Protective guard for a non-rub cover for a saddle cinch or girth
BACKGROUND OF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a cinch or girth assembly for attaching a saddle to an animal. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cinch or girth assembly having an elastomeric sleeve or non-rub cover with a protective guard attached to a portion of an outer periphery of the sleeve or cover. A web assembly having buckles secured thereto is disposed within the sleeve or cover so that an unguarded portion of the outer periphery of the sleeve or cover lies adjacent the animal. 
     Cinches or girths are used to attach a saddle to an animal. Cinches or girths partially encircle the underside of an animal such as a horse near the front legs. These cinches or girths have a pair of buckles at each end which engage straps of the saddle. Such cinches or girths additionally include a pair of rings in the middle. One of these rings attaches to a tie down or, alternatively, to a breast collar of the saddle. The other ring attaches to a flank strap of a girth on the back of the saddle. 
     Sleeves or non-rub covers for saddle cinches or girths are known. The sleeve or cover is slid over the cinch or girth and, optionally, the buckles. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,836 issued to applicant of the present invention. These sleeves or covers are made from a soft elastomeric material such as neoprene that helps reduce abrasive contact between the cinch or girth and the animal. 
     A problem with such sleeves or covers is that outer peripheral portions not in contact with the animal are subject to damaging contact with other objects. Such contact tends to reduce the life of the sleeve or cover. Objects such as spurs of a rider of the animal can contact the exposed outer periphery of the sleeve or cover causing unsightly gouges, marks, and scratches. This is particularly problematic for cinch or girth assemblies used with show animals where appearance of both the animal and equipment attached to the animal are important. 
     A protective guard for a saddle cinch or girth assembly that solved these problems would be a welcome improvement. Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention includes a cinch or girth assembly for attaching a saddle to an animal. The cinch or girth assembly includes a web assembly having buckles secured thereto for connection to the saddle. Structure is provided for covering the web assembly to reduce abrasive contact between the web assembly and the animal. A portion of the periphery of the covering structure lies adjacent the animal. The cinch or girth assembly further includes structure, attached to an exposed portion of the periphery of the covering structure that lies away from the animal, that shields the covering structure from damaging contact with other objects. 
     The web assembly may include a first web to which the buckles are secured and a second web having a width greater than the first web that is attached to the first web. This first web may include first and second belts that are attached together. The second belt may be interposed between the first belt. The first and second belts may be secured to the buckles so that each forms first and second layers. These first layers may each have first ends that are attached together and to the second layers. The first layers further include second ends, opposite the first ends, that are also attached together and to the second layers. 
     The second web may include first and second layers that are attached together. The length of the second web may be greater than the length of the first web so that portions of the second web lie adjacent the buckles. These portions of the second web adjacent the buckles may be attached to the covering structure. 
     The covering structure may include an elastomeric sleeve in which the web assembly is disposed. This sleeve may be made of neoprene. 
     The shielding structure may include a sheet attached to the exposed portion of the periphery of the covering structure. This sheet has dimensions generally conforming to those of the exposed portion. This sheet may be made from leather, nylon, or jersey material. 
     A third web has rings secured to the ends thereof. The third web is attached to the second web so that the rings are generally perpendicular to the buckles and extend through the covering structure. 
     The cinch or girth assembly may further include structure interposed between the web assembly and the covering structure for reducing friction between the web assembly and the covering structure. The friction reducing structure may include a liner attached to the covering structure. This liner may be made from jersey material. 
     Another embodiment of the cinch or girth assembly includes an elastomeric sleeve having an inner periphery that defines a cavity and an outer periphery. A liner is attached to the inner periphery of the sleeve and a guard is attached to an exposed portion of the outer periphery of the sleeve. A web assembly is disposed within the cavity of the sleeve. This web assembly has buckles secured thereto for connecting to a saddle so that an unguarded portion of the outer periphery of the sleeve lies adjacent an animal. 
     The sleeve may be made from a folded elastomeric sheet having a first surface to which a liner is attached and a second surface generally opposite the first surface. The sheet is formed into a sleeve so that confronting longitudinal edges of the sheet are directed generally towards the cavity defined by the sleeve. These edges are secured together. In one embodiment, the sleeve is made of neoprene. 
     The guard may include a sheet that has dimensions generally conforming to the exposed portion of the outer periphery of the sleeve. The sheet may be made from leather, nylon, or jersey material. 
     The web assembly may include a first web to which buckles are secured and a second web, having a width greater than the width of the first web, attached to the first web. Longitudinal edges of the second web extend beyond longitudinal edges of the first web. Portions of the second web adjacent the buckles may be attached to the sleeve. The first and second webs may, in cooperation with the inner periphery of the sleeve, define pockets adjacent the longitudinal edges of the first and second webs and the inner periphery. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention includes a cinch or girth assembly for attaching a saddle to an animal. The cinch or girth assembly includes an elastomeric sheet having a first surface and a second surface. A liner is attached to the first surface of the sheet. Structure is provided for forming the sheet into a tubular sleeve having an inner periphery and an outer periphery. A liner is attached to the inner periphery which defines a cavity. A portion of the outer periphery is formed from the first surface of the sheet having the liner attached thereto. A web assembly having buckles secured thereto is disposed within the cavity of the sleeve. The buckles connect the cinch or girth assembly to the saddle so that the unlined portion of the outer periphery of the sleeve lies adjacent the animal. 
     The elastomeric sheet may be made of neoprene. The sleeve may have a first thickness adjacent the animal and a second thickness generally opposite the first thickness. The second thickness may be greater than the first thickness. The second thickness may include first and second layers of the sheet that are secured to the first thickness by the forming structure. The liner may be made of jersey material. 
     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a saddle cinch or girth assembly in accordance with the present invention showing a cinch or girth disposed within a sleeve or non-rub cover having a protective guard attached to an exposed periphery. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded assembly view of a web assembly that includes a first web having buckles on the ends thereof, a second web to which the first web is attached, and a third web with rings on the ends thereof that is attached to the first web, the web assembly is disposed within a sleeve or non-rub cover that has a protective guard attached to an exposed periphery. 
     FIG. 3 is an end view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1 showing an end of the invention in contact with an animal. 
     FIG. 4 is a view of the invention taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1 showing a side view of the invention in contact with an animal. 
     FIG. 5 is a view of FIG. 4 with the web assembly tightened around the animal. 
     FIG. 6 is an alternative embodiment of a saddle cinch or girth assembly of the invention with the sleeve or non-rub cover folded back over itself to form a double thickness on a side of the sleeve or cover away from the animal. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A cinch or girth assembly 10 used to attach a saddle to an animal is shown in FIG. 1. Cinch or girth assembly 10 encircles the underside of an animal (not shown in FIG. 1) such as a horse near the front of the legs of the animal. Cinch or girth assembly 10 includes a web assembly 12 that has a first web or belt 14 with opposing ends 16 and 18 to which respective buckles 20 and 22 are secured. Buckles 20 and 22 engage straps of the saddle to secure the saddle to the animal. In a preferred embodiment, buckles 20 and 22 are generally flat. The flatness of buckles 20 and 22 provides additional surface area contact with the animal over that provided by rounded buckles. The flatness of buckles 20 and 22 helps cinch or girth assembly 10 to resist twisting when attached to the animal. Also in the preferred embodiment, first web 14 is made of high strength nylon. 
     Web assembly 12 tends to abrasively wear the skin of an animal with which it is in contact. To alleviate this problem, web assembly 14 is disposed within a sleeve or non-rub cover 24. Sleeve 24 includes buckle guard portions 26 and 28 that extend beyond first web 14 and lie adjacent respective buckles 20 and 22. Buckle guard portions 26 and 28 shield buckles 20 and 22 from direct contact with the skin of the animal. Sleeve 24 is made from a soft elastomeric material such as neoprene that helps reduce abrasive contact between web assembly 12 and the animal. 
     Web assembly 12 further includes a second web 30 having buckle guard portions 32 and 34 that lie interposed between buckles 20 and 22 and buckle guard portions 26 and 28 of sleeve 24 as shown in FIG. 2. Buckle guard portions 32 and 34 of second web 30 help reduce abrasive contact between buckles 20 and 22 and buckle guard portions 26 and 28 of sleeve 24. Buckle guard portions 32 and 34 of second web 26 may be secured to sleeve 24 by stitching 36. In the preferred embodiment, second web 30 is made from nylon that does not have to be as structurally strong as the nylon from which first web 14 is made. 
     Web assembly 12 further includes a third web or ring strap 38 that has opposing ends 40 and 42 to which respective rings 44 and 46 are secured. Rings 44 and 46 extend through openings 48 formed through sides 50 and 51 of sleeve 24. Ring 44 attaches to a tie down or, alternatively, to a breast collar of the saddle. Ring 46 attaches to a flank strap of a girth on the back of the saddle. In the preferred embodiment, third web 38 is also made of nylon. Although cinch or girth assembly 10 is shown as including a web assembly 12 made from a plurality of nylon webs, it is to be understood that cinch or girth assembly 10 may, alternatively, include a one or multi-piece web assembly made of leather, rope, or cord. 
     Outer peripheral portions of sleeve 24 not in contact with the animal are subject to damaging contact with objects such as spurs of a rider of the animal. Such contact often leaves unsightly gouges, marks, and scratches. This contact is particularly problematic for cinch or girth assemblies 10 used with show animals where the appearance of both the animal and equipment attached to the animal is important. An additional problem with such contact is that items may be caught in the sleeve 24 and require removal. A further problem with such contact is that it tends to reduce the life of sleeve 24. These removed portions create debris and litter. To alleviate these problems, a protective guard or shield 52 is attached to a portion of sleeve 24 away from the animal as will be discussed in more detail below. Guard 52 may be made from leather, nylon, or jersey material which is generally more resistant to gouges, marks, and scratches caused by objects such as spurs than the soft elastomeric material from which sleeve 24 is made. 
     In a preferred embodiment, first web 14 is made from first and second belts 54 and 56 as shown in FIG. 3. Use of two belts 54 and 56 helps provide strength to first web 14. First and second belts 54 and 56 are secured around buckles 20 and 22 so that first and second layers 58 and 60 are formed for each belt. Stitching 62 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is used to secure first and second belts 54 and 56 around buckles 20 and 22. 
     First and second ends 64 and 66 of first layers 58 of belts 54 and 56 are arranged in confronting relationship as shown in FIG. 2 and secured to second layers 60. An opening 68 is formed between first and second ends 64 and 66 of first layers 58 of first and second belts 54 and 56. Opening 68 provides a recessed space for receiving and securing third web 38 to first web 14. Second web 30 includes first and second layers 70 and 72 as shown in FIG. 3. Use of two layers helps provide strength to second web 30. 
     Arrows 74 shown in FIG. 2 generally indicate the attachment of first web 14 to second web 30 by stitching 76. Arrow 78 also shown in FIG. 2 generally indicates the attachment of third web 38 to first web 14 within opening 68 by stitching 80. 
     A liner 82 shown in FIG. 3 provides a structure for reducing friction between first, second, and third webs 14, 30, and 38 when they are inserted into sleeve 24 as generally indicated by large arrow 84 shown in FIG. 2. Liner 82 is attached to inner periphery 85 of sleeve 24. In the preferred embodiment, liner 82 is made from a jersey material. Liner 82 also helps prevent web assembly 12 from wearing away inner periphery 85 of sleeve 24. 
     Protective guard 52 is shown in FIG. 2 as being formed from a sheet 86 having dimensions that generally conform to those of exposed periphery 88 of sleeve 24. As mentioned above, sheet 86 of guard 52 can be made from items such as leather, nylon, or jersey material. In the embodiment of cinch or girth assembly 10 shown in FIGS. 1-5, sheet 86 is made from the same jersey material as liner 82. Sheet 86 is attached to exposed periphery 88 by stitching 90. Sheet 86 can also be made from a variety of colors so that the appearance of cinch or girth assembly 10 can be readily changed. 
     Buckles 20 and 22 and rings 44 and 46 attach cinch or girth assembly 10 to a saddle so that an unguarded periphery 92 of sleeve 24 lies adjacent an animal 94 as shown in FIGS. 3-5. Because sleeve 24 is made from a soft elastomeric material such as neoprene, abrasive contact between animal 94 and cinch or girth assembly 10 is reduced. However, as discussed above, the relative softness of sleeve 24 has the disadvantage of subjecting exposed periphery 88 to damaging contact with objects such as spurs of a rider of animal 94. An example of the direction of such damaging contact (to an unshielded sleeve 24) is generally indicated by large arrow 96 in FIG. 3. This contact can cause gouges, marks, and scratches in exposed periphery 88. Sheet 86 of protective guard 52 shields against such damaging contact and thereby eliminates problems associated with unguarded sleeves 24. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, sleeve 24 is formed from an elastomeric sheet 98 having first and second surfaces 100 and 110. Sleeve 24 is formed in the generally tubular shape shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5 by folding elastomeric sheet 98 so that confronting longitudinal ends 112 and 114 are directed generally towards a cavity 116 and secured by stitching 118. Cavity 116 is defined by inner periphery 85 or first surface 100 to which liner 82 is attached. 
     First and second webs 14 and 30 in cooperation with a first surface 124 of liner 82 define pockets 120 and 122. Pockets 120 and 122 provide a space into which extended width portions 128 and 130 of second web 30 can deflect during tightening of first web 14 of cinch or girth assembly 10 around animal 94 as shown in FIG. 5. The area of force distribution applied by first web 14 on second web 30, sleeve 24, and animal 94 is generally indicated by arrows 132 and 134. As can be appreciated from the combination of FIGS. 4 and 5, extended width portions 128 and 130 of second web 30 help maintain the shape of sleeve 24 when first web 14 is tightened so that the portions of unguarded periphery 92 which extend beyond longitudinal edges 133 and 135 of first web 14 remain in contact with animal 94. 
     FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a cinch or girth assembly 136 of the present invention that includes web assembly 12 disposed within a sleeve 138. Sleeve 138 is formed from an elastomeric sheet 140 having a first surface 142 and a second surface 144 generally opposite first surface 142. In a preferred embodiment, elastomeric sheet is made of neoprene. Liner 82 is attached to first surface 142 of sheet 140. Sheet 140 is formed into generally tubularly-shaped sleeve 138 so that a first surface 145 of liner 82 defines an inner periphery 146 adjacent web assembly 12 and a portion of second surface 144 of sheet 140 adjacent animal 94 and a portion of first surface 145 of liner 82 away from animal 94 together define an outer periphery 148. Liner 82 on a portion of outer periphery 148 forms a protective guard or shield 150. Sheet 140 is secured into the generally tubular shape shown in FIG. 6 by stitching 154. Sleeve 138 is formed so that it has a first thickness 156 adjacent animal 94 and a second thickness 158 generally lying away from animal 94. Second thickness 158 includes first and second layers 160 and 162 formed when sheet 140 is folded over itself and secured by stitching 154 to expose liner 82 and thereby form protective guard 150. 
     As with protective guard 52 of cinch or girth assembly 10, protective guard 150 shields exposed periphery 163 of sleeve 138 from damaging contact by items such as spurs of a rider of animal 94. Examples of directions of such damaging contact are generally indicated by large arrows 164 and 166. 
     First and second webs 14 and 30 in cooperation with first surface 145 of liner 82 define pockets 168 and 170. As with pockets 120 and 122, pockets 168 and 170 provide a space in which extended width portions 128 and 130 of second web 30 can deflect when first web 14 is tightened around animal 94. Extended width portions 128 and 130 help maintain the shape of sleeve 138 when web 14 is tightened so that unguarded portions of outer periphery 148 which extend beyond longitudinal edges 133 and 135 of first web 14 remain in contact with animal 94. 
     From the preceding description of the preferred embodiments, it is evident that the objects of the invention are attained. Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is intended by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope of the invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.