Improvements in and relating to Dog Muzzles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 1st May, 1894-Accepted, 2nd June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Dog Muzzles.
I, JOHN DONALDSON POTTIE, of 63 Love Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire,
Veterinary Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as
follows:-
This invention bas reference to and comprises a new or improved mode and
means of constructing dog muzzles, whereby an attendant can with bis one hand
hold the dog, and with his other hand manipulate and secure the muzzle over the
dog's head in a simple and expeditious manner.
The improvements essentially consist in constructing the muzzle in two or more
movable sectional parts which can be operated by one hand, to open and close like
jaws, and be secured over the face or head of the dog.
In carrying these improvements into practice under one arrangement, the muzzle
would be constructed in two longitudinal main segmental parts, preferably loosely
hinged or jointed at the one end, and free to open up like jaws at the other end.
Each of these main parts would be formed with a central longitudinal rib and a
series of semicircular or curved transverse strips or bridge parts secured to it at
distances apart to form side guards on the face or head of the dog, and which may
be strengthened by longitudinal strips at their free ends, these parts being
preferably made of sheet metal or wire, to form when combined together a conoidal
or tapering shaped muzzle. The narrow jointed end of these two main parts would
have a hand operating instrument portably secured to them, preferably at the
longitudinal ribs, by a socket, clip or other joint, so as to open or close the broad
jaw end of the muzzle when placing it over a dog's head, and which can afterwards
be portably detached from the muzzle. The operating instrument may be made in
the form of two hand levers secured at their one end to the longitudinal ribs of
muzzle, and crossing each other diagonally and jointed together by a screw or pin
near their centre, so as to form and work like scissors or shears in opening or
closing the two main parts of muzzle from or towards each other. Or the portable
instrument may be made in form of a bow or blade spring at its outer end and le
operated by compressing the two parts towards each other; and in either case
blades or shields would be secured to the instrument or to the front of muzzle to
prevent the dog biting the hand of the attendant when the muzzle is being placed
over the dog's head. The broad opening jaw end of muzzle when placed over the
neck of dog would have its two parts secured together by a strap or by clips, and
may be formed as semicircular hoops padded on the inside. And a funnel shaped
spout may be formed on or fitted near the front end of muzzle-frame for pouring
medicine down the dog's throat when required.
Dated the 21st T... 1902
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Dog Muzzles.
I, JOHN DONALDSON POTTIE, of 63 Love Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire,
Veterinary Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement in writing, that is to say :-
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved mode and
means of constructing dog muzzles, whereby an attendant can with his one hand
hold the dog and with his other hand manipulate and secure the muzzle over the
dog's head in a simple and expeditious manner.
The improvements essentially consist in constructing the muzzle in two or more
movable sectional parts which can be operated by one hand to open and close like
jaws, and be secured over the face or head of the dog.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings in which the same reference letters are
used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figures 1 and 2 are elevations of modified constructions of my improved muzzle
as formed of wire and fitted with hand operating instruments, and Figure 3 shows
the same as formed of metal.
Figure 4 is a detached view showing an adjustment which may be fitted on to
the outer end of the muzzle shown in Figure 3 to suit for varying sizes of dogs.
Figures 5 and 6 are elevations of modified forms of my improved muzzles
without the operating instruments, and Figure 7 a detached view showing the clip
fastening used in the muzzles shown in Figure 6; and Figure 8 shows an elevation
of a muzzle similar to that shown in Figure 6, but secured by a strap.
Figures 9 and 10 are an elevation and plan showing a modified form of the
muzzle shown in Figure 3 to make it collapsible or fold into small space convenient
for being carried in scabbard by constables and others.
Referring to these drawings:-In carrying these improvements into practice
under one arrangement, the muzzle would be constructed in two longitudinal main
segmental parts a a' free to open up like jaws.
Each of these main parts would be formed with a central longitudinal rib a a¹
and a series of semicircular or curved transverse strips or bridge parts & secured to
it at distances apart to form side guards on the face or head of the dog, and which
may be strengthened as shown in Figures 1 and 2 by longitudinal strips these
parts being preferably made of wire as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or of sheet metal
as in Figure 3, to form when combined together a conoidal or tapering shaped
muzzle.
The narrow jointed end a² of these two main parts a a' would have a hand operating
instrument portably secured to them, preferably at the longitudinal ribs, by a
socket, clip or other joint so as to open or close the broad jaw end of the muzzle
when placing it over a dog's head, and which may afterwards be portably detached
from the niuzzle.
The operating instrument may as shown in Figure 1, he made in the form of two
hand levers c, e secured at their one end to the longitudinal ribs of muzzle by a pin
or other joint at or forming part of these ribs a a' as in Figure 3, and crossing
each other diagonally and jointed together by a screw or pin near their centre at ³
so as to form and work like scissors or shears in opening or closing the two main
parts a a¹ of muzzle from or towards each other.
Or the portable instrument may as shown in Figure 2 be made in the form of a
bow or coiled spring at its outer end e and be operated by compressing the two
parts c c towards each other; and in either case blades or shields would be secured

page_text: to the instrument or to the front of muzzle to prevent the dog biting the hand of
attendant when the muzzle is being placed over the dog's head.
After embracing the dogs face the two parts a a¹ would be portably secured to
each other by suitable fastenings such as swivelling hooks on the one part
entering eyes on the other part as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
The broad opening jaw end of muzzle when placed over the neck of dog may
have its two parts secured together by a strap or by clips, and may be formed as
semicircular hoops padded with india rubber or other soft material on the inside.
Figure 4 shows a conoidal or tapering shaped extension B which can be portably
shipped on to the end of the muzzle shown in Figure 3 and be fixed at any desired
extended position by pinching screws B', so as to make this suitable for catching
and muzzling various sizes of dogs.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 9 and 10 the transverse curved arms bare
made to swivel on centre pins or rivets 6" so that when not required for use they
can be swivelled round to the collapsed position shown in Figure 10, convenient
for being placed in a scabbard or wallet.
Figures 5 to 8 show forms of my improved dog muzzles without operating
instruments.
In these constructions the two main parts a a¹ are hinged together at a" at the
mouth end.
In Figure 5 the rear band a³ is formed in two semicircular parts one secured to
each of the longitudinal ribs a, a', and jointed at their ends by hooks and
eyes 6,2 1,3
In Figure 6 the band a³ is formed in one piece with or secured to the longitudinal'
rib a', and its hooked ends 6 clipped into eyes 6³ formed on the end of the other
longitudinal rib a as shown in the detached view Figure 7.
In Figure 8 a strap C is threaded through eyes at the end a³, so as to secure the
muzzle round the dogs ueck by a buckle at C¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
First. The construction of dog muzzles with an operating instrument at the end
so that they can be opened up like jaws to embrace the head of the dog, and be
secured thereon, substantially as herein described in reference to and by way of
application shown in Figures 1 to 4, and 9, 10 of the accompanying drawings.
Second. The constructing of hinged or opening up dog muzzles in the improved
manner herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 30th April 1894.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.