Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1897-Accepted, 2nd Oct., 1897
I, J. OLLY HYMER of Concordia, in the County of Lafayette, and State of Missouri,
United States of America, Veterinary Surgeon 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 generally to veterinary surgical instruments, and more
particularly to a gag adapted for use for horses, cows, or any other animal.
The object of this invention is to provide an exceedingly cheap and simple gag,
which can be applied and adjusted to the mouth of the animal without hurting or
injuring the same, and a still further object is to provide a gag which can be applied
to the mouth of the animal and connected with a bridle strap by means of which the
complete control of the animal is obtained.
Another object of my invention is to provide a gag in which the supporting bow or
yoke can be turned from one side of the head to the other, without removing the gag
from the mouth.
With these various objects in view, my invention consists essentially of a supporting
bow or yoke, the upper and lower jaws adapted to hold the upper and lower jaws of
the animal apart, the adjusting pins attached to said upper and lower jaws and
passing through the upper and lower ends of the yoke, and means for securing them
in their adjusted positions.
My invention consists also in certain details of construction and novelties of
combination all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the
claims.
In the drawings forming a part of this specification
Fig. 1 is a view showing my invention as applied and used.
Fig. 2 is a view, showing the gag detached.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the lower jaw showing its connection with the
adjusting pin and the supporting bow or yoke.
Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.
In carrying out this invention, I employ a supporting bow or yoke A, which is made
of strong light material, and is essentially semicircular in shape, said bow being cut
out as shown at A¹ thereby making it lighter, and also providing a convenient hand
grip in manipulating the device.
Bosses B, are formed upon the upper and lower ends of the bow or yoke, said bosses
having a square aperture B' produced therein, and working through these apertures
are the adjusting pins C, shaped in cross section to slide freely in the aperture bosses,
and having notches or ratchet teeth C¹ upon one face.
The upper jaw D is swiveled to the lower end of the upper pin C, and the lower
jaw E, is swiveled to the upper end of the lower adjusting pin. The upper jaw D
consists of a horizontal bar or bit D¹, and the side bars D2 which extend upward, and
are shaped to meet each other at the centre where the adjusting pin is swiveled.
The lower jaw comprises a horizontal bar E¹ and the said bars unite where the

page_text: .
lower pin is swiveled. The bars D¹ and E¹ virtually constitute bits, and are covered
with rubber or leather to prevent injury to the gums or teeth of the animal.
Bridle straps F are attached to the side bars of both the upper and lower jaws
where they meet the horizontal bars or bits; and by means of these bridle straps the
surgeon has complete control of the animal whether it be standing or cast.
Catch levers G are pivoted at the upper and lower ends of the bow or yoke, and work
through openings G₁ produced in the bosses B, and are adapted to engage the notched
or ratchet face of the adjusting pins, and by means of which the said pins are locked
in any adjusted position, and inasmuch as these pins serve to open and close the jaws,
it is clear that the jaws will also be held in any adjusted position.
Springs H are attached to the bow or yoke, and bear beneath the free ends of the
levers G for the purpose of holding the opposite ends in contact with the adjusting
pius.
Operating rings I are attached to the upper and lower ends of the upper and lower
adjusting pins respectively, and by means of which the surgeon or operator raises the
upper and lower jaws.
Now in operation, the gag is applied to the horse in substantially the same manner
as the bridle is applied thereto, that is, the bits or horizontal bars are placed between
the teeth when said bars or bits are in their central position, as shown in Fig. 2. The
spring lever is then disengaged from the upper or lower bar, and the jaw moved up or
down by means of the operating ring and adjusting pin. The other jaw is then
operated upon in substantially the same manner.
By this arrangement, the jaws of the animal can be instantly opened to the desired
extent, and as the gag is placed in the forepart of the mouth it is clear that the
surgeon or operator has ample room for operating upon either the teeth, mouth or
throat of the animal. By means of the bridle strap, the animal can be led about or
moved as desired and whenever it is desired to move the bow or yoke from one side of
the head to the other it can be readily swung around in front of the nose, inasmuch
as the adjusting pins are swiveled to the upper and lower jaws, and as the bosses
through which said adjusting pins pass have polygonal shaped apertures in which the
adjusting pins snugly fit, it is clear that the pins will be carried around with
the yoke, so that the catch levers will always engage the notched or ratchet face of the
said pins.
It will thus be seen that I provide an exceedingly cheap and simple construction of
veterinary gag which can be quickly and easily applied to an animal, either while
standing or cast, and one which can be quickly adjusted to any desired position, and
one in which the supporting bow or yoke can be swung around in front of the nose
from one side of the head to the other.
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 a veterinary gag, the combination with the supporting bow or yoke, of the
upper and lower jaws, and the adjusting pins attached to the jaws, and passing
through the upper and lower ends of the bow or yoke, substantially as shown and
described.
2. In a veterinary gag, the combination with the supporting bow or yoke, of the
upper and lower jaws, the upper and lower adjusting pins attached to said jaws, and
passing through the upper and lower ends of the yoke, said pins being adjustable in
said ends, but held against rotation, substantially as shown and described.
3. In a veterinary gag, the combination with the supporting bow or yoke, of the
upper and lower jaws, the upper and lower adjusting pins, pivotally connected to the
said upper and lower jaws, said upper and lower jaws being adjustable in the upper
and lower ends of the supporting bow or yoke, and means of securing the said pins in
either adjusted position, substantially as shown and described.
4. In a veterinary gag, the combination with the supporting bow or yoke, of the
upper and lower jaws having the upper and lower bits or bars covered with leather or

page_text: rubber, the adjusting pins pivotally connected to the said jaws, and passing through
the upper and lower ends of the supporting bow or yoke, and the spring actuated
lever catches adapted to secure said adjusting pins, substantially as shown and
described.
5. In a veterinary gag, the combination with the supporting bow or yoke having
bosses at its upper and lower ends, said bosses having polygonal apertures therein, the
adjusting pins working in the said apertures and shaped in cross section and snugly
fitting therein, said pins having their faces notched or ratcheted, the spring actuated
lever pivoted upon the lower ends of the bow or yoke and adapted to engage the
notched or ratchet face of the pins, the upper and lower jaws pivotally attached to the
upper and lower pins, and the bridle straps connected with the upper and lower jaws,
substantially as shown and described.