Ball and Socket Joint Saddle Tree for Horse Movement Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing riding saddles restrict the animal's freedom of movement and fail to adapt optimally to the animal's physiology, leading to reduced safety, comfort, and effective communication between rider and horse.
Innovation Solution
A riding saddle design featuring a saddle tree with a one-piece seat element, gullet plate, and cushion plates, which are coupled via a coupling device allowing for adjustable positioning to match the animal's back, ensuring ergonomic fit and maximum freedom of movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the saddle tree is made stiff to transmit rider movements effectively, then command transmission to the animal is improved, but the animal's freedom of movement and comfort are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The saddle tree is divided into multiple segments (first saddle tree element, second saddle tree element, third saddle tree element) connected by ball joints. This segmentation allows each segment to move independently, enabling the saddle to adapt to the animal's back curvature while maintaining sufficient stiffness for command transmission through the structured joint connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball joints introduce dynamic flexibility to the saddle tree structure, allowing it to adapt to changing back curvatures during animal movement. The joints permit rotational movement while maintaining structural integrity, creating a dynamic system that balances stiffness for command transmission with flexibility for animal comfort.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the saddle tree is made flexible to accommodate animal's back curvature, then animal comfort and freedom of movement are improved, but the transmission of rider commands becomes less effective
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the saddle tree into multiple elements connected by ball joints, the structure achieves flexible adaptation to back curvature while maintaining defined connection points for effective force transmission. Each segment can independently conform to the animal's anatomy while the jointed structure preserves mechanical coupling for command transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball joints change the mechanical parameters of the saddle tree from a fixed rigid structure to a multi-degree-of-freedom structure. This parameter change enables the system to adapt its shape and curvature while maintaining sufficient stiffness in the force transmission path through the jointed connections.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional saddles are used with fixed structure, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different animal physiologies is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented saddle tree with standardized ball joint connections can be manufactured using modular components, maintaining relative manufacturing simplicity while enabling adaptation to different animal physiologies. The modular nature allows for easier adjustment and customization compared to fully custom rigid structures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The saddle enhances the animal's natural movement, reduces back strain, and improves rider safety and communication with the horse, while maintaining comfort for both rider and animal.
Implementation Method 1
the coupling device (10) comprises a joint device (12), a displacement unit (13) and a pin (14) which can be coupled to the displacement unit (13) and fixed in position relative to the displacement unit (13). The joint device (12) comprises a ball joint (15) with a pin receptacle (16), a ball socket (17) and a mounting plate (18) which is connected to the ball socket (17)
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a riding saddle (1) comprising support cushions (2) and a saddle tree (3), wherein the saddle tree (3) comprises a seat element (4), a gullet (5) and cushion plates (6) each coupled to the gullet (5) and the seat element (4), wherein the riding saddle (1) can be positioned on an animal's back by placing the cushion plates (6) with the support cushions (2) interposed, wherein two operatively released cushion plates (6) are each coupled by means of a coupling device (10) to a respective gullet leg (9) of the gullet (5), and that two operatively released cushion plates (6) are each coupled by means of a coupling device (10) to the seat element (4) in the region of the cantle (7).