Patent Application
20070086182
None
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates in general to safety accessories, and more particularly to equestrian safety accessories, and specifically, to a headlight and pouch that can be releasably secured to the breast collar of a horse.
Safety is a primary concern while riding a horse at night. A passing motorist, even with a headlight on, may not be able to detect the horse and a rider at night. This situation may lead to fatal consequences injuring both the horse and the rider. The rider can use a flashlight to warn or hint the motorist. But holding the flashlight with one hand and controlling the horse with another may not be convenient to the rider. Illuminating devices that are attachable to the horse will overcome this problem. These devices can be designed to illuminate the path in front of the horse and also warn the oncoming motorist or pedestrians about the presence of the horse and the rider.
Several devices to illuminate the path before an animal during a night walk or ride are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pub. No. 20050099796 to Magee discloses a set of devices, high intensity light-emitting diodes (LEDs), for safety and/or illuminative lighting in conjunction with a horse or a similar animal. Batteries and wirings are included within the structure and the LEDs are fixed in an apparatus that is attachable to a horse's saddle or stirrup. Features including switching between high and low intensity light, flashing or blinking lights, and use of different color lights are also disclosed. Although the purpose of this device is similar, the means for supporting the device and the usage of LEDs are distinct.
U.S. Pat. No. 911,733 to Libby discloses a headlight attachment for horses that includes a lamp suspension means, which will receive various types of standard lamps. The device may be adjusted expeditiously to any horse. U.S. Pat. No. 878,898 to Richards also discloses a headlight and means for its attachment to the horse. However, the attaching means of the above devices are substantially different from the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,460 to Zoller discloses a dog collar flashlight for providing illuminating light sufficient to perceive and visually detect items on the ground and adjacent the animal to which the dog collar is attached. The angle of light enables the animal and the owner to see the oncoming path sufficiently soon in order to anticipate any obstacles. The invention is also generally applicable to any other domesticated animal. The dog collar flashlight of this invention may be incorporated into a collar or a harness. However, the structure and attaching means of the collar are different from the present invention.
Although numerous illuminating devices for animals such as the above devices serve the same purpose as that of the present invention, there is a need for relatively simple and convenient means to secure the illuminating device at a suitable location on a horse. Any light source mounted on or near the sides of the horse, such as flashlights, helmet lights, and carriage lights, will interfere its vision. Therefore the only way to illuminate the road without interfering with the horse's vision is to mount the light source centered directly beneath the neck of the horse, thereby improving safety during nighttime horse rides.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved nighttime safety apparatus that can be releasably secured to the breast collar of a horse.
A further object is to provide an improved nighttime safety apparatus, which can be quickly and easily secured to any type of breast collar of a horse.
A further object is to provide an improved nighttime safety apparatus, which uses a light source that provides sufficient illumination for lengthy night rides on a horse.
A further object is to provide an improved nighttime safety apparatus, which uses a light source that includes a setting for a flashing signal light.
A further object is to provide an improved nighttime safety apparatus, which holds the light source in a suitable position to properly illuminate the path in front of the horse and to indicate oncoming motorists, other riders, or pedestrians about the presence of the horse and rider.
Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved nighttime safety apparatus, which facilitates quick removal of the light source to be used for other emergency purposes. These and other objects of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the appended Summary, Description, and Claims.
The present invention is directed to an improved nighttime safety apparatus for use on a horse that is easy to install, remains attached to the breast collar of the horse even as the light source is removed and replace, and is durable for nighttime horseback riding. The apparatus comprises a light source and a pouch for holding the light source. The pouch can be secured to the breast collar of the horse in a suitable position such that the light from the light source will not interfere the horse's vision. Any suitable state-of-the-art light source available in the market can be used. Preferably the light source should include an inbuilt power supply, such as a battery, that provides sufficient illumination for lengthy night rides without the need of frequently replacing or recharging the battery. The light source should also sufficiently illuminate the path in front of the horse, thereby making the horse and the rider clearly visible to oncoming motorists, other riders, or pedestrians.
The pouch is made of single cross-shaped sheet, wherein the sheet mainly comprises a plurality of flaps, straps, buckles or D-rings, and several openings comprising apertures and cutouts. In a preferred embodiment, the sheet comprises four flaps, namely, left, right, top, and bottom flaps. The pouch can be formed by securing the left and right flaps to the side-ends of the bottom flap and by releasably securing the top flap to the bottom flap. The straps and buckles or D-rings are attached to the pouch at several locations along the back side of the apparatus. The straps in conjunction with the buckles are used to secure the pouch to the breast collar of a horse. The light from the light source protrudes from the openings or cutouts defined on the top and bottom flaps.
a and 1b are illustrations of plan views of the pouch in its disassembled state in accordance with the present invention.
Referring to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of an improved light apparatus that increases safety during nighttime horse rides is illustrated in
Referring to
A first group of openings or cutouts 15A will be located in three locations, two in a parallel orientation in the middle portion of the sheet 12 and one on the top flap 16C. The straps 13 are made to pass through these openings or cutouts 15A, following which they are sewn on to the sheet 12, as illustrated in
The buckles or D-rings 14 and straps 13 are also sewn to the sheet 12 at suitable locations for attaching to varying sizes of breast collars. The straps 13 are preferably made from non-perforated Nylon webbing for D-rings and/or Nylon webbing with centerline holes for buckles to secure to. The buckles or D-rings 14 will be attached using matching Nylon webbing materials same as that of the straps 13.
Referring to
The light source 10, is shown in
Referring to
Several structural variations and dimensions of the apparatus are possible. For example, the pouch can be formed in different sizes and shapes to firmly hold larger or smaller light sources. Also, an alternate number of straps, buckles or D-rings, and snaps may be selected. Different lengths and widths of the straps can be chosen to firmly secure the pouch to the breast collar of the horse. Moreover, many materials and matching colors can be used for the pouch, straps, and buckles or D-rings.
All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
While specific apparatus has been disclosed in the preceding description, it should be understood that these specifics have been given for the purpose of disclosing the principles of the present invention and that many variations thereof will become apparent to those who are versed in the art. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the appended claims.
Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6.
