Improvements in Harness Fittings.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 9th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 12th Mar. 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Harness Fittings.
I, JOHN ROBERTS PLACE of 66 Short Acre Street, Walsall in the County of
Stafford, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the metallic fittings of certain parts of harness, or the
equipments of draught animals, to wit:-the plate iron, or metallic pad plate of a
pad saddle, and the breast plate fittings, in connection with that class in which the
traces are made running in their action, and continuous.
In carrying out my new or improved pad-plate, or pad iron, I make the same of
the figure of an inverted U, with the terminal ends, or the terminals of the branches
of the same, spread outwards, so as to follow the figure of the harness pad in
connection with skeleton harness.
At the upper top side of the crown part, of the said plate or iron, is an upwardly
directed bracket, which may be of any design, such as a horse's head with neck,
and upon the rear part of the said head and neck, is a depending or stand
hook, or a bearing rein hook, alike unto a depending bracket, open at bottom and
closed at top.
Proceeding rearwardly from the rear of the crown of the pad plate or iron, and
at the junction of the bracket carrying the bearing-rein hook, is an outstanding
crupper loop, made preferably of an elliptical figure, with the axis thereof, lying
across the said back, which is connected by a bracket.
The crupper loop is detachable and so also is the bracket carrying the bearing
rein hook, and which parts are preferably united to the top side crown of their
carrier, by a single screw, and with the attachment part of the bracket of the
crupper loop, made recessed upon its underside, which takes within, and embraces
a like recess made within the crown of the carrier aforesaid.
The terminations of the branches of the pad plate or iron, may be fitted with
pad screws, or screwed terrett rings.
The breast plate fitting, consists of a combined trace guide, with a pole strap
D shaped loop, consisting of an attachment plate, with opposite upright brackets, to
the upper extremities of which the bar of the D shaped loop aforesaid, is jointed,
thus leaving space under the bar and between the brackets and base plate,
wherethrough the trace, which goes right round the breast in a continuous and
running manner, passes.
The connections of the loop with its bar, are side gapped or cut away, so that
the latter is narrower than from side to side of the former and so the loop inner
part takes a bearing upon the bracket, and is kept thereby from moving too far
inwards towards the attachment plate.
This combined trace-guide and pole-loop, is attached to the breast-plate of
harness; and which breast plate consists of a safe or long piece of leather,
breeching strap attached to safe part, and buckle at the heel end of the trace, to
take up or lengthen the same.
Dated this 8th day of May 1891.
JOHN ROBERTS PLACE,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Harness Fittings.
I, JOHN ROBERTS PLACE of 66 Short Acre Street, Walsall, in the County of
Stafford, Manufacturer, 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 to parts of harness or the equipments of draught animals
and also to some of the metallic fittings or parts of them.
The said invention consists first in a continuous or running trace, that is to say,
the trace, instead of being connected to the breast collar encircling the breast of an
animal, the same passes continuously around the said breast collar, and works to
and fro as the position of the horse changes, hence the non chafing of the animal,
or the moving of those parts to which traces are usually connected.
The second part of my invention relates to the construction of a combined trace
guide and dee and the third part to the construction, arrangement and fitting of a
harness saddle or pad.
In carrying out my new or improved pad plate, or saddle iron, I make the said
- saddle iron of the figure of an inverted U, with the terminal ends, or the terminals
of the branches of the same, spread outwards, so as to follow the figure of the
harness pad or saddle, in connection with skeleton harness.
At the upper top side of the crown part of the said plate or iron, is an upwardly
directed bracket, which may be of any design, such as a horse's head, with neck,
and upon the near part of the said head and neck, is a depending or stand hook, or a
bearing rein hook, alike unto a depending bracket, open at bottom, and closed
at top.
Proceeding rearwardly from the rear of the crown of the pad plate, or iron, and
at the junction of the bracket carrying the bearing rein hook, is an outstanding
crupper loop, made preferably of an elliptical figure, with the axis thereof, lying
across the said back, which is connected by a bracket.
The crupper loop is detachable and so also is the bracket carrying the bearing
rein hook; and which parts are preferably united to the top side crown of their
carrier, by a single screw, and with the attachment part of the bracket of the
crupper loop, made recessed upon its underside, which takes within, and embraces a
like recess made within the crown of the carrier aforesaid.
The terminations of the branches of the pad plate or iron, may be fitted with
pad screws, or screwed terrett rings.
The breast plate fitting, consists of a combined trace guide, with a pole strap
D shaped loop, consisting of an attachment plate, with opposite upright brackets, to
the upper extremities of which, the bar of the D shaped loop aforesaid, is jointed,
thus leaving space under the bar and between the brackets and base plate, where-
through the trace, which goes right round the breast in a continuous and running
manner, passes.
The connections of the loop with its bar, are side gapped or cut away, so that the
latter is narrower than from side to side of the former, and so the loop inner part,
takes a bearing. upon the bracket, and is thereby kept from moving too far inwards
towards the attachment plate.
This combined trace guide and pole loop, is attached to the breast collar plate of
the harness, and which breast collar plate, consists of a long piece of leather,
coming around the front of the horse and attached to the breeching at rear, by side
straps.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents the fore parts of a pair of
horses, provided with fore part or breast harness, constructed, arranged, fitted and
provided according to one part of my invention.

page_text: The breast collar of each horse, which is connected to the breeching straps by
side straps, is provided at the front part with a combined dee-loop and guide, where-
through continuous and running braces pass and work.
The dee-loop, which is combined with the guide, has pole straps buckled or
connected to it.
Figure 2 represents in side elevation, a pad or harness saddle, constructed, fitted
and provided according to another form of my invention.
Figure 3 represents partly in elevation, and partly in section, an enlarged view
of the said pad or harness saddle.
It will be seen that the bearing rein hook, which is carried by an attachable
and detachable upright bracket, and also the crupper loop, are carried by an
outside saddle iron or metallic framing, bridging the saddle or pad.
Figure 4 represents, partly in section, and partly in elevation, the said pad or
harness saddle.
Figure 5 is a plan of the crupper loop, and its plate connection.
Figure 6 represents a side elevation, partly in section of the combined dee-ring
and guide, with the strappings of the same.
Figure 7 represents a longitudinal vertical section of the breast collar and com-
bined dee ring and trace guide, and which trace, which is in elevation, shown
threaded through it in a running manner.
Figure 8 represents a side elevation of the combined guide and dee loop and
through which latter, a pole strap end is passed.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawings.
In the pad or harness saddle, a is the pad plate or saddle iron, directed bridge or
saddle-wise over the saddle b, consisting of an outside body part 2, with inside
padding, and with the pad or saddle iron a connected to the saddle by adjustable
screw or other connections b¹.
This pad or saddle iron, carries at its crown or summit a', an attachable and
detachable upright bracket c, having directed rearwardly from it, a depending
bearing rein hook d, alike unto a hanging bracket, open at bottom and closed
at top.
Proceeding rearwardly from the base of the bracket c, and resting crosswise
upon the extreme crown a¹ of the pad plate or harness iron b, is a crupper loop e,
with a flat carrying shank e², having limiting flanges e, which latter take upon the
two opposite sides of the metal of the said crown a', and drop within a recess 66,
sunken therein.
The said attachable and detachable parts are united or connected together by an
inside screw, which passes through the said crown, crupper loop carrying shank,
and into and up the middle of the bracket c, hence the connecting together of the
parts, on the screwing home of the said screw.
The bearing rein, which passes through or around the bar, of the bearing rein
hook, is continuous, and with its attached ends connected to the pad or harness
saddle.
In carrying out my invention in connection with a continuous trace, which slides
to and fro upon the breast collar, and through a guide, which is a fitting on the
front of the said collar; g is the said continuous trace, which moves to and fro
through the guide h, and in a running manner upon the breast collar i.
j is a dee loop jointedly connected by a pin j' to the guide h, which has a
clearance, whilst the shank end j³, of the said dee loop, has shoulders j' which
come against the top sides ³, of the bracket parts h', and form stops for preventing
the said dee loop from taking other than a right angle, or from folding down upon
the trace.
The breast collar has a breast lining, and is connected to side straps, which are
themselves buckled to the ends of a breeching strap.
The dee-loops have pole straps k, passed through them, as best seen in figure 1.

page_text: 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―
First In harness fittings or draught animal equipments, directing or running
the traces around the front or breast of a horse, in a continuous manner, so that
the same admits of working to and fro upon a breast collar, plate or their equivalent
placed thereunder, hence a continuous and runner trace, substantially as described
and set forth.
Secondly-In harness fittings or draught animal equipments, employing in
connection with a continuous and runner trace, of a combined trace guide and pole-
strap dee-loop as described and set forth.
Thirdly-In harness fittings and draught animal equipments, the combination
and arrangement of the parts of dee-loops and trace-guides as set forth.
Fourthly-In harness fittings combining with the head bracket of a pad or
harness saddle, of a bearing rein hook and crupper loop, substantially as described
and set forth.
Fifthly-In harness fittings, providing and fitting a pad or harness saddle with
an outside metallic framing or pad iron b, to form the framing of the said saddle or
pad, and to carry accessory parts substantially as described and set forth.
Sixthly-The combination with a saddle or pad-iron of harness fittings, of a
crupper loop and its attachment, and a bearing-rein hook and its attachment, and
which parts are connected and fitted together substantially as described and set
forth.
Dated this 8th dow of Feb 1900
JOHN ROBERTS PLACE,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.