Saddle tree

Abstract

A saddle tree consisting of a body (1) to which a cantle (2) is attached, the body forming, from front to back, a neck (11) with an arch (15), a leg drop (13) extends towards the rear by a seat (14) for the attachment of a cantle (2), the seat (14) is in the form of a toric vault with at least one cantle location chosen according to the size of the saddle tree to be made and, the cantle is chosen from the group of cantles of shape adapted to the different riding disciplines.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a saddle tree consisting of a body to which a cantle is attached, the body forming from front to back, a neck with an arch, a leg drop ending with the cantle attached to the back of the body, as well as to a method and device for manufacturing a saddle tree of this kind.

[0002] From EP4279443, we already know a manufacturing process for a range of different sized saddle trees, consisting of making a main body comprising a front part, including a neck with an arch and a leg drop, and a rear part defining a seat, a cantle being fixed on the rear part, a plurality of transverse cutting lines being formed on the rear part, each cutting line corresponding to a fixing position of the cantle, thus obtaining, after cutting, a given size of saddle tree.

[0003] This prior art process is expensive and complex to implement.

[0004] The present invention aims to develop a method for manufacturing a saddle tree that is simple to make and adaptable to different sizes of both riders and cantles equipping the saddle tree to equalize the saddle, as well as a saddle tree and a range of saddle trees of this kind.

[0005] The invention also aims to simplify, through a particular structure of the saddle tree, not only the manufacture but also the maintenance of the saddle and, where necessary, the replacement of the neck arch.

[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, a method for manufacturing a saddle tree is as defined in claim 1, improvements being defined in subclaims 2 to 5.

[0007] Thus, by the process according to the invention, a saddle tree can be produced without material loss, in a range of sizes, for example, small, medium, or large. Furthermore, the saddle tree is obtained without a cutting step that could introduce inaccuracies in relation to the desired final shape.

[0008] The present invention also relates to a mold for manufacturing a saddle tree body, the saddle tree being composed of the body to which a cantle is attached, at least the body being made of a material allowing its molding, in particular of plastic, and preferably the cantle also being made of plastic, the mold having an impression corresponding to the body, having a front part comprising a neck with an arch and a leg drop, and a rear part comprising a seat for the attachment of a cantle, the impression of the seat being in the shape of a toroidal vault with a plurality of predefined locations on the seat between the location of the largest size to that of the smallest size of a range of cantle trees chosen according to the size of the saddle tree to be made, and plugging means intended to partially plug the rear part of the impression according to the size of the saddle tree to be made.

[0009] Preferably, each location is predefined by a line corresponding to the rear edge of the cantle, the body of the tree made by the mold ending with a rear edge at the level of said line.

[0010] Preferably, the cantle is chosen from the group of cantles of a shape adapted to the different riding disciplines to be fixed to one of the locations chosen from the predefined locations.

[0011] Preferably, the cantle has a sole with a lower surface that is complementary in shape to the upper surface of the seat.

[0012] Preferably, the rear edge of the sole is connected to a collar, thus forming a curved dihedral, with a curved edge at the junction of the sole and the collar.

[0013] In particular, the sole is a toric surface complementary to that of the seat.

[0014] Thus, a single general body shape encompasses predefined body shapes based on tree sizes, within a range that extends from the largest to the smallest of the general body shapes. All tree bodies in this range are fitted with a cantle from a selection of different types, all compatible with every seat position within the general shape.

[0015] The rear edge of the tree body made with the predefined location retained for this tree size is the injected one of the tree body of this size and which is also that of the edge of the cantle chosen for this tree.

[0016] Defining the range of tree sizes or tree bodies is all the simpler and easier because the front of the body is the same for all bodies in this size range.

[0017] The seat of the general pommel body or that of all pommel bodies in this range is, in the strict geometric sense, a toric surface with a more or less flared generatrix in the shape of an inverted U, comparable to a semi-ellipse.

[0018] The directrix of this body is a circle whose radius of curvature can be very large, not excluding the limiting case of a straight directrix.

[0019] The correspondence between the predefined locations and the soles of the different cantles available, only requires the concordance of the cantle's edge and the edge of the location chosen for the construction of this saddle tree body.

[0020] But the surface of the sole can vary, in particular by the position and shape of the front edge of the sole, depending on the physical requirements imposed on the holding of the cantle according to the conditions of use of the saddle.

[0021] According to one characteristic, the seat is the variation of a body of maximum length whose seat covers all the sizes of tree bodies at least of a range of tree sizes.

[0022] According to another characteristic, the top of the body mold bears reference marks: lines of the rear edges of the locations, attachment points of the cantle and of the saddle accessories to be attached to the tree.

[0023] The integrated markings in the overall shape of the mold for the injection of all the tree bodies in a range are therefore not only useful for adjusting the mold according to the size of the tree body to be made, but they are also useful for positioning exactly the cantle and its fixing points as well as the other fixing points of the tree accessories.

[0024] Another characteristic of the cantle is its arched sole, bordered at the rear by a raised, angled collar of a height corresponding to the shape of the cantle type. This collar is connected to the sole by ribs forming gussets. These structures ensure the rigidity essential to the cantle while facilitating its injection molding.

[0025] According to another advantageous feature, the underside of the neck, extended by tabs receiving the arch of the body, has an extra thickness delimiting a reservation forming a housing at the location of the arch to receive the arch.

[0026] This neck shape allows for precise positioning of the arch, especially since the arch is interchangeable and its positioning must be just as precise for the replacement arch. The added thickness reinforces the part of the neck and the tabs bordering the arch.

[0027] According to another feature, the recess is fitted with nuts embedded in the bottom of the recess and receiving screws which removably fix the arch in the recess.

[0028] The recessed nuts ensure the correct positioning of the arch both during initial installation and when replacing it, while allowing stable screwing with no part protruding from the top of the neck and legs.

[0029] According to another characteristic, the extra thickness leaves on the contour of the legs and the front of the collar a clearance forming a marginal band for the attachment of the edge of the leather covering of the saddle tree.

[0030] The fixing contour is thus advantageously integrated into the collar and the tabs by the slight reduction of the excess thickness.

[0031] According to another advantageous feature, the underside of the saddle tree is closed by an elastic trapezoid fixed between the front end formed by the neck and the rear end formed by the edge of the cantle, the front of the trapezoid being a flexible piece ending in a front roll and the rear side of the trapezoid connected to the band of stretchable material is a flexible rear deformable piece, covered in leather or textile, provided on each side with a hole for the screws fixing the rear panels.

[0032] The underside of the arch is thus easily accessible for replacement.

[0033] The invention also relates to a mold whose bottom and top form the mold cavity for the largest size of a range of saddle body sizes, which is combined with a wedge integrated into the mold to delimit the cavity for making a saddle body smaller than the largest size with the shape of the rear edge of the body to be molded.

[0034] Thus we have the advantage of a single mold to produce a whole range of tree bodies capable of receiving cantles compatible with all sizes of tree bodies.

[0035] The present invention also relates to a saddle tree composed of a body that can be obtained by the process according to the invention to which a cantle is attached.

[0036] In particular, the saddle tree is composed of a body forming, from front to back, a neck with an arch and a leg rest ending with the cantle fixed to the back of the body, the leg rest extending towards the rear with a seat for the attachment of a cantle, the seat being in the shape of a torus vault with at least one cantle location having been chosen according to the size of the saddle tree to be made, the cantle being chosen from the group of cantles of shape adapted to the different riding disciplines to be fixed to one of the locations chosen from the predefined locations, the cantle being formed of a sole whose rear edge is connected to a collar thus forming a curved dihedral, with a curved edge at the junction of the sole and the collar, and the sole being a torus surface complementary to that of the torus surface of said at least one location,characterized in that the body of the saddle tree is made of a molding material, particularly injection molding, particularly plastic.

[0037] Preferably, the cantle(s) are made of the same material as the body, especially plastic.

[0038] The present invention also relates to a range of saddle trees as defined in any one of claims 7 to 10.

[0039] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to embodiments of a saddle tree according to the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: [ Fig. 1 ] is a perspective view of the saddle tree [ Fig. 2A ] is a bottom view of the saddle bodies of different sizes obtained according to the process of the invention, each size corresponding to a dotted line, [ Fig. 2B ] is a top view of the larger size saddle tree fitted with the cantle, the positions of the cantle attachment points being shown for the other sizes; Fig. 2C ] represents an example of the attachment points for the cantle, arch, and accessories; [ Fig. 2D ] is a schematic geometric representation of the seat; [ Fig. 3 ] is, in its part A, a partial view from below of the saddle neck without the arch, and in its part B, a partial view from below of the arch, and in its part C a section of the saddle neck along the cutting plane III III; [ Fig. 4A ] is an isometric view of the cantle; [ Fig. 4B ] is a schematic representation of a gusset; [ Fig. 4C ] is a front view of the cantle of the figure 4A ; Fig. 5 ] is, in its part A, a view from below of the body of the saddle tree fitted with the trapeze, and in its part B, a view from below of a saddle; and [ Fig. 6 ] is, in its part A, a top view of the trapezoid and in its part B, a bottom view of the trapezoid.

[0040] According to the figure 1 The invention relates to a saddle tree 100 formed of a body 1 consisting of a veil of plastic material in an arch, following the general shape of a saddle tree without a cantle; this three-dimensional surface shape of the body 1 can be assimilated to a kind of hyperboloid; this body 1 is combined with a cantle 2 to form the saddle tree.

[0041] The orientation of the body 1 and the pommel 100 is the same in all figures; it is indicated by the AV coordinate system for the front side and the AR coordinate system for the rear side. The (x, y, z) axis coordinate system defines respectively: the longitudinal direction xx, the transverse direction yy, the vertical direction zz, serving as reference points for the description of the 100 saddle tree.

[0042] The front of the body 1 has a neck 11 reinforced below by an arch 15 ( figure 3 ). The collar 11 extends downwards by two tabs 12 and backwards by a tunnel forming the leg drop 13 which develops into a seat 14 to which is fixed the cantle 2 whose shape corresponds to the intended riding discipline.

[0043] The cantle 2 fixed to the body 1 has the shape of a curved dihedral composed of a sole 21 of complementary shape to that of the seat 14 on which the cantle 2 is fixed; the sole 21 is connected to the collar 22 along a curved edge 23 and where appropriate, reinforced by gussets 24 stiffening this curved dihedral structure.

[0044] The 100 tree is symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane (xx / zz) according to the orientations chosen above, constituting the median plane PM.

[0045] The median plane PM which intersects the body 1 along a line constituting a crest curve 101 between the neck 11 and the rear end of the seat 14.

[0046] The whole thing thus combined will be dressed and will receive the various accessories such as the quarters, counter-girths, stirrup leathers, etc.

[0047] The body 1 and the cantle 2 are obtained, for example, by injecting a copolymer compound which is a mixture of two polymers having different properties, one of the polymers ensuring flexibility and the other ensuring the correct shape of the tree.

[0048] Body 1 is obtained by injection into a single mold corresponding to the largest size of the saddle trees in a range of sizes; this range of sizes may be unique or be one range among several ranges covering different sets of anatomical parameters.

[0049] In a range of tree sizes, the mold corresponds to the largest tree body in the range; the smaller sizes in this range are obtained by reducing the mold by an insert installed in the rear part of the mold to shorten it and inject only into the part of the mold left free; the front part is common and unchanged for all sizes made with this mold.

[0050] The insert can be a single piece, positioned in the appropriate location within the mold according to the tree size to be produced. Alternatively, a set of shims corresponding to all tree sizes is used, selected based on the tree size being injected. In practice, tree bodies of different sizes are injected in batches of identical bodies, each injected for the same mold cavity dimensions.

[0051] THE figures 2A, 2B show a bottom view and a top view of the largest 1M body made in the mold of a range of 1 body sizes.

[0052] The mold has impressions and reference marks for the dimensions and positioning of the soles 21 of the cantles 2 and the fixing points of the attachment elements of the saddle accessories.

[0053] The marks are found on the tree body 1, so the mold can be described by the tree body 1M, the largest achievable with this mold, which is represented by its underside ( figure 2A ) which is the image of the underside of the mold cavity and from its top ( figure 2B ) which is the image of the top of the mold cavity.

[0054] The front of the 100 tree is the same for all tree sizes in a range and only the rear part beyond the leg drop 13 and which forms the seat 14 of the cantle 2 is reduced according to the desired size.

[0055] According to the figure 2A in the mold, the different sizes of the bodies 1 are represented by series of curved lines of the same shape which are translations (along the longitudinal axis XX) of the edge 140 of the seat (lines 140-i, i= 1, 2, 3...), representing different sizes of saddle trees

[0056] The curved lines 140-i correspond to the position of the various rear edges of the bodies (1-i) to be formed in the mold, by positioning the shim. The imprint of the lines (140-i) appears on the underside of the injected tree body.

[0057] The seat 14 of body 1 is a curved surface which receives the same sole 21 of the cantles for the different disciplines and all sizes of the mold, declined from the maximum size 1M of the body.

[0058] This geometric continuity of seat 14 is a vault-shaped surface with a curved section and curved profile, imposed by the crest curve 101 of seat 14.

[0059] Seat 14 is an arch extending the descent of leg 13, generated by a symmetrical, inverted U-shaped generating curve, the apex of which follows the ridge curve 101 of body 1. This ridge curve, the intersection of body 1 with the median plane PM, exhibits the curvature appearing at the figure 1 .

[0060] According to the figures 2B-2C , the seat 14 forms a continuous succession of zones characterized by lines of fixing points LF1-LF2 in the longitudinal direction of the body 1 which define the locations of the cantles 2 for the different sizes of body 1 achievable with this mold.

[0061] On top of the pommel 100 according to the figure 2B The various fixing points on the body 1, chosen according to the cantle 2, are simple reference points which will be crossed by a self-drilling screw or by rivets or constituted by fixing points with inserts receiving screws.

[0062] Since the tree 100 is symmetrical with respect to the median plane PM, the attachment points of the cantles 2 are distributed according to the lines of points LF1, LF2 symmetrical with respect to the median plane PM for the four attachment points to the seat 14 respecting this symmetry.

[0063] The collar also includes the attachment points 113 of the inserts 1131 of the gullet 15, attachment points 114 at the rear of the leg 12 for the quarter and at the front of the leg 12 for the false quarter, points 115 for the counter girths, attachment points 116 with the front panel insert for attachment with quarter and small quarter and various other attachment points 117 at the edge of the leg drop 13 and the seat 14.

[0064] According to the invention ( figure 1 ) the sole 21 of the cantle 2 has a shape which can apply against the seat 14 at any location; the shape of the sole 21 is the local part of the seat 14 so that necessarily the surface of the seat 14 has a longitudinal curvature and a transverse curvature, each constant.

[0065] The sole 21 of the cantle 2 is a surface of transverse and longitudinal curvature complementary to those of the seat 14 and this in a uniform manner, that is to say regardless of the position in which a cantle 2 is fixed to the seat 14. While the edge 23 of the cantles 2 is always the same, their front edge 22 can have different shapes to enlarge or shorten (width according to the direction of the median plane PM) the sole according to the mechanical strength that the cantle 2 must have.

[0066] Seat 14 is thus generated by a curved transverse generator G in a plane perpendicular to the median plane PM and whose vertex follows the crest curve 101 intersection of the median plane and the surface of seat 14.

[0067] The segment (101a-101b) of the crest curve 101 of the seat 14 has a substantially constant radius of curvature so as to unify the transverse and longitudinal curvatures of the sole 21 so that it can be positioned in contact with the seat 14 in each location of the sole 21 on the seat 14.

[0068] Schematically, the intersection of the transverse plane containing the curved generatrix must always be perpendicular to the ridge curve 101 at the point of intersection (current point P) of the transverse plane (plane TG-N) and the ridge curve 101.

[0069] There figure 2D shows the geometric construction of the surface of seat 14 generated by a generating curve G resting at its vertex on the ridge curve 101 at the current point P.

[0070] At the current point P, the crest curve 101 has a tangent TC contained in the median plane PM.

[0071] The perpendicular TG to the plane PM passing through the current point P is the tangent to the generating curve G.

[0072] The normal N to the ridge curve 101 at the current point P subtends, along with the tangent TG, the plane containing the generating curve G, which has a shape symmetrical with respect to the median plane PM; this shape is approximately elliptical. The generating curve G generates seat 14 when the current point P describes the segment (101a-101b).

[0073] To better highlight the geometric construction in space, the median plane PM is defined by the vertical ZZ passing through the current point P contained by definition in the median plane PM (which is the plane of the sheet) so that the inclination of the plane (TG-N) is emphasized by the inclination of the normal N to the curve 101 at the current point P.

[0074] In summary, the section of the vault forming the surface of the seat 14 is an inverted U generating curve, contained in the plane normal to the crest curve 101 of the body 1 at the intersection of the plane of symmetry PM of the body 1 at the current point P; this normal plane is by definition the transverse plane perpendicular to the median plane PM and containing the normal N at the current point P of the crest curve 101 which is the directrix curve.

[0075] Since the crest curve 101 is an arc of a circle, (its segment 101a-101b belonging to the seat 14), the vault forming the surface of the seat is a toric surface to which also belongs the sole 21 of the cantles 2 whatever their shape and function.

[0076] According to the invention, the same general body shape 1-i (i=1-n) encompasses predefined body shapes according to the sizes of the tree made in a predefined range derived from the general body shape 1M, which is the largest shape, down to the smallest shape; all the tree bodies (1-i) of this range receive a cantle 2j (j=1, 2, 3...) from a set of cantles of different types but all compatible with all the locations (141-i) of the seat 14 of general shape 1M.

[0077] The rear edge of the tree body (1-i) made with the predefined location (141-i) retained for this tree size is the injected one of the tree body of this size and which is also that of the edge 23 of the cantle chosen for this tree.

[0078] The locations (141-i) of a cantle 2j are defined by the rear edge (140-i) of the body (1-i), since this rear edge also corresponds to the edge 23 and is therefore the same shape for all locations (141-i). Only the front edge 211 of the sole 21 may change from one cantle to another, but this is irrelevant since the attachment points 212 of the cantle 2j have the same position relative to the edge 23, regardless of the type of cantle 2j. An example of a location (141-i) is highlighted on the body (1-i) in the top view of the figure 2B . In this example, the body (1-i) is the largest (1M) but this presentation is valid for all bodies (1-i) in the range achievable from the maximum size of the injection mold represented by this body (1M).

[0079] For all other bodies (1-i) in the range, the resulting body (1-i) is at location (141-i) whose back edge (140-i) is the back edge of the particular body (1-i).

[0080] The production of the range of saddle trees or saddle tree bodies is all the simpler and easier when the front is the same for all the bodies in a range of sizes.

[0081] The seat 14 of the general 1M saddle body or that of all saddle bodies (1-i) of this range is in the strict geometric sense, a toric surface with a more or less flared generatrix in the shape of an inverted U, comparable to a half-ellipse.

[0082] The directrix of this body is a circle whose radius of curvature can be very large, not excluding the limiting case of a straight directrix.

[0083] The correspondence between the predefined locations and the soles 21 of the different cantles available, only requires the concordance of the edge 23 of the cantle 2j and the edge 140-i of the location 141-i retained for the realization of this tree body 1-i.

[0084] There figure 3 In its parts A and B, it shows, in view from below, the neck 11 of the body with the arch 15 which will be fixed under the neck 11 and to the legs 12. The underside of the neck 11 and the legs 12 is shown before the placement of the arch 15. The neck 11 and the arch 15 have an inverted U section.

[0085] The underside of the neck 11 and the two legs 12 has a transverse surface 111 in excess thickness bordering a shallow recess 112 to receive the arch 15 reinforcing the neck 11 and the legs 12. The arch 15 is a steel band, bent into a flared U shape, whose arms are also inclined and curved with respect to a transverse plane (not shown) perpendicular to the median plane PM.

[0086] The transverse surface 111 in excess thickness leaves, in relation to the contour of the legs 12, a marginal band 120 for stapling the leather covering the top of the legs 12 and the collar 11.

[0087] Part C of the figure 3 shows the section by the plane (III III) parallel to the median plane PM highlighting the thickened surface 111 bordering the reservation 112 and remaining set back from the contour of the two legs 12 to form the marginal band 120.

[0088] The arch 15 is recessed into the cavity 112, approximately flush with the underside of the neck 11 and the legs 12. It is fixed by four screws passing through the holes 151 and engaging in threaded inserts 1131 integrated into the holes 113 of the web forming the neck 11 and the legs 12. The arch 15 can be changed to provide a different angle to adapt to the equine's conformation and can be easily separated by unscrewing the screws from the inserts 131.

[0089] There figure 4A shows a cantle 2 having the shape of a curved dihedral of the sole 21 held and reinforced by a succession of gussets 24 whose triangular shape is schematically represented in the figure 4B ; it shows the triangular shape with vertices a, b, c. The gussets 24 are distributed slightly in a fan shape with respect to the median plane PM.

[0090] The sole 21 of the cantle 2 is the curved / arched contact surface with its location on the seat 14.

[0091] From the median plane or plane of symmetry PM, the gussets 24 have a size and an inclination varying more or less towards the sides.

[0092] The arched sole 21 is delimited by the curved edge 23 of the curved dihedral; this edge 23 is common with the collar 22, which is shaped like a truncated cone. At the ends of the cantle 2, the edge 211 of the sole 21 meets the curved edge 221 of the collar 22. The gussets 24 are locally perpendicular to the surface of the sole 21 and to the collar 22.

[0093] According to the geometric diagram ( Fig. 4B ), each gusset 24 is connected to: the sole 21 by its side 241 between the vertices a and b, the collar 22 by its side 242 between the vertices b and c. The third side 243 between the vertices a and c generates the envelope surface of the covering of the tree 100.

[0094] The three-dimensional structure of the cantle 2 is thus stiffened by the combination of the gussets 24, the sole 21 and the collar 22, bringing together three-dimensional surfaces forming a rigid, lightweight structure made of plastic by injection.

[0095] There figure 4C which is a front view of the general shape of a cantle 2 shows the lunule-shaped sole 21 which is the contact surface of the cantle 2 with its location on the seat 14 of the body 1. It is fixed to the location by rivets at the fixing points 212.

[0096] The sole 21 is a three-dimensional crescent-shaped surface, delimited by a curved front edge 211 corresponding to the junction between the rear edge of the seat 13, of the future saddle and the seat 14.

[0097] The other edge of the sole 21 forms the curved edge 23 from which the collar 22 originates, constituting the other surface of the curved dihedral shape of the cantle 2. The collar 22 is a flared, conical surface originating from the curved edge 23 of the sole 21 and connected to it by gussets 24 of triangular shape; the gussets are substantially perpendicular locally to the sole 21 and are inclined progressively with respect to the median plane to remain perpendicular to the sole 21.

[0098] Since the cantle 2 is an injected part, the gussets 24 must form cavities 245 between them, two by two, whose faces are parallel or flared so as not to have undercut shapes and to allow the cantle 2 to be extracted from the mold.

[0099] The third side 243 of the gussets 23 forms the surface covered by the saddle covering.

[0100] The four attachment points belong to four rows of attachment points, depending on the type of cantle. Markings are also drawn on the underside.

[0101] There figure 5 in its part A shows the underside of the saddle tree 100 fitted with the elastic trapeze 3 fixed between the front end (collar 11) and the rear end (cantle 2) and in its part B it shows the whole according to part A covered by the right and left side panels 102.

[0102] Detailed views of the figures 6in its parts A and B shows respectively the top and bottom of the elastic trapezoid 3; the latter has overall a trapezoidal shape between the front 3a constituting the large base and the back 3b constituting the small base.

[0103] The front 3a of the trapezoid 3 is a flexible piece 31 bordered by a front bead 311; the flexible piece 31 is connected by a strip of stretchable material or textile 32 to the rear 3b to a flexible rear piece 33 by a seam like the front piece 31.

[0104] The front piece 31 is itself trapezoidal in shape, the corners of the sides having a pair of through holes 35. The through hole 35 on each side constitutes through holes for the inserts of the front panels.

[0105] The flexible front piece 31 is covered with leather or textile, glued onto the piece 31.

[0106] The deformable rear piece 33 is a flexible, deformable rear piece, covered with leather or textile and connected by a seam to the stretchable material strip 32. On each side, this rear piece 33 is provided with a through hole 36 for the screws fixing the rear panels.

[0107] The resulting elastic trapezoidal joint (3) reduces assembly time and simplifies the process. It allows quick access to the gullet plate (15) and makes it easily interchangeable without having to disassemble the entire saddle. It also allows for customization of the front (311) and rear (331) bolsters.

[0108] The 15-inch tree, with its 3-inch trapeze, not only simplifies saddle assembly by reducing assembly steps, but also increases assembly efficiency and reduces the arduousness of the work.

[0109] To replace the gullet 15, simply unscrew the panels that are no longer laced at the front of the false quarters, thus removing the front of the trapeze 3 and accessing the gullet 15 to detach it from the body 1 by unscrewing the four screws that hold it in place to replace it and close the saddle by proceeding in the reverse order. NOMENCLATURE OF MAIN ELEMENTS

[0110] 100 Tree 101 Ridge line 1 Body 1M Maximum body size 1-i Intermediate body size (i) 11 Neck 111 Thick cross surface 112 Recess 113 Gully insert attachment hole 1131 Insert 114 Flap and quarter attachment holes 115 Girth strap attachment insert 116 Front panel insert passage for attachment with flap and small flap 117 Other attachment points 12 Leg 120 Margin band 13 Leg drop 14 Seat 140 Rear edge of body 140-i Rear edge of body guide line 141-i Cantle location 15 Gully 151 Attachment hole 2 Cantle 2j (j=1,2,3...) Cantle type according to equestrian discipline 21 Sole 211 Front edge 212 Cantle attachment point 22 Collar 221 Edge 23 Curved edge / rear edge of the sole 24 Gusset a,b,c Vertices of the triangle forming the gusset 241 Side ab 242 Side bc 243 Side ca 245 Cavity between two gussets 25-i Attachment point 3 Trapezoid 31 Flexible front piece 311 Front welt 32 Stretch band 33 Flexible rear piece 331 Rear welt 35 Front opening 36 Rear opening PM Median plane PT Transverse plane LF1-2 Lines of cantle attachment points 101 Body ridge curve 1 101a-101b Segment of the seat ridge curve 14 P Current point of the ridge curve 101 Tc Tangent to curve 101 at current point TG Perpendicular to median plane PM at current point PN Normal to ridge curve at current point PG Generatrix of seat 14 (TG-N) Plane containing generatrix G.

Claims

1. Method for manufacturing a saddle tree consisting of a body to which a cantle is attached, the body being made of a material allowing its manufacture by molding, in particular of plastic, and having a front part, comprising a neck with an arch and a leg rest, and a rear part forming a seat to which the cantle is attached, the method comprising the following steps: - A mold is made with an impression having a shape corresponding to the shape corresponding to the largest size, respectively the smallest size of the basic body of the saddle tree, the impression having a front part and a rear part; - The rear part of the impression is reduced, respectively increased, to give it a shape corresponding to a smaller size, respectively larger size, the front part of the impression not being modified; - The basic body of the smaller size, respectively larger size, is made by molding;and - Once the basic body has been removed from the mold, the cantle is attached to the rear part.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cantle (2j) (j=1,2,3...) is formed of a sole (21) whose rear edge (23) is connected to a collar (22) thus forming a curved dihedral, with a curved edge (23) at the junction of the sole and the collar (22), the sole (21) being a toric surface complementary to that of the toric surface of a predefined location (141-i) of the imprint of the rear part corresponding to the seat (14).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the seat (14-141) is the variation of a body (1M) of maximum length whose seat (14) covers all the sizes of tree bodies (1-i) at least of a range of tree sizes (100i).

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in thatthe top of the body imprint (1) bears reference marks: lines (140-i) of the rear edges of the locations (141-i), cantle attachment points (2) and saddle fittings to be attached to the tree (100-i).

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cantle (2) includes a sole (21) in the shape of an arch, bordered at the rear by a raised collar (22), inclined and of height corresponding to the shape of the types (2j) (j=a, b, c,...) of cantle, this collar (22) being connected to the sole (21) by ribs forming gussets (24).

6. Mold for implementing the manufacturing process for a saddle tree body (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in thatIt includes - a cavity or mold impression for the largest size (1M) of a range of tree body sizes (1-i) (100-i), combined with plugging means, for example a wedge integrated into the mold, to delimit the molding cavity for making a tree body smaller than the largest size with the shape of the rear edge (140-i) of the body (1-i) to be molded.

7. Tree obtained by the process according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

8. A saddle tree consisting of a body forming, from front to back, a neck with an arch and a leg drop ending with the cantle fixed to the rear of the body, the leg drop extending towards the rear with a seat for the attachment of a cantle, the seat being in the shape of a toroidal vault with at least one cantle location having been chosen according to the size of the saddle tree to be made, the cantle being chosen from the group of cantles of shape adapted to the different riding disciplines to be fixed to one of the locations chosen from the predefined locations, the cantle being formed of a sole whose rear edge is connected to a collar thus forming a curved dihedral, with a curved edge at the junction of the sole and the collar, and the sole being a toroidal surface complementary to that of the toroidal surface of said at least one location, characterized in thatthe body of the saddle tree is made of a molding material, particularly injection molding, especially plastic.

9. Tree according to one of claims 7 or 8, the cantle(s) being made of the same material as the body, in particular plastic.

10. Range comprising a plurality of saddle trees, each saddle tree being composed of a body having a front part, comprising a neck with an arch and a leg drop, and a rear part to which a cantle is attached, the front parts of the plurality of saddle trees being identical to each other, while the rear parts have shapes, including dimensions, which vary from one saddle tree to another.

11. Range according to claim 10, characterized in that at least the body of each saddle tree is made of a material that allows it to be molded.

12. Range according to claim 11, characterized in that at least the body of each saddle tree is made of plastic.

13. Range comprising a plurality of saddle trees manufactured according to the process of one of claims 1 to 5.

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