US273372A - Whiffletree - Google Patents

Description

, UNITED STATES PATENT OF CE.

, FREDERIG L ITTLEFIELD, GAR-DINER, MAINE.

WHIFFLETREE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 273,372, dated March 6,1883.

' Application filed December 6,1882. 7, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERIG LITTLEFIELD, of Gardiner, in the county of Kennebec and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Whifflet-rees; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in whiffletrees, the object ot'the same being to provide a device of this character which shall combine simplicity and economy of construction with durability and efliciency in use; and with these ends in view my invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be more fully described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan view of my improvement, and Fig. 2 represents detached Views of the end attachment.

A represents a whilfletree provided with the forwardly curved ends B, around which the rear ends of the traces 0 wind. These ends 13 can be bent or cut into the form shown, and are strengthened by the metallic end pieces or attachment, D, which latter are secured to the rear faces of the whiffletree. Each end attachmentD consists of a flat metallic bar,adapted to the contour of the ends of the \vhiffletree, and secured thereto by bolts, rivets, or screws, and the button or hook E, adapted to pass through holes in the traces in the ordinary manner. The end pieces, D, extend around on the rear surface of the whiffletree for a considerable distance, and add greatly to its strength, while the curved portions thereof protect the bent ends of the whiffletree and prevent them from breaking off or becoming distorted in shape. The buttons or hooks E extend outward at right angles from the outer end of the end pieces, and are adapted to pass through one of a series of holes formed in the rear end of the traces. Those portions of the traces behind the buttons E rest up against the curved portion of the whiffletree, and are held up in I position by means of the metallic rings or loops F, which latter are secured in position either to the whiffletree or to the end pieces, or between both, in-any desired manner. By this means all the slack trace can be taken up at the rear end, and be held up in position, which, besides being convenient, also adds greatly to the appearance of the parts. a

The rings or loops F (one or more on each end of the whiffletree) can, if desired, be movable or adjustable, so as to enable it or them to be .moved into proper position to support the ends of the traces.

By means of my improvement the front ends of the traces or tugs can be rigidly or immovably secured to the breast-strap or collar of the harness, thereby dispensing with' the large buckles and leather loops ordinarily employed, which latter are expensive, are liable to chafe the horse, and require more repairing than any other portion of the harness. The traces can be provided at their rear with any desired number of holes, and are secured to the whiffletree in the manner shown, thelength of the trace behind the button beingdependent on the length of the trace and the size of the animal. This surplusage of trace is, however, neatly held against the rear face of the \vhiflietree and presents a neat and finished appearance.

My improvement is simple in construction, is of few parts, is durable and effective in use, an d can be manufactured at a smallinitial cost.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with awhiffletree provided with curved ends, of-metallic straps curved to correspond to the ends of the whifflctree, and provided with buttons or hooks projecting at each end of the whiftletree, and loops for securing the ends of the traces, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERIC LITTLEFIELD. Witnesses:

JOSIAH S. MAXCY, DANFORTH M. MAXOY.

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