Improvements in Fastenings for Traces, Chains, and the like, used in Attaching Horses to Road Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July,
1897
Complete Specification Left, 15th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 20th Nov.,
1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fastenings for Traces, Chains, and the like, used in
Attaching Horses to Road Vehicles.
I, THOMAS CORRIE MACCORMACK of 33 Denmark Road, Northampton Cart, Van
and Waggon Builder's Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
It frequently occurs that Horses or other draught animals become accidentally
disconnected from the vehicles to which they are attached owing to the ordinary
hook by which the chain or trace is held being entirely open at one end, at which
point the chain can glide out when hanging loosely, or jump out when the animal
is on the trot.
Great difficulty is also experienced in releasing aut animal from the vehicle
when the chain is taut owing to the length of the ordinary hook, as the chain
requires pulling from three to five inches before the connecting link can be passed
out at the open end of the hook. This difficulty is considerably increased when
the animal falls to the ground, as its dead weight generally falls on one of the
chains, thus rendering it so taut as to preclude all possibility of releasing the
animal in the ordinary way which must then be accomplished either by removing
the harness, or cutting the traces.
Now the object of my invention is to provide a device to take the place of this
ordinary hook, which will render accidental disconnection impossible, and at the
same time enable the animal to be speedily and easily released when required.
My device is constructed as follows.
When
A solid body of metal forming the bed or base. About one inch from the centre
two arms project upwardly and inwardly, thus forming a double hook, the ends
facing inwardly Sufficient space is left between the two ends of the hooks to
allow an ordinary sized chain link to pass between them. In the centre of the
bed a slanting aperture is made, the narrow part being at the top. An ordinary
V-shaped spring is then passed upwards through this slanting aperture (the upper,
or wide part, being pressed close together in order to accomplish this). As the
spring emerges from the slanting aperture it gradually expands, thus completely
blocking up the open space in the centre between the ends of the hooks.
once fixed in this position the spring cannot slip up or down; it requires
deliberate & persistent manipulation to get it below the ends of the hooks. A
slight bevel is made on the top ends of the hooks where the spring rests in order to
facilitate the entrance of the chain which is then passed into the hook as follows.
Place the connecting link of the chain on the bevelled part of the hook, press
slightly against the spring and the link at once shoots into its place, the spring
immediately returning to its normal position, thus rendering the chain perfectly
secure. When required the chain is detached thus. Press the connecting link
upwards against the spring when the link will be found to shoot out quite easily;
the distance traversed being less than half an inch, but very little pulling is

page_text: required. In attaching or detaching the chain but one hand is required, thus
leaving the other free to control the restless or fallen animal.
An important feature in this device is its duplex character. When one side
is worn out it can be reversed, and the other side worn in the same way.
Dated this Eight day of July 1897
Improvements in Fastenings for Traces, Chains, and the like, used in
Attaching Horses to Road Vehicles.
I, THOMAS CORRIE MACCORMACK 33 Denmark Road Northampton, Cart, Van,
and Waggon Builder's Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
It frequently occurs that horses or other draught animals become accidentally
disconnected from the vehicles to which they are attached owing to the ordinary
hook by which the chain or trace is held being entirely open at one end, at which
point the chain can glide out when hanging loosely or jump out when the animal is
on the trot. Great difficulty is also experienced in releasing an animal from the
vehicle when the chain is taut owing to the length of the ordinary hook, as the
chain requires pulling from three to five inches before the connecting link can be
passed out at the open end of the hook. This difficulty is considerably increased
when the animal falls to the ground, as its dead weight generally falls on one of
the chains thus rendering it so taut as to preclude all possibility of releasing the
animal in the ordinary way, which must then be accomplished either by removing
the harness, or cutting the traces. Now the object of my invention is to provide
a device to take the place of this ordinary hook which will render accidental dis-
connection impossible, and at the same time enable the animal to be speedily and
easily released when required. My device is constructed as follows:-
A solid body of metal forming the bed or base. About one inch from the centre
two arms project upwardly and inwardly thus forming a double hook, the ends
facing inwardly. Sufficient space is left between the two ends of the hooks to
allow an ordinary sized chain link to pass between them. In the centre of the bed
a slanting aperture is made, the narrow part being at the top. An ordinary
V shaped spring is then passed upwards through this slanting aperture (the upper
or wide part being pressed close together in order to accomplish this). As the
spring emerges from the slanting aperture it gradually expands, thus completely
blocking up the open space in the centare between the ends of the hooks. When
once fixed in this position the spring cannot. slip up or down; it requires deliberate
and persistent manipulation to get it below the ends of the hooks. A slight bevel
is made on the top ends of the hooks where the spring rests in order to facilitate
the entrance of the chain which is then passed into the hook as follows. Place
the connecting link of the chain on the bevelled part of the hook, press slightly
against the spring and the link at once shoots into its place, the spring immediately
returning to its normal position, thus rendering the chain perfectly secure.
required the chain is detached thus. Press the connecting link upwards against
the spring, when the link will be found to shoot out quite easily, the distance
traversed being less than half an inch but very little pulling is required. In
attaching or detaching the chain but one hand is required, thus leaving the other
free to control the restless or fallen animal.
When

page_text: An important feature in this device is its duplex character; when one side is
worn out it can be reversed and the other side worn in the same way.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will now refer to the
annexed drawings, in which:-
Figure 1. is a side elevation shewing my invention.
Figure 2. vertical section of same.
Figure 3. plan view of modified arrangement.
Figure 4. view of spring in Fig. 1 removed.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a is the body of the hook which is secured in
position by means of the studs or screws upon the vehicle. The spring a¹ is passed
up through the tapered aperture 6 as shewn in Figure 2, and may be bored for the
passage of a pin indicated by dotted lines c when required. The trace link dis
passed between the spring a and the curved hook a. It will be seen that the
trace link is prevented from being shaken out of engagement with the hook owing
to the pressure of the spring, and in the event of the spring breaking, a further
one can be readily inserted. In the event of one hook becoming worn the device
may be turned round and the other hook employed according to the construction
shewn in Figures 1 and 2.
In Figure 3 a view is shewn of a single hook in which the same construction
and arrangement of spring is employed.
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. The combined construction and arrangement of the various parts substantially
as described and illustrated herein.
2. In hooks for traces; a bent spring carried in a tapered aperture or opening
in the body of said hook, the ends of which bear upon the hooks or hook for the
purpose of preventing the disengagement of a trace ring from said hooks or hook
until desired.
Dated this 15th day of October 1897.
E. EATON,
Agent for Applicant.