Safety Breeching Hook for all kinds of Harness.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 24th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Safety Breeching Hook for all kinds of Harness.
I WILLIAM EDWIN MATTHEWS 9 Brookfield Place Ilfracombe Saddler and
Harness Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This hook is intended to be used instead of the ordinary buckle, and possesses
the following advantages:
1st. Preventing galls on the sides of horses, the trace working perfectly flat, and
no metal bearing upon the horse, the shaft of the hook (A) being encased in the
trace as shown in working drawing.
2nd. No holes being required in the trace, (as in the old method) greater safety
will be afforded on the road, the trace being much less liable to break.
3rd. There being two bearings to this hook, (against the single tongue of the old
style buckle) the breeching will have a double bearing and working perfectly
straight will render it almost impossible for the breeching to get loose or break.
4th. Consequent save of wear and tear in harness.
Dated this Seventh day of January 1891.
WM. EDWIN MATTHEWS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Safety Breeching Hook for all kinds of Harness.
1, WILLIAM EDWIN MATTHEWS of 9 Brookfield Place Ilfracombe in the
County of Devon, Sadler and Harness Maker, 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 consists of a hook, made in the form and for uses hereinafter
specified and more particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings which accompany this Specification
Fig. 1 shews a plan view of a pair horse breeching attached to the hook.
Fig. 2 shews a plan of a bearing tug with single hook and strap attached.
Fig. 3 shews a view in elevation of a double metal hook without loop attachment
intended for pair horse-breeching embodying my invention, to be used in place of
the ordinary collar buckle.
Fig. 4 shews a plan of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 shews a variation with metal loops a a attached to the plate of the hook.
a, a, are loops for bearing tug and false belly band. b, b, are loops for the breeching
point. c, c, are holes in plate to receive stitching.
Fig. 6 shews a plan view of the hook attached to a plate as used for bridle
cheek.
Fig. 7 shews a plan view of back of plate, shewn in Fig. 6 for bridle cheek.
Fig. 8 shews a screw countersunk into leather to attach plate to harness.
Fig. 9 shews a plan view of hook for shaft tug.
Fig. 10 shews an elevation of a hook with screw for screwing into plate instead
of being brazed welded or cast in one piece.
Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 shew plans of single hooks for various size
straps in cases where the hook is sewn between the leather.
Fig. 18 shews a view in elevation of single hook.
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page_text: Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 may also be made attached to metal plates
with loops as shewn in Figs. 5 and 6.
My invention relates first to the hook, and secondly to the means of attaching the
strapping to the hook. In carrying out my invention the plate of the hook
marked A may be sewn or rivetted between the top and bottom piece of leather
forming the trace or other parts of the harness, suitable holes being punched in the
upper portion to take the hooks. The points of all the hooks should be sloped
outward or upward and the heel sloped inward as shewn in Fig. 10. a', c¹ so as to
allow the straps to slip on and off more easily. The holes in the strapping (for
attaching strap to hook) should not be punched vertically, but sloping from point to
heel of hook. One end of the trace is fastened to the draft of the hame, and the
other into a chain with swivel and hook, whereby the trace can be lengthened or
shortened as desired by hook or buckle at its carriage end, or in other ways.
enables the ordinary collar buckles to be dispensed with and allows the trace and
breeching to work perfectly flat and straight, thus preventing sores to the horses
sides, often caused by the trace and breeching forming a bulge at the point of
connection with collar buckle. It also ensures greater safety, the harness being
much less liable to break for the following three reasons.
This
First. No large holes are required to be made with the tongue punch as in the old
method.
Second. No bend is needed in the leather to secure the hook as is necessary in the
old style to secure the buckle, thereby dispensing with the constant wear of those
parts by friction and the continual renewal of the same by "chapes."
Third. The breeching will be less liable to get loose or break by having a double
bearing and working perfectly straight. Similar beneficial results will be obtained
by the use of the single hooks in other parts of the harness. The single hook may
also be used for breechings when extra strength is not needed. The hook may be
used for any part of harness with the exception of top hame straps and girth of
saddle and pads. The hook may also be attached by the plate d, d, Fig. 3, or else-
where, being placed on top of strapping and secured thereto by means of rivets or
screws as shewn in sketch Fig. 7. In this case the plate may have the same width
as the strap. Wherever my improved hook is used the kink or bend in strap
resulting from use of ordinary buckle is obviated.
The strap works perfectly straight, thus giving a much neater appearance, and
also adding greatly to the strength of the straps.
I would have it understood that the use of this hook is not confined to harness, as
it may be used for other purposes where buckles are required. I do not restrict
myself to any particular method for the formation of the hook and plate which may
be cast forged, or brazed or screwed together nor do I limit myself to any precise
section or configuration of the metal of which the hook is formed, as the stem or top
may be flat, oval or round in section or may be stamped or swaged with an
ornamental pattern. The hook may vary in height or length to suit substance of
leather, and may be made separately to screw into the plate, as shown in Fig. 10,
and may be made with or without metal loop attachment. I would also not be
limited as to shape of loop as they may be made round or half round or flat as
shewn or in other ways.
I would point out that another advantage possessed by my invention is that it is
much easier cleaned than the old buckle when used with leather loops. When the
hook is used with screw attachment, as in Fig. 7, stitching is avoided thus saving
labour in the manufacture.
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. A single or double hook of the pattern specified, attached to a metal plates
substantially as and for the purposes stated, as herein described and set forth.

page_text: 2. A single or double hook and plate of the pattern specified combined with a
loop or loops, as herein described and set forth.
3. A. hook and plate with loop and screw attachment as shewn in Figs. 6, 7
and 8 as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 24th day of September 1891.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.