Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 29th Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 1st Mar., 1887.
We GEORGE JOHN HARCOURT of 5 Albert Villas Clifton in the City & County of
Bristol, Gentleman and EDWARD SHAW of Canons Marsh in the City & County
of Bristol, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention consists of the construction and arrangement hereafter described
which has for its purpose the securing of reins used for guiding horses when the said
reins are not in use by the driver.
The construction and arrangement is as follows-A suitable frame of metal is
constructed so as to be readily fixed to carriage rails or splashboards. In one form
this frame may consist of a horizontal rectangular platform having vertical sides
projecting downwards from its back & front edges. In fixing to the carriage the
vertical sides of the frame are passed over the rail or splashboard and secured by
means of a screw or other suitable device. The said frame carries a piece of metal so
formed as to move about an axis situated on the lower part of that said vertical side
which is nearest to the driver and parallel or nearly so to that side. This piece of
metal has an upper "
arm "which is parallel, or nearly so, to the top of the frame.
As the piece of metal moves about its axis from one extreme position to the other, the
"recedes from or approaches to the upper surface of the frame; the side of the
arm" facing the frame may be covered with buff leather or other suitable material.
The manner of operation is as follows The frame is so fixed on the vehicle or
carriage that when the "arm" of the piece is moved about its axis towards the driver
it recedes from the upper surface of the frame, thus allowing room for the insertion of
a less or greater thickness of rein.
"arm
[:
arm
When the driver wishes to insert the reins he presses them between the
" and
the upper surface of the frame, pulling them at the same time towards himself, this
causes the " arm"
to move to such a position as will admit the reins, which when
released by the hand are securely held between the "arm" and the top of the frame.
Any pull on the reins away from the driver will move the "arm" in that direction
and thus increase the grip.

page_text: Improvements in Rein Holders.
We GEORGE JOHN HARCOURT of 5 Albert Villas Clifton in the City & County of
Bristol, Gentleman, and. EDWARD SHAW of Canons Marsh in the City and County
of Bristol, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN REIN HOLDERS, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of our invention is to construct a machine which has for its purpose the
securing of reins used for guiding horses when such reins are not in use by the driver.
This being the object of our invention we now proceed to describe its construction and
arrangement as follows.
A suitable frame of metal is constructed so as to be readily fixed to carriage rails or
splashboards. In one form this frame may consist of a horizontal rectangular platform
having vertical sides projecting downwards from its back & front edges. In fixing to
the carriage, the vertical sides of the frame are passed over the rail or splashboard
& secured by means of a screw, or other suitable device.
The said frame carries a piece of metal so formed as to move about an axis situated
on the lower part of the said vertical side which is nearest to the driver, and parallel
to that side. This piece of metal has an upper arm which is parallel, or nearly so, to
the top of the frame. As the piece of metal moves about its axis from one extreme
position to the other, the arm recedes from or approaches to the upper surface of the
frame,
The manner of operation is as follows-The frame is so fixed on the vehicle or
carriage that when the arm of the piece is moved about its axis towards the driver it
recedes from the upper surface of the frame, thus allowing room for the insertion of a
lesser or greater thickness of reins. When the driver wishes to insert the reins, he
presses them between the arm and the upper surface of the frame pulling them at the
same time towards himself; this causes the arm to move to such a position as will
admit the reins, which when released by the hands are securely held between the
arm and the top of the frame. Any pull on the reins away from the driver will
move the arm in that direction & thus tend to increase the grip.
In order that our invention may be more particularly explained & understood we
will now proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying figures (Figs. 1.
2. 3 & 4).
A is the metal frame having a platform (a) at the top & two vertical sides (c) & (d).
(d) has at its lower end a hole parallel to the platform; through this hole passes a
shaft (6) which forms the axis for the upper arm (b). (¹) is carried in bearings (e
&) and has coiled round it a spiral spring (s), so arranged as to tend to force (7)
closer to the frame. Through (d) passes a screw (/) which may have a button (g) at
its point.
The manner of operation is as follows A is passed over the rail or splashboard to
which it is attached by means of the screw (7). The position of the axis (¹) is such
that when B is moved about it (4) approaches to or recedes from the platform

page_text: & when not in use is held by the spring in its nearest position. When (b) is pulled
back the reins can be placed between it and the platform after which the spring is
allowed to act causing (b) to grip the reins. Any pull on the reins away from the
driver will move the arm in that direction and thus increase the grip, whereas a pull
in the other direction by the driver will release the reins.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is
I. The use of the arm in connection with the platform for the purpose of securing
the reins in the manner described.
II. The use of a spring to cause pressure between the arm and frame.
III. The general arrangement.