GB2357688A

GB2357688A - Rein grip

Info

Publication number: GB2357688A
Application number: GB0028513A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harold John Andrews
Original assignee: EQUUS POLYMER Ltd
Current assignee: EQUUS POLYMER Ltd
Priority date: 1999-12-04
Filing date: 2000-11-23
Publication date: 2001-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 2020-11-23
Also published as: GB0028513D0; GB9928605D0; GB2357688B

Abstract

The rein grip (1) comprises a flexible strip of webbing (2) an intermediate portion (3) of which is contained within a sheath (5) of soft, tactile substantially natural rubber and/or comparable synthetic polymeric material. End portions (4) of the webbing (2) extend from the sheath (5) for connection of the rein grip to end sections of a rein which may be split (Fig.3) to accommodate the ends of the grip. The material of the sheath is moulded around and integrally bonded to the intermediate portion (3) of the webbing. Preferably the webbing is made of a woven nylon material which is readily bent and folded. This, combined with the soft tactile material of the sheath, gives the rein grip a high degree of flexibility and resistance to hand slip. The grip may comprise keepers (8) fitted onto extensions (7) of the sheath.

Description

2357688 REIN GRIP AND A REIN INCLUDING THE REIN GRIP This invention

relates to a rein, particularly, though not exclusively, a rein for a horse.

It is essential that a rider is able to have a good grip on the portion of a rein, the rein grip, which is held whilst riding, and that the rein grip should be such as to reduce the possibility of the rider's hands slipping on the rein. In order to provide resistance to slipping, it is known, for example, to provide the rein grip with grip loops or rings at spaced intervals, or to have the rein grip sheathed with a material, such as rubber, which will not readily slip in the hand. The sheath usually has a roughened surface, commonly with large or fine raised pip formations, to enhance the resistance to slipping.

The present invention is aimed at providing an improved rein grip on or for a rein.

According to a first aspect the present invention consists in a rein comprising end sections and a rein grip intermediate the end sections which comprises a flexible strip of webbing connected at end portions to the end sections and contained between the end portions within a sheath of soft, tactile, substantially natural rubber material moulded around and integrally bonded to the strip of webbing.

According to a second aspect the present invention consists in a rein grip adapted to be included in a rein in accordance with the foregoing first aspect of the invention, the rein grip comprising a flexible strip of webbing having an intermediate portion contained within a sheath of soft, tactile, substantially natural rubber material bonded around and integrally 2 bonded to the intermediate portion, and end portions extending from the sheath whereby the rein grip is adapted to be connected to the erd sections of said rein.

Preferably the strip of webbing is made of a woven nylon material and:IS relatively thin and supple so that it is readily bent and folded. The use of such webbing and the application of the sheath of soft tactile material over the intermediate portion, provides the rein grip with a high degree of flexibility which enables a rider to hold the rein securely and in a manner which he or she finds most comfortable to handle. In addition, the tactility of the soft rubber sheath provides a high degree of resistance to slip of the rein grip in the rider's hands.

Because of the high inherent resistance to slip afforded by the material of the sheath, it is unnecessary for the rein grip to be provided with grip loops or rings, or even to have pip formations for resistance to slipping of a rider's hold on the rein grip. The sheath of the rein grip now provided may be smooth. It may have some roughening but essentially for the sake of the appearance of the rein grip rather than for slip resistance. If roughening is provided it may conveniently be, for example, a fine engine- turned, milled pattern.

Preferably the rubber material of the sheath has, or substantially has, the following properties:

specific gravity 1.21 hardness 1 RHD 40 elongation 500% 3 Preferably the end portions of the webbing are covered for at least part of their lengths by extensions of the sheath. The extensions may have a wall thickness appreciably less than that of the main body of the sheath covering the webbing between the end portions. The wall thickness may be less than half the wall thickness of the main body. It may, for example, be about one-third of the wall thickness of the main body.

Inclusion of the extensions flattens the webbing and strengthens it adjacent to the ends of the main body of the sheath at the rein grip for the connection thereto of the end sections of the rein.

Keepers may be applied to the end portions of the webbing adjacent to the sheath, or the main body of the sheath, to provide a transition between rein grip and end sections of the rein connected to the end portions. The keepers may abut against or overlap the adjacent ends of the sheath, or of the main body of the sheath. They may taper from the sheath, or main body of the sheath, to the end sections so as to provide a smooth transition from the sheath, or main body, to the end sections. The keepers may be made of any suitable material, for example rubber or a plastics material.

The end sections may be of any suitable form. They may be secured by stitching andlor bonding, for example, to the end portions. In one form, the end sections may comprise billets for attachment to opposite ends of a bit. For a buckle-in hand type of rein, the rein may comprise two half lengths each having a rein grip in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention with a billet end section at one end thereof and a buckle-in-hand end section at the opposite end for attachment to a complementary such section of the other half length.

4 An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rein grip in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal fragmentary section through the rein grip between lines A and B shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, of part of a rein in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention comprising the rein grip of Figures 1 and 2 and showing an end section connected thereto.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a rein grip 1 is shown which comprises a flexible strip of webbing 2 having an intermediate portion 3 and end portions 4, and a sheath 5 in which the intermediate portion 3}'S contained. The webbing is made of woven nylon and the sheath 5 is made of a high quality natural rubber which is soft and tactile with a high inherent resistance to slip when held in the hand.

Typically the webbing 2 is 15mm wide and 2min thick and the sheath 5 has a wall thickness of 2.5mrn around the webbing. The rubber material of the sheath has the preferred properties listed above.

The rubber material is moulded directly onto the webbing to form the sheath 5, the material binding with and around, and in the interstices of, the threads of the webbing so that the sheath is intimately joined to the webbing over the intermediate portion.

A fine engine-turned, milled pattern 6 is formed on the two opposite side surfaces of the sheath 5 for aesthetic appeal of the rein grip.

At its opposite ends the sheath 5 has integrally formed extensions 7 which continue over part of the lengths of the two end portions 4 of the webbing 2. Typically the extensions 7 each have a wall thickness of approximately 0.5mm around the webbing, and extend for approximately 90mm along the respective end portion from the sheath 5. As with the main body of the sheath, the extensions 7 bond with and around the threads of the webbing at the end portions so that they are intimately joined with the webbing. This flattens and strengthens the webbing adjacent to the ends of the rein grip.

A keeper 8 moulded from soft rubber or plastics material is fitted onto 15 each extension 7 to grip over the adjacent end of the sheath. The keepers 8 are externally tapered away from the sheath.

End sections 9 are secured to the end portions 4 of the webbing 2 of the rein grip, as shown in Figure 3. The end sections 9 are selected, as required, for the desired finished form of the rein in which the rein grip is included. They may comprise leather straps which are stitched onto the end portions at the extensions 7. Those parts of the end portions which extend beyond the extensions may be cut off before the end sections are added to the rein grip. For attachment to the end portions, the straps of the end sections each have an end 10 split into two layers between which the respective, extension-covered, end portion is spliced and sewn to secure the strap to the rein grip. The keepers 8 extend over the adjacent end edges of the ends 10 and provide a smooth transition between the sheath of the rein grip and the straps of the end sections.

6 The end sections 9 may be applied to the rein grip by the maker of the rein grip, or the rein grip may be made separately and supplied to a harness manufacturer for the end sections to be added.

Claims

7 CLAIMS

1 A rein grip adapted to be included in a rein intermediate end sections of the rein, which rein grip comprises a flexible strip of webbing having an intermediate portion contained within a sheath of soft, tactile, substantially natural rubber andlor comparable synthetic polymeric material moulded around and integrally bonded to the intermediate portion, and end portions extending from the sheath whereby the rein grip is adapted to be connected to the end section of said rein.

2. A rein grip according to claim 1 wherein the strip of webbing is made of a woven nylon material capable of being bent and folded.

3. A rein grip according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the sheath has a smooth surface.

4. A rein grip according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the sheath has roughening at its surface for an aesthetic appearance.

5. A rein grip according to claim 4 wherein the roughening is provided by a fine engine-turned, milled pattern formed on the surface of the sheath.

6. A rein grip according to any preceding claim wherein the material of the sheath has, or substantially has, the following properties:

specific gravity 1.21 hardness 1 RHD 40 elongation 500% 8 7. A rein grip according to any preceding claim wherein the shealh has extensions which cover at least part of the lengths of the end portions of the webbing.

8. A rein grip according to claim 7 wherein the extensions have a wall thickness less than that of the main body of the sheath covering th,e webbing between the end portions.

9. A rein grip according to claim 8 wherein the wall thickness of the 10 extensions is less than half the wall thickness of the main body.

10. A rein grip according to claim 9 wherein the wall thickness of the extensions is about one-third of the wall thickness of the main body.

11. A rein grip according to any preceding claim wherein keepers are applied to the end portions of the webbing, which keepers, when the rein grip is included in a rein, provide a transition. between the rein grip and end sections of the rein connected to the end portions.

12. A rein grip according to any of claims]_ to 10 wherein keepers are applied to the main body of the sheath, which keepers, when the rein grip is included in a rein, provide a transition between the rein grip and the end sections of the rein connected to the end portions.

13. A rein grip according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the keepers taper from the sheath, or main body of the sheath. 14. A rein comprising end sections and intermediate the end sections a rein grip in accordance with any preceding claim connected at the end 30 portions thereof to the end sections.

9 15. A rein according to claim 14 wherein the end sections comprise billets for attachment to opposite ends of a bit.

16. A rein according to claim 15 which is of the buckle-in-hand type and comprises two half lengths each having a rein grip in accordance with any of claims 1 to 13 with a billet end section at one end thereof and a buckle-in-hand end section at the opposite end for attachment to a complementary such section of the other half length.

17. A rein according to any of claims 14 to 16 wherein each end section has an end split into two layers between which the respective end portion is spliced and secured.

18. A rein grip substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A rein substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.