US681855A - Trace-fastener. - Google Patents

Description

No. mamas.

J. c. JOHNSON. TRACE FASTENEB.

(Application filed Jan. 28, 1901.)

Patented Sept. 3, l90l.

(No Model.)

Inr ntor .55! W literacy UNrrED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. JOHNSON, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

TRACE-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,855, datedSeptember 3, 1901.

A Application filed January 28, 1901. Serial No. 45,120. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOHN G. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Trace-Fasteners 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 which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to trace-fasteners, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which will admit of the trace being readily applied to the singletree and quickly and easily detached therefrom and which will prevent displacement of the trace when in position, the trace serving as a locking device to prevent opening of the fastener until manually manipulated.

Fora full description ofthe invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for efiecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are necessarily suscep= tible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of the end portion of a singletree, showing the fastener applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a rear view, the terminal portion of the singletree being in section and the trace being illustrated in the position which it will occupy when forming a lock for the fastener. Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, the trace being moved so as to release the fastener and the latter being moved outward at its free end to admit of the removal of the trace. Fig. at is a cross-section of the singletree and fastener about on the line X X of Fig. 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The part 1 is a singletree or like part, to which the trace is attached when the horse or draft-animal is harnessed to the vehicle to be drawn. The outer end portion of the singletree tapers in width and thickness to a blunt point, which is adapted to pass readily through the eye of the trace 2. An opening or depression 3 is formed in the singletree a short distance from its extremity, and a tapering channel 4 extends outward therefrom.

The fastening consists of a metallic strap 6, secured firmly at its inner end to a side of the singletree and having its outer or free end portion bent outward or away from the plane of the singletree to form an arch 7, thence recurved, as shown at 8, and its terminal portion bent about at a right angle, as shown at 9, to enter the opening or depression 3. The recurved portion 8 fits snugly in the tapering channel 4, so as to come about flush with the side of the singletree to which the fastening is fitted. The metallic strap 6 is sufficiently stout to withstand the slight strain that may come thereon and is resilient, so as to spring toward the singletree at its free end and normally hold the bent terminal 9 in the opening 3 and the recurved portion 8 in the channel or seat 4. The arched portion 7 provides a grip to be engaged by the fingers of the hand when it is required to move the free end of the fastening away from the singletree, as shown in Fig. 3, to permit the trace 2 to be placed in position or removed from the singletree. The strap 6 preferably tapers throughout its length, thereby increasing its resiliency and adding to the appearance of the fastening.

In practice when it is required to fit the trace 2 to the singletree the outer end portion of the fastening is moved away from the singletree and the trace is slipped thereon, and when the bent terminal 9 is cleared the fastening is released and will spring toward the singletree, its terminal 9 entering the opening 3 and the recurved portion 8 entering the channel or seat 4, after which the trace is moved outward, so as to encircle the recurved portion 8 and hold it in its seat and prevent outward displacement of the terminal 9. By having the recurved portion 8 coming flush with the side of the sin gletree the eye portion of the trace is not chafed or worn to the extent which would be occasioned if the part 8 projected from the singletree. Moreover, the outer end portion of the fastening is braced by the edges of the part 8 bearing against the side walls of the channel or seat 4. When it is required to detach the trace from the singletree, the trace is moved inward to the position substantially as 'shown in Fig. 3, after which the free end portion is moved outward or away from the plane of the sin gletree,thereby permitting the trace to be slipped from off the singletree, as will be readily comprehended.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In combination with a singletree having an opening or depression and a longitudinal channel extending therefrom, a trace-fastening consisting of a metallic strap secured at its inner end to the singletree and having its outer end portion bent into an approximately arched form and recurved, and having its terminal bent outward andadapted to enter the aforesaid opening or depression, the recurved portion of the strap fitting in the channel, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination, a singletrce having its end portion tapering in width and thickness and having an opening or depression and a channel extending therefrom, a trace-fastening consisting of a metallic strap secured at its inner end to the singletree and havingits.

JOHN o. JOHNSON. [n s.]

Witnesses:

H. M SUTTON, J OHN M. ST KEs.

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