Heart monitor for horses

• US 4,478,225 A
• Filed: 12/02/1982
• Issued: 10/23/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John G. Ewing
• Original Assignee: John G. Ewing
• Inventors: Ewing, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/446,321
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 128/639, 128/643, 128/644, 128/690, 128/696, 128/706
• US Class Current: 600/519
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/027 Exercising equipment, e.g. tread mills, carousels equipment for racing or riding sports events A63K
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 17/00 Devices for indicating trouble during labour of animals ; Methods or instruments for detecting pregnancy-related states of animals monitoring or measuring activity of animals A01K29/005

Abstract

A heart rate monitor for measuring the heart rate of a horse which is effective during training as well as other periods is disclosed. The heart rate monitor comprises electrode means mounted in the girth of a saddle for detecting heart related electrical signals on the surface of the horse'"'"'s body. The heart monitor also comprises signal processing circuitry means and display means which may be enclosed in a housing and are mounted on the horse'"'"'s saddle and easily readable by a person sitting in the saddle. Shielded electrical connection means for transmitting an electrical signal from the electrodes to the signal processing circuitry means are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A heart monitor for measuring the heart rate of a horse during training and other active periods comprising:

(a) saddle means mountable on a horse for supporting a rider;

(b) girth means operably attachable to said saddle means for securing said saddle means to a horse;

(c) electrode means operably mounted on said girth means for providing touching electrical contact with the body of a horse mounted with said saddle means for detecting voltage changes on the skin surface of the horse and providing an electrical signal in response thereto;

(d) signal processing circuitry means for processing said electrical signal from said electrode means;

(e) display means for receiving said processed signal and generating a human readable display indicating the heart rate of a horse mounted with said saddle means; and

(f) power supply means for providing electrical energy to operate said signal processing circuitry means and said display means.

2. The invention of claim 1 further comprising electrical connection means operably connectable between said electrode means and said signal processing circuitry means for transmitting said electrical signal from said electrode means to said signal processing circuitry means.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said signal processing circuitry means, said display means, and said power supply means are mounted within a housing means for protecting said signal processing circuitry means, said display means, and said power supply means.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said housing means is operably mounted on said saddle means on a forward portion thereof whereby said display means is readily readable by a person seated in said saddle means.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said housing means comprises socket means for receiving a terminal end portion of said electrical connection means in selectively engageable and disengageable relationship therewith.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said housing means comprises switching means for selectively switching said heart rate monitor on and off operably connected with said power supply means.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said display means comprises a liquid crystal display device.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said housing means is mounted on a pommel portion of said saddle means.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said housing means comprises a metallic box portion and an outer leather portion enclosing a substantial portion of said metallic box portion.

10. The invention of claim 2 wherein said electrode means comprises a first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode mounted in spaced apart relationship along the length of said girth.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein each said electrode is mounted in electrically isolated relationship with said girth.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein each said electrode has an electrical lead wire associated therewith.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein each said associated lead has an associated shielding means provided in encompassing relationship therewith for shielding signals transmitted from said electrodes to said signal processing circuitry means from outside noise signals.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said electrical connection means comprises said leads associated with said electrodes, said shielding means for said leads, and external casing means for physically protecting said leads and said shielding means.

15. The invention of claim 7 wherein said electrode means comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode mounted in spaced apart relationship along the length of said girth.

16. The invention of claim 15 wherein each said electrode is mounted in electrically isolated relationship with said girth.

17. The invention of claim 16 wherein each said electrode has an electrical lead associated therewith.

18. The invention of claim 17 wherein each said associated lead has an associated shielding means provided in encompassing relationship therewith for shielding signals transmitted from said electrodes to said signal processing circuitry means from outside noise signals.

19. The invention of claim 18 wherein said electrical connection means comprises said leads associated with said electrodes, said shielding means for said leads, and external casing means for physically protecting said leads and said shielding means.

20. The invention of claim 13 wherein each said electrode is provided with electrically conductive salve means for ensuring electrical contact between each said electrode and the body of a horse being monitored.