A candle with an embedded item and methods for manufacturing same are disclosed. A method for manufacturing a candle having an embedded item can include providing a first set of items of a first value and a second set of items of a second value different from the first value, combining the two sets to create a third set, and distributing the items of the third set among a set of candles, one item per candle, where the presence, nature, or value of the item within the candle is obscured. The method can further include selling the candles for a first price, wherein, the presence of the embedded item, the nature of the embedded item, the value of the embedded item, or the value of the embedded item relative to the first price is not known to the purchaser. The embedded item can comprise an object redeemable for a prize.

This invention relates to a rotary flame heater, comprising a burner, a first wind wheel, a second wind wheel and a glass tube set in sequence from bottom to top; one side of the burner is set with an ignition device, the first wind wheel and second wind wheel are annular, a plurality of first air inlet passages are aslant set on a side wall of the first wind wheel, a plurality of second air inlet passages are aslant set a side wall of the second wind wheel, the inclined direction of the plurality of first air inlet passages is the same with that of the second air inlet passages. The advantage of this invention is to make full use of the combustion space, increase the contacting area with the glass tube and increase the calorific value when burns the same gas, which achieves a better heating effect.

Described is a device (11) for controlling the combustion of a burner (1), comprising: •first means (12) for measuring the fuel flow rate (Vg); •second means 13 for measuring the flow rate of the comburent (Va) •first operator means (14) for controlling the opening of an inlet valve (5) as a function of the quantity of fuel to be supplied to the burner (1); •second operator means (15) for controlling the comburent flow regulator means (8) as a function of the quantity of comburent to be supplied to the burner (1); According to this invention, the device (11) comprises a unit (16) for controlling the first operator means (14) and the second operator means (15) as a function of the values measured by the first measuring means (12) and by the second measuring means (13).

A candle assembly for making a personalized scented candle including a candle body comprises a coring device that is configured to remove a core from the candle body, the coring device including (i) a leading edge that selectively extends into the candle body; and (ii) a plurality of measurement markers that measure a depth of the leading edge within the candle body. The coring device can be configured to remove the core from the candle body to form a cavity in the candle body. Additionally, the measurement markers can be utilized to determine a depth of the cavity formed in the candle body by the coring device.

Embodiments of the inventive concept provide a double-sealed high-temperature resistant DC ignitor for use with a wood pellet burner assembly. The DC ignitor includes a non-heating element portion. The non-heating element portion is connected to at least one of a battery or an AC to DC electrical transformer attached to the wood pellet burner assembly. A heating element is connected to the non-heating element portion, and extends by at least one inch into a combustion region of the wood pellet burner assembly. The heating element portion is configured to be heated by power received from the battery or the AC to DC electrical transformer. The DC ignitor provides safe, reliable, and fast combustion of wood pellets that congregate in a combustion region of the wood pellet burner assembly.

A cracking furnace includes a combustion volume defined in part by a burner wall having a refractory lining. A plurality of perforated flame holders is arranged in an array that is spaced away from the wall, with fuel input faces facing the wall. Each of a plurality of fuel nozzles is positioned and configured to emit a fuel stream toward the input face of a respective one of the plurality of perforated flame holders. Combustion reactions, supported by the fuel streams emitted by the fuel nozzles, and held by the flame holders, release heat, which is emitted by the flame holders as thermal (blackbody) radiation, a portion of which impinges upon, and heats the inner face of the refractory lining. Thermal radiation from the flame holders and the wall impinges upon a load positioned in the approximate center of the combustion volume, between burner walls.

A wedge apparatus for a stirrup for reducing alleviating pain on a horseback rider's knees and ankles, the stirrup comprising a pair of opposing side bars, a hangar bar portion and a footrest bar, the wedge apparatus comprising (a) a wedge associated with the footrest bar, the wedge having a lateral portion and a medial portion, the lateral portion being thicker than and tapering toward the medial portion; (b) an impact-absorbing material; and, (c) an attachment mechanism for attaching the wedge and the impact-absorbing material to the footrest bar.

The present invention is an equestrian light device comprised of a plurality of lighting elements which can be secured to the bridle, saddle, stirrups and other pieces of tack, and which provides a rider with the ability to view a path before the turning of a horse to go down the path, in addition to illuminating a zone of safety to provide a rider with adequate visibility to discern obstacles that may impede the progress of a horse on a path, or which may startle or injure the animal or rider.

The invention also a stabilizing system to stabilize a rider in the saddle comprising a saddle stabilizer block which can be used alone or in combination with a complementary boot stabilizer block to restrict movement of the rider in the saddle.

The present invention relates to a saddle for riding or carrying other load. The saddle includes at least two segments forming a frame, wherein, between the segments and between the right and left hand sides of each segment, flexible segment links allowing for relative movement thereof are provided, with the size, shape, flexibility, and stiffness of each segment being adapted to achieve an optimal weight distribution and freedom of movement, the segments and segment links or hinge elements are configured to allow for a relative independent movement thereof.

A treeless western saddle comprising a flexible base coupled to an underside of a flexible substrate. A seat section is integrally formed in the flexible substrate. A pommel section is integrally formed in the flexible substrate. The flexible base has an upper stirrup aperture and a lower stirrup aperture formed in a lateral side of the flexible base. The underside of the flexible substrate has a cavity formed in a lateral side of the underside of the flexible substrate, the cavity to extend from the upper stirrup aperture to at least the lower stirrup aperture.

A saddle pad cover is disclosed and may include a first layer and a second layer, the first layer being coupled to the second layer, a closure device adapted for insertion of a saddle pad, and a patch positioned on the surface of the first layer, where the saddle pad cover may sleevably receive a saddle pad to form an assembly. A method of maintaining a saddle pad cover is also disclosed.

A boot assembly and method that simulates, in a static equine animal (stalled or hauled), the natural mechanical action of walking or other gaited exercise. The assembly has a boot, containing a shock absorbing pad that is fitted with a separate pulsing bladder disposed on, under or inside the shock absorbing pad. Pressuring and relaxing the pulsing bladder in the bottom of the boot rhythmically pushes against the sole and frog of the equine hoof in much the same way that the hoof is exercised when the animal is moving. The pulsing action helps stimulate blood flow through the hoof and is beneficial to shod, injured, and transported horses. The assembly may be fitted on one or more hooves, and may be automated to provide timing and sequencing to simulate different gaits of the animal.

A horse blanket allowing freer movement of a horse in use, comprising a generally rectangular piece of material with a front edge, a rear edge and two side edges. The blanket is split, from each side edge to the center line thereof, into a front section and a rear section, the front and rear sections being connected together at the center line of the blanket to define a flexible joint therebetween, about which the blanket articulates. The flexible joint extends to a position to each side of the center line. The flexible joint is positioned, in use, at a location to the rear of the horse's withers where the pommel of a saddle would be properly positioned. The articulation of the blanket about the flexible joint facilitates up and down movements, side to side movements, as well as twisting movements of the front section relative to the rear section in response to movements of the horse.

A protective garment for livestock, such as a horse, has a first portion and a second portion defining a planar sheet of material. The first portion substantially covers a left leg and shoulder of the livestock, while the second portion substantially covers a right leg and shoulder of the livestock. The garment can comprise a one-piece protective cover or a two-piece protective cover. In one embodiment, the first portion and the second portion are connected to each other by an attachment member extending across a back of the livestock. In use, the protective garment is sufficiently secured to the livestock to protect it from undesirable external elements, such as insects and sunlight, yet somewhat loose to allow the livestock to freely move while wearing the garment.

A fly blanket for laying atop a horse's rump behind a saddle comprising a mesh sheet having a generally rounded trapezoidal shape; two attachment components both for attaching the mesh sheet to a saddle ring disposed on the saddle; and stitched binding disposed along edges of the mesh sheet, wherein a weighted rope is disposed in all of or a portion of the stitched binding, wherein the weighted rope functions to help keep the fly blanket from flopping around while the horse is moving.

A printhead cartridge cradle is provided having a frame, a printed circuit board pivotally supported by the frame, a cover pivotally supported by the frame to pivot between a closed position at which a printhead cartridge is secured within the frame and the printed circuit board is pivoted to connect control circuitry on the printed circuit board with a controller of the secured cartridge and an open position at which access for the cartridge with the frame is provided and the printed circuit board is pivoted to disconnect the control circuitry and controller, and a motor operatively connected to a maintenance gear and actuator arrangement and a wiper gear and actuator arrangement for maintaining and wiping a printhead of the secured cartridge under control of the connected control circuitry.

A saddle horn assembly attached to the tree of a saddle in lieu of a conventional saddle horn consisting of a post of rectangular prismatic configuration with a receiving chamber for insertion of a quick release locking pin, a cap with a quick release locking pin attached to and protruding from the bottom thereof that allows the cap to be detached and reattached to the post within seconds, and a dally traction device with a central void of complimentary dimensions to the post, having a hyperboloid external configuration and being symmetrical in both the horizontal and vertical planes such that the device may be rotated and/or inverted about the post so that it may be quickly and easily manipulated to numerous positions to generate even wear about the exterior, thus increasing the longevity of the device and improving the safety and effectiveness of dallying.

A horse boot (10) includes a shell (12) and a gaiter (22). The shell has a sole (14) and an upper (16) with a vertical slit (18). The gaiter (22) is releasably attached to the heel of the upper and is wrapped around the pastern (P) above the hoof's hairline (C) and below the fetlock to anchor the shell to the pastern and function as a barrier against debris. The gaiter includes a portion of two-way stretch material (60) that makes it possible to fold it out of the way for ease of installation. The process is further facilitated by the slit (18) that allows spreading of the shell. By shaping the upper (16) so that it presses against the hoof (H), the boot is advantageously held in place using only the gaiter anchored to the heel of the boot and strapped to the pastern of the horse.

The present invention is a saddle girth to be used in conjunction with either English or Western saddles. The girth band of the saddle girth is curved and made with an inelastic member which provides a more secure and comfortable fit on the horse. The saddle girth connectors are made of elastic material which allows for expansion of the horse's chest as it breaths. This saddle girth prevents shifting of the girth or saddle while fitting comfortably around the torso of the horse providing comfort and security to both the hose and rider.

The invention is directed to a piece (2) for a saddletree (1) of mat-like general shape conformed to have both a first overall concavity in a first direction of a longitudinal plane of symmetry and a second overall concavity in a second direction of a transverse plane, delimited by an exterior free edge (14) including a pommel portion, a cantle portion and two longitudinal portions, the exterior free edge being adapted to cooperate with a complementary interior free edge of the saddletree, the mat including a plurality of individual portions at least partly separate, placed in the vicinity of each other so that each individual portion can absorb forces and be deformed in bending or in torsion at least partly independently of the other individual portions, the piece being provided with elements for associating it with the saddletree.

A boot accessory for limiting how far a user can push his/her boot into a stirrup comprises an arch for hugging a front edge of the boot; a first hook disposed on the first end of the arch and a second hook disposed on the second end of the arch. The first hook curves outwardly from the first end of the arch and further a first end of the first hook curves back toward the front edge of the boot. The second hook curves outwardly from the second end of the arch and further a first end of the second hook curves back toward the front edge of the boot. A gap exists between the first end of the first hook and the arch and between the first end of the second hook and the arch, wherein the gaps are for engaging sides of the stirrup.

A lifting girdle apparatus for enhancing the performance of a harness racing horse includes a lifting girdle affixed to a harness and sulky at two points on each side of the horse with a clip that attaches to the harness, behind approximately the front quarter of the horse, and with a securing strap that runs vertically towards and around the shaft of the sulky. The securing strap is preferably made to be adjustable, for example by constructing the securing strap as a belt and utilizing a belt buckle. The ability to adjust the distance between the attachment clips and the lifting girdle allows for a trainer to configure the lifting girdle device apparatus for different sized horses for producing an optimum setting for horses of almost any size.

A halter having a continuous headstall strap that fits over the poll of the horse's head and includes a lead attachment ring at the bottom of the headstall strap.

The present invention is a wrap designed to protect the saddle horn when a lariat rope is dallied around it and pressure applied, as when roping cattle in the sports of team and calf roping. The horn wrap consists of a strap having desired elasticity and durability, as well as a sufficient coefficient of friction. The horn wrap can have one or two apertures at the tips which can be pulled over the saddle horn and act to attach the horn wrap to the saddle horn. Generally anticipated to be in a generally bell shape, the attachment pieces act to protect the saddle pommel near the base of the saddle horn. The horn wrap may be beveled near its edges so as to allow for smooth layers on the saddle horn which can increase the contact of the rope to the saddle horn to increase the friction resisting the dally sliding when weight is applied to the rope.

The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to saddles and saddle trees, especially English saddle trees, particularly for horses. In particular, we describe a method of manufacture for a tree which is simplified by the use of leather, webbing and plastic in flat sheet material. This fabrication can be simply stitched and riveted together and a Y-bar and headplate are then bolted and or riveted to the finished leather plastic fabrication. This method of making a tree is fast, efficient, cost effective, safe, reliable, provides more consistent symmetrical performance, and above all is very light, providing a weight saving of 60% compared with conventional methods. The tree fabrication requires no additional finishing or tidying, unlike other forms of manufacture. As soon as the parts are assembled they are ready to go to the next stage of making the finished seat for the saddle.

A saddle pad assembly provides padding under a saddle while facilitating customization to inhibit undesirable pressure points from developing. The assembly includes a cover having a closed end and a perimeter wall extending from the closed end. An edge of the perimeter wall defines an open end opposite the closed end. A plurality of holes extends through the perimeter wall of the cover. The holes are arranged into a pair of opposed rows extending between the closed end and the open end. A pad is insertable into the cover through the open end. The pad has a row of apertures alignable with the rows of holes. A line may be laced through the rows and the apertures to couple the pad to the cover.

Method and devices for treating equine laminitis by cryotherapy, comprising a boot to be fitted over the horse's hoof, having a wedge shaped sole that is angled by 20° toward the front; The purpose is accomplished by the boot in conjunction with three opportunely shaped removable soles, and a cryotherapy reservoir of flexible material, that is inserted into the boot and connected to an external device for refrigeration by circulation of a fluid.

A dynamically rigged load distributing system for an equestrian saddle including several load-bearing sections positioned upon flexible inner side panels to be incorporated in the saddle. Several line guides are fixed respectively to the sections. One or more load distribution lines pass through the guides, and loop around free-running pulleys of the stirrup hanger system. A new stirrup hanger bat includes cliverter pulleys and cooperates with a pulley block to transfer loads through the load-distribution lines to the load-bearing sections around the saddle. A girthing system for the saddle includes webbing attached to the sections so as to depend therefrom and receive ends of girth straps whereby load is transferred to the sections on each side of the saddle.

Disclosed is a horseback riding animal and article carrier attachable to a horse saddle. The device comprises a housing having upstanding sidewalls, a plurality of securement straps and an elastic contact pad. The housing is an open enclosure having upstanding sidewalls, a base and an open upper to support a pet or a plurality of personal items therein. Along the underside of the base and extended along a forward side of the housing is a contact pad that bears against a horse croup and the backside of a horse saddle cantle. An upstanding, horizontal and diagonal strap are provided along the sides of the housing connect to a saddle strap connectable to a saddle girth along both sides of the horse. The straps are length adjustable to tension the straps and draw the housing toward the horse and the saddle during use.

A saddle latigo strap is threaded to secure a saddle. A body portion of a saddle latigo is looped through a permanent saddle rigging. A first end of the saddle latigo having a tapered portion is inserted through a second end. Notches of the body portion are engaged with holes of the first end to secure the saddle.

A bitless bridle with double cross under reinstraps for riding, driving, and training horses and similar animals that achieves improved control, comfort, and communication with the animal. The bridle is composed of a solid crownpiece that bifurcates, after a brow band attachment, into a cheek strap and an elongated reinstrap. The cheek strap connects to two nosebands which have solid rings attached to each end. The elongated reinstraps cross under the horse's jaw and pass through the first set of rings then cross under the jaw a second time and pass through the second set of rings to continue back to the rider's hands. Pulling on a single reinstrap applies pressure to the horse's nose and poll causing it to turn in the direction pulled. Pulling on both reinstraps cinches the noseband in place, causing the horse to slow down or stop.

An adjustable equestrian saddle and adjusting and reinforcing system for adjusting an equestrian saddle to permit the saddle fit several sizes of the back and withers of one or more horses, wherein the adjusting system comprises a plurality of reinforcing members having different angular dimensions with the saddle having a headplate for interchangeably receiving the reinforcing members.

A head covering that protects a dog or other animal against the intrusion of harmful things or elements such as insects, foreign matter, and weed seeds, which can enter the animal's ears, eyes, or nose and cause discomfort or damage.

An adjustable equestrian saddle and adjusting and reinforcing system for adjusting an equestrian saddle to permit the saddle fit several sizes of the back and withers of one or more horses, wherein the adjusting system comprises a plurality of reinforcing members having different angular dimensions with the saddle having a headplate for interchangeably receiving the reinforcing members and a lid to have access to the reinforcing members.

A joint-supporting device comprises tensile members extending from above the joint to below it, supplementing the tensile characteristics of the joint's tendons, ligaments, and other structure. The tension members extend between a proximal cuff above the joint to a distal cuff below it, and pass over a pad at the apex of the joint, redirecting the tension members. In order that the cuffs are supported in position so that the tension members can effectively support the joint, they are spaced away from the joint by compression members bearing on proximal and distal bolsters, in turn located positively by the boney structure of the joint. In order that the structure of the invention not interfere overly with the normal function of the joint, the device employs dilatant materials having the property of varying their hardness upon motion. The dilatant material is disposed so as to limit the relative angular velocity of the members of the joint. The dilatant material can be disposed in pad form, arranged to be compressed by the tensile members as the joint is extended, and/or as the core of a composite tensile member, sheathed in a cover woven of high tensile strength filaments or yarns.

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.

A horse boot assembly includes: a boot body shaped to accommodate a hoof of a horse, a fastening device associated with the boot body for fastening the boot assembly onto the hoof, and an adapter. The adapter is compressed against a rear part of the hoof upon fastening of the fastening device.

A trigger arrangement for an animal training apparatus, the trigger arrangement including a fluid pump having a pump actuator, the pump including an inlet and an outlet and a sound emitter configured to be actuated by the pump actuator, wherein actuation of the pump pumps fluid from the inlet to the outlet accompanied by a simultaneous emission of sound from the sound emitter.

An insect repellent compound that includes naturally occurring oil that emits an odor which repels insects is described. The compound is not harmful to animals, to humans or to the environment. The compound may be incorporated into materials such as yarn that is woven to form a mesh. The material may be used for making an animal mask, for screen doors and other applications. A method of making the compound and incorporating it into materials and products is described.

A seat support device for a riding animal or a pack animal, a saddle tree, and a saddle with such a saddle tree. The seat support device comprises a right multi-linked lug arrangement with a first link section and at least a second link section and a left multi-linked lug arrangement with a first link section and at least a second link section. A pivoting device with a pivot axis is each formed case between two adjacent link sections, so that two adjacent link sections are pivotable towards one other around a pivot axis substantially within a pivot plane which penetrates the pivot axis substantially perpendicular.

Methods and apparatus for recording and retrieval of optically readable data employ a recording medium (100) which comprises an optically active material (108) able to induce a change in properties of the medium in the presence of optical radiation having a first characteristic, such as a first optical frequency, and wherein the change in properties can be inhibited by optical radiation having a second characteristic, such as a second optical frequency. During recording, a region of the recording medium (100) is irradiated with a first beam (506) of optical radiation having the first characteristic, the beam having a sufficient intensity within a central portion of the irradiated region and being of sufficient duration to cause an optically induced change in properties of the recording medium. Simultaneously, the region of the recording medium (100) is irradiated with a second beam (508) of optical radiation having the second characteristic, the second beam having a local intensity minimum within the central portion of the irradiated region, and a local intensity maximum in at least one portion of the irradiated region adjacent to the central portion which is sufficient to inhibit the optically induced change in properties of the recording medium. A similar method is employed for retrieval, however the intensity of the first beam (506) is reduced to prevent changes in material properties within the recording medium (100).

An apparatus includes a slider of a recording head comprising a plurality of electrical bond pads coupled to bias sources and a ground pad. Each of a plurality of electrical components of the slider is coupled to at least one of the electrical bond pads. At least one of the electrical bond pads is a shared electrical bond pad coupled to at least two of the electrical components. At least one diode is coupled to at least one of the electrical bond pads and at least one of the electrical components.

An apparatus includes a waveguide that delivers energy from an energy source, a write pole located proximate the waveguide at a media-facing surface, and a near-field transducer located proximate the write pole in a down track direction. The near-field transducer includes an enlarged portion and a peg extending from the enlarged portion towards the media-facing surface. The peg comprises a taper facing away from the write pole, and the taper causes a reduced down track dimension of the peg near the media-facing surface.

A method and apparatus for detecting tightness of a pick-up head, and a method and apparatus for controlling the moving of the pick-up head are disclosed. The method for detecting the tightness of the pick-up head includes moving the pick-up head to an inner area of the disc reading device when then disc reading device is powered on, moving the pick-up head to an outer area of the disc reading device within a predetermined time period, moving the pick-up head from the outer area of the disc reading device to the inner area at a constant speed by a first fixed force, and recording the moving duration for moving the pick-up head from the outer area of the disc reading device to the inner area at the constant speed.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for monitoring components in a library by tracking the movement of library components. By tracking the movement of library components, the degradation of library components can be monitored and the reliability of library components determined, allowing unreliable components to be bypassed or replaced, enhancing the reliability of the library and preventing data loss.

According to one embodiment, a failure prognosis device includes circuitry configured to determine whether a sign of failure exists in a head, based on a signal quality value and a floating quantity of the head, the signal quality value being based on an error between a reproducing signal acquired from the head when reading data stored on a storage surface of a disk and a predetermined target signal, and output a determination result.

A main pole has a front end face including a first end face portion and a second end face portion. A plasmon generator has a near-field light generating surface. A surrounding layer has a first surrounding layer end face and a second surrounding layer end face located on opposite sides of the first end face portion in the track width direction. A gap film has a first gap film end face and a second gap film end face located on opposite sides of the near-field light generating surface in the track width direction. Each of the first and second gap film end faces includes a portion located between the first and second surrounding layer end faces, but does not include any portion interposed between the first surrounding layer end face and the first end face portion or between the second surrounding layer end face and the first end face portion.

Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a HAMR head. The HAMR head includes a main pole, a waveguide and a NFT disposed between the main pole and the waveguide. The NFT includes an antenna, and a portion of the antenna is disposed at a media facing surface. By increasing the volume of the antenna extending from the MFS, the temperature of the NFT during operation is reduced.

Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to contact at the disk by the recording head in a hard disk drive. In one embodiment, a direct current is applied to an element in a HAMR head. An alternating current is then applied to the element over top of the direct current to cause the HAMR head to dither. By monitoring the head signal at the dither frequency, a touchdown or contact of a NFT on a disk may be detected based upon variations in the produced signal.