AN IMPROVED STRAP OR BAND FOR CONNECTING TOGETHER CERTAIN PARTS OF HARNESS AND SADDLERY, APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER PURPOSES WHERE STRAPS OR BANDS ARE USED."
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Blackwell, of Oxford Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Saddler and Harness Manufacturer, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED STRAP OR BAND FOR CONNECTING
TOGETHER CERTAIN PARTS OF HARNESS AND SADDLERY, APPLICABLE ALSO
TO OTHER PURPOSES WHERE STRAPS OR BANDS ARE USED."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Blackwell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 9th March 1853.
I, SAMUEL BLACKWELL, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED STRAP OR BAND FOR CONNECTING TOGETHER
CERTAIN PARTS OF HARNESS AND SADDLERY, APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER
PURPOSES WHERE STRAPS OR BANDS ARE USED," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in a new mode of forming straps or bands
of leather, by combining therewith an elastic substance or material,
such as india-rubber, or vulcanized india-rubber, whereby such said
straps or bands may be rendered available for the various purposes for
which rigid straps or bands of leather are now used; and straps or

page_text: bands made according to this Invention will be found more durable
and convenient than straps or bands as hitherto formed of leather or
other similarly rigid substance or material. And in order to explain
the nature of this Invention more fully, I will proceed to describe,
first, the illustrative drawing hereunto annexed, and afterwards some
of the various useful purposes to which straps or bands constructed
according to this Invention may be advantageously applied.
I will now
proceed to the
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Fig. 1, exhibits a side elevation of a strap or band constructed
according to this Invention.
Fig. 2, is an edge view thereof.
Fig. 2, shews the said strap or band distended or stretched out.
Fig. 3, shews the application of such said strap or band to a "girth"
for saddles, side saddle, dumb jockeys, and horse clothing generally.
Fig. 4, shews the application of such said strap or band to a roller
for horses.
At each of these Figures similar letters of reference are employed
to denote corresponding parts, in so far as such parts appear or can be
seen at each of the Figures respectively.
At Figs. 1, and 2, A, A, mark a buckle; B, a link of iron, to one
part of which a strap of leather C, is securely attached by sewing;
D, D, mark two pieces or thicknesses of india-rubber or vulcanized
india-rubber, which are passed round one part of the link B, and
bucklo A; and said pieces of india-rubber are securely fixed to the
pieces A, and B, by sewing or otherwise. It should be observed, that,
although the drawing exhibits two pieces or thicknesses of india-rubber,
it will sometimes be found necessary to employ only one of such pieces,
and this will, of course, depend upon the purpose to which the strap or
band is intended to be applied, and the amount of clasticity required;
and such part must, therefore, be constructed accordingly. The In-
ventor proposes, in some cases, to construct the strap or band with
string arranged as shown at Figs. 2, and 2, to prevent the india-rubber
from stretching too far.

page_text: I will now proceed to describe some of the principal purposes to
which the above-mentioned strap or band may be applied. And, first,
as regards saddlery and horse clothing, the Inventor proposes applying
the elastic strap or band to saddle girths, to allow the horse to respire
freely, as it is well known that saddle girths frequently become loose in
road riding or hunting, and thereby cause serious accidents. And,
further, the above-mentioned elastic strap or band may be applied with
advantage to rollers and surcingles that pass round horses and over
clothing when in the stable, thereby enabling the horse to take food
and water without inconvenience, as also allowing him to breathe freely,
and stretch, when lying down, without fear of the rollers breaking or
getting loose, a circumstance of frequent occurrence with rollers as
hitherto made, and often attended with dangerous consequences.
The above-mentioned strap or band may also be applied with advan-
tage to certain parts of harness, as well as saddlery; for example, to
martingales, cruppers, and kicking straps, to give freedom of movement
to the horse while working, and thereby prevent galling, chafing, and
injury thereto. The above-mentioned strap or band may also be applied
with advantage to spur buckles, gaiter buckles, brace buckles, buckles
for waistcoats and trousers, buckles for belts of military and naval
officers and men, especially the cavalry regiments, as it would keep the
leather and other belts firm, and, at the same time, allow the men to
respire freely. And, lastly, the above-mentioned straps or bands might
be applied with advantage to sword slings and gun slings, and to the
check-braces of carriages, to prevent the same from breaking by sudden
jerks, and as luggage straps to fasten trunks to the tops of carriages,
to prevent friction, and for other similar purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samuel Blackwell, in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 9th September 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
SAMUEL BLACKWELL, of Oxford Street, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her

page_text: Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Samuel Blackwell, Her special licence that
I, the said Samuel Blackwell, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Samuel Blackwell, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
STRAP OR BAND FOR CONNECTING TOGETHER CERTAIN PARTS OF HARNESS AND
SADDLERY, APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER PURPOSES WHERE STRAPS OR BANDS ARE
USED," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Samuel
Blackwell, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Blackwell, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
My Invention consists in a new mode of forming straps or bands of
leather intended to be used for the above-mentioned purposes, by com-
bining therewith an elastic substance or material, such as india-rubber
or vulcanized india-rubber, whereby such said straps or bands may be
rendered available for the various purposes for which rigid straps or
bands of leather are now used; and straps or bands constructed accord-
ing to my said Invention will be found more durable and convenient
than straps or bands as hitherto formed of leather, or other similarly
rigid substance or material. And in order to explain my said Inven-
tion as completely as possible, I will proceed to describe, firstly, the
best means I am acquainted with for carrying my said Invention into
practical effect; and, secondly, some of the various useful purposes

page_text: to which such said straps or bands may be advantageously applied,
reference being had to the illustrative drawing hereunto annexed, and
to the numeral figures and letters of reference marked thereon
respectively, as follows.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1, exhibits a side elevation of a strap or band, constructed
according to my said Invention. Figure 2, is an edgo view thereof.
Figure 3, a longitudinal section taken through the line A, B, at
Figure 1, shewing the elastic and other portions of the strap or band,
as they would appear when stretched to their utmost limit. Figure 3*,
exhibits the rein collapsed, and as it would be when out of use.
Figure 4, shews the application of such strap or band to a girth
for saddles, side saddles, dumb jockeys, and horse clothing generally.
Figure 5, shews the application of the said strap or band to a roller
for horses. Figure 6, is a perspective view of a military belt, shewing
the application of my Invention thereto at A. Figures 7, to 13, in-
clusive, exhibit detached portions, explanatory of the mode of con-
necting the india-rubber to the leather, or other substance or material,
employed in combination therewith. At each of the foregoing Figures
similar letters of reference are employed to denote corresponding parts,
in so far as such parts appear or can be seen at each of the Figures
respectively. At Figures 1, 2, 3, 3, and 4, A, A, marks are iron
buckle; B, a link, to one part of which a strap of leather C, is
securely fixed by sewing. D, D, marks a piece of india-rubber, or
vulcanized india-rubber, the ends whereof are attached to the buckle
A, and link B, by straps of metal E, riveted thereto (as exhibited at c,
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4). F, a plaited tube of hemp, or other strong
material, the length whereof, when stretched tight, should be as much
longer than the india-rubber D, as is necessary for giving to the same
the required amount of elasticity, or, in other words, as a check to limit
the extent to which the india-rubber is stretched, which will vary
according to circumstances, and the length of the plait must therefore
be adapted to suit the same.
The mode of constructing the above-mentioned strap is as follows.
I take a piece of sheet india-rubber (shewn at Figure 11,) of the

page_text: required size to form the clastic portion of the strap or band, and
I bevil the edges a, and b, thereof in opposite directions, as exhibited
at Figure 12. I then take a piece of plaited hemp, or other suit-
able strong material, plaited as a tube, by any of the known means;
and I pass a mesh or flat piece of iron or wood G, through said
plaited tube, taking care that the width of the said mesh is such as to
stretch the hempen plait so as to contract the length thereof to about
one half, or in any other proportion according to the amount of elas-
ticity which it is desired to give to the india-rubber; and I attach
the ends of said hempen plait to the india-rubber by solution, such
as is used for uniting india-rubber, by besmearing the hemp all round
the ends for about half an inch; and having done this, I bring
the two bevelled edges a, and 6, of the india-rubber together,
and unite them with solution by exerting moderate pressure thereon;
and when the solution has set or become solidified, so as to connect
the ends of the hempen plait securely to the india-rubber, I then
remove the mesh, or it may be removed before fixing the plait to the
india-rubber; after which the india-rubber is subjected to the vul-
canizing process, in the manner usually practised of vulcanizing india-
rubber; and the spring thus constructed is now ready to be attached
to a strap or band, which may be effected in the following manner,
and by the following means:-If it is desired to connect the india-
rubber to a buckle or link, as exhibited at Figure 1, I employ bent
plates E, (shewn detached at Figures 7, and 8.) and I serrate or notch
the inner surfaces of said plates near the ends, in order that when
such plates are connected to the india-rubber, (which may be effected
by rivetting at c,) the serrated or notched portions will hold the india-
rubber firmly, and prevent it from tearing at the holes through which
the rivets pass. And I further strengthen the ends of the india-rubber
by affixing thereto pieces of linen II, shewn at Figures 10, and 12, or
other suitable woven material. If it is desired to connect the india-
rubber to a piece of leather or other material, I then employ plates
of metal E, serrated as before stated, and rivetted together as exhibited
at Figure 9.
I now proceed to describe some of tho principal purposes to which

page_text: the above-mentioned strap or band may be applied. And first, as re-
gards saddlery and horse clothing. I propose applying the above-
mentioned strap or band to the girths and girth straps of saddles, to
allow horses to respire freely, as it is well known that saddle girths, as
hitherto constructed, become loose in road riding or hunting, and
thereby cause serious accidents. I would also remark that I am aware
of girths having hitherto been made of clastic materials, for the purpose
of obviating the above objections; all of which, I believe, have either
failed, or been found very imperfect, from the circumstance of the heat
from the horse's body softening the elastic material employed, and thereby
loosening the girth. The object and intention of my said Invention is
therefore to obviate this objection by constructing the girth in the
manner before described. The above-mentioned elastic strap or band
may also be applied with advantage to rollers and surcingles that pass
round horses, and over the clothing thereof, when in the stable, thereby
enabling the horse to take food and water without inconvenience, as
also allowing him to breathe freely and stretch when lying down without
fear of the rollers breaking or getting loose, a circumstance of frequent
occurrence with the rollers as hitherto constructed, and often attended
with dangerous consequences. The above-mentioned strap or band
may also be applied with advantage to certain parts of harness, such as
martingales, cruppers, and kicking straps, to give freedom of movement
to the horse whilst working, and thereby to prevent injury thereto by
galling and chafing. And further, the above-mentioned strap or band
may be applied with advantage to spur buckles, gaiter buckles, brace
buckles, buckles for waistcoats and trousers, buckles for belts worn by
military and naval officers and men, as exhibited at Figure 6, and will
be found especially adapted to cavalry regiments, as it will keep the
leather and other belts firm, and at the same time allow the men to
respire freely. And lastly, the above-mentioned straps or bands may
be applied with advantage to straps or bands employed for driving
machinery, and to sword slings and gun slings, and to the check braces
of carriages, to prevent them from breaking by sudden jerks, and as
luggage straps to fasten trunks to the tops of carriages, to prevent
friction of said straps, and for other similar purposes.

page_text: Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be and may be performed, I claim, as of my In-
vention of an improved strap or band, the combining of india-rubber
or vulcanized india-rubber with hemp or other strong material, in the
manner herein-before particularly described, set forth, and represented
by the illustrative drawing hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Samuel Blackwell, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
threc.
SAMUEL BLACKWELL. (L.S.)
Witness, ALEX. PRINCE, Patent Agent,
4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross.