IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACE BUCKLES
Year: 1885

page_text: I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TRACE BUCKLES" (a communication from Ernest Kraft of Hamilton, in the Pro-.
vince of Ontario, Canada) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to improvements in trace-buckles, and the object is to
produce a trace-buckle for harness of horses, & that will securely clamp the trace
in the front of the tongue and prevent the tongue from tearing the leather, and
which will permit the trace to be adjusted or the buckle to be shifted on the trace
without removing the trace from the buckle or hame-tug loops; also, to facilitate
the manufacture of the buckles and their application to the traces.
The invention consists in the construction of certain details and arrangement of
parts, as will be more fully described hereinafter and specifically pointed out in the
claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of
reference marked thereon.
Like letters indicate similar parts in the different figures of the drawings,
in which
Figure 1, is a perspective view of this improved trace-buckle in its closed position
to connect the hame-strap and trace.
Figure 2 is an edge elevation of this improved trace-buckle, showing it thrown
open.
•
Figure 3 is a perspective view of this improved trace-buckle attached to the
trace and hame-tugs.
In the drawings, A. is the tongue plate, connected with the cross-bar c of the
lever C that is attached to the hame-tug B. The cross-bar c has its bearing in an
open socket a, on the tongue plate A, which socket is closed down in a cold state
on the cross-bar c, and forms a hinge. The tongue-plate A has at its opposite end
two journals b, which have their bearings in the lower sides of the frame D, and
they are formed also of open sockets, that are closed upon said journals in a cold
state and form binges. The frame D, has the side loops d for attaching the pad
Dia 1.11

page_text: strap and girth thereto. The trace E, is provided with a series of holes, into which
the stub tongue e cast on the tongue plate A enters when it is desired to adjust
the trace.
This trace is held to the hame-tug B, by loops G through which the end slides
and when the stub tongue e, is in place the lever C, brings the tongue plate tightly
down on it, so that when drawn upon it has perfect freedom of action and cannot
become jammed in the buckle. The wide bearing of the tongue plate A, on the
trace prevents it being bent or worn out by the strain on the tongue e.
When it is desired to shorten or lengthen the trace, the hame-tug is pulled back,
the trace moved forward, which raises the lever C, and withdraws the stub tongue e,
from the hole, the trace can be freely moved as desired, and the tongue e is allowed
to drop into any of the holes as required, or according to the length desired.
It will be thus seen that the trace always slides evenly in the buckle.
If desired, the bar K of the lever may be made separate from the lever, and can
be secured in the tug by a screw on each side, so that should it be broken said
bar could be easily replaced by a new one without the necessity of removing the
entire lever C.
It will be thus seen that this buckle has no springs or extra attachments in it.
It will suit any thickness of trace, as even a single strap can be used. The shape
of lever C in connection with the frame D, throws the tongue plate A closely
down, while in the buckles now in general use the tongue-plate is hinged on a bar
of the frame.
By forming the sockets on the frame D, a bar can be dispensed with to which
the tongue plate would be hinged.
Chain-links, snap-hooks, and similar articles have been provided with open
sockets which are closed in finishing the articles, and this is therefore not broadly
claimed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
1. In a trace-buckle, the combination with the lever C of the tongue-plate
having an open socket to form a hinge for the cross bar of such lever, substantially
as specified.
2. In a trace-buckle, the combination with the lever C, of the tongue plate
having an open Bocket to form a hinge for the cross bar of such lever, and the
frame D, having open sockets which are adapted to be closed after introduction
of the tongue-plate to form its journals, all constructed as shown and specified.
3. In a trace-buckle, the combination of the lever C, provided with the bar K,
at one end, and hinged to the tongue plate A, at its opposite end, with the
frame D, and arranged to raise and lower the tongue e in the manner shown and
set forth.
4. In the trace-buckle herein described, the combination of the lever C, attached
to the tongue-plate A, as shown with the frame D, to which the tongue-plate is
journalled, and the tongue e all constructed as and for the purpose specified.
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