Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Intercepting Horse Droppings or the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Nov., 1889-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Intercepting Horse
Droppings or the like.
I, JOHN SLOW of 49 Ford Road, Old Ford, London, E., Spirit colouring maker,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to prevent streets, roads, carriage drives and the
like from being dirtied or disfigured by the droppings from horses and other
animals and this I accomplish by intercepting the droppings before they reach the
ground.
To carry out my invention I employ an interceptor of any suitable shape size and
material and this I secure in any suitable manner to the vehicle or harness in such
manner that the droppings instead of falling onto the road are received by the
intercepter from which they can be removed in any convenient manner.
Dated this 25th day of February 1889
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Intercepting Horse
Droppings and the like.
I, JOHN SLOW of 49 Ford Road, Old Ford, Spirit colouring maker, 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:-
The object of this invention is to prevent streets, roads carriage drives and the
like from being dirtied or disfigured by the droppings from horses and other
animals, and this I accomplish by intercepting the droppings before they reach the
ground.
To carry out my invention I employ an interceptor of any suitable shape size and
material and this I secure in any suitable manner to the vehicle or harness in such
manner that the droppings instead of falling onto the road are received by the
interceptor from which they can be removed in any convenient manner.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of apparatus constructed according to this
invention the said apparatus being there shown as complete and ready for attach-
ment to a horse's harness and to a vehicle; fig. 2 is a similar view of a portion of
the same as when attached to the harness.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The apparatus shown in figure 1 consists essentially of two principal parts viz. :—
the shoot or interceptor A and the receiver B.
The shoot or interceptor consists of a piece of canvas, tarpaulin, mackintosh or other
suitable and preferably waterproof material formed to the desired shape and at one
end provided with tabs A' and A² the former being provided with hooks or
studs A³ which are adapted when turned into the position shown in figure 2 to
engage with eyelets A so as to form loops by which the interceptor may be fastened
to the breeching C of the harness in the manner shown in figure 2, but the interceptor
may also be conveniently secured in proper relation to the horse in any other suitable
manner. To the tabs A2 are secured india-rubber or equivalent springs A' the free
ends of which are to be fastened to the traces of the horse or shafts of the vehicle
in such manner that the edge A of the interceptor may always be drawn close
•

page_text: against the haunches or such part as may be found most suited to the purpose in
view while at the same time allowing for the change in the horse's position relatively
to the traces or shafts when it is being stopped or when slackening or accelerating
its pace or backing. The shoot or interceptor A when in its proper position slopes
downwards towards its rear end which in any convenient manner is attached to the
receiver B. This receiver may be constructed of iron, wood, leather or other suitable
material and may be suspended from below the body of the vehicle by means of
looped straps B₁ the upper ends of which are passed over hooks or brackets; or the
said receiver may be secured in position in any other convenient manner such for
example as by spring or other hooks engaging with the axle bar or bars or other part
of the vehicle.
The springs A serves to support the edges of the interceptor A so that immediately
at the rear of the horse it is held distended and nearly flat so as to provide a wide
receiving surface while as it descends the shoot becomes narrower and deeper and
thus minimizes the risks of the droppings during their passage towards the receiver
being jerked out onto the ground.
If desired the longitudinal edges of the interceptor may be provided with rings
which are free to slide along india-rubber or equivalent springs the ends of which
are respectively attached to the vehicle and to the harness. By this means the
longitudinal edges will be prevented from sagging.
The shoot or interceptor A if desired may be made partly of sheet iron or other
metal and at the part adjacent to the horse of india-rubber or equivalent material.
Among the advantages which would be derived with a general use of the before
described interceptor may be mentioned the following:-The streets, roads, carriage
drives and other places would be secured against a great part of this defilement
and the greasiness usually attendant on the defilement would be prevented and
consequently better foot-hold would be provided both for horses and pedestrians.
The risk of accident by slipping to persons crossing roadways or entering or
leaving vehicles would also be reduced.
The roadways would get sooner dry after rain or other moisture.
Less solid matter would be carried through the gullies into the sewers.
The droppings could be saved by the proprietors of horses and sold for manuring
purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of preserving horse droppings and preventing thetr reaching the
ground by the employment of an interceptor substantially as herein described.
2. In apparatus for intercepting horse droppings a shoot such as A for catching
the droppings and conveying them into a receiver substantially as herein described.
3. In apparatus for intercepting horse droppings the combination with a vessel
for receiving or collecting the droppings of a shoot such as A for delivering them
into the said receiver substantially as herein described.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1889.
JOHN SLOW.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.