Improvements in Shaft Tugs for Harness.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar, 1892-Accepted, 7th May, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Shaft Tugs for Harness.
I, SAMUEL HENRY HAAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at No. 1428
Franklin Street, in the City and County of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania,
Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
SHAFT TUGS FOR HARNESS, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statements :—
My invention has relation to improvements in shaft tugs for harness.
The principal objects of my invention are first, to provide a simple, cheap and
durable shaft tug for harness; second, to provide a shaft tug for harness in which
chafing or abrading of the shaft by the tug is avoided; third, to provide a shaft
tug which may be attached to the saddle strap without the employment of the usual
buckle; and fourth, to provide a shaft tug adapted to readily receive and support
in position the saddle strap without fear of the same becoming detached therefrom.
My invention consists of a shaft tug for harness provided with means adapted to
readily receive and support in position a saddle strap and the device provided with
a spring actuated device for closing the mouth of the tug.
My invention further consists of a partially channelled shaft tug with a curved
extremity and with a spring actuated clamping device for closing the curved free
extremity thereof, the construction and arrangement being such as to permit of the
reception and retention to place of the saddle strap within the channelled portions
of the device and to permit of the ready insertion of the shafts and of the release of
the same therefrom by pressure exerted against the spring device.
My invention further consists of the improvements in a shaft tug for harness,
hereinafter described and claimed.
The nature and objects of my invention will be more fully understood from the
following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming
part hereof; and in which
Figure 1, is a perspective view of a shaft tug embodying features of my inven-
tion; and
Fig. 2, is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.
In the drawings A, represents the shaft supporting hook which is provided
with cheeks a¹ and a² and with a curved free extremity a. B, represents a
spring actuated tongue or clamping device for closing the mouth or free outer
extremity of the hook A.
This tongue or clamp may be suitably journalled to
a transverse pin b, secured to the cheeks a' and a³, of the shaft supporting
hook A, and outo which pin is mounted or coiled a spring C, one extremity of
which is in engagement with the under surface of the tongue or clamping
device B, and the other extremity is in engagement with a transverse pin 62
rigidly secured to the cheeks a¹ and a', as shown in Fig. 2, and which arrange-
ment of the spring tongue or clamping device permits of the introduction and
withdrawal of the shaft in the manner illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2.
The hook A is open, in the rear thereof, between the cheeks a¹ and a². These
cheeks are provided with a pin e, for receiving the looped upper end of
the belly-band d, and with a pin f, serving as a bearing post for the saddle
strap F, provided with a series of openings f, at suitable distances apart
therein, and into one of which openings f², may be inserted the pin f, secured
to the upper extremity of the shaft supporting hook A. The upper portion of
the spring tongue B is preferably formed in the shape of a buckle for ornamental
purposes, as well as affording the means, whereby the saddle-strap F, may be
retained in proper position in contact with the pin f, of the shaft supporting
hook A, in order that the saddle-strap F, may be prevented from becoming
CD

page_text: The
released therefrom. The lower portion of the saddle strap F, below the pin f,
is retained in position by being inserted between the belly-band d, and the lower
flanged portion of the hook A, as shown in Fig. 2, in order that the traces of
the harness may not catch or contact with the lower end of this strap.
spring tongue or clamping device B, of the tug has on the back adjacent to
the lower end a rearwardly projecting toe h, which by contact with the top of
the shaft serves to prevent the rise of the latter in the tug and thus prevents
any jamming of the shaft in the tapering space formed by the spring finger and
the back of the supporting hook A, whereby chafing or abrasion of the upper
corners or surfaces of the shaft is effectually prevented. The strap F, in its
normal position, projects slightly forward beyond the cheeks a¹ and a², which
prevents contact of the inner surface of the shaft with the cheeks of the
supporting hook A. If preferred, to the rear wall of the supporting hook A,
may be applied a detachable leather or other suitable keeper I, provided_with
apertures and j³, adapted to be readily inserted onto the saddle-strap F, at
one end of the device and onto the belly band d, at the other end thereof.
This keeper gives to the device a much more finished appearance and at the same
time prevents the flanged cheeks a¹ and a², from contacting directly with the hide
of the animal. It will be observed that when the device is in position for use,
with the saddle strap in its normal position in connection therewith, the harnessed
animal may be readily caused to engage and support the shafts by a slight
pressure exerted upon the spring actuated closing devices of the respective tugs,
which will simultaneously cause the shafts to occupy positions in contact with
the interior of the tugs without having to back the animal into the shafts, as is
now the ordinary custom by a hand operation of inserting the saddle tugs of
the harness onto the same from each side of the animal. Each of the shafts
of the vehicle may then be readily disengaged from the tugs by a hand pressure
exerted upon each of the spring tongues or clamping devices B, which will
cause the same to assume such a position as to permit of the release of the
shafts therefrom.
It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains that
as to minor details, modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of
the invention, that is to say, in the character and shape of the cheeks a¹ and a², of
the shaft supporting hook, as well as in the shape and particular arrangement of the
means for affording a spring action for closing the free extremity of the shaft
supporting hook A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and objects of my
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A shaft tug for harness, comprising a partially channelled supporting hook
having a curved free extremity and a spring actuated device for closing the free
extremity and maintaining the saddle strap of the harness in a position to prevent
detachment thereof, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2 A shaft tug for harness, comprising a J-shaped supporting hook provided with
a channel and means adapted to receive a saddle strap and support the same in
position out of contact with the internal surface of the device and provided with a
spring actuated device for closing the upper extremity thereof and preventing the
saddle strap from becoming detached, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
3. A shaft tug for harness provided with a hook having an open back and side
cheeks, a spring actuated tongue, a projecting pin adapted to receive a saddle strap
and a bar for receiving. the belly-band and occupying such relative position to the
inner edges of the check pieces that when the saddle strap is passed between
the band and the bottom of the hook, the strap will project forward beyond
the cheek pieces of the hook, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
4. A shaft tug for harness, comprising a curved hook with cheek pieces, a spring

page_text: tongue closing the mouth of the hook, a projecting pin located at the upper part or
the hook and adapted to an opening in the saddle strap and to an opening in the
tongue, and a transverse pin forming a bearing for said saddle strap below the
retaining pin therefor, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. A shaft tug for harness, comprising a hooked supporting device provided with
a retaining pin for a saddle-strap and provided with a spring actuated device for
closing the mouth and retaining the saddle strap in position, a pin forming a support
for the belly-band and a keeper detachably connected with said band and saddle
strap, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
6. A shaft tug for harness, comprising a hook-shaped device, a tongue provided
with an open extremity and with a tapering extremity and a toe, the said tongue
journalled in the walls of said hook-shaped device and a spring normally contacting
with said tongue, and with an arm secured to said device, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
7. A shaft tug for harness, comprising a hook-shaped device, a spring actuated
tongue provided with a toe on the underside thereof and said spring actuated tongue
normally closing said device and retaining a saddle strap in position, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
ليوم
obruary AD 1892.
SAMUEL HENRY HAAS.
W. P. Thompson & Boult.
Agents for the Applicant.