IMPROVEMENTS IN OR ADDITIONS TO BRIDLE BITS
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Clayton Mewburn at the Office
"
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th March 1882. A communication
from abroad by Pierre Henry Goulet of Paris France
"
JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN of 169 Fleet Street in the City of London, Patent
Agent and Consulting Engineer IMPROVEMENTS IN OR ADDITIONS TO BRIDLE
BITS [A communication from abroad by Pierre Henry Goulet of Paris France]
Bridle bits as hitherto constructed are only capable of acting on the horse in a
backward or retrograde sense; they do not provide for drawing the horse forward
by means of the reins.
Now the present Invention meets this want by adding to the present bit the
necessary complement for producing an action the reverse of that of the reins.
To the cheek piece or branch which bears on the "bars" of the lower jaw and causes
the animal to move backwards, is added an upper lever which by bearing against
the "bars" of the upper jaw causes him to move forwards. The cheek piece or
branch is acted on by the ordinary reins; the forward movement is on the other
hand caused by means of new or additional upper reins.
Having stated the nature or principle of the Invention I will now describe
how it may be carried out.
A metallic side piece has loops or eyes through which the musrole or nose band
and the cheek straps are passed. To a horizontal pin or axis on this metallic
piece is pivoted a lever or sector the said pin having an internal spring by means
of which the lever or sector is retained and brought back to its normal position.
There is a lever or sector at each side and each is formed with a hook to act when
the upper reins are pulled, on the cheek piece or branch which is jointed to the
sector. The cheek pieces are guided in loops or slots in the metallic side pieces
which allow them considerable play. To the front part of the sector is attached
one end of a steel cord the other end of which has a ring to which the upper rein
is connected; this cord passes over a groove in the sector. The whole bit can be
separated and connected together at this point by means of a spring collar or
similar device so that the bridle can be placed on the horse's head without the bit
and the bit be then added. The cheek pieces or branches of the bit allow of acting
at the desired moment by their respective ends on either the upper or the lower
bars" of the horse.
$5

page_text: The cheek pieces may have eyes for the attachment of a lip strap if desired
above the point where the bit connects the cheek pieces. The bit has the necessary
play but by the new arrangement the movement of the reins is rendered more
sensitive. The cheek pieces may also have eyes to receive a cavesson which passes
over the horse's nose and is held in a loop at the front of the nose band.
The opposite effects obtained by means of the improved bit will be readily
understood; if the upper and lower reins are pulled equally they neutralize each.
other and the horse is caused to slacken his pace and to stop. In the normal
position of the sectors the cheek pieces are vertical or nearly so and they can be
moved freely; but if the sectors, be acted on by pulling the upper reins the hooks
on the sectors come in contact with the cheek pieces and cause them to move
forwards and upwards. The same piece which moves the bit against the upper
"bars" has thus the effect of pushing it forward in the mouth sufficiently to cause
the horse in response thereto to move forward.
The improved bit also enables the horse to be guided with greater facility as he
is more sensitive to its action.