IMPROVED -APPARATUS APPLIED TO LADIES' SADDLES FOR DISENGAGING THE HABIT WHEN THE RIDER IS THROWN
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
I, JOSEPH SMITH, Habit Maker, of No 5 Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED
-APPARATUS APPLIED TO LADIES' SADDLES FOR DISENGAGING THE HABIT WHEN THE
RIDER IS THROWN," to be as follows:-
:-
My Invention relates to a new or improved pommel protector for ladies' saddles,
and has for its object a ready and efficient means whereby, in the event of their
being thrown from the saddle, the 'habit' is instantly released or thrown off
with them, thereby obviating the danger of its becoming caught or entangled
with the pommels, as is now generally the case with the present construction of
ladies' saddles.
.
My Invention consists of a band of strong elastic or other flexible material, one
end of which is screwed into or otherwise attached to the "off' lappet of the saddle.
On the underside of this band and attached thereto at their apexes, are formed two
caps or pouches of leather or other suitable material, which fit respectively onto
each pommel, the other end of the band being attached by hook and eye or other
device to the near' lappet of the saddle. Thus the tension of the elastic band will
be equal throughout its length. On the rider becoming seated, the weight of the
body will depress the elastic band, and in this position it will remain as long as
the rider remains seated; but in the event of the rider becoming suddenly thrown
from the saddle, the elastic band springs back to its normal tension, throwing the
'skirts' of the babit off with it, and preventing them from coming into contact with
the abutting edges of the pommels.
1

page_text: I, JOSEPH SMITH, of 5, Chancery Lane London, in the County of Middlesex,
Habit Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED
APPARATUS APPLIED TO LADIES SADDLES FOR DISENGAGING. THE HABIT WHEN THE
RIDER IS THROWN," and in what manner the same is to be performed to, be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
1.'
This Invention relates to a device or appliance for the prevention of accidents to
ladies when dismounting from horse back or happening to be thrown therefrom.
In either case the riding skirt is apt to hook on to the pommels and should the
horse be in motion disastrous results may ensue, to obviate which I employ a
broad band or belt of elastic webbing passing over the tops of the pommels and
secured in a state of tension to each side of the saddle. This belt follows the
outline of the saddle when compressed by the rider sitting thereon but when the
weight of the body is removed it forms a sort of arch over the pommels presenting
no point or angle upon which the skirt could catch or hang.
In order that my Invention may be more fully understood I hereto annex a
sheet of drawings illustrative thereof.
Figure 1. represents the safeguard appliance separately and Figure 2. shews the
mode of fitting it to the saddle.
A is the belt or band of elastic webbing of which the edge only is seen but
which is about two inches in width. To one end is fixed a hook'a and to the other
a shorter twisted hook b'which passes through a screw eye b1 B are two leather
sleeves capable of sliding on the belt and to each of these is attached a leather cap c.
The caps are capable of being connected by straps and buckle c the use of which is
herein after described.
Figure 2. represents outline of a side saddle as seen from the."near" shoulder.
The parts lettered A. B. C, a b b¹ c are the same as those in Figure 1. and will be
readily understood.
To apply the safeguard the screw eye b¹ is screwed into the saddle below the
offside head D near the seam.
The ordinary screw at the foot of the leaping-head E is passed through the
hole.d in the leather stay F (see detail Figure 3) and then the leaping head is
screwed into its place. The elastic web is then to be attached to the screw-eye.bl
by means of the short twisted hook b and the leather caps c placed one on each
pommel. The caps are then connected together by the straps and buckle c which
pass through the hole e of the stay F. The band is then drawn moderately tight
and the hook a inserted into a hole punched in the near side siddle flap G.
The use of the straps and buckle c and stay F is to prevent the caps C from
being drawn or rubbed off the pummels.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I would have it
understood that what I claim is
•
The use of a safeguard or safety appliance constructed in manner substantially as
herein shewn and described.