Improvements in and connected with Bridle Bits.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 24th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 30th Dec., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Bridle Bits.
A communication from LAURENCE OLIPHANT LIESCHING, of Colombo, Ceylon.
I, JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of the Firm of J. C. Mewburn & Ellis, of 55
and 56, Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agents, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to bridle bits which are intended to replace ordinary
bits and snaffles to the great advantage of horses and their riders and drivers.
A bit constructed in accordance with this invention comprises two branches
or cheek pieces which may be either curved or straight as desired. The upper
parts of these branches are made with a slight inclination outwardly to the rear
(say about 10 degrees) so as to obviate rubbing against the cheekstraps.
These branches are connected rigidly together by means of a bar constituting
the mouth piece or bit proper which is preferably curved at its middle so as to
form an arched portion which instead of being situated as in ordinary bits in
the plane of the branches of the bit, is preferably inclined slightly to the rear
of said plane (say about 10 degrees). The bit is suspended from the cheekstraps
by means of two large rings which constitute an important feature of this inven-
tion. The diameter of these rings is preferably such that their internal circum-
ference will be on a level with the internal circumference of upper rings formed
at the top of the branches.
The mouth piece is prolonged for a suitable distance beyond the branches and
carries two rings which are capable of freely moving in all directions.
The improved bit is provided as usual with a curb chain which is adapted to
be inserted in the upper rings of the branches through the medium of a spring-
jointed break in said rings. Or the curb chain may be connected to the said
upper rings by means of hooks. The branches are also provided with rings at
their lower parts. Two small staples may also be added thereto for the purpose
of attaching the curb chain and preventing the bit from turning or twisting
back.
The snaffle rings may be constructed in several ways. According to one way,
the snaffle is pivoted on the ends of the mouth piece and carries the snaffle rings
in such a manner as to allow these rings to assume any position.
According to another way separate parts are pivoted on the ends of the mouth
piece, and the snaffle rings are mounted on said separate parts.
The best way of using this bit is as follows:-
When a very powerful bit action is required, the cheekstraps are buckled to the
aforesaid large rings in such a manner that when the reins attached to the lower
rings of the branches are pulled, the whole of the strain is transmitted to the
curb chain which is preferably passed through the said large rings and is attached
to the upper rings of the branches whereas in the ordinary bit, half of the strain
acts upon the cheek straps.
Also, whereas, in the ordinary bit, the curb chain has a tendency to rise and

page_text: move out of the hollow of the horse's chin, in the improved bit the curb chain
has a tendency to fix itself more and more in said hollow, thereby increasing
considerably its controlling action.
If this mode of using the bit is too severe for the animal and when a milder
bit is desired, it is merely necessary to buckle the cheek straps to the rings at
the upper parts of the branches as well as to the large rings. Then the strain
will be divided, as in the ordinary bit, between the cheek straps and the curb
chain.
In order to have a very mild bit the snaffle reins are attached to the large rings
instead of to the snaffle rings, and in this case the pressure of the snaffle reins
is divided between the cheek straps and the bit.
The arched middle portion of the mouth piece is inclined as above stated
preferably about 10 degrees to the rear of the plane of the branches, corre-
sponding to the rearward inclination of the upper branches in order to enable the
said arched portion to rest upon the tongue at any inclination of the head of the
horse without producing any pressure until the lower rings of the branches are
pulled, when the mouth piece operates at once; whereas in the ordinary bit,
the mouth piece is always pressing to a slight extent upon the palate and the
tongue of the horse.
The improved bit should be placed as low as possible without touching the
teeth of the horse. It may also be constructed with a straight mouth piece if
desired.
Improvements in and connected with Bridle Bits.
A communication from LAURENCE OLIPHANT LIESCHING, of Colombo, Ceylon.
I, JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of the Firm of J. C. Mewburn & Ellis, of 55
and 56, Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agents, 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 relates to bridle bits which are intended to replace ordinary
bits and snaffles to the great advantage of horses and their riders and drivers.
A it constructed in accordance with this invention comprises two cheeks which
may be either curved or straight as desired. The upper parts of these cheeks are
made slightly splayed outwardly so as to obviate rubbing against the head-straps
or head pieces, and they are also slightly set back at an angle of about 10 degrees.
These cheeks are connected rigidly together by means of a bar constituting
the mouth piece which is preferably curved at its middle so as to form an arched
portion or port." The bit is suspended from the head-straps by means of two
loose rings which constitute an important feature of this invention. The diameter
of these rings is preferably such that their outer circumference, when the bit
is hanging in them, will be on a level with the outer circumference of rings or
eyes hereinafter called the upper eyes or catches formed at the top of the cheeks.
The bar is prolonged for a suitable distance beyond the cheeks and carries
two rings or dees" which are capable of freely moving.
66

page_text: The improved bit is provided as usual with a curb chain which is adapted to be
inserted in the upper eyes of the cheeks and this may be effected through the
medium of a spring-jointed break in said eyes. Or the curb chain may be
connected to the said upper eyes by means of hooks or catches; or the upper eyes
may be replaced by hooks or catches to receive the curb chain. The cheeks are
also provided with rings at their lower parts. Two small staples may also be
added thereto for the purpose of attaching the chin strap.
The snaffle rings may be connected to the bit in several ways. According to
one way, separate parts are pivoted on the ends of the mouth piece, and the
snaffle rings are mounted on said separate parts.
The best way of using this bit is as follows:-
The head-straps are buckled to the aforesaid loose rings in such a manner
that when the curb reins attached to the lower rings of the cheeks are pulled, the
whole of the strain is transmitted to the curb chain which is passed through the
said loose rings and is attached to the upper eyes of the cheeks, whereas in the
ordinary bit, half of the strain acts upon the head-straps.
Also, whereas, in the ordinary bit, the curb chain has a tendency to rise and
move out of the chin groove, in the improved bit the curb chain has a tendency
to fix itself more and more in said chin groove, thereby increasing considerably
its controlling action.
The improved bit should be placed as low as possible without touching the
teeth of the horse. It may also be constructed with a straight mouth piece if
desired.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a perspective front view of a bit constructed according to this
invention.
Figure 2 is a partial front elevation, partly in section of the same.
Figure 3 is a side view of a horse's head illustrating the improved bit in
position for use.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified detail.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of a modification of a detail.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the improved bit comprising modifications of
some details.
Figure 7 is a front elevation partly in section of part of Figure 6.
As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the improved bit comprises two substantially
straight cheeks 1, rigidly connected by the bar or bit proper 2 which is bent
in the middle to form the
port" 3.
The upper parts of the cheeks are set back at an angle of about 10 degrees
and splayed outwards.
The whole bit is hung in the two loose rings 4, 4 which are made to the best
advantage of such a diameter as to bring the outer rims or circumferences, when
the bit is hanging in them, to exactly or approximately the same level as the
upper rims or circumferences of the upper parts of the eyes 5, 5 at the tops of
the cheeks 1. 1.
7
The ends of the bar 2 project slightly beyond the cheeks 1, 1 and on these ends
are mounted as hereinafter described swivels 6, 6 that carry snaffle rings 7,
to which the snaffle reins 8 are attached.
The head straps 9 of the crown piece are attached to the rings 4, 4 on each
side of the horse's head and thus support the said rings and consequently the
weight of the whole bit.
The curb chain 10 is inserted in the upper eyes 5 of the cheeks through the
medium of pivoted spring breaks 11 in said eyes.
The cheeks 1, 1 are provided with rings 12, 12 at their lower parts, to which
the curb reins 13 are attached.
The cheeks are also provided with staples 14, 14 for the purpose of attaching
the chin strap (not shown).

page_text: Figure 3 illustrates the mode of using the bit. The head-straps 9 are attached
only to the two rings 4, 4 so that when the curb reins 13 attached to the
rings 12, 12 are tightened,, the whole of this strain is taken direct by the curb
chain 10 which is passed from the eyes 5, 5 through the rings 4, 4.
Now with the ordinary curb bit one half, if not more, of the strain is taken
by the head-straps 9 acting on the horse's poll only. Moreover in the ordinary
curb bit the action is that the curb chain is drawn upwards when tightened by
the pull of the reins with the inevitable tendency to draw it away from, and off
the chin groove of the horse's jaw and it is well known that unless the curb.
chain accurately fits and works in the chin groove of the animal's jaw, the curb
bit is ineffective. With the new arrangement however, when the cheeks of the
bit are drawn up by the reins at 12, 12 the eyes 5, 5 of the cheeks to which the
curb chain is attached move forwards and downwards thereby causing the curb
chain 10 to fit closer into the chin groove the tighter the curb reins are pulled,
instead of being drawn away from and out of the chin groove.
As the bar 2. 2 is loosely suspended in the rings 4, 4 this ensures that the
port 3 will lie backwards resting on the horse's tongue at whatever angle the
horse holds his head until the curb reins are tightened, when the port is at
once brought into operation.
The swivel piece to which the snaffle rings 7, 7 are attached are mounted
on the ends of the bar 1 by forming each swivel piece with an inwardly pro-
jecting annular shoulder 6 which engages in a circular groove 15 formed in
the end of the bar 2, 2 so as to leave a shoulder 16 that keeps the swivel piece 6
in place whilst allowing it to rotate freely on the bar 2, 2.
In the modification shown in Figure 4, each swivel is made in the form of a
-sleeve 17 encircling the projecting end of the bar 2, 2 and provided with an
eye 18 through which passes the snaffle-ring 7-
A further modified form of swivel shown in Figure 5 consists of a disc-like
part 19 pivoted on the end of the bar 2, 2 and extended rearwardly to form a loop
_or_elongated ring 20 which serves as a substitute for the snaffle ring 7, the snaffle
reins being attached to the loops 20
In the bit shown in Figure 6 the checks 1" are formed with slots 21, 22 as
substitutes respectively for the rings 12 and the staples 14 shown in Figures 1, 2, 3.
The loose rings 4ª are made necked and with eyes 23 through which the head-
- straps 9 are passed.-
These rings are also formed with the eyes or slots 24 to which the snaffle-reins-
(not shown) can be attached, and with the eyes or slots 25 through which a nose
band can be passed.
In this construction of bit, the eyes or catches 5* in the tops of the cheeks 1ª
for holding the curb chain 10 (only part of which is shown) are left open as
indicated at 26, the spring jointed breaks 11 employed in the construction of bit
shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 being dispensed with. A projection 27 is formed
on the middle of the inside of the forward arm of the catch, and the outer end
of the rear arm of the catch is curved inwardly towards the said projection as
indicated at 28.
With this construction when the bit is hung in the loose rings 4", and the curb
chain 10 is passed at each end through the corresponding loose ring, and is hooked
into the catch 5ª on the same side, the curb chain can never become accidentally
disengaged from the catches 5* while the bit is in the horse's mouth, because the
curb chain is automatically locked in the catches 5 by the loose rings 4".
The form of swivel shown in Figures 6 and 7 comprises a shackle 29 to which
the swivel-piece 30
'thé snaffle rein (not shown) is attached, and which is pivoted on
that is pivoted in its turn on the end of the bar 2, thereby forming a universal
joint for the connection of the snaffle rein. By this means the snaffle rein can
be used at any angle either as a riding or leading rein without disturbing the
"lay" of the bit in the horse's mouth. This object is also accomplished by the
use of the other swivels hereinbefore described.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, as communicated to me, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The combination with a bridle bit, of two loose rings to be carried by
the head-straps and in which the bit bar is loosely suspended, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
<<
2. In a bridle bit of the kind specified in the preceding claim, a loosely
suspended bit bar bent to form a port" which automatically adjusts itself to
the horse's tongue substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. In a bridle bit, the use of swivels mounted on the bar and to which the
snaffle rings or snaffle reins are attached substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described.
4. In a bridle bit the use of eyes or catches into which the curb chain is
engaged and automatically locked, substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. The improved bridle bits herein before described and shown in the accom-
panying drawings.
DA
1000
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.