Improvements in Bits, Bridles, and Reins.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 10th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bits, Bridles, and Reins.
I CHARLES ARMSTRONG of 6 Milner Street, Chelsea, London, General
Commission Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention consists of an improvement in all bits for the mouths of horses;
and consists in the hit being made thicker in one part than in another: thus the
outline of the bits will be wavy and not cylindrical as hitherto nor like any other
departure from the cylindrical form.
Armstrong claims to be the original, and sole inventor of bits which vary in
thickness in a wavy manner, and he seeks protection by Patent for all bits made
thicker and thinner, & again thicker, and thinner in this manner whether the
waves be all of one size or not, and whether they go all round the bit, or only
partly round the bit, or whether there be one or more waves in any bit; or only
part of a wave in any bit, or whether the waves go the whole length of the bit, or
only part of the length; or whether the waves be produced by the material being
made thicker & then thinner or by lines nearly parallel or by twisting the bit, or
by producing a wavy shape by any other means.
Armstrong further desires to include in this Patent; all reins that are cut in the
shape of a wedge; and also bridles without throatstraps; and also bridle reins &
heads with loops by which the bits can be readily changed.
1st September 1893.
CHARLES ARMSTRONG.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bits, Bridles, and Reins.
I CHARLES ARMSTRONG of 5 Wellington Square, Chelsea (late of 6 Milner
Street Chelsea) General Commission Agent, 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 invention consists of an improvement in various bits for the mouths of
horses, and consists in the bits being made thicker in one part than in another;
thus the outline of the bits will be wavy, and not cylindrical as hitherto, nor like
any other departure from the cylindrical form.
This is shown in the drawing marked B: the part E. F. G. shows the wary
principle, and the same wavy shape or pattern is also shown throughout the entire
mouthpiece H to J, and also in the mouthpieces of drawings K and L. The waves
are sometimes produced by thickening the metal of the mouth-piece; and making
it thinner in another part.
My invention is a shape or pattern and not a method of manufacture.
Sometimes I make the waves larger & at other times smaller; sometimes they go
the entire length of the bit & at other times only part of its length. Sometimes
they are made all round the bit & for other purposes only partly round the bit.
I also include in this Patent the wavy principle in a bit known as the Segundo
-see drawing K; and also in another bit called the Bentinck-see drawing - B.
1 further include all reins that are cut in the shape of a wedge whether those reins
are used for riding or driving-see drawing M.
Also include bridle reins & heads with loops by which the bits can be readily
taken off see drawing N.

page_text: This drawing N represents a strap of leather which when continued at G.
becomes the bridle rein; and the loop is formed by sewing at right angles to the
rein M a small piece of leather marked F in the drawing of loop. The rein G. O.
slips through the loop F, thus forming a loop at O, which is thus firmly attached to
any bit as it is now seen to be attached to the ring of the bit L. In the drawing
of the loop, the entire substance at G. O. M. N. is represented as made of leather,
but my invention covers every material and were the small loop F. made of metal
instead of leather, it would still be my invention, as the invention consists in
passing the strap G. through the ring F, and then through the loop F., thus firmly
attaching the strap G. to the ring P.
manner.
The attachment of the headpiece of the bridle to the bit is made in similar
The headpiece of a bridle is that strap, or straps; which support the bit
in the horse's mouth. The common method is to sew the leather head piece to the
ring P; but the head piece & bit cannot then be daily disconnected-the bit or bits
cannot be taken off the leather or other mountings. The rein G. is commonly
sewn in like manner to the ring P. Another common method of attaching the
leathern portions of a bridle to the bits is by buckles; thereby enabling a groom
to take the bits off & put them on again; but the buckles are disliked because of
their heavy & clumsy appearance. My sole & original invention of the loop as
shown in drawing at combines the neatness of the sewn-on bridle with the
convenience of a buckle; and being a shape, pattern or contrivance, it can be made
of leather or any other material.
The throatstrap of a bridle is a strap which passes from the top of a horse's head,
near his ears, and goes round his neck, under his throat; and is fastened round his
neck with the object of preventing the horse from getting the bridle off his head.
I find however that if the throatstrap be tight it is liable to choke the horse, &
retard his speed or interfere with his freedom of respiration; but if the throatstrap
be loose it does not hold the bridle on. My invention consists of doing away
with the throatstrap of a bridle altogether & substituting nothing whatever in its
place. My bridles will not come off even though they have no throatstrap & the
horse cannot be choked, because there is no strap round his neck in my bridles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. I claim to be the original and sole inventor of bits which vary in thickness in
a wavy manner, and I seek protection by Patent for all bits made thicker and
thinner in a wavy manner, whether the waves be all of one size or not, and whether
they go all round the bit or only partly round the bit, or whether there be one or
more waves in any bit, or only part of a wave in any bit; or whether the waves go
the entire length of the bit or only part of its length.
2. I claim to be the original & sole inventor of the wavy principle as applied to
the Segundo bit, drawing K. and the Bentinck bit drawing B. The application of the
wavy mouth-bar specially to these two bits is my sole invention & I claim
protection thereon by Patent.
3. I also claim as my sole invention all reins cut in shape of a wedge whether
used for riding or driving-see drawing M.
4. I further claim as my sole invention, a loop as shown at drawing N;
which loop allows the reins and head piece of bridle to be readily taken from
the bits.
5. I also claim to be the sole inventor of bridles without throatstraps. There
is no strap whatever round the horse's throat; nor anything else round his throat
in my plan.
oi o 1000
CHARLES ARMSTRONG.