IMPROVEMENTS IN DOUBLE-REIN BRIDLE BITS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Pierre Rémond, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in
the Empire of France, Ex-captain of Gendarmerie, and Knight of the
Imperial Legion of Honour, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
DOUBLE-REIN BRIDLE BITS."
Sealed the 11th July 1862, and dated the 3rd March 1862.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Pierre Rémond at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration, on
the 3rd March 1862, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law
Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PIERRE
REMOND, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, Ex-
captain of Gendarmerie, and Knight of the Imperial Legion of Honour, send
greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
DOUBLE-REIN BRIDLE BITS," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the
same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am the true and first Inventor
thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Pierre Rémond, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal, fully
describes and ascertains the nature of the Invention, and the manner in which

page_text: the same is to be performed, reference being had to the Figures of the
accompanying Drawing, and to the letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in an improved construction of double-rein bits, by
means of which, coupled with certain modifications in the arrangement of the
headstalls, I obtain the following advantages,-1stly, complete and easy com-
mand of the horse without risk of injury to its mouth, tongue, or pallet;
2dly, simplicity and solidity of structure resulting from the suppression of the
separate snaffle bit and its appendages; 3dly, reduction in the weight of the
complete bridle.
f.
Figure 1 of the annexed Drawing represents, on a scale of one half, a cavalry
bridle, comprising the present improvements. Figure 2 represents the details
of the bit mechanism. A, A, are the branches curved to an S form, with
turned down chamfers of about one quarter inch in thickness; B, B, are the
fonceaux from the centre of which the branches project to the distance of
about two and a half inches.
In the upper part of each branch is formed a
mortice C, through which are passed the free ends of the bridle cheek straps.
At a short distance below each of these mortices is pierced a partridge eye-
hole receiving the rings of the curb holder, and from that point downwards,
the branches are sloped off on each side, so as to terminate at the fonceaux by
a width of about three-fifths of an inch. In the centre of each fonceau is
pierced a square aperture D, through which pass the extremities E, E, of the
cylindrical bar F. The lower extremity of each branch is provided with a
pierced boss G, receiving on each side the ring H, of the curb rein I, I. The
total length of each branch is about seven and a half inches, and the curve is
carried backwards to the distance of about two inches from the vertical line at
the point G; F, cylindrical bar slightly hollowed at the centre. At each
extremity of this hollow is formed a shoulder piece, taken in the thickness of
the metal from whence the cylinder is carried out as in J, J, towards the
branches, where it is squared off and drilled for the reception of the fixing
screws; J, J are two rollers or moveable cannons of about one and a quarter
inch in length and of variable thickness as may be required, set on and revolving
freely round the ends J, J, of the cylindrical bar F; K is a small pallet or
tongue guide fixed to the centre of the cylindrical bar F, and corresponding
by its base with the length of the hollow. The top of this pallet is cut out so
as to form two branches with thickened ends pierced to receive a thorough
screw L, one of the holes being tapped and the other chambered to counter-
sink the head. The sides of the pallet are hollowed out towards the centre
reducing the width at this part to about one and three-eighths of an inch';
M is an olive-shaped iron roller set between the branches of the pallet, and

page_text: revolving on the screw L; N, N, are small ears through which are passed the
rings of the snaffle reins. Each of these ears is pierced through the centre
of its wide extremity with a square aperture 0, 0, receiving the squared
ends L, L, of the bar F. P, is the barrel curved outwards at the centre to
the depth of about five-eighths of an inch from the horizontal line of its two
extremities which are rounded off and passed through the corresponding
holes Q, Q, of the branches where they aro secured by the screw nuts R, R.;
S, S, are small plattens or curb holders provided at their wide ends with a
mortice, and sloped off on each side till they terminate in a rod, which being
bent into a hook is attached to the partridge eyes at the top of the bit branches;
T, T, are flat-headed screws each provided on its upper surface with two small
holes serving as catch to the prongs of a fork turnscrew, by which they are
tightened up to the square ends of the bar F. By removing these screws and
the fixing nuts R, R, the bit may be dismounted and the cylinder F, with
its rollers J, J', the tongue guide K, and the barrel P, be replaced by similar
pieces of variable dimensions according to the size and conformation of the
horse's mouth. In the bridle shewn attached to the bit in Figure 1, the
double straps hitherto used are replaced by a single cheek band U, U on
each side, the upper extremities of which are lodged in a leathern sheath V.
A strap W stitched over the sheath, and pierced with a range of holes at each
of its freo ends which are held by the buckles X, X, serves to fix the cheek-
bands to the point required by the length of the horse's head. The buckles
X, X, and X', X', are maintained by a leathern strengthening strap stitched
over the entire length of the cheek-bands, and passing by the free extremities
through the top mortices of the bit branches at each side. The fillet Y, is
formed of a single strap which slides through a scutcheon set on each side of
the headstall, and is continued underneath to form a throat-band secured by a
buckle on the opposite cheek. Z is a leathern strap forming curb and
replacing the ordinary chain, the friction of which is liable to injure the jaw
of the horse.
:
,
It is needless to observo that the bit above described may be applied to
double bridles of all descriptions, whether for riding or driving, the proportions
and finish of the different parts being modified according to circumstances.
For cavalry use the model shewn in the Drawing has been found to give the
best practical results.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the said improvements
and the manner of carrying them into effect, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details of form, dimensions, and
proportions, above laid down, as these may obviously be varied in many respects,

page_text: without departing from the principles or main features of the Invention; but
what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is, the improved com-
bination of bit mechanism for double-reined bridles, in which the separato
snaffle and curb bits hitherto used are replaced by a single cylindrical bar
fitted with a tongue guide (K, M,) and pair of mouth rollers (J, J¹,) con-
structed and arranged substantially as herein set forth and represented in the
Figures of the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Pierre Rémond, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this First day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
M. F. MENNONS.
P. REMOND (L.S.)