GB1580584A - Horse bit - Google Patents

Description

(54) HORSE BIT (71) We, MILL FACTORS LIMITED, a British Company, of Tolsons Mill, Lichfield Street, Fazeley, Tamworth, Staffordshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention is concerned with equipment for horses and relates particularly to the construction of bridle components known as horse bits.

Conventional bar-type horse bits commonly comprise a mouthpiece in the form of an elongate bar composed of rubber which is adapted to fit inside the mouth of the horse and which carries a pivotally-movable metal ring, sometimes termed an "egg butt," permanently connected thereto at each end for attachment of the reins. The permanent connection of each such end ring is usually established by welding, brazing or riveting in place of a shackle pin connector which passes through a bearing tube in the respective end of the mouth bar.

Although the above-mentioned known construction is generally functionally satisfactory, in practice it frequently happens that the mouth bar becomes worn so that the bit is then unserviceable. It has been appreciated, however, that at this stage the end rings are usually still intact but unless the horse owner is prepared to incur the trouble and expense of returning the bit to the manufacturers for a relatively costly and uneconomical repair involving breaking the permanent connection between the end rings and mouth bar, replacing the latter, and rewelding or rivetting the assembly together again, the bit must be replaced in its entirety. Also, if mouth bars composed of different materials are required in certain circumstances, a corresponding number of different complete bits must be purchased and kept ready for use.

Moreover, it has also realised that when the mouth bar is composed of rubber and when the end rings are permanently connected by a shackle pin welded or brazed thereto, the necessary application of intense heat during the welding or brazing operation can involve a significant health risk to the workers engaged in the manufacture of such bits due to possible effect of the heat on the rubber and combination with carbon black present therein to produce carcinogenic or potentially carcinogenic compounds.

The present invention represents a departure from the conventional manner of manufacture of horse bits as referred to above in that it provides a horse bit comprising an elongate mouth bar having at each end a pivotally movable end ring connected thereto by a removably-fitted shackle pin retained in place by an associated locking device which is releasable to permit said shackle pin to be removed whereby the bit can be dismantled and the end rings can be fitted to a replacement mouth bar.

In a preferred embodiment the retaining means comprises a screw threaded locking element and is adapted to be operated for release and for re-setting by means of a simple hand tool so that a worn mouth bar can readily be replaced by a layman horse owner or rider. Thus, the retaining means may, for example, comprise a set screw which fits within a screw-threaded tapped hole in each respective end ring, at one side thereof, and which registers with and engages in an annular groove formed around the periphery of the respective shackle pin.

Further preferred and advantageous features will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the horse bit which is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawing and which represents a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In said drawing: Figure 1 is a partly-sectioned elevational view; Figure 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view on line II-II of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Referring to the drawings, the horse bit shown therein comprises an elongate mouth bar 10, constituting the mouthpiece component, which carries a pair of pivotally mounted U-shaped end rings (sometimes termed "egg butts") 12, 12, disposed respectively at opposite ends and which in this embodiment is formed as an injection moulding of thermoplastic rubber (commonly known as T.P.R.).

Each of the end rings 12, which are conveniently made as stainless steel castings, is connected to the respective end of the mouth bar 10 by a shackle pin 14 forming a spindle, also conveniently made of stainless steel, which extends through a transverse bore 16 in the respective enlarged mouth bar end portion 18.

As shown, each shackle pin 14 has an end portion 14 of reduced diameter at one end which fits into a bore 22 of similar size in one terminal boss portion 24a of the end ring, and the opposite end portion 14b which fits into a bore 26 in the opposite terminal boss portion 24b is formed with an annular V-section groove 28 around its periphery.

Each end ring is retained in place by grub screw 30 screwed home in a screw threaded tapped hole 32 in the terminal bars portion 24b, this grub screw 30 conveniently having a conically pointed inner end which engages in the groove 28 and having a screw-driver slot or "Allen key" socket at its outer end for operation by a simple screw driver or Allen key hand tool. If necessary, each retaining grub screw may also be associated with "shake proof" locking means (not shown) to guard against any accidental loosening. In a modification, each grub screw 30 could also be made substantially shorter than the tapped hole 32 so that it could be made captive therein, by a cap or by peening over at the entrance to the hole, thereby to prevent complete removal and possible loss whilst still allowing sufficient axial movement to disengage the shackle pin.

With the above-described construction, it is a straightforward matter to release and remove the shackle pins 14, 14, so that the mouth bar 10 can be replaced when worn or when another mouth bar made of a different material or of different dimensions is required, and this operation can readily be carried out by an unskilled horse owner or rider. Also, the owner may simply purchase and keep sets of interchangeable parts or separate components which may be used selectively to assemble complete bits, according to requirements, when required.

The bits, or components thereof, can of course be made in a range of different sizes to suit both full-grown horses and ponies and in a range of different materials. The end rings and shackle pins for example may be made from steel, stainless steel, cast iron, brass, aluminium alloy, or synthetic plastics material, whilst the mouth bar may be made from natural or synthetic rubber, other synthetic plastics material, steel, stainless steel, nickel, cast iron, brass, aluminium alloy, wood or wood substitutes.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A horse bit comprising an elongate mouth bar having at each end a pivotally movable end ring connected thereto by a removably-fitted shackle pin retained in place by an associated locking device which is releasable to permit said shackle pin to be removed whereby the bit can be dismantled and the end rings can be fitted to a replacement mouth bar.

2. A horse bit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the locking device associated with each shackle pin comprises a screw-type locking element which is carried by the respective end ring and which is adapted to be operated for release and for re-setting by means of a simple hand tool.

3. A horse bit as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the locking element of each locking device comprises a set screw which fits within a screw-threaded hole in the respective end ring, at one side thereof, and which registers with and engages in an annular groove formed in the peripheral surface of the respective shackle pin.

4. A horse bit as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the mouth bar is formed as an injection moulding of thermoplastic rubber and has enlarged end portions which each have a transverse bore accommodating the shackle pin which connects the respective end ring or egg butt thereto.

5. A horse bit as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each end ring has a substantially U-shaped configuration with terminal boss portions having bores which accommodate the ends of the respective shackle pin which connects it to the mouth bar.

6. A horse bit constructed substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Figure 1 is a partly-sectioned elevational view; Figure 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view on line II-II of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a top plan view. Referring to the drawings, the horse bit shown therein comprises an elongate mouth bar 10, constituting the mouthpiece component, which carries a pair of pivotally mounted U-shaped end rings (sometimes termed "egg butts") 12, 12, disposed respectively at opposite ends and which in this embodiment is formed as an injection moulding of thermoplastic rubber (commonly known as T.P.R.). Each of the end rings 12, which are conveniently made as stainless steel castings, is connected to the respective end of the mouth bar 10 by a shackle pin 14 forming a spindle, also conveniently made of stainless steel, which extends through a transverse bore 16 in the respective enlarged mouth bar end portion 18. As shown, each shackle pin 14 has an end portion 14 of reduced diameter at one end which fits into a bore 22 of similar size in one terminal boss portion 24a of the end ring, and the opposite end portion 14b which fits into a bore 26 in the opposite terminal boss portion 24b is formed with an annular V-section groove 28 around its periphery. Each end ring is retained in place by grub screw 30 screwed home in a screw threaded tapped hole 32 in the terminal bars portion 24b, this grub screw 30 conveniently having a conically pointed inner end which engages in the groove 28 and having a screw-driver slot or "Allen key" socket at its outer end for operation by a simple screw driver or Allen key hand tool. If necessary, each retaining grub screw may also be associated with "shake proof" locking means (not shown) to guard against any accidental loosening. In a modification, each grub screw 30 could also be made substantially shorter than the tapped hole 32 so that it could be made captive therein, by a cap or by peening over at the entrance to the hole, thereby to prevent complete removal and possible loss whilst still allowing sufficient axial movement to disengage the shackle pin. With the above-described construction, it is a straightforward matter to release and remove the shackle pins 14, 14, so that the mouth bar 10 can be replaced when worn or when another mouth bar made of a different material or of different dimensions is required, and this operation can readily be carried out by an unskilled horse owner or rider. Also, the owner may simply purchase and keep sets of interchangeable parts or separate components which may be used selectively to assemble complete bits, according to requirements, when required. The bits, or components thereof, can of course be made in a range of different sizes to suit both full-grown horses and ponies and in a range of different materials. The end rings and shackle pins for example may be made from steel, stainless steel, cast iron, brass, aluminium alloy, or synthetic plastics material, whilst the mouth bar may be made from natural or synthetic rubber, other synthetic plastics material, steel, stainless steel, nickel, cast iron, brass, aluminium alloy, wood or wood substitutes. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A horse bit comprising an elongate mouth bar having at each end a pivotally movable end ring connected thereto by a removably-fitted shackle pin retained in place by an associated locking device which is releasable to permit said shackle pin to be removed whereby the bit can be dismantled and the end rings can be fitted to a replacement mouth bar.

2. A horse bit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the locking device associated with each shackle pin comprises a screw-type locking element which is carried by the respective end ring and which is adapted to be operated for release and for re-setting by means of a simple hand tool.

3. A horse bit as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the locking element of each locking device comprises a set screw which fits within a screw-threaded hole in the respective end ring, at one side thereof, and which registers with and engages in an annular groove formed in the peripheral surface of the respective shackle pin.

4. A horse bit as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the mouth bar is formed as an injection moulding of thermoplastic rubber and has enlarged end portions which each have a transverse bore accommodating the shackle pin which connects the respective end ring or egg butt thereto.

5. A horse bit as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each end ring has a substantially U-shaped configuration with terminal boss portions having bores which accommodate the ends of the respective shackle pin which connects it to the mouth bar.

6. A horse bit constructed substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing.