Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 4th July, 1900-Accepted, 4th Aug., 1900
I, GEORGE WILSON, of 87, Duke Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Saddler, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention has reference to back-bands of harness, such as are used over
shaft horses' saddles.
As the backbands of harness are at present made, at the, or near the, buckles
by which the loops for supporting the shafts are attached or fastened, they quickly
deteriorate and crack and break, and the present object is to obviate this defect,
wholly, or to a large degree, and so render the life of these bands greater; and
also at the same time to provide a form or construction of band which is cheaper
than that commonly used.
A band of the usual kind, is made up of two or more laminæ of leather, sewn
together with longitudinal rows of stitches; and these are punched with holes,
and through the holes the tongues of the fastening buckles referred to pass.
According to the present invention, a band is comprised of two (or more)
laminæ of leather, one over the other, but unstitched or unstitched except at the
central part, and the inner band or strap is provided with metal plates or washers
above the buckle holes on the upper side, which are rivetted or equivalently
fastened thereto, and the tongues of the buckle pass through the holes in these
two bands or laminæ, and the metallic plate or washer.
By this construction, the straps or bands are not readily cracked or broken, or
deteriorated by constant bending and hard use to which they are subjected.
The holes and plates on the lower band may be so arranged in some cases as
to receive the greatest weight or strain which is transmitted to the bands by the
buckles.
EL
1000
I, GEORGE WILSON, of 10, Suffolk Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
but late of 87, Duke Street, Liverpool aforesaid, Saddler, 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:
This invention has reference to back-bands of harness, such as are used over
shaft horses' saddles.
As the back-bands of harness are at present made, at the, or near the buckles.

page_text: by which the loops or tugs for supporting the shafts are attached or fastened, they
quickly deteriorate and crack and break; and the present object is to obviate this
defect, wholly, or to a large degree, and so render the life of these bands greater;
and also at the same time to provide a form or construction of band which is
cheaper than that commonly used.
A band of the usual kind, is made up of two or more laminæ of leather, sewn
together with longitudinal rows of stitches; and these are punched with holes,
and through the holes the tongs of the fastening buckles referred to pass.
According to the present invention, a band is comprised of two (or more)
laminae of leather, one over the other, but unstitched or unstitched except at the
central part, and the inner band or strap is provided with metal plates or washers
above the buckle holes on the upper side, which are rivetted or equivalently
fastened thereto, and the tongs of the buckles pass through the holes in these
two bands or lamina, and the metallic plate or washer.
By this construction, the straps or bands are not readily cracked or broken, or
deteriorated by constant bending and hard use to which they are subjected.
The holes and plates on the lower band may be so arranged in some cases as
to receive the greatest weight or strain which is transmitted to the bands by the
buckles.
The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1 is an
elevation, and Figure 2 a side view.
The two parts constituting the back band between the upper part and the shaft
tugs are designated a and b. These parts are separate below the point o, but
above this point, to a point equi-distant on the other side of the saddle, they are
sewn together in the ordinary way. The two parts a and b may each consist
of a single thickness of leather or the outer part may be of two thicknesses.
The inner band or strap 6 is provided with metal plates or washers c round
and over the holes, through which the tug buckle tongs d pass. These washers
are rivetted or suitably secured to the band b, and their flanges extend up on
either side to about level of the outer surface of the band or strap a. The holes
in the lower band b, and the washers or plates c are preferably so arranged in
relation to the holes in the outer band a, as to receive the first or greater portion
of the weight or strain, which is transmitted to the back-band through the buckles
of the shaft tugs e.
In ordinary use, there are several actions tending to destroy the nature, or
crack or break, or destroy the nature of back-bands, near the buckle holes, and
in fact across the buckle holes in which the tongue of the tug buckles are
fastened. These are generally-firstly, by the shafts of the vehicle going up and
down, the band is bent backwards and forwards at this part; then, this part
is subject to sharp strains by the sudden pressure of the shafts downwards or
upwards, when suddenly stopped by the limit of movement of the band being
reached and furthermore, the buckle by its constant knocking on the leather
by the shafts going up and down, hardens the leather at this part, and destroys
the nature, rendering it liable to crack and break when bent, or sudden strains
coming upon it. Thus there are a combination of forces or actions brought to bear
on the weakest part of the band, that is across the eyes or holes, tending to break
it; and the effect of this invention is to obviate these actions and produce a back-
band which will last a much longer time than those as ordinarily made.
:;
Some of the ways in which my invention acts to accomplish these objects are,-
that the plates or washers c produce a gentle bending or curving of the band,
instead of a sharp or angular bend; as referred to. It also enables the band to
bend easier; and, by the construction, the buckles are prevented from compres-
sing and hardening the outer part a. And, generally, the arrangement and com-
bination of the parts are such as to give to the band that form and characteristic
which enable it to work and move in the way, that back-bands must and do move,
without suffering the destructive tendencies resulting from the movements which
I have referred to.

page_text: A further effect of the construction of back-band described, is that when the
shafts go up, the tendency to tear the saddle skirts upwards is not so severe
upon them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A back-band comprising two separate bands or straps, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
2. A back-band comprising two bands or straps, and a plate or washer secured
to the inner band about the holes, through which the tongs of, the shaft tug
buckles pass; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In a back-band, the construction in connection with the holes for the shaft
tug buckles; substantially as set forth.
4. The back-band comprising the parts arranged, constructed and adapted to
operate, as set forth with reference to and as shewn in the drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of July 1900.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.