IMPROVEMENTS IN STIRRUPS OR STIRRUP IRONS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STIRRUPS OR STIRRUP IRONS."-A com-
munication.
Sealed the 19th January 1858, and dated the 9th October 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th October 1857.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STIRRUPS OR STIRRUP IRONS," to
be as follows:
This Invention of improvements in stirrups or stirrup irons relates to a
novel mode of constructiug stirrup irons, and of attaching them to the stirrup
strap, the object of the Invention being to form the attachment of the stirrup
to the strap in such a manner that the iron may be detached with facility
from the strap should the rider be thrown from his horse and his foot be held
in the stirrup, as is now sometimes the case. This object is effected by passing
the stirrup strap under a moveable bar, which is jointed to the stirrup iron in
such a manner that it may turn on its pin when relieved. The bar is held in

page_text: its place by a moveable pin which is attached to a lever frame that is hinged
to the front of the iron above the foot, and when the lower end of the lever
frame is pressed back, as it would be by the foot of the rider if he should be
thrown from the saddle, with his foot still in the stirrup, this pressing back of
the lever would withdraw the retaining pin of the strap bar, and allow the
latter to fly back and release the stirrup iron from the strap. In order to
prevent the lever frame with its retaining pin from being acted on by
striking accidentally against any hard substance, the frame may be covered at
its sides by a guard or shield.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th April 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Edward Newton, Her special license that I, the said
William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STIRRUPS OR STIRRUP IRONS," being
a communication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,,
the said William Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
i

page_text: following statement, reference, being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
This Invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, relates
to a novel mode of constructing stirrup irons, and of attaching them to the
stirrup strap, the object being to form the attachment of the stirrup to the.
strap in such a manner that should the rider be thrown from his horse and
his foot be held in the stirrup, it will instantly become, detached from the
strap, and prevent the possibility of the horseman being dragged by his horse.
This result is obtained by passing the stirrup strap under a moveable bar,
which is jointed at one end to the stirrup iron, in such a manner that it is free
to turn on its fulcrum when relieved from a retaining bolt or pin, which
secures its other end to the stirrup iron. This pin is attached to a lever
frame that is hinged to the front of the iron above the foot, and when the
lower end of the lever frame is pressed back (as it would be by the foot of the*
rider were he thrown from the saddle, and his foot caught in the stirrup,)
the retaining pin is withdrawn from the strap bar, and the stirrup iron is con-
sequently released from the strap. The stirrup may be made of any approved
pattern, the construction of the upper part (which is modified to suit the
object in view) being conformable to the accompanying Drawing. Fig. 1
shews the improved stirrup and its strap in their proper relative positions, and
Fig. 2 shews them detached, to illustrate the effect produced by pressing the
lever frame D, D, backwards, which draws the pin C out, and thus liberates
one end of strap bar A, thus letting the strap bar slip from the strap K; B
is a rivet or screw which allows the piece A to work freely at the joint.
When the lever frame D, D, is drawn back by the foot getting caught fast,
the pin C must draw out and free one end of A, thus causing the stirrup to
fall along with the foot from the strap. The lever frame D, D, is kept
always (when riding, &c.) out, and the pin C consequently in, by a helical or
other suitable spring, as here represented at 8, s. The lever frame D, D,
should work freely at the joints E, E, and for this purpose the stirrup may
be provided with any suitable bracket projections G, G, to receive a fulcrum
pin E.
For military and some other purposes it may be necessary to have the
lever D, D, shielded from blows caused by other stirrups, or anything striking
it backwards while the rider is seated; and for this purpose side pieces may
be added to the stirrup, such as those represented at H, H, Figures 4 and 5,
which will effectually prevent any such accident.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements in
Stirrupts or Stirrup Irons," as communicated to me from abroad, and explained

page_text: the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that
under the above in part recited. Letters Patent I claim the means herein
described for freeing stirrups from their 'straps, and also applying to stirrups
constructed as above described side pieces or shields for preventing the undue
action of the releasing apparatus.
In witness' whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane,
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)