Improvements in Harness Attachments.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Oct., 1897--Accepted, 20th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Harness Attachments.
I, JOSEPH ADDISON MCGINTIE of Page Strect, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.,
Salesman, 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 an attachment for horse harness preferably applied to
the crupper stran and designed to prevent the animal's tail from clamping the
reins; to provide a support for the reins to prevent its contact with the crupper;
and to provide means for holding the breech strap in the proper position.
In the accompanying drawing the invention in shewn in Fig. 1 applied to
harness. Fig. 2 is a detail side view of the rein support and Fig. 3 a back view of
the same. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the rein support in conjunction with the
reins. Fig. 5 a back view of a modified form of rein support.
A is the back strap shewn bifurcated at the back end to which the crupper B is
buckled. With the use of the invention this crupper may be dispensed with as
it serves no useful purpose.
The attachment is secured to the back strap as shewn, or to the crupper. It is
formed preferably of bent wire although any other suitable stiff material may be
used for the purpose.
The upper portion of the attachment is formed as a rein support C composed
of a V shaped piece bent and rebent upon itself and terminating in two flattened
arms which are secured by rivets or other suitable means to the back strap or
crupper. One of the upper inwardly projecting parts of the support is formed
with an eye in which is pivotted a bridge piece having at its free end spring
jaws d adapted to engage the opposite projecting part of the support and prevent
accidental displacement of the reins from the latter. An upward pull on the
reins will disengage the spring jaws and permit the removal of the reins from the
support. The provision of the bridge piece renders it practicable to employ,
attached to the reins E, buttons or stops F which cannot pass beyond the support
and prevent too much slack in the reins between the support and the bit which
slackness is the frequent cause of the reins being caught under the ends of the
shafts.
The ends of the attachment extend downwardly in a curved line corresponding
to the shape of the animal to the breech strap G and being flattened are attached
thereto by rivets. In this way the breeching is held in the proper position
relatively to the haunches of the animal.
His a cross piece secured to the downwardly extending portions of the attach-
ment at a point below the crupper, if one is used, said cross piece serving to hold
out the animal's tail and thus prevent the reins being clamped by the same if
caught

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In an attachment for harness, the combination with the crupper straps of
downwardly curved parts secured thereto and to the breeching, and a cross piece
secured to said curved portions, which cross piece is adapted to extend under the
animal's tail to prevent the reins from being clamped by the tail should said reins
be caught, substantially as described and shewn.
2. In an attachment for harness, the combination of a rein support which is
provided with downwardly curved ends adapted to be secured to the breeching,
and a cross piece which is a support for the animal's tail, substantially as described
and shewn.
-
3. In an attachment for harness the combination of a rein support which
consists of a U shaped part bent upon itself and terminating in downwardly.
curved ends adapted to be secured to the breeching, and a cross piece forming a
support for the animal's tail, substantially as described and shewn.
4. In an attachment for harness, the combination with a rein support which is
open at its top, of a bridge piece pivotted at one side of the rein support, and
spring jaws on the free end of said bridge piece for engaging the opposite side of
the rein support, substantially as described and shewn.
5. The general arrangement and combination of part constituting the harness
attachment, for the purpose specified, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 20th day of October 1897.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.