IMPROVE- MENTS IN BRIDLE BITS AND SNAFFLES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, CURT HÜBNER, mechanician, of 70, Alexanderstrasse, Berlin, in the Kingdom
of Prussia, Germany, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BRIDLE BITS AND SNAFFLES, to be as follows:-
These improvements relate to bridle-bits and snaffles, the cross-bars or mouth-
pieces of which are hollowed and provided with perforations, through which a horse
or other animal may suck the medicines or refreshments introduced into the
hollows, the salivary fluid dissolving the respective substance.
For the purpose of introducing medicines or refreshments into the hollows of
the mouth-piece various contrivances have been invented and patented for instance
a mouth-piece consisting of two halves, which are kept together by screws, the
loosening of which allows the two halves to be removed from each other for
inserting medicines between the same, or a central opening in the middle of the
cross-bar, for receiving the medicines, which opening can be closed by a screw-plug.
These hitherto known constructions have, besides their complication, the following
inconveniences. The refreshments or medicines, particularly with the latter
arrangement, can be introduced only in single separate particles, but not in
compact pieces, nor can the fluid medicines be introduced by means of a wet sponge.
Also the mouth and tongue of the respective animal are more or less affected by the
closing and fastening screws in consequence of the unavoidable friction.
Further the said constructions are appliable only to rigid mouth-pieces and not
to movable mouth-pieces provided with hinges.
The most important inconvenience however is, that the refreshments and
medicines can be introduced only after completely taking off the head-gear and not
during its use. The screws at the hollow cross-bar must be loosened by a screw-
driver after taking off the bead-gear; then the hollow of the bar is filled with the
medicines, the mouth-piece is closed again and the head-gear is put on again to the
animal. Besides the trouble of these different manipulations, it must be considered
that during the same the animal is perfectly liberated and brought out of habit and
is not in the power of his master. Owing to these inconveniences head-gears of
this construction are but little used.
The present improvements have for their object to remove these inconveniences.
In the drawing Fig. 1 represents a front view, Fig. 2 a side view with opened
hollows and Fio 3 a partial vertical section.

page_text: The parts gg of the cross-bar or mouth-piece are provided in the known manner
with hollows o o¹ and the sides are furnished towards the mouth of the animal, with
small perforations 8 8: For introducing the medicines these hollows o o¹ are
continued axially to the end of the mouth piece so as to terminate in pipe-sbape
and in consequence the medicines can be introduced without taking the mouth-
piece g g out of the mouth of the animal.
These pipe-shaped orifices can be closed by any suitable contrivance such as a
slide, cover valve or screw. In the drawing the closing is effected by a hinged
disc p or p¹.
By this arrangement the said drawbacks are entirely removed, for owing to the
absence of all screwing contrivances at the parts g g of the bit lying in the mouth
of the animal, any inconvenience and trouble-or-injury-to-the-animal,-while-using
the bit; is prevented.
Also it is possible to introduce the medicines and refreshments in compact form
viz as a cartridge filling entirely the hollow space of the mouth-piece g g¹.
The most important advantage however is the fact, that the cartridge can be
conveniently introduced from the saddle while riding and during the use of the
bridle-bit, therefore without taking off the head-gear.
It is evident, that these improvements can be applied to mouth-pieces of any
description, whether they are rigid and of one pieco or movable and provided with
binge-joints.

page_text: Improvements in Bridle Bits and Snaffles.
I, CURT HÜBNER, Mechanician, of 70 Alexanderstrasse, Berlin, in the Kingdom
of Prussia, Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
These improvements relate to such bridle-bits and snaffles, the cross bars or
mouth-pieces of which are hollowed and provided with perforations, through which
a horse or other animal may suck the medicines or refreshments introduced into
the hollows, the salivary fluid dissolving the respective substance.
For the purpose of introducing medicines or refreshments into the hollows of the
mouth piece various constructions have been invented and patented, for instance
a mouth-piece consisting of two halves, which are kept together by screws, the
loosening of which allows the two halves to be removed from each other for
inserting medicine between the same, or a central opening in the middle of the
cross-bar, for receiving the medicines, which opening can be closed by a screw-plug.
These hitherto known constructions have, besides their complication, the following
inconveniences. The refreshments or medicines, particularly with the latter arrange-
ment, can be introduced only in single separate particles, but not in compact pieces,
nor can the fluid medicines be introduced by means of a wet sponge. Also the
mouth and tongue of the respective animal are more or less affected by the closing
and fastening screws in consequence of the unavoidable friction.
Further the said constructions are applicable only to rigid mouth-pieces and not
to movable mouth-pieces, provided with hinges.
The most important inconvenience, however is, that the refreshments and
medicines can be introduced only after completely taking off the head-gear, and not
during its use. The screws at the hollow cross-bar must be loosened by a screw-
driver after taking off the head-gear; then the hollow of the bar is filled with the
medicines, the mouth piece is closed again and the head-gear is again put on to the
animal. Besides the trouble of these different manipulations, it is to be considered,
that during the same the animal is perfectly liberated and brought out of habit
and is not in the power of its master. Owing to these inconveniences, head-gears
of this construction are but little used.
The present improvements have for their object to remove these inconveniences.
In the drawing filed with the provisional specification Fig. 1 represents a front
view, Fig. a side view with opened hollow, and Fig. 3 a partial vertical section.
The parts g g of the cross bar or mouth-piece are provided in the known manner
with hollows oo', and the sides are furnished towards the mouth of the animal,
with small perforations 8 8. For introducing the medicines, these bollows o o¹ are
continued axially to the ends of the mouth piece so as to terminate in pipe-shape,
and in consequence the medicines can be introduced without taking the mouth-
piece g g out of the mouth of the animal. These pipe-shaped orifices can be closed
by any suitable contrivance, such as a slide, cover, valve or screw.
In the drawing
the closing is effected by a hinged disc p or p'.

page_text: By this arrangement, the said drawbacks are entirely removed; for owing to the
absence of all screwing contrivances at the parts g g' of the bit lying in the mouth
of the animal, any inconvenience and trouble or injury to the animal, while using
the bit, is prevented.
Also it is possible, to introduce the medicines and refreshments in compact
form viz, as a cartridge filling entirely the hollow space of the mouthpiece g g¹.
The most important advantage however, is the fact that the cartridge can be
introduced commodiously from the saddle, while riding, during the use of the
bridle-bit, therefore without taking off the head-gear.
It is evident, that these improvements can be applied to mouth pieces of any
description, whether they are rigid and of one piece or movable and provided with
hinge-joints.
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
In bridle bits or snaffles, a perforated cross-bar or mouth piece, provided with a
tubular opening or openings o, o extending through the sides of the bar and
adapted to be closed at the mouth, for the purpose of introducing into the said
anening'or Areninga medicines or refreshments from the sides without removing