US570312A - Bridle-bit - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

A. F. KIBHL. BRIDLE BIT.

No. 570,312. Patented Oct. 27, 1896.

UNITED STATES AUGUST F. KIEHL, OF NORFOLK, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO FREDERICK O. KIEI-IL, OF REEDSVILLE, \VISOONSIN.

BRlDLE- BlTr SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,312, dated October 27, 1896.

Application filed April 3 0, 1 8 9 6.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST F. KIEHL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Madison and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Bridle-Bit, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in bridle-bits, and has for its object to pro- 10 vide a simple and powerful bit which may be used simply as an ordinary mild bit oras a severe bit for vicious and unruly horses.

The principal object of the present invention is to render the said bit self-locking, so

that after it has been used to gag the horse it will automatically be restored to a simple mild bit upon slacking the supplemental reins.

To this end the invention consists in cerzo iain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and finally embodiedin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is 2 5 a perspective View of the improved bit. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same closed and adapted for use as a simple driving-bit. Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the bit open. Fig. 4 is a detail front elevation showing the giverg ence between the snaffle-bars and lockars.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a bit-bar which is divided 1011- gitudinally or formed in two substantially semicircular halves, each section being c011- nected at its opposite ends to a pair of ogee- 4o shaped snaffle-bars 2, the latter being spaced sufficiently apart to lie comfortably at the sides of the animals mouth. Two U shaped frames are thus formed, and the same are connected pivotally at corresponding points 3 to a pair of oppositely-disposed fulcrumplates in the form of loops 4, which receive the extremities of the reins or lines. The

extremities of the snaffle-bars 2 are curved forward in such manner as to bring their extremities 5 substantially into vertical aline- Serial No. 599,728. (No model.)

ment with the pivots 3 above referred to, and such extremities are perforated to receive the pivots 6 of lock-bars 7, which extend from thence inward toward each other and connect pivotally at their overlapping adjacent ends to a common bearing-loop 8.

Two pairs of lock-bars 7 are employed, one pair at each side of the bit, and the loops 8 are bifurcated or formed with parallel perforated ears 9, which embrace the lapped inner ends of the lock-bars 7 and receive a through-pivot 10. The lock-bars 7 are bowed outwardly in opposite directions and away from the snaffle-bars in order to provide the proper clearance between the same, and their common pivot 10 is adapted to move to a point in advance of a line drawn through the pivots 6, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to form a lock-joint and lock the bit in its closed position, as shown in said figure, the link or loop 8 itself acting in the capacity of a stop for limiting the forward vibration of the lockbars.

Retracting-springs 11 connect the snafflebars 2 in advance of their pivotal connection with the loops 4 and serve by their tension to restore the bit to its closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, from its open position. (Shown in Fig. 23.) The snaffle-bars are formed in opposite sides with recesses or depressions 12, and So the web intervening between said recesses is perforated to receive the hooked end of the spring. This enables each spring to be located within the plane of its respective snafflebars and prevents chafing of the horses month. One of the bit-bar sections 1 is also provided at its opposite ends with studs or projections 13, which enter corresponding sockets in the remaining section, thus preserving the proper relation between the 9 hinged members of the bit and removing strain therefrom.

The bit is also provided with slots 14 to receive the bridle cheek-pieces and with other slots 15 to holdthe overdraw-oheckrein.

By means of the construction above described both a mild and a severe bit are obtained in one. WVhen the lock-bars are thrown forward by the springs into the position shown in Fig. 2, a straight bit is formed which is mild enough for the most tender-mouthed horse. Vhen, however, the lock-bars are drawn backward by means of the supplemental reins attached to the loops 8, the sections of the bit-bar are moved apart with great force, as the lock-bars act in the capacity of toggle-levers, and the most vicious and unruly horse maybe easily controlled by this means. The driving-reins will be ordinarily connected to the loops 4:, but they may be connected primarily to the loops 8, thereby making a combination mild and severe bit at the option of the driver. As quickly as both reins are pulled the lock-bars are drawn backward, thereby opening the bit, so that the lower half of the bit-bar presses against the tongue of the animal and the lower portion of its mouth, While the upper half of the bitbar presses against the tender roof of the mouth. This operation strains the facial muscles of the animal to such an extent as to render the animal easily and completely controlled. It being necessary to pull both reins simultaneously in order to unlock the bit or open it, itwill be obvious that one rein may be pulled for guiding the animal Without the liability of opening the bit.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a bridle -bit, the combination with snaffle-bars arranged in pairs each carrying a section of the bit-bar and pivotally connected, as described, of lock bars pivoted to the snafiie-bars and connected pivotally at their adjacent ends, substantially as specified.

2. In a bridle-bit, the combination With snatlie-bars arranged in pairs each carrying a section of the bit-bar, of loops interposed between said snal'iie-bars and pivotally connected thereto in rear of the bit-bar and adapted to receive the reins, means for holding the bit normally closed or straight, and a pair of loclcbars pivotally connected to the extremities of the snaffle-bars and connected pivotally at their adjacent inner ends to a loop to which a rein is adapted to be attached, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myown I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

AUGUST F. KIEIIL. \Vitnesses:

AUG. BRUMMUND, ALBERT WILDE.

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