Improvements in Safety Saddle Bars.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 24th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Safety Saddle Bars.
I, JOHN HEWITT, of 21, Leadenhall Street, in the City of London, Saddler, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to saddle-bars and comprises improved means for releasing
the stirrups therefrom in case a rider is thrown with one of his feet caught in the
stirrup.
In carrying out my invention I employ a metal base-plate upon the front surface
of which is a stud adapted to carry a link to which the strap is directly connected.
In connection with this stud is a binge-cap acted upon by a spring and adapted
under ordinary circumstances to lie upon or against the end of the stud to prevent
the link from becoming detached. The said stud is inclined rearwardly in such a
manner that, when a backward pull is exerted upon the link (as would be the case
if a rider were thrown and he were dragged along by the stirrup) the said link will
slip off the stud, the cap being opened under the pressure to allow the link to
become detached.
In practice I find it advantageous to form the base-plate with a hook or tongue
in such a manner that in case the stud is damaged so that the strap cannot be
suspended therefrom the said strap may be temporarily supported upon the said
hook or tongue.
Dated the 26th day of January 1893.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Safety Saddle Bars.
I, JOHN HEWITT, of 21, Leadenhall Street, in the City of London, 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:
My invention relates to improvements in safety saddle-bars.
:
According to my invention I employ a metal base-plate upon the front surface
of which is stud adapted to carry a link to which the stirrup-strap is directly
connected. In connection with this stud is a hinged cap acted upon by a spring
and adapted under ordinary circumstances to lie upon or against the end of the stud to
prevent the link from becoming detached. The said stud is inclined in such a
manner that, when a backward pull is exerted upon the link (as would be the case
if a rider were thrown and dragged along by the stirrup) it will slip off the stud,
the cap being opened under the pressure to allow the link to become detached.
In practice I find it advantageous to form the base-plate with a hook or tongue
in such a manner that in case the spring or cap is damaged so that the stirrup-strap
cannot be suspended therefrom the said strap may be temporarily supported upon
the said hook or tongue.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved safety saddle-bar with the stirrup-strap
link in position; and,
Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2. Figure 1:

page_text: Figure 3 is an elevation of my saddle-bar with the cap detached and the link of
the stirrup-strap disconnected; and,
Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4, Figure 3.
a is the metal base-plate adapted to be secured to the saddle in the usual manner,
and b is the stud fixed to the said plate and designed to carry the link c to which
the stirrup-strap is connected, the said stud being inclined upon the front side, as
shewn most clearly at e Figures 3 and 4, and provided on the rear and top sides
with a groove f which under ordinary circumstances will prevent the link from
slipping off the stud.
is the hinged cap, and is a spring secured to the plate a and acting against
the hinged portion of the said cap in such a manner as to normally retain the cap
closed upon the top of the stud, as shewn in Figures 1 and 2.
It is obvious with this arrangement that should a rider be thrown with one foot
caught in a stirrup and dragged along the ground the stirrup-strap and link would
assume a position approximating to that indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1,
that is to say, a position in which all the strain would be received upon the inclined
face e of the stud b, whereby the link would tend to slip off the stud and push open
the hinged cap g, thereby releasing the link from the saddle-bar. My saddle-bar
would also operate in case of upward, forward or over throw.
i is the hook or tongue to which the stirrup-strap may be connected in case the
hinged cap or other part of the saddle-bar should be injured.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A safety saddle-bar having a stud and a hinged cap normally bearing against
the end of the said stud to retain the link, to which the stirrup-strap is attached,
thereon, the said stud being inclined upon the front side whereby in case of any
rearward pull upon the stirrup-strap the link to which the said strap is connected
will slip off the stud and open the hinged cap substantially as, and for the purpose,
described.
2. The manufacture and use of the improved safety saddle-bar hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated thie 94th day of October 1893
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.