Segmented Saddle Interface for Dynamic Horse Back Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional saddles fail to evenly distribute the rider's weight across the back of horses of different sizes and shapes, leading to discomfort and potential trauma due to concentrated pressure points, as they require rigid frames that cannot accommodate varying equine profiles effectively.
Innovation Solution
A saddle design featuring segmented bars with a passively morphing interface that reshapes to match the horse's dynamic back profile, distributing the rider's weight evenly by creating a direct load path through a rigid chassis and adjustable segmented interface bars made of rigid materials like carbon fiber or metal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid frame or tree is used to anchor stirrups, then the rider can brace and balance himself effectively, but the saddle cannot accommodate horses of different sizes and shapes without creating concentrated pressure points
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid tree is divided into multiple rigid segments that can independently rotate relative to each other about rotation axes. This segmentation allows the interface bars to conform to different horse back profiles while maintaining the overall rigid structure needed for reliable stirrup anchoring and rider balance.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface between the rigid tree and horse back transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic articulated connection. The rigid segments can rotate to adapt to varying horse profiles, providing both the rigidity needed for stirrup anchoring and the adaptability for different horse sizes and shapes.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a rigid frame is custom fitted to a specific horse, then pressure points are eliminated for that horse, but the same saddle cannot be used on other horses of different dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The tree is segmented into multiple rigid portions that can independently adjust their orientation. This allows the saddle to be custom-fitted to each horse's back profile through rotation of the segments, eliminating pressure points while maintaining the ability to be used on multiple horses of different dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulated rigid tree structure provides a universal solution that can be adapted to fit multiple horses of different sizes and shapes. The same saddle can be used on various horses by adjusting the rotation of the rigid segments to match each horse's unique back profile.
3Force
If a rigid frame is used to ensure even weight distribution, then load is supported effectively, but the frame creates concentrated pressure points when it does not closely fit the horse's back profile
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid frame is segmented into multiple portions that can independently rotate to conform to the horse's back profile. This maintains the rigid structure's ability to support and distribute weight effectively while preventing concentrated pressure points by ensuring close contact with the horse's back across the entire interface.
Data Source
AI summary
Saddle with passively morphing interface panels and method of use, wherein passively morphing interface panels morphs in surface profile to be reshaped upon contact with a supporting surface of a horse's dynamic back and of horses of varying sizes and shapes, so that a direct load path is created from the riders concentrated downward weight on a chassis through a pair of symmetrically opposed line of contact edges, aligned with tilted sagittal plane sections through the horse's back surface, and making contact with the midline area of opposed pair of elements made of rigid materials that are caused to tip out of plane until moment forces are balanced, which occurs when the element's entire length makes contact with the supporting horse's back causing the elements interface's surface profile to be reshaped, without directed input, to momentarily match the varying supporting surface profiles of a horse's dynamic back.