Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1888
Specification Accepted, 7th Sept., 1888
RESERVE
I, HARDY WEBSTER CAMPBELL, residing at the City of Racine, in the County of
Racine and State of Wisconsin, one of the United States of America, Gentleman,
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:-
:
My invention relates to improvements in Bridle-Bits and the objects of my
improvements are, first, to provide a bit that will prevent a horse from lugging, or a
bridle-bit to be used upon horses that are in the habit of carrying the bit with difficulty;
second, to provide a bit that will cure or prevent tongue lolling; third, to provide a
bit that can be used upon sore or tender mouthed horses with the best effect, and
fourth, to provide a bit that will subdue and hold the most vicious and unmanageable
of horses.
I attain these objects by a certain combination and arrangement of parts which will
be fully described and illustrated in this specification and the accompanying drawings
in which:
Figure 1, is a perspective view of the bit indicating the manner of attaching the
head stall and reins to prevent the horse from lugging the bit or lolling the
tongue.
Figure 2, is a perspective view of the bit indicating the manner of attaching
the head stall and reins when the bit is to be used upon sore or tender mouthed
horses.
Figure 3, is a similar view indicating the manner of attaching the head stall and
reins when the bridle is to be used upon vicious or unmanageable horses.
The bridle-bit is composed of two bars, A, A1, and the rings, B, B', and, C. The
bars, A, A, are curved, for the purpose of producing a perfect operation. If they
were made straight they would require a very great effort to operate them with a view
of being severe and when so operated, they would require a complete relaxation of the
reins, and some trouble besides to get them to assume their normal position in the
horses mouth. By being curved as shown they require little or no effort to operate

page_text: them upon vicious or unmanageable horses, and when so operated they assume their
normal position so gradually and gently as the reins are relaxed and without the
slightest difficulty. The bars, A, A, are arranged horizontally as shown and have
their alternate ends respectively protruding through the cross-bars, b,, of the
rings, B, and B', that is one of the ends of the bar, A, protrudes through the cross-
bars, 6, of the ring, B, and one of the ends of the bar, A', protrudes through the
cross-bars, of the ring, B¹.
The rings, B, B1, respectively, are pivoted to the alternate ends of the bars, A, A¹.
To each of the protruding ends of the bars, A, and, A¹, there is pivoted a smaller
ring, U.
The rings, B, and, B', are constructed exactly alike and they are formed with the
cross-bars, b, 61, which serve as a means for holding the bars, A, A', in position, and
prevent them from lying heavily upon the horses tongue. Said cross-bars also provide
a slot in which the bars, A, A', slide to and fro.
The rings, B, B', are also formed with the loop-holes, 62, 63, 6, 6, and the guard or
projection, . The projection or guard, 66, serves as a means of preventing the bit
from slipping through the horses mouth in the event of its being opened very wide.
When the rings, B, and, B', are made large enough it is unnecessary to use the
projection or guard, . I frequently find it advantageous to attach a curb in the
loop-holes, 5.
The purpose of the loop-holes, 63, 63, and, 64, will be fully explained hereinafter in
the mode of operation.
The best mode of operating-or using my improved bit is as follows: To prevent the
horse from lugging the bit, or tongue lolling, attach the head stall of the bridle and
the over-check of same in the loop-holes, 63, and, 63, respectively, and the reins of the
bridle in the loop-holes, &, all as shown in Figure 1. When the bit is secured in this
way the curved bars adapt themselves perfectly to the roof of the horses mouth and
form a cross which leaves the tongue entirely free under the bit while the crossed bars
prevent the horse from getting his tongue over it. The weight of the bit when in this
position rests upon the horses jaw and he is thereby relieved from carrying it upon his
tongue, which so frequently is calculated to fret and chafe a horse of nervous
temperament. To use the bit upon sore or tender mouthed horses attach the head
stall of bridle in the loop-holes, 2, and the bridle reins in the loop-holes, b, as shown
in Figure 2.
This provides a bit that is very mild and easy, so much so that it will almost
invariably cure a sore mouthed horse. To provide a bit for vicious and unmanageable
horses attach the head stall of bridle in the loop-holes, 62, and the reins in the rings, C,
this produces a bridle bit that is mild and easy when in its normal position, but can in
an instant be changed simply by drawing the reins into a bit of the greatest severity
and one that will hold and subdue any horse, especially if a curb is attached in the
loop-holes, 66
It can be readily seen that my invention is very practicable and simple as well as
most effectual in operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is -
1. In a bridle-bit the combination of the curved bars, A, and, A', the bar, A, having
the rings, B, and, C, and the bar, A', having the rings, B, and, O, the rings, B,
and, B, being formed with the cross-bars, b, and, b, and the loop-holes, 63, 63, 64, 6,
and the guard or projection, 6, the bars, A, and, A¹, having their alternate ends
protruding through the rings, B, and, B1, and the rings, B, B, and, C, pivoted to the
ends of the said bars all substantially as described and set forth.
2. In a bridle-bit the combination of the curved bars, A, and, A¹, the bar, A,
having the rings, B, and, C, and the bar, A', having the rings, B₁, and, C, the rings, B,
and, B, having the cross-bars, b, and, 61, and the guard or projection, 66, the bars, A,
and, A¹, having their alternate ends protruding through the rings, B, and B', and the

page_text: rings, B, B¹, and, C, pivoted to the ends of said bars, substantially as described and
set forth.
.
3. The combination of the curved bars, A, and, A', the bar, A, having the rings, B, C,
and the bar, A', having the rings, B¹, C, the bars, A, and, A', having their alternate
ends protruding through the rings, B, and, B¹, the rings, B, B', and, C, pivoted
to the ends of curved bars, substantially as described and for the purpose set
forth.