of some device in the mouth of the animal, and working or manipulating that device, was extremely effective in controlling the animal as desired. The tissues of the mouth are relatively sensitive, allowing the animal to sense the desired action with minimal pressure, after proper training. As a result, the bit and closely related attachments have proven to be particularly important components in the fields of tack, harness, and saddlery.
Accordingly, the bridle and bit have received a considerable amount of attention, with practically innumerable variations of the assembly having been developed over the years. It is critical that such devices provide for the attachment of suitable control reins, attachment straps, etc., and such bridle assemblies conventionally include a series of “purchases,” rings, or eyes for the attachment of various straps, reins, etc. In its simplest form, the bit and its harness attachment components are formed as a unitary device, with no relatively moving components. However, such a bit has not been found to be optimally effective, as it provides no variation for altering the attach points of reins and other components, adjustability, or versatility for various uses (e.g., training, working cattle, competition riding, etc.).
One somewhat common variation upon the bridle bit is the “swivel cheeked” bit, wherein the cheek piece, which extends from each end of the mouth bar of the bit, is pivotally attached to the mouth bar. With a swivel cheeked bit, the cheeks normally swivel outwardly and downwardly when the reins are slack. A light tension on a given rein tends to pull the corresponding cheek upwardly and inwardly, to touch the side of the horse's face (or cheek) adjacent the corner of the mouth. A gentle, slight tug on one rein is sufficient to move the cheek piece, without need to tug more firmly upon the rein and move the mouth bar against the sensitive tissues within the mouth of the animal.
However, such swivel cheeked bits are commonly constructed with the upper or purchase ring integrally formed with the cheek piece and dee components. As a result, the swiveling of one of these components relative to the mouth bar of the bit results in corresponding swiveling of the remaining components. As the upper or bridle attachment ring or eye of the assembly must swivel with any swiveling action of the cheek piece, dee, and/or rein attachment ring or eye, it will be seen that any harness or bridle straps attached to the upper ring will be twisted during the swiveling of their attachment ring. This can result in such straps, particularly the nose band, twisting laterally as its attachment ring swivels or rotates due to the swiveling of other components when a rein is pulled. When this occurs, the rearward edge of the strap tends to bear into the somewhat sensitive flesh along the side of the nose of the animal, and can abrade this area over a period of time.
The present swivel cheeked bridle bit responds to this problem, by forming the upper purchase rings or eyes as a fixed, monolithic structure integrated immovably with the mouth bar of the bit. Yet, the cheek rings and dees which provide for the attachment of reins thereto, swivel on the purchase attachment bar, to allow a slight tug on either rein to swivel the cheek piece and dee to guide the animal as desired. The nose strap and other bridle attachments remain stationary to allow the straps to rest flat against the animal's face, thereby avoiding discomfort and/or injury to the animal and subsequent potential difficulties in working with the animal.
A discussion of the related art of which the present inventor is aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below.
U.S. Pat. No. 529,472 issued on Nov. 20, 1894 to Melvin F. Bigelow, titled “Bridle Bit,” describes a bit assembly in which the cheek pieces are immovably affixed to the mouth piece or mouth bar. The only movable components of the Bigelow bit are the relatively large diameter rein attachment rings, which extend from their attachments at the intersection of the mouth bar with the cheek pieces. The only relative movement between components is the swivel attachment of the larger rein attachment rings to the fixed, non-swiveling cheek pieces; the lower curb rein attachment rings are immovably affixed to the fixed cheek pieces.
U.S. Pat. No. 962,134 issued on Jun. 21, 1910 to Washington J. Engle, titled “Bit,” describes a bit assembly with movable components engaging the sides of the horse's face when the corresponding rein is pulled. However, the large, octagonal cheek pieces are immovably affixed to the mouth bar of the bit; they do not swivel, as is the case with the present bit.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,205,636 issued on Sep. 14, 1965 to William D. Laningham, titled “Horse Mouth Bit,” describes a bit in which the mouth bar is rotationally mounted between the two opposed side members of the assembly. The side members (which might be considered the cheek pieces of the bit) are rigidly and immovably interconnected by a second crossmember below the mouth bar. Laningham provides a “protective buffer element,” comprising a rotary disc, at each end of the mouth bar. However, these discs do not swivel outwardly from the planes of their discs, as in the motion of a conventional swivel mounted dee and cheek piece. It is also noted that the upper rings of the Laningham bit may swivel within the upper ends of the side members, thus teaching away from the immovably affixed upper rings of the present swivel cheeked bit.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,208,196 issued on Sep. 28, 1965 to David Ferguson, titled “Flexible Horse Bit,” describes a bit having swivel mounted dees at each end of the mouth bar. The mouth bar has a side member immovably affixed to each end thereof, with the dees being pivotally mounted on the corresponding side members. Ferguson does not provide any other upper or curb rein attachment rings to his bit, whereas the present bit includes such additional attachment rings or eyes. Rather, all reins, cheek straps, nose straps, curb straps, etc. of the Ferguson bit, must be attached either directly or indirectly to the single swiveling dee on each side of the bit.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,797 issued on May 13, 1986 to Ulrich Conrad, titled “Bridoon Bit,” describes numerous bridle bit embodiments, most of which are provided with only a single swivel mounted rein and halter attachment ring at each end of the mouth bar. The same points noted in the discussion of the bit of the Ferguson '196 U.S. Patent immediately above, are applicable here a
Litman Richard C.
Nguyen Son T
LandOfFree
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