Belt System With Overlapping V-Shaped Strap Suspensions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional saddles with gullet plates or stiffening elements restrict a horse's freedom of movement and can lead to long-term health issues due to uneven pressure distribution and reduced blood flow, causing muscle atrophy and pain.
Innovation Solution
A saddle design without a gullet plate, featuring a flexible leather saddle tree that adapts to the horse's back, combined with viscoelastic materials for pressure distribution and a full-foam seat for rider comfort, along with a belt system that distributes tension evenly across the thoracic spine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a gullet plate or stiffening element is used to stabilize the saddle, then the saddle maintains its position and provides structural support, but the horse's freedom of movement is restricted and pressure is concentrated on the shoulders and spine
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the gullet plate and traditional stiffening elements from the saddle structure. Instead of using a rigid internal framework, the saddle relies on the flexibility of the leather tree and the tensioning system to maintain stability, thereby eliminating the source of pressure concentration on the horse's shoulders and spine.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a static, rigid saddle structure to a dynamic, flexible system. The leather tree and strap suspensions can adapt and move with the horse's back during motion, allowing the saddle to maintain stability while accommodating the natural movement of the horse's musculature and spine.
2Strength
If a rigid saddle tree is used to provide structural support, then the saddle maintains its shape and position, but the horse's back cannot move freely and muscles are compressed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the rigid saddle tree with a flexible leather tree that has sufficient strength to support the rider's weight while being compliant enough to move with the horse's back. The leather material acts as a flexible shell that maintains the saddle's structural integrity without restricting the horse's natural movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the saddle tree from rigid to flexible by using leather material with appropriate thickness and grain structure. This allows the saddle to maintain its load-bearing capacity while adapting its shape and position to accommodate the horse's back movement during various gaits and transitions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the gullet plate is made narrow to avoid pressing on the horse, then pressure on the shoulders is reduced, but the saddle becomes unstable and may slip
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the stabilizing function into multiple segments: the flexible leather tree provides distributed support across the horse's back, while multiple strap suspensions with adjustable receptacles provide segmented attachment points. This segmentation allows the saddle to maintain stability without concentrating pressure on any single area, including the shoulders.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces strap suspensions with movable receptacles as intermediary elements between the saddle tree and the girth straps. These intermediaries allow for precise adjustment of the saddle's position and tension distribution, enabling stability to be achieved without narrow gullet plates that would press on the horse's shoulders.
4Force
If stirrup leather attachments are fixed on both sides of the gullet plate, then the rider's weight is supported, but the horse's shoulder movement is further restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the traditional gullet plate structure that serves as the attachment point for stirrup leathers. Instead, stirrup attachments are integrated into the flexible leather tree or saddle flaps, allowing the entire assembly to move with the horse's shoulders without creating fixed pressure points that would restrict movement.
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 solution allows for harmonious movement between horse and rider by minimizing stress on the horse's spine, shoulders, and muscles, preventing atrophy and pain while maintaining longitudinal stability and optimal weight distribution.
Implementation Method 1
combined with viscoelastic materials for pressure distribution
Implementation Method 2
featuring a flexible leather saddle tree that adapts to the horse's back
Implementation Method 3
full-foam seat for rider comfort, along with a belt system that distributes tension evenly
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a strap system, in particular for a saddle (1), comprising several straps (71) and several strap suspensions (72), wherein the strap suspensions (72) are V-shaped and each has an optionally slidable receptacle (73) for a strap (71) on the strap suspension (72). According to the invention, the V-shaped strap suspensions (72) are arranged in an overlapping manner, such that the ends (74, 75, 76, 77) of the strap suspensions (72) are spaced apart from one another.