IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY SADDLE BARS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Rees-Philipps of Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Accountant Clerk for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY
SADDLE BARS.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Rees-Philipps at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th June 1883.
HENRY REES-PHILIPPS of Birmingham in the County of Warwick Accountant
Clerk IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY SADDLE BARS "
"
My invention consists in the arrangements or combinations of the parts of safety
saddle bars hereinafter described whereby safety saddle bars are produced simple
in construction and efficient in action.
In constructing a single saddle bar according to my invention proceed as
follows. To the foundation plate which is attached by riveting to the saddlo
I connect the saddle bar by means of a pin fixed near the bottom of the said founda-
tion plate the lower end of an arm on the underside of the front end of the saddle
bar taking upon the said pin and turning upon the said pin as a centre.
The pin on which the saddle bar turns is not at right angles to the foundation
plate but is so inclined thereto that when the saddle bar is raised the distance
between it and the said plate is increased. The object of this arrangement will be
hereinafter explained. The upper edge of the saddle bar when the said bar is in
its normal position is nearly but not quite horizontal the said edge inclining
upwards from the joint end of the bar. The extreme free end of the saddle bar
may also be inclined upwards with respect to the upper edge of the bar. The
saddle bar can turn on the pin in the foundation through more than a semi circle
in a forward direction that is towards the head of the horse but its motion in the
opposite direction is so limited by stops on the foundation plate and bar respectively
that it cannot pass in that direction beyond its normal position that is the position
in which the upper edge of the bar is nearly horizontal.
The action of the parts is as follows:-The stirrup strap is looped to the saddle
bar in the ordinary way. Should the rider bo thrown backwards the loop of the
stirrup strap being pulled at a considerable angle with the top edge of the safety
Price CA1

page_text: bar the said loop slides backwards from off the safety bar and the thrown rider is
immediately liberated from the saldle
Should the rider be thrown forwards the safety bar is pulled by the stirrup
strap in that direction by the pressure of the strap upon the underside and arm of
the bar and turning upon its pin or centre performs a semi rotation and the strap
slips from off the said bar. In consequence of the inclination to the foundation
plate of the pin on which the bar turns the space between these parts increases as
the arm turns as already explained and the wedging of the stirrup strap between
the bar and foundation plate is prevented
Should the rider be thrown across the horse the rising motion of the stirrup
strap in that case lifts the safety bar from off which the said strap immediately
slips.
Thus in whatever direction the rider is thrown the stirrup strap is immediately
detached from the safety bar without risk of failure by the wedging of the strap
between the parts of the apparatus.
Two safety bars constructed and mounted in the way described may be
employed in place of the one safety bar described. In this form of my invention
the two bars are shortened and are so mounted that they turn on their centre in
opposite directions the free ends of the bars being presented to each other when
they are in their normal positions the stirrup strap bearing on both bars. If the
rider is thrown forwards the front bar turns upon its pin or centre and the strap
slips off the bars if the rider is thrown backwards the back bar turns upon its centre
If the rider is thrown across both bars
and the stirrup strap slips off the bars.
turn on their pins or centres and the stirrup strap slips off them.
I have only referred to the use of my invention on one side of a saddle but
I wish it to be understood that safety saddle bars made according to my invention
are applied to both sides of the saddle the arrangement of the parts on the different
sides of the saddles differing only in the respect in which right and left handed
articles or articles used in pairs differ

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry "Rees-Philipps in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th December 1883.
HENRY REES-PHILIPPS of Birmingham in the County of Warwick Accountant
Clerk. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY SADDLE BARS
"
My invention consists in the arrangements or combinations of the parts of safety
saddle bars hereinafter described, whereby safety saddle bars are produced simple
in construction and efficient in action.
In constructing a single saddle bar according to my invention I proceed as
follows: To the foundation plate which is attached by riveting to the saddle I
connect the saddle bar by means of a pin fixed near the bottom of the said
foundation plate; the lower end of an arm on the underside of the front end of
the saddle bar taking upon the said pin and turning upon the said pin as a centre.
The pin on which the saddle bar turns is not at right angles to the foundation
plate but is so inclined thereto that when the saddle bar is raised the distance
between it and the said plato is increased. The object of this arrangement will be
hereinafter explained. The upper edge of the saddle bar when the said bar is in
its normal position is nearly but not quite horizontal, the said edge inclining
upwards from the joint end of the bar. The extreme free end of the saddle bar
may also be inclined upwards with respect to the upper edge of the bar. The
saddle bar can turn on the pin in the foundation plato through more than a semi
circle in a forward direction, that is, towards the head of the horse but its motion
in the opposite direction is so limited by stops on the foundation plate and bar
respectively that it cannot pass in that direction beyond its normal position, that
is, the position in which the upper edge of the bar is nearly horizontal.
The action of the parts is as follows:-The stirrup strap is looped to the saddle
bar in the ordinary way. Should the rider be thrown backwards the loop of the
stirrup strap being pulled at a considerable angle with the top edge of the safety
bar the said loop slides backwards from off the safety bar and the thrown rider is
iminediately liberated from the saddle.
Should the rider be thrown forwards the safety bar is pulled by the stirrup
strap in that direction by the pressure of the strap upon the underside and arin of
the bar and turning upon its pin or centre performs a semi-rotation and the strap
slips from off the said bar. In consequence of the inclination to the foundation
plate, of the pin on which the bar turns the space between these parts increases as
the arm turns as already explained and the wedging of the stirrup strap between
the bar and foundation plate is prevented.
Should the rider be thrown across the horse the rising motion of the stirrup
strap in that case lifts the safety bar, from off which the said strap immediately
slips.
Thus, in whatever direction the rider is thrown the stirrup strap is immediately
detached from the safety bar without risk of failure by the wedging of the strap
between the parts of the apparatus.
Two Bafety bars constructed and mounted in the way described may be
employed in place of the one safety bar described. In this form of my invention
the two bars are shortened and are so mounted that they turn on their centres in
opposite directions the free ends of the bars being presented to each other when
they are in their normal positions the stirrup strap bearing on both bars. If the
rider is thrown forwards the front bar turns upon its pin or centre and the strap
slips off the bars if the rider is thrown backwards the back bar turns upon its

page_text: :
centre and the stirrup strap slips off the bars. If the rider is thrown across, both
bars turn on their pins or centres and the stirrup strap slips off them.
I have only referred to the use of my invention on one side of a saddle but I
wish it to be understood that safety saddle bars made according to my invention
are applied to both sides of the saddle, the arrangement of the parts on the
different sides of the saddles differing only in the respect in which right and left
-handed articles or articles used in pairs differ.
I. will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawing the
manner in which my invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in front elevation and Figure 2 in edge view a safety saddle
bar for the near side of the saddle constructed according to my invention, the said
saddle bar being represented in its normal position; Figure 3 represents in front
elevation the said saddle bar partly turned in a forward direction upon its pin or
centre; Figure 4 represents in front elevation and Figure 5 in edge view the
safety saddle bar turned through about a semi circle from its normal position to
its full forward position; Figure 6 represents an edgo view of the safety saddle
bar plate separately and Figure 7 represents an edge view of the safety bar
separately.
'
Figure 8 represents in front elevation a safety bar constructed according to my
invention to be applied to the off side of the saddle.
Figure 9 represents in front elevation and Figuro 10 in edge view, a double or
compound safety saddle bar constructed according to my invention and Figure 11
represents a plan of the upper side of the two safety bars.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures of
the Drawing.
I will first describe the single safety bar for the near side of the saddle.
a is the foundation or bar plato attached to the saddle by riveting at the
holes b, b, b. The whole of the said bar plato a is not flat but the rear or nearly
vertical half is situated in a plane inclined to that in which the other or front
half of the bar plate is situated as seen in the edge views; c, d is the safety saddle
bar connected to the bottom of the foundation or bar plate a by the pin e upon
which the said safety bar turns as a centro. The pin e on which the safety bar
turns has the inclination with respect to tho bar plate a and to the arm d of the
safety saddle bar represented in the Drawing. On the bar plate a is a boss or
projection f the outer face of which is inclined and constitutes an inclined seat or
bearing against which the inclined inner face of the arm & of the saddle bar c, d
seats itself or takes a bearing. The inclined pin or centre e on the arm d of the
saddle bar c, d is passed through a hole in the boss or scat f on the bar plate a and
the inner end of the said pin is riveted on a washer let into the said boss.
By jointing the safety saddle bar c, d to the bar plate a in the manner
represented it will be seen that when the saddle bar is in the position Figures
and 2 it is nearly horizontal and parallel with the bar plate a but when the said
saddle bar has been turned through a semi circle into the position Figures 4 and 5 the
said safety bar is inclined to the bar plate and the space between the said bar and
bar plate is considerably increased in cousequence of the inclined face of the boss
or bearing f. On the bar plate & are two stops g, h and on the saddle bar c, d is a
stop i. When the saddle bar is in its backward or normal position Figures 1 and 2,
it's stop i comes against the upper stop g on the bar plate a and the further motion
of the said saddle bar in that direction is arrested. When the saddle bar is turned
in a forward direction through about a semi-circle into the position represented in
Figures 4 and 5 the saddle bar bears against the lower stop h and its further
inotion in that direction is arrested.
The upper edge of the part c of the saddle bar when the said bar is in its
normal position is nearly but not quite horizontal, the said edge inclining upwards
from the arm d (see Figure 1) and the extremne free end c³ of the part c of the
saddle bar is also inclined or bent slightly upwards. The lower edge of the part c
of the saddle bar is inclined to the upper edge. in the manner represented. . On

page_text: the part c of the saddle bar the stirrup strap is supported the said strap being
looped thereto in the ordinary way. The said stirrup strap is maintained in its
place on the part c of the saddle bar during the ordinary use of the stirrup by the
shoulder at one end and the slightly turned up part c at the other end of the
bar, the said strap passing between the part c and the saddle flap.
Should the rider be thrown backwards the moveable parts of the saddle bar are
maintained in the position represented in Figures 1 and 2 and the loop of the strap
being pulled at a considerable angle with the top elgo of the part c of the safety
bar, the said loop slides backwards from off the safety bar and the thrown rider is
immediately liberated from the saddle. Should the rider be thrown forwards the
safety bar is pulled in that direction by the pressure of the stirrup strap upon the
underside of the part c and arm d of the safety bar. The safety bar is thereby
made to take the position represented in Figures 4 and 5 and the stirrup strap
slips off: the said bar the space between the said bar and the bar plate a increasing
as the bar turns on the pin e. The wedging of the strap between the parts a and e
is thereby effectually prevented (see Figure 5).
Should the rider be thrown across the horse, the tension of the stirrup strap in
that case lifts the safety bar into the position represented in Figure 3, when the
strap is immediately detached from the safety bar. When raised into the position
represented in Figure 3 the safety bar is no longer opposite the nearly vertical
part of the bar plate a and there is consequently no risk of the wedging of the
strap between the said bar and bar plate.
The inclination of the lower edge of the part c of the single safety bar and tho
inclination of the lower edges of the double safety bar hereinafter described,
facilitate the escape of the stirrup strap from the said bar or bars whether the
rider be thrown backwards or forwards or across the horse.
The action which I have described with respect to the near side safety bar
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 takes place with respect to the off side safety bar Figure 8
and the parts of the off side safety bar are marked with the same letters of
reference as corresponding parts of the near side bar.
I will now describe the double safety bar represented in Figures 9. 10 and 11.
a², a² is the foundation or bar plate and are the two safety bars turning in
opposite directions upon the bar plate a. The safety bars kl of the double bar are
shorter than the single bar herein before described but the jointing or centring of the
said bars to the bar plate is effected in the manner before described with respect to a
single bar for the purpose of increasing the space between then and the bar plate
when the bars are turned in opposite directions from their normal positions The
inclined joint pins of the two safety bars k,l are marked respectively and l²
and the inclined faced bosses on the bar plate a² against which bosses the inclined
faces of the lower parts of the safety bars bear are marked as and a³.
The stirrup strap is supported on the flat tops of the two safety bars kl when
they are in the normal positions Figures 9 and 10 the said strap being confined
between the shoulders p, p of the said bars and lying between the two safety bars
and the bar plate. The meeting edge of the bar is forked at 9 (see Figure 11)
so as to make that edge slightly elastic and the mecting edge of the other bar
is provided with a tongue r of a shape and sizo suitable to engage between the
branches of the elastic fork g when the two safety bars are brought together. The
two safety bars kl when in their normal positions are thus held firmly together. I
do not however limit myself to this arrangement of spring catch fastening for
holding the two bars together. The lower edges of the two safety bars have the
inclined figures represented in Figure 9. When the double safety bar represented
in Figures 9. 10 and 11 is used, if the rider is thrown forwards the front bar k
turns upon its pin or centre &³ and the stirrup strap slides off the bars kl the
wedging of the strap between the turned bar and the bar plate being prevented
by the jointing arrangement before described. If the rider is thrown backwards
the rear bar turns upon its centre and the strap slips off the bars no wedging
of the strap taking place.

page_text: If the rider is thrown across the horse the upward pressure of the stirrup strap
on the curved or inclined undersides of the safety bars turns both bars on their
pins or centres and the stirrup strap slips off them.
Safety saddle bars made according to my invention can be made as light as the
ordinary spring bars in general use and are equally strong. They are consequently
applicable to polo and steeple chase saddles, to women's saddles and to saddles
generally. They can be fitted to trees of saddles in use without damaging or
weakening thou. They have no loose or detachable parts, no springs staples hooks
or weak parts liable to get out of order or wear away. They are very neat in
appearance and do not form a lump under the saddle skirt or interfere with the
leg of the rider. They are not displaced in altering the length of the stirrup
straps and the position and height of my safety bars is the same as that of the
ordinary bar.
Having now described the nature of my invention and the manner in which
the same is to be performed I wish it to be understood that I claim as my
invention of "Improvements in safety saddle bars." —
First Constructing and arranging the parts of single safety saddle bars in the
manner herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7 and 8
of the accompanying Drawing that is to say, inclining the lower. edge of the
part c of the saddle bar to the upper edge of the said part c and jointing the
moveable part c d to the bar plate a by means of a joint pia and bearings inclined
in the manner described to the fixed bar plate a and the part d of the saddle bar
the motion of the saddle bar being limited by stops on the joint of the said bar
and the bearing on the bar plate respectively, the soveral parts being arranged for
the purpose and acting substantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly Constructing and arranging the parts of the compound or double
safety saddle bar substantially in the manner herein before described and illustrated
in Figures 9. 10 and 11 of the accompanying Drawing
In witness whereof I the said Henry Rees-Philipps have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Eighteenth day of December in the year of our Lord oue
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
Witness, RICHARD SKERRETT
37 Temple Street
Birmingham.
HENKY KEES-PHILIPPS (L.S.)