IMPROVEMENTS IN BRIDLE-BITS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake and Company Patent
Agents Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRIDLE-BITS" and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The main object of this invention is to construct a bridle-bit so that the animal
cannot possibly secure or maintain such a grip or hold upon it, between his jaws,
as to render it incapable of responding to the driving reins, and consequently
useless as a means of guiding, directing or controlling the animal by the driver,
which is practically the sole purpose for which the bit is used.
•
To this end the invention consists of a bridle-bit having a surface, or a series of
surfaces, preferably in the form of a roller or rollers or thimbles made of wrought
iron or steel, or other metal or material, and preferably one that is practically
unyielding or rigid, although other materials which are suitable therefor may be
used. The said rollers are adapted to roll or rotate under pressure from contact
with the jaws of the animal, but to exert no practical side pressure or force, because
of such pressure from, or contact with, the jaws of the animal, in the direction of
the length of the bit, or, in other words, transversely to or across the animal's jaws.
The said rollers may also be adapted and applied to the bit so that direct pressure
upon, or contact with, them can only be caused from one jaw of the animal,
substantially as hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section showing the most preferable construction
of the bit as to its rolling or moving surfaces, in accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 Figure 1.
Figures 3 and 4 are cross sections, similar to Figure 2 illustrating modifications.
A is the bit proper, carrying at its ends B rings C, to which the driving and
check-reins, are connected.
The bit A, Figure 1, is composed of two end-pieces B, a centre-piece D, and two
parallel rows of separate rollers E of ball shape.

page_text: 1
The rollers E are, preferably, of a material such as wrought iron, steel or other
metal or material, and preferably one that is practically unyielding or rigid,
although other materials which are suitable therefor may be used. The said
rollers are mounted upon separate parallel axial rods or shafts F, joining the end
and centre pieces B and D of the bit, and they fill the spaces between the end and
centre pieces, but they are all left free for separate rotation upon their respective
axial rods; and the rollers on the one have, preferably, no contact with those on
the other and parallel rod.
Again, these separate and parallel rows of rollers are arranged to present the
surfaces of one row for contact with the upper jaw, and the surfaces of the other
row of rollers for contact with the lower jaw of the animal, and, if desired, either
one or both rows of rollers may extend entirely along the length, from one end-
piece B to the other, of the bit.
A bit constructed as above described obviously presents to the adjacent jaw of
the animal a surface capable of rolling or rotating from contact with, or pressure
from, said jaw, alone and irrespective and independent of the pressure from, or
contact with, the other jaw of the animal, which may, at the same time, be exerted
upon the opposite surface of the bit which is also capable of rolling or rotating;
and the pressure upon or contact with the said rolling or rotating surfaces from the
jaws of the animal, as aforesaid, exerts no practical side pressure or force upon the
bit, that is, in the direction of its length. By this means it is rendered impossible
for the animal to secure or maintain a grip or hold upon the bit between his jaws,
sufficient to resist the control of the driver exerted through the driving-reins.
It is preferable to construct the bit with rolling or rotating surfaces on its
opposite sides, and to divide each of such surfaces into separate and distinct parts,
substantially as shewn in Figures 1 and 2, and as has been herein particularly
described. The same result, however, may be secured by providing the bit with a
continuous rolling or rotating surface on each side, or only on one side, as shewn in
Figure 3; or by providing its opposite sides, or only one side with a series of
balls G arranged to rotate or roll in sockets or cavities H of the bit proper, the
portions projecting from the sockets presenting convex surfaces to the jaws of the
animal, as shewn in Figure 4; the sockets H being shaped to sufficiently surround
the balls to secure them against escape. Again, if the bit is provided with a roller
or rollers, extending either continuously from end to end thereof, or along only a
portion thereof and between fixed end pieces, the roller or rollers may be adapted
at either end to turn in suitable bearing sockets or upon suitable bearing studs of
such end pieces, and in such case the carrying rods F may be dispensed with, and
the rollers may be made solid or tubular as may be desired.
The end pieces B and centre piece D of the bit, as shewn in Figures 1 and 2, are
joined by side bars or strips J attached to and forming a part of said ends and
centre, but these side bars are not absolutly necessary.
The axial shafts or rods for the rollers as shewn in Figure 1, have each a head a
at one end and a screw nut b at the other end, and pass through the end and centre
pieces of the bit; and all the parts are fastened together by tightening up the
screw-nuts 6 but the rods and the end and centre pieces may be attached together
in other obvious ways, as for instance, they may be rigidly instead of detachably
attached, as described.
This Invention consists substantially, of a bit, having on either or both of its
opposite sides, which in the use of the bit make contact with the upper and lower
jaws of the animal, a surface or preferably a series of surfaces, constructed and
arranged to rotate or roll under direct pressure from, or contact with, the jaw of
the animal only at such side of the bit, but to exert no practical side pressure or
force upon the bit that is, in the direction of its length; and it is not intended to
limit the invention in this respect to any particular form or construction or
arrangement of such a surface or surfaces, or to their application to either one
or to both sides of the bit.

page_text: The rollers of either of the parallel rows of rollers E may make contact, with
those of the other row, but such contact is not necessary and it is preferable not to
have it; and again rollers may be arranged in two series, one at each end of the
opposite ends or portions of the bit, one series being in position for contact with
and pressure from only the upper jaw, and the other in position for contact with
and pressure from the lower jaw of the animal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
First A Bridle-bit provided with a surface or surfaces practically unyielding,
and arranged and adapted for direct contact with, or pressure from, only one jaw
of the animal, and under such contact or pressure to be capable of rotating or
rolling without lateral pressure or force, that is, in the direction of the length of
the bit, or from side to side of the animal's mouth or jaws to any practical degree,
substantially as described for the purpose specified.
Second. A bridle-bit provided with surfaces practically unyielding and located
in separate and distinct lines or rows, the surface or surfaces of each line or row of
surfaces being arranged and adapted for direct contact with, or pressure from, one
jaw only of the animal, and under such contact or pressure to be capable of
rotating or rolling without lateral pressure or force, that is, in the direction of the
length of the bit or from side to side of the animal's mouth or jaws, to any practical
degree, substantially as described for the purpose specified.
Third A bridle-bit composed of end pieces B, and parallel rods F each carrying
rollers E, substantially as described for the purpose specified.
Fourth. A bridle-bit having a rolling or rotating surface or surfaces in and
along separate and distinct lines thereof, in combination with a bar or bars J
located at the side or sides of said separate and distinct lines of rolling or rotating
surface or surfaces, substantially as described for the purpose specified.
Fifth. A bridle-bit composed of end-pieces B, parallel rods F each carrying
rollers E, and bars J connecting ends B and at the side of parallel rods F and their
rollers E, substantially as described for the purpose specified.
Sixth. A bridle-bit composed of end pieces B and intermediate block D, in
combination with a rolling or rotating surface or surfaces between said end-pieces
and said block, substantially as described for the purpose specified.
Seventh. A bridle-bit composed of end-pieces B, intermediate block D and
parallel rods F each carrying rollers E, substantially as described for the purpose
specified.
Eighth. A bridle-bit composed of end-pieces B, intermediate block D, parallel
rods F each carrying rollers E, and bars J connecting the end-pieces B and inter-
mediate block D and arranged at the side of the rods F and their rollers,
substantially as described for the purpose specified.
Dated this 97th day of October 1885
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.