Improvements in Safety Devices for Hitching Horses.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Safety Devices for Hitching Horses.
A communication from abroad by CHARLES ARTHUR CONGER, Gentleman, and
ANDREW SPAULDING, Gentleman, both of 405, Castro Street, San Francisco,
California, one of the United States of America.
I, JOHN EDWARD LLOYD BARNES of the Firm of Sloan and Lloyd Barnes of
Castle Chambers, Castle Street, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Patent
Agent, 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 improvements in safety devices for hitching horses to
posts, trees, rails, rings, etc. The ordinary hitching strap or rope, one end of which
is attached around the horse's neck or to the bit or other part of the harness, has a
free end which must be tied in a secure knot, which for unskilful persons is often
difficult to do satisfactorily.
The object of my invention is to provide a safety hitch-device of exceedingly
simple and cheap construction, which can be firmly attached and secured instantly
and from which the horse cannot thereafter release itself by an effort apart from
breaking the strap.
The invention is illustrated in drawings accompanying this Specification,
in which
Fig. 1 is an edge view of a hitching strap and a longitudinal section of the sliding
clamp upon it;
Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of the clamp and strap passing through it, and Fig. 3 is
a top plan of the same.
A, represents an ordinary strap broken away, as shown, but assumed to be
attached in any ordinary manner to the horse or harness. At the free end of the
strap is secured a snap hook P, of any suitable construction.
C is a sliding clamp or buckle carried upon the strap, preferably formed of a
single malleable casting, and composed of an approximately rectangular frame 2,
transverse bars 3, 4, 5, 6 and a backwardly turned curved hook 7. The strap
passes between the bars 3 and 4, below the bar 5, which depresses it a little
(Fig. 1) and out between the point of the hook 7 and the inclined bar 6. A ring 8
is slipped upon the hook before the leather is in place, with which the snap hook
may be removably engaged. This ring may be of the cheapest possible construction
provided it be of sufficient strength and it is held permanently in engagement with
the hook by the strap itself passing under the tip of the hook.
By means of the snap hook as shown in Fig. 1, a secured slip noose is formed in
an instant which is drawn tight by any effort on the part of the horse to pull on
the strap, bringing the clamp up against the post, clamping the strap between the
bars of the clamp.
For
The simplicity of the device and its cheapness will be apparent at once.
instance, the feature of having the ring loosely attached to the hook and held there
by the strap itself passing through the clamp, without pivoting or other special
form of attachment, is a construction of great simplicity and efficiency; while the
clamp itself, made from a single casting yet possessing all the effectiveness of an
expensive buckle, is a self evident improvement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. The combination with a strap having a snap hook at one or both ends, of a

page_text: clamp through which the strap passes, and a ring loosely connected to the clamp
and held in position by the strap, substantially as set forth.
2. An attachment for straps consisting of a clamp having transverse bars
between and by which the strap is guided, and a hook, all formed in one piece and
for the purposes set forth.
3. As an attachment for straps, a clamp consisting of a rectangular frame having
transverse bars 4, 5, 6, 7, adapted to guide and clamp the strap between them,
and a curved hook 8, adjacent to the bar 7, all formed in one piece and for the
purposes set forth.
Dated this Third day of November 1893
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Castle Chambers, 26, Castle Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.