IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGE FITTINGS TO FACILITATE IMMEDIATELY RELEASING THE HORSE OR HORSES FROM A CARRIAGE OR OTHER VEHICLE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Cornelius Woolnough, of 2, Elizabeth Street, Eaton Square,
S.W., Coach Maker, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGE
FITTINGS TO FACILITATE IMMEDIATELY RELEASING THE HORSE OR HORSES
FROM A CARRIAGE OR OTHER VEHICLE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Cornelius Woolnough at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th March 1880.
CORNELIUS WOOLNOUGH, of 2, Elizabeth Street, Eaton Square, S.W., Coach Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGE FITTINGS, TO FACILITATE IMMEDIATELY RELEASING
THE HORSE OR HORSES FROM A CARRIAGE OR OTHER VEHICLE, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES."
Heretofore the bolts technically termed "roller bolts and "dragon tongue bolts"
with which carriages and other vehicles are fitted for the purpose of attaching the
traces thereto, have either had the head and shank formed continuous or so
fitted together as to be immovable; while owing to the nut which takes on to the
threaded end of the shank being screwed up extremely tight so as to properly secure
the bolt it is impossible to readily unscrew the same in the case of accident in
order to liberate the horse or horses attached to the vehicle, thus frequently
resulting not only in considerable damage thereto but also in serious injury to its
occupants.
Another advantage is that the head of the roller bolt as at present made does not
afford a sufficiently secure foothold to the driver or other person when ascending
to or alighting from the coachman's box to guard against risk of accident-and-
consequent injury.
Now the object of my present Invention is to obviate these various disadvantages
and to supply a want long experienced by affording a ready means for almost
instantaneously releasing the horse or horses from a carriage or other vehicle in
case of accident, and also to afford a surer foothold in ascending and descending
from the driver's seat. This I effect in the following manner, videlicet:-The first
of my improvements consists in making the head and shank of the roller or dragon
tongue bolt separate, and so arranged as to readily screw and unscrew as desired.
By this means, in case of an accident arising either from the horse falling down or

page_text: through collision or otherwise, by simply unscrewing the head of the roller or dragon
tongue bolt the trace can be instantly disconnected therefrom, and the horse or
horses liberated from the vehicle.
One great advantage of this part of my Invention is that it does not necessitate
the slightest alteration in the harness, at the same time that it can be applied with
equal facility to any carriage or vehicle, and is suitable for either one or more
horses.
The second part of my Invention relates to affording a surer foothold for the
driver or other person when ascending or descending from the seat, as already
mentioned.
The head of the roller bolt as at present used is made of metal, which, in frosty
weather, is very liable to become exceedingly slippery, as also from the effects of
constant use. To obviate this I cover the head of the bolt with a padding or
cushion of vulcanised india rubber of any suitable form, and attached thereto in
any convenient manner. Such padding or cushion from its natural elasticity
affords a better and firmer grip to the foot than the naked surface of the metal, at
the same time that it is unaffected by frost and does not become slippery from
continued use.
From the foregoing description it will be obvious that my Invention possesses
the combined advantages of simplicity and utility with very slight additional
outlay.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Cornelius Woolnough in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
September 1880.
CORNELIUS WOOLNOUGH, of 2, Elizabeth Street, Eaton Square, S. W., Coach Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGE FITTINGS TO FACILITATE IMMEDIATELY RELEASING
THE HORSE OR HORSES FROM A CARRIAGE OR OTHER VEHICLE, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES."
વ
Heretofore the bolts technically termed " roller bolts" and "dragon tongue bolts"
with which carriages and other vehicles are fitted for the purpose of attaching the
traces thereto have either had the head and shank formed continuous or so fitted
together as to be immovable, while owing to the nut which takes on to the threaded
end of the shank being screwed up extremely tight so as to properly secure the
bolt it is impossible in case of accident to readily unscrew the same in order to
liberate the horse or horses attached to the vehicle, thus frequently involving
not only considerable damage thereto but also serious injury to its occupants.
Now the object of my present Invention is to obviate this disadvantage, and to
supply a want long experienced by affording a ready means for almost instan-
taneously releasing the horse or horses from a carriage or other vehicle in case of
accident.
The principle of my Invention consists in making the head and shank of a
carriage roller bolt or dragon tongue bolt easily detachable from each other. One
method of carrying out such principle is as follows, videlicet:-The head and shank
of the bolt are made separate from each other, while the head of the bolt is pro-
vided with a suitable plug, having a screw thread formed thereon. Such plug
takes into a central socket of any convenient dimensions, formed in the upper
portion of the shank of the bolt and provided with a female thread.
When the head and shank of a bolt so made are screwed together the bolt is in
every way as strong and effective as if such head and shank were made in one or
were united together as hitherto; whilst in case of necessity arising for so doing,
owing to the horse falling down or otherwise, the head of the bolt can be readily
detached by unscrewing the same, which thus allows of the trace being instan-
taneously released.
In Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings I have shewn a carriage roller bolt
constructed upon my improved principle and in the manner above described; while
in Figure 2 of such Drawings I have shewn a dragon tongue bolt constructed in a
similar manner.
One great advantage of such improved construction of carriage bolt is that it
does not necessitate the slightest alteration in the harness, at the same time that it
can be applied with equal facility to any carriage or vehicle, and is suitable for
either one or more horses.
With respect to the second part of my Invention, described in the Provisional
Specification filed by me as relating to covering the head of a roller carriage bolt
with a cushion of vulcanised india rubber and otherwise, as therein mentioned, I
desire it to be understood that I make no claim thereto, as I have since discovered
that the same is not new and has already formed the subject of Letters Patent.
With regard however to that part of my Invention which relates to the improved
construction of carriage bolt hereinbefore described I wish it to be distinctly under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the precise method of carrying out the same,
hereinbefore specified and illustrated, as the same will admit of various modifications
without departing from the principle of my Invention.
What I claim as my Invention and desire to secure by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is, the constructing a carriage roller bolt or dragon tongue

page_text: bolt with a movable head, capable of being easily detached from the shank so as to
allow of the trace being readily slipped off the same, and of the horse or horses
being almost instantaneously liberated from a carriage, waggon, or other vehicle in
case of accident.
In witness whereof, I, the said Cornelius Woolnough, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
CORNELIUS WOOLNOUGH. (L.S.)
Witness,
ELT, & Co.,
British and Foreign Patent Office,
33, Southampton Buildings,
London.