other Animals to the Vehicle or Saddle.
Year: 1885

page_text: other Animals to the Vehicle or Saddle.
We GEORGE JOHN HARCOURT of 50 Canynge Square Clifton in the city
& county of Bristol (Gentleman) and EDWARD SHAW of Canon's Marsh in the
city and county of Bristol, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our said
invention for ATTACHING THE REINS USED FOR GUIDING HORSES OR OTHER
ANIMALS TO THE VEHICLE OR SADDLE AS THE CASE MAY BE to be as follows:-
A frame attached in any suitable way to the vehicle or saddle and so made that
the reins can be slipped into it and lie against one side. The frame carries a cam
turning about a centre and so constructed that in one position the reins can be
inserted after which the cam is moved round so that its parts of greater radius
press against the reins, which are thus gripped between the frame and the cam.
The arrangement is such that the cam automatically tightens on the reins when
they are pulled by the animal.
If desired a roller may be placed on that side of the frame against which the
reins are pressed with its axis inclined in such a direction that the reins can be
more easily secured or detached.

page_text: other Animals to the Vehicle or Saddle.
We, GEORGE JOHN HARCOURT, of 50 Canynge Square, Clifton, in the County
of Gloucester, Gentleman, and EDWARD SHAW, of Canons Marsh, in the city and
county of Bristol, Engineer, 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 apparatus or device for gripping reins which constitutes this invention
consists of a frame, which may be conveniently termed a bracket, fitted with a cam
loosely carried on a pin which may be either made in one piece with the bracket,
or separately therefrom and secured thereto.
When the device is applied to a vehicle, the bracket is, by a pinching or binding
screw or the equivalent thereof, secured to the dash-board or front rail of the
vehicle, or is otherwise conveniently affixed.
When applied to a saddle, the bracket is secured thereto by screws or rivets or
by other suitable means.
The reins are passed below the cam, the bracket being open at the proper side
for that purpose. One rein is evenly laid on the other. A forward strain exerted
from the front upon the reins, as by a horse, causes the cam to move partially
round on the pin on which it is carried, it being understood that the reins are in
contact with the periphery of the cam.
The cam is so adjusted on the pin that as it is turned by a forward strain on the
reins, as aforesaid, its part of greater radius is brought to bear upon the reins
which are thus gripped between the cam and what may be termed the base of the
bracket or frame to a degree which increases with the strain exerted.
Hence the appliance constitutes a holder in which to place and make secure the
reins when a driver vacates the driving seat or a rider the saddle, or at such other
times and in such other circumstances as it may be desired to use it.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 represents a
view of the rein-gripping device as adapted for attachment to a vehicle and as seen
from behind the point of attachment. Fig. 2 is a view as seen from the side at
which the reins are inserted. Fig. 3 represents a plan of the device. The pin a,
which may be made in one piece with or secured to the bracket b, carries a cam c
free to partially revolve on the said pin a as axis. By means of the pinching or
binding screw d working in the front part of the bracket b, the latter is readily
secured to the dash-board or front rail of a vehicle, the board or rail being
interposed between the inner end of the screw d and the extended part of the back
of the bracket.
Instead of the pinching or binding screw d a spring or other suitable means may
be adopted for fixing the device in position.
On the outer end of the pin a is represented a tumbler e which is free to turn
This
on the pin and is so turned to admit the reins to pass below the cam c.
tumbler serves to keep the reins from slipping out at the open side of the bracket b
It is not, however, essential and may be dispensed with.

page_text: Before the reins are passed under the cam c they are arranged evenly one on the
other. If then a forward strain be exerted upon the reins from the front, as by a
horse, the cam, with which the uppermost rein is in contact, will tend to rotate on
the pin a in obedience to the strain and the part of greater radius of the cam will
be brought down to bear upon the reins and grip them between it and the base of
the frame b. The grip will be tightened as the strain is increased.
A backward strain exerted upon the reins from behind the point of attachment
of the device, as by the rider of a horse or the driver of a vehicle, causes the cam c
to partially rotate in the direction of the strain and thereby the grip upon the
reins is relaxed and they are free to be moved from under the cam and out of
the frame or bracket b.
When the device is applied to a saddle, the pinching or binding screw d and
lower extensions of the bracket b may be dispensed with, and the bracket attached
by screws or rivets passed through the bridge or base and into the saddle or
saddle tree.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. In apparatus for holding and gripping reins the use of a cam such as c so
shaped and disposed in a bracket, frame or support that it shall exert a grip or
pressure upon or against reins inserted between it at an opposite surface when the
reins tend to move forward and shall relax the grip when the reins are pulled from
behind or tend to move backward substantially as herein before described.
2. Apparatus for holding and gripping reins comprising a cam such as c, able to
turn on an axis or pivot in a frame bracket or support and means for affixing such
frame bracket or other support to a vehicle or saddle, substantially as herein before
described.
3. The combination of parts constituting the apparatus for holding and gripping
reins constructed arranged and operating as shewn and described.