Improvements in Sliding-mouth Bridle Bits.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 9th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sliding-mouth Bridle Bits.
We, JOSIAH WEDGE, Senior, and JOSIAH WEDGE, Junior, trading together
in copartnership as Wedge, Son and Denham, of Melbourne Works. Intown Row,
Walsall, in the County of Stafford, Harness Furniture Manufacturers, and
DANIEL WEDGE, of the same address, Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
A sliding-mouth bit, as heretofore usually constructed, is very liable to pinch the
lips of the borse or other animal in whose mouth it is placed between the ends of
the mouth butts and the shoulders at the ends of those portions of the cheeks of
the bit along which the mouth butts are capable of sliding; and this invention
has for its object to form the sliding attachment between the bit mouth and the
cheeks in such manner as to avoid any liability of the inconvenience above
stated.
According to this invention, the portions of the cheeks along which the ends of
the butts of the bit mouth slide are formed plain for the whole of the distance
along which the ends of the butts are capable of sliding, and for a sufficient
distance outwards therefrom to ensure that the lips of the horse or other animal
in whose mouth the bit is placed cannot be pinched between the ends of the butts
and any portions of the cheeks, and the sliding movement of the bit mouth is
stopped in each direction by means of projections inside the butts and shoulders
formed on the portions of the cheeks which are within the butts, or by means of
projections from such portions of the cheeks and of shoulders formed in the interior
of the butts. The shoulders may be formed upon the portions of the cheeks which
are within the butts simply by reducing for the required length the diameter of
such portions, or the shoulders may be formed within the butts by chambering out'
for the required length the openings through the butts. The distance between the
shoulders, whether the same are formed around the portions of the cheeks which
are within the butts, or are formed within the butts themselves, is of course such
as to allow of the desired end way movement of the bit mouth.
Dated this 9th dan of March 1904
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants..
Improvements in Sliding-mouth Bridle Bits.
We, JOSIAH WEDGE, Senior, and JOSIAH WEDGE, Junior, trading together
in co-partnership as Wedge, Son and Denham, of Melbourne Works, Intown Row,
Walsall in the County of Stafford, Harness Furniture Manufacturers, and
DANIEL WEDGE, of the same address, Clerk, 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 :-
A sliding-mouth bit, as heretofore usually constructed, is very liable to pinch

page_text: the lips of the horse or other animal in whose mouth it is placed between the ends
of the mouth butts and shoulders formed around those portions of the cheeks of
the bit along which the mouth butts are capable of sliding; and this invention has
for its object to form the sliding attachment between the bit mouth and the cheeks
in such manner as to avoid any liability of the inconvenience above stated.
According to this invention, the portions of the cheeks along which the ends of
the butts of the bit mouth slide are formed plain for the whole of the distance
along which the ends of the butts are capable of sliding, and the shape is continued
(or is not increased in diameter) for a sufficient distance outwards therefrom to
ensure that the lips of the horse or other animal in whose mouth the bit is placed
cannot be pinched between the ends of the butts and any portions of the cheeks,
and the sliding movement of the bit mouth is stopped in each direction by means
of projections inside the butts and shoulders formed on the portions of the cheeks
which are within the butts, or by means of projections from such portions of the
cheeks and of shoulders formed in the interiors of the butts.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, we will proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which
Figure 1 shews an elevation of a check of a sliding-mouth bridle bit, and a
section through the vertical centre of the mouth butt which is attached thereto in
the preferred manner of this invention.
Figure 2 is a corresponding view to Figure 1, but shews the mouth butt in
outside view.
Figure 3 is a section, taken at the level indicated by the line of Figure 1,
shewing the mouth butt previous to its being closed up around the vertical bar of
the cheek; aud
Figure 4 is a corresponding view to Figure 3, but shews the mouth butt to have
been closed up around the vertical bar of the cheek.
In Figures 3 and 4, the bit mouth is shewn as if the main portion of the length
thereof were broken away.
A portion a, of the required length, along the middle of the vertical bar 6 of the
cheek A, is reduced in diameter, as shewn, thus forming a shoulder d at each end.
A central projection c, formed preferably as a circular flange, is formed in the bore
or central opening through the mouth butt B; and this projection, by coming
against one or other of the shoulders d, forms a stop to the movement in either
direction of the butt. The butt B is of such length, or depth, as shewn, that neither
of the shoulders d can be exposed when the butt is in its extreme position upwards
or downwards.
The butt is formed of an enlarged diameter, and with an open gap e, as shewn
by Figure 3, as is usual in the manufacture of bridle bits, so that it may be passed
around the portion of the cheek with which it is intended to engage; it is then
closed up in the usual manner. The butts at both ends of the mouth are, of course,
similarly fitted to the cheeks.
A modification of the invention is shewn by Figure 5, which is a view corre-
sponding to Figure 1. According to this modification, a projection e, formed
preferably as a collar, is formed with the vertical bar b' of the cheek, and shoulders d'
are formed in the interior of the butt B', and clearance formed for the collar c', by
chambering out the middle portion of the bore or central opening through the
butt. One or other of the shoulders d', coming against the collar c', forms a stop
in either direction to the movement of the butt.
According to either modification above described of the invention, the distance
between the shoulders d or d', is of course such as to allow of the desired endway
movement of the butt, and consequently of the bit mouth.
It will be seen that, according to this invention, the means by which the
movement of a sliding bit mouth is stopped in each direction are entirely concealed,
so that it is impossible for such means to cause injury to the lips of a horse or other
animal in whose mouth the bit is placed.
In the illustrations, the "Liverpool" type of bit-cheek is shewn, simply by way of

page_text: example, the invention being applicable, as will be obvious, to sliding-mouth bridle-
bits generally.
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
claim is :-
1. A sliding mouth bridle bit the vertical movements of the mouth of which are
stopped by means which are concealed by the ends or butts of the mouth,.
substantially as described.
2. The means by which the vertical movements of the mouth of a sliding-mouth.
bridle bit are stopped in either direction, which consist of a projection of the
interior of each butt (or end of the mouth) or of the portion of each cheek around.
which a butt passes, and a pair of shoulders formed with each such portion of a
cheek or formed around the interior of each butt, the butts being of such length,.
or depth, in the case in which the shoulders are formed with the cheeks, that the
shoulders cannot be exposed in any position into which the butts can move,.
substantially as described.
3. Sliding-mouth bridle bits in which the butts (or ends of the mouths), and the-
portions of the cheeks which they surround, are formed and engage with one:
another substantially as described and shewn by the drawings herewith.
Dated this 8th day of December 1896.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants..