Improvements in Horse-collars.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1892-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1892
Improvements in Horse-collars.
A communication from CARL AUGUST RICHARD AHL, of Dresden-Altstadt,
Locksmith, and OTTO FORBRICH, of Chemnitz, Manufacturer, both in Saxony,
in the German Empire.
1, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex
M.I.M.E. 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 subject of this invention is an improved horse-collar in which friction
against the neck of the animal is prevented by means of a small saddle adapted
to be suitably adjusted in relation to the collar. This saddle is to remain
stationary on the back of the horse, at the base of the neck, while the collar
proper is so pivotted or linked to it (say by means of a ball and socket or equiva-
lent joint) that it freely follows every movement of the animal's neck without
sliding in frictional contact with the skin. The value of this improvement will
easily be appreciated when it is remembered how severely horses have hitherto
suffered especially in drawing heavy vehicles, such as carts and the like, from the
constant mutual displacement of the neck and collar and the consequent friction
and pain.
In the accompanying drawings one form of the improved horse collar is repre-
sented, and it will be seen that in this arrangement, in addition to the advantage
just set forth, adjustability in various other directions is provided for. The collar
may here vary not only in width as it has done in certain well-known constructions
before, (both at the top and bottom) but also in height, so that it may fit horses
necks of any size.
Fig. 1 of the drawings is a front view of the improved collar.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.
Fig. 3 is a cross section of one of the side pieces or pads with the device for
attaching the traces in elevation.
Fig. 4 is a section on an enlarged scale of one of the side pieces with the rod
movable or adjustable therein; and
Fig. 5 is a detail view of the joint by which the saddle and collar proper are
connected.
A are the two side pieces of the collar, connected at their lower parts by means
of a link a retained in place by means of lugs a through which pass pins or
bolts a². The link a is provided with a series of perforations into any of which
the bolts a will fit if required, so that the connection, and consequently the width
of the collar below, are adjustable at will.
In the side pieces A the bars B are adjustably inserted, set screws & being
provided for securing them in the desired position as shown in Figs. 1, 2 & 4. The
bars B at their upper ends terminate in nuts . C is a screw-spindle upon the
right and left screw-thread of which the said nuts are adapted to move closer
together or farther apart, as required. This screw spindle C constitutes the
horizontal axis or pivot of the cross joint connecting the collar to the saddle, upon
which the bars or rods B are adapted to swing by means of their nuts b². C is
itself, however, also adapted to swing on the pivot d as shown in Fig. 5. This
pivot d carries the saddle D. exactly fitting the horse's neck in shape and suitably
padded on the inner side.
When the spindle C has right and left screw-threads, as shown in Fig. 1, it is
only necessary to turn round the saddle D, in order to cause the rods B at the
same time to move towards or away from each other as the case may be. If,

page_text: :
however the thread of the screw-spindle extends in the same direction right
through, each of the rods B must be turned about C separately. Each of these
arrangements has its own peculiar advantages in the former the adjustment is
more convenient and easy; in the second a possibility is afforded of so altering the
relative position of the side pieces to the saddle D as to accommodate any natural
want of symmetry or constitutional defects of the animal's neck. To put on the
collar, the preferable method is first to remove one of the pins or bolts a², then to
place the saddle D upon the neck, and when this is securely settled in its place
the collar is closed below; when it will be seen that while the saddle at all times
remains stationary, the parts or links of the collar follow all the movements of
the animal's neck, moving, however, with it and not against it.
The saddle D is of course applicable also to non-adjustable horse-collars the
described arrangement being, however, in all cases preferable; for the object of
the said saddle is not fully attained unless the collar is adjustable as described.
In all adjustable horse-collar arrangements hitherto known indeed, the main reason
why the adjustability was confined to rather narrow limits was, that the adjustable
pieces were themselves mutually to support each other; thus the collar could never
be widened or contracted beyond certain limits, set by its own shape. Now the
employment of a special support or carrier in the present arrangement enables the
body of the collar proper to be adjusted in all directions to a practically unlimited
extent. It will indeed be observed that in addition to making the collar adjust-
able in width it is preferable to render it adjustable in height also, and this
adjustment of the height of the collar again could not be perfect without the use
of the saddle, as unless the collar is tightly and well fitted to the horse's neck at
least in one point, as it is by means of the saddle, it may not in all cases fit the
animal if extended in the direction of its length or height. Instead of the cross-
joint shown, formed by the parts C and d a ball and socket or any other suitable
joint may be employed to connect the carrying saddle D and the body of the
collar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. A horse-collar carried by a saddle such as D adjustable in relation to the
collar proper, for the purpose of preventing friction between the collar and the
neck of the horse substantially as described.
2. In a collar such as described the combination with side picces such as B of a
screwed spindle such as C for rendering the width of the collar adjustable sub-
stantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a collar such as described the arrangement enabling the height or length
of the collar to be adjusted, for which purpose the saddle D is supported by bars
or rods such as B adjustable within the side pieces A of the collar substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In a horse collar the combination with two side pieces such as A and link
such as a connecting their lower ends together and by which the width of the lower
part of the collar may be adjusted of a screwed spindle such as C for enabling
the width of the upper part of the collar to be adjusted substantially as described.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1892.
ALFRED J. BOULT,
Chartered Patent Agent.