Saddle-pads or Pannels for Draught and other Horses.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 10th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 15th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Saddle-pads or Pannels for Draught and other Horses.
FREDERICK ANDREW CLOSE, 1 Cannon Street, Bedminster Bristol Saddler do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An improved pad or pannel for Harness Saddles & consists of two peices of hard
wood size of pannel the top peice being planed to shape of horses back & covered
with layer of wool or felt, supporting the boards are two spiral springs three inches in
height & the whole is covered with leather or other strong material.
the pad to saddlo tree 2 of these pads for each saddle.
2 bolts connect
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Saddle-pads or Pannels for Draught and other Horses.
I, FREDERICK ANDREW CLOSE of No. 1, Cannon Street, Bedminster Bristol,
Saddler do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved pad or pannel for harness saddles.
The pannels now in general use are stuffed with straw, wool, or other similar material,
and after having been worn for some time, the stuffing gets compressed, making it
very hard and uncomfortable, and when it is saturated with perspiration, is heavy and
unhealthy, causing irritation and a sore back to the horse.
The object of my invention is to provide a pannel that shall always retain its
original shape and elasticity, be easily attached to any saddle-tree, and be healthy and
comfortable for the horse or other animal woaring it.
My improved pannels are constructed in the following manner :-I provide two
pieces of wood or other suitable material of the required shape and size to fit the
saddle-tree, these two pieces form the frame of the pannel; the lower picce or the one
that comes next the horse's back, is rounded from the centre towards the edges :
between these two pieces of the frame, I put spiral or other springs, which keep the
frame in position and allow the required amount of yielding or elasticity to the pannel,
the springs are fastened to the frame by screw bolts or any other suitable means; on the
rounded surface of the lower part of the frame, I place a thin layer of wool, felt, or
similar soft substance, to equalise the pressure of the pannel; the sides and bottom are
then covered with leather or other strong substance, which is nailed to the upper part
of the frame bolts having been passed through the upper piece, the pannel is ready
for securing to the saddle-tree by nuts in the usual way; the holes in the saddle-tree
through which the bolts are placed may be at any convenient distance from the centre,
so that the pannels can be adjusted to fit the withers of any horse: This method of
attaching the pannels to the tree allows of their being easily removed and restored
when required for purposes of cleansing and renewal.
;
To enable my invention to be more readily understood, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a pannel ready for
covering, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same, Fig. 3 is an elevation of a pannel
with the covering nailed on, Fig. 4 shows a section of a saddle tree to which two
pannels are fastened, one covered and the other showing the frame and springs, and
Fig. 5 is an inside view of a saddle with the pannels complete and ready for use.
In figs. 1, 2, and 4, & represents the upper part of the frame, to which the covering

page_text: is nailed and through which the bolts are placed which attach the pannel to the saddle-
tree B is the rounded piece of the frame on which the wool or felt C is placed :
and DD are the springs which keep the frame in position: the uses of the various
bolts shown in the drawings will be at once apparent.
The advantages of pannels made according to my invention are, (1), the springs
which are fastened to the frame maintain an easy and even pressure on the horse, so
that the pannels are not liable to gall and wring the back; (2), they do not require
re-lining or flocking; (3), they are much lighter than ordinary stuffed pannels,
therefore easier to wear; (4), they will fit any horse, as they retain their shape, and
may he adjusted on the saddle tree to fit a horse with broad or narrow withers;
and (5), being easily fixed to the saddle tree, they can be readily removed when
necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
The construction and use of pannels for draught horses substantially as and for the
purpose described, and shown and set forth in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of Februar 1800
FREDERICK ANDREW CLOSE.