Improvements in or connected with Muzzles for Animals.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 16th Mar., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Muzzles for Animals.
WE, WILLIAM HENRY NIGHTINGALE, Cycle Machinist, of Cherry Tree
Villas, Stoney Stanton Road, and WILLIAM JAMES PENN, Cycle Machinist, of
48 Primrose Hill Street, Hillfields, both of Coventry in the County of Warwick,
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 :-
Hitherto muzzles have been used composed of a ring adapted to pass over the
animal's nose, and provided with a movable rod or pin extending diametrically
across the ring and taking behind the canine teeth or tusks of the animal, whereby
the ring prevents the said animal opening its mouth to any extent, and is held in
position by the pin; sometimes two screwed pins have been employed passing
through opposite holes in the periphery to act in the same manner as the single pin
described above. A ring has also been proposed divided diametrically in two
places, hinged at one division and connected together by a catch at the other
division, each half of the ring being provided with a pin to take behind the tusks
of the animal. Now according to our invention we dispense with the hinges and
also with the removable pin or pins, and moreover render the diameter of the ring
adjustable so that the same muzzle may be adapted to suit in size any particular
animal to which it is to be applied.
Our invention will be readily understood by describing same with reference to
the accompanying drawing, whereon
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a muzzle constructed according to our
invention, and
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional elevation showing the fastening arrangements.
The ring A is formed of spring steel or other elastic material being divided at
one part; one of the ends B is formed with a series of holes C, while the opposite
end D is provided with an exteriorly projecting pin E. F F are two pins fixed to
the spring ring A and adapted to take behind the canine teeth or tusks of the
animal when the muzzle is applied, and to thereby hold the ring A in place.
When unfastened the ring A opens and expands as shown for example by the
dotted lines, Figure 2, and is passed over the nose of the animal, the pins F F
taking behind the tusks and the ring A is compressed until the pin E takes into
one of the holes C, according to the size required. We thus by our invention
produce a muzzle suitable for dogs, ferrets or other animals, which is more convenient
in its application, simple in manufacture, and more secure in action than heretofore,
being at the same time adjustable in size to suit the particular animal to which it
is to be applied.
I
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A muzzle for animals composed of a flexible divided ring of spring steel or
other elastic material, and means for securing the divided part together when the
muzzle is applied, in combination with two internally projecting pins to take
behind the tusks of the animal and retain the ring in position, substantially as set
forth.
2. A muzzle for animals composed of a flexible divided ring of spring steel or
other elastic material, having two internally projecting pins to take behind the

page_text: tusks of the animal, the divided part being connected when the muzzle is applied
by a stud or pin on one end taking into one of a series of holes formed in the
opposite end and whereby the size of the ring may be adjusted to suit the Bose
of the animal to which it is applied, all substantially as and for the purposes
described.
Dated this 15th dox of February 1805