IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY SADDLE RADO
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Spence, junior, of Richmond, in the County of
York, Ironmonger, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY SADDLE
RADO"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Spence, junior, at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th October 1881.
ROBERT SPENCE, junior, of Richmond, in the County of York, Ironmonger.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY SADDLE BARS."
My Invention has reference to saddle bars from which are suspended the straps
carrying the stirrups, and is designed to prevent a fallen rider being dragged along
by the animal.
According to my Invention the safety bar is provided with an additional bar
above the part which receives the stirrup strap. The ends of this additional bar
take into two journals able to rotate, and which are provided with radial slits or
recesses to receive the additional bar, and are in their turn supported by hook-like
bearings attached to the tree of the saddle, one on each side thereof. These
bearings are provided, ench with an opening at its upper part, for the insertion of
the additional bar, and to permit of the escape of the said saddle bar, strap, and
stirrups in the event of the rider falling off or being thrown, whether this takes
place from the on or off side of the animal.
The above mentioned revolving journals are provided with suitable stop pieces
or pins to allow of their taking about half a revolution only in the hook-like
bearings. The additional bar when supporting the rider rests upon the before-
mentioned hook-like bearings.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Spence, jr., in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th April 1882.
ROBERT SPENCE, junior, of Richmond, in the County of York, Ironmonger.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY SADDLE BARS."
My Invention has reference to saddle bars from which are suspended the straps
carrying the stirrups, and is designed to prevent a fallen rider being dragged along
by the animal. According to my Invention the safety bar is provided with an
additional bar above the part which receives the stirrup strap. The ends of this
additional bar take into two journals able to rotate, and which are provided with
radial slits or recesses to receive the additional bar, and are in their turn supported
by book-like bearings attached to the tree of the saddle, one on each side thereof.
These bearings are provided each with an opening at its upper part for the
insertion of the additional bar and to permit of the escape of the said saddle bar,
strap, and stirrup in the event of the rider falling off or being thrown, whether
this takes place from the "near" side or "off" side of the animal.
The above mentioned revolving journals are provided with one or more suitable
stop pieces or pins to allow of their taking about half a revolution only in the
hook-like bearings. The additional bar when supporting the rider rests upon the
before mentioned hook-like bearings.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings the same reference letters refer to the
same or like parts. Figs. 1, 2, and 3 are back, side, and front views of the improved
safety saddle bar according to my Invention, shewing the parts thereof in position
when in use; Fig. 3a shews the plate A and the hook-like bearings B, B, in
detail; Fig. 4 is also a front view, shewing the two rotating journals C, C, in
position for receiving the additional bar D, this position being also the one that
they will assume in the event of the rider falling or being thrown off, and when it
is required that the escapement of the additional bar D shall take place. A is the
plate for attachment to the tree of the saddle; this plate has the two hook-like
bearings B, B, formed either in one piece therewith or as separate parts rivetted
or otherwise fixed thereto. The said hook-like bearings form a reception for and
support the two aforesaid rotating journals C, C, which are free to make a partial
revolution therein as circumstances require. D is the additional bar connected by
the part D1 to the part D 2 which receives the stirrup strap. In cases where
additional strength is required the connecting part D1 may be supplemented by
other connecting pieces D4 and D 5, as shewn in Figa. 7 and 8. Fig. 8 is a section
on the line K, L, Fig. 7. The bar D takes into the groove or slit E of the two
journals C, C, and when in use rests upon the hook-like bearings before mentioned;
the said bearings during the act of riding carry so much of the weight of the.
rider as rests upon the stirrups.
Fig. 5 is an external view of the two rotating journals C, C, showing the groove
or slit E into which the additional bar D takes.
The ends of the said journals C, C, abut together at F. Fig. 5 is an end view
of the said journals; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the same, shewing their
connection by means of the screws G and H. These screws cause them to turn
in the hook-like bearings B, B, at the same time, and thus facilitate the introduction
of the additional bar D, as shewn in Fig. 4.
In order that the two rotating journals C, C, may not make a greater portion
of a revolution than is sufficient to allow the additional bar D to be inserted or to
es cape from the journals C, C, I place a stop pin I in the plate A, and remove such

page_text: a portion of the collar (J to J¹, Fig. 5a) of one of the journals C, C, as to permit of
the required movement thereof for the purpose above referred to. If desired a stop
pin may also be applied to the collar of the other journal, but I prefer to apply
said stop pin to one collar only. In order that the journals C, C, may remain in
any position into which they may be turned by the bar D, I attach a segmental
washer c, Fig. 6a, to the flange of one of them by its extremities, and I bend
the said washer slightly away from the flange at its loose part so that considerable
friction is produced between it and one of the hook-like bearings B, B.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of carrying
the same into practical effect, I would have it understood that what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as secured to me by the Letters Patent
hereinbefore in part recited is,―
1. In safety saddle bars the use in combination of a bar, such as D, carrying the
ordinary safety bar, strap, and stirrup, hook-like bearings, such as B, B, for the
reception of the said bars, and a plate, such as A, attached to the saddle-tree,
substantially as described.
2. In safety saddle bars the use in combination of a bar, such as D, hook-like
bearings, such as B, B, and grooved rotating journals, such as C, C, the whole so
arranged that the bar can escape from the journals and bearings when rotated
through a sufficient angle, but unless so rotated cannot be thrown out, substantially
as described.
3. The improved safety saddle bar, constructed, arranged, and operating as
shewn in the Drawings and described above.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Spence, junior, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness to the signature of the
said Robert Spence, jun³.,
THO. E. CRAVEN, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
24, Victoria Chambers,
South Parade,
Leeds.
ROBERT SPENCE, JUN*. (L.S.)