Patent GB-190220454-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Riding Saddles.
Inventor: BOYCE JAMES WILLIAM
Filed: 1902-09-19
Granted: 1903-09-19
Abstract: 20,454. Boyce, J. W. Sept. 19. Saddles.-Riding-saddles are made with one or more central openings a, Fig. 1, or a<1>, Fig. 2, extending for a part or the whole length of the saddle to provide for better ventilation, and with side bars jointed in such a manner as to adjust themselves automatically to the witbers, shoulders, and backs of different horses. In making a saddle with openings such as are shown in Fig. 1, the tree is strained in the ordinary manner by tensioning to the cantle direct, and is then covered with prepared adhesive canvas, or with glued canvas, leather, or other material, the whole being secured and reinforced by sewing. A strip of leather or the like with trimmed edges may then be glued or otherwise secured to the middle of the saddle where the holes are to be ; or this strip may be applied to the underside of the canvas or its equivalent. The seat cotton is then applied in the ordinary way, except that it is sewn down its length on each side of the centre. Prior to drawing on the top, a strip of linen or the like may be attached to the underpart of the seat leather. The under part of the webs may be covered with leather. When the whole has set, the holes a may be punched. A divided panel is used. The saddle shown in Fig. 2 may be made in a similar manner, and the opening may be reinforced by a metal loop or a piece of perforated metal or the like to which the edges of the webs and canvas, after a portion has been cut away, may be secured by sewing through holes in the metal. A rectangular loop of metal may be used, and the edges of the canvas folded round it, and secured to the bars of the tree afterwards. The tree may be formed with a bar strut d', Fig. 3 and be strained from the pommels to the strut d<1> only. In this case, the metal loop is not used. The strut d' may be strengthened by metal plates secured to one or both sides by rivets d<3>, or it may be made of metal and formed with holes for attaching the webs. The bars d<2> are made wide, or are fitted with metal extensions so as to form a base for a seating of felt, cork, or the like. The ordinary blocked top b, c, c, Fig. 2, may be seamed round the opening a<1>, or be sewn round and edged up, or be bound round. The top may be seamless or seamed at the pommel and cantle only. When straining-webs are not used, the strap webs may be secured by passing them round narrow bars or through openings in broad bars. An opening extending the full length of the seat may be made in a saddle having a tree of the type shown in Fig. 4. The bars a<2> are made wide, and shaped to form the twist base. They may be covered wholly or partly with leather, felt, rubber, or the like, sewn or stuck on. Strengthening-plates may be secured to the bars and cantle by rivets d<3>. The bars may have metallic extensions d<4>, Fig. 6, secured by rivets. The bars may be detachably or permanently connected together at the cantle by metal plates and one or more hinge or rule joints i, Fig. 7, or by a pin-and-slot connection j<1>. The plate or plates at the cantle may also be connected by an overlapping plate and screws and nuts, the screws being passed upwards through the cantle plates before the latter are fixed. The gullet plate or plates may be detachably connected to the pommel by screws and nuts or other means.