US169403A - Improvement in bridle-bits for horses - Google Patents

Description

J. R. BELLINGER, L. .M. BOL'LES & W. J. FRYER, Jr.

'BRIDLE BITS FOR HORSES. 'No.169,4O3. Patented Nov. 2, 187.5.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JAMES R. BELLINGER, 'LUZERNE M. BOLLES, AND WILLIAM J. FRYER, JR., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.; SAID BELLINGEB ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES L.

FRYER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRlDLE-BITS FOR'HORSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 69,403, dated November 2.1875 application filed October 25, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, JAMES R. BELLINGER, L. M. BOLLES, and WILLIAM J. FRYER, Jr.,-

all of the city of New York, in the county A is the cheek-bar or side purchase, of any .ordinary shape. B is the mouth-bar, made straight at its point of intersection with the cheek-bar, and arching in the center, (to pass over the horses tongue,) with a concavity on the inner side. 0 is a perforated metal roofplate, attached to the convex side of the concave and arched mouth-bar. The shapes all conform nearly to the natural lines of a horses mouth. 'The shape of the mouth-bar is to give room for the working of the horsess tongue, and at the same time making use of his tongue to hold the bit centrally in his mouth, while the straight part between the cheek-bar and the arching center makes the bit fit sung in the corners of the mouth. All

side play is prevented; the roof-plate is steady,

without wabbling or rubbing. Altogether, it is so easy and natural in its adaptation to the shape of the horses mounth that he enjoys the freedom given to his tongue, and scarcely realizes that anything is in his mouth till a taut rein is drawn. By perforating the metal roof-plate it oii'ers less resistance to the airpassage and to the nioisture on the roof of the mouth, and lessensthe weight of the plate.

' The plate can also be corrugated or grooved,

or may be made an open web. When the driving-lines are hooked into the lower ring, and a taut "rein pulled, a leverage power is exerted on the plate, and it presses on the roof of the horses month, which pressure, in connection with the pull in the corners of his mouth, compels the horse to obey the will of his driver. The plate extends high up in the mouth, and while it presses firmly it presses .without pain, covering a larger area in comparison with a Mexican bit and its short tongue, (say an inch and a half,) or a Spanish bit with its longer (say four inches) tongue, and the cruel power these both exert on a horses mouth.

With this bit the horse breathes easier, and can, therefore, be driven farther and faster than with the common bit. It is any easy bit for tender-mouthed horses, and a perfectly safe one for vicious horses. It will prevent running away, pulling, tongue-lolling, or drivmg on one rein.

This bit can be used with a nose-band, or with a chain under the lowerjaw, or with any of the devices applicable to the ordinary make of bits. It also may be attached to an ordinary make of bit, being loosely attached on the mouth-bar, and the lines fastened to an inside cheek-bar connected to the tongue-piece.

We are aware that tongue-pieces pressing on the roof of the horses month have been used, and are not new, as instanced in the Mexican and in the Spanish bits before referred to. We do not claim it. The distinctive feature of our invention is the peculiarshaped mouth-bar and the perforated roofplate attached to the same.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A bridle bit having its mouth bar made straight at its point of intersection with the cheek-bar, and arched and concaved in the center, to accommodate itself to the tongue of the horse, in combination with a perforated roof-plate, 0, made concave to correspond to the shape of the tongue, and convex to bear against the roof of the horses mouth, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

JAS. R. BELLINGER. LUZERNE M. BOLLES. WM. J. FRYER, JR.

Witnesses:

HARDESTY DE S. JOHNSON, JAMES GosBY.

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