Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOHN CARTER, of 86 George Street, in the city and county of Edinburgh,
Saddler, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to a new or improved construction of safety spring
saddle bar, for releasing the stirrup straps in a more certain manner than with the
saddle bars heretofore used, and on whichever side the rider is thrown or the strain
of the strap in consequence comes upon the bar.
The improvements consist in modifying the shape of the back spring catch piece
for retaining the loop of the stirrup strap on the bar, by rounding it upwards and
backwards in a short horn-like shape, so that on the least extra strain occurring in
the back or dragging direction the loop of the strap would glide up the curved
horn and throw it down and get free; but when there was no extra back strain
the strength of the spring on the horn would retain the strap on the bar.
A further improvement consists in making the lower edge of the bar very much
angled, as from 30 to 45 degrees upwards in the back direction to insure the loop
of the strap gliding off the bar in case of the strain coming on it from the upward
direction (as when the stirrup was carried over the saddle with. the rider) instead
of keeping this lower edge horizontal as heretofore and which thus formed a catch
to hold the strap. The spring is sunk in this angled edge so as to retain the back
holding catch or horn quite as well as when sunk in the horizontal edge of the old
construction of bar.
Another improvement consists in forming a gap or opening in the upper part of
the bar, at the back over the horn piece (instead of making this part close as
heretofore) and in so angling and rounding off the rear end of this upper part
upwards at the gap that the strap is sure to glide off the bar and out of the gap
by any upward or angled back strain possible to be brought on the strap from
whichever side the rider is thrown or the stirrup is carried with him.
AL
T

page_text: I, JOHN CARTER, of 86 George Street, in the city and county of Edinburgh,
Saddler, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, and to the reference letters and figures marked thereto, that is
to say :-
My said invention has reference to a new or improved construction of safety
spring saddle bar, for releasing the stirrup straps in a more certain manner than
with the saddle bars heretofore used, and on whichever side the rider is thrown or
the strain of the strap in consequence coines upon the bar.
In order that the full nature and novelty of the invention may be properly
understood, and the mode and means of putting the same into effect or practice,
I shall now proceed to describe the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings
I have hereunto appended for that purpose, the same reference letters indicating
the same parts in all the Figures where shown.
Figures 1 and 2 are a side and a back edge elevation, respectively, (the former
shown partially in section), of a right side saddle bar A, constructed in accordance
with my improvements, and shown full size as detached from the saddle, but in the
position in which it is when in proper use. Figure 3 is a side elevation, (also
partially in section), of my improved saddle bar A, corresponding to Figure 1, but
in this case shown with the safety spring catch B, as turned down to release or let
the strap off the bar A, as it would be when any down or back strain or pull comes
on the strap. The catch B which retains the stirrup strap S, in position for
ordinary use, is fulcrumed on a pin c, at the extreme upper back end of the bar A,
with its retaining spring C in the angular edge A¹.
Figure 4 shows a side elevation of a saddle D, with my improved saddle bar A,
shown as applied with the stirrup T, and its strap S, shown dotted in two other
positions S and S. The former showing the direction the stirrup would be in,
and dragged to if the Rider was thrown on the right side with his foot caught in
stirrup T; and the latter S² showing the stirrup strap S, as it would be if the
Rider was thrown on the left side, and carried the stirrup and strap with him; in
this Figure the improved safety bar A, is shown as secured in the usual manner by
the snugs %, %, to the saddle D.
Referring to these Figures the improvements of my said invention consist first
in modifying the shape of the back spring catch piece B, for retaining the loop 8,
of the stirrup strap S, on the bar A, by rounding it upwards and backwards' in a
short horn-like shape, as at b Figures 1 and 2, so that on the least extra strain
occuring on this in the back or dragging direction, ás indicated 'at's₁in' Figure 4,
the loop 8, of the strap S, would glide up the curved horn B, b, and throw it down
on its joint c, as shown in this position in Figure 3, and let the strap S, off the
bar A, and so free the stirrup and Rider. But when there was no extra back
strain, the strength of the spring C, acting on the lower angled heel part 6¹ of the

page_text: horn B would always retain this and the loop 8, of the strap S on the bar A, as
shown in Figure 4.
A second or further improvement consists in making the lower edge A'-A¹ of the
bar A, (where the spring C, is shown as fitted), very much angled, as from
30 to 45 degrees, upwards in the back direction, to where the horn B. is fulcrumed,
for the purpose and to make sure that the loop 8, of the stirrup strap S, would
glide freely up off the bar A, in case of the strain coming on it in the upward
direction (as when the stirrup and strap were carried over the saddle with the
rider, as indicated in dotted lines at S, in Figure 4,) instead of keeping the lower
edge horizontal as heretofore, and which thus formed a bad catch to hold the strap.
The spring C, is also so sunk in this angled edge A¹--- A¹ as to retain the back
holding catch or horn B quite as well and more free to tilt back than when sunk
in the horizontal edge of the old construction of bar.
Another or third improvement consists in forming a gap or opening in the upper
part A, of the bar A, at the back E, over and in front of the horn piece B, (instead
of making this part close as heretofore), and in so angling and roundling off the
rear end of this upper part A³, upwards at the gap E, that the strap is sure to
glide off the bar A, and out of the gap E, by any upward or back angled strain
possible to be brought on the strap from whichever side the Rider is thrown or the
stirrup is carried with him, such as indicated at S², in Figure 4.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. The improved construction of safety saddle bars A, fitted with the tilting
spring catch B, b, curved or slanted upwards and backwards, and having the under
rear edge A¹ of the bar slanting upwards and backwards also, having a rear gap E,
above for the free escape of the stirrup strap, substantially as herein described in
reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The construction of safety saddle bars A, with any one or more of the
three following safety devices, nainely, a backwardly and upwardly curved spring.
catch B, b, a bar A, having its under edge A', slanting upwards and backwards, or
having a gap E, over the rear upper part of the bar A, for the free escape of the
stirrup strap, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.