AN IMPROVED ELASTIC HORSE COLLAR
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Stevens, of the British & Foreign Office for
Patents, 31, Charing Cross, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED ELASTIC HORSE COLLAR."-A communication from abroad
by Amedée Beaujouan, of 42, Rue Laffitte, Paris, in the Empire of
France.
Sealed the 15th August 1861, and dated the 23rd February 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Stevens at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd February 1861.
I, CHARLES STEVENS, of the British & Foreign Office for Patents, 31, Charing
Cross, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED ELASTIC HORSE COLLAR," (& that it has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Amedée Beaujouan, of 42, Rue Laffitte,
Paris, in the Empire of France), to be as follows:-
The present Invention consists of an improved elastic collar for horses,
which is made in the following manner :-On a rod and straw pad, similar to
those usually employed in collar-making, a collar of vulcanised india-rubber is
adapted, divided into separate compartments, the number of which is variable,
each of them being furnished with an opening for the introduction of air.
This vulcanised india-rubber is enveloped in strong prepared cloth or canvas
to prevent contact with the leather with which the whole is covered, and which
is laced on the outer side. A small apparatus of wood, horn, or ivory is

page_text: adapted to each of the tubes of the compartments to prevent the air from
escaping, being hermetically fastened by means of ligatures. These tubes,
when closed, are placed beneath the compartments so as to be protected from
accidents. In some cases, in order to give increased strength, a piece of
strong leather is added to the cloth enveloping the india-rubber; but this
precaution is not absolutely necessary and increases the cost of the collars.
The object of the system of divisions or compartments is to allow the collar to
be opened at the bottom, in the same way as those employed on the omnibus
lines at Paris, & to render repairs easy and inexpensive. The collar may,
however, be manufactured in a single piece, and may be inflated by the top or
the bottom at will, but in that case it cannot be opened, and we have there-
fore adopted the system of compartments or divisions above described. The
improved elastic collar does away with the difficulty caused by the different
conformations of horses, as it moulds itself, so to speak, to the form of the
horse from the strain occasioned by the draught, thereby preventing any
discomfort to the animal.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed,
by the said Charles Stevens in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd August 1861..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES,
STEVENS, of the British and Foreign Office for Patents, 31, Charing Cross, in
the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date: the Twenty-third day of February, in the year of our
Lord One 'thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in .the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Charles Stevens, Her special licence that I, the said Charles
Stevens, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or. such other as I, the
said Charles Stevens, my executors, administrators, 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 ELASTIC
HORSE COLLER," a communication to me from abroad by Amedée Beaujouan, of
42, Rue Laffitte, Paris, in the Empire of France, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Charles Stevens, my executors or administrators,

page_text: by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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.
I
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Stevens, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to say:
1
My Invention consists of an improved horse collar, which offers the advan-
tages of being considerable lighter than the ordinary collar and adapting itself
readily to the shape of the horse, thereby contributing greatly to the comfort
of the animal. The collar is constructed as follows:-On a rod and straw
pad, similar to those usually employed in collar making, a vulcanised india-
rubber covering is adapted, which is divided into separate compartments which
serve to contain the air with which the collar is stuffed. The tube by which
the air is introduced is perfectly closed by means of a small flat piece of wood,
bone, or other suitable material, round which the tube is bent, and then tightly
tied. The number of air-tight compartments may vary according to the wear
to which the collar is likely to be subjected. The india-rubber cushion is then
enclosed in a stout covering of canvas or other suitable material, to prevent it
coming in contact with the leather covering outside; a second leather
covering may be added to increase the strength, but for ordinary use is quite
The division of the india-rubber cushion into compartments is
in order that the collar may be more easily repaired, and also that it may
open at the bottom, as those worn by the horses used in the Paris omnibuses;
the cushion, however, can be made in one piece, having the air introduced
either at the top or bottom. The tubes by which the air is introduced are,
when closed, placed carefully beneath the cushion, and are thus secure from
accident.
unnecessary.
Fig. 1 represents a collar, one side of which is open, showing the india.
rubber cushion C with the tubes a closed after introduction of the air. A
represents the canvas envelope; B, the leather outside covering; D represents
the collar closed. Fig. 2 shows in detail the tube G and the flat piece of
wood or bone E before being tied. Fig. 3, the same, showing the end of the
tube G bent over the bone piece E, and secured by string. Fig. 4 represents
a collar open on one side, the india-rubber cushion C forming but one com-
partment. A is the second covering of canvas or other suitable material;
B, the leather covering; D, the side of the collar finished.

page_text: Having thus described my Invention, what I claim and desire to secure by
.Letters Patent. is, the introduction of an elastic cushion of vulcanised india,
rubber or other similar substance. in horse collars, either in one or several
compartments, in the manner and for the purposes above described; also the
mode of closing the tubes as above described and shown in the accompanying
Drawings, at the same time reserving to myself the right of modifying the
various details, as they may be varied without departing from the principle.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Stevens, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
CHARLES STEVENS. (L.S.)