US571987A - Checkrein attachment - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) Y

A. G. WILLIAMS.

GHBGKREIN ATTACHMENT.

Patented Nov. 24, 1896.

. 4 v 3' l b i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AHIJAII C. IVILLIAMS, OF JANESVILLE, IVISCONSIN.

CHECKREIN ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 571,987, dated November 24, 1.896.

Application filed June 24, 1896. Serial No. 596,707. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AHIJAH O. WILLIAMS, of the city of J anesville, in the county of Rock and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gheckrein Attachments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in checkrein attachments for harnesses, the construction of which, mode of attachment, and method of operation are set forth in the following specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, through the figures of reference marked thereon, which are herebydeclareda portion of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view showing my device complete in place upon a harness and the same attached to the lines which form the operating medium. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing my device as attached to and operated by a separate strap. Fig. 3 is a buckle placed upon the lines by which to attach the snap 9 and is of such formation that it does not require holes for its attachment, but may be placed anywhere upon the line and may be easily and instantly placed or removed without mutilation to said line.

The object of my device is to provide a means whereby the checkrein, when the same is in operation upon a horse, may be regu lated as to tension or length, whereby the horse may be made to hold its head higher or more steady, as the nature or peculiarity of the animal and the circumstances require.

The device is intended more particularly as an equipment for race-horses, as many of them are less liable to break, will throw farther, therefore travel faster,and also travel more steady if well checked.

It is a well-known fact that, as a rule, highbred race horses are very sensitive and moody, the same treatment not always producing the same results with them, and as the manner in which they are checked is a very important matter it is desirable to have a device which can be operated by the driver from his seat while the horse is traveling to govern the tension of the checkrein in such a manner as the judgment of the driver dictates. This being the object of my device, I proceed todescribe the details of its construction and attachment.

My device consists of two levers 4, having an identical or common fulcrum or pivotal point 5, which point 5 is upon the back-pad of the harness at or near the usual point of locating the check-hook, which. levers swing horizontally above the horses back and are so constructed that the outer free ends may meet either in an anterior or posterior position. A short distance from the pivot 5 the levers are each provided with'means to receive a snap 6, located upon the end of the checkrein '7, and into which said means aforesaid said snaps 6 are hooked. From this point the levers are continued for a sufficient distance to give the required amount of leverage, and which bear upon their outer ends a provision or means for attaching a strap 8 or an equivalent. Said straps 8 are provided at the opposite end to that which is attached to the lever with a snap or equivalent 9, which in turn is attached to the lines 16 through the medium of the buckle aforesaid and described above at Fig. 3, which is properly located back of the attaching-point of my device; but said form of buckle being old I do not claim the same as a portion of my invention, but describe the same and its application as being the means preferable by which to connect my device with the reins when the same is to be operated by the reins instead of the single strap. However, this method of attachment to said reins may be dispensed with and the snaps 9 may be hooked into holes formed immediately in the line. By this means of attachment (shown in Fig. 1) my device is operated by the reins. It may become desirable, however, to operate the same by a separate line, in which case the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 is employed, the special strap 10 being used for this particular purpose.

The device is secured in place as follows: The pivot or fulcrum 5 is located upon a bridge 11, which is a short piece of metal passing across the saddle 15, to which is attached a loop or stirrup 12, projecting forward and passing down beneath the check hook, which holds the device from slipping ICO or being pulled toward the rear. Extending to the rear is a clamp consisting of the two arms 13, pivoted at one end to the bridge 11 by means of a screw or rivet, and in the other end of one arm is a set-screw 1%, while in the corresponding end of the other arm is formed a nut threaded to receive the set-screw 14, and by which means said arms 13 are drawn and held together, and which said arms upon leaving said bridge are curved toward each other and also somewhat downward. When brought together, they pass beneath the saddle. The set-screw of the one arm is inserted into the receiving-nut of the other arm, and by turning the set-screw into place said arms are caused to impinge against the saddle and the device is held firmly in place. A checkhook such as herein referred to, and also the saddle, being common elements of any harness, the means of attachment shown and described make my device capable of attachment to any of the harnesses in common use. The bridge curves upward in the center to the pivot bearing-point sufficiently that the levers are raised above and work free of the surrounding portions of the harness.

In practical operation and when only an ordinary amount of tension is wanted upon the checkreins the levers 4 are inclined forward and their ends approach each other to the front; but when more tension is desired a pull either upon the lines 16 or the strap 10, as the case may be, causes the levers 4 to diverge and swing backward, drawing with them the thereto-attached checkreins 7, thus increasing the tension upon them and operating to draw the head of the horse higher and hold the same more steady. The divergence of the checkreins asthey are carried outward by the levers is of advantage, as they thus serve as guys or guides to steady the horses head, this point being particularly necessary with a race-horse.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- In a checkrein attachment, the combination of two levers, pivoted and operating as shown,

provided with means of attachment to the back-pad, or its equivalent of a harness, means of attaching the checkreins thereto, and means of connecting said levers to the lines or a single operating medium specially provided therefor, substantially as shown and described for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AHIJ AH C. WILLIAMS. WVitnesses E. RAY INMAN, 001m B. NIELD.

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