An Improved Bridle.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 20th May, 1891-Accepted, 20th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Bridle.
I, JOHN PITT BAYLY, of 18 Fulham Place, Paddington, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communi-
cation to me from abroad by John Rafferty, of Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Inventor,) to be as follows:-
:--
This invention relates to bridles for horses or other animals, and has for its object
to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive combined bridle and check
device readily convertible for service with either an over-draw checkrein or a side
checkrein, and adjustable also to fit animals' heads of different sizes, the whole
making an elegant, light, and very substantial bridle structure.
The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations
of parts of the bridle and check, as hereinafter described.
Aside from its metal trimmings and bit, this improved bridle, excepting the
brow-band, is, or may be made practically of one continuous leather strap, and could
be made of one piece, were the hides or skins long enough for the purpose, and the
checkrein-strap made partly of the leather straps forming the bridle is stitched fast
to these bridle-straps, so that the whole structure of bridle and checkrein may
properly be said to consist, mainly, of one continuous piece made and arranged as
follows: I take a leather strap or band about as wide throughout as the crown-
strap of the bridle, and which may be made in two parts joined at the centre of the
crown-strap. From two points at the lower ends or sides of the crown-strap the
strap is split in two centrally lengthwise, thereby forming two long narrow straps.
The rear pair of these narrow straps are then cut off to proper length, and are
provided with a buckle and loop, and thus constitute the throat-latch of the bridle.
The front pair of these straps are extended downward and forward to form the
cheek-pieces, and the straps are then bent around or doubled upon themselves at
and within U-shaped cavities or openings of two clasps made alike, and to which
the rings of the bit are connected. From the clasps the two straps are extended
upward and toward each other to form the face-straps, which, when the bridle is
to have an overdraw-check, are held to each other by a clip device about at the
centre of the bridle, and from this clip the straps extend upward and diverge and
pass as overdraw-checkreins through adjustable loops or rings fixed in any approved
way to the crown-strap, and made to open to allow removal of the straps when
converting from an overdraw to a side check in a manner presently described.
From these loops the straps converge rearward, and are united at a suitable point
to the broad rear checkstrap or rein, having a perforated billet, allowing its
connection to the water-hook of the harness saddle or girth.
The brow-band of the bridle is looped at opposite ends around the throat-latch
straps aforesaid, and through eyes, fixed to the inner faces of metal trimmings or
escutcheons, to which are fixed two snap-hook loops, having spring-closed latches
which may be pressed open to place the straps into the snap-hooks when the
overdraw-check is to be converted into a side check device.
Dated this 20th day of August 1890.
J. P. BAYLY,
Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
"
An Improved Bridle..
I, JOHN PITT BAYLY, of 18 Fulham Place, Paddington, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communi-
cation to me from abroad by John Rafferty, of Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Inventor,) and in what manner the. same..is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
My invention relates to bridles for horses or other animals, and has for its object
to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive combined bridle and check
device.readily.convertible for service with either an overdraw check-rein..or a side
check-rein, and adjustable. also to fit animals' heads of different sizes, the. whole
making, an elegant, light, and very substantial bridle structure.
The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations
of parts of the bridle and check, all as hereinafter described and claimed..
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the figures..
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved combined bridle and check.
Fig. 2 is, an enlarged detail sectional plan view taken on the line in
Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a front or edge view of one of the clasps which connect the bridle-straps
with the bit-rings and partly broken away.
Fig. 4 is an inside face view of one of the two sections of the strap and bit-ring
clasp; and
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through the clasp on the line y y in Fig. 3, and
shows the bridle-strap in elevation.
Aside from its metal trimmings and bit my improved bridle, excepting the brow-
band, is or may be made practically of one continuous leather strap, and could be
made of one piece were the hides or skins long enough for the purpose, and the
checkrein-strap, made partly of the leather straps forming the bridle, stitched
fast to these bridle-straps, so that the whole structure of bridle and checkrein may
properly be said to consist, mainly, of one continuous piece made and arranged as
follows: Itake a leather strap or band about as wide throughout as the crown-
strap. A of the bridle, and which may be made in two parts joined at the centre of
the crown-strap. From two points a a at the lower ends or sides of the crown-
strap, the strap is slit in two, centrally lengthwise, thereby forming two long
narrow. straps. The rear. pair B B of these narrow straps are then cut of
to proper length, and are provided with a buckle band loop b', and thus
constitute the throat-latch. of the. bridle. The front pair of these straps are
extended downward and forward to form the check-pieces C C₁, and the straps are
then bent around or doubled upon themselves at c d and within U-shaped cavities
or openings of two clasps HH, made alike, and as presently described, and to, which
the rings of the bit I are connected. From the clasps. H H.the two straps. are
extended upward and toward each other to form the two face-straps D D¹, which
when the bridle is to have an over-draw. check, are held to each other by a clip
device J about at the centre of the bridle, and from this clip the straps extend
upward and diverge and pass as overdraw-checkreins through adjustable loops o
rings K K, fixed in any approved way to the crown strap A, and made to open o
allow removal of the straps E E' when converting from an overdraw to a side chec
in a manner presently described. From these loops K K the straps E E¹ converg
rearward and are united at e to the broad rear check strap or rein F, having
perforated billet f, allowing its connection to the water-hook of the harness saddl
or girth. (Not shown in the drawings.)
The clip J is made preferably of one piece of somewhat elastic metal, which ma

page_text: be opened to allow removal of it from the straps D D when converting the bridle
from an overdraw to a side check. I prefer to lap the ends of the clip onto each
other and pass a screw j through them into a threaded hole in the rear of the clip,
and whereby, when the screw is loosened, the clip may be adjusted to converge the
face and overdraw straps at the most advantageous place to present the best
appearance on a horse having a larger or smaller head, and when the clip is thus
adjusted by slipping it along on the straps the screw is tightened to securely
clamp them. The clip is bent or shaped to conform as nearly as possible to the
shape of the straps, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The loops or rings KK
are of my own design, and consist, substantially, of two open rings, one fitted for
rotation on the other to allow opening of them, as shown at the right-hand loop, to
withdraw the checkreins E E' or allow their insertion at pleasure.
The brow-band G'of the bridle is looped at opposite ends g g around the throat-
latch straps B Band'through eyes 11, fixed to the inner faces of metal trimmings
or escutcheons L L, to which are fixed two snap-hook loops M M, having
spring-closed latches in m, which may be pressed open to place the straps E E
into the snap-hooks when the overdraw-check is to be converted into a side-check
device.
The bridle-clasps H are peculiarly made with two halves / h, preferably having
a semicircular cross-section and cast or pressed into a general U-form. (Clearly
shown in the drawings.) Each of these parts of the clasp is provided at its centre
and lower middle portion with an open eye or ring h', which rauges about at right
angles with the main body of the part h, and at its shank near the point of
connection with the body is provided with a lateral slanting or tangential shoulder h²,
against which the bevelled or inclined end ³ of the open eye or ring h', of the
opposing part of the clasp is adapted to lock in such manner that the two
rings of both parts hh will together form a complete smooth round eye H',
which receives a bit-ring of the bridle. The ends of the two limbs of the clasp
halves or portions hh are tapered at * and screw-threaded at 1 next the taper,
and onto these threads are adapted to be screwed a pair of milled nuts H² H²,
which have tapering outer ends, which crowd upon the tapered extremities /* of
the two halves of the clasp, and thereby bind them securely upon the bight cof
the bridle-straps, from which the cheek and face straps C D extend. When the
retaining-nuts H2, are thus applied, the interlocking shoulders and extremities h³
coact to prevent a separation of the lower rounded portion of the divided main body
of the clasp. To assume a perfectly-tight clamping of the bridle-strap by the clasp,
their tapered extremities are bevelled off or back a little from the general plane
of the joint between the main body parts of the clasp, as shown in Fig. 3 of the
drawings, wherein the nut H2 is partly broken away for this purpose.
It will be noticed that by simply removing the nuts H2 from the split bodies of
the clasps the latter may easily be separated to allow them to be adjusted on
bights ee of the bridle-straps produced farther from or nearer to the crown-strap A,
whereby provision is made for lengthening or shortening the bridle to suit animals
having longer or shorter heads, and the screw j of the face-strap clip J will then
be loosened to allow it to be adjusted at a new place to assure the best set of straps
on the face of the animal, and this adjustment of the clip J may be made at any
time should it be desired to readjust the set or range of the face straps should the
bridle already be of proper length between the crown-strap and bit.
Fig. 1 of the drawings shows the bridle, with the straps D D₁E E' adjusted in
the clip J and loops KK for service as an overdraw-check. To readjust these
straps to serve as a side check, it is only necessary to disengage the billet from
the water-hook and remove the clip J, and then open the loops K K and lift the
straps E E therefrom and slip them into the snap-hook loops M M, and then
remove the clasp-nuts H2 and separate the two clasps H H and turn the bights
of the straps half way around and reapply the clasps, leaving the straps C to the
front and the straps D to the rear to avoid crossing the straps or twisting the clasps,
and the strap F may then be connected to the water-hook, and the bridle then has
C C

page_text: a complete side-checkrein device.
These operations may readily be reversed
in order to again reconvert the bridle to provide it with the overdraw-check
device.
I much prefer to give the bridle and check-straps B B, C C, D D', and E E¹ G
a rounded form where possible; but this is not essential, as the clasps H and clip J
may be shaped to fit straps of flat, square or any other cross-sectional form, as will
readily be understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A bridle made with cheek and face pieces of each side formed in one con-
tinuous strap connected with the crown-strap, combined with bent or U-shaped
divided clasps holding the straps at their lower bends or bights, substantially as
herein set forth.
2. A bridle made with the check and face pieces of each side formed in one
continuous strap connected with the crown-strap, combined with U-shaped divided
clasps holding the straps at their lower bends or bights, and a bit held to the clasps,
substantially as herein set forth.
3. A bridle made with the cheek and face pieces of each side formed in one
continuous strap connected at one end to the crown-strap and extending rearward
at the other ends to form a check-rein, combined with clasps engaging the lower
bends or bights of the straps and a bit held to the clasps, substantially as herein
set forth.
4. A bridle made with the cheek and face pieces of each side formed in one
continuous strap connected at one end to the crown-strap and extending rearward
at the other ends to form a checkrein, combined with bent or U-shaped divided
clasps holding the straps at their lower bends or bights and a bit held to the clasps,
substantially as herein set forth.
5. In a combined bridle and check, the cheek and face pieces of each side formed
as continuous straps connected at one end to the crown-strap and extending rearward
at the other ends to form a check-rein, clasp devices holding the two straps at their
lower bends or bights, a bit held to the clasps, overdraw check loops and side loops
held to the crown-strap, and a detachable clip device adapted to the face straps,
substantially as described, whereby the bridle may be adjusted with an overdraw-
check or a side check, as set forth.
6. In a combined bridle and check, the cheek and face pieces of each side formed
as continuous straps connected at one end to the crown-strap and extending rear-
ward at the other ends to form a check-rein, bent or U-shaped divided clasps
holding the straps at their lower bends or bights, a bit held to the clasps, overdraw-
check loops and side loops held to the crown-strap, and a detachable clip device
adapted to the face straps, substantially as described, whereby the bridle may be
adjusted with an overdraw-check or a side-check and the strap-bights may be
readjusted in the divided clasps to prevent twisting of the straps when the overdraw-
check is changed to a side check, as set forth.
7. The combination, with a bridle and check, of a crown-strap A, throat-
latch B B, two continuous straps CDE and CD' E', connected to the crown
strap, a check-strap F, connected to the parts E E', divided clasps H H, clamping
the bights c c of the straps CD CD', a bit connected to the clasps, a brow-band G,
and side loops adapted to receive the straps E E¹ as a side checkrein device,
substantially as herein set forth.
8. The combination, in a bridle and check, of a crown-strap A, throat-latch B B',
two continuous straps C D E and C'D' E', connected to the crown-strap, loops K K
on the crown-strap, receiving the strap E E', a strap F, connected to the parts E E',
divided clasps H H, clamping the bights c c of the straps C D C¹ D', a detachable
clip J, held to the face straps D D', and a bit held to the clasps H H, substantially
as described, for the purposes set forth.

page_text: 9. In a bridle, the combination, with a crown-strap and connected continuous
straps forming cheek, face, and check straps and doubled-in bights cc, substantially
as specified, of divided clasps of U-form, placed on said bights and provided with
nuts at their extremities, substantially as herein set forth.
10. In a bridle, the combination, with a crown-strap and connected continuous
straps forming cheek face, and check-straps and doubled-in bights cc, substantially
as specified, of two-part clasps at said bights, provided at their extremities with
clamping nuts, and eyes connected to the clasp-bends to receive the bit, substantially
as herein set forth.
11. In a combined bridle and check, the combination, with a crown-strap and
connected continuous straps CDE C'D' E', forming cheek, face, and check-
straps, and bent or U-shaped divided clasps inclosing the bights cc of the straps,
of an adjustable and detachable clip, on the face-straps, substantially as herein set
forth.
12. In a bridle, the combination, with a crown strap and connected continuous
straps forming cheek, face, and check-straps and doubled-in bights cc, substantially
as specified, of bent or U-shaped clasps formed with two parts hh, each having an
open ring, a shoulder ², and a bevelled extremity ³, and detents holding the
parts together, substantially as herein set forth.
13. In a bridle, the combination, with a crown-strap and connected continuous
straps forming cheek, face, and check-straps and doubled-in bights ce, substantially
as specified, of clasps H, formed with two parts hh, each having an open ring,
an inclined shoulder 2, a bevelled extremity h³, and screw-threads h, and nuts H²,
run upon said threads, substantially as herein set forth.
1
1001
J. P. BAYLY,
Per P. W.