Shaft Buffers for Road Vehicles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 15th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 28th June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Shaft Buffers for Road Vehicles.
Stuart SMYTH MILLER 11 Gordon House Road, Hampstead, London, Commercial
Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The shaft buffer is designed to minimise damage done in the accidental collision
of vehicles by blunting the blow given by the point of the shaft or pole of a
vehicle.
The shaft buffer consists of a loop of rounded metal swelling towards and somewhat
flattened on the face of the loop and presenting a surface which will not pierce any
person, animal, or vehicle upon impact therewith.
In form A of the shaft buffer the tail of the loop is locked to the point of the shaft
with a bayonet attachment so as to be instantly fixable after the horse is yoked to the
vehicle and removeable when it is desired to unyoke the horse.
In form B of the shaft buffer the tail of the loop is screwed securely to the point of
the pole or shaft.
In form C of the shaft buffer a recoil spring is inserted to diminish the force of a
blow given in collision.
The curves of the shaft buffer are modified so as to adapt them to the lines of any
shaft and retain the advantage of presenting the full face of the buffer to any object
in collision.
Any form of the shaft buffer can be padded on the face.
171 of A1000
STUART S. MILLER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Shaft Buffers for Road Vehicles.
I STUART SMYTH MILLER, 11 Gordon House Road, Hampstead, London, N.W.,
Commercial Clerk, 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 :-
My invention relates to appliances designed to minimise damage done in the
accidental collision of vehicles by blunting the blow if given by the point of the shaft
or by the point of the pole of a vehicle.
The invention consists in a loop of rounded metal either hollow or solid swelling
towards and somewhat flattened on the face of the loop and having a tubular con-
tinuation behind for slipping on to the point of the shaft or pole and locking with a
bayonet attachment so as to be easily fixable after the horse is yoked to the vehicle and
easily removeable when it is desired to unyoke the horse.
The invention when attached to the point of the shaft or pole of a vehicle presents
a surface which will not pierce any person, animal or vehicle upon impact
therewith.
My invention will be understood by the annexed drawings.
Fig. 1, represents the point of a shaft as at present in use.
Fig. 2, represents a detached shaft buffer.
Fig. 3, represents the point of a shaft protected by a shaft buffer fixed thereon.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein specified as the same may be
varied without departing from the principle of my Invention; for instance the

page_text: materials employed in the manufacture of the appliances may be metal, wood, rubber,
leather or composition, or a combination of any of these or other substances-Again the
connection with the shaft or pole may have a spring catch, or the socket of the buffer
may be slit to make it cling to the shaft, or the connection may be a fixed one
with screws or bolts-Again the curves or general shape of the appliances may be
modified so as to adapt them to the lines of any shaft or pole and retain the ad-
vantage of presenting the full face of the buffer to any object in collision-Again
the appliances may be fitted with a recoil action so as to diminish the force of a blow
given in collision-Again the appliances may be fitted with metal eyes or loops for
attaching chains or straps of harness. What I therefore desire to claim is
1st. Appliances for attachment to the point of the shaft or pole of a vehicle with
the object of blunting or diminishing the force of a blow given in collision sub-
stantially as described.
2nd. The manufacture, use and application of appliances for purposes substantially
as set forth.
T
1
1
STUART S. MILLER.