Improvements in Curb-bits.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 28th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Curb-bits.
I, CHARLES HENRY BUTLIN, of Camborne, in the County of Cornwall, Surgeon,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct a curb-bit in such a manner that a
driving rein only is required, the rein for the curb as at present used, being entirely
dispensed with.
According to this invention I hinge or pivot an arm to the bottom of each cheek
piece of the curb, and to the extremity of these pivoted arms I attach the driving
reins in the ordinary manner. To each cheek piece I also affix a horizontal arm
projecting forwards, and to the front of these horizontal arms are affixed spiral or
other springs connected by means of a cord or chain to a small pulley bearing
against the underside of the pivoted arms aforesaid. By this construction when the
rein is pulled with a force anything less than the power of the spring, the snaffle or
simple part of the bit will alone act, but when more force is used, the pivoted arm
is turned down horizontally, or nearly so, thus bringing down the pulley and its
attached chain or cord and extending the spring, the pulley will thus slide towards
the pivoted end of the lever. When the rein is released, the spring returns the
pivoted arm to its initial position close against the check piece.
As a modification of my inventiou, the outwardly projecting arms may be hinged
to the cheek pieces and the ends of the springs attached to the cheek pieces and
projecting arms aforesaid, the springs being so arranged as to keep the said arms
normally horizontal, or nearly so. The cords or chains are fastened to the extremities
of these said arms, and the attached pulleys bear against the underside of the arms
pivoted to the bottom of the cheek pieces as before.
66
CASTLE SMITH,
Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Curb-bits.
I, CHARLES HENRY BUTLIN, of Camborne, in the County of Cornwall, Surgeon,
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 this invention is to construct a curb-bit in such a manner that a
driving rein only is required, the rein for the curb as at present used, being entirely
dispensed with.
According to this invention I hinge or pivot an arm to the bottom of each check
piece of the curb, and to the extremity of these pivoted arms I attach the driving
reins in the ordinary manner. To each cheek piece I also affix a horizontal arm
projecting forwards, and to the front of these horizontal arms are affixed spiral or
other springs connected by means of a cord or chain to a small pulley, bearing
against the underside of the pivoted arms aforesaid. By this construction, when
the rein is pulled with a force anything less than the power of the spring, the
snaffle or simple part of the bit will alone act, but when more force is used, the
pivoted arm is turned down horizontally, or nearly so, thus bringing down the pulley
and its attached chain or cord and extending the spring, the pulley will thus slide
Di Q77

page_text: towards the pivoted end of the lever. When the rein is released, the spring returns
the pivoted arm to its initial position close against the check piece.
As a modification of my invention, the outwardly projecting arms may be hinged
to the cheek pieces and the ends of the springs attached to the check pieces and
projecting arms aforesaid, the springs being so arranged as to keep the said arms
normally horizontal or nearly so. The cords, or chains, or connecting rods are
fastened to the extremities of the said arms and to the attached pulleys which
bear against the underside of the arms pivoted to the bottom of the cheek pieces
as before.
-
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood and carried into
practice, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which similar letters are used to indicate corresponding parts throughout.
But I do not limit myself to the precise details here described.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of curb-bit according to my invention having coiled
springs A affixed to the forwardly projecting arms B. This view shews the right
hand rein C as it would appear when pulled with considerable force so as to over-
come the power of the spring A, thus exerting considerable leverage on the bit.
The left hand rein el is in its normal position.
Figure 2 shews a perspective view of the modified form of my invention wherein
the forwardly projecting arms B are pivoted to the cheek pieces E, the springs A.
being also attached to the cheek pieces. In this view also the position of the parts
is shewn as they would appear when the right hand rein C is pulled with considerable
force, the left hand rein being in its normal position.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the bit shewn in Figure 2, when the rein is
untouched or only slightly pulled;
Figure 4 is a similar view when the rein is pulled hard over; and
Figure 5 is part of a back elevation of this bit looking in the direction of the
arrow shewn in Figure 3.
In Figure each horizontal arm B is rivetted, brazed, or otherwise rigidly
affixed, to the cheek piece E at or just immediately below the junction of the
mouth-bar D with the cheek piece E. The arm B projects forward i.e. in the
direction in which the animal is going, and to its forward end, on the outside, is
secured one extremity of a helical or coiled spring A. The other extremity of this
spring is secured to a double chain, wire, or cord, or to a fork or stirrup shaped
piece F, carrying a roller or pulley G loose on a fixed spindle joining the two sides
of the fork or stirrup shaped piece F. If desired the pulley or roller G may be
fast on the spindle H whose ends rest in suitable bearings in the sides of the fork
or stirrup piece F. The arm J, to which the rein is secured, is passed between the
two sides of the said fork or stirrup piece F, and is pivoted at K to the lower end of
the cheek piece and on the outside thereof. The power of the spring A is so
adjusted as to keep the roller or pulley G bearing against the rear side of the rein
arm J, which normally remains in a vertical position parallel with the check
piece E as shown on the left side of the bit. With a gentle pull on the rein, the
parts will remain in their normal position and the bit will act as a snaffle or simple
bit only. When the animal bolts, or becomes restive, or from any other cause is
required to be suddenly pulled up or checked, a strong pull on the rein will
overcome the power of the spring and will turn the rein arm J over at an angle to
the cheek piece until it is horizontal or nearly so, thereby exerting powerful
leverage on the bit; namely, the direct pull of the rein arm J on the bottom of the
cheek piece E, and the pressure of the said rein arm on the roller or pulley G
causing it to slide or roll down to the pivoted end of the rein arm J. By this
means, the bar D is forced upwards towards the back of the animal's mouth, and
the curb chain L is forced against the under jaw.
In the modified form of my invention shewn in Figures 2 to 5, the arm B is
pivoted at M on the outside of the cheek piece, and a cam or tail piece N is
attached to, or formed integral with, the arm B. Against the back of this cam or
tail piece N bears a knife spring A¹ turned on itself round a stud at Y to give it

page_text: greater length and secured at X on a bulge or projection affixed to or formed on the
cheek piece E. To the front end of the arm B is pivoted at O a rod F¹ bifurcated
at its rear end, or parallel rods may be used so as to take the roller or pulley G
which bears on the rear side of the rein arm J. The pressure of the spring A' on
the cam or tail piece N keeps the arm B normally horizontal, as shewn in Figure 3.
When however the rein is strongly pulled, the rein arm J is pulled down and the
roller or pulley G slides to the bottom, as in the first form of my invention. The
rod or lever F however pulls down the end of the arm B, turning the same on its
pivot M, thereby holding back the knife spring A.'. In this position, the action on
the curb is the same as that hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1
under similar circumstances.
I am aware that it has been already proposed to apply a spring to a curb bit
for the purposes herein set forth but hitherto the spring has been attached
direct to the top of the cheek piece and the rein attached to a collar or sleeve
sliding over the cheek piece so that when the rein was strongly pulled, the collar
or sleeve would slide to the bottom of the cheek piece and turn the said check
piece over at an angle. This is objectionable because the fixed end of the spring
was necessarily attached to the cheek piece above the mouth bar, so that a good
deal of the force applied to the rein was exerted to no purpose.
Also the action
of the bit would be capricious depending on the position of the horse's mouth,
for if he brings his mouth near the chest, a very small pull would bring the curb
into action.
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 :-
(1) A curb-bit having a forwardly projecting arm B rigidly affixed to each
cheek piece E at or near the junction of the mouth bar with the cheek piece, to
the front end of which said arm B is secured the end of coiled or helical spring A
whose other end carries a roller or pulley G which rides over the rear end of
a rein arm J when the rein is pulled with force the said rein arm J being pivoted
or hinged at the bottom of the cheek piece operating substantially in the manner
described and illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings and for the
purpose stated.
(2) A curb-bit with a forwardly projecting arm pivoted to the outside of the
check piece and actuated by a spring, the forward end of the said projecting arm
being pivoted to a rod, or lever, or chain, or cord attached to a roller or pulley
which rides over the rear side of a rein arm when the rein is pulled with force,
the said rein arm being pivoted or hinged to the bottom of the cheek piece
operating substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth and illustrated
in Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
(3) In a curb-bit wherein a spring is used for the purpose specified a projecting
arm such as B connected with a roller or pulley riding over a rein arm sub-
stantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Dated this 30th dox of Ontober 1800.
CASTLE SMITH,
Per F. W. Golby,
"Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.