Untitled record

Application filed August 1> 1895.

Serial No. 557)862, (No model.)

To nil whom it may concernBe it known that I, Wesley D. Snell, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and use5 ful Improvement in Hitching-Weights, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in io hitching-weights for horses, involving a strap or similar device adapted to be attached to the bit-ring of the bridle, said strap or device occupying a cavity in the weight and adapted to be drawn automatically therein after being 15 pulled out.

The invention consists in a novel formation of tlie parts of said weight, all of which are hereinafter fully described, and more particularly pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the device. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the main part of the weight on the dotted line 2 2 in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is an axial section of the main part on the dotted line 3 3 25 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an axial section of the main part of the weight on the dotted line 4 4 in Fig. 3 and viewed as indicated by arrow 4' in said latter figure. Fig. 5 is a view of the bottom of the device, a part being broken 30 away. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of some of the interior parts viewed in a direction opposite to that in which Fig. 4 is seen, parts being broken away.

Referring to the parts shoAvn, A is the main 35 part or body of the weight, which is provided with a bail a for convenience of handling. This body, as to its main lower part, is preferably cylindrical in form, surmounted by a hemispherical dome. At its lower edge or 40 base the body is laterally expanded to form a flange &, Figs. 1 and 2, the periphery of which varies from a circle shown at e for comparison. The flange is preferably formed with laterally-depressed parts c, alternated with ex45 tended parts d, so that when accidentally turned upon its side the body will not roll. The body is hollow, its internal cavity consisting of two rectangular vertical chambers /and g, Figs. 2, 3, and 5, extending at une50 qual distances upward from the base and in tersecting each other at right angles. These chambers extend upward for a distance perpendicular to the base and open out at the latter, as shown. Within the cavity in thebodya core-piece B rests, it being formed with a con- 55 ical base-flange h, occupying a corresponding conical circular cavity i in the base of the body A.

The lower surfaces of the body A and the core-piece B are in a plane constituting a flat 6o base for the device as a whole. The parts A and B are held together by fastening-screws k, Fig. 5, passing through the flange h and threaded into angular parts Z of the body between the chambers f and g. The core-piece 65 is formed with opposing standards m in, occupying the respective ends of the lower or minor chamber/in the body A and holding a horizontal rotatory shaft n. This shaft is adapted to turn freely in its bearings in the 70 standards and overhangs at its ends so as to nearly meet the Avails of the cavity/, on account of Avhich endAvise travel of the shaft, saA^Te as to a small amount, is preA^Tented. Upon the shaft is Avound a strap 0, having its inner 75 end rigidly secured to the shaft. The free end of the strap extends upward out of the body through a slit or opening 77 through the dome, and is provided without the latter Avith a means, as a simple snap-hook r, for readily 80 attaching it to the bit-ring of the bridle worn by the horse. By pulling upon the snap-hook the strap may be drawn outward from the body through the opening p to the extent substantially of its length, the shaft being 85 turned by the strap as the latter is drawn out.

By the side of the strap is placed a flat ribbon-spring s,'also coiled upon the shaft n. The inner end of this spring is bent through a longitudinal slit t in the shaft, as shown in 90 Fig. 6, for the purpose of securing it to the shaft. The outer end of the spring is held rigidly to the core-piece B by means of a screAv x, Figs. 2,5, and 6, passing through the spring and threaded into the flange h. The spring 95 being thus connected Avith the shaft and the core-piece, it is adapted to be wound tightly upon the shaft when the strap is pulled outward and so turn the shaft to draw the strap inAvard when the latter is released from an 100

582,702 outward pull. On account of this construction there is never any slack in the strap when hitched to a horse, for the spring constantly exerts a pull upon the strap and consequent!;⁷5 upon the bit of the bridle.

The spring is inclosed in a sheet-metal case u, preferably of zinc, which is also held rigidly to place upon the core-piece by the screw x. The case is in the form of a cylinder coni o centric with the shaft, having parts cut away at v v and w at its upper side, which leave free peripheral overhanging ends or parts y y of the case. These ends serve to prevent the outer turns of the spring from jumping 15 or flopping outward in any case of a sudden action of the parts or violent handling of the device. The case rests in a seat upon the flange h of the core-piece, formed by raised parts a' a', Figs. 3 and 6, which enables the 2o screw x to hold the case firmly and prevent it from rocking. The opening in the case at v v is for the purpose of inserting the spring, the free ends y y being temporarily bent back to admit the spring, and the opening w is for 25 the insertion of a screw-driver to secure the spring and case to the base. When the spring is in the case, the shaft is inserted in place and the ends y y bent forward over the spring to their normal positions, as shown in Fig. 0. 30 The part of the dome about the opening p is purposely made thin by forming an internal cavity z, Figs. 3 and 4, so that the strap may more readily and with less friction move through said opening when it is drawn out35 ward or inward, as above described.

The ends of the shaft are preferably reduced, as shown in Fig. 3, for the purpose of reducing the resistance to the turning of the shaft in case the latter at any time chances to touch at either end a Avail of the body Λ. 40