GB2254234A

GB2254234A - Head plate assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2254234A
Application number: GB9104292A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Thorowgood
Original assignee: Thorowgood Ltd
Current assignee: Thorowgood Ltd
Priority date: 1991-03-01
Filing date: 1991-03-01
Publication date: 1992-10-07
Also published as: GB9104292D0

Abstract

A head plate assembly (10) also called a gullet plate assembly, which comprises part of a saddle, comprises first and second plate members (11, 12) which are connected together so as to be relatively movable so as to change the distance (L) between the free ends of the plate members (11, 12), adjustments means for causing relative movement between the free ends of the plate members (11, 12) and for retaining the plate members at selected adjustment positions, the adjustment means comprising a rotatable adjustment member (14) which extends, in use, generally longitudinally of the saddle, and carries a plate engaging means (18, 20) which engages the plate members (11, 12) to move the free ends of the plate members (11, 12) together or apart upon rotation of the adjustment member (14). <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Head plate assembly Description Of Invention This invention relates to a head plate assembly, also ktiown as a gullet plate assembly, which comprises part of a saddle, The head plate is used to reinforce the saddle, in the area of the pommel of the saddle, and conventionally comprises a pair of plates connected together at an angle to suit the dimensions of the withers of the horse or pony which is to wear the saddle, the plates each extenJing downwards from their intercoruection, either side of the withers of the horse or pony.

It has been proposed for example in CB patent 18567 for the angle beveen the plates of the heat plate .senlbly to be adjustable to accommodate different sized horses, but siich a construction essentially is only useable for adjusting the angle during manufacture.

In European specification 032837b there. is described a more modern construction which utilises a double threaded bolt, which when rotated, moves the plates together or apart to change the angle between them. However, the double threaded bolt extends transversely between tlle plates and therefore takes up space, and again adjustment of the angle between the plates in a finished saddle, is difficult.

According to one aspect of the invention we provide u head plate assetnbly for a saddle, the assembly comprising first and second plate members whidi are connected together so as to be relatively movable so as to change the distance between the free ends of the plate members, adjustment means for causing relative movement báveen the free ends of the plate members and for retaining the plate members at selected adjustment positions, the adjustment means comprising a rotatable adjustment member which extends, in use, generally longitudinally of the saddle, and carries a plate engaging means which engages the plate members to move the free ends of the plate members together or apart upon rotation of the adjustment member.

Because the adjustment member extends generally longitudinally of the saddle, rotation of the adjustment member, and hence adjustment of the plate members can be conveniently achieved from one end of the saddle.

Preferably the adjustment member extends to a position at or adjacent the front of the saddle where it is accessible for rotation. In one example, the adjustment tnember has a formation such as a slot in its cnd at or adjacent the front of the saddle to receive a tool such as a screwdriver.

The first and second plate members may be connected - together by a hinge so as to be relatively pivotahle about a pivot axis, and the longitudinal axis of the adjustment member may be coincident or at least parallel with the pivot axis of the plates so that the adjustment member comprises a hinge pin.

In use, the first and second plate members would extend either side of the horse's or pony's withers. Because the adjustment member is not separate from the hinge, the pivot axis can lie close to the horse or pony's withers so that undue space to accommodate the adjustment means as a whole is not required.

At least one of the first and second plate members may comprise a cam surface and the plate engaging means may comprise a corresponding cam follower which engages with the cairn surface and moves along the cam surface relatively to move the plates7 as the adjustment member is rotated.

Thus the adjustment member may comprise a male screw thread and the plate engaging means a female screw threaded element which moves along the adjustment member as the adjustment member is rotated to move a cam follower carried by the female screw threaded element along the cam surface of the plate.

Preferably the cam surface of the plate is provided by a slot or opening in which the cam follower of the female screw threaded element is received.

Further preferably, each of the first and second plate members has a can surface and the female screw threaded element or other plate engaging means may comprise a pair of cam followers, one for each of the cam surfaces of the plates.

Desirably, the configurations of the cam surface or surfaces and the corresponding cam follower or cam fbi lowers, are such that the plates are substantially fixed relative to one another until adjustment is performed by the adjustment means According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a saddle frame comprising a head plate assembly of the first aspect of the inventIon.

According to a third aspect of the invention we provide a saddle comprising a head plate assembly according to the first aspect of the invention.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view from the front of a head plate assembly in accordance with the invention, FIGURE 2 is a plan view of part of the assembly of Figure I, FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary cxploded front view, to an enlarged scale, of part of the head plate assembly of figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a head plate assembly (also known as a gullet plate assembly) 10 which in use is intended to form part of a frame or tree for a saddle.

The assembly 10 comprises a first plate 11 and a second plate 12 which are intended in use to extend downwardly either side of a horses withers. The plates 11,12, are in use, secured to the saddle frame which would be covered with the usual saddle coverings.

In the arrangement according to the invention, the angle X subtended between the plates 11,12, and more particlllarly, the distance L between the free ends of the plates 11,12, is adjustable by means of an adjustment means comprising an adjustment member which is a threaded bolt 14, which extends longitudinally of the saddle substantially to the front end of the saddle, and has in an end face 15 thereof, a slot 16 so that the member 14 can be rotated with a screwdriver.

Rotation of the member 14 causes a female threaded element 18 carried on the member 14 to move to and fro along the member 14, the element 18 comprising a pair of cam followers 20.

The cam followers 20 are each received in a respective slot 21 in one of the plate members 11,12, the slots 21 comprising cam surfaces which extend transverse to nazis A of the adjustment member 14, so that the element 18 moves along member 14 towards the front of the saddle to cause hinging of the plates 11,12, about axis A to increase the angle subtended between the plate members 11,12 Conversely, if the member 14 is rotated in an opposite direction such that the element 18 moves along the member 14 towards the rear of the saddle, the cam followers 20 move along their respective cam surfaces 21 to move the plates 11,12, so as to reduce the angle subtended between them.

As can be seen from figure 2, the plates 11,12, are hinged to one another at either end of the head plate assernbly 10 by means of respective hinge formations 25 and 26 of the respective plate members 11,12, which each have an opening to receive the adjustment member 14 which thus behaves as a hinge pin.

By virtue of the cam followers 20 being a close fit swithin their respective slots 21, it will be appreciated that the plates 11 and 12 cannot manually be pivoted so as to change the angle subtended between the plates 11,12, or the distance L between the free ends thereof. By virile Of the construction described, adjustment of the angle X between the plates 11,12, and thus between the free ends of plates 11,12, can easily be achieved both during manufacture, and in a finished saddle, to suit the dimensions of the withers of any particular horse or pony.

Because neither the cam surfaces 21, cam followers 20, female screw threaded element 18 or adjustment member 14 extends significantly inside the plates 11,12, the axis A can lie close to the horses/ponies withers.

Preferabty each of the components of tlae head plate assembly are made from a suitable rigid material such as metal, although other materials could instead be used.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the actual configuration of the cam surfaces 21 could be different to those described. For example, instead of the cam surfaces 21 comprising slots in the plate members 11,12, alternative cam surfaces could be provided on the underside(s) of the plate members 11,12. Although it is preferred for the a'cIs of rotation A of the adjustment member 14 and the hinge axis between the plates 11,12, to be coincident, thls is not essential, provided that these a:s are generally parallel and preferably close to one another.

Tlle actual configurations of the plates 11,12, can be changed as required to suit a particular saddle construction.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A head plate assembly for a saddle, the assembly comprising first and second plate members which are connected together so as to be relatively movable so as to change the distance between the free ends of the plate members, adjustment means for causing relative movement between the free ends of the plate members and for retaining the plate members at selected adjustment positions, the adjustment means comprising-a rotatable adjustment member which extends, in use, generally longitudinally of the saddle, and carries a plate engaging means which engages at least one of the plate members to cause the free ends of the plate members to move together or apart upon rotation of the adjustment member.
2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the adjustment member extends to a position at or adjacent the front of the saddle where it is accessible for rotation.
3. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein the adjustment member has a formation in its end at or adjacent the front of the saddle to receive a tool.
4. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the first and second plate members are connected together by a hinge so as to be relatively pivotable about a pivot axis, the longitudinal axis of the adjustment member being coincident or at least parallel with the pivot axis of the plates so that the adjustment member comprises a hinge pin.
5. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein at least one of the first and second plate members comprises a cam surface and the plate engaging means comprises a corresponding cam follower which engages with the cam surface and moves along the cam surface relatively to move the plates, as the adjustment member is rotated.
6. An assembly according to claim 5 wherein the adjustment member comprises a male screw thread and the plate engaging means a female screw threaded element which moves along the adjustment member as the adjustment member is rotated to move a cam follower carried by the female screw threaded element along the cam surface of the plate.
7. An assembly according to claim 6 wherein the cam surface of the plate is provided by a slot or opening in which the cam follower of the female screw threaded element is received.
8. An assembly according to any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein each of the first and second plate members has a cam surface and the plate engaging means comprises a pair of cam followers, one for each of the cam surfaces of the plates.
9. An assembly according to any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein the configurations of the cam surface or surfaces and the corresponding cam follower or cam followers, are such that the plates are substantially fixed relative to one another until adjustment is performed by the adjustment means.
10. A head plate assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
11. A saddle frame comprising a head plate assembly according to any one of the preceding claims.
12. A saddle comprising a head plate assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
13. Any novel feature or novel combination of features as herein defined and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.