Whiffletree. Page: 2 of 2
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UNITED STATES -PATENT OFFICE.
LOUIS S. FLATAU, OF PITTSBURG, ASSIGNOR TO THE FLATAU MANUFAC-
TURING COMPANY, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.
WHIFFLETREE.
SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,863, dated November 29,1892.
Application filed aroh 14, 1892. Serial No, 424,848. (No model.)To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, Louis S. FLATAU, a citi-
zen of the United States, and a resident of
Pittsburg, in the county of Camp and State of
5 Texas, have invented certain new and useful
Improvements in Whiffletrees; and I do here-
by declare that the following is a full, clear,
and exact description of the invention, which
will enable others skilled in the art to which
to it appertains to make and use the same, refer-
ence beinghad tothe accompanying drawings,
which form a part of this specification.
My invention relates to improvements in
all-metal whiffletrees-both single and double
t5 trees-either of cast or wrought metal, ac-
cording to the size and requirements of the
same; and the object of the invention is, in
the first place, to provide an improved con-
struction of whiffletree made of a single piece
20 of metal, whereby I secure important advan-
tages with respect to strength, economy, d u-
rability, and lightness, and, in the second
place, to so construct the solid metal ends or
headsof the tree that they will interlock with
25 the trace-hook and thereby effectually pre-
vent the link or eye of the trace-coupling
from becoming accidentally disconnected.
With these objects in view my invention
consists in the improved construction and
30 combination of parts of an all-metal whiffle-
tree, which will be hereinafter more fully de-
scribed and claimed.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 represents a plan view of a whiffle-
35 tree constructed in accordance with my in-
vention; and Fig. 2 is a cross-seclion, on an
enlarged scale, on the line x x, Fig. 1.
Like letters of reference denote correspond-
ing parts in all the figures.
40 In the said drawings the whiffletree is
shown as comprising two bars 1 and 2, taper-
ing from the center toward each end, where
they are joined together and provided or
formed with a flat circular solid metal head
45 9, having an aperture for the passage of the
bolt or rivet 3, by which the trace-hook 4 is
pivoted to said head. The bars 1 and 2 on
their inner sides are formed with a strength-
ening-rib 5 and at the center with a web 6.
50o They are also formed with a rearwardly-ex-
tending curved arm 7, having an opening 8
therein, whereby it can be connected with a
vehicle.For the shorter lengths or smaller sizes the
whiffletree is made of cast malleable iron or 55
steel, the arms 1 and 2, the ribs 5, the heads
9, the web 6, and the arm 7 being all made in-
tegral or in a single piece, and by means of
the ribs and central web great strength is as-
sured with a minimum amount of metal. 6o
For doubletrees or the larger sizes of whif-
fletrees it is preferable to form the same of
wrought metal by rolling or by stamping
from dies of suitable construction.
The circular heads 9 are cut away on their 65
rear side, as shown at 10, and the lip of the
trace-hook 4 is of such length and shape that
it, when the hook is turned on its pivot 3, will
impinge against the circular flange 11 of head
9. Not until the hook is swung all the way 70
back, or into the position shown in dotted
lines, will there be sufficient space between
the circular flanged head and the lip of the
hook for the insertion of the link or eye at the
end of the trace, (not shown;) but at this point 75
sufficient space will be left for this purpose
by the inlet or opening formed between the
lip of the hook and the cut-away part 10 of
head 9. After the insertion of the trace-link
the hook is swung back into its normal posi- 80
tion (shown in full line) and the trace is se-
curely locked in place.
Having thus described my invention, what
I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent
of the United States, is- 85
As an improved article of manufacture, a
whiffletree consisting of the bars tapering
from the center toward the ends, where they
are joined together, the strengthening-ribs on
their inner sides, the central web, and out- 9o
wardly-extending arm having an opening
therein, the circular flanged heads with cen-
tral apertures and cut-away or notched on
their rear sides, all being constructed integral
with each other, and the trace-hooks pivoted 95
to said heads, substantially as and for the pur-
pose set forth.
In testimony that I claim the foregoing as
my own I have hereunto affixed my signature
in presence of two witnesses.
LOUIS S. FLATAU.
Witnesses:
C. J. STAMBAUGH,
A. F. BRITTON.
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Flatau, Louis S. Whiffletree., patent, November 29, 1892; [Washington D.C.]. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth173232/m1/2/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.