Saddle for horse riding

Abstract

A saddle for horse riding (1), comprising a supporting frame (2), defining a seat (3) which extends along a longitudinal direction of extension (100) of the saddle (1), and at least one first and one second flap (4), which are associated with the supporting frame (2) and are arranged on opposite sides with respect to a plane of symmetry which is vertical in use and passes through the longitudinal direction of extension (100), the saddle for horse riding (1) comprising a double-flap saddle provided with a first and a second underflap (10) arranged between a respective flap (4) and the back (200) of the horse, wherein the first and the second underflap (10) are provided with a respective padding and a sheet-like leather body (40) which has a lower portion (41) extending below the padding and an upper portion (42) arranged at least partially facing the padding.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a saddle for horse riding.

[0002] In the sector of animal harness, the use is known of saddles for horse riding which are adapted to be positioned on the back of a horse in order to make it more comfortable for the rider to sit during use.

[0003] Typically, saddles for horse riding are constituted by a supporting frame or core, which defines a seat for the user, and a pair of lateral elements, commonly known as flaps, which are connected to the frame on opposite sides with respect to the seat.

[0004] The flaps define a resting region for the legs of the user, preventing direct contact between the legs and the flanks of the horse.

[0005] With reference to double-flap saddles, it should be noted that in some cases the underflap has paddings, called cushions, to increase the comfort of use.

[0006] A saddle for horse riding having flaps and padded underflaps is disclosed in FR 624 297 A.

[0007] The conventional solutions, although widely used, are not however devoid of drawbacks.

[0008] In fact, the cushions do not always adapt effectively to the needs of the rider and to the shape of the horse.

[0009] The aim of the present invention is to provide a saddle for horse riding which is capable of avoiding the drawbacks of the known art in one or more of the above mentioned aspects.

[0010] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to make available a saddle for horse riding that offers a high comfort of use.

[0011] Not least an object of the invention is to provide a saddle for horse riding that is highly reliable, easy to implement and of low cost.

[0012] This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a saddle for horse riding according to claim 1, optionally provided with one or more of the characteristics of the dependent claims.

[0013] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description that follows of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the saddle for horse riding according to the invention, which is illustrated for the purposes of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of a saddle for horse riding according to the invention; Figure 2 is a view from inside of an underflap of a saddle according to the invention; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the saddle taken along the plane of arrangement identified by the line III-III of Figure 1.

[0014] With reference to the figures, the saddle for horse riding according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a supporting frame 2, which defines a seat 3 which extends along a longitudinal direction of extension 100 of the saddle 1, and at least one first and one second flap 4, which are associated with the supporting frame 2 and are arranged on opposite sides with respect to a plane of symmetry which is vertical in use and passes through the longitudinal direction of extension 100.

[0015] The saddle for horse riding 1 comprises a double-flap saddle, which is provided with a first and a second underflap 10 arranged respectively, during use, between the respective flap 4 and the back (200) of the horse 200.

[0016] According to the invention, the first and the second underflap 10 are provided with a respective padding.

[0017] According to the claimed invention, the first and the second underflap 10 comprise a sheet-like leather body 40 which has a lower portion 41 extending below the padding and an upper portion 42 arranged at least partially facing the padding.

[0018] Specifically, the lower portion 41 of the sheet-like leather body 40 has a first thickness A, and said upper portion 42 of the sheet-like body 40 has a second thickness B which is thinner than the first thickness A.

[0019] According to the claimed invention, the padding comprises a first and a second padding 11, 12: the first padding 11 comprises a cushioning structure 20 having at least a first portion 21a with a substantially horizontal extension which extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction 100 in a position that is close to the seat 3, while the second padding 12 has a panel structure 30 arranged substantially in a lower region and adjacent to at least one portion of the edge of the cushioning structure 20 that, during use, is a lower portion.

[0020] According to the claimed invention, the upper portion 42 is arranged at least partially directed toward the outward face of the panel structure 30.

[0021] According to a preferred practical embodiment, the cushioning structure 20 is substantially L-shaped with the first portion 21a having a horizontal extension and a second portion 21b having a vertical extension, extending substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of extension 100 downward at the end of the first portion 21a that is directed toward the horse's forequarters.

[0022] Conveniently, the cushioning structure 20 has a Shore 00 hardness comprised between 40 and 60 and the panel structure 30 has a Shore 00 hardness comprised between 5 and 25.

[0023] More preferably, the cushioning structure 20 has a Shore 00 hardness comprised between 45 and 55, while the panel structure 30 has a Shore 00 hardness comprised between 10 and 20.

[0024] With reference to the embodiment shown in the figures, and according to the claimed invention, the sheet-like leather element 40 has a connecting incision 43 which extends at the lower edge of the panel structure 30.

[0025] The connecting incision 43 is configured for connecting a sheet-like hide element 50 which is designed to face the face of the panel structure 30 that is directed toward the horse.

[0026] Conveniently, the lower portion 41 of the sheet-like leather body 40 has a first thickness A comprised between 3.5 and 4.2 mm, preferably between 4.0 and 4.5 mm.

[0027] The upper portion 42 of the sheet-like body 40 has a second thickness B comprised between 1.7 and 3.5 mm, preferably between 2.0 and 3.0 mm.

[0028] Advantageously, the sheet-like element 30 and the second padding 12 have the respective facing portions tapered.

[0029] Conveniently, the first and the second padding 11, 12 are made of expanded polyurethane.

[0030] It is possible for the underflap 10 to be stably associated, at a respective front resting portion, with a knee roll 6 which optionally cooperates with the respective flap 4 so as to define a contact body 7 for a portion of the user's leg.

[0031] The use of the saddle for horse riding 1, according to the invention, is similar to the use of traditional saddles.

[0032] However, the particular shape structure of the underflaps makes it possible to appreciably increase the comfort of use without impacting excessively on the costs of manufacture.

[0033] In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.

[0034] The saddle according to the invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0035] In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0036] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, such reference signs have been inserted for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A saddle for horse riding (1), comprising a supporting frame (2), defining a seat (3) which extends along a longitudinal direction of extension (100) of the saddle (1), and at least one first and one second flap (4), which are associated with said supporting frame (2) and are arranged on opposite sides with respect to a plane of symmetry which is vertical in use and passes through said longitudinal direction of extension (100), said saddle for horse riding (1) comprising a double-flap saddle provided with a first and a second underflap (10) configured to be arranged in use between a respective one of said at least one first and one second flap (4) and the back (200) of the horse, said first and said second underflap (10) being provided with a respective padding and a sheet-like leather body (40) which has a lower portion (41) extending below the padding and an upper portion (42) arranged at least partially facing said padding, said padding comprising a first and a second padding (11, 12), said first padding (11) comprising a cushioning structure (20) having at least a first portion (21a) with a substantially horizontal extension which extends substantially parallel to said longitudinal direction of extension (100) in a position that is close to the seat (3), said second padding (12) having a panel structure (30) arranged substantially in a lower region and adjacent to at least one portion of the edge of said cushioning structure (20) that, during use, is a lower portion, said upper portion (42) being arranged at least partially facing the outward face of said panel structure (30), characterized by said sheet-like leather body (40) having a connecting incision (43) extending at at least part of a lower edge of said panel structure (30), configured for connecting a sheet-like hide element (50) designed to face the face of said panel structure (30) that is directed toward the horse.

2. The saddle for horse riding (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said lower portion (41) of said sheet-like leather body (40) has a first thickness (A), and said upper portion (42) of said sheet-like body (40) has a second thickness (B) which is thinner than said first thickness (A).

3. The saddle for horse riding (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cushioning structure (20) is substantially L-shaped with the first portion (21a) having a horizontal extension and a second portion (21b) having a vertical extension, said second portion (21b) extending substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of extension (100) downward at the end of said first portion (21a) that is configured to be directed toward the horse's forequarters.

4. The saddle for horse riding (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cushioning structure (20) has a Shore 00 hardness comprised between 40 and 60 and said panel structure (30) has a Shore 00 hardness comprised between 5 and 25.

5. The saddle for horse riding (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that said cushioning structure (20) has a Shore 00 hardness comprised between 45 and 55 and in that said panel structure (30) has a Shore 00 hardness comprised between 10 and 20.

6. The saddle for horse riding (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lower portion (41) of said sheet-like leather body (40) has a first thickness (A) comprised between 3.5 and 4.7 mm, preferably between 4.0 and 4.5 mm.

7. The saddle for horse riding (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said upper portion (42) of said sheet-like body (40) has a second thickness (B) comprised between 1.7 and 3.5 mm, preferably between 2.0 and 3.0 mm.

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