IMPROVEMENTS IN HARNESS
Year: 1885

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
:
:
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I WILLIAM POWELL of Merthyr Tydvil in the County of Glamorgan, Saddler dó
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARNESS
to be as follows:-
My invention relates in the first place to an improvement in the drop link hook
used in connecting the bit and rein to the head part of the bridle described and
claimed in my invention for which Letters Patent were granted to me bearing
date 23rd June 1882 N° 2988.
Whereas it has been found in practice that the drop link of the said drop link
hook may become insecure either from carelessness of fastening or from a movement
of the horse, now this part of my invention is to adapt and apply a spring so as to
secure the return of the drop link to its position for closing the drop-link-hook.
And is effected by means of a tongue spring fastened to the outside short end of
the hook, and passing under this end it is carried up through the drop link in such
a manner as to press it upon its upper side and thereby to hold it in position as
required: A suitable stop may also be applied to the cheek of the bit for the
support of the drop link.
And my invention relates in the second place to an improvement in the "shaft
tag" now employed.
Owing to the shifting of the back strap by the upward movement of the shaft
against the "shaft tug" the tongue of the buckle fastening this strap to the "shaft
tug" is liable to become opened by the buckle tongue being pulled down because
the strain is upon this part. Now my improvement is to cause a strap continuation
of the "shaft tug" to meet the girth, instead of fastening the girth to the back
strap thus causing the strain upon the "shaft tug" to be directly downwards
instead of lateral, or at an angle and by this means preventing the opening of the
tongue of the buckle as beretofore, by bringing such tongue firmly against the fore
part of the buckle.
A further advantage from this improvement is a facility for releasing the horse
if required, by disconnecting the back strap from the "shaft tug" at either.side.
Ú 1662

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I WILLIAM POWELL of Merthyr Tydvil in the County of Glamorgan Saddler do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HARNESS"
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My Invention relates in the first place to an improvement in the "drop-link-
hook" used in connecting the bit and rein to the head part of the bridle described
and claimed in my Invention for which Letters Patent were granted to me bearing
date 23rd June 1882 N° 2988.
7
Whereas it has been found in. practice that the drop link of the said " drop-link-
hook "
may become insecure either from carelessness of fastening or from à
movement of the horse, now this part of my Invention is to adapt and apply a
spring so as to secure the return of the drop link to its position for closing the
"drop-link-hook." And this is effected by means of a tongue spring fastened to
the outside short end of the hook and passing under this end it is carried up
through the drop link in such a manner as to press it upon its upper side and
thereby to hold it in position as required. A suitable stop may also be applied to
the cheek of the bit for the support of the drop link.
And my Invention relates in the second place to an improvement in the "shaft
tug" now employed.
Owing to the shifting of the back stap by the upward movement of the shaft
against the "shaft tug," the tongue of the buckle fastening this strap to the "shaft
tug" is liable to become opened, by the buckle tongue being pulled down, because
the strain is upon this part.
i
Now my improvement is cause a strap continuation of the "shaft tug" to meet
the girth instead of fastening the girth to the back strap, thus causing the strain
upon the "shaft tug" to be directly downwards instead of lateral, or at an angle,
and by this means preventing the opening of the tongue of the buckle as heretofore,
by bringing such tongue firmly against the fore part of the buckle.
A further advantage from this improvement is a facility for releasing the horse
if required, by disconnecting the back strap from the "shaft tug" at either side.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will describe it more particularly by the aid of the accompanying Drawings,
in which are represented the parts of harness above referred to,
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig: 1 shews in elevation the curb or bit part of a bridle provided with the
above mentioned "drop-link-hook" closed by a spring.
Fig: 2 Is an end view of figure 1.
Figures 3 and 5 Are side views of the "shaft tug" and fig: 4 is a front view of
fig: 3.
A in figures 1 and 2 is the hook portion of the " drop-link-hook" B the drop 4
link and C the spring to close the same. A suitable stop D is also shewn in
figure 1 as applied to the cheek of the bit for the support of the drop link B,

page_text: In figures 3. 4 and 5 E is the portion of the "shaft tug" which encircles the
shaft, is the back strap and G is the strap continuation of the "shaft-tug" to
meet the girth instead of fastening the girth to the back strap. The said strap
continuation of the "shaft tug" may either be made rigid as shewn in figure 5 or
it may be jointed by means of a link as shewn in figures 3 and 4 or further play
may be given to this strap continuation by means of a suitably arranged metallic
loop capable of moving along the inside of the shaft loop E, but this arrangement
would have the objection that it might cause lateral pressure against the horse.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First: The mode or method by which the "drop-link-hook" is secured by
means of a spring arrangement and a stop for the link to rest upon, substantially
as herein before described.
And secondly. The mode of arranging the "shaft tug" so as to prevent the
opening of the buckle tongue used for fastening such tug by the back strap, by
causing the strain to be directly downward and by the same arrangement affording
a facility for releasing the horse if required, substantially as herein before described.