A New or Improved Instrument or Apparatus for Cutting or Docking the Tails of Horses and other Animals.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 9th Dec., 1889-Accepted 18th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Instrument or Apparatus for Cutting or
Docking the Tails of Horses and other Animals.
JAMES CASSELS Glen Lane, Paisley Renfrewshire, North Britain Iron Smith,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
:-
Said invention relates to the construction of a new or improved instrument or
apparatus, having for its object the cutting or Docking the tails of horses and other
animals, whereby the operation is made less painful, more effective, more easily
performed, and the healing more quickly effected, than by the modes at present in
practice.
The aforesaid invention essentially consists of a steel or metal horse shoe shaped
frame, in one end of which is fitted a die or dies, and in the other a spindle having a
knife at its lower end which passes in a straight line through an aperture or guide
made in opposite side of frame, the die and frame being held in position by a handle
and lever while the knife and spindle is actuated by another lever or handle freely
suspended from links or connecting rods attached or connected to the upper end of
knife spindle.
The knife which is the most important part of said instrument or
apparatus essentially consists of a three edged or three sided blade. The central part
of the base of the knife, has its cutting edge inade straight, while the edges which
recede backwards, from the centre edge are curved in such a manner that when the
knife is applied the centre or straight edge cuts the bone or centre part of the tail,
and the curved edges cut the skin or softer part of skin and hair which after the
operation are folded in over the bone and then stitched, which gives the tail when
healed and grown again the appearance of not having been operated upon. The
aforesaid knife is either attached to or forms a part of a spindle, the opposite end of
the spindle being made to fit a cross-head or transverse bar. The connection or
attachment consisting of a nut which permits the said parts being adjusted or taken
asunder as occasion requires.
The die or dies or lower jaw of the knife or cutting part of the apparatus is attached
to the main frame of the horse shoe form already referred to. The dies in addition to
forming the resisting medium, also serves as a guide for holding the tail in the
required position for being cut and are recessed the same shape as the cutting knife
to permit the knife entering the recess without abrasion or destroying the cutting
edges. Attached to or forming part of the aforesaid lower frame, is a handle to hold
the apparatus in position. The knife handle again is connected to the upper part of
said frane, a true parallel motion of the knife and its spindle being obtained by
employing two radius links or connecting rods which connect the knife spindle
passing through an aperture in the frame to the lever or actuating handle. The
working handle or lever has its extremity jointed at front side of frame for a fulcrum,
this end of the lever is forked, one leg passing on each side of frame, the knife and its
spindle working freely between them the object being to equalize the thrust. The
centre of motion of connecting rod being near the fulcrum a powerful leverage is
obtained. The working of the instrument or apparatus is very simple, the fixed or
bottom lever being held in the left hand, while a downward stroke of the right band
or working lever gives a travel of three inches at the knife.
Dated this Eighth day of March 1889.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Instrument or Apparatus for Cutting or
Docking the Tails of Horses and other Animals.
JAMES CASSELS Glen Lane, Paisley Renfrewshire, North Britain Iron Smith do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for CUTTING OR DOCKING THE TAILS OF
HORSES AND OTHER ANIMALS, and in, what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement in
writing, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings and to the
letters and figures marked thereon :-
My said invention relates to the construction of a new or improved instrument or
apparatus having for its object the cutting or docking the tails of horses and other
animals whereby the operation is made less painful, more effective, more easily
performed, and the healing more quickly effected, than by the modes at present in
practice.
And in order that the nature, novelty, and mode of performing my said invention
or putting same into effect or practice, may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended one sheet of explanatory drawings in which the same reference letters are
used to indicate like or equivalent parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 shows a plan.
12
2
3
"
"9
a side elevation of instrument.
the true form of the die B and knife D.
The aforesaid invention essentially consists of a steel or metal horse shoe shaped
frame A, in one end of which is fitted a die or dies B, and in the other a spindle (
having a knife D at its lower end which passes in a straight line through an aperture
or guide made in opposite side of frame A, the die B and frame A being held in
position by a handle E while the knife and spindle is actuated by another lever or
handle F. freely suspended from links or connecting rods G attached or connected to
the upper end of knife spindle. The knife D which is the most important part of
said instrument or apparatus essentially consists of a three edged or three sided blade.
The central part of the base of the knife. has its cutting edge made straight, while the
edges which recede backwards, from the centre edge are curved in such a manner
that when the knife D is applied the centre or straight edge cut the bone or centre
part of the tail, and the curved edges cut the skin or softer part of skin and bair
which after the operation are folded in over the bone and then stitched, which gives
the tail when healed and grown again, the appearance of not having been operated
upon. The aforesaid knife D is either attached to or forms a part of a spindle ( the
opposite end of the spindle being made to fit a crosshead or transverse bar H. The
connection or attachment consisting of a nut I which permits the said parts being
adjusted or taken assunder as occasion requires. The die or dies B or lower jaw of
the knife or cutting part of the apparatus is attached to the main frame A of the horse
shoe form already referred to. The dies in addition to forming the resisting medium
also serve as a guide for holding the tail in the required position for being cut and
are recessed the same shape as the cutting knife to permit the knife to enter the
recess without abrasion or destroying the cutting edges. Attached to or forming part
of the aforesaid lower frame A, is a handle E to hold the apparatus in position.
knife handle again is connected to the upper part of said frame at J, a true parallel
motion of the knife and its spindle being obtained by employing two radius links or
connecting rods G which connect the knife spindle passing through an aperture in
the frame to the lower or actuating handle F. The working handle or lever has its
extremity jointed at front side of frame for a fulcrum J, this end of the lever is
forked, one leg passing on each side of frame, the knife and its spindle working freely
between them the object being to equalize the thrust. The centre of motion of
connecting rod being near the fulcrum a powerful leverage is obtained. The working
of the instrument or apparatus is very simple, the fixed or bottom lever E being held
in the left hand while a downward stroke of the right hand or working lever gives
a travel of three inches at the knife.
The

page_text: 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,
The apparatus for cutting or docking the tails of horses and other animals sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described in and illustrated by the annexed sheet of
drawings.
Dated this Seventh day of December 1980.
JAMES CASSELS.