US523811A - Combined bit and mouth-opener - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

B. N.- HARRIS. V, COMBINEDBIT AND MOUTHOPBNERr No. 523,811. Patented July 31. 1894.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

' ROBERT NELSON HARRIS, or HIoKoRn-NoRT ,oARoLiNA.

COMBINED BIT AND MOUTH-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 523,811, dated July 31,1894. Application filed October 30, 1893. Serial No. 489,569- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT NELSON HAR- MS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hickory, in the county of Catawba and State of Northflarolina, have invented a new and useful Combined Mouth-Opener and Bit, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bits; the objects in View being to produce a bit that is capable of being employed as an ordinary bit and also as a gag or mouthopener for horses and other animals, whereby the teeth of the same may receive proper attention, leaving the operators hands free for working, and also medicines introduced into the throat, or other operations performed.

-With these and other objectsin View the invention consists in certain features of construction hereinafter specified and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referringto the drawingsz-Figur6 1 is a general view of a horses head, my device being applied thereto and in position to act as a gag or mouth-opener. Fig. 2 is a detail in 1 perspective of the combined bit and gag, the

parts being in position to act as the latter. Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the mannor of adapting the gag for smaller animals. Fig. 4 is a similar View, the device being adapted to serve as an ordinary bit. Fig. 5

is a vertical transversesectional view through the lower portion of the bit.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In practicing my invention I employ opposite side-bars, which consist of the upper and lower extensions 1 and 2, the former 7 terminating in loops 3 and the latter in loops 4. Between these extensions the side-bars are curved or offset rearward, as indicated at 5, and provided with eyes or loops 6. Below the loops 3 and above the loops 4 perforations 7 and 8, respectively, are formed.

The perforations 7 are permanently occupied by an upwardly curved bitbar 9, and the lower perforations 8 receive loosely and removably the end of a curved bit-bar 11. This curved bit-bar 11 may be secured temporarily in position, and in a manner to be inverted, by any suitable means, in the present instance through the medium of a nut 12 applied at one end of the bar, the remaining end of said bar being headed as at 13 so as to prevent withdrawal in one direction.

An adjustable noseestrap 14, is located in the upper loops 3, and a similar chin-band 15-,

is located in the lower loops 4:. 7

An ordinary head-stall16 is employed in connection with the combined bit and gag, and has its cheek-straps 1 7 connected to the loops 6 in the usualmanner.

When employed as an ordinary bit the bitbar 9, that which is fixed to the upper ends of the side-bars, is inserted in the mouth, the head-stall being placed upon the head like an ordinary bridle and the nose-band passed about the nose. The driving-lines or reinsare substituted for the chin-band 15, the latter being removed. To all appearances the device is now an ordinary driving-bit, and serves the functions of such.

If it be desired to employ. 198311119585 a gag or mouth-opener, the lower bit-bar'll, is placed in position, the mouth opened, and the two bars forced between the upper and lower jaws of the animal, the head-stall being em ployed as before. It will now be seen that the animals mouth is held open and cannot possibly close by reason of the bars, the device being'held in position by the head-stall and nose and v chin -straps. Anyoperation upon the teeth may be carried on, or other operations usually performed may also take place, or, if the animalshould be choked, the I space between the bars is sufficient to permit the operator to pass his hands between the same and to remove the obstruction. be seen that both hands of the operator are free to operate, and no further attention 'need be given to the device and retention of it in position as the head-stall and nose and chinstraps perform this useful function.

If it be desired to apply the device to smaller animals the same may be successfully accomplished by reversing or inverting the position of the lower bit-bar, so thatit curves upward in the same direction as the upper bar. This may be accomplished by remov- It will roe furthermore may be employed for successfully drenching or giving medicines to the animals, or performing any operation whatever upon the throat or month without dangerhof the gag slipping and interfering therewit I do not limit my invention to the precise construction herein described and shown, but hold that I may vary the same to any degree and extentwithin the knowledgeot' the skilled mechanic.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A bit, comprising the opposite side bars provided at their upper ends with loops to receive a nose band and having at their lower ends loops adapted to receive either a chin band or driving reins, said side bars being provided with the intermediate offset portions to receive the cheek straps, an upper permanent bit bar located above the ofiset portions of the side bars, and a lower bit bar detachably secured to the side bars below the offset portions thereof, and adapted to be removed, whereby the bit is capable of being employed as an ordinary driving bit and as a gag or mouth-opener, substantialIy as described. it

2. In a bit, the combination with the opposite side-bars having the upper and lower extensions 1 and 2 provided with loops 3 and 4 respectively, and between the same having ROBERT NELSON HARRIS.

Witnesses:

WM. P. HUFFMAN, W. B. SOUTHERLAND.

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