IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE COLLARS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN HORSE COLLARS " a communication to me from abroad by Ebenezer Fisher
(Blacksmith and Machinist) and Thomas McBride (Roofer) both of the City of
Philadelphia in the County of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, United
States of America to be as follows:-
The collar is composed of two like parts or sections, which are provided with
fastenings at top and bottom that hold them rigidly, yet permit them to be easily
detached and separated at the bottom, to facilitate application of the collar to and
removal from, the neck of the animal. Each section or half of the collar is
formed of thin steel plate, forged into U shape in cross section, and the edges or
flanges thereof having a considerable degree of elasticity, to render the collar easy
for the animal's shoulder.
The invention includes an improvement in the attachment of draft hooks to the
outer and front flanges of such collar sections; also springs for strengthening the
elastic flanges; also, means for securing the top portion of the collar to the said
flanged sections; and certain other improved devices and features of construction,
as hereinafter described.
In the example about to be described, I make the front flange of each section of
the steel collar, of about the same width as the rear one, so that a cross section of
either part presents substantially a U form. Besides this change, I dispense with
the rigid brace previously employed. The trace hooks are bolted to the face of
the front flanges, near the edge of the latter, and by this arrangement a considerable
degree of spring or elasticity is obtained which relieves the shock incident to
sudden and heavy draught.
The point of the trace hook projects behind the front flange of the collar, into
the cavity of the latter, whereby 1 the trace is prevented from becoming
accidentally unhooked, yet held in position for convenient detachment when
LD0.77

page_text: required 2nd the hook cannot become entangled with other harness or objects, that
the collar may come in contact with.
In collars intended for the hardest and heaviest work, I support the front flange
by means of tapered plate springs of U form, one being placed transversely in the
cavity of each section of the collar, and attached by the same bolts that hold the
trace hooks, so that its free ends bear on the rear or shoulder flanges.
Another improvement consists in the form arrangement and attachment of the
adjustable top pieces, which connect the two sections or halves of the collar with
the coupling secured to the neck pad. These top pieces slide in grooves formed by
the overlapping edges of the flanges at that point and instead of applying a
fastening on the inner side of the collar, where it would necessarily prevent due
closeness of fit. and adjustment of the parts connected by it, as well as be otherwise
objectionable, I secure each half or section of the collar to its adjustable top piece
by means of a screw bolt that passes through the front flange.
The upper end of each top piece is lapped around one of the cross bolts of the
coupling, and bent downwards and riveted to the body of said piece.
It has been found that the collar sits easier on the animal's neck, if the neck pad
is arranged at a considerable angle to the sections, constituting the collar proper.
To attain this result, the doubled or overlapping portion of the top piece (that
forms the eye) is cut away on its rear edge, and extended on the front side, so that
its lengthwise middle is not coincident with that of the body or piece, the effect of
this construction being to throw the coupling as far forward as practicable on the
neck pad, whereby the latter is so to speak, tilted forward into an oblique position,
so that in use, the rear angle cannot press sharply as heretofore into the depression
usually existing at the junction of the neck and shoulder.
In collars of this class, the rings or terrets are liable to make an objectionable
clatter or rattle, by rapid successive contacts with the adjacent edges of the sections
of the collar, and to prevent it I adopt the simple and inexpensive but effectual
expedient of interposing a plate spring under the ring to hold it against the
keeper Still another improvement consists in forming the check rein hook and
back strap hook in one piece, and in attaching them and the coupling to the neck
pad by one and the same means, to wit a screw bolt.

page_text: Improvements in Horse Collars.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (a communication to me
from abroad by Ebenezer Fisher, Blacksmith and Machinist; and Thomas McBride,
Roofer;
both of the City and County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,
United States of America) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The collar is composed of two like parts or sections which are provided with
fastenings at top and bottom that hold them rigidly and yet permit them to be
easily detached and separated at the bottom to facilitate application of the collar
to, and removal from, the necks of horses etc. Each section or half of the collar
is formed of a thin steel plate forged into U shape in cross section, and the edges
or flanges thereof having a considerable degree of elasticity to render the collar
easy for the animal's shoulder.
The Invention includes an improvement in the attachment of draft hooks to the
outer and front flanges of such collar sections, also springs for strengthening the
elastic flanges also means for securing the top portion of the collar to the said
flanged sections; and certain other improved devices and features of construction
as hereinafter described.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this
Specification wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a steel collar embodying
the Invention. Figure 2 is a section of the lower portion of the collar taken in the
plane of the collar. Figure 3. is an elevation showing the inner side of one of
the adjustable top-pieces. Figure 4 is a cross-section on x-x Figure 1. Figure 5
is a section on yy Figure 4. Figure 6 is a top view of the upper portion of the
collar showing the hinged parts extended horizontally. Figure 7. is a central
section, taken in the plane of the collar, of the top portion of the collar. Figure 8.
is a side view of the same.
I will now proceed to describe the Invention in detail-In this instance, I make
the front flange a of each section A of the steel collar of about the same width as
the rear one 6 so that a cross section of either part A presents substantially a
U form (Figure 4).. Besides this change I dispense with the rigid brace previously
employed. The trace hooks a¹ are bolted to the face of the front flanges a near the
edge of the latter and by. this arrangement a considerable degree of spring or
elasticity is obtained which relieves the shock incident to sudden and heavy draught.
The point of the trace hook projects behind the front flange of the collar into
the cavity of the latter whereby ;-first the trace is prevented from becoming
accidentally unhooked yet held in position for convenient detachment when
required; second the hook cannot become entangled with other harness or objects
that the collar may come in contact with.

page_text: In tollars intended for the hardest and heaviest work, I support the flange a by
means of tapered plate springs d (Figures 4 and 5). These are of U form, one
being placed transversely in the cavity of each section A and attached by the
same bolts that hold the trace hooks a¹ so that its free ends bear on the rear or
shoulder flanges b.
Another improvement consists in the form arrangement and attachment of the
adjustable top piece B which connects the sections A. A with the coupling or
saddle C secured to the neck pad D. This piece B slides in grooves formed by the
over lapping, édges of the flanges A at that point Instead of applying a fastening
on the inner side of the collar where it would necessarily prevent due closeness
of fit and adjustment of the parts connected by it as well as be otherwise
objectionable, I secure said parts A and B by means of a screw bolt e that passes
through the flange a as shown in Figures 1 and 8. The upper end f of piece B is
lapped around one of the cross-bolts of coupling C and bent downward and
rivetted to the body of said piece.
It has been found that the collar sits easier on the animal's neck if the neck
pad is arranged at a considerable angle to the sections A constituting the collar
proper. To attain this result the doubled or overlapping portion of piece B
(that forms the eye) is cut away on its rear edge and extended on the front side
(see Figures 3. 6. 8) so that its lengthwise middle is not coincident with that of the
body or piece B The effect of this construction is to throw the coupling C as far
forward as practicable on the neck pad D whereby the latter is, so to speak tilted
forward into an oblique position; so that in use the rear angle cannot press sharply
as heretofore into the depression usually existing at the junction of the neck and
shoulders.
In collars of this class the rings g are liable to make an objectionable clatter or
rattle by rapid successive contacts with the adjacent edges of the sections A and
to prevent it I adopt the simple and inexpensive, but effectual, expedient of
interposing a plate spring i (Figures 7 and 8) under the ring to hold it against the
keeper k. To attach the spring in place I utilize the same rivet 7 that secures the
lapping portions ƒ of piece B to the body thereof.
Still another improvement consists in forming the check rein hook m and back
strap hook m¹ (Figures 6 and 8) in one piece, and in attaching them and the
coupling C to the neck pad by one and the same means—to wit, a screw bolt o.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention; and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what I claim is ;-
1. A steel horse-collar baving its side portions or sections constructed with a
thin flange a which is extended laterally substantially as described whereby it
forms an elastic or spring bearing for attachment of the draft as specified.
2. In combination with the lateral elastic flange a of the steel collar section A
the draft hook attached to the same near its edge as shown and described.
3. The combination with a steel collar section A having substantially a U-shape
in cross-section of a supplemental spring which is interposed between the two
Hanges a and b of said section as specified.
4. The combination with a steel collar section A having substantially a U shape
in cross section, of a curved plate spring which is bolted to the front flange a and
bears with its free end upon the rear flange b as shown and described.
5. The combination with the adjustable top-piece B and flanged steel collar
section A arranged to slide one in the other, of the fastening bolt passing through
the outer flange a of said section and through the contiguous edge of said top piece
as shown and described.
6. The combination with the collar coupling and neck pad of the piece B having
its eye or top portion projected laterally forward so that the bearing on the pad is
located nearer its front than its rear side as shown and described.

page_text: 7. The combination with the coupling and neck pad of the hook device, and a
fastening bolt for securing said parts together, substantially as shown and
described.
8. The check hook and back strap hook formed in one piece, as shown and
described.
9. The combination with the metal collar section, of the trace hook having its
point turned inward behind the flange, as shown and described.