US378970A - James moeeissby - Google Patents

Description

w (No Model.) J. MORRISSEY.

BRIDLE BIT. No. 378,970. Patented Man 6, 1888.

INV'EN TOR ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. Fnawumgn mr, Wahingim-PZG PATENT Fries.

JAMES MORRISSEY, OF W'EST ISLIP, NEW YORK.

BRlDLE-BiT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 378,970, dated March 6, 1888. Application filed January 18, 1888. Serial No. 261.143. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES MoRRIssEY, of WVest Islip, in the county of Suffolk and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Fork-Bit, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in bits, and has for its object to provide a fork-bit adapted for use with the ordinary bit, whereby horses may be effectively and expeditiously cured of bad or vicious habits, such as kicking, rearing, hard pulling, or running away, and wherein the device may be employed in either harness or saddle, and wherein, further, the device will improve the style and action of all horses upon which itis regularly used for a Shoat term, after which it may be dispensed wit The invention consists in providing a harness with an auxiliary fork-like bit,'and in the construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth,and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 illustrates the application of the device. same, and Fig. 3 is a detail view thereof.

In carrying out the invention the bit is made up of a fork-like frame, A, and a transverse mouth-piece or port, B. The frame consists of a rigid metal bar, I), bifurcated at the upper end to provide the approaching arms or prongs b, the two prongs being adapted to pass up outside of the horses jaws and are turned over forward and downward to produce the eyes N, which eyes are purposed to prevent accidents liable to happen were the ends of the prongs left straight and sharp. The approaching prongs a distance below their extremities are united by the aforesaid port B, the horizontal members d of which are inclined from the prongs downward to the center and connected by an integral essentially vertically and upwardly projecting inverted-U-shaped member, d, having its bowed or upper edge preferably beveled upon opposing sides 'or otherwise manipulated to produce a comparatively sharp surface. Integral with the outer Fig- 2 is a perspective view of the side of the respective prongs b loops are produced, having billets 6 passed through them, the said loops being preferably in alignment with the port B.

Above the center of the body-barb,upon opposite sides,loops similar to the aforesaid loops upon the prongs are provided, adapted to re ceive billets e, which, fastened to the girths of the saddle or to the traces of harness, act as a check. The lower end of the said body-bar is flattened, and in the flattened surface parallel transverse slots E are cut,through which slots and over theintervening tongue the main billet E is passed,whereby the device is secured to a harness.

A pad or protecting-strap, H, is held in en gagement with the inner flattened surface of the body-bar by attachment above the flattened end, and also by the billet E, as the pad-strap is carried across the lower extremity of the bar 12 to the forward or front side and provided with a slot in its folded end and with a similar slot upon the opposite side, through both of which the billet E passes, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In operation, when the bit is placed in position in front of the ordinary bit, the upper end of the prongs, which reach high over the upper jaw, keep the device straight in the horses mouth and prevent him putting the upper jaw over either side, acting like an ordinary bar usually attached to bridles. The under jaw of the horse is adapted to pass through the space below the port between the prongs. By this means the prongs prevent the horse from getting the lower jaw more to one side than the other.

In placing the auxiliary bit in the mouth it is positioned outside the snaffle and drawn in so close thereto as that it will lie loosely on the middle of the mouth, retained there by the two cheekstraps or billets 6, adapted for attachment to the checks of the bridle above the.

rings of the snaffle, as shown in Fig. 1. The lower billet, E, is passed through the kidneylink or hamestrap, the device then extending downward in front of the chest. Thus by means of the billet E the head can be raised to the desired height, the weight of the bit coming upon the billet E and not upon the mouth. A horse in striving to kick suddenly throws downhis head, by which movement the roof of the mouth is brought in contact with the sharp or high member of the port. The bar I) having a preferable inclination inward, as the horse reaches forward to kick, the upward movement of the port is insured, and a horse once feeling the effects of the bit will not be liable to try the maneuver a second time.

To prevent ahorse from rising in the saddle, an ordinary riding-bridle is used with a snaffle, and the forked bit is attached as on horses in harness. A well-fitting breast-plate is, how ever, employed, placed on with the saddle and drawn tight on the girth. The strap E of the bar is thereupon slipped through the middle breasting on the breast-plate and buckled at such a length that it will have a play of about two inches.

It is a positive fact that all horses throw their heads up and down before rearing, and then reach forward and suddenly rise, by which movement the effect of the nipples m, produced by the union of the members of the port B, will be felt, as they will come in contact with the middle of the tongue with such force as to frighten him.

The downward inclination of the side members of the port causes the nipple to catch the tongue before the bases of the prongs engage the lower jaw, and by reason of the inward inclination of the nipples they will catch the tongue farther in advance as the horse raises his head and will cause more fright than hurt.

Again, by the use of the device the horse is compelled to hold his head up, as, the bar being comparatively straight and very strong and without a hinge or spring, and standing perpendicular, any weight coming on it will not cause it to bend or give way, and being securely attached to the kidney-link, a strong purchase is obtained. Therefore, to whatever height the horses head is raised, it will be obliged to remain there until the bitis removed. The pad-strap H effectually prevents any chat ing.

Having thus described my invention, whatl claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with an ordinary bit, of an auxiliary bit consisting of a rigid bar provided with a forked upper end having its members connected by a port centrally and upwardly curved, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination, with an ordinary bit, of an auxiliary bit consisting of a rigid bar having a bifurcated upper end, and a port uniting the prongs, provided with spaced nipples upon the under side and an outwardly and upwardly curved projection upon the upper side, sub stantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. The combination, with an ordinary bit and harness of a horse, of an auxiliary bit consisting of a rigid bar having a bifurcated up per end, a port uniting'the prongs, provided with spaced nipples upon the under side and an outwardly and upwardly curved projection upon the upper side, and means, substantially as described, for attaching the auxiliary bit to the harness and ordinary bit, as set forth.

4. An auxiliary bit for horses, consisting of a rigid bar having a bifurcated upper end and a port uniting the prongs, provided with nipples upon the under side and an upwardly and outwardly curved projection upon the upper side, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

JAMES MORRISSEY.

\Vitnesscs:

FRANK S. HoLDRIDoEs, F. A. DOWDEN.

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