US357569A - Whiffletree-hook - Google Patents

Description

E. BRIGGS.

(No Model.)

WHIPFLETRBB 1100K.

Patented Feb. 15, 1887.

i tively little care and exertion.

ened the cost of manufacture and simplified `U'NrTED STATES PATENT EEICE.

EPHRAIM BRIGGS, OF SENECA, KANSAS.

WHIFFLETREE-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,569, dated February 15, 1887.

Application filed November 11,1886. Serial No. 218,512V (No model.)

T0 all whoml it may concern.-

Beit known that I, EPHRAIM BRIGGS, of Seneca, Nemaha county, State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Whiffletree-Hooks and Trace-Detachers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to that class of whiiilel tree-hooks in which a spring-impelled bolt, in connection with a suitable hook, is employed for securing the trace in position; audit consists in the arrangement and construction of parts, hereinafter more fully described, for securing the trace to the whifiietree, and also in means for automatically detaching the same whenever for any cause it becomes desirable.

The object of my invention is to furnish to the trade a whifiletree-hook simple in construction, cheap of manufacture, ornamental in appearance, and which can be easily and expeditiously placed upon ,or removed from the whiffietree.

By my invention I have materially cheapthe construction of the device in several important particulars, and have so arranged its j parts that the trace can be quickly and easily fastened to the whiflietreewithout any liability of slipping or becoming accidentally detached therefrom, and yet at the same time, if desired, it may be instantly released with but compara- The nature of myinvention and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect can best be explained and understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which* Figure l is a side view of my device. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section. Fig. 4 is a top view with the cover removed. Fig. 5 is a view of the interior of the cover; Fig. 6, a perspective view of the bolt. Fig. 7 is a front view of the yoke.

s A is the cap or attachment in which my present invention is comprised. It is of any ordinary or suitable construction, and its several parts may be made of malleable iron, brass, copper, or any other suitable material. It is preferably made hollow, so as to 4be placed upon the end of the whflletree, and is secured Fig.

rrnly thereon by rivets or the like. It is made slightly tapering toward its free end, and

is provided with a hook, A', which prevents the trace froinslipping off the bolt when in position.

' The cap A is mortised orgrooved longitudinally, as shown at B and C. It is also grooved or cut away on its sides, as at a a', and these grooves are inclined at their front end, b.

C is an oritice formed in the end of cap A, through which passes the bolt D, which is provided with a cross-piece, E, slightly longer than the width of the cap A, so as to project at its sides, and is beveled on its under side, as seen at d. A shoulder, D', is formed on bolt D, against which strikes a helical or other suitable spring, e, which surrounds the end d of bolt D, and has a tendency to forcethe bolt (when it is placed in position in cap A) against the hook A', which sets a convenient distance away from the cap, as shown in the drawings.

The cover 0r lid Jis longitudinally grooved or mortised atjj and cut away on its sides at j? ji, similar to the grooves and side cuts formed in the cap A..

la 7c are studs which enter holes k 7c formed inthe cover or lid J for holding it in position whenA it is placed upon the cap A. It will be understood, however, that screws, rivets, or any other suitable fastening devices may be employed for securing the cover or lid.

In devices for detaching traces so as to in stantly release the horse in case of a runaway it is veryimportant, and indeed essential for safety, that the parts should be so arranged with relation to each other that their operation will be smooth, accurate, and certain, thereby withdrawing the bolt without any danger of failure. With this end in view, and to make sure of accurately withdrawing the bolt D, I employ a yoke, F,provided with inwardlyturned ends f f, which loosely enter holes g g formed in the external opposite sides of the cap'A at a proper point, and thereby secure the yoke in position. The holes g g for securing the yoke in position upon the exterior of the cap are so located with relation to the ends of cross-piece E, which project a suitable distance beyond the sides of the cap, that. upon swinging the yoke backward (in the direction to compress the spring) it will sweep across the path of these projecting ends and press against them, and thereby withdraw or retract the bolt. It will be understood that by the use of a yoke, as described, the pressure thereof, when the bolt is being withdrawn, will be equal against both of the projections, and the bolt is thereby withdrawn with certainty, and the trace is instantly and without failure released from the whiiletree. It will thus be seen that when the bolt D is in the cap A and the cover J placed in position the side cuts formed in the cover and cap will register with each other and form suflicient openings or spaces through which will project the ends of cross-piece E for a proper distance.

In the center of yoke F is formed two enlargements, 7L 7L, placed a short distance apart, so as to form between them an annular indentation or groove, i. H is an eye or other suitable guiding device secured, referably, on the top ofthe rear end of the cap A.

In case it be desirable to instantly release the traces from the whiflietree while the vehicle is in motion, or in case of a runaway, I attach to the yoke F in groove i a suitable strap or chain, I, and then run it through an eye, II, and thence into the vehicle, and secure it at some convenient accessible point, so as to enable any one to take hold of it, and by a slight pull it will cause the bolt to be retracted and allow the traces to become instantly released from the whifletrec.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming that the bolt is in extended position-that is to say, projected and forced against the hook A by the force of spring e-if it now be desired to retract or withdraw the bolt in order to release the trace, it is only necessary to pull upon the strap or chain I, which is secured to yoke F, when it will press against the ends of cross-piece E and thereby withdraw or retract the bolt, and the operation of removing or fastening the trace may be easily accomplished. After this has been done, upon removal of pressure from the yoke the spring causes the bolt to remain projected at all times against the hook A.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. A whiiiietree-hook and trace-detacher consisting of a cap and cover suitably recessed and provided with side openings, as described, and a spring-impelled bolt having a crosspiece Whose ends project at the sides of said cap a sufficient distance, and a yoke secured upon the exterior of said cap` and adapted to sweep across the path of said projecting ends, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A whiffletree-hook consisting of a cap and cover recessed and provided with side openings beveled at b, and a spring-impelled bolt having a cross-piece the ends of which project at the sides of said cap, and a yoke so arranged with relation to said proj ectingends of the cross-piece that upon its being drawn backward will cause the same to sweep across the path of said ends and thereby retract or withdraw the bolt, substantially as described.

3. The combination ofthe cap mortised and cut away, as described, spring-impelled bolt having a crossepiece whose ends project at the sides of said cap, and a yoke suitably secured to the exterior of said cap and adapted to sweep across the pathway of said projecting ends, and a chain or cap attached to said yoke. and a suitable cord or chain attached to said yoke, and a guiding device secured to said cap, substantially as described.

4. As an improved article of manufacture, a combined whiffletree-hook and trace-detatcher consisting of a cap and cover constructed substantially as described, and having an orifice, a spring-impelled bolt provided with a cross-piece whose ends project at the sides of the cap, and a. yoke adapted to sweep across the path of the ends of said cross-piece, and a cord or chain secured tosaid yoke, and a guideeye secured to the cap, all arranged and operatingsubstantially as and for the pur pose stated.

5. A whifletree-hook and trace-detacher consisting of a cap and cover recessed and provided with side openings beveled atb, and a spring-impeded bolt having a crosspiece beveled ou its under side at d, the ends of which project at the sides of said cap, and a yoke so arranged with relation to said projecting ends of the cross-piece that upon being drawn back ward it will cause the same to sweep across the path of said ends and thereby retract or wit-hdraw the bolt, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of November, 1886.

EPHRAIM BRIGGS.

W'itnesses:

G. R. BENEDICT, J Aims H. GLnAsoN.

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