Rein Attachment or Appliance for Driving and Controlling Animals.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Dec., 1896-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1897
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Complete Specification Left, 23rd Dec., 1896-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Rein Attachment or Appliance for Driving and Controlling
Animals.
I, JOHN WELSH of Rudfen Manor, Kenilworth, in the County of Warwick,
Gentleman Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to an attachment or appliance for reins to be used for.
driving, controlling, and guiding horses, and other driven animals, and the object
of my said attachment or appliance is to enable a person driving to acquire a
better grip of the reins, considerable case in driving, and a perfect control of the
animal or animals being driven.
My invention consists essentially of a handle-like attachment or grip detachably
fitted or threaded adjustably on to the reins, and adapted to automatically grip
the same when required, and firmly hold them until released by a suitable releasing
means.
There are various ways of constructing my said appliance or attachment but, as
an example, I construct the same as follows:-
I take two pieces of hard wood or other suitable material of about seven inches
in length, one and a half inches in breadth, and three-quarters of an inch in
thickness, and shape the outsides of the middle parts thereof semicircular or half-
handle shape, and form from the insides, at a point near their ends, cross-gaps or
clearances, the one side of the gap being preferably cut on the incline for the
purpose as hereinafter described. These two sides or semi-parts when placed
together and suitably connected constitute the body of a handle-like rein attach-
ment, the cross-gaps in each of the said sides coming coincident and forming
loops or eyes where through or wherein the reins to be gripped are threaded or
placed.
Working within a cut-away part in the interior of the body part of the attach-
ment, and protruding into the eyes or loops of the same, are two grippers, consisting
of two levers jointedly connected to the body of the attachment by suitable fulcrum
pins, the inner ends thereof being loosely connected and having abutting against
them a spring, or its equivalent, for the purpose of keeping the gripping ends of
the said levers up to their work. The gripping ends of the said levers come
opposite to and near the inclined sides of the eyes or loops of the attachment, as
aforesaid, and the said levers are so mounted and jointedly connected to each
other and to the attachment that, on the reins being threaded within the eyes or
loops, the gripping ends of the grippers, by the aid of the spring, automatically
force and wedge the reins between the inclined sides of the eyes or loops and the
outer faces of the gripping levers and, on the attachment being pulled by the
hand, a fast grip is retained on both reins, and the more the pull exerted on
the attachment the tighter will the reins be gripped between the respective parts.
The attachment in driving is gripped by the hand and can be slid in the one
direction, or away from the person driving, at will, but immediately a pull is
exerted in the opposite direction, or to pull in the animal, a dead grip is effected
upon the reins, and the more the pull the stronger the grip.

page_text: The grips at the ends of the levers are preferably adjustably fitted to the same,
so as to allow of any inequalities in the size of the material of which the driving
reins are made, and a small push-piece is arranged to open the gripping arms when
the reins require to be released, the said push-piece being fitted to act upon the
inner ends of the connected-together gripping levers. The grips at the end of the
levers are preferably made adjustable by a screw or nut, and are shaped to suit
either a flat or round rein, or a chain rein, the inclined faces of the eyes being
shaped likewise.
Instead of the gripping levers being jointedly connected together, as described,.
the same may be made to act independently of each other; or a cam or cams, or
eccentrically mounted grips, may be substituted for them which will have the same
gripping effect upon the reins, or I may arrange an inclined wedge in combination
with the inclined sides of the eyes of the attachment in such a manner that, when a
pull is exerted upon the reins, the wedge will be forced inwardly and be caused to
grip the reins in a like manner as the levers.
My rein attachment or appliance is preferably made in two parts, as described,
to facilitate the introduction of the gripping means and the reins to be gripped,
but I may make the same solid, and cut side gaps in the body of the attachment
where through the reins are introduced. into their positions.
The rein attachment may be made from metal and suitably plated, or it may be
covered with leather, and, in the case of driving three or four horses, it is only
necessary to duplicate the gripping members and the eyes or loops.
My invention will be found of great advantage in hunting, steeplechasing, and
in the handling of restive horses, and also when breaking in young colts; the
leverage on the reins being more decided, and the animal or animals made more
sensitive to the touch of its or their 'driver.
Dated this 21st day of March 1896
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Agents for the Applicant.
A Rein Attachment or Appliance for Driving and Controlling
Animals.
I, JOHN WELSH of Rudfen Manor, Kenilworth, in the County of Warwick,
Gentleman Farmer, 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 a rein attachment or appliance to be used for driving,
controlling, and guiding horses and other driven animals, and the object of my
said attachment or appliance is to enable the person driving to acquire a better
grip of the reins, more ease in driving, and a perfect control of the animal or
animals being driven.
My invention consists essentially of a handle-like part adapted to be fitted or
threaded adjustably on the reins, and capable of automatically gripping them
when pulled in one direction; but of sliding upon them when pushed in the other
direction; the releasing of the said part from its gripping position being
accomplished by suitable releasing means. The gripping means of the attach-
ment consist of jointed-together arms, cams, or the like, the ends of which are
arranged to work in combination with inclined surfaces in such a manner as to
grip the reins between them when the pull is in a certain direction, a spring or

page_text: springs being provided to keep the gripping members constantly up to their work.
The appliance, as aforesaid, is of a handle shape, somewhat resembling a dumb-
bell, but the arrangement of the gripping mechanism within it is capable of
considerable modification to suit requirements.
The most practical forms, however, are represented in the accompanying sheet
of drawings by six views,
Fig. 1 representing a top side plan, Fig. 2 a horizontal section, Fig. 3 a longi-
tudinal vertical section, Fig. 4 a transverse vertical section through line X, Fig. 2,
and Fig. 5 an elevation of the gripping arms separate. The last view, Fig. 6,
represents a one end view only of a modified form of rein attachment, one only of.
the gripping arms being shown.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the whole of the
figures of the sheet of drawings.
a represents a rein attachment or appliance consisting of two parts b, b², the
former having heads a³, a³, upon its extremities, and constitutes the major part of
the appliance, whilst the latter part is practically a removable lid or closure,
capable of being attached or detached to or from the body part b, so as to allow
access to the interior. The part 62 is threaded on the pins 63, 64, and is affixed by
turns 6, 66, which securely attach the said part to the part b.
Through the heads a³, a³, of the part b are fashioned open-topped cross gaps a*, a³,
cut with inclined or curved sides a, a', against which the reins c, c, are gripped by
means of gripping arms d, e, located longitudinally within the cut-away interior of
the body part of the attachment.
The gripping arms d, e, as aforesaid, are connected together loosely at their inner
parts d, e, by a rivet f, and are outwardly terminated by heads d³, es, roughened
on their outward surfaces to enable them to obtain a better grip upon the reins.
These beads d, e, come into cross gaps a', a, as aforesaid, wherethrough the reins
are threaded, and the arms carrying them are fitted with slots d, e, adapted to
take on to the pins 63, 64, as before described, which constitute their fulcrum pins.
The play in the slots d, e, is to allow of the jointed-together gripping arms d, e,
accomodating themselves to the differences in the thicknesses of the reins, and the
said arms are kept up to their work by means of a spring g, fixedly connected
within the interior of the attachment. Thumb pins h, h³, are provided upon the
heads of one of the gripping arms, the first-named for releasing the grip of the
attachment, and the last-named to help the spring g in its action.
In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the gripping arms d and e are inade inde-
pendent and also have separate springs, so that each shall act for itself and lock
its particular rein between its head and inclined side.
In this manner I construct a rein attachment capable of gripping the reins when
pulled in one direction, and running free upon them when pushed in the other
direction, and whose gripping mechanism is to a certain extent adjusting.
The attachment in driving is gripped by the hand, and can be slid in the one
direction, or away from the person, at will, but, immediately a pull is exerted in
the opposite direction, or to pull in the animal or animals, a dead grip is effected
upon the reins, and the more the pull the stronger will be the grip, in consequence
of the eccentric jointing of the gripping arms, and the curved or inclined sides
adjacent thereto. My rein attachment or appliance is preferably made in two
parts, as described, to facilitate the introduction of the gripping mechanism, and
also the reins to be gripped, but I may make the same of a single part and
introduce the reins through side gaps in the body.
My attachment may be made in different sizes in order to meet requirements,
and the same may be composed of wood, metal, or part wood and metal, and the
metal can be suitably plated, or it may be covered with leather and, in the case of
driving two or more horses, the gaps must be of sufficient width to accomodate the
extra thickness of rein.
My invention is applicable in connection with round, flat or chain rein, and will
be found of great advantage in hunting, steeple-chasing, handling of restive

page_text: horses, and also breaking-in young colts; the leverage upon the reins being more
decided and, consequently, the animal more sensitive to the touch.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. A rein attachment or appliance consisting of a handle like casing,
provided with cross-directed inclined sides, and fitted with eccentrically mounted
gripping arms, levers, or cams, and a spring or springs, substantially as described
and set forth.
Second. A rein attachment or appliance as set forth, comprising a pair of
connected-together arms or levers adjustably and eccentrically fulcrumed, and
fitted with a spring or springs, and a handle casing having cross-gaps with inclined
sides.
Third. The arrangement and combination of the parts as set forth in Figs. 1-6
inclusive.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Agents for the Applicant.