Improvements in and connected with Harness.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 2nd May, 1896-Accepted, 6th June, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Harness.
We, GEORGE GRAY DUNCAN of 54 Marchmont Road, Edinburgh, Commercial
Traveller, and JOHN BRODIE Junior of 42 West Port, Dundee, Clerk, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Under this invention the ordinary buckle arrangement usually used for securing
and tightening harness is done away with and a key and stud attachment is used
in lieu thereof.
The invention is specially adapted to the back and belly bands and shaft loops
but it is also applicable to the breechings, traces, and other parts of harness.
The key and stud attachment consists, in the case of a shaft loop, of a curved
piece of metal somewhat of the shape of the ordinary leather loop but which does
not, preferably, form a complete ring. This loop is attached, at one end, to the
back band by a movable stud which can be passed up through a slotted hole
cut in the leather of the band, and then locked in position; at the other end,
the loop is provided with a tang or flap piece which passes round three sides of the
back band and is secured in place by a key which is passed through slotted holes
cut in the loop and also in the leather of the band. The key has a head on it so
arranged that by turning the key the loop piece can be readily locked to the back
band or unlocked from it. When the key is turned to the locked position a catch,
secured to its end by a link, is capable of being caught into the movable stud
aforesaid and locking it.
To prevent the key falling out, when released, it is held by a suitable catch. A
number of slotted holes are made in the back band at regular intervals apart so
that if it is desired to shift the shaft loop all that is necessary is to unlock the key
and stud and then push the metal loop up or down the band to the holes at the
position desired when the key and stud are again locked.
The back band and the belly band are, preferably, made separate and the belly
band is, or may be, secured to the back band by a flattened strip of metal having
a key and stud locking device similar to the shaft loop aforesaid. The belly band
has also a number of slotted holes in it.
In the cases of traces the metal strip with its key and stud device is applied
edgewise and a spring catch is also provided for retaining the key in position when
locked.
The leather bands at the wearing parts are, or may be, made of single ply leather
with brass, aluminium, or other metal face plates and the edges can also be wired
or have wires embedded in them for durability.
When face plates are used the slotted holes can be lined with metal by merely
cutting flaps to form the sides of the holes out of, say, the under face plate and
then pressing these flaps into place at the sides of the holes. Like flaps are cut out
of the top plate to form the top and bottom lining pieces of the holes and then
pressed into place. In this manner the holes are prevented from tearing readily.
The shaft loop or metal pieces can be cast in steel, iron, brass, or other metal
and can be nickel plated, japanned, enamelled or otherwise covered to give a nice
appearance.
Dated this 1st day of August 1865.
10%
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.

page_text: the V's on the spring arms of the handle and on the end of the key, the
handle is prevented from jumping or rising up out of its position on the stud i.
When it is desired to unlock the band call that is necessary is to catch the
handle h and force it upwards and, at the same time, turn it and the key e partially
round so as to bring the recess k away from and free of the bolt i. The key e can
now be pulled back so as to release the back band whereupon the lower end of the
band is pulled off the stud b.
As will be seen this arrangement gives a very secure double lock to the back
band.
When it is desired to shift the shaft loop all that is necessary is to unlock the
key and stud and then push the metal loop up or down the band to the holes at the
position desired when the key and stud are again locked.
If desired the back band and the belly band can be made separate and be secured
together by a flat plate provided with a key and stud locking device similar to that
of the shaft loop. The belly band would of course also have holes in it for the key
and stud to enter.
In the case of traces a device such as shown at Figs. 5 and 6 may be used. This
device consists of a loop having a key m which can be passed down through
oles in the loop and through the loop of the trace and be then held in place
by a ring n which fits over the handle o of the key. Fig. 5 shows the device
Locked and Fig. 6 shows it open.
The leather bands, at the wearing parts, are, or may be, made of single ply
leather with brass, aluminium or other metal face plates and the edges can also be
wired or have wires embedded in them for durability.
When face plates are used the slotted holes can be lined with metal by
merely cutting flaps to form the sides of the holes out of, say the under face plate,
and then pressing these flaps into place at the sides of the holes. Like flaps are
cut out of the top plate to form the top and bottom lining pieces of the holes and
then pressed into place. In this manner the holes are prevented from tearing
readily.
The shaft loop or metal pieces can be made or cast of steel, iron, brass or other.
metal and can be nickel plated, japanned, enamelled or otherwise covered to give a
nice appearance.
The key and stud device can be made in various shapes and forins without
departing from the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
consider novel and desire to claim is :-
1. A shaft loop having a key and stud device for locking the band thereto,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. A shaft loop made of metal and provided with a key and stud locking device
made substantially as hereinbefore described and shown on the drawings annexed.
3. A key and stud locking device, such as shown adapted to a shaft loop at
Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings annexed, for securing the parts of harness.
Dated this 1st day of May 1896.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.