Improvements connected with Bridle-bits.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Bridle-bits.
*
I, ALFRED DEWSBURY, trading as John Dewsbury and Son, of 22 Littleton
Street; Walsall in, the County of Stafford, Bridle-bit Manufacturer do hereby
déclare the rature 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 mouth of a horse or other animal is liable to be pinched, chafed or rubbed,.
and thus made sore, by the cheeks or corresponding parts of a bit and the butts
at the ends of the bit mouth to which such cheeks or corresponding parts are
jointed; and the object of this invention is to provide suitable shields of a soft and
elastic material and to place the same or adapt them to be placed around the bit
mouth so that when the bit is within the mouth of the horse or other animal such
shields are, respectively, between the opposite sides of the mouth of the horse or
other animal and the butts and cheeks or corresponding parts at the opposite ends
of the bit mouth.
The above object is accomplished, according to this invention, by constructing
discs of india-rubber, each having a central hole through which the bit mouth
passes when the disc is in position therearound. In the case of some bits, such
for instance as those of the Liverpool, Bradoon, and Wilson snaffle types, the discs.
may be passed over the ends of the bit mouths before the cheeks or corresponding
parts are attached. thereto; but in the case of some other bits, such for instance
as snaffles of all kinds other than the Wilson, hackney riding bits and bits having
mouths coated with indiarubber or "Centaur" composition, and in the case of
all bits in which the cheeks or corresponding parts have been already attached to
the bit mouths previously to the discs being placed therearound, the discs are each.
cut through one side to enable them to be put in place and the edges are then
joined up again by solution, or in any suitable manner heretofore practised in
joining edges of india-rubber, after the discs have been put in place. The india-
rubber is peculiarly soft and pliable and prevents injury to the mouth of the horse-
or other animal.
In order that the invention may be readily understood, I have shewn it in the
accompanying drawings, as applied by way of examples, in the cases of a Liverpool
bit and a loose ring snaffle bit.
Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, a side and front elevation of the Liverpool
bit, and
Figures 3 and 4 are, respectively, corresponding views of the loose ring snaffle bit..
The indiarubber discs a are shewn in section in Figures 2 and 4 in position
around the bit mouth 6 and up against the inner sides of the cheeks c just as they
would be if the bit were in a horse's mouth.
Figures 5 and 6 are, respectively, a detached front elevation and a detached
vertical section of one of the discs. In the case of the snaffle bit, the disc is cut
through one side as indicated by the line d, Figure 5, to enable it to be put in
place around the bit mouth and the edges are subsequently joined again as above
described.
The periphery of each disc is preferably rounded, as shewn, to avoid any sharp
edge at the inner side. A concentric bead or fillet e is shewn at the outer face of
each disc to improve its appearance, but such face may of course be ornamented as
desired. or may be left quite plain.

page_text: I am aware that small rubber rings, having the hoops of circular section, have
been placed within grooves of collars formed specially to receive them around the
mouth of a bridle bit; but such rings afford only partial protection to the mouth
of the animal, whereas the discs made according to this invention are so large as
to prevent the cheeks or corresponding parts from coming at all in contact with
the mouth of the animal; and, moreover, no preparation of the bit mouth is
required for receiving the discs, except that it may be made somewhat longer than
is usual, to allow for the thicknesses of the discs.
The term "indiarubber" in this Specification includes any elastic material into
the composition of which indiarubber largely enters.
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. India-rubber discs placed or adapted to be placed around the mouths of
bridle bits which are formed as usual without any preparation (other than as
regards their length) for the purpose of receiving such discs, substantially as
described, for the purpose set forth.
2. The means of placing in a permanent manner indiarubber discs, constructed
as and for the purpose of this invention, around the mouths of bridle bits which
have been previously attached to the cheeks or corresponding parts and which are
formed as usual without any preparation (otherwise than as regards their length)
for the purpose of receiving such discs, that is to say, by cutting the discs through
each at one side and joining the edges again after the discs have been placed
around the bit mouths, substantially as described.
Dated this 9th day of March 1896.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.