Curve-conforming sensor array pad and method of measuring saddle pressures on a horse

• US 5,375,397 A
• Filed: 02/15/1994
• Issued: 12/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph A. Sember III, Robert J. Ferrand
• Original Assignee: Joseph A. Sember III, Robert J. Ferrand
• Inventors: Sember, Joseph A. III, Ferrand, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swiatek, Robert P.
• Application Number:
  US08/196,984
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• Field of Search: 54/65, 54/66, 128/782
• US Class Current: 54/66
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: B68C 1/00 Saddling equipment for riding- or pack-animals
• CPC Class Codes: B68C 1/12 Bottom pads for saddles; Saddle cloths B68C1/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/00 Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups electric measuring arrangements involving comparison with a reference value G01R17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3728 with wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/205 using distributed sensing elements

Abstract

A sensor array pad for sensing the pressure distribution under a saddle on the back of a horse includes a membrane made of first and second, identical substantially non-stretchable, flexible membrane portions. The membrane portions have adjacent facing edges that are joined at two spaced-apart tabs. A plurality of sensors are distributed substantially uniformly on the membrane, with each sensor occupying a predetermined surface area. Conductors are mounted on the membrane to extend between the sensors and a position along the perimeter of the associated membrane portion to provide for external connection with monitoring equipment. The membrane portions further each have a pair of slits extending from a mid-region spaced from the respective facing edge outwardly in diverging directions along lines passing outside the predetermined areas of the membrane occupied by the sensors. The slits define an upper section extending generally along the spine of a horse and a side section extending down the side of the horse away from the spine. When placed on the back of a horse with the facing edges extending along the spine, the membrane generally conforms to the back of the horse with the upper and side sections separating by spreading of the slits. The membrane may also be stretchable between the individual sensors. Pressures sensed by the sensors are input to a computer which generates a display of the pressure distribution.

Claims

1. A sensor array pad for sensing the pressure distribution under a saddle on the back of a horse comprising:

a plurality of generally planar sensors each having a planar surface and associated edges, each sensor being responsive to a pressure applied on the planar surface for outputting a signal representative of the applied pressure; and

means for supporting said plurality of sensors in a pair of arrays, with each array distributed over an area corresponding to at least a portion of the area of a saddle that is supported on one side of the spine of a horse with one of said arrays positionable on each side of the spine of a horse and the planar surfaces of the respective sensors conforming to the compound curvature of a horse'"'"'s back when said pad is placed between a saddle and a horse'"'"'s back.

2. A sensor array pad according to claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises, for each array, a stretchable, flexible membrane extending over at least a portion of said area and means for mounting said sensors relative to said membrane.

3. A sensor array pad according to claim 2 wherein said membrane covers an area of a horse'"'"'s back corresponding to a known type of saddle.

4. A sensor array pad according to claim 2 wherein said membrane is continuous over said area and said mounting means mounts said sensors at spaced positions on said membrane.

5. A sensor array pad according to claim 2 wherein said supporting means further comprises, for each array, a plurality of sections of a substantially non-stretchable, flexible membrane with said sections having adjacent separate edges joined by said stretchable, flexible membrane.

6. A sensor array pad according to claim 1 wherein said supporting means supports said plurality of sensors in each of said arrays in a plurality of sections having respective adjacent edges, and further accommodates a change in curvature of the array when supported on the back of a horse by allowing at least a portion of the adjacent edges of a portion of said sections to move relative to each other.

7. A sensor array pad according to claim 6 wherein each of said sections comprises a continuous membrane, said supporting means further comprising means for resiliently urging together separated portions of the respective adjacent edges of said sections allowed to move relative to each other.

8. A sensor array pad according to claim 6 wherein each of said sections comprises a continuous membrane, with at least two of said sections being disconnected along at least a portion of the respective adjacent edges, whereby the sections, when supported on the back of a horse, are allowed to separate along the disconnected adjacent edges and conform to the back of the horse.

9. A sensor array pad according to claim 8 wherein said membrane is substantially non-stretchable and flexible, and lies flat when placed on a planar surface.

10. A sensor array pad according to claim 9 wherein said supporting means further comprises means for holding at least a portion of an adjacent edge of each section in a fixed position with respect to the respective adjacent edge of an adjacent section whereby the plurality of sections are held adjacent to each other when supported on the back of a horse.

11. A sensor array pad according to claim 10 wherein said holding means comprises a joining section of membrane that is integral with the respective adjacent edges of at least two adjacent sections for combining at least a portion of said sections as a continuous single membrane.

12. A sensor array pad according to claim 10 wherein the respective disconnected adjacent edges terminate in an enlarged opening.

13. A sensor array pad according to claim 10 where the back of a horse has an upper portion that is concave as viewed from the side and a side portion that is convex as viewed from the head, and wherein said supporting means includes first and second adjacent sections adapted to conform to the upper portion and the side portion respectively when said pad is placed on the back of a horse.

14. A sensor array pad according to claim 13 wherein said supporting means further includes third and fourth sections with the first section attached to each of said second, third, and fourth sections, with said second and third sections and said third and fourth sections, respectively, having disconnected adjacent edges, with said first, second, third and fourth sections conforming to the curvature of a horse'"'"'s back when said first section is positioned adjacent to the spine of a horse'"'"'s back with said second, third and fourth sections supported pendently from said first section.

15. A sensor array pad according to claim 14 further comprising four additional sections forming a mirror image of said first, second, third, and fourth sections with said first section and the corresponding one of said four additional sections being joined together at spaced-apart locations.

16. A sensor array pad according to claim 15 wherein said first and corresponding sections have respective adjacent edges that are spaced apart between the spaced-apart locations.

17. A sensor array pad according to claim 1 wherein said supporting means includes a non-stretchable membrane supporting each of said arrays of sensors, said membrane having adjacent edges, and said supporting means further includes means for holding said adjacent edges of said membrane at two spaced-apart locations corresponding to positions along the spine of a horse when said pad is placed on the back of a horse.

18. A sensor array pad according to claim 17 wherein said adjacent edges between said two-spaced-apart locations form an open slit when said pad is placed on a planar surface.

19. A sensor array pad according to claim 17 wherein said holding means comprises tabs extending from each adjacent edge of said membranes and means for adhering the tabs together.

20. A sensor array pad according to claim 1 wherein said supporting means supports said sensors in two spaced-apart arrays, whereby a central portion corresponding to the spine of a horse is without sensors.

21. A sensor array pad for sensing the pressure distribution under a saddle on the back of a horse comprising:

a membrane formed of first and second substantially non-stretchable, flexible membrane portions for positioning on the back of a horse, said first and second membrane portions being formed identically and having adjacent edges that are joined at two spaced-apart locations, said joined membrane portions lying flat on a planar surface and being sized to support a saddle on the back of a horse with said adjacent edges extending along the spine;

a plurality of sensors distributed substantially uniformly on said first and second membrane portions, with each sensor occupying a predetermined surface area; and

conductors mounted on said membrane extending between said sensors and a position along a perimeter of the associated membrane portions;

said first and second membrane portions further each having a pair of slits extending from a mid-region spaced from said associated adjacent edge outwardly in diverging directions along lines passing outside the predetermined areas of the membrane occupied by said sensors, the slits defining an upper section for extending generally alongside the spine of a horse and a side section extending down the side of the horse away from the spine, whereby said membrane portions, when placed on the back of a horse with said adjacent edges extending along the spine, generally conform to the back of the horse with said upper and side sections separating along the slits.

22. A method for sensing the pressure under a saddle on the back of a horse comprising the steps of:

positioning between a saddle and the back of a horse a pad having at least one individual pressure-responsive sensor in a fixed position of the pad;

positioning a rider in the saddle;

sensing from the at least one sensor a signal representative of the pressure applied by the saddle; and

determining from the sensed signal the pressure represented by the signal.

23. A method according to claim 22 further comprising the step of producing a visual display of the determined pressure.

24. A method according to claim 22 wherein said method further comprises the steps of changing the distribution of pressure applied by the saddle on the horse, sensing from the at least one sensor a modified signal representative of the pressure applied by the saddle on the horse, and determining from the modified sensed signal the pressure represented by the modified signal.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein said step of changing comprises changing the structure of the saddle on the horse.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein said step of changing the structure comprises adjusting the position of padding between the saddle and the horse.

27. A method according to claim 25 wherein said step of changing includes replacing the saddle with a different saddle having a different structure.

28. A method according to claim 24 wherein said step of changing comprises changing the position of the rider in the saddle.

29. A method according to claim 28 further comprising the step of riding the horse during said steps of sensing and determining.

30. A method according to claim 22 wherein said step of positioning the at least one sensor includes positioning the pad with an array of individual pressure-responsive sensors distributed over an area corresponding to the area of at least a portion of the saddle on the back of the horse, the step of sensing includes sensing the pressure-representative signal from each sensor, and said step of determining includes determining the pressure represented by each sensed signal.

31. A method according to claim 30 further comprising the step of producing a visual display of the determined pressures sensed by each sensor.

32. A method according to claim 31 wherein said step of producing includes producing a two-dimensional graphic display representative of the determined pressures in relative positions corresponding to the relative positions of the associated sensors in the array.