IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACE-HOOKS
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Otto Lampe at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th October 1883.
OTTO LAMPE Engineer in the City of Hamburg Germany "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TRACE-HOOKS "
This Invention relates to certain Improvements in disengaging trace hooks and
has for its object to release traces from the swipe instantaneously without
necessitating in any case to the backing of the horse or the moving of the carriage
or cart towards the horse For this reason the invention is very useful in cases
where fallen horses have to be released from heavy carriages omnibuses or heavy
loads or waggons of any kind.
This improved trace hook that is by means of a boss or other suitable arrange-
ment attached to the end of a swipe has at its front end a turnable nose or beak
that fulcrums on a bolt or pin attached to the body of the hook The eye or ring
of the trace is thrown on to this nose when the latter is in open position after
which the nose is turned back so far that its point rests on the body of the hook
or until this point comes near enough to the body so that the eye or ring of the
trace cannot slip out in which position a spring catch engages the prolonged hinder
end of the nose and locks the latter so that it cannot open except by manipulation
The spring catch consists of a double armed lever that fulcrums on a bolt
attached to the body of the hook and that is partly embedded in a recess formed
at the bottom side of the hook.
The front end of this lover acts like a catch that enters into a groove of the
hinder end of the nose or beak when closed, while the back end of the lever that
projects somewhat from the body of the hook is formed in shape of a finger or

page_text: handle by which it can be pushed upward against a spiral or flat spring placed
between the body and back end of the lever
This spring keeps the locked lever in position
For opening the nose and disengaging the hook from the trace the finger must
be pushed upward in consequence of which the front end of the locking lever moves
downward and unlocks the nose or beak which latter can now be turned and be
thrown over the front part of the hooks body after which the eye or ring of the
trace will slip out of the nose
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Otto Lampe in the Patent Office on the 5th April 1884.
OTTO LAMPE Engineer in the city Hamburg Germany
TRACE HOOKS
"
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My invention relates to trace hooks which are so constructed that the traces
may be instantaneously released from the swipe or wiffletree without being
obliged to back the horse or to move the carriage or vehicle towards the horse.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Fig 1 is a side view partly in section of a trace hook constructed according to my
invention showing the hook closed; Fig 2 is a side view of the same, showing the
hook open. Fig 3 is a top view of the hook and one end of whiffletree to which
it is attached. Fig 4 is a like view to Fig 1 but showing a slight modification
Similar letters of references indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
This improved trace-hook, which is, by means of a screw-clamp, m. or other
suitable means, attached to the end of a whiffletree S has at its front end a movable
nose or beak A, which is pivoted by a bolt or pin p to the body or stock B of the
device. The eye or ring of the trace is placed over this nose A when the latter is
in an open position, as shown in Fig 2, after which the nose is turned back so far
that its point rests on the body of the hook as shown in Figs 1, 3 and 4 or until
this point comes so nearly to the body that the eye or ring of the trace cannot slip
out, in which position a spring catch or trigger D, vh engages the backwardly
prolonged base of the nose A and locks the latter, so that it cannot open
accidentally. The spring catch consists of a double-armed lever, D which is
partly received in a recess provided in the under side of the body B and which is
fulcrumed thereto on a pin v secured in said body. The said lever D extends
longitudinally of the body and its front end forms a catch which enters into a
notch e in the hinder end of the prolonged root or base of the nose or beak A. when
the latter is closed, whilst the back end of said lever D that projects somewhat
from the body of the device, is formed into a trigger or handle by which it can be
pushed upward against a spiral or flat spring h, placed between the body B and
the upper side of the lever D.
This spring keeps the locked lever in position and keeps the hook in a closed
condition as shown in Figs 1, 3 and 4.

page_text: For opening the nose and disengaging the hook from the trace, the trigger or
handle must be pushed upward, in consequence whereof the front end of the
locking lever D moves downward out of the notch e and unlocks the nose or
beak A, which latter is now free to turn and be thrown over the front part of the
body B after which the eye or ring of the trace will slip over the nose and off
the hook.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said invention,
I claim:-
The combination of the body or stock B provided with a recess in its under side
the nose or beak A pivoted in the body or stock and provided at its rear end with
a notch e, the double armed catch lever D and a spring arranged between body
and said lever substantially as and for the purpose herein described and shown by
the drawings.
In Witness whereof I the said Otto Lampe have hereunto set my hand and
seal this second day of April in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and eighty-four.