Improvements in Horse Blankets or Covers.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 29th Sept., 1894
COMPLETE DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in Horse Blankets or Covers.
I JOHN HOPEWELL Junior of 129 Washington Street Boston Mass. U.S.A.
Manufacturer of Horse Clothing do hereby declare the nature of this 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 relates to and has for its object to increase the strength and
durability of horse blankets or covers.
Another part of this invention consists in a blanket or cover having a breast-
stay composed of two strong straps extended from the front ends of the blanket
backwardly and upwardly and over the back of the blanket down its sides, said
straps having co-operating with them suitable fastening devices which may be
engaged one with the other after the end of one strap has been passed under the
body of the horse and up along the other side of the blanket as will be described
to form part of a surcingle.
Another feature of my invention consists in a blanket or cover having its edge
strengthened by means of a strong rope enclosed in the overlapped edge of the
cloth or a binding at said edge.
Another feature of my invention consists of a horse blanket consisting of a
woven material strengthened by strong cords introduced into the warp and weft at
intervals and woven with other warp and weft capable of being napped more or
less, said large warp and weft threads adding vastly to the strength of the fabric
and being substantially concealed in the body of the woven fabric of which the
blanket is composed.
Fig. 1 of the drawing shows one of my improved blankets or covers upon a .
horse.
Fig. 2 shows the blanket or cover laid out flat and
Fig. 3 an enlarged section on the line a, Fig. 2 to show the rope for strengthening
the edge.
In the production of the horse blanket to be herein described I prefer to take
a woven material having enlarged cord warps a and wefts b inserted therein at
intervals and interwoven fibrous fronts which when napped or dressed substantially
conceal from view the stronger, and preferably jute or linen cord warp or weft.
In this way the blanket material may be thick and soft but yet very strong and
capable of resisting tearing in both directions.
The material A of the blanket or cover will be cut into shape and will then be
strengthened about its edge preferably by folding the material A over outwardly
as represented in Fig. 3 about a rope B and then I apply to the blanket by suitable
stitching a tape or stay b*.
At the front of the blanket I attach suitable breast-stays composed of two
strong straps cd they preferably being composed of woven material and I stitch
the same from the front edge of the blanket along over the blanket toward the
center of the back and I then extend the strap d far enough toward the edge of
the blanket to extend over the body of the horse and up to the other side of the
blanket and I provide the said strap with a suitable loop or device d' and I
preferable make the strap adjustable as to its length by means of a slide d 2.
The strap e started from the front of the blanket at the opposite side from that
where the strap d starts is stitched to the blanket back from the front and crossing
the back of the blanket goes down the opposite side, where it, in this instance is
shown as provided with a fastening shown as a snap c 2 with which may engage
the loon d

page_text: It is obvious, however, that the snap might be equally as well fastened to the
strap d and the loop d¹ to the strap c.
These two straps stitched to the blauket and extended backwardly over the
withers of the horse form not only a strong stay from the withers to the front of
the blanket to prevent the blanket from being torn at the shoulders, but said straps
also form parts of what I denominate the "main surcingle" by which the free
edges of the garment may be brought closely under the horse's body and held there
during use.
I have provided the blanket with an auxiliary surcingle strap e which is stitched
to the blanket and has at one end a loop e¹ and at its other end a suitable snap e 2
the auxiliary surcingle being adapted to be connected about the body of the horse
as represented in Fig. 1 of the drawing.
The blanket has a back strap from front to rear.
A blanket having the construction hereinbefore described is strengthened at
every available point and may be worn or used a long time without liability of
becoming torn, and the blanket may be fitted closely and snugly to the body of the
horse and retain its place whether the horse is standing or lying down or whether
standing or moving.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A blanket or cover having a breast stay composed of two strong straps extended
from the front ends of the blanket backwardly and upwardly and over the back
of the blanket down its sides, said straps having co-operating with them suitable
fastening devices which may be engaged one with the other after the end of one
strap has been passed under the body of the horse and up along the other side of
the blanket as described to form part of a surcingle.
2. A horse blanket or cover having its edge strengthened by means of a strong
rope enclosed in the overlapped edge of the cloth or a binding at said edge
substantially as described.
3. A horse blanket consisting of a woven material strengthened by strong cords
introduced into the warp and weft at intervals and woven with other warp and
weft capable of being napped more or less, said large warp and weft threads
adding vastly to the strength of the fabric and being substantially concealed
in the body of the woven fabric of which the blanket is composed, substantially as
described.
Dated the 13th day of August 1894.
THEO
MCKENNA,
17 & 18, Basingball Street, London, Agent.