IMPROVE- MENTS IN CARRIAGES AND HARNESS FOR HORSES, AND IN THE MEANS OF ATTACHING HARNESS TO CARRIAGES
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Joseph Conrad Kleinfelder
and Charles Girardet at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 8th September 1860.
We, JOHN JOSEPH CONRAD KLEINFELDER, of Paris, in the Empire of France,
Merchant, and CHARLES GIRARDET, of Vienna, in the Empire of Austria,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CARRIAGES AND HARNESS FOR HORSES, AND IN THE MEANS OF ATTACHING
HARNESS TO CARRIAGES," to be as follows:-
This Invention applies to single and also to two-horse carriages, and to the
harness used therewith. The improvements relate, first, to a novel mode of
constructing the splinter bar, or that transverse bar of pair-horse carriages to
which the traces are attached, the object of this improvement being to facilitate
the attachment of the traces to the carriage, and their disengagement there-
from, and to ensure the collars of the horses bearing fairly and evenly against
their shoulders, whatever circumstance may arise to cause a side draught. In
carrying out this part of our Invention, the traces for each horse are joined
together at the hinder end, and passed round antifriction rollers carried by the
splinter bar or transverse bar, which we prefer to make hollow, so as to receive
the hinder part of the traces. When inserted in the hollow part of the bar,
the traces are secured in place by a suitable hinged cover. By putting the
drag of the traces on to antifriction rollers mounted on the splinter bar, a
certain amount of play will be given to the traces, thereby equalizing their

page_text: strain put on either end. For lengthening or shortening the traces we pierce
the straps with holes to receive studs, which we secure in place by notching
them, to receive the edge of a rotating button mounted on a sliding metal
clip.
Another improvement relates to the shafts of single-horse vehicles. The
shafts are made of wrought-iron tubing moulded to the proper form, and their
inner or butt ends are provided with a centre pin, which is inserted in an oval
hole made in the shaft sockets of the under carriage. The butt ends of the
shafts are provided with notches, which, when the shafts are lifted into a
vertical position, fit into corresponding notches made on the upper side of the
shaft socket, and by this means the shaft when placed in a vertical position is
prevented from accidentally falling down.
Another improvement relates more particularly to the harness, and consists
in a novel mode of constructing the tugs. They are formed of metal loops or
sockets, a portion of which is hinged so that it may be opened to admit of the
shaft being placed therein. When this has been done, and the tug closed, the
hinged part is secured and prevented from coming open accidentally by means
of a divided pin, which is made to enter a hole in the moveable part of the tug,
and thereby secure it to the fixed portion. The other part of the pin is made
to enter a hole in the lower part of the tug, and still further secure it.
Another improvement in the harness consists in the use of straps, which
are secured at one end to the tug or saddle, and after passing through an eye
or ring, are fastened by the other end to the shafts, by which means increased
play and ease is given to the crupper or rump strap when backing or going.
down hill.