US551314A - Saddle-girth fastener - Google Patents

Description

(NoModel.)

' .A. P. HARLAND.

SADDLE GIRTH .PASTENER.

No. 551,314. 'Patented Das. 10, 1895.

ANDREW l5! AnAnJuuTo-mawsmy nmlnc.

UNITED STATES PATENT Grauen.

ALLEN P. IIARLAND," OF FLORENCE, ALABAMA.

SADDLE-GIRTH FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 551,314, dated December 10, 1895.

Application Sled March 12, 1895. Serial No. 541,402. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ALLEN I?. HARLAND, a citizen of the Unit'ed States, residing at Florence, in the county of Lauderdale and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Saddle-Garth Fasteners; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

My invention relates to harness buckles or fasteners and more particularly to a saddlegirth fastener.

The object of the invention is to provide a fastener of this character that may be easily and quickly attached and detached; furthermore, to provide a fastener which, when adjusted, will secure the desired tension on the horse with the least possible outlay of strength on the part of the rider; and, finally, to provide a fastener which shall be simple and strong of construction, durable lin use and comparatively inexpensive of production.

lith these objects in view the invention consist-s in certain features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved fastener, showing' it attached to a fragment of the saddle-strap with the loop at the end of the girth hung into the hook of the fastener. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating another step .in the act of fastening the girth. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the iinal step of fastening the girth. Fig. i is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the fastener in its closed position.

In the drawings, l denotes a plate having at one end a hook 2 and with inclined side flanges S, which begin a slight distance from said hook and are provided with notches 3. A plate il. is hinged to the opposite end of the plate l and is adapted to iit between the side flanges of the plate l and its end to spring under the hook when the parts are brought together. The plate 4 is provided on its face with a button 5, whichis adapted to be passed through one of the holes in the saddle-strap 6, by which the fastener is supported.

7 denotes the girth and 8 a loop having one of its ends secured thereto.

In fastening the girth around the horse, the

loop is dropped into the hook 2 ofthe plate l, as shown in Fig. l. The plate is now swung upward into the position shown in Fig. 2, allowing in its upward movement the loop to ride over the inclined side flanges and fall into one set of notches. The particular set of notches in which the loop will fall will be determined by the horses size (girth)-that is to say, should the animal be small, there would be more play to the girth, and the loop would fall into the set -of notches farther from the hinge, and vice versa. Now,by swinging the plate l up against the plate 4, as shown in Fig. 3, the proper adj ustment of the girth will be secured and the hook will engage the free end of the plate 4 and serve to hold the parts closed.

In the present instance I have shown only two sets of notches7 but it is evident that more may be provided without departing from the spirit of my invention.

A fastener constructed as above described is very simple and is automatic in its adjustment. The notches, into which the loop falls, represent the size (girth) of the animal, and by moving the plate l into contact with the plate 4 the desired tension of the girth-strap is obtained. The fastener can be operated with equal ease and rapidity with gloves on.

Although I have described my invention as applied to saddle-girths, I contemplate its use in connection with other parts of harness, as well as for other purposes, such, for instance, in connection with trunlestraps. I therefore would have it distinctly understood that I do not wish to be restricted to its application to any particular form or parts of harness or straps, but reserve to myself the right to use the fastener wherever I may find it to be applicable.

Wrhat I claim, and desire to secure 4by Letters Patent, is

A fastener consisting of two plates hinged together, one plate having notched, inclined side flanges and a hook at its free end, the other plate being shorter and adapted to be sprung under the hooked end and lie between the side flanges, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALLEN P. kHARLAND. lVitnesses Jas. F. ROBINSON, B. P. LARRABEE.

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