Improvements in or relating to Shaft Tugs of Harness.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 24th May, 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Shaft Tugs of Harness.
I, ANDREW LOTHIAN MACLACHLAN, of 530, Main Street, Melrose, in the State
of Massachusetts, Harness Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:--
This invention consists of improvements in or relating to shaft tugs of harness.
Heretofore, the shaft tugs or loops of harness carried by the backband and
through which the shafts of vehicles pass and are supported, have been formed of
leather straps placed back to back and sewn together in any convenient way.
When made in this form, the said tugs or loops are not so durable as is desired,
though the attempts to strengthen tugs made in this manner, such for instance
as by giving extra thickness at the part upon which the shaft bears, have tended
to make them more durable.
This invention however, consists in making tugs by placing a number of pieces
of leather, or other suitable material, one on top of another till the desired thick-
ness is reached and then by means of a double knife, operated by any suitable
means, the leather or the like, is cut into rings of the shape required, the central
hole or opening being approximately circular and the outside of the tug or loop
oval in shape.
The said rings may be secured together by nails, sprigs, pins or the like
driven in by any suitable means either after or before the cutting operation.
The buckle may extend over each side of the tug and have a bolt passing com-
pletely through the latter,, the tongue or lever for engaging the backband being
pivotted on the said bolt, sufficient play being provided centrally in the tug for
it. Or one edge of the tug may be suitably recessed or undercut for such buckles
as have no pivot bolt; in the latter case it may be desirable to strengthen the
tug where so undercut, by placing a metal plate thereover, extending from each
side and over the periphery of the tug.
The D ring or loop through which the backband also passes may be pivotted or
otherwise attached to the tug in any desired manner whether formed of metal or
leather.
Improvements in or relating to Shaft Tugs of Harness.
I, ANDREW LOTHIAN MACLACHLAN, of 530, Main Street, Melrose, in the State
of Massachussetts, Harness Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
[Price 8d.]

page_text: invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention consists of improvements in or relating to shaft tugs of harness.
Heretofore, the shaft tugs or loops of harness carried by the backband and
through which the shafts of vehicles pass and are supported, have been formed of
leather straps placed back to back and sewn together.
When made in this form, the said tugs or loops are not so durable as desired,
though the attempts to strengthen tugs made in this manner, such for instance as
by giving extra thickness at the part upon which the shaft bears, have tended to
make them more so.
This invention however, consists in forming the tugs by placing a number of
rings or sections of leather, or other suitable material, one on top of another till
the desired thickness is reached, the central hole or opening being approximately
circular and the outside of the tug or loop oval in shape.
The said rings or sections may be secured together by nails, sprigs, pins or the
like driven in by any suitable means either after or before the cutting operation.
The buckle may extend over each side of the tug and have a bolt passing com-
pletely through the latter, the tongue or lever for engaging the backband being
pivotted on the said bolt, sufficient play being provided centrally in the tug for
it.
The D ring or loop through which the backband also passes may be pivotted
or otherwise attached to the tug in any desired manner whether formed of metal
or leather.
The invention will be fully understood upon reference to the drawing accom-
panying this specification.
Figure 1, shows a ring or section preferably of leather, a number of such rings
or sections being secured together to form my improved tug.
Figure 2 is a ring or section with a part cut away at its top edge.
Figure 3 is a cross vertical section showing a series of rings or sections rivetted
together.
Figure 4 is also a cross vertical section being similar in all respects to Figure 3
but with two additional or outside rings or sections attached, and a buckle also
fitted thereto.
Figure 5 is a face view of a complete tug or loop ready for the buckle and
Dloop to be fitted.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a complete tug with a combined buckle and
Dloop fitted.
Figures 7 and 8 are plan and side elevations respectively of
Figure 9 a perspective view of a leather D loop or pipe, hereinafter referred to
metal D loop and
The rings or sections A and B (see Figures 1 and 2) are cut out of the side
of leather by knives of the well-known kind in any suitable way, such as by the
use of a press for instance.
After a desired number of such rings or sections A and B have been cut, a
number of them are placed together with one of the rings or sections of the
B shape (see Figure 2) placed in the centre.
The part cut away at B1 is to allow for the required amount of movement of the
buckle tongue B2 (see Figures 4 and 6). In tugs of a larger size and width where
a stronger buckle and tongue would be used two or more rings or sections B
would be necessary for the buckle tongue. After the desired number of rings or
sections A and B have been placed together (excepting the two outsides) they
are rivetted or otherwise secured by rivets C which are driven into position
approximately as shown by the dotted circles in Figure 5.
The partly finished tug is now ready for the two outsides A¹ to be attached by
driving rivets through so as to give the appearance shown in Figure 5, the
rivet heads or equivalent which secure the outsides A¹ in position being exposed
to view, or the said outsides may be secured by means of blinders E as shown on
the right side of Figures 3 and 4. By using the said blinders E for the two

page_text: outsides a much neater appearance and finish is given to the tug, as the said
outsides are driven on to the spikes E which become embedded in the outsides
without showing through in any way.
The buckles may be attached to the tugs by a pin G, (see Figure 4) rivetted in
the buckle F or instead of the pin G a screw with a countersunk head at one end
and threaded at the other, may be used, the tongue 132 being placed in position.
and the pin or bolt passed through the loop B3 formed on its bottom end.
The said buckle may either have combined therewith the D loop F for keep-
ing the backband in position or a D loop, such as shown in Figures 7 and S
may be attached to the tug by a rivet or equivalent H passing through a hole H¹
see Figure 5.
Instead of using a metal D loop as just described a leather loop or pipe J (see
Figure 9) may be rivetted on the tug for the same purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A harness tug formed of leather rings or sections rivetted or otherwise
secured together substantially in the manner specified and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.