IMPROVED DEVICES TO BE ATTACHED TO DRIVING REINS TO FACILITATE THE HANDLING OF THE SAME
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine, Lake
and Co Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
'IMPROVED DEVICES TO BE ATTACHED TO DRIVING REINS TO FACILITATE
THE HANDLING OF THE SAME Communicated to him from abroad by Louis
"
. Nevière, of Paris, France
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th February 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVED DEVICES TO BE ATTACHED
TO DRIVING REINS TO FACILITATE THE HANDLING OF THE SAME." [A com-
munication to him from abroad by Louis Nevière, of Paris, France.]
This invention relates to devices to be attached to horses' reins and permitting
of supporting, holding in, or checking, and guiding the horses and consequently
avoiding their falling and injury. These devices or rein-holders can be adapted to
all kinds of reins for driving, with one hand, one or more horses.
The said devices are made of metal, ivory, or wood which may be ornamented if
desired, and they are sometimes covered with velvet, satin, or other suitable
material, or they are painted
In carrying the said invention into practice, one of the improved devices is
constructed as follows, that is to say, I provide a crescent-shaped piece having four
rounded faces (say 25 centimetres long), terminating in two wedge-shaped ends of
the same width as the middle portion, The centre of the crescent-shaped piece is
about 2 or 3 centimetres in thickness. The device forms therefore a kind of
bridge-piece with side walls and having at the central point a stud or prong upon
which fit the reins of one or of two horses; the reins are placed, and will be retained,
on this stud by means of a hole formed, by a round or oval punch, in each rein, at
the place where they are ordinarily held by the hand, When they are thus fixed
in the said device the reins are retained by a lid or clasp forming the fourth face of
the crescent-shaped piece. The lid turns upon suitable hinges. The rein holder is

page_text: held by one hand with the extremities of the crescent pointing outwards, and
turned towards the horses, This apparatus can be used for four horses by
arranging the four reins therein, care being had to insert first the reins of the two
front horses.
If it is desired to drive three horses abreast a strong ring is fitted on the middle
of the crescent-shaped piece; this ring is held by a cord or chain; the rein of the
middle or shaft-horse is fitted in this ring and then the reins of the two other
horses are placed in the device as above described.
The said lid can be dispensed with if desired, in which case the apparatus will
have only three rounded faces, and the stud or prong is provided with a small
catch or stop. The said stud and catch or stop are fixed to the apparatus by a
metal washer and screw-nut.
Instead of arranging a single central stud or prong, two studs or prongs are
sometimes provided one at each end of the apparatus. The reins are pierced with
oval holes and placed upon the said studs and the catches are turned.
For driving four, five, or six horses in two rows, I employ a double rein-holder
having a single lid for the two parts, and at the upper part the side walls carry
curved pieces. If the apparatus is to be employed for five or six horses, one or two
rings are attached by chains to the two parts of the apparatus. The reins are
fixed upon studs, or prongs as above described.
Another device for use in driving four, five or six horses, is constructed as
follows, that is to say, I employ two crescent-shaped pieces so combined that, in
making a sharp turn, the front horses or "leaders" perform a circuit proportionally
greater than that performed by the shaft-horses. These two parts are placed one
above the other at a distance of from 6 to 10 centimetres apart and connected by
two cramps of the same material as the apparatus. These cramps are united by a
handle and are sufficiently strong to resist any shock which may be produced. If
it is desired to drive five or six horses with this apparatus, one or two rings are
fixed as above described.
I sometimes provide within the said cramps a rod capable of being lengthened or
shortened according to circumstances, to adjust the reins of the front horses or
leaders with those of the shaft-horses. If it is desired to drive six horses in three
rows, three of the crescent shaped pieces are arranged one above another and the
middle piece then serves as a handle.
In some cases the aforesaid lid or clasp is formed with an aperture to receive the
end of the stud or prong.
The said devices may be of any desired form or dimensions and made of iron,
copper, nickel, or other suitable material,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th August 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVED DEVICES TO BE ATTACHED TO
DRIVING REINS TO FACILITATE THE HANDLING OF THE SAME A communication
to me from abroad by Louis Nevière, of Paris, France
"
This invention relates to devices to be attached to horses' reins, which devices
permit of supporting, holding in, or checking and guiding the horses and
consequently avoiding their falling and injury. These devices or rein-holders can
be adapted to all kinds of reins for driving, with one hand, one or more horses.
The said devices are made of metal, ivory or wood which may be ornamented if
desired, and they are sometimes covered with velvet, satin or other suitable
material or they are painted.
In order that the said invention may be more readily understood I will describe,
by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, different forms of
rein-holders constructed according to the said invention for one or more horses.
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 represent different views and sections of one form of
rein-holder.
a is a crescent-shaped piece having four rounded faces (say 25 centimetres long),
terminating in two wedge-shaped ends b of the same width as the middle portion;
The centre c of the crescent-shaped piece is about 2 or 3 centimetres in thickness.
This device forms therefore a kind of bridge-piece with side walls and having at
the central point a stud or prong d upon which are fitted the reins of one or of two
horses; the reins are placed on this stud by means of a hole formed, by a round or
oval punch, in each. rein, at the place where they are ordinarily held by the hand:
When they are thus fixed in the said device the reins are retained by a lid-òr
clasp e forming the fourth face of the crescent-shaped piece. The lid turns upon
the hinges x, x, Figure 3, in which the clasp is assumed to be open. -The
rein-holder is held by one hand with the extremities of the crescent pointing
outwards, and turned towards the horses.
•
This apparatus can be used for four horses by arranging the four reins therein,
care being taken to insert first the reins of the two frout horses.
If it is desired to drive three horses abreast, a strong ring f is fitted on the
middle of the crescent-shaped piece and on the concave side; the said ring being
secured by a cord or chain; the rein of the middle or shaft-horse is fitted in this
ring fand then the reins of the two other horses are placed in the device as above
described.
The said lid or clasp e can be dispensed with if desired, in which case the
apparatus will have only three rounded faces, and the stud or prong d is provided
with a small catch or stop g Figure 6. The said catch or stop g is fixed to the
apparatus by a metal washer and screw-nut fitting upon a pin projecting therefrom.
Instead of arranging a single central stud or prong, two studs or prongs h, h,
are sometimes provided, one at each end of the apparatus as shown by dotted lines
in Figure 2. The reins are pierced with oval holes and placed upon the said studs
and the catches are turned to retain them thereon.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 represent a device serving for driving four, five, or six horses
in two rows; this device consists of a double rein-holder having a single lid k for
the two parts, and at the upper part the side walls carry curved pieces i, i. If the

page_text: apparatus is to be employed for five or six horses, one or two rings are attached
by chains to one or both parts of the apparatus at the middle of the crescent-shaped
piece. The reins are fixed upon studs or prongs m, m as above described.
Figures 10, 11 and 12 represent another device for use in driving four, five or
six horses, two crescent-shaped pieces are so combined that, in making a sharp
turn, the front horses or "leaders" perform a circuit proportionately greater than
that performed by the shaft-horses. These two parts n, n, are placed one above
the other at a distance of from 6 to 10 centimetres apart and connected by two
bars or rods o of the same material as the other parts of the apparatus. These rods
are united by a handle p and are sufficiently strong to resist any shock which may
be produced. If it is desired to drive five or six horses with this apparatus, one or
two rings are fixed as above described.
I sometimes provide within the said bars or rods a rod capable of being
lengthened or shortened according to circumstances, to adjust the reins of the front
horses or leaders to suit those of the shaft-horses. If it is desired to drive six
horses in three rows, three of the crescent-shaped pieces are arranged one above
another and the middle piece then serves as a handle.
In some cases the aforesaid lid or clasp is formed with an aperture to receive the
end of the stud or prong.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 13 and 14, a bar A of suitable length and
thickness is provided with two rims or flanges a¹, a¹ which correspond in height
with the reins. The said bar is formed with a screw-threaded hole binto which fits
a screw B the head of which is of the same diameter as the said rims or flanges.
The flat parts of the reins for the horse or horses are pressed against the two rims or
flanges; the screw B is passed through an aperture formed in the reins and is
screwed into the bar A until the said reins are firmly secured.
The device represented in plan and side elevation in Figures 15 and 16 is
composed of a handle C each extremity of which is made in the shape of an open
jaw O through the centre of which a screw c is passed; the flat sides of the reins
are placed between the two parts of the jaw and the screw is inserted, thereby
firmly securing the reins.
The device shown in Figures 17 and 18 comprises a handle D terminating at
each end in a projecting edge or jaw E, in the form of a truncated oval and having
a cavity of suitable height to permit the introduction of the reins therein, these
reins being fastened by means of a screw passing through the said jaw and through
the reins.
Figures 19 and 20 represent a device composed of a handle F having at each
extremity a hook or jaw in which the reins are placed and are fastened by means
of a screw passing through one side of the jaw and through the reins, and screwing
into the other part of the jaw.
The devices shown in Figures 21, 22, 23 and 24 are formed with truncated
extremities similar to those of the apparatus shown in Figures 17 and 18, the
handle being dispensed with and a removable handle of wood, cane or metal is
substituted therefor, if desired; this handle is fitted to the apparatus by means of
an open ring or clamp formed at the lower part of the said apparatus. The handle
is introduced into the said ring; the screw with which the same is provided is
screwed firmly in pressing its two ends together, and the reins are then inserted as
above described.
The said devices may be of any desired dimensions and inade of iron, copper,
nickel, or other suitable material.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my.
foreign Correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it
understood that I claim.
The above described improved devices to be attached to driving reins for one or
more horses and formed of one or more crescent-shaped pieces to provide an easy
grip for the hand, the extremities of which pieces are directed toward the horses,

page_text: the reins being held by means of a stud or prong and a catch or a lid or clasp,
with or without the addition of a ring for driving a horse placed in the middle
when three horses are driven abreast.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my hand
seal this fourth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
W. ROBT, LAKE (L.S.)