IMPROVEMENTS IN HARNESS
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Powell at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd June 1882.
WILLIAM POWELL of Merthyr Tydvil in the County of Glamorgan Saddler
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HARNESS."
My Invention relates in the first place to the construction of a Bridle rein
adapted to remove the ordinary liability to fall off the neck of the horse and
become entangled with the horse's feet and also to give increased power over the
horse.
And my Invention with reference to a bridle consists in the first place in
connecting the rein with the "chin stay" instead of being as usual over the neck of
the horse.
Also by the addition of the neck strap the rein can be removed from the "chin
stay" and connected to the neck strap, by which means an extended length is
given to the rein and an increased power can be made to act upon the neck as
well as on the head of the horse.
The two sides of the rein are united by a rivet or otherwise, thereby securing the
immediate action of both sides at once, while beyond the rivet or point of union of
the two sides, a loop or handle is formed, to which is applied a ring for connecting
the rein with the neck strap, thereby affording the means of acting in both a
horizontal and vertical direction on the head and neck of the horse; which
compound action is not obtained or secured by the ordinary rein.
My Invention consists in the second place in connecting the bit and rein to the
head part of the bridle by means of a drop link hook at the end of the rein
at each side, whereby the bit and rein can be detached from the head part of
the bridle and the reinaining part thereof used as a head collar if required.
My improved bridle rein can also be applied to an ordinary bridle by means of
the said drop link hooks.

page_text: The above described rein and neck strap can be constructed and arranged by the
use of chains or webbing instead of leather straps if preferred.
My Invention consists in the third place in adapting and applying to the ring of
the head part a tongue moving on a pivot for the purpose of securing the ring so
as to lie in an upright position against the "cheek" thereby preventing the
ordinary liability of the ring becoming entangled with any external object.
And my Invention with reference to other parts of harness relates to improve-
ments in the back strap and consists in constructing the "shaft tug" in the form
of two loops one within the other through which the shaft is passed, one loop
serving to support the shaft and the other to keep it down. These loops work
independently of each other and with a certain amount of play one on or within
the other, thereby allowing for the movements of the shaft and giving ease to the
horse.
Also instead of the back strap being in one continued piece, it is divided into
portions connected together by means of buckles. The central portion that passes
over the back of the horse has adjusting holes at each end for connecting the
"shaft tugs
as required, at the same time affording a means of releasing the
horse at either side. The belly band has also a buckle at each end by which
the horse can be released if required.
"

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Powell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd December
1882,
WILLIAM POWELL of Merthyr Tydvil in the County of Glamorgan Saddler
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HARNESS'
My Invention of "Improvements in Harness" relates in the first place to the
construction of a bridle rein adapted to remove the ordinary liability to fall off the
neck of the horse and become entangled with the horse's feet and also to givo
increased power over the horse,
"
And my Invention with reference to a bridle consists in the first place in
connecting the rein with the "chin stay or throat strap instead of being as usual
over the neck of the horse. Also by the addition of the neck strap the rein can be
removed from the "chin stay" and connected to the neck strap by which means an
extended length is given to the rein and an increased power can be made to act
upon the neck as well as head of the horse.
The two sides of the rein aro united by a rivet or otherwise thereby securing
the immediate action of both sides at once while beyond the rivet or point of
union of the two sides, a loop or handle is formed to which is applied a ring for
connecting the rein with the neck strap thereby affording the means of acting in
both a horizontal and vertical direction on the head and neck of the horse which
compound action is not obtained or secured by the ordinary rein.
My Invention consists in the second place in connecting the bit and rein to tho
head part of the bridle by means of a drop link hook at the end of the rein at each
side whereby the bit and rein can be detached from the head part of the bridle
and the remaining part thereof used as a head collar if required.
My improved bridle rein can also be applied to an ordinary bridle by means of
the said drop link hooks.
The above described rein and neck strap can be constructed and arranged by the
use of chains or webbing instead of leather straps if preferred.
My Invention consists in the third place in adapting and applying to the ring of
the head part a tongue moving on a pivot for the purpose of securing the ring so
as to lie in an upright position against the check" thereby preventing the
ordinary liability of the ring becoming entangled with any external object.
"
And my Invention with reference to other parts of harness relates to improve-
ments in the back strap and consists in constructing the "shaft tug" in the form
of two loops one within the other through which the shaft is passed one loop
serving to support the shaft and the other to keep it down.
These loops work independently of each other and with a certain amount of play
of one on or within the other thereby allowing for the movements of the shaft and
giving ease to the horse.
Also instead of the back strap being in one continued piece it is divided into
portions connected together by means of bucklos. The central portion that passes
over the back of the horse has adjusting holes at each end for connecting the
"shaft tugs
as required at the same time affording a means of releasing the horse
at either side. The belly band has also a buckle at each end by which the horse
can be released if required.
"
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention I will proceed to describe
more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings in which are represented the parts of harness above
referred to.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shews a bridle for pit harness applied to a horse. Figures 2 and 3 shew
part of the same on an enlarged scale detached. Fig. 4 shews the drop link hook
and Fig 5 represents the bridle applied to a horse's head and with the rein removed.
from the "chin stay" Fig: 1ª represents the Invention applied to gig harness.
Figures 7 and 8 represent the improvements in the back strap and Figures 9
and 10 are similar views of the same on an enlarged scale. In these several
figures the same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts A is the chin
stay to which the rein B is connected by means of a ring C the bit and rein being
connected to the "check " D by means of the drop link hook bereinafter described.
E is the neck strap which in Fig: 1 is shewn connected by a ring C to the rein B.
By means of this connection it will be seen that power can be exerted on the horse
in both a horizontal and vertical direction.
In Fig 5, the rein is shewn as disconnected from the neck strap and formed with
a loop or bandle at G and the two sides of the rein united by the rivet H by
which the immediate action of the two sides at once is secured.
In Figures 2 and 4 I is the drop link hook at the end of the rein at each side,
the ring K of which is secured in the hook by the dropping of the link L after the
ring has been passed into the hook. This link I is capable of turning on a pivot
so as to admit of the ring K being inserted in the hook I but of dropping by its
own gravity into the position shown in Fig: 4 and thereby holding the ring K
securely in the hook as required.-The bottom part of the drop link hook is formed
into a ring to which the rein and bit are connected.
In Figures 2 and 3 M is the tongue applied to the check D such tongue being
capable of moving on a pivot for the purpose of securing the ring K and
maintaining it in an upright position against the cheek as shewn in Fig: 3 so as
to prevent the liability of its becoming entangled with any external object. In
Figures 2 and 5 the tongue M and ring Kare shown in their working position.
"
In Figures 7 and 8 N is the upper and the lower of the two "shaft tug'
loops. The shaft P is passed through the loop O and is supported by the loop N
being kept down as required by the loop O a spiral spring or links of metal being
inserted as shewn at Q if found desirable for facilitating the entrance of the shaft
into the loop O.
kr
"
The back strap is divided into portions connected together by means of buckles
as shewn
The portion R' has adjusting holes S for connecting the
shaft tugs
and at the same time with the buckles affording a means of releasing the horse as
required. The belly band R2 has also a buckle T at each end by which the horse
can be released. These buckles T serve also to connect the belly band R² with the
part of the back strap to which the loop O is united.
The arrangement of the loops N and O and the position of the shaft within
the loop O will be more clearly seen on reference to the enlarged views Figures 9
and 10.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed I hereby declare that what I claim as of my
Invention is :-
-
First The construction of a bridle rein adapted to prevent its liability to fall
off the neck of the horse and also to give power over the horse substantially as
described with reference to Figures 1. 2 and 5.
Secondly-The drop link hook for connecting the bit and rein to the "cheek,"
substantially as described with reference to Fig: 4.
Thirdly The tongue for retaining the ring of the "cheek" of the bridle in a
vertical position substantially as described with reference to Fig: 3.
Fourthly The construction of the "shaft tug" in the form of two loops one

page_text: within the other substantially as described with reference to Figures 7. 8. 9
and 10.
And lastly: The back strap divided into portions in the manner and for the
purpose or purposes substantially as described
In witness whereof I the said William Powell have hereunto set my hand
and seal the twenty second day of December in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness
WILLIAM SPENCE
8, Quality Court
Chancery Lane
WILLIAM POWELL (L.S.)