US282366A - Harness-buckle - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Shets-Sheet 2,

R. PORTER.

HARNESS BUCKLE.

No. 282,366. Patented July 31, 1883.

Wjblroess as fimhsin or I 2 fwwy RQPORTER.

HARNESS BUCKLE.

' Pater ltedwIuly 31, 1883.

PETERS, PMQo-Lflhngnpiwr. Washington 0 c (No Model.)

p UNITED'STATES' PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT PORTER, or or'rUMwA, IOWA.

HAR NES S-BUCKLEI a SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 282,366, dated July 31, 1883.

Application filed January 15, 1883. (No model.) I

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT PORTER, .of Ottumwa, in the county of Wapello and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Harness and other Buckles,which improvement isfully set forth in following specification.

This invention, though applicable to other purposes, has. reference more particularly to buckles for connecting the hame-tug with the front end of the trace in harness for horses;

and it has for its object to produce a neat and light buckle wherein the tongue of the buckle is relieved of part of the strain.

The invention consist in the special new construction of the buckle.

The accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, represent buckles constructed in accordance with the invention or with parts thereof. Figure 1 is a plan of one of the improved buckleswith hame-tug and trace in position; Fig. 2, a section of the same; Figs. 3 and 4, perspective views of the parts separated; Fig. 5,a perspective of a modified form of the bail or draft-loop, and Figs. 6 and 7 views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 of another style of buckle.

A is the frame of the buckle, and B the sliding bail or draft-loop, to which the hame-tug O is fastened. D is the trace, and E the tongue of the buckle. The buckle-frame comprisesthe side bars a b, the front cross-bar a, center bar, d, and rear cross-bar 6. It is provided with the breeching-loop f, back-band loop and belly-band loop h, (one, two, or all,) or it is unprovided therewith, as may be desired.

The bail or draft-loop B comprises the side bars 2', front cross -bar 70, rear cross bar Z, lugs m, and flanges n. The side bars a b of the buckle-frame, as shown, incline away from each other toward the front of the buckle, so

as to give space forthe bailor draft-loop be- I tween them. The front cross-bar c is therefore longer than the rear bar e, and the frame has the general shape of a trapezoid. This is the preferableshape. The lugs m are continuations of the rear cross -bar k of the bail.'

They rest upon the sidebars at of the frame. The said side bars are curved or dished slightly in the middle, so that in drawing forward the I lugs m will travel up an incline plane. The

amount of the curvature or dishing and the size of the crossbar k and lugs m are such that the trace D, which is passed under the crossbar 6, over the bar is, and under the bar c,will

that the flanges 12 are provided in front of the cross-bar is. They clamp the trace against the cross-bar c. The inner surface of thelatter is preferably shaped to conform to the outer sun face of said flanges, both being curved. Thus an even bearing over a comparatively largesurface is secured. In Fig. 5 the fiangesn are omitted. The side bars a of the bail or draftloop are curved outward (1'. 6., toward the top in Fig. 2) behind the front crossbar], so as to receive the trace between them. They are preferably also so shaped that when the bail or draft-loop is drawn forward the hame-tug, which surrounds the front cross -bar Z, will press the trace outward, and thus make it fit snugly against the front bar of the buckleframe. The tongue E, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is attached to the front cross-bar c of the buckle-frame, being made in one piece therewith. In Figs. 6 and 7 the tongue 1', which corresponds to the tongue E, is attached to a separate tongue-piece, F, which rests at the ends upon the side bars a b,and which is made broad in the middle, so as to have a large bearing upon the trace. In Figs. 6 and 7 the rear cross-bar 7c of the bail or draft-loop is provided with a tongue, G; This tonguemay be omitted or may be used, as desired. Thecentral cross-bar, d, strengthens the buckleframe; but the main object in its use is to prevent the bail or draft -loop from dropping through the frame accidentally. It is desirable for the buckle to have a length somewhat greater than its width. If, therefore, the space between the front and rear crossbars of the frame were left open, it would be very easy for 2 esascc the bail or draft loop to turn, and then there would be nothing to sustain it. cross-bar, by shortening the space, prevents this undesirable result from happening. It is so placed that the space for the bail is large enough for it to be inserted when the trace is not in place and small enough to prevent its turning or removal when the trace has been introduced.

Modifications besides those indicated can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and portions of the invention may be used separately. For example, the tongue might be placed upon the rear crossbar of the buckle-frame; but this would bring strain upon the side bars, which is not desira ble, and would necessitate the making of them and of the rear cross-bar heavier than would otherwise be necessary. The central cross-bar might be omitted and other changes could be made. I

The trapezoidal buckle-frame might be used with other styles of bail or draft-loop, and the bail described with buckle-frames not trapezoidal.

Of course,buckles for other purposes could be made in accordance with the invention.

The separate tongue-piece F, Figs. 6 and 7, could be provided with lugs on the bottom to fit between the side bars (61)..

For the purpose of this invention, the two forms of buckle are considered as substantially alike; but that shown in Figs. (Sand 7 contains improvements not found in the other buckle,

and as these improvements are not specifically claimed herein,the right is reserved of making them the subject of separate application.

The central Having now fully described mysaid invencrossbar, be bent outward between the crossbars of the buckle-frame, substantially as described. v

2. I11 combination with a buckle-frame having cross-bars of unequal length connected by side bars, a bail or draftdoop having crossbars connected by side bars,which fit between the more widely separated ends'of the side bars of the buckle-frame, and arecurved outwardly so as to receive a trace or strap between them, said bail or loop being also pro vided with lugs which rest upon the side bars of the buckle-frame, substantially as described.

3. The bail or draft-loop having a rear crossbar and lugs at the ends thereof, and provided with internal flanges in one piece with said rear crossbar, in combination with a buckleframe, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT PORTER.

\Vitnesses:

A. PoLLoK, PHILIP lvLiURO.

Images