US3491755A - Animal mask - Google Patents

Description

Jan 1970 I R. J. BAR-CHIN] ETAL 3,491,755

ANIMAL MASK Filed Feb.- 19. 1968 I z'sheets sneet 1 I N VENTORS 905527.! 542 mm Russ-ELL E CLAYTON 7 OR/YEXS' United States Patent Ofiice 3,491,755 Patented Jan. 27, 1970 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bulbous mask for warming air breathed by a horse is formed from mask material supported on a frame peripherally contOured to fit snugly in the area adjacent the horses nostrils and above the mouth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to respiratory rnaskS, particularly of the type for warming inspired air.

For at least a century it has been known that for a horse to breathe cold air was not only uncomfortabale but also physically damaging. At one time farmers in the northern part of the United States commonly wrapped a scarf around the nose of a horse used to pull a bobsled or engage in heavy labor during cold winter weather to ward off pneumonia or frost-bitten respiratory passages. Unfortunately, however, a scarf quickly becomes saturated with moisture and often freezes over the horses nostrils. This tendency is aggravated by a horses normal tendency to salivate, or slobber, excessively.

Cold weather masks for use by human beings are known; see, for example, Barghini et al. US. Patent 3,333,585 which discloses a cup-shaped mask formed of nonwoven resilient porous fibrous fabric designed to conform to the face of the wearer, extending over the nose and mouth. Previous attempts to use a mask of this type on horses, however, have been fraught with the identical problem encountered by farmers of an earlier era; saliva and condensed moisture vapor tend to freeze the mask in the area adjacent the nostrils. Thus, although limp bag-like respiratory masks for minimizing smoke inhalation were long ago disclosed in US. Patent 327,762, devices designed to protect a horses nostrils in cold weather have generally been of the type shown in US. Patents Nos. 381,285 and 501,463, i.e., formed of rigid material which deflects, rather than filters, air which is to be breathed.

The horse no longer is a major factor in transportation or agriculture, of course, but winter harness racing is today increasing greatly in popularity. Although spectators typically sit in a heated enclosure, the horses perform out-of-doors and the unsolved cold air problem has remained acute. The rapid breathing of frigid air through widely distended nostrils during racing can seri ously affect the health of the extremely valuable animals. Prior to the present invention there has been no satis factory way of coping with this problem.

SUMMARY The present invention provides, for the first time insofar as the inventors are aware, a simple mask for attachment to a horse to prevent the lungs of the animal from becoming frostbitten. The device is simple, lightweight, readily attached without discomfort to the animal, and yet insures that virtually all the air inhaled or exhaled passes therethrough. The heat exchange which takes place within the mask maintains a sufficiently high temperature to prevent freezing. The mask does not come in contact with the nostrils and hence insures that air will be drawn through the entire mask fabric. This novel device also takes advantage of the fact that, unlike many other animals, a horse is almost completely anatomically unable to breathe through its mouth; hence the mask does not surround the entire muzzle, thereby eliminating the problems caused by excessive salivation.

Basically the mask involves a cage-like collapse-resistant lightweight frame which conforms peripherally to the area of a horses head adjacent the nostrils and supports a mask fabric material, which is desirably of the type disclosed in the aforementioned Barghini et al. patent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Understanding of the invention will be facilitated by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts in several views and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view showing the mask assembly of the invention mounted on a horses head;

, FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the mask assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the mask assembly; FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal cross-section of the mask assembly;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the frame portion of the mask assembly made in accordance with this invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view showing one of the snaps used to hold the mask assembly together.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawing, mask assembly 10 comprises cage-like frame 20 to which bulbous mask 30 is removably attached. As is particularly shown in FIG. 5, frame 20 includes 2-part peripheral frame member 21, made up of horizontal U-shaped frame member 22 and vertically arched U-shaped rear frame member 23, connected to horizontal member 22 toward the rear of the side portions thereof. Connecting the central portion of vertical member 23 to the central portion of the rounded front of horizontal frame member 22 is longitudinal member 24, while connecting the two side portions of horizontal member 23 is vertically arched and laterally bowed cross member 25 which extends well above the upper surface of longitudinal member 24. A preferred method of conmeeting the several frame members is by rivets 27.

As is indicated in FIG. 1, the peripheral contour of the mask and the contour of peripheral base member 21 both approximate the conformation of that nostril-including portion of a horses head lying on the continuous imaginary line defined roughly by the upper lip and a line extending across the face so as to connect the corners of the mouth. The rounded horizontal member 22 thus conforms to the forward and side portions of the horses nose and upper lip, while arched vertical frame member 23 corresponds to the shape of the horses face. Longitudinal member 24 serves as the primary support for frame 20, extending longitudinally down the center of the horses face and over the nose between the nostrils. Cross member 25, which extends well above longitudinal member 24 and bows out beyond the sides of horizontal frame member 22, provides a support for mask fabric '30, insuring that the latter remains out of contact with the horses nostrils, even when they are distended to several times their normal size, which commonly occurs when the horse is exerting himself.

The various members making up frame 20 are desirably formed from resilient supple, shock-resistant plastic strips (e.g., nylon, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, etc.), thereby insuring that the mask will not permanently collapse in use, even if deformed by being subjected to a sharp blow. If desired, however, vertically arched rear frame member 23 may be formed of a more tractable conformable material to permit shaping to the specific physiognomy of the horse on which the mask is to be mounted. Strips of spring steel may also be employed as members of frame 20, although metal tends to feel somewhat colder than plastic and, additionally, presents a greater possibility of injuring the horse.

Mask 30 can be either temporarily or permanently at tached to frame 2!); temporary attachment is generally preferred, however, to permit the fabric to be replaced when it has become soiled, torn, saturated with condensed water vapor or otherwise unsuitable for further use. As is shown particularly in FIG. 6, mask 30 is connected to frame 20 primarily by means of snap fasteners 27, the male portion of which is mounted to frame 20 and inserted through appropriately located holes in mask fabric 31; the female portions of snap fasteners 27, which have larger diameters than the holes, are then snapped over the male portion of the fastener to hold fabric 31 in place. Fasteners 27 also conveniently serve to attach to frame 20 the several means which serve to hold the mask in position on a horses head. Thus, to appropriate rear portions of frame 20, are connected straps 34, each having free end 34a which is passed around a portion of the bridle, halter, or similar conventional head harness, and connected to buckle 3412 on the opposite end. To one of the side portions of horizontal frame member 22, elastic strap 35, having a buckle 351) at one end, is connected; strap 36 is connected to the other side of frame member 22. Strap 36 is then passed through and gripped by buckle 35b, providing an elastic band around the horses lower jaw which permits the animal to open his mouth but keeps him from dislodging mask 30. Socalled one-way snaps, which can be opened only by lifting and pulling in a single direction, have been found especially useful, since they insure that the various mask attaching means will not become separated from the mask, even when the horse engages in violent physical activity.

Removable mask 30 comprises mask fabric 3i, desirably formed of a molded nonwoven resilient porous fibrous fabric of the type described in the aforementioned Barghini et al. Patent 3,333,585, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Such nonwoven fabrics have been found effective in maintaining the air inside the mask at approximately 50 F. or higher, essentially independent of the temperature of the outside air, in winter conditions.

Extending throughout the peripheral interior of mask fabric 31, and stitched thereto at the outer edge, is a band ofv synthetic sponge material 32, formed, e.g., of lightweight polyurethane foam about A inch thick. The outer edge of sponge band 32 is desirably subjected to heat and pressure to densify and toughen it, so that it can be stitched to the peripheral portion of mask fabric 31. This compressed portion of sponge 32 may extend around the raw edge of mask fabric 31, presenting a finished appearance and, further, reducing any possibility of irritating the skin of the horse. The fact that sponge 32 is stitched only along the outer edge, permits it to be slipped around the peripheral portion 21 of frame 20, preventing contact of the latter with the head of the horse and thus preventing chafing. When mask is mounted on the head of the horse, as is particularly shown in FIG. 1, the lower edge of sponge 32 extends slightly above the lower edge of the horses upper lip, permitting clearance of the bit. When the various holding means 34-36 are appropriately connected, mask 10 is held firmly on the horses head and peripherally sealed sothat substantially all of the air breathed in or out passes through mask fabric 31.

To make certain that the sensitive forward portion of the horses iip is not chafed, and further to prevent the horse from chewing on the edge of the mask, the forward portion of sponge band 32 extends somewhat higher than the other portions. To keep band 32 from doubling over in this area, snap fasteners 33 may be used to connect it to mask fabric 31.

It will be recognized that numerous modifications and extensions of this invention will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, although the outstanding utility of masks in accordance with this invention is for warming the air breathed by a horse, it is entirely possible to place within the mask, medications which the horse is to breathe. It will also be appreciated that, where the primary purpose of the mask is to prevent the passage of dust, somewhat different fabrics than that discussed hereinabove may be employed successfully. Likewise, masks may be dyed or pigmented in colors which contrast sharply with that of the horse, thereby facilitating the photographic determination of a winner in a close race.

We claim:

1. A cold weather mask assembly for equine animals, comprising in combination:

a cage-like collapse-resistant frame formed of a narrow peripheral base member contoured to have a rounded front portion, substantially straight side portions and an arched rear portion, thereby approximating the conformation of that nostril-including portion of a horses head lying on the continuous imaginary line defined roughly by the upper lip and a line extending across the face connecting the corners of the mouth, at least the front and side portions of said base member being resilient,

a resilient longitudinal member located approximately midway between the two sides of said frame, connecting the rear and front portions of said base member, thereby providing a means for supporting said frame upon the nose and bony portion of a horses face,

a resilient cross member connecting the two sides of said base member and sutficiently arched thereabove to substantially avoid contact with the nose and nostrils of a horses head when said mask is mounted thereon,

a porous cold weather mask fabric contoured to fit over said frame and attached thereto, said frame preventing said fabric from contacting the nostrils of a horse on which the mask is mounted, and

means on said frame for holding said mask on a horses head, comprising means for connecting the rear portion of said frame to conventional head harness,

means for connecting the two sides of said frame under the lower jaw of a horse, and

compressible sealing means along the peripheral interior of said mask,

whereby the peripheral portion of the mask can be brought snugly into cotnact with the head of the horse and held firmly in place so that the horse is prevented from dislodging the mask and substantially all the air inhaled and exhaled by the horse passes through the mask fabric.

2. The mask of claim 1 wherein the compressible sealing means is soft polyurethane foam which prevents the peripheral base member from directly contacting the horse.

3. The mask of claim 2 wherein the resilient frame members are formed from supple strips of plastic material.

4. The mask of claim 3 wherein the mask fabric is removably attached to the frame, thereby permitting the fabric to be replaced when soiled, saturated with condensed water vapor, or otherwise unsuitable for further use.

5. The mask of claim 4 wherein the mask fabric is provided with holes to accommodate snap fasteners which pass therethrough for holding the fabric to the frame.

6. The mask of claim 5 wherein the means for connecting the frame to head harness and under a horses jaw are straps connected to the frame by snap fasteners which 5 6 extend through the mask fabric, thereby serving the addi- 1,311,933 8/1919 Weigel 54-80 tional function of removably attaching the mask fabric to 3,333,585 8/ 1967 Barghini 128--212 the frame.

References Cited RICHARD A GAUDET, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 J. B. MITCHELL, Assistant Examiner 381,285 4/1888 Shue 54-80 501,463 6/1893 Joerges et a1. 54--80 960,142 5/1910 Anctil 5480 5480; 128146.6

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