US2041620A - Bridle attachment - Google Patents

Description

7 May 19, 1936- w. B. STEPHENS BRIDLE ATTACHMENT Filed May 1, 1933 Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved bridle for horses.

One object of the invention is to provide a bridle which will be humane and which will, nevertheless, be very effective.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bridle having means for controlling a horse which, when placed in proper position, will not become disengaged or disarranged from about the horses mouth.

A further object of, the invention is to provide a device of this character wherein the nose band employed will be shielded alongits inner surface so that scratching of the horses nose and consequent irritation will be prevented.

And a still further object of the invention is to provide a bridle which may be easily assembled any may be placed into usewith theutmost facility. v

Other and incidental objects of the invention, not mentioned in the foregoing, will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing forming a part of my application, Figure l is a perspective view showing my device as it would appear applied to a horse,

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the device itself, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral I indicates, in general, a bridle for a horse. The bridle comprises a brow band 2, a crown piece 3, a throat latch 4 and cheek straps 5. The brow band, crown piece, throat latch, and cheek straps are connected at opposite sides of the horses head by means of rings 6.

Mounted at the corresponding lower ends of the cheek straps 5 is my improved attachment which includes side pieces 1 and 8 which are preferably formed of flat strips of metal which are light in weight but of sufiicient strength to prevent bending or buckling. The corresponding upper ends of the side pieces 1 and 8 are formed with curved portions 9 and I0. Carried on the corresponding free ends of the curved portions are hooks II and I2. As seen in Figure 1 of the drawing, the side pieces are adapted to be disposed adjacent the horses mouth at opposite sides thereof with the curved portions 9 and I0 disposed rearwardly.

A small chain I3 is disposed beneath the horses jaw and has its opposite ends connected withthe hooks II and I2. The chain l3 cooperates with the side pieces 7 and 8 for retaining said side pieces in a substantially vertical position. It is to be understood that the chain l3 may be substituted by a stra if desired, or said chain may, if. desired, be provided with a leather sheath so that the metal will not come in contact with the horses jaw. Carried on the chain l3 and adapted for positioning medially of its length is a ring 36.

Mounted on the side pieces I and 8, at the base of the curved portion, and in a substantially horizontal plane with the hooks II and I2, are loops I4 and I5 which are preferably formed. of heavy wire and are riveted, or otherwise secured, to the inner margin of the side pieces. The loops l4 and I5 are adapted to receive the straps of a rein l6. Carried on the lower end portion of the side pieces 1 and 8 are eyes I! and I8 and freely mounted in the eyes are rings l9 and 20 which are adapted securely to receive the reins 2| and 22. Carried on the side pieces 7 and 8 and riveted, or otherwise secured, thereto at points substantially medially between loops l4 and I! on the piece I, and I5 and I8 on the piece 8, are loops 23 and 24. Extending between the loops 23 and 24 and adapted to engage beneath the horses lower jaw is a preferably leather strap 25, said strap 25 extending through the ring 36. The strap 25 is adjustable by means of a buckle 26.

Mounted on the side pieces 1 and 8, near the bases of the curved portions 9 and ID, are con necting plates 21 and 28. The connecting plates are preferably formed of flat metal and are slightly bowed longitudinally. As best seen in Figure 3 of the drawing, the lower end portions of. the connecting plates 21 and 28 are swingingly connected to the curved portions bymeans of screws 29 which are upset at their inner ends, as indicated at 36 so that the plates may be permitted to swing on the curved portions without danger of loosening the screws. Mounted on the connecting plates, near their corresponding inner ends, are loops 3| and 32 which are adapted to receive the cheek straps 5 at opposite sides of the horse's head. The loops 3| and 32 may be riveted or otherwise secured to the plates 21 and 28.

Preferably riveted to the plates 21 and 28 is an arcuate nose band 33 and the nose band is formed from sheet metal. Riveted to the inner surface of the nose band is a leather, or other relatively soft lining piece 34 which will protect the horses nose from direct contact with the metal of the nose band. A pair of rivets 35 are employed for connecting the opposite ends of the nose band with the upper corresponding ends of the connecting plates 2'! and 28. If desired, the nose band 33 may be substituted by a chain sheathed in a leather covering.

In use, a bridle equipped with my improved device is placed upon the horses head and the reins are connected to the loops l4 and H on the side piece l, and I5 and I8 on the side piece 8. The strap 25 and the chain l3 are disposed beneath the horses chin groove immediately rearwardly of the horses lower jaw. When driving the horse, the tension upon the reins at either side will tighten or loosen the tension of the strap 25 and chain It against the horses chin groove, and at the same time, the tension of the nose band 33 against the horses nose will be varied. Therefore, the movements of the horse may be readily and positively controlled by varying the stress placed -upon the reins, as above explained. It is pointed out that the use of my improved bridle attachment will eliminate the inhumane use of the bit in the horses mouth. My bridle will be particularly useful in connection with horses and mules having tender mouths. The device is especially adapted for use on polo horses where it is otherwise necessary to use bits 21. great deal.

Attention is directed to the fact that my improved attachment may be used with any standard bridle, the one shown herewith being used merely for purposes of illustration.

The parts of my improved attachment are so located that the nose band will be disposed in a position on the horses nose to permit perfect balance and greater leverage so that the chain l3 and strap 25 will be disposed in the chin groove of the horses jaw.

My improved attachment will be easy to install and will be cheap in manufacture and it is believed that a reading of the foregoing description will make clear the fact that I have provided a highly efficient deviceof this character.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, side pieces each consisting of a flat strip of rigid material having its upper portion rearwardly and downwardly bent, hooks carried by the lower free ends of the curved upper portions of said strips and depending therefrom, eyes pivoted to the lower ends of said strips and extending rearwardly therefrom, rings carried by said eyes for engagement by a lower set of reins, upper and lower loops carried by said strips inspaced relation to each other longitudinally thereof with the upper loops in approximately the horizontal plane of said hooks and the lower loops intermediate the eyes and upper loops, the said upper loops constituting attaching means for upper reins, a resilient nose band, connecting strips secured at their upper ends to ends of said nose band and extending longitudinally therefrom in alinement with the band and having their lower ends pivoted to said side strips at approximately the forward ends of the curved upper portions of the said side strips, loops carried by said connecting strips intermediate their ends for engagement by check straps of a bridle, a chain suspended at its ends from said hooks and of a length to be disposed in a horses chin groove, a ring loose upon said chain and normally disposed centrally thereof, and a strap passed loosely through the ring of said chain and at its ends connected with the lower loops of the side strips.

2. A curb comprising a pair of cheek bars, a chin strap extending loosely between intermediate portions of the cheek bars, a jaw chain extending loosely between the upper end portions of the cheek bars, means connecting the jaw chain, at an intermediate point, to the chin strap, arms pivotally mounted on the cheek bars in spaced relation below the upper ends thereof, and a nose band extending between the free end portions of the arms.

WAYNE B. STEPHENS.

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