IMPROVEMENTS IN LINKS OR COUPLINGS FOR HARNESS AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Smith Fisher at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 18th January 1868.
I, GEORGE SMITH FISHER, of Buffalo, New York, United States of
America, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LINKS OR COUPLINGS FOR HARNESS
AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
The said Invention consists partly in the peculiar mode of constructing
links or rings with a split or opening which allows such links or rings to
be conveniently connected or disconnected with other links or couplings,
but will not allow them to become accidentally detached or removed
from the same.
The said Invention also consists partly in the combination of a split
or divided link or ring with a tongue or catch to form a buckle for
securing the link upon the reins or other parts of horses' harness or to
straps and bands for other purposes. The links or couplings are formed
of wire which is bent and twisted into the required shape. The two
ends of the wire are flattened and lapped over each other, the split or

page_text: division being between them. The said split or division is widened
at the exterior of the link to facilitate the insertion therein of any
article to which the link is to be united. When intended to serve as a
buckle an additional loop or eye is formed by bending the wire, and the
movable tongue or catch is fitted to the same in the usual manner.
Brass, iron, or other wire may be used in the construction of my
improved links or couplings, the size of the wire being adapted to the
various purposes for which the couplings may be required. The ends
of the wire are flattened at the sides, which are fitted evenly together,
the said ends overlapping each other for such a distance as will give the
required strength and security to the link, and yet will permit the same
to open easily at the split or division to allow a ring or other connection
to be easily introduced or removed. The split or division is widened at
the exterior of the link by chamferring or bevelling away a portion of
the contiguous surfaces of the overlapping ends, thereby forming a
V-shaped mouth or aperture. The link is placed with this mouth or
aperture upon the ring or other coupling to which it is to be united,
and by a slight pressure may be opened and pushed over the same.
When properly connected any attempt to pull the link away from the
said ring or other coupling will only cause the split portions of the
link to close more securely. When the link is combined with the tongue
or catch to serve as a buckle or fastening for any purpose, the wire
is bent or twisted to form a loop or eye of the proper form and size to
receive the strap or band to which it is to be secured. This loop or
eye may be conveniently produced by crossing the wire at a convenient
distance from the eye of the split link, the sides being flattened to
cause them to fit more compactly together. This crossed portion of
the wire forms the bar for carrying the tongue or catch of the buckle
which is fitted to turn upon the said bar and allows the strap or
band to be secured or removed in the ordinary manner.