EQUINE BLANKET WITH ADVANCED LACING

Abstract

The invention relates to a lacing for an equine blanket, comprising: a first front edge (20) provided with a plurality of eyelets adapted to receive at least one strap (12, 14) of the lacing of the blanket (10); the first front edge (20) being able to overlap at least partially a second front edge (30), the second front edge (30) being provided with at least one strap (12) being able to be held in position through a fixing loop (16); laces (40, 41) positioned on the front portion (20a) of the first front edge (20) for retaining a plurality of loops (22) or rings (24), said loops (22) or rings (24) being adapted to facilitate the sliding of the straps (12), in a lacing design;at least one strap (12) capable of being passed through one of the eyelets by entering through the rear portion (20b) of the first front edge (20) of the blanket so that the second front edge (30) of the blanket, although being partially covered by the first front edge (20) of the blanket, is firmly held in position and cannot fold back and cause discomfort to the equine. Figure for abstract: Fig 3;

Description

Title of the invention: EQUINE COVER WITH IMPROVED LACING FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a blanket for horses or other members of the equine family, said blanket having an improved lacing system. PRIORITY OF THE TECHNOLOGY

[0002] The use of blankets for horses or other equines to cover the animals and keep them warm and dry in case of bad weather, cold and / or rain, is well known.

[0003] These blankets generally cover the horse's back, from its neck to its tail, and extend down its flanks. The horse's belly is generally left exposed, while the chest area, below the front of the neck, is usually covered. Horse blankets have an opening to accommodate the horse's neck.

[0004] For example, the horse blanket described in US patent 7,310,927 has a back section and side sections extending downwards from the back section. A neck opening is located between the end of the neck of the back section and the chest area. The neck opening and the portion of the blanket that covers the horse's chest are formed by two edges of the blanket joined together by lacing consisting of two outer straps attached to one edge of the blanket that engage in corresponding loops provided on the other edge of the blanket.

[0005] Traditional lacing of this type does not solve the following problem: the two opposite edges of the blanket tend to overlap and the lower edge, due to the movements of the horse or other equine, tends to fold inwards, causing long-term discomfort and inconvenience to the animal.

[0006] An objective of the present invention is to produce a blanket for equines having improved adaptability to the size and movements of the horse.

[0007] Another objective of the invention is to produce a cover for equines preventing the lower edge from folding inwards during use, in order to avoid discomfort for the equine.

[0008] An additional objective of the present invention is to obtain said results in a simple and economical manner.

[0009] BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention achieves the objectives described above by means of a lacing system for equine blankets, comprising: - a first front edge of the cover equipped with a plurality of eyelets designed to receive at least one strap of the lacing of the cover; - the first front edge can at least partially overlap a second front edge of the cover, the second front edge being equipped with at least one strap that can be held in position by means of a fastening loop; - laces positioned on the front part of the first front edge to retain a plurality of loops or rings, said loops or rings being designed to facilitate the sliding of the straps, in a lacing design; - at least one strap that can be passed through one of the eyelets by entering through the rear part of the first front edge of the blanket so that the second front edge of the blanket, although partially covered by the first front edge of the blanket, is held firmly in position and cannot fold back and cause discomfort to the horse.

[0011] Among the advantages of this solution is the fact that the lacing of the blanket according to an embodiment of the invention prevents the lower edge from folding inwards during use and rubbing against the body of the equine.

[0012] Additional features of the invention can be deduced from the attached claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0013] The additional features and advantages of the invention will become even more apparent from the detailed description below, with the aid of the figures in which: - [Fig.1] is a plan view of the front part of a first front edge of the lacing for an equine blanket according to an embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.2] is a plan view of the front part of a second front edge of the lacing for an equine blanket according to an embodiment of the invention; - [Fig. 3] is a plan view of the front part of the lacing for an equine blanket according to one embodiment of the invention; and - [Fig.4] is a plan view of the rear part of the lacing for equine blanket according to [Fig.1].

[0014] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0015] The invention is now described with initial reference to [Fig. 1], which is a plan view of the front part 20a of a first front edge 20 of the lacing for an equine blanket according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0016] As a general rule, the equine blanket 10 includes a rear part that extends along the back of the equine (not shown for simplicity), as well as side parts that extend to cover the flanks of the equine.

[0017] Each of the side parts of the cover has a front edge 20, 30.

[0018] At least one of the front edges 10, 30 is provided with a plurality of eyelets 27, 27', 27”, 28, 28' and 28”, each of the eyelets 27, 27', 27”, 28, 28' and 28” being designed to receive a strap 12, 14 of the lacing of the cover 10.

[0019] In particular, eyelets 27, 27' and 27" can receive a strap 12 and eyelets 28, 28' and 28" can receive a strap 14 depending on the adjustment that is to be given to the lacing of the cover, as illustrated in more detail below.

[0020] Laces 40, 41 each retaining a plurality of loops 22 or

[0021] of rings 24 are present on the front part 20a of the first front edge 20.

[0022] In particular, in [Fig.1], the laces 40 retain a plurality of loops 22 and the laces 41 retain a plurality of rings 24.

[0023] However, the figures are simply given for illustrative purposes, in the sense that, in the practical embodiments of the lacing of the invention, either loops 22 or rings 24 may be used for the entire cover.

[0024] In addition, each loop 22 is provided with a rotating element or rod 23 to facilitate the sliding of the straps 12.

[0025] In particular, the eyelets 27, 27' and 27” are positioned under the loops 22 and the eyelets 28, 28' and 28” are positioned under the rings 24. [Fig.2] is a plan view of the front part 30a of a second front edge 30 of the lacing for equine blanket according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0026] The fact that the strap 12 can be held in position by means of a fastening loop 16, using a hole 100, and that the strap 14 can be held in position by means of a fastening loop 18, using a hole 101, is evident from [Fig.2],

[0027] Fig. 3 is a plan view of the front part of the lacing for an equine blanket according to an embodiment of the invention, indicated globally by reference number 10.

[0028] In [Fig.3], the front part 20a of the front edge 20 covers a small part of the front part 30a of the front edge 30.

[0029] In particular, in the example shown in [Fig.3], the strap 12 is passed through the eyelet 27' (from the rear part 20b of the first edge 20 of the cover) then inside the loop 22 under the rod 23 (the fold 25 of the strap 12 is visible) then inside the fastening loop 16.

[0030] Furthermore, in the example shown in [Fig.3], the strap 14 is passed through the eyelet 28' (from the rear part 20b of the first edge 20 of the cover) then inside the ring 24 (the fold 24 of the strap 12 is visible) then inside the fastening loop 18.

[0031] Fig. 4 is a plan view of the rear part of the lacing for equine blanket according to Fig. 1, the rear part 30b of the front edge 30 and the rear part 20b of the front edge 20 being visible.

[0032] In this case also, it is observed that, since the strap 12 passes through the eyelet 27 by entering through the rear part 20b of the first edge 20 of the blanket and the strap 14 passes through the eyelet 28 by entering through the rear part 20b of the first edge 20 of the blanket, so that the second front edge (30) of the blanket, although being partially covered by the first front edge (20) of the blanket, is held firmly in position and cannot fold back and cause discomfort to the equine.

[0033] Of course, modifications or improvements may be made to the invention as described without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed below.

Claims

Claims

1. Lacing for an equine blanket, comprising: - a first front edge (20) of the blanket provided with a plurality of eyelets (27, 27', 27”, 28, 28', 28”) adapted to receive at least one strap (12, 14) of the lacing of the blanket (10); - the first front edge (20) being able to overlap at least partially a second front edge (30) of the blanket, the second front edge (30) being provided with at least one strap (12) being able to be held in position by means of a fixing loop (16); - laces (40, 41) positioned on the front portion (20a) of the first front edge (20) for retaining a plurality of loops (22) or rings (24), said loops (22) or said rings (24) being adapted to facilitate sliding of the straps (12), in a lacing design;- at least one strap (12) which can be passed through one of the eyelets by entering through the rear part (20b) of the first front edge (20) of the blanket so that the second front edge (30) of the blanket, although being partially covered by the first front edge (20) of the blanket, is firmly held in position and cannot fold back and cause discomfort to the equine.;

2. Lacing according to claim 1, wherein the eyelets (27, 27', 27”, 28, 28', 28”) are positioned so that a first strap (12) passes through one eyelet (27, 27', 27”) and a second strap (14) passes through another eyelet (28, 28', 28”), allowing adjustment of the lacing of the cover (10).

3. Lacing according to claim 1, wherein the loops (22) or rings (24) are retained by laces (40, 41) on the front portion (20a) of the first front edge (20), allowing easy adjustment of the straps (12, 14) and the lacing of the cover (10).

4. Lacing according to claim 1, wherein the loops (22) are provided with rotating elements or rods (23) to facilitate the sliding of the straps (12, 14) during the lacing of the cover (10).

5. Equine blanket (10), comprising:

6.

7. - a rear part which extends along the back of the equine; - side parts which extend to cover the flanks of the equine; - two front edges (20, 30) provided with lacing according to any one of the preceding claims. An equine blanket according to claim 5, wherein the first front edge (20) is provided with a plurality of eyelets (27, 27', 27”, 28, 28', 28”) adapted to receive a strap (12) of the lacing. An equine blanket according to claim 5, wherein the rear portion (20b) of the first front edge (20) overlaps the rear portion (30b) of the second front edge (30), securely holding the second front edge (30) in position on the body of the equine and preventing unwanted folding which may cause discomfort to the equine.