US2539098A - Identifying indicator for racing harness - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 23, 1951 G. PETTIGREW IDENTIFYING INDICATOR FOR RACING HARNESS Filed May 17, 1946 m K r r J P w M m 6 Patented Jan. 23, 1951 orrice IDENTIFYING INDICATOR FOR RACING HARNESS Garfield Pettigrew, Elwood, Ind.

Application May 17, 1946, Serial No. 670,451

2 Claims. (Cl. 40-20) This invention relates to an identifying indicator such as a position number plate for racing harness, being particularly applicable to harness used on trotting horses.

It is customary for starting position numbers, relative to the pole position on a race track, to be drawn by lot prior to each race. In the past, the method of attaching a position number to the racing harness has been left to the ingenuity of the individual responsible for the horse or other racing animal. This has resulted in a considerable amount of improvisation and a resultant lack of uniformity.

It is the object of this invention to provide an identifying indicator which may be readily and conveniently attached to the harness and which will result in uniformity of means for position identification.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a position number plate which is simple in construction, inexpensive to produce, of light weight, and which ofiers little air resistance to the forward travel of the racing animal.

It is a further object of the. invention to provide such an indicator which is attractive, serviceable, and readily visible to the crowd which customarily identifies a horse or hound by its assigned number.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the identifying indicator.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section therethrough with parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing portions thereof with the indicator removed from its suppor Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modification of the supporting band thereof.

In the drawings for the purpose of illustrating one application of the invention, the position number indicator in the form of a numbered plate I is shown secured to and supported by a standard consisting of oppositely disposed spring metal straps II and I2 normally constrained towards separation. Said straps of the standard flare apart laterally and then turn outwardly in a horizontal plane to form anchor portions I3 and M which are adapted to seat within the spaced sockets l5 and 16.

The sockets are secured in spaced relation intermediate the ends of a rigid supporting band i! 2 so constructed as to be readily attachable to'any racing harness. It is here shown with slot-like openings at I8 and I9 so positioned that the check rein keeper 20a of the racing'harness indicated at 2! may be inserted therethrough in order to receive and accommodate the check reins 20. Apertures 22 are provided at opposite ends of the supporting band being adapted to receive the rosettes 23 of the harness, thereby enabling the supporting band I l to be securely but removably attached thereto.

The position number plate it may be permanently fixed to the standard by the rivets 24 and 25.

Following the assignment of a position number to a horse, the position plate with its supporting standard may be attached readily and with ease to the supporting strap H by pinching the spring straps l I, l2 together and slipping the anchor portions l3, i l thereof into their respective receiving sockets I5, it. Since the straps are normally constrained towards separation, the anchor portions will interlock with the sockets until such a time as they are removed by manually overcoming their spring tension and withdrawing the anchor portions from the sockets. The supporting band ll, however, would remain as a permanent fixture of the harness 2 I.

Fig. 4 shows a modification of the supporting band Ill with sockets H5 and H6 in spaced relation adjacent the ends of said band. The sockets are adapted to receive anchor portions 53 and Id of the number plate it. At H8, H9,

522, and H3 are upwardly extending apertured ears which are adapted to receive therethrough the check reins 29. The check rein keepers 20a of the racing harness 2| project upwardly therefrom adjacent the ends of the band Ill, and lie in the same plane as the ears H8, H9 and I22, 523, respectively. Thus, when the check reins 23 are run through said ears, they are at the same time run through the check rein keepers 28a. This arrangement steadies the band HT and keeps to a minimum the bounce of the identifying indicator ill.

The invention claimed is:

1. The combination with an identifying indicator having a legend bearing plate and a standard depending therefrom for use with racing harness including check reins and check rein keepers, of a support member for said indicator, comprising a base, means to detachably receive and retain said standard, a pair of outwardly and upwardly extending apertured ears secured to said base at each end thereof, the ears of each pair being spaced to receive one of said keepers therebetween on a substantially common plane therewith, whereby said check reins may be laced through said ears and said keepers for holding said standard and said legend plate steady relative to the harness.

2. A support member for a horse identifying indicator used with racing harness having check reins and check rein keepers comprising a base having means to detachably receive and retain said indicator, 2. pair of outwardly and upwardly extending apertured ears secured to said base at each end thereof, the ears of each pair being spaced to receive one of said keepers therebetween on a substantially common plane therewith, whereby said check reins may be laced through said ears and said keepers for holding said member steady relative to said harness.

GARFIELD PETTIGREW.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 241,453 Untermeyer May 10, 1881 400,461 Knapp Apr. 2, 1889 416,759 Smith Dec. 10, 1889 646,983 Hammer Apr. 10, 1900 1,706,578 Lohn Mar. 26, 1929 1,942,444 OConner Jan. 9, 1934 2,114,135 Butler Apr. 12, 1938

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