Improvements in Apparatus or Appliances for Preventing Horses and other Animals from Falling when in Harness.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 10th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 14th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus or Appliances for Preventing Horses
and other Animals from Falling when in Harness.
I, EDWARD GLADSTONE, of 4, Essex Court, Temple, in the County of
London, Barrister at Law, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
:-
The object of my invention is to supply means as hereafter described whereby
horses and other draught animals are prevented from falling to the ground when
drawing four wheeled carriages.
According to my invention I provide a metal bar tubular or otherwise, or it
might be of wood or other suitable material or combination of materials connected
to, and projecting from, the fore part of the vehicle, say horizontally and over the
animal's back, or it might be curved or at an angle, according to the form or con-
struction of the vehicle and the height of the horse or other animal. The bars may
be arranged so as to be detachable from the vehicle when required. At the end of
this bar is attached one end of a girth which passes under the horse's belly just
behind its fore legs, the other end of the girth being also attached to the end of
the said bar, so that when the horse or other animal slips or falls, the whole weight
of his body simply rests in this belt and he is at once able to get on his legs again.
A small strap from this belly girth should pass from it between the horses fore legs
and be attached to the bottom of his collar or breast strap so as to keep it under
the fore part of body.
The number of projecting bars would depend upon the number of animals
harnessed and these bars should be supported from the fore part of the vehicle by
struts conveniently arranged for such purpose. The upper and outer ends of the
bars are or may be connected to the underside of the foot board of the driver.
Directly the horse begins to fall or slip, the whole weight of his body is taken off
his legs, the body being supported by, or resting in, the band or belt, so that
the animal can at once recover his legs without risk of any danger to himself.
The invention is particularly applicable to omnibuses, tram cars, cabs, vans, and
four wheeled vehicles generally.
10
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus or Appliances for Preventing Horses
and other Animals from Falling when in Harness.
I, EDWARD GLADSTONE, of 4, Essex Court, Temple, in the City of London,
Barrister at Law, 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 object of my invention is to afford means as hereafter described whereby
draught animals are prevented from falling to the ground, and my invention consists
in the employment of a support passing under their bodies and attached to or
supported by a pole, shaft, or other projection from the body of the vehicle, and for
this purpose I take a band of leather or other suitable material of sufficient width
and strength to support the weight of the horse or other animal, pass the same
[Price 6dI

page_text: round the body behind the fore legs slightly in advance of the centre of gravity of
the animal. I connect the two ends of such band together over his back and I
attach this band to a bar hereinafter described by means of a hook or other suitable
contrivance.
My invention will be best understood by further describing same with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 shows in side elevation an apparatus or appliance constructed
according to my invention and illustrating how the same would be applied to the
animal.
Figure 2 shows in back elevation the same apparatus.
From near the end of the pole shaft or other projection A from the front part of
the vehicle BI attach the struts or supports which may be conveniently composed
of a V shaped frame C made of iron, steel, or other suitable material which descends
at an angle as shown nearly to the level of the ground, at the end of which is fixed
a small iron or other wheel D or roller which is slightly above the surface of the
ground, and so arranged that when pressure comes upon the pole, shaft, or other
projection A such wheel may come in contact with the ground and thus support the
pole shaft or other projection in a horizontal position.
E is a bar or arm; at Figure 2 two of such bars or arms are shown extending
over the back or backs of the animal or animals, and such arms may be curved as
shown at Figure 2 to conform to the back of the animal. These arms E should
start from the point where the strut C joins the pole or shaft projection A.
FF are the leather or other bands passing round the animal and hooked to the
-arms-E..
If necessary I attach a small strap H between such band or-girth and the horses
collar for the purpose of keeping the same in place.
Directly the horse begins to fall or slip the whole weight of his body is taken off
his legs, the body being supported by, or resting in, the band or belt F so that the
animal can at once recover his legs without risk of any danger to himself.
The invention is particularly applicable to omnibuses, tram cars, cabs, vans, and
four wheeled vehicles generally.
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 The construction, arrangement, and method of action of apparatus or
appliances, whereby support is given to horses or other animals to prevent their
falling, and also to the pole shaft or other projection to enable such pole shaft or
other projection to bear the necessary strain to prevent its breaking or giving way,
when the horse or other animal brings its weight upon it when slipping or falling,
and substantially as set forth.
Second: In apparatus or appliances for preventing draught animals from falling
when in harness, the combination with the pole, shaft, or other projection A
supported by struts C C and wheel or roller D, of the arm E and band F, or of
arms E E and bands F F, constructed and acting substantially as set forth together
with any mere modification or modifications thereof.
Dated this 8th day of Januarv 1891
E. GLADSTONE.