US2460912A - Bridle bit - Google Patents

Description

1949. A. E. WAGNER ET AL 2,460,912

" BRIDLE BIT Filed Sept. 5, 1946 Patented Feb. 8, 1949 Arthur E; Wagner and Flt-a, euthanasi Pa., assignors to Plas-Tlr -Bi ts, Pa., a corporation of Del were ee-re l a 7 Application September 5, 1546, Serial Ne. 694,878

, i I 1 This invention is bridle bits. I

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a novel form of bridle bit which is humane, rugged, and inexpensive. v V

More specifically, it is-intended to provide a unitary bit of wholly non-metallic construction. Hitherto. it has been proposed to cover the mouthpiece of a bridle bit with a soft cushion tube of rubber composition, but such a. covering-is not durable and is diflicult to keep clean, particularly after it has become rough and worn.

Bits have also been used in which the mouthpiece was formed of vulcanite, although this type of bit likewise has a number of disadvantagesand has never been widely accepted. This is probably due to the fact that vuloanite, which is a hard rubber produced by heating caoutchouc or India rubber with sulphur, does not mold precisely, acquires a greenish tone in use and generally deteriorates in quality with age.

In making a bit of plastic composition in accordan-ce with the teachings of the present invention there are a number of requirements to be met in order to insure an adequate substitute for the metal bits which are commonly used. A bit should be relatively light in weight, smooth, strong, durable and non-toxic with respect to the animal. In view of the continuous biting and clamping action to which the mouthpiece of a. bit is subjected by a horse, it is also essential that the bit possess adequate impact strength. It is also quite desirable, if not absolutely necessary, to provide a bit mouth-piece which does not frost or chill so as to injure the tongue of a horse when used in very cold weather. From the standpoint of economy in manufacture, it is practically necessary that any non-metallic composition be moldable. As this quality is an important feature of the present invention, it will be defined with the particularity intended. f

Mold or molded" is used in the plastics art and in this specification to connote that the:

material has gone through a stage of fluidity or softness during which it has been conformed to the shape of a confining member, and caused directed to improvements in .ethylce-llulose, which is --the requisite characteristics in a high-degree. 'I 'hat-is to say, an ethylcellulose plastichas expolymeric, combines all cellent molding qualities, is relatively lightweight (specific;- gravity approximately 1.2), ages very slightly, is afiected by sunlight, weak acids and weak; all-ralies but slightly, and in addition posl s ,unlimitedcolor possibilities, making it easy toproduce a bridlev bit. of any permanent color desired, Besides being resistant to ordinary ranges of temperature, the molded ethylcelluloses are very hard fand strong, with low specific heat., 1 'illers and binders may be used in ac- ,cordance withpresent plastic techniques.

Therefore, it is a'specific object of this invention to provide a rigid, unitary bridle bit molded from ethylcellulo-se and having structural features which are advantageous in a bit of this character.

Other novel details and features of improvement will be pointed out in connection with the following description of a preferred embodiment taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a bridle bit;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the bridle bit shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the bit taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings the numeral It refers generally to a bridle bit which is illustrated as being-of the ported type. The bit lllincludes' a. port-ed mouthpiece l2 having at-each end a cheek piece I. Eachcheek piece I4 is formed to provide a bridle eye [6 at its upper end, which may be flared slightly outward in order to prevent sticking the side of the horse's head. The lower ends of the cheek pieces l4, 14 are formed with rings I 8, I8 to receive the bit reins.

In order to give further strength and rigidity to the bit structure it is preferable to connect the lower extremities of the cheek pieces l4, ll with a substantial cross bar 20 which may be curved downwardly in order to provide greater, clearance. As the junotures of the cross bar 20 and the cheek pieces ll, l4 arebelow the rein rings l8, IS, the cross bar will also serve to prevent the rein loops from swinging around to the forward side of the cheek pieces and entanglement of the cheek pieces when roping.

Additional strength is imparted to the solid bit III by a fillet 22 of substantial size ateach end of the mouthpiece l2 at the point of juncture with the inner side of the corresponding cheek piece I. On the outer sides of the cheek pieces l4, N in alignment with the fillets 22, 22 large bosses 24, 24 are molded for the purpose of further insuring adequate strength of the integral junctures between the mouthpiece l2 and the cheek pieces Hi, I'd.

In describing this invention one typical form of bit and its construction have been used illustrativelfit but his to. be uhderstoodTthat the principles of this invention are applicable to a large variety of types of bridle bits and that therefore, the invention in its broader aspect? contemplates any bit of similar molded Therefore, this invention is not tov struction.

be limited to the specific detailsof construction 3 and compositions which have been'diseioseigexe cept as may be required by the: scope of meanpended claims. i 1 Having thus disclosed our invention what. we claim as novel and desire to secure byjl' etters Patent of the United States is:

a I. A unitary, rigid bridle bit of solid? constructlon'com-posed of moldedpolymeric plastic and including a -mouthpiec'e and an elongated cheek piece extending from each end of the mouthpiece and :formed' to provide spaced" bridle and rein openings. I I

2. A molded, lightweight, non-toxicfbridiebit of solid construction composed of plastici'z'cd 'ethylcelluloseand 1 including a mouthpiece" and an elongated cheek piece extending from each "end ofthe mouthpiece and formed to provide spaced bridle and rein openings; '7 3QA unitary, lightweight, rigid bridle bit" composed of molded lpolynieridplas tic, said bit'j-havthee-heekpieces being reinforced by a fillet at eachrend otfthei' mouthpiece and an aligned boss ing a mouthpiece, a cheek piece at each end of the mouthpiece, each cheek piece being provided with a bridle eye adjacent its upper end and a rein opening adjacent its lower end, and a crossbar extending between the cheek pieces below the rein openings thereof.

4. A unitary, lightweight, rigid bridle bit composed of inoldedilpolymerie v plastic, said'i bit having'a mouthpiece, a cheek piece'at each end of themouthpiece, each cheek piece being provided -"'wit h 'a bridle eye adjacent its upper end and 9.

opening adjacent its lower end, and a crossbar extending between the lower extremities of "the-cheep pieces below the rein openings thereor thejiinctures between the mouth piece and on theoutside of each cheek piece.

Number aria ARTHUR E. WAGNER. FORD E. CAMP. REFERENCES oI'rEn Thefollowing references are of record in the file'foithis patentz STATES PATENTS 'Neme Date 1725877 etenie -zi Dec; 23, 1875 347,225 Buermannj Aug. 10, 1886 v THER-REF RENCES I Catalog No. 32 of the N. Porter Co. of Phoenix,

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