Improvements in Devices for Disconnecting Chains, Straps, Ropes, and the like from their Joints or Buckles or Fastenings.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 11th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Disconnecting Chains, Straps, Ropes,
and the like from their Joints or Buckles or Fastenings.
I, LUDWIG BECKER of Frankfort-on-Maine in the Empire of Germany, Clerk,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to devices for readily and easily disconnecting chains,
straps, ropes and the like from their joints, buckles, hoops, rings or other fastening
or connecting appliances, and my said invention is principally designed to be applied
to the harness-straps, chains and ropes by which a horse or horses or other draught
cattle are fastened to a carriage, car or other vehicle or machine, for the purpose
of releasing such animals from the harness, when they fall, with the least possible
delay. The improved devices of my invention also allow of detaching unmanageable
or terrified horses from the coachman's seat without a moment's delay, whereby the
coach, carriage or other vehicle and the persons or goods therein seated or carried
may be saved from imminent danger.
The improved devices for disconnecting chains, ropes, straps and the like,
according to my invention, essentially consist in a prong or prongs, similar to those
used in buckles, said prong or prongs, when locked in position, serving to connect
the chain, strap, rope or other connecting device to the ring, hoop, strap or buckle
to which it had been fastened, and which prong or prongs, when released or
unlocked, allow the connecting devices to readily slip off the said prong or prongs,
thereby disconnecting the joint automatically.
Buckles, with a prong capable of being locked in position and unlocked by a key
or otherwise, for the purpose of disconnecting the joint which had been established
by the buckle, have been known and used before, and my invention does not broadly
claim the use of a prong or prongs arranged to be locked and released.
According to one arrangement, my said invention consists of a hoop or frame,
one side or stay of which serves to hold the chain, strap, cord or rope to be jointed.
Within the said hoop or frame, a hollow cylinder is secured, the two ends of which
are closed and the rear end bottom having a central hole for the passage of a bolt
or latch, while the front end bottom of said cylinder has cut into it a slot, into
which fits the free end of a prong pivotted on the side or stay of the frame opposite
to the side or stay to which the chain, strap or rope is secured. Inside the said
cylinder, a spring is coiled, around the bolt or latch, tending to force the said
bolt or latch forward for locking the prong, the- free end of which enters into a
recess provided in the head of the said bolt or latch.
The said prong, pivotted, as described, to one side or stay of the hoop or frame,
engages with the counterpart of the joint or connecting device and holds the same
The rear
secured, while the prong is being kept locked by the said bolt or latch.
end of said bolt or latch projects from the bottom of the cylinder, and has a lug or
hook formed to it, wherein a cord, strap or chain may be fastened for the purpose
of pulling back said bolt or latch and thereby releasing the prong, which, when
released, is free to turn on its pivot, leaving the connecting device free to slip off
from said prong, whereby the joint is at once disconnected.
The said connecting device employed for being engaged with the said prong
preferably consists of a hoop or frame, similar to the main hoop or frame within
which the cylinder and bolt or latch are secured, as described, but of a peculiar
shape, with a bent portion to adapt itself to the side or stay which serves as a pivot
to the prong. Owing to this peculiar shape and bent portion, which has a bearing
against the said pivot or stay, the strain, which is being worked by said connecting
hoop upon the prong engaged within the same, is greatly reduced and only works

page_text: a slight lateral pressure on said prong. By this means, I obtain the ready and
easy disconnection of the joint, even when there is a very strong tension in the
joint. If the said strain or tension would have to be resisted by the prong alone,
or mainly, it would be difficult to release the same.
Another arrangement of my invention consists in providing three prongs, instead
of one, to connect three chains, straps, cords or ropes at a time, and to disconnect
them all at once, when desired. The two additional prongs, in this case, are
pivotted, each on one of the sides of the main frame, and they extend with
their free ends slightly beyond the central line of the frame, said free ends being
locked in position by the main prong before described, as long as the same is kept
locked by the bolt or latch, as described. The two additional prongs may each be
engaged by a connecting hoop or frame of the same kind as described, and being
engaged with the main prong or with other connecting devices. The three
prongs are all held in the locked position by the said bolt or latch under the pressure
of the spring encircling the same, and, when the said bolt or latch is pulled back,
the main prong will at once be free and the additional prongs find no further
resistance or bearing on the main prong, and the joint is automatically disconnected
in all three directions.
According to another arrangement of. my invention, the prong, pivotted to the
main frame and locked or unlocked by the bolt or latch working in the cylinder of
said main frame, is formed of two halves, each half having an independent motion
of its own, or one of said halves being rigidly secured on its pivot. The said halves
of the prong, in this case, are constructed to form elbow-levers, one arm of which
serves as the prong proper to be locked or engaged by the bolt or latch, as
described, the other arm being bent to form a hook, into which a connecting hoop,
ring or hook may be hung to joint the ends of two chains, straps, ropes, cords or
the like. As long as the prong proper is held locked by the bolt or latch, the hook-
shaped arms of said sectional prong are rigidly held in position to carry the hoop,
loop, ring or eye of the connecting joint. But, as soon as the bolt or latch is pulled
back, one or both sections of the prong will turn, and the hook-shaped arms come
free of the hoop, loop, ring or eye, on to which they had been engaged. The joint,
thereby, is automatically disconnected.
A further arrangement of my said invention consists in providing a locking
prong of a curved shape, in combination with a main frame, the end of which,
carrying said prong, is slightly bent in the opposite direction to the bent portion of
the prong. By this means, the prong may directly be engaged into a ring, lug,
hook or eye of the chain, strap, rope or cord to be jointed, and the use of a peculiar
connecting hoop or frame, as before described, and employed to be engaged with
the prong of straight form, may be dispensed with.
Dated this 11th day of February 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Disconnecting Chains, Straps, Ropes,
and the like from their Joints or Buckles or Fastenings.
I, LUDWIG BECKER, of Frankfurt-on-Main in the Empire of Germany, 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 devices for readily and easily disconnecting chains,
straps, ropes and the like, from their joints, buckles, hoops, rings or other fastening
or connecting appliances and my said invention is principally designed to be applied
to harness-straps, chains and ropes by which a horse or horses or other draught
cattle are fastened to a carriage, car or other vehicle or machine for the purpose of
I

page_text: releasing or unfastening such animals from their harness, when they fall, with the
least possible delay.
The improved devices of my invention also allow of detaching unmanageable or
terrified horses from the coachman's seat, without a moment's delay, whereby the
coach, carriage or other vehicle, and the persons or goods therein seated or carried,
may be saved from imminent danger.
The improved devices for disconnecting chains, ropes, straps and the like
essentially consist, according to my invention, in a prong or prongs, similar to those
used in buckles, said prong or prongs, when locked in position, serving to connect
the chain, strap, rope or other connecting device to the ring, hoop, strap or buckle
to which it had been fastened and which prong or prongs, when released or unlocked,
allow the connecting devices to readily slip off the said prong or prongs, thereby
disconnecting the joint automatically.
Buckles with a prong capable of being locked in position and unlocked by a key
or otherwise, for the purpose of disconnecting the joint which had been established
by the buckle are known and have been used before, and I do not broadly claim
as my invention the use of a prong or prongs arranged to be locked and
released.
In the accompanying drawings, a disconnecting device, constructed according to
my invention, with a single prong, is represented in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4,—
Figure 1 being a front elevation of the device;
Figure 2 a side elevation of the same;
Figure 3 a vertical section drawn to the line w-x of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a transverse section drawn to the line k-l of Figure 1.
Another modification of the device, having three prongs which are locked and
unlocked at a time, is shown in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8.
Figure 5 is a front elevation of the device, with the three connecting hoops in
place, connected by the three respective prongs.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the device, the three connecting hoops being
omitted;
Figure 7 is a sectional front elevation of Figure 6 ;
Figure 8 is a transverse section drawn to line -v of Figure 5;
Figure 9 is a transverse section, similar to that of Figure 8, showing another
application of the connecting device;
Figures 10 and 11 are, respectively, a side elevation and a front elevation of a
modification shown in Figures 1 to 4, the device having but one prong;
Figure 12 is a sectional side elevation ;
Figure 13 a section drawn to line y-y of Figure 12;
Figure 14 a transverse section drawn to line - of Figure 13; these figures
represent a further modification of my improved disconnecting device;
Figure 15 is a sectional side elevation of another modification of my invention.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, b is a hoop or frame, one small side or stay e¹
of which serves to hold the chain, strap, cord or rope to be jointed. Within the
said hoop or frame b, a hollow cylinder a is secured, or formed integral with the
hoop b, the two ends of which cylinder a are closed. The rear bottom of said
cylinder has a central hole for the passage of a bolt or latch f, while the front
bottom of the cylinder a has cut into it a transverse slot, into which enters the free
end of a prong d pivotally mounted on the side or stay e of the frame b. Inside
of the said cylinder a a spring g is coiled around the bolt or latch f, tending to
force the same forward in engagement with the free end of the prong d, which,
entering into a bore or recess of the head of said latch f, is locked in position and
prevented from turning on its stay e.
The said prong d, pivoted, as described, on the stay e and locked with its free
end by the latch f, engages with the counter-part of the joint or connecting device
and holds the same secured, while the locking position continues. The rear end
of said bolt or latch projects from the bottom of the cylinder a and has a lug or
hook formed to it, wherein a cord, strap, wire or chain may be fastened for the

page_text: purpose of pulling the said bolt or latch back and thereby release the prong d
engaged by it, which prong, when released is free to turn on its pivot e, thus
allowing the counter-part of the connecting device to slip off from the prong,
whereby the joint is at once disconnected.
The said counter-part, engaged and held by the prong d, while being locked,
consists, according to the modification of my invention shown in Figures 1, 2
and 5, of a hoop or frame c of a peculiar shape, with a bent portion, as shown
in Figure 2, into the curve of which bent portion the stay e or pivot of the
prong d, adapts itself. Owing to this peculiar shape and bent portion of the
connecting frame c, the strain which is being exerted by said frame c upon
the prong d is greatly reduced, said strain being principally exercised against the
stay e and the prong d enduring but a slight lateral pressure. By this means
the joint may at any time be readily and easily disconnected even if there be a
very strong strain working. If the said strain or tension would have to be
resisted by the prong d alone, or mainly, it would be difficult to release the
said prong.
In the modification shown in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8, I have provided three
prongs d d d instead of one, and by this means three chains, straps, cords or
ropes may at a time be connected to the frame and disconnected all at once,
when desired. The prong d is arranged as in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 and locked
by the head of the latch f; the two additional prongs d' d² are pivoted,
respectively, on the side portions of frame and they extend with their free and
slightly deflected ends beyond the central line of the frame b and there are locked
in position by the main prong d, as long as the same is kept locked by the bolt or
latch, as described. Thus, the said bolt or latch ' serves to lock the three
prongs all at a time, and, when the said bolt or latch is pulled back to set the main
prong d free, the additional prongs d¹ d² find no further resistance or bearing
against the main prong d, and the joint is at once automatically disconnected in
every direction.
The two additional prongs d' d' may each be engaged with a hoop or frame c¹ c²
of the same kind as the hoop or frame c engaged with the main prong d, as
shown in Figure 5. Each hoop or frame c, c', has fastened to it a strap, cord,
chain or rope, s, s'_s, while the frame holds by its stay e¹ a fourth strap, cord,
chain or ropes. The prong d, locked by the latch f, holds all these four straps,
etcetera, connected, and, being released by one pull of the latch f, all four
straps s, s¹, s, ³ are simultaneously disconnected.
The connecting hoops or frames c c¹² may be replaced by other suitable devices.
A modification of this kind is shown in Figure 9. To the prongs d d are hung
rings or links cc, into which the straps of the pole are fastened.
When the
prongs a dare released by the prong d being set free, as described, the rings c³, c
will slip off said prongs d¹d. The said rings or links 3 c may further be passed
respectively through a ring, hoop or link i serving to connect the cross-straps &¹ 8°.
When the rings c c become free from the prongs d¹ d², they also slip out of the
rings i, and the whole joint is at once disconnected.
Figures 10 and 11 represent a modification of the device shown in Figures 1, 2
and 3; this modification consists in providing a prong d of a curved shape and
forming the adjacent part of the frame b with a corresponding curved portion, the
curves of the two parts being formed in opposite directions, whereby a free space
is left open between the prong and frame. Into the said free space, a hoop, ring
or connecting frame is engaged, the strain of which works in the central
line of the frame b. When the latch or bolt fis drawn back by the
handle for lug, the prong d is set free and the ring or hoop will slip from
said prong.
According to the further modification of my invention, shown in Figures 12, 13
and 14, the prong d, pivoted on the stay e of the frame b, is formed in two halves,
each half having an independent motion of its own. Both halves of the prong are
simultaneously locked by the head of the bolt or latch f. Each half of the

page_text: said prong has formed to it a hook, extending outside and turned upward to receive
rings m, n, which are held between the cylinder a of frame b and the said hooks d d.
The two rings m n are coupled by a connecting ring, link or strap t. It will be
readily seen that, as soon as the latch f is pulled back, the two halves of the prong
are set free to swing down with their hooks, under the strain of said rings m, n, and
that, thereby, the said rings m, n will slip off the hooks, whereby the joint is
disconnected.
Or, in some cases, I prefer to make one of the halves d, Figure 15, rigid on a
square portion of the pivot e, while the other half d of the prong is free to turn.
In this case, only one of the rings, engaged within the two hooks will
slip off, as the latch is pulled back. The ring and coupling ring t, in this case,
will slip out of the connecting ring p, through which they had been passed, and the
said connecting ring p becomes free to disconnect the joint.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1. Improved means for disconnecting chains, straps, ropes and the like from their
joints or buckles or fastenings, consisting of the combination, with a hoop or
frame b, as described, of a cylinder a, a latch with a hollow head, sliding within
said cylinder a spring tending to force the said latch forward, and prong d
pivoted to one side or stay of the frame b, the free end of said prong being
capable of being locked by the said latch, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
2. In apparatus for disconnecting chains, straps ropes and the like from their
joints or buckles or fastenings, the combination with a hoop or frame b, as described,
of a cylinder a, a latch with a hollow head sliding within said cylinder, a spring y
tending to force the said latch forward, and three prongs d d d pivoted to the
sides of the frame b, one of which prongs is locked by the latch fand the other
prongs being held locked by the locked position of the main prong, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
3. In apparatus for disconnecting chains, straps ropes, cords, and the like from
their joints or buckles or fastenings, the combination, as described, with a frame b,
of a cylinder a, a latch, a spring 9 pressing said latch forward, one or several
prongs pivoted to the frame sides, and one or several hoops or frames c c¹ c³
engaged separately by the said prongs, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
4. In apparatus for disconnecting chains, straps, ropes or cords and the like
from their joints or buckles or fastenings, the combination with a frame b having
a curved portion, of a prong d having a curve in the opposite direction, a
cylinder a and a latch f sliding within said cylinder, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
5. In apparatus for disconnecting chains, straps, ropes, cords and the like from
their joints, buckles, or fastenings, the combination with a frame b, of a cylinder a,
a latch, sliding in said cylinder, and a prong d consisting of two hook shaped
halves to be engaged by said latch in the locking position, one or both of said
halves being arranged to turn when set free, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated this 10th day of November 1891
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.