Improvements in Appliances for Carrying and Releasing from Harness the Shafts of Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 12th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for Carrying and Releasing from
Harness the Shafts of Vehicles.
I, THÉODORE LOUIS LEFEBVRE, of Puteaux, (Seine), in the Republic of
France, Coachman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
:
This invention has for its object to provide an appliance whereby the shafts of
vehicles can be instantly secured to the harness or released.
To this end the appliance consists of two parts, one fixed to the shafts and the
other rendered movable, i.e. buckled to the collar strap. The fixed part is com-
posed of a box having at its lower portion an opening, which receives the said
movable part. To the upper portion of the said box is pivoted a lever having at
its outer end a ring, which receives a strap. The inner end of the said lever is
formed round and engages a bolt under the control of the said strap or the hand
direct, which bolt is forced back automatically partly by a spiral spring and partly
by a volute spring. The fixed part or box is closed in front by a plate having a
slot at each end. The aforesaid movable part is composed of a link having at its
upper end the shaft buckle. On the outer side of this link is fixed a projection
underneath which passes the aforesaid movable bolt. The said projection is also
formed with arms having in front a hook which receives the trace fixed to the
collar of the horse and at its back a ring which receives the breeching, the other
end of which is fixed either to the bit or the shaft.
The slots in the said plate are adapted in connection with a pole in which case
the aforesaid box is maintained by two screws fixed into the shaft, which pass
through the said slots and thus allow the said box to slide to and fro according to
the movements of the horse.
For ordinary driving, i.e. without pole, the said slots may be dispensed with and
in this case the said box may be let into the shaft.
The said draw arm may have on the same end, a hook and a ring to receive the
breeching.
In order to facilitate a more regular drawing, i.e. in a direct line, the said hook
may be arranged at the top of the aforesaid link whilst the ring may remain at the
end of the respective arm.
ג'
The end of the aforesaid box may be convex so as to conform with the form of
the shaft and also to prevent injury to the coat of the horse.
Dated this 11th day of January 1893.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for Carrying and Releasing from
Harness the Shafts of Vehicles.
I, THEODORE LOUIS LEFEBVRE, of Puteaux (Seine), in the Republic of
France, Coachman, 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 has for its object to provide an appliance whereby the shafts of
vehicles can be instantly secured to the harness or released.

page_text: And in order that my invention may be more fully understood I have caused to
be appended hereunto one sheet of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures.
Fig. 1 is a side view of the stationary part with plate or cover removed.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the plate or cover.
Fig. 3 is a side view of the movable part on the shaft carrier.
Fig. 4 is an end view of the shaft carrier.
Fig. 5 shows the appliance complete as adapted to the shaft.
In carrying out my invention and referring to Figs. 1 & 2, the appliance consists
of two parts, one fixed to the shaft and the other rendered movable, i.e. buckled to
the collar strap. The fixed part is composed of a box A, convex in section having
at its lower portion an opening B, which receives the said movable part. To the
upper portion of the box A is pivoted a lever C having at its outer end a ring b,
which receives a cord or strap c. The inner end of the lever C is formed round
and engages a bolt D under the control of the said cord or strap or the hand direct,
which bolt D is forced forward partly by a spiral spring d and partly by a volute
spring e. The fixed part or box A is closed in front by a plate I having a slot J
at each end. The aforesaid movable part is composed of a link E, see Figs. 3, 4
& 5, having at its upper end the shaft buckle F. On the outer side of this link E
is fixed a projection & adapted to be engaged by the movable bolt D. The said
projection is also formed with arms H, having in front a hook h, which receives a
portion of the trace fixed to the collar of the horse, and at its back a ring f, which
receives the other portion of the trace which may be fixed either to the whipple-tree
hooks or whipple-tree itself.
The slots J in the plate I are adapted in connection with the shafts, in which
case the box A is maintained by two screws fixed into the shafts which pass through
the slots J and thus allow the box A to slide to and fro according to the movements
of the horse.
For ordinary driving, i.e. without pole, the slots J in the plate I (see Figs. 2 & 5)
may be dispensed with and in this case the box A may be let into the shafts.
The appliance described acts as follows:-
When it is desired to release the shafts, the cord or strap c attached to the
ring of the lever C is pulled by the driver. This causes the lever C to oscillate
upon its pivot a into position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, withdraw the bolt D
from the projection G and thus disengage the part H carried by the horse from
the part A secured to the shafts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is-
"In appliances for carrying and releasing from harness the shafts of vehicles."
1st. The general construction and combination of parts constituting my improve-
ments, adapted to facilitate the instantaneous attachment and detachment of shafts
of vehicles to or from harness respectively.
2nd. In an appliance as specified in the preceding claim, the adaptation of the
hook on the top of the link E, substantially as set forth.
3rd. Forming the box A convex so as to correspond in shape with that of the
shaft, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 11th dev of October 1802