Improvements in Means or Appliances for Coupling a Trace or Tug to the Extremity of a Whiffletree.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 6th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Appliances for Coupling a Trace or Tug
to the Extremity of a Whiffletree.
We, FINIS EWING LACK, JOSEPH LEOPOLD FRIEDMAN, and WILLIAM FRANCIS
PAXTON, all of Paducah, in the County of McCracken and State of Kentucky,
United States of America, Gentlemen, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 means for coupling a trace or tug to the extremity
if a whiffletree, and has for its object the provision of a fastener which will
admit of the coupling and uncoupling of the trace being easily effected, and
which will prevent its accidental disengagement when in position, the hook
obtaining a bearing at both ends upon the ferrule which latter closes the space
through which the cockeye passes, and the parts being so constructed as to guard
against a spreading of the hook when subjected to abnormal strain.
For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention refer-
ence is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description.
The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion,
and the minor details of construction without departing from the principle or
sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and for a full disclosure of the invention
an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a top plan view of an end portion of a whiffletree, showing the
improved fastening in position, the dotted lines showing the position of the hook
when moved rearward to admit of the coupling and uncoupling of the trace
or tug.
Figure 2 is an end view thereof.
Figure 3 is a detail view in perspective of the ferrule.
Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective of the hook.
Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and
indicated in the several views of the drawing by the same reference characters.
The ferrule is applied to an end of the whiffletree 2, and is secured thereto
in any of the usual ways, and is provided at its outer end with a cross bar 3
outwardly deflected or arched between its ends. A notch 4 is formed in the
outer end of the ferrule in front of the cross bar 3 and receives the shank 5
and the hook 6, and also provides clearance for the hook when manipulating it
for removal or placing in position. A depression 7 is formed in the rear side
of the ferrule a short distance from its outer end, and receives the bent extre-
mity 8 of the hook 6. The ferrule and cross bar are integrally formed.
The hook has a straight shank 5, and its bill 9 has its outer end portion pro-
jecting beyond and over the end of the shank and terminating in the bent
portion S, which is adapted to enter the depression 7. A cross head 10 is
provided at the free end of the shank 5 and overlaps and engages with the rear
side of the cross bar 3, and between this cross head and bent end 8, is formed
a passage for the ingress of the cockeye applied to the end of the trace or tug.

page_text: The hook constructed as set forth herein engages positively at its ends with a
ferrule, and the latter closes the passage through which the cockeye finds
entrance and egress, thereby preventing the accidental displacement of the trace
when coupled to the whiffletree in the manner set forth. By having the end
portions of the hook engaged positively with the ferrule they are prevented
from spreading when the hook is subjected to severe and abnormal strain, which
is of advantage in draft harness.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
=
1. In means for securing a trace or tug to a whiffletree or the like, the com-
bination of a ferrule having a cross bar at its outer end, and a hook having its
shank slidably mounted in the space formed between the said cross bar and
terminal of the ferrule and having its extremity headed to engage with the
rear side of the cross bar and limit the forward movement of the hook, and
having its bill portion extending beyond the said cross bar and curving in the
rear of the headed end of the shank and engaging with the rear side of the
ferrule, substantially as shown for the purpose specified.
2. In means for securing a trace or tug to a whiffletree or the like, the com-
bination of a ferrule provided at its outer end with a cross bar, and a hook
having its shank portion slidably mounted in the space formed between the cross
bar and outer end of the ferrule and headed to engage with the
rear side
of the cross bar, and having its bill portion exterior to the cross bar and curving
around, it and the headed end of the shank and having the extremity of the
bill bent and adapted to enter a depression in the rear side of the ferrule so as
to make positive engagement therewith, substantially as set forth.
3. In combination, a ferrule having a cross bar at its outer end midway
between its front and rear sides and having a depression in its rear side a short
distance from its outer end and having a notch forward of the cross bar, and
a hook having its shank portion slidably mounted in the space formed between
the cross bar and outer end of the ferrule and having its inner end headed to
engage with the rear side of the cross bar and its front end normally fitted in
the said notch, and having its bill curving around the cross bar and the headed
end of the shank and bent to make positive engagement with the recess in the
rear side of the ferrule, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 7th day of April 1898.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.