Handpiece for the relaxation of equine species

Abstract

Handpiece for the relaxation of equine species suitable for allowing the relaxation of the muscles and nerves through rubbing and rolling of at least one sulfur tube installed on the upper end of said handpiece, which is adapted to be gripped and managed by any one operator; said handpiece comprising a handle and an upper portion having a "C" shape in order to constrain the two ends of the sulfur tube, allowing its rotation during the rubbing on the animal; said sulfur tube being composed of sulfur, previously melted and molded, in order to obtain a cylinder having a section of at least 2 centimeters, such to ensure the strength necessary to withstand the mechanical stresses derived from the rubbing and rolling of the tube on the animal.

Description

[0001] Handpiece for the relaxation of equine species

[0002] Description

[0003] Field of the art

[0004] The invention refers to a simple and innovative handpiece for the relaxation of equine species, due to the use of suitable sulfur tubes adapted to slide along the muscles and tendons of the animals.

[0005] Prior art

[0006] The relaxation of the horses is a crucial factor in the field of training and managing horses. This refers to the condition of tranquility and lack of physical and mental tension, which is essential for the wellbeing and optimal performances of horses.

[0007] The relaxation is one of the objects, both during training on horseback and in daily activities, since an anxious or stressed horse can manifest undesired conduct, compromising its health and negatively affecting its athletic capacities.

[0008] In the training field, relaxation is often the first step in the training of a horse, since it allows establishing an effective communication between rider and animal. The relaxation exercises usually involve slow and regular movements, which allow the horse to concentrate on its own body and on the instructions of the horseman without stress and tensions.

[0009] It is important to observe that relaxation is not only a physical condition, but also a mental and emotional one. A safe and comfortable environment, free of negative stimuli, facilitates the psychological relaxation of the horse, allowing the horse to express its full potential.

[0010] The relaxation of horses and of all equine species, therefore, represents an essential element in the training and care of these animals, since it facilitates the physical and mental wellbeing thereof, improving the communication and athletic performances thereof.

[0011] At the present state of the art, however, the field of equitation is saturated with electrical devices and industrial equipment that attempt to alleviate several disturbances of the animals, trying to induce relaxation. Indeed, the animals themselves are not accustomed to using electrical devices that are totally artificial; in most cases, the achieved result is one of poor effectiveness.

[0012] Horses require attention by man, and no device, no matter how ingenious, is able to make them relax in an automatic manner.

[0013] The intervention of man is therefore essential. Men must be assisted by a simple but effective device.

[0014] Not even the patent WO2022213079, published on 6 October 2022, resolves the abovementioned problems, since it describes a relaxation mechanism constituted by a cord to be inserted in the mouth of the horse, so as to induce maxillary relaxation, limiting the area of relaxation and leaving the horse on its own, hence minimizing the therapeutic effects.

[0015] Object of the present patent application is instead that of claiming a handpiece which is adapted to allow the relaxation of the animal, by employing a plurality of sulfur tubes which are adapted to rubbed on its body, at the muscles and tendons.

[0016] Description of the invention

[0017] According to the present invention, a handpiece is attained for the relaxation of equine species which effectively resolves the abovementioned problems.

[0018] The handpiece, object of the invention, results designed for the relaxation of equine species, and is characterized by the capacity to facilitate the relaxation of the muscles and nerves present in all equine species by means of rubbing and rolling at least one sulfur tube installed on the upper portion of said handpiece.

[0019] Said handpiece is conceived to be gripped and used by any operator, regardless of his / her experience with animals, being constituted simply by a handle and by an upper portion having a “C” shape in order to ensure the constraint of the two ends of the sulfur tube, allowing its rotation during the sliding on the body of the animal.

[0020] Said tube is composed of a sulfur powder that was previously melted, and subsequently molded within a cylinder having a section of at least 2 centimeters, conferring to the obtained tube the strength necessary to withstand the mechanical stresses deriving from the rubbing and rolling of the tube on the animal. The handle of the handpiece is thus made of rigid plastic material, further comprising an internal cavity which, in one embodiment thereof, is adapted to contain a telescopic extension suitable for allowing the relaxation treatment at the more distant and more difficult points of the animal; said handle generally results suitable for ensuring a solid and stable grip of the handpiece, by any one operator.

[0021] On said handle, an upper portion is engaged having a “C” shape, suitable for allowing the simultaneous installation of at least one sulfur tube and a second device, still with cylindrical shape, in order to facilitate the sliding of the handpiece during the animal’s relaxation treatment.

[0022] In one embodiment thereof, said second device with cylindrical shape, installed on the upper portion with “C” shape, is constituted by a neutral material, thus free of electrostatic charges, such as wood, for the sole purpose of massaging.

[0023] Alternatively said second device with cylindrical shape is constituted by a cylinder soaked in arnica, in order to release such substance on the treated zones of the animal during treatment. Said upper portion is adapted to be engaged with said handle in a reversible manner, for the purpose of allowing an immediate disassembly for possible replacements or for possible modulations or junctions of the handpiece, object of the invention.

[0024] The cavity present within said handle is sealed by a cap, adapted to be screwed by means of a threaded portion below the handle.

[0025] Within the cap, a flat button cell is comprised, useful for allowing the count of the hours of treatment carried out on a given horse, due to the use of electric circuit board, which accounts for the hours of treatment due to the actuation of a simple switch by the operator.

[0026] Each cap is characterized by a precise color, in order to allow the association with a given horse, thus facilitating the recording of the hours of treatment carried out.

[0027] In one embodiment thereof, said cap is suitable for sharing the information collected on any one smartphone, employing a common Bluetooth connection.

[0028] On said upper portion of the handpiece, at least one sulfur tube is adapted to be constrained, which results suitable for actuating the relaxation action obtained by means of its rolling on the skin of the animal; said sulfur tube, when it emits crackling sounds, is adapted to signify a transfer of the electrostatic charges derived from rubbing.

[0029] Such sulfur tube, by way of a non-limiting example, comprises a smooth surface, so as to increase the roughness thereof, obtaining a more intense relaxing treatment for the animal.

[0030] Alternatively such external surface is characterized by an octagonal shape, with rounded comers, for the purpose of increasing the contact surface of such tube, intensifying the beneficial properties thereof.

[0031] Two caps are adapted to be constrained, by means of gluing, to the two ends of said sulfur tube, in order to optimize the coupling of the tube with said upper portion of the handpiece, further facilitating the installation of a new tube when the preceding sulfur tube is damaged and broken by the electrostatic charges or by the force exerted by the operator.

[0032] Said caps thus constitute a constraint of the tube on the upper portion, without preventing the rotation thereof.

[0033] By way of a non-limiting example, said handpiece can be joined with multiple handpieces of the same type, due to an engagement attained laterally with respect to said upper portion, in order to obtain a multiple device for the relaxation, composed of multiple handpieces; said handpieces are thus adapted to be moved by a main handpiece, which is characterized by the open and extracted telescopic extension, in order to move the newly obtained multiple device. Still by way of example, when two or more handpieces are joined together, a rubbery joint is adapted to be inserted at the junction, allowing said handpieces to follow and be adapted to the uneven surface of the animal during treatment.

[0034] Alternatively, said handpieces are suitable for being joined together by means of the use of an elastic cord, which has the object of constituting a ring composed of multiple sulfur tubes, enclosing one of the feet of the animal and following the volume variations thereof in order to maintain the suitable adherence to the treatment.

[0035] The advantages offered by the present invention are evident in light of the description set forth up to now and will be even clearer due to the enclosed figures and detailed description.

[0036] Description of the figures The invention will be described hereinbelow in at least one preferred embodiment as a nonlimiting example with the aid of the enclosed figures, in which:

[0037] - FIGURE 1 shows an upper view of the handpiece, object of the invention, which is overall adapted to alleviate the muscular stress condition of equine species, inducing the relaxation thereof.

[0038] - FIGURE 2 shows a side view of the handpiece, in which it is possible to observe the coupling technique employed for constraining the sulfur tube to the handpiece, employing a plurality of caps 11 adapted to be engaged with the upper portion 12 of the handpiece, with a “C” shape.

[0039] - FIGURE 3 finally shows one of the possible techniques for coupling the handpieces, in order to obtain a multiple device adapted to speed up the relaxation treatment for horses, covering wider surfaces.

[0040] Detailed description of the invention

[0041] The present invention will now be illustrated by way of a merely non-limiting or non-binding example, with reference to the figures which illustrate several embodiments relative to the present inventive concept.

[0042] With reference to FIG. 1, the handpiece is illustrated that is adapted to allow the relaxation treatment over all the equine species, by any one operator, not necessarily specialized.

[0043] The present handpiece comprises a rigid structure composed of a handle 13, which is characterized by an internal cavity, and by an upper portion 12, which has a “C” shape.

[0044] Said upper portion 12 is suitable for facilitating the housing and the constraint of a sulfur tube. Said tube 10 is nevertheless adapted to rotate without friction, even if it is constrained to the handpiece through said upper portion 12.

[0045] The upper portion 12 is adapted to house, depending on its structure dimensions, one or more tubes 10. In a preferred embodiment, such upper portion 12 can house, together with the sulfur tube, a cylinder of neutral material such as wood, or a cylinder soaked in arnica for a controlled release of such substance during treatment.

[0046] In each case, said tube 10 and said cylinder are fixed to the upper portion 12 due to the use of a plurality of caps 11 which in any case allow the rotation thereof.

[0047] Within said handle 13, a telescopic extension is present which is adapted to allow the control of the handpiece even when the animal has high height or is simply far from the operator; said extension is adapted to be extracted from the handle 13, following the removal of a cap 14. With reference to FIG. 2, the side view is illustrated of the handpiece described in the present patent application, in order to illustrate more in detail the system for coupling the sulfur tube with the upper portion 12 of the handpiece.

[0048] In particular, it is possible to note that the presence of a plurality of caps 11, placed one on each end of the tube 10, allows an easy and quick replacement of the tube 10 if this is damaged following the treatment.

[0049] The presence of said caps 11 further allows a rotation without friction, so as to facilitate the sliding of the sulfur tube along the body of the animal.

[0050] The cap 14 is instead adapted to be screwed on the handle 13 of the handpiece in order to cap the internal free cavity, is adapted to monitor the hours of treatment carried out on a given horse. Due to the actuation of a switch, in fact, a cap 14 associated with a horse is adapted to record the number of hours dedicated to the relative animal, so as to provide a statistical report that is useful for the operator.

[0051] With reference to FIG. 3, a case is illustrated with junction and modulation of handpieces of the same type, for the purpose of obtaining a multiple device, suitable for covering a greater surface area during treatment.

[0052] Said junction occurs by exploiting a generic coupling mechanism of the upper portions 12, allowing the use of multiple sulfur tubes 10, even if commanded by a single handle 13 by means of the relative extension.

[0053] Finally, it is clear that modifications, additions or variations that are obvious for the man skilled in the art can be made to the invention described up to now, without departing from the protective scope that is provided to the enclosed claims.

Claims

Claims1. Handpiece for the relaxation of equine species characterized in that it allows the relaxation of the muscles and nerves of all equine species through the rubbing and rolling of at least one sulfur tube (10) installed on the upper end of said handpiece, which is capable of being gripped and managed by any operator; said handpiece comprising a handle (13) and an upper portion (12) having a “C” shape in order to constrain the two ends of the sulfur tube (10), allowing its rotation during rubbing on the animal; said sulfur tube (10) being composed of a sulfur powder, previously melted and subsequently molded inside a cylinder having a section of at least 2 centimeters, in order to obtain the strength necessary to withstand the mechanical stresses derived from rubbing and from rolling the tube (10) on the animal; said handpiece for the relaxation of equine species including:- at least one handle (13), made of rigid plastic material, including an internal cavity, suitable to allow a solid and stable grip of the handpiece by any operator;- at least one upper portion (12), engaged on said handle (13) and having a “C” shape, suitable to allow the simultaneous installation of at least one sulfur tube (10) and a second device, also of the same cylindrical shape to facilitate the sliding of the handpiece during the relaxation treatment of the animal; said upper portion (12) being engaged in a reversible manner on said handle (13), in order to allow immediate disassembly for possible replacements or for possible modulations of the handpiece object of the invention;- at least one cap (14), designed to seal the cavity present inside said handle (13) at the bottom, screwing on by means of a threaded portion of the handle (13); said cap (14) comprising a flat button cell inside it and being able to keep a count of the hours of treatment carried out on a given horse; said cap (14) being characterized by a color which determines its direct association with a horse, thus allowing the recording of the hours of treatment carried out, following the actuation of a simple switch;- at least one sulfur tube (10), capable of being fixed on said upper portion (12) of the handpiece, in order to implement the relaxation action obtained following its rollingon the animal's skin; said sulfur tube (10) being able to emit a crackling sound which signifies a transfer of the electrostatic charges derived from rubbing;- at least two caps (11), capable of being fixed by gluing to the two ends of said sulfur tube (10), in order to optimize the coupling of the tube (10) with said upper portion (12) of the handpiece, further facilitating the installation of a new tube (10) when the previous sulfur tube (10) is damaged and broken by electrostatic charges or by the force exerted by the operator; said caps (11) thus constituting a constraint on the tube (10), allowing it to roll at the same time.

2. Handpiece for the relaxation of equine species, according to the preceding claim 1, characterized in that said handle (13) can contain, in its internal cavity, a telescopic extension suitable to allow the relaxation treatment at the most distant and difficult points of the animal.

3. Handpiece for the relaxation of equine species, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it can be joined with several handpieces of the same type, thanks to a commitment made laterally to said upper portion (12), in order to obtain a multiple device for relaxation composed of multiple handpieces; said handpieces being capable of being moved by a handpiece defined as “main”, which has the telescopic extension extracted, to move the newly obtained multiple device.

4. Handpiece for the relaxation of equine species, according to the preceding claim 3, characterized in that when two or more handpieces are joined together, a rubbery joint is suitable for being inserted at the junction, allowing said handpieces to follow and adapt to the uneven surface of the animal during treatment.

5. Handpiece for the relaxation of equine species, according to any of the preceding claims from 1 to 3, characterized in that said handpieces are suitable for being joined together by using an elastic cord, which has the purpose of creating a ring composed of sulfur tubes (10), designed to enclose an animal's foot, following its volume variations to maintain adequate adhesion of the tubes (10) for the treatment.

6. Handpiece for the relaxation of equine species, according to any of the preceding claims,characterized in that said second cylindrical shaped device, installed on the upper “C” shaped portion (12) is made of a neutral material, therefore free of electrostatic charges, such as wood, for the sole purpose of massaging.

7. Handpiece for the relaxation of equine species, according to any of the preceding claims from 1 to 5, characterized in that said second cylindrical device, installed on the upper“C” shaped portion (12) is made up of a cylinder soaked in arnica, capable of releasing this substance on the treated areas of the animal during treatment.

8. Handpiece for the relaxation of equine species, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cap (14), suitable for monitoring and recording the hours of treatment that have affected a particular animal, is suitable for sharing the information collected on any smartphone, using a common Bluetooth connection.

9. Handpiece for the relaxation of equine species, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sulfur tube (10) includes a smooth surface, to increase its roughness, obtaining a more intense relaxing treatment for the animal.

10. Handpiece for the relaxation of equine species, according to any of the preceding claims from 1 to 8, characterized in that the external surface of said sulfur tube (10) has an octagonal shape, with rounded comers, to increase the contact surface of this tube, intensifying its beneficial properties.

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