An Improvement in the Fastening of Covers to Horses and other Animals,
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1899-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Fastening of Covers to Horses and other
Animals,
I, GEORGE ALFRED MONTGOMERY, of Springfield, Canterbury, in the Colony
of New Zealand, Saddler, 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 an improvement in the fastening of covers to horses
and other animals, the object being to arrange the fastening so that, when
the cover is placed upon the animal and fastened, the hind legs of the animal
are prevented from being chafed or galled whilst allowing absolute freedom
of movement; and further, so that the cover cannot come off nor become dis-
placed no matter how the animal may move or roll upon the ground.
Referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1, is a plan of the underside of a cover spread out showing my improve-
ments.
Fig. 2, is a view of a cover in position upon a horse the fastening being shown
by dotted lines.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.
Two straps A are each fastened at the ends and in the centre to the underside
of cover, in such position that when the cover is placed upon the animal each
strap is adjacent to each hind leg respectively.
Two rings or slides B (preferably of metal) are placed upon each said strap,
each ring being placed between the end and centre of said strap.
To one of these rings or slides on each strap A, a leg strap C is secured the
outer end of which is provided with a spring hook D (or other suitable equiva-
lent). This strap may be, if desired in two parts with buckle, so as to be
lengthened or shortened as may be necessary.
The cover is placed upon the animal and fastened in front in the usual way
when each of the leg straps C are passed round the respective hind legs of the
animal and connected by means of the spring hooks D to the respective rings
or slides B on straps A.
When the cover is thus fastened, the straps C by means of the rings or slides B
are enabled to move forward or backward with each movement of the animal's
hind legs, without altering the position of the cover; and when the animal lies
down or rolls upon the ground the cover cannot become displaced.
Covers fastened in this manner require no crupper, thus preventing chafing
or cutting into the animal's tail which often causes lock-jaw; girths are also
not required.
I am aware that various forms of leg straps are in use for securing covers to
animals but I am not aware of any fastening consisting of straps capable of
sliding upon a fixed strap.

page_text: 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:
"
The combination with a cover for horses or other animals of two straps A,
each secured at both ends and in the centre to the underside of the cover in
such position as to be adjacent to each hind leg respectively of the animal
when the cover is put on each said strap being provided with two rings or
slides B to which the leg strap C is fastened, substantially as and for the purpose
herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of March 1899