Improvements in Pads or False Collars for Use beneath Ordinary Horse Collars.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pads or False Collars for Use beneath Ordinary
Horse Collars.
I, THOMAS CLEMENTS, of Launceston, in Tasmania, Superintendent of Launceston
Benevolent Asylum, 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:-
All who are accustomed to the use and care of horses. for draught purposes well
know the ill effects of a badly-fitting collar, whether. too. large, too small, of wrong
shape, or of inferior workmanship. Suffering to the animal, in varying degree,.is
the direct result, and as a consequence loss of power and work to the employer..
On the dual ground of humanity and economy, therefore, it is highly advisable,
if not absolutely necessary; to prevent. the galling, in this way, of horses' necks
and shoulders. But even special care in the design and manufacture of the collar.
will not always secure immunity from this trouble. In such cases the common plan
at present is to place a sweat pad or false collar of leather or cloth under the ordinary
collar. Even this course frequently either fails entirely, or gives only partial relief,
the pad generally being of too hard, thin, and unyielding, a nature to overcome,
or even modify, the irritating friction of the overlaying collar.
The purpose of my invention has been to provide an improved false collar, as an
anti-friction. medium between. the hard, rubbing surface of the ever-moving collar,
however indifferently it may fit, and the tender skin of the animal; sufficiently
strong to withstand the working strain put upon it, but sufficiently. elastic and
yielding to distribute that strain uniformly over the whole of the two opposing
surfaces, by adapting itself to the inequalities of both. I have accomplished this most
successfully by the adoption of the pneumatic principle.
Simply described my false collar is a pair of long, flat bags, or pockets,.made of
strong india-rubber-coated canvas, or some other equally tough, pliable, air-tight, and
water-tight material, joined together end to end, shaped to fit closely round the
neck and shoulders of the horse, and inflated with either air or water (preferably
the former) to any desired. extent, through valves or tubes conveniently placed for
the purpose.
If considered desirable, a soft absorbent material may be interposed
between the rubber and the animal's skin, by lining the inner surface of the false
collar with basil, woollen fabric, or something similar; or the whole article may be
enclosed in. a case of the same kind of material. In use it is not necessary, nor
is it intended, to inflate this article to anything like its full extent, as over-listension
would make it too hard and bulky. A sufficient quantity of air is easily andi
quickly introduced, by simply opening the valve and blowing through it,. either
with the lips, bellows, or air-pump, only so much being required as will cause each
pocket to swell out and fill all the cavities between the animal's neck and shoulders on:
the one side and the surface of the collar on the other, just where the working strain
falls. But the actual extent of inflation is variable, and a matter for judgment and
experiment in each particular case, horses, as a rule, differing in form in some measure
from each other, therefore requiring individual adjustment. Thus, if a horse is poor,
thin, and hollow, he will generally require the false collar to be more fully inflated
than one that is in good condition, and with full, well-rounded front. This false
collar is made in two distinct and separate pockets (instead of one continuous
chamber) in order that, when once properly inflated, each pocket may always retain

page_text: its charge of air, unaltered in bulk, and unaffected by the varying pressure of the
collar; otherwise (if made in one continuous chamber), whenever a special strain fell
on one side only, the air would be expelled from that spot, where it would be most
needed, and escape to the other side, thus causing collapse on one side and over-
distension on the other. For the sake of illustration the drawings represent the false
collar with an opening at the bottom, the ends being drawn together with laces;
but if preferred the opening may be at the top; straps and buckles, or any other
suitable fastening, may also be substituted for laces; or the article may be made
without opening, either top or bottom, in which case it would be slipped over the
animal's head. In order to keep the false collar in proper position it will, as a
rule, be found an advantage to connect it with the ordinary collar at the top, by
passing a strap round both."
To make the foregoing description perfectly clear, and to further illustrate the
simplicity and mode of use of my invention, 1 furnish herewith a sheet of drawings
of it, in which
Fig. 1 is a front, or outer view, with air-chambers inflated, ready for use.
Fig. 2 is a rear, or inner view (inflated, as in Fig. 1), showing the surface that
comes in contact with the horse's body.
Fig. 3 is a side view, representing one half of the article, stretched out perfectly
flat, with air-chamber empty, the position of the latter being denoted by a
dotted line.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line A B (Figs. 1 and 2), illustrating the
shape of the air-chambers when inflated, and their approximate position when in use
on the horse.
a a-Air-chambers, one fitting each side of horse's neck-outline shown in Fig. 3
by dotted line.
bb-Front edges of air-chambers, forming wide, solid flanges, bevelled off to
feather edges, which lie close round the horse's neck, and project through the
ordinary collar.
cc-Hinder edges of air-chambers, which should be so constructed as to take a
full, rounded form when inflated, as shown in section, Fig. 4.
d-Solid flange or strap at top, forming junction of the two pockets.
e-Solid flanges or straps at lower; open end, drawn together at the horse's throat
with laces, or other suitable fastenings, which regulate the size by being either
tightened or loosened.
f Valves, through which the air-chambers are inflated-may be fixed wherever
considered most suitable, but herein shown on the hinder edge and at the upper
extremity of each chamber, as the safest and most convenient position.
I wish it understood that, though almost exclusive reference has been made in the
foregoing to the use of air as the more convenient inflating medium, water is
equally applicable for the purpose.
I admit that the actual pneumatic principle (namely, that of the air-cushion) is not
itself novel, it having for many years past been commonly applied to a great variety
of useful articles and purposes. I am also aware that a pneumatic horse-collir has
been manufactured and patented. But I lay particular stress on the fact that my
invention is not a collar, but a false collar, the distinction being wide and clear. A
collar is complete in itself, and intended for direct use, without any intermediate
agency or appliance; but a false collar is simply and entirely an accessory to a collar,
and cannot be used alone. I have hitherto failed to learn that a pneumatic false
collar has ever yet been patented, used, manufactured, or designed, prior to my own.
I therefore claim originality for the invention on the ground that it is the application
of an old principle to a new article and purpose.
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-
The application of the principle of an air or water cushion or pad to the particular

page_text: purpose herein set forth, namely, for use on the neck of a horse, or other beast of
burden, under the ordinary collar, as an elastic medium between the two opposing
surfaces, to prevent friction and consequent galling to the animal-substantially as
herein described, and as illustrated by the drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1896
THOMAS CLEMENTS.