Improvements in and relating to Cart Saddles.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Cart Saddles.
We, ETHELBERT OLIPHANT BLACKFORD, and HOMER RICHARD STOUGHTON, both
residing at Shelby, in the County of Shelby and State of Alabama, one of the United
States of America, Gentlemen, 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 :--
This invention relates to an improvement in cart saddles, the tree or trees of which
are provided with rollers, the object of the invention being to provide a simple, cheap,
efficient and useful saddle, preventive of sore backs, and for use upon mules or other
animals having sore or injured backs, the saddle being constructed with adjustable
pads and having also a self-adjusting back strap which is connected to the cart shafts
so that the saddle is prevented from rubbing or galling the tender parts of the sore
back of the animal, thus permitting it to gradually heal without the necessity of the
animals abstaining from work; and the invention consists essentially in the con-
struction, arrangement and combination of the several parts substantially as will be
hereinafter described and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention―
Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view in partial elevation of the improved roller
tree saddle.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same on the line x-x of
Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a top plan view showing the front and rear covers with which the
saddle is provided, and which are adapted to cover the back of the animal in front and
rear and protect him from the cold or stormy weather.
Figure 4 shows the mode of adjustably connecting the saddle pads to the saddle,
and represents one of the pads in section with its adjustable device in elevation, and
also represents in another view the adjustable device in plan.
Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the different
figures of the drawing.
In carrying our invention into practical effect we first provide two or more saddle
trees, A, A, of the usual form, said trees having preferably their inner opposing faces
rebated at, A', A¹. These trees are secured together by means of the strips or.
plates, D, D, that are firmly secured to the underside of the tree directly opposite the
pads and between them and the tree. Upon the trees is placed the saddle cover, C.
We also preferably locate on the top of each tree between the tree and the said cover, C,
a metallic or other strip, (, curved correspondingly to the curvature of the tree and
projecting from the aforesaid rebates, A', A'. It will be obvious from this description
that the inner opposing faces of the trees aro, by means of the rebates and the
plates, CC, provided as it were, with grooves adapted for the reception of certain
portions of the saddle, as for instance, the vertical rollers, which we shall proceed.to
describe hereafter. We do not desire to be restricted however to the particular
construction of the trees which we have shown and described, but reserve the liberty
of grooving the opposing faces of these trees in any manner that may be found best
and suitable for the reception of the rollers.
a, a, designate vertical rollers located within the groove or side recesses in the
saddle trees, A, A. These vertical rollers have their spindles suitably supported ; .
thus the lower ends of the said spindles are preferably supported by the lower portion.
of the trees, while their upper ends are held by the plates, C, C, thus permitting the
rollers, a, a, to freely revolve upon the spindles. The surfaces of these rollers are
located close to the inner faces of the trees and in line therewith, as shown.
In addition to the series of vertical rollers, of which rollers there may obviously be
any number, either four, as shown in the drawings, or more, or any number, we also
Price 8d7

page_text: provide the saddle with a curved series of horizontal rollers, b, b, whose spindles or
shafts are integral therewith or rigidly secured at each end in the trees, A, A, (see
Figure 1) so that the rollers may revolve freely upon the said spindles. Of these
rollers there may also be any number. We have shown a convenient number, five, in
the drawing, but there may obviously be any number of them as may be deemed best.
E, denotes the back strap, which usually passes over the saddle and is connected at
each end to the shafts of the cart. This back strap passes above the series of
horizontal rollers, between said rollers and the saddle cover, C, and likewise between
the vertical rollers, a, a. The back strap may be constructed in any convenient
manner. It is preferably made of alternate sections, certain of which are of leather
and the remainder of chain portions. In Figure 1 we have shown this sectional
construction of the strap, F, representing one of the chain sections.
B, B, indicate the pads located at the points where saddle pads are usually situated..
These pads have the back plates, B, B', which are situated in direct contact with the
plates, D, D, which we have already seen are secured to the trees, A, A. Said
plates, D, D, are provided with slots d, d, near each end. The back plates, B', B',
carry near each end screw-threaded bolts, c, c, which pass through the slots, d, d.
Said bolts are provided with thumb-screws, e, e. By means therefore of these bolts
and thumb screws, said bolts being located in the slots as described, and carried by
the pads, as we have seen, the said pads may be laterally adjusted in any suitable
manner and may be firmly secured at any desired point of adjustment by means of the
screw devices. Any other suitable means may be employed for the purpose of
adjusting the pads. The thumb screw arrangement shown and described is only one
example of many means that may be employed for the purpose.
In order to protect the animal from cold stormy weather or other injurious
influences, we find it convenient to provide the saddle with a rear cover and a front
cover, adapted to be folded close to the saddle, or to be unfolded and spread over the
back of the animal at front and rear. In Figure 1 these storm covers, G, G, aro
shown as rolled tightly and closely and lashed to the saddle. In Figure 3 these storm
covers are shown as extended in the position that they occupy when they are placed
over the animal to protect him from the storm. They are found to be of great
advantage in connection with the improved roller tree saddle, for while the saddle
permits the injured parts to be healed, the covers enable the animal to work in the
cold and storm without being exposed to the contraction of any additional trouble.
H, indicates the girth which is attached at each end to the saddle. It may be of
metal, leather or any material, may be secured by means of buckles, springs, rings,
staples, or any other devices. Furthermore we may say that the mode of attaching
the storm covers may vary within wide limits, thus, buckles, strap hinges, springs,
screws, rivets or any other similar devices may be employed for the purpose.
.
The
With a saddle constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention as here
stated, it will be found that the sore back of the animal will soon heal, although the
animal can be kept at work all the time while the healing process is going on.
pads are readily adjustable as we have seen, so that they may be fixed in any desired
position relatively to each other and to the animal's back and to the sore places
thereon. Also the jolting of the cart on uneven ground will not tond to gall or
aggravate the soreness of the back, since the back strap, which is connected to the
shafts of the cart, easily adjusts itself by means of the supporting rollers. The whole
combination therefore subserves the useful purposes required by a saddle of this kind.
It sits easily and firmly upon the animal's back at all times, and in practical
experience it has been found that some of the worst and severest cases of injured
animals have been thoroughly and satisfactorily healed, the animal working all the
time as usual.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In a cart saddle, the combination of the roller trees, the back strap, the series of

page_text: horizontal rollers supporting the same and the two series of vertical rollers adjacent to
each edge of the strap and the pads adjustable upon the trees.
2. In a cart saddle the combination of the roller trees having their inner opposing
faces rebated, the series of vertical rollers located in said rebates, the horizontal rollers
whose spindles are carried by the said trees, the back strap mounted on the said rollers
between the vertical rollers, the slotted plates secured to the said trees and pads
connected to said plates so as to be adjustable upon the trees.
3. In a cart saddle the combination with the two roller trees, A, A, and the saddle
cover, of the slotted connecting plates, D, D, the pads, B, B, having back plates, B', B',
and suitable devices for adjustably connecting the pads and the plates, D, D, the series
of horizontal rollers, the back strap upon the same and the two series of vertical
rollers adjacent to each edge of the said strap, substantially as described.
4. In a cart saddle the combination of the roller trees, A, A, having rebates, A', A',
the plates, C¹, C, carried by the trees, the roller cover, C, the connecting plates, D, D,
slotted as specified, the pads, B, B. having their back plates, B', B', bolts carried by
said back plates and having thumb screws, the back strap, and the horizontal and
vertical rollers therefor, substantially as described.
Dated this 7th day of
1000
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Cart Saddles.
We, ETHELBERT OLIPHANT BLACKFORD, and HOMER RICHARD STOUGHTON, both
residing at Shelby, in the County of Shelby and State of Alabama, one of the United
States of America, Gentlemen, 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 :-
This invention relates to an improvement in cart saddles, the tree or trees of which
are provided with rollers, the object of the invention being to provide a simple, cheap,
efficient and useful saddle, preventive of sore backs, and for use upon mules or other
animals having sore or injured backs, the saddle being constructed with adjustable
pads and having also a self-adjusting back strap which is connected to the cart shafts
so that the saddle is prevented from rubbing or galling the tender parts of the sore
back of the animal, thus permitting it to gradually heal without the necessity of the
animals abstaining from work; and the invention consists essentially in the con-
struction, arrangement and combination of the several parts substantially as will be
hereinafter described and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention―
Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view in partial elevation of the improved roller
tree saddle.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same on the line x-x of
Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a top plan view showing the front and rear covers with which the
saddle is provided, and which are adapted to cover the back of the animal in front and
rear and protect him from the cold or stormy weather.
Figure 4 shows the mode of adjustably connecting the saddle pads to the saddle,
and represents one of the pads in section with its adjustable device in elevation, and
also represents in another view the adjustable device in plan.
!
Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the different
figures of the drawing.
C.
In carrying our invention into practical effect we first provide two or more saddle
trees, A, A, of the usual form, said trees having preferably their inner opposing faces
rebated at, A', A¹. These trees are secured together by means of the strips or
plates, D, D, that are firmly secured to the underside of the tree directly opposite the
pads and between them and the tree. Upon the trees is placed the saddle cover,
We also preferably locate on the top of each tree between the tree and the said cover, C,
a metallic or other strip, C, curved correspondingly to the curvature of the tree and
projecting from the aforesaid rebates, A³, A¹. It will be obvious from this description
that the inner opposing faces of the trees are, by means of the rebates and the
plates, CC, provided as it were, with grooves adapted for the reception of certain
portions of the saddle, as for instance, the vertical rollers, which we shall proceed to
describe hereafter. We do not desire to be restricted however to the particular
construction of the trees which we have shown and described, but reserve the liberty
of grooving the opposing faces of these trees in any manner that may be found best
and suitable for the reception of the rollers.
a, a, designate vertical rollers located within the groove or side recesses in the
saddle trees, A, A. These vertical rollers have their spindles suitably supported;
thus the lower ends of the said spindles are preferably supported by the lower portion
of the trees, while their upper ends are held by the plates, C, C, thus permitting the
rollers, a, a, to freely revolve upon the spindles. The surfaces of those rollers are
located close to the inner faces of the trees and in line therewith, as shown.
In addition to the series of vertical rollers, of which rollers there may obviously be
any number, either four, as shown in the drawings, or more, or any number, we also
[Price 8d.1

page_text: provide the saddle with a curved series of horizontal rollers, b, b, whose spindles or
shafts are integral therewith or rigidly secured at each end in the trees, A, A, (see
Figure 1), so that the rollers may revolve freely upon the said spindles. Of these
rollers there may also be any number. We have shown a convenient number, five, in
the drawing, but there may obviously be any number of them as may be deemed best.
E, denotes the back strap, which usually passes over the saddle and is connected at
each end to the shafts of the cart. This back strap passes above the series of
horizontal rollers, between said rollers and the saddle cover, C, and likewise between
the vertical rollers, a, a. The back strap may be constructed in any convenient
manner. It is preferably made of alternate sections, certain of which are of leather
and the remainder of chain portions. In Figure 1 we have shown this sectional
construction of the strap, F, representing one of the chain sections.
B, B, indicate the pads located at the points where saddle pads are usually situated.
These pads have the back plates, B', B', which are situated in direct contact with the
plates, D, D, which we have already seen are secured to the trees, A, A. Said
plates, D, D, are provided with slots d, d, near each end. The back plates, B', B',
carry near each end screw-threaded bolts, c, c, which pass through the slots, d, d.
Said bolts are provided with thumb-screws, e, e. By means therefore of these bolts
and thumb screws, said bolts being located in the slots as described, and carried by
the pads, as we have seen, the said pads may be laterally adjusted in any suitable
manner and may be firmly secured at any desired point of adjustment by means of the
screw devices. Any other suitable means may be employed for the purpose of
adjusting the pads. The thumb screw arrangement shown and described is only one
example of many means that may be employed for the purpose.
In order to protect the animal from cold stormy weather or other injurious
influences, we find it convenient to provide the saddle with a rear cover and a front
cover, adapted to be folded close to the saddle, or to be unfolded and spread over the
back of the animal at front and rear. In Figure 1 these storm covers, G, G, are
shown as rolled tightly and closely and lashed to the saddle. In Figure 3 these storm
covers are shown as extended in the position that they occupy when they are placed
over the animal to protect him from the storm. They are found to be of great
advantage in connection with the improved roller tree saddle, for while the saddle
permits the injured parts to be healed, the covers enable the animal to work in the
cold and storm without being exposed to the contraction of any additional trouble.
H, indicates the girth which is attached at each end to the saddle. It may be of
metal, leather or any material, may be secured by means of buckles, springs, rings,
staples, or any other devices. Furthermore we may say that the mode of attaching
the storm covers may vary within wide limits, thus, buckles, strap hinges, springs,
screws, rivets or any other similar devices may be employed for the purpose.
.
The
With a saddle constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention as here
stated, it will be found that the sore back of the animal will soon heal, although the
animal can be kept at work all the time while the healing process is going on.
pads are readily adjustable as we have seen, so that they may be fixed in any desired
position relatively to each other and to the animal's back and to the sore places
thereon. Also the jolting of the cart on uneven ground will not tend to gall or
aggravate the soreness of the back, since the back strap, which is connected to the
shafts of the cart, easily adjusts itself by means of the supporting rollers. The whole
combination therefore subserves the useful purposes required by a saddle of this kind.
It sits easily and firmly upon the animal's back at all times, and in practical
experience it has been found that some of the worst and severest cases of injured
animals have been thoroughly and satisfactorily healed, the animal working all the
time as usual.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In a cart saddle, the combination of the roller trees the back stran the series of.

page_text: horizontal rollers supporting the same and the two series of vertical rollers adjacent to
each edge of the strap and the pads adjustable upon the trees.
2. In a cart saddle the combination of the roller trees having their inner opposing
faces rebated, the series of vertical rollers located in said rebates, the horizontal rollers
whose spindles are carried by the said trees, the back strap mounted on the said rollers
between the vertical rollers, the slotted plates secured to the said trees and pads
connected to said plates so as to be adjustable upon the trees.
3. In a cart saddle the combination with the two roller trees, A, A, and the saddle
cover, of the slotted connecting plates, D, D, the pads, B, B, having back plates, B', B',
and suitable devices for adjustably connecting the pads and the plates, D, D, the series
of horizontal rollers, the back strap upon the same and the two series of vertical
rollers adjacent to each edge of the said strap, substantially as described.
4. In a cart saddle the combination of the roller trees, A, A, having rebates, A', A',
the plates, C, C, carried by the trees, the roller cover, C, the connecting plates, D, D,
slotted as specified, the pads, B, B. having their back plates, B', B1, bolts carried by
said back plates and having thumb screws, the back strap, and the horizontal and
vertical rollers therefor, substantially as described.
Dated this on day of Octo
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.