IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLE BARS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sir Thomas Dancer, of Burton Hill, Malmesbury, in the
County of Wilts, Baronet, and Edwin Chappell, of Malmesbury aforesaid,
Gunmaker, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLE BARS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sir Thomas Dancer and
Edwin Chappell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
29th December 1880.
Sir THOMAS DANCER, of Burton Hill, Malmesbury, in the County of Wilts,
Baronet, and EDWIN CHAPPELL, of Malmesbury aforesaid, Gunmaker. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SADDLE BARS."
This Invention relates to improvements in saddle bars, the object of the
Invention being to provide a saddle bar which, in the event of a rider being
thrown from his or her horse and his or her foot or feet being entangled in the
stirrup or stirrups, shall automatically unlock and release the stirrup leather or
leathers and thereby free the rider.
In carrying out our Invention we provide a plate which is rivetted to the saddle;
to this plate we hinge two bars, one of which is vertical and has a projection or
cam at the hinge end, and the other bar, which is horizontal, is cranked or slightly
curved at the hinge end; the lower end of the vertical bar is formed with an eye,
and the free end of the horizontal bar is pointed so as to pass into the hereinbefore
described eye in the vertical bar, which is provided with a spring in such a manner
as to take into a groove near the end of the horizontal bar so as to securely lock
the two bars together and form a complete saddle bar, the stirrup leather passing
over the horizontal bar. In the horizontal bar near its free end is hinged a push
piece.
By this construction if a rider be thrown from his or her horse, and his or her
foot or feet shall be entangled in the stirrup or stirrups, the stirrup leather pulling
against the saddle bar in any direction will unlock the two bars and free the stirrup
leather.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Sir Thomas Dancer and Edwin Chappell in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 27th June 1881.
Sir THOMAS DANCER, of Burton Hill, Malmesbury, in the County of Wilts,
Baronet, and EDWIN CHAPPELL, of Malmesbury aforesaid, Gunmaker. "IMPROVE
MENTS IN SADDLE BARS."
This Invention relates to improvements in saddle bars, the object of the
Invention being to provide a saddle bar which besides being strong is simple in
construction and certain in its action, and which, in the event of a rider being
thrown from his or her horse and his or her foot or feet being entangled in the
stirrup or stirrups, shall automatically unlock and release the stirrup leather or
leathers and thereby free the rider in a surer manner than has been possible by
means of saddle bars constructed in the manner hitherto employed.
In carrying out our Invention we provide a plate which is rivetted to the saddle;
to this plate we hinge two bars, one of which is vertical and has a projection or
cam at the hinge end, and the other bar, which is horizontal, is cranked or slightly
curved at the hinge end; the lower end of the vertical bar is formed with an eye,
and the free end of the horizontal bar is pointed so as to pass into the herein-
before described eye in the vertical bar, which is provided with a spring in such a
manner as to take into a groove near the end of the horizontal bar so as to securely
.lock the two bars together and form a complete saddle bar, the stirrup leather
passing over the horizontal bar. On the horizontal bar near its free end may, in
some cases, be hinged a push piece; but as it adds to the number of parts without
giving adequate advantage its use is not recommended.
In order to make our Invention better understood, we will now proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1
represents a front view of a saddle bar (for the left hand or near side) constructed
according to our improvements; Figures 2 and 3, end views of the same; Figure 4,
an elevation shewing the saddle bar opened by the backward action of the stirrup
leather; and Figure 5 is an elevation shewing the parts of the bar in the position
they would occupy just before opening in the event of the rider being thrown on
the off side of the horse. Similar letters in all the Figures represent similar
parts.
a is the plate rivetted to the saddle; b is the vertical bar hinged or jointed, as
shewn at c, near the back end of the plate a; d is the projection or cam of the
said bar; e is the horizontal bar cranked or curved at the end f, where it is hinged
or jointed to the front end of the plate a, as shewn; g is the eye in the lower end
of the vertical bar b, which is also provided with a spring j, which has play in a
slot or recess formed in the side of the eye g of the bar b; h is the pointed end of
the bar e formed with a curved groove i in such a manner that when the said
pointed end h of the bar e is passed through the eye g of the bar b, the spring j
thereof takes into the curved groove i, so as to securely lock the two bars together,
as shewn in Figure 1; at the same time the groove i being curved will allow the
parts to become unlocked from any undue pressure or strain; k is the stirrup
leather placed over the horizontal bar e.
By this construction of saddle bar if a rider be thrown from his or her horse and
his or her foot should be entangled in the stirrup, the stirrup leather pulling against
the saddle bar in any direction will unlock the two bars and free the stirrup
leather; for example, if the rider fall on the left or near sides so that the stirrup
leather pulls against the ends of the bars bande (as shewn in dotted lines in
Figure 1) the said bars will be unlocked, as shewn in Figure 4, thereby releasing
the stirrup leather; if, however, the rider should be thrown on the off side of the

page_text: horse, the stirrup leather will pull up the bars 6 and e, and the projection or cam d
of the bar b acting against the plate a, as shewn in Figure 5, will cause the bar e
to become unlocked from the bar b, and thus release the stirrup leather.
A push piece may be hinged near the free end of the bar e for facilitating the
opening of the parts in the direction shewn in Figure 1; we desire to add that we
have found in practice that this push piece is not required and no claim is made in
respect of it.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention and the best means with
which we are aquainted for carrying the same into effect, we would have it
understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details herein laid down
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing as the same may obviously be varied
in some respects without departing from the peculiar character of our Invention, but
what we claim is,-
Firstly. The construction and employment of the improved saddle bar arranged
and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein before
described and illustrated in various positions in the accompanying Drawing or any
mere modification thereof.
Secondly. The use in a saddle bar acting substantially in the manner herein
referred to of a vertical bar such as that shewn and marked b, d, in the Drawing
annexed, being hinged and provided with a cam so as to act substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sir Thomas Dancer, for and on behalf of
myself and the said Edwin Chappell, have hereto set my hand and seal, this
Twenty fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and eighty one.
THOMAS DANCER. (L.S.)