IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO HARNESS FOR HORSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Alfred Barlow, of 6, St. Paul's Churchyard,
London, Patent Agent and Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
OR APPLICABLE TO HARNESS FOR HORSES." A communication from abroad by
Bernhard Rice, of Brooklyn, United States of America.
Sealed the 17th December 1878, and dated the 18th June 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Alfred Barlow at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th June 1878.
WALTER ALFRED BARLOW, of 6, St. Paul's Churchyard, London, Patent Agent
and Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO HARNESS FOR HORSES."
A communication from abroad by Bernhard Rice, of Brooklyn, United States of
America.
The object of this Invention is to provide improved blinkers for horses, which can
be drawn over the eyes of the animals by the driver.
It is well known that shy or timid horses are immediately calmed if their eyes
are covered, the sudden darkness thereby produced creating a feeling of helplessness
and dependency in the animal, which is thereby rendered obedient, and for this
purpose this Invention provides a novel kind of blinkers, which are placed on the
forehead of the horse, attached to the bridle in such a manner that from the seat
of the driver they can be caused to drop instantaneously over the eyes of the
animal.
The apparatus consists of two semicircular arcs or bands fitted to the bridle by
ears or hooks, said arcs or bands being fixed on pivoted arms.
The two arcs are connected by a blind or screen, on which several rows of rings
are provided, similarly to a window blind; through these rings are passed strings
which are fixed on the lower arc. On the upper are rings are provided, through
which the strings run, each separately, and then are jointly passed sideways through
another ring.

page_text: The bolts or pivots on which the arms are pivoted are provided with springs
which have the tendency to push one arm away from the other, whereby the blind
fixed between the arms will be drawn over the nose of the horse, and thereby cover
the eyes.
The action of these springs is counteracted by a spring which presses on the
strings, passing through the side ring, and retains them therein; the lower arc
therefore cannot drop, and the blind when not in use remains gathered up.
On to the counteracting spring a string or rein is fitted, which can be reached
from the seat of the driver, and by pulling this string the pressure of the said
spring ceases to act on the first-nained strings, which, being released, allow the
lower are to fall away from the upper arc, and to cover the eyes of the horse with
the blind.
The Invention will prove specially useful for vehicles which have to be left in
streets unguarded, as the horse, by simply lowering the blind, can be forced to stand
still; the same may be said of horses to be stopped near railways, or under any
similar circumstances.
If gathered up between the ares, the blind will not be seen, and then the arcs will
be an ornainent to the head gear.
SPECIFICATION in pursuanco of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Walter Alfred Barlow in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th g
December 1878.
WALTER ALFRED BARLOW, of 6, St. Paul's Churchyard, London, Patent Agent
and Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO HARNESS FOR HORSES."
A communication from abroad by Bernhard Rice, of Brooklyn, United States of
America.
The object of this Invention is to provide improved "blinkers" for horses or
other animals, which are so adapted as to be capable of being drawn over the eyes
of the said animals by the driver.
It is well known that shy or timid horses are immediately calmed or quicted if
their eyes are covered, the sudden darkness thereby produced creating a feeling of
helplessness and dependency in the animal, which is thereby rendered passive and
obedient to the person driving, and for this purpose this Invention provides a novel
kind of "blinker," which is placed on the forehead of the horse or other animal in
such manner that from the seat of the driver they can be caused to drop instan-
taneously over the eyes of the animal.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed,―
Fig. 1 shows a side view of the apparatus as fitted to the bridle of a horse.
Fig. 2 represents a side view of the apparatus constituting this Invention on a.
somewhat larger scale, the "blinker" being lowered, as indicated by the dotted lines
in Fig. 1.
-Fig. 3 is a front view of the "blinker" when gathered un.

page_text: The apparatus consists of two semicircular arcs or bands A, A', fitted to the
bridle by ears or hooks a, said arcs or bands being fixed on the arms D, D¹, by the
pivoting pin d.
The two arcs are connected by a blind, screen, or curtain, on which several rows
of rings b, b, are provided, similarly to a window blind; and through these rings
are passed strings ff, which are attached to the lower are A', and on the upper arc
rings are provided, through which the strings run, each separately, and then are
jointly passed sideways through another ring c.
The bolts or pivots on which the arms D, D', are pivoted are provided with
springs d, d, (Fig. 3), which have the tendency to push one arm away from the
other, whereby the blind fixed between the arms will be drawn over the nose of the
horse, and thereby cover the eyes.
The action of these springs is counteracted by a spring at c, which presses on the
strings ff passing through the side ring, and retains them therein; the lower are
therefore cannot drop, and the blind when not in use remains gathered up.
On to the counteracting spring c a string or rein E is fitted, which can be actuated
from the seat of the driver, and by pulling this string the pressure of the said
spring c ceases to act on the first-named strings f,f, which, being released, allow the
lower are A¹ to fall away from the upper arc A, and to cover the eyes of the horse
with the blind.
By pulling the strings f.f, the aro A¹ is again brought to the arc A, and by the
rings b, b', the blind will at the same time be gathered up, and is prevented from
falling by the before-mentioned spring c.
The Invention will prove specially useful when vehicles have to be left in streets
unattended, as by simply lowering the blind the horse will be forced to stand still;
the same may be said of horses to be stopped near railways, or under any similar
circumstances.
If gathered up between the arcs, the blind will not be seen, and then the arcs will
be an ornament to the head gear.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention in such
wise that the same may be carried into practice, I claim,-
Firstly. As an improvement in and applicable to harness for horses, the "blinkers,"
consisting of two arcs connected by a blind or curtain, one of which arcs upon being
separated from the other will spread a cover over the eyes of the animal, as horein
described, and shown by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. In an apparatus, as herein described and shown, the connection of the
two arcs by arms D, D¹, pivoting on pins or studs, and provided with the strings E, f,
and springs c, d, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Alfred Barlow, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
In the presence of
A. E. WELSH (his clerk),
6, St. Paul's Churchyard,
London.
WALTER A. BARLOW. (L.S.)