AN IMPROVED BUCKLE PLATE OR APPARATUS USED FOR ATTACHING AND, DETACHING HORSES WHEN IN HARNESS, OR FOR OTHER PURPOSES TO WHICH THE SAME MAY BE APPLICABLE
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Tomlinson, of Kegworth, in the 'County of
Leicester, Saddler and Harness Maker, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
BUCKLE PLATE OR APPARATUS USED FOR ATTACHING AND, DETACHING HORSES
WHEN IN HARNESS, OR FOR OTHER PURPOSES TO WHICH THE SAME MAY BE
APPLICABLE."
Sealed the 5th September 1861, and dated the 12th March 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Tomlinson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th March 1861.
.I, JAMES TOMLINSON, of Kegworth, in the County.of.Leicester, Saddler and
5. Harness Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for." AN
. IMPROVED BUCKLE PLATE OR APPARATUS USED FOR, ATTACHING AND DETACHING
HORSES WHEN IN HARNESS, OR FOR OTHER PURPOSES., TO, WHICH THE SAME MAY. BE
APPLICABLE," to be as follows:-
My improved apparatus is applicable to, saddle, carriage, or draught horses,
and can be used at the will or discretion of the rider, or driver, and consists of
a brass or other suitable metal plate, of a, circular or other convenient form;
around the edge of this plate project the loops of the buckles for, the traces
and other straps. On the outer. parts of the loops are hinged the tongues of
the buckles, the ends of the tongues pointing towards the centre. of the plate
are sometimes flattened out, and have a hole through them, in, which the point
of a bolt enters. In the centre, of the buckle Joop plate, is a pin,, on which a
plate turns, the plate having on its circumference as many bolts as there are
buckle loops, besides which there is a piece projecting from the circumference
which terminates in a stud, plain or ornamental. The, buckle loop plate-and

page_text: the bolt plate are covered on the side on which the bolt plate lies by a plain
or ornamental plate, which has portions cut out of its edge to receive the
pierced ends of the tongues, the tongues resting upon the springs secured to
the buckle loop plate. There is a slot in the covering plate, through which
the stud passes. The stud being moved a little on one side will release the
tongues of the buckles, and thus allow the traces or other straps to drop
through loose. There is a spring bolt in the slot of the cover plate, which is
drawn back just before a rein which is attached to the stud of the bolt plate
draws the bolts. When the buckle plate is used as a draw plate to be
attached to the shaft, it is attached by a swivel or a hinge, or by a strap
passing round the shaft and through a buckle loop. The bolts on the bolt
plate are so arranged that the back band may be attached before the other
straps.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Tomlinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th September 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
TOMLINSON, of Kegworth, in the County of Leicester, Saddler and Harness
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Tomlinson, Her special licence that I, the said James Tomlinson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
James Tomlinson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
BUCKLE PLATE OR APPARATUS USED FOR ATTACHING AND DETACHING HORSES 'WHEN
IN HARNESS, OR FOR OTHER PURPOSES TO WHICH THE SAME MAY BE APPLICABLE,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Tomlinson, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention; and in what manner the same was to be per-

page_text: formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Tomlinson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to an improved buckle plate or apparatus which is
applicable to saddle, carriage, or draught horses, and can be used at the will or
discretion of the rider or driver, and consists of a brass or other suitable metal
plate of a circular or other convenient form. Around the edge of this plate
project the loops of the buckles for the traces and other straps. On the
outer parts of the loops are hinged the tongues of the buckles, the ends of the
tongues pointing towards the centre of the plate are sometimes flattened out
and have a hole through them in which the point of a bolt enters. In the
centre of the buckle loop plate is a pin on which a plate turns, the plate having
on its circumference as many bolts as there are buckle loops, besides which
there is a piece projecting from the circumference which terminates in a stud
either plain or of an ornamental character. The buckle loop plate and the
bolt plate are covered on the side on which the bolt plate lies by a plain or
ornamental plate, which has portions cut out of its edge to receive the pierced
ends of the tongues, the tongues resting upon the spring secured to the buckle
loop plate. There is a slot in the covering plate through which the stud
passes, the stud being moved a little on one side will release the tongues of the
buckles, and thus allow the traces or other straps to drop through loose.
There is a spring bolt in the slot of the cover plate, which is drawn back just
before a rein which is attached to the stud of the bolt plate draws the bolts.
When the buckle plate is used as a draw plate to be attached to the shaft, it
is attached by a swivel or a hinge, or by a strap passing round the shaft and
through a buckle loop. The bolts on the bolt plate are so arranged that the
back band may be attached before the other straps.
Having thus set forth the nature of my said Invention I now proceed to
describe the manner of performing the same, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings.
Figure 1 is a sectional view of my buckle plate as if cut through at the
line A, A, of Figure 2, which is a front or top view of the plate, and consists of
a circular or otherwise shaped plate B, around the edge of which project the
loops C of the buckles for the-traces or other straps. On the outer parts of

page_text: .the loops are hinged the tongues D of the buckles; the ends of the tongues
pointing towards the centre of the plate are sometimes, flattened out and have
a hole through them in which the point of the bolt enters, there being as many
.bolts as there are buckle loops. In the. Drawing the bolt plate E is shewn
with three bolts, besides which there is a piece F.which terminates in a stud
.or other ornament. The loop-and bolt plates are covered.by.a third plate G,
having portions cut out of its edge to receive the pierced ends of the tongues,
the bolts resting upon the spring K. secured to the, loop plate. There is also a
, slot. in the covering plate through which the shank of the stud passes. The
stud end of the piece F forms a spring bolt catching upon a raised lip. I. on the
loop plate. The bolt plate is held in position by the spring bolt, a spring K
.interposing between the bolt plate and the covering plate. To the, stud a
.light rein is attached, a pull on which will draw the bolt plate partly, round,
.thereby releasing the traces or other straps. When the buckle plate is used
as a draw plate to be attached to the shaft it is attached by a swivel or hinge
or by: a strap passing. round a shaft and through a buckle loop. The bolts on
the bolt plate are so arranged that the back band may be. attached before the
other straps. In double harness. I use four buckle loops and bolts, the; back
band and belly band being attached to the two opposite loops and the traces or
other straps being attached to the other two. Where a pole is used two pole
strap loops are made to stand at right angles to. the face of the buckle plate,
the rein lying by the right side of the pole after passing through a small loop
or over a pulley.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
. manner the same may be performed, I declare that what I claim is the
_ arrangement and combination of parts forming my improved buckle plate.or
apparatus as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Tomlinson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
GEO. JON. ROBINSON,
.Patent Agent,
Nottingham.
JAMES TOMLINSON. (L.S:)