Abstract: A composite pad for a saddle panel includes a first panel having a first firmness property and a second panel having a second firmness property that is different from the first panel firmness property. The first and second panels are configured whereby the first panel substantially nests in a cavity defined in the second panel. The second panel firmness is typically less than the first panel firmness, whereby in use the assembled composite pad the softer second panel will contact the back of an animal wearing the saddle. Saddle panels and saddles incorporating the composite pad of the disclosure are described.

Abstract: A locking headplate for an adjustable saddle tree includes opposed, hingedly connected plates for securing to a saddle tree head portion and a rotatable displacing element for displacing the hingedly connected plates inwardly or outwardly, wherein the rotatable displacing element assists in retaining the hingedly connected plates in a set spaced-apart configuration when not being rotated. The locking headplate further includes at least one supplemental locking mechanism for selectively preventing rotation of the rotatable displacing element. The hingedly connected plates include apertures for receiving a portion of the rotatable displacing element therethrough, the apertures defining at least one cross-sectional dimension that is greater than a corresponding cross-sectional dimension of the rotatable displacing element. Saddle trees and saddles incorporating the locking headplate are provided.

Abstract: A locking headplate for an adjustable saddle tree includes opposed, hingedly connected plates for securing to a saddle tree head portion, a rotatable displacing element for displacing the hingedly connected plates inwardly or outwardly, and at least one supplemental locking mechanism for selectively preventing rotation of the rotatable displacing element. The hingedly connected plates include apertures for receiving a portion of the rotatable displacing element therethrough, the apertures defining at least one cross-sectional dimension that is greater than a corresponding cross-sectional dimension of the rotatable displacing element. Saddle trees and saddles incorporating the locking headplate are provided.

Abstract: A locking headplate for an adjustable saddle tree includes opposed, hingedly connected plates for securing to a saddle tree head portion, a rotatable displacing element for displacing the hingedly connected plates inwardly or outwardly, and at least one supplemental locking mechanism for selectively preventing rotation of the rotatable displacing element. The hingedly connected plates include apertures for receiving a portion of the rotatable displacing element therethrough, the apertures defining at least one cross-sectional dimension that is greater than a corresponding cross-sectional dimension of the rotatable displacing element. Saddle trees and saddles incorporating the locking headplate are provided.

Abstract: A stirrup pad for equitation includes a top member defining a surface for contacting at least a portion of a sole of a rider's foot or footwear and at least one side edge, and a rear member defining a surface for contacting at least a portion of a heel of the rider's foot or footwear. The rear member extends downwardly from the top member side edge. The top member is oriented along a first plane, and the rear member is oriented along a second plane which is substantially perpendicular to the first plane. A front member may be included, extending downwardly from the top member side edge. At least the front member and the rear member include flange elements for removably attaching the stirrup pad to a stirrup.

Abstract: A locking headplate for an adjustable saddle tree includes opposed, hingedly connected elements for securing to a saddle tree head portion, a rotatable displacing element for displacing the hingedly connected plates inwardly or outwardly, and an engaging element for selectively preventing rotation of the rotatable displacing element. The engaging element includes at least one insert and a threaded fastener for compressing the insert against the rotatable displacing element to selectively prevent rotation thereof. A portion of the rotatable displacing element may be made of a material having a first hardness, and the insert may be made of a material having a second hardness which is less than the first hardness whereby a portion of the rotatable displacing element impinges into the material of the insert. Saddle trees and saddles incorporating the locking headplate are provided.

Abstract: A spur for equitation includes a substantially arcuate body and an end piece for contacting a portion of a body of an animal being ridden, the end piece being removably attached to the spur. The end piece may include a first and a second portion and a cooperating connector for removably connecting the two portions with a portion of the spur captured therebetween, whereby the cooperating connector defines an axis about which the end piece is rotatable. The end piece may be removably attached to a shank extending from the body. The shank may include a flattened portion defining a plane which is substantially coplanar with a plane defined by the spur body. The rotatable end piece first and second portions attach to the shank whereby the axis defined by the cooperating connector is substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the spur body and shank flattened portion.

Abstract: A flexible stirrup includes a base, a top, at least one flexible section connecting the base and the top, and a stabilizing hollow sheath enclosing at least a portion of the at least one flexible section. The flexible section includes at least one connector having a stem with a coupler at a first end and at a second opposed end thereof. The stem and first and second couplers may include at least one cross-sectional dimension that is substantially equal. At least a portion of an external surface of the at least one connector is in stabilizing contact with at least a portion of an internal surface of the hollow sheath.

Abstract: An automatic optical inspection of a moving web of glass for defects is provided by transversely scanning a moving web of glass with a light source which is internally reflected within the glass and travels towards the edge of the glass when the scanning light source strikes defects within the web. The light leaving the edges of the glass as a result of internal reflection is captured on opposite edges of the glass web. The captured light is detected and converted to electrical signals which are utilized to determine whether defects are present in the glass web in accordance with the characteristics of the electrical signals so generated. An apparatus is provided for the inspection method which includes edge detectors having a mouthlike construction fitting over the edges of the glass web and collecting internally reflected radiation from the edges of the web and applying it to photomultiplier tubes which are cooled.

Abstract: A laser inspection system is provided having an absolute closed loop dc system in which the power gain is automatically stabilized. In order to stabilize the power gain of the system and provide a closed loop absolute reference dc level, a sample of the radiation from the laser beam utilized to scan the material being inspected is applied to a photomultiplier tube for generating a reference pedestal signal which is dependent on the intensity of the laser beam and is free of the influence of the characteristics of the material being inspected. The reference pedestal signal is applied to a comparator which develops a control signal which is applied in a single closed feedback loop including in effect, the laser source and the light collection and detection system within the loop. This loop includes the photomultiplier tube and its high voltage power supply to which the control signal is applied for stabilizing the gain of the system.

Abstract: The beta ray gauge is augmented with a radiation inspection system for automatically improving products formed into a continuous web such as non-woven paper, non-woven textiles, plastics, etc. For example, the basis weight of a continuous web of paper is measured by passing the web through a beta ray gauge which generates a first signal based on the weight of the paper web. The first signal generated by the beta ray gauge is compared with a predetermined preset reference signal representing the basis weight desired. After the beta ray gauge measures the basis weight in the paper making process, a light inspection system applies a light source across the paper web and detects the light emanating therefrom to provide a second signal based on the characteristics of the paper web.

Abstract: A laser scanning flaw direction inspection system is provided for simultaneously scanning a plurality of laser sources across a moving web of material being inspected. The plurality of laser beams are simultaneously scanned utilizing a common scanning apparatus. Laser beam radiation from the plurality of laser sources is collected from the web of material being inspected and detected for generating signals based on the integrity of the radiation applied to the detector from the material being inspected. The plurality of laser sources are preferably of different wave lengths, may have different spot sizes and may be separated by a fixed distance in either the scanned direction or in the direction of web travel. By providing such flexibility in size, positioning and wavelength, and using optical filters to separate the signals related to each of the sources, different types of flaws as well as different information may be generated which would not be possible using a single source system.

Abstract: A wide web laser scanner flaw detection method and apparatus are provided for rapid and accurate inspection of wide web materials. A plurality of laser sources are scanned by a plurality of aligned synchronized rotary scanners which repetitively scan the sources in sequence on a predetermined scan path over the material being examined with each laser scanning only a portion of the scan line. The rotary scanners are selectively blanked in sequence such that only one rotary scanner is scanning a single laser beam on only a portion of a line scan on the material in any given time interval and the blanking means are staggered such that one complete line scan is formed across the material by consecutive sequential alternating scans of each of the laser sources by each of the rotary scanners. The wide web is moved in a direction transversely with respect to the direction of the scan line for providing a raster type scan pattern along the wide web of material being inspected.

Abstract: A web of moving material is successively scanned by a light source, such as a laser beam, and changes of intensity of the transmitted, reflected or scattered light from the material is detected to provide an indication for discerning flaws in the web. A once per scan line digital signal from the scanner controls a voltage controlled oscillator connected in a phased locked loop which is used for controlling the generation of a precision ramp analog voltage that follows the angular scan position of the light source on the material. The light signal from the web is applied to a comparator for providing a digital pedestal signal in which the first light passing the comparator is the leading edge of the web while the last light passing during a scan line is the trailing edge or the end of the web. If no pedestal signal is present indicative of a break in the web, a synthetic maximum width pedestal signal is substituted to enable the inspection system to continue to function.

Abstract: An alignment means is provided for aligning a light collector rod with a scanning light beam in a flaw detection system. The light collector rod means, having a diffusing or reflective stripe thereon, is positioned to receive light from a material being examined which is being scanned by a light beam. In order to align the light collector rod with the scanning light beam, an alignment light source is positioned on the side opposite to the stripe on which light is received from the material, and the alignment light source is selectively actuated to project a dark stripe or line from the light collector rod means on the material being examined so that the scanning light beam can be aligned with the line projected thereon.

Abstract: A rotary scan flaw detection system is provided in which a record medium is driven synchronously with the scanning of a source of radiation across the surface of material being examined for flaws. A method and apparatus are provided for dividing the material into discrete segments or strips so that flaw information obtained from scanning the material may be sorted and routed pursuant to a predetermined plan. A grating is scanned having predetermined marks thereon which are recorded on the record medium. The material is then scanned, the marks played back, and fed to a data routing logic circuitry along with the flaw information derived from the surface of the material being examined, so that the flaw information is automatically routed in accordance with the occurrence of flaws on discrete segments of the material.