IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY FITTINGS FOR SADDLES." SP
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS, PATENT to Henry Staines Wilton, of 261, Oxford Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Sadler, and Benjamin Samuel Weston, of 5, Parkholme
Road, Dalston, in the same County of Middlesex, Engineer, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY FITTINGS FOR SADDLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Staines Wilton
and Benjamin Samuel Weston at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
on the 15th March 1881.
· HENRY STAINES WILTON, of 261, Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Sadler, and BENJAMIN SAMUEL WESTON, of 5, Parkholme Road, Dalston, in the
same County of Middlesex, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY FITTINGS
FOR SADDLES,"
This Invention has for its object improvements in safety fittings for saddles.
In order that when a rider is thrown and his foot remains caught in the stirrup
that the stirrup may be set free, we form the stirrup with a flat sided projection
standing upwards above the eye. In each of the two opposite sides of this pro-
jection a grooved channel is formed around (by preference) a central heart shaped
figure, the point of which is uppermost. Above the point of the heart a vertical
outlet from the grooved channel is formed. The heart shaped pieces which are
left surrounded by the grooved channels are carried by a thin web or plate, which
separates the grooved channel on one side of the projection from the grooved
channel on the opposite side of the projection. To connect the stirrup with the
stirrup leather the stirrup leather is made to carry a clip piece, formed with two
parallel side plates or flaps at such a distance apart that the projection on the
stirrup may enter between them. Projecting inwards from the inner face of each
side plate or flap are two short studs at a distance apart one above the other. The
studs enter into the grooved channels in the sides of the projection on the stirrup..
The hollows at the bottom of the heart shaped pieces which are surrounded by the
grooved channels rest upon the lower studs, and the upper studs come above the
points of the heart shaped pieces.
In case of a rider being thrown and his foot being dragged in the stirrup the
toe slips either to one side or the other of the stirrup leather, and the stirrup is so
tilted, the top studs of the clip then pressing against the curved sides of the
channel force the bottom studs from the hollows at the bottom of the heart shaped
pieces, both studs can then escape from the channel through the outlet at the top
and the stirrup and rider are thus set free.
To connect the stirrup leather with the saddle a buckle on the stirrup leather

page_text: 'may be hooked on to a flat hook projecting from a plate fixed to the saddle tree,
as described in the Specification of a Patent granted to one of us, No. 5079 in the
· year 1879, and this hook may have a spring flap jointed to it as described in that
Specification; but in place of making the flap to close against the side of the plate,
as described in that Specification, we make it to close against a conical point which
projects out from the plate; this facilitates the stirrup leather being taken on and
off. The spring which acts upon the spring flap we also place at the back of the
plate instead of at the front of the plate, as shewn in that Specification, and the
tail end of the flap we make to pass through a slot in the plate, so that the spring
at the back of the plate may act upon it. Or in place of jointing a spring flap to
the hook we joint a spring flap to the plate at a distance above the hook and
cause the spring flap to close down over the front of the hook. The upper edge
of the hook we cut off diagonally from the bottom at the front to the top at the
back, at the angle that the top of the buckle would assume when the rider was
dragged.
The flap also we make to extend beyond the hook to any desirable extent up
to the whole size of the skirt in which it may be embodied, thereby obviating
its tendency to curl up, so that when the rider is in the saddle the pressure or
weight of the legs of the rider upon these flaps may keep the flaps closed down
over the hooks, so that the stirrup leathers cannot get free so long as the rider is
in the saddle.
The action is as follows:-When the rider's legs are thrown forward in ordinary
riding or going down hill there is the whole of the hook for the buckle to rest in,
but when the rider is going up hill the buckle bearing upon its front inside angle
rises at the back to the diagonal angle of the hook, but the spring flap with the
rider's weight-pressure keeps it from slipping out; should the rider be dragged
there is only the flap spring to keep the buckle in the hook, the rider's weight
being off the flap, consequently it opens and releases the stirrup buckle and rider.
With the upward pull from the rider being thrown upon the opposite side to that
upon which the stirrup hangs, the rider's weight being removed, the flap opens and
releases the buckle in a manner somewhat similar to that described in the
Specification of the Patent before mentioned.
For ladies' saddles we make the near side head of ordinary construction, but with
its base formed with a D shaped shoulder or projection which rests in a D socket
(having a stop standing upwards on its flat side) in the fixing plate. The base of
the head is held down into the socket by a volute or spiral spring; the downward
pressure of this spring draws the D shoulder of the head tight against the round
edge of the D socket, and the stop on the flat side thereof prevents the head
giving to pressure in the direction of the leaping head. The action is as
follows:-
Upon the habit becoming caught the pressure overcomes the resistance of the
bottom spring, and the head folds down in the direction from which the pull
comes, resting upon some point in the rounded side of the D, releasing the habit
when it springs up again into its place.
The leaping head we construct with a hinged or yielding end held rigid by a
controlling spring; the end we connect with a bolt which locks the joint by which
the head is jointed to the base. Any upward or backward pull upon the end
moves the end and unlocks the bolt, the base joint is then free to turn in an
upward or backward manner.
Its action is as follows:-
The head resists any upward pressure upon the part prepared to receive it,
but upon the rider falling off and the habit catching unon the head the null of

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Staines Wilton and Benjamin Samuel Weston in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 15th September 1881.
HENRY STAINES WILTON, of 261, Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Saddler, and BENJAMIN SAMUEL WESTON, of 5, Parkholme Road, Dalston, in the
same County of Middlesex, Engineer. " IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY FITTINGS
FOR SADDLES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in safety fittings for saddles.
In order that when a rider is thrown and his foot remains caught in the stirrup
that the stirrup may be set free, we form the stirrup with a flat sided projection
standing upwards above the eye. In each of the two opposite sides of this
projection a grooved channel is formed around (by preference) a central heart
shaped figure, the point of which is uppermost. Above the point of the heart a
vertical outlet from the grooved channel is formed. The heart shaped pieces which
are left surrounded by the grooved channels are carried by a thin web or plate
which separates the grooved channel on one side of the projection from the grooved
channel on the opposite side of the projection. To connect the stirrup with the
stirrup leather the stirrup leather is made to carry a clip piece formed with two
parallel side plates or flaps at such a distance apart that the projection on the
stirrup may enter between them. Projecting inwards from the inner face of each
side plate or flap are two short studs at a distance apart one above the other. The
studs enter into the grooved channels in the sides of the projection on the stirrup.
The hollows at the bottom of the heart shaped pieces which are surrounded by the
grooved channels rest upon the lower studs, and the upper studs come above the
points of the heart shaped pieces.
In the case of a rider being thrown and his foot being dragged in the stirrup
the toe slips either to one side or the other of the stirrup leather, and the stirrup
is so tilted, the top studs of the clip then pressing against the curved sides of the
channel force the bottom studs from the hollows at the bottom of the heart shaped
pieces, both studs can then escape from the channel through the outlet at the top,
and the stirrup and rider are thus set free.
In place of the studs being carried by the clip pieces and the grooves being in
the projection above the eye of the stirrup, the studs might be upon opposite sides
of the projection and the grooves in the clip pieces.
In order that our improvements may be fully understood we have, at Figures 1
to 10 of the Drawings hereunto annexed, shewn examples of ways of connecting
stirrups to clip pieces carried by the stirrup leathers in the manner above
described.
Figure 1 shows an elevation of a stirrup with a projection A formed with it
above the stirrup eye.
On each side of this projection a heart shaped groove B is
formed with a vertical outlet B¹ from the top of the groove, a thin web of metal
being left between the grooves on the opposite sides of the projection. Figures 2
and 3 shew a side elevation, and a front elevation with part removed of a clip
piece to be carried by the stirrup leather and adapted for carrying the stirrup
shewn at Figure 1; C, C, are the two parallel side plates of this clip piece, each
carrying in its inner face two studs C₁, C¹. To secure the stirrup to this clip piece
the lower pair of studs C₁ are caused to enter into the grooves B on either side of
the projection A of the stirrup through the entrance B at the top of these grooves,
and are caused to pass downwards along one or other side of the groove B until the
upper pair of studs also enter into the grooves B. The stirrup then hangs upon the
lower pair of studs C' which then come into the hollows at the bottom of the heart

page_text: shaped projections which the grooves surround, as shown by the dotted circles at
Figure 1. In this way if the stirrup is inclined either to one side or the other it
will escape from the clip as above explained. In order also to ensure that the
stirrup shall not be able to hold on to the foot of the rider in case of the rider being
thrown and a drag thereby coming on the stirrup without tilting it to.one side or
the other, we apply to the rear edge of the foot plate of the stirrup rollers D, D,
as shewn at Figure 1 and also at Figures 4 and 5, Figure 4 being a horizontal
section of the stirrup, and Figure 5 a side elevation of the foot plate. The rollers,
as will be seen by Figures 1 and 5, are somewhat below the level of the foot plate,
so that they do not interfere with the hold of the foot upon the foot plate whilst
the rider is in the saddle, and the pressure of the foot comes vertically downwards
upon the foot plate, but if the rider is thrown and the stirrup tilts so as to bring
the back edge of the stirrup against the boot of the rider, the rollers along the back
edge come against the boot, and as they can run freely along it, the foot at once
escapes from the stirrup; whereas when the stirrup is formed with a sharp edge at
the back, as heretofore usual, the sharp edge might bite into and take a firm hold
of the boot so that the foot could not be disengaged from the stirrup. In place of
the rear edge of the stirrup being furnished with rollers as above described it
might be made rounded, as shewn at Figure 6, to obtain the same result.
At Figure 7 we have shewn how that the projection A at the top of the stirrup
might be made to carry the studs instead of having the grooves formed in it. In
this case the inner faces of the side plates C of the clip are formed with projections
upon them for the studs to bear against. One form of clip suitable for carrying a
stirrup made as shewn at Figure 7 is shewn at Figures 8 and 9. Figure 8 is an
elevation of the clip with one half removed, and Figure 9 is a vertical cross section
of the same with the upper end of the stirrup inserted into it. As will be seen at
Figure 8, the projections C² have a depression formed in them at the top for the
upper pair of studs to rest in, and a corresponding depression at the bottom for the
lower pair of studs to rise into when the stirrup is being attached to or detached
from the clip; E is a spring carried by the clip for pressing the stirrup downwards
with any required degree of force, and so prevents the stirrup from too readily
altering its position with respect to the clip piece and becoming detached from it.
Figures 10 and 11 show another way in which the clip piece may be formed;
Figure 10 is an elevation of the clip with one half removed, and Figure 11 is a
vertical cross section of the same with the upper end of the stirrup inserted into it.
In this clip the projections C³ are not formed with any depression at the top for
the upper pair of studs to rest in, but are made curved to the arc of a circle struck
from the centre of the lower pair of studs which rest in hollows at the bottom of
the projection. In this way the stirrup may to a certain extent tilt to one side
or the other without becoming detached and to impede them from becoming 4
detached too readily if tilted too far to one side or the other, the clips are made to
carry hinged stops F, which by means of springs G are kept bearing with any
required degree of strength against the sides of the projection C³ as shewn. The
lower ends of these stops are slotted for the projection A. of the stirrup to pass
through.
To connect the stirrup leather with the saddle a buckle on the stirrup leather
may be hooked on to a flat hook projecting from a plate fixed to the saddle tree,
as described in the Specification of a Patent granted to one of us, No. 5079, in the
year 1879, and this hook may have a spring flap jointed to it, as described in that
Specification; but in place of making the flap to close against the side of the plate, 5
as described in that Specification, we make it to close against a conical point which
projects out from the plate; this facilitates the stirrup leather being taken on and
off. The spring which acts upon the spring flap we also place at the back of the
plate instead of at the front of the plate, as shown in that Specification, and the
tail end of the flap we make to pass through a slot in the plate, so that the spring 5
at the back of the plate may act upon it.
This arrangement for connecting the stirrup leather with the saddle is shewn in

page_text: end view at Figure 12. In this Figure, A is the stirrup bar or plate fixed to the
saddle tree; B, & flat hook or projection standing outwards from this plate for a
buckle on the stirrup leather to hook over; C is the flap jointed to the projec-
tion C³, the tail piece of this flap passing through a slot in the plate A, and acted
upon by a spring D secured to the back of this plate; E is the cone point projecting
from the front of the plate for the flap C to close against.
Or in place of jointing a spring flap to the hook we joint a spring flap to the
plate, at a distance above the hook, and cause the spring flap to close down over
the front of the hook. The upper edge of the hook we cut off diagonally from the
bottom at the front to the top at the back at the angle that the top of the buckle
would assume when the rider was dragged.
The flap also we make to extend beyond the hook to any desirable extent up to
the whole size of the skirt in which it may be embodied, thereby obviating its
tendency to curl up, so that when the rider is in the saddle the pressure or weight
5 of the legs of the rider upon these flaps may keep the flaps closed down over the
hooks, so that the stirrup leathers cannot get free so long as the rider is in the
saddle.
The action is as follows:-When the rider's legs are thrown forward in ordinary
riding or going down hill there is the whole of the hook for the buckle to rest in,
0 but when the rider is going up hill the buckle bearing upon its front inside angle
rises at the back to the diagonal angle of the hook, but the spring flap with the
rider's weight and pressure keeps it from slipping out. Should the rider be dragged.
there is only the flap spring to keep the buckle in the hook, the rider's weight
being off the flap, consequently it opens and releases the stirrup buckle and rider.
5 With the upward pull from the rider being thrown upon the opposite side to that
upon which the stirrup hangs, the rider's weight being removed, the flap opens
and releases the buckle in a manner somewhat similar to that described in the
Specification of the Patent before mentioned.
Figure 13 shews a front elevation; Figure 14, a side elevation, and Figure 15, &
O rear elevation of the above arrangement. A is the hook projecting from the
stirrup bar, and having its upper edge cut off diagonally from the bottom of
the front end of the hook to the top of the hook at the back, as shewn; Bis the
flap jointed to the stirrup bar at a distance above the hook. This flap is shaped
to close down, so that its lower edge comes just above the top edge of the hook;
5 C is a flap rivetted to the front of the hook and projecting to any desirable extent
beyond it to the front and back. This flap where it comes above the hook is cut
to an incline corresponding with the inclined top edge of the hook, as shewn; B' is
a tail piece on the flap B; it projects through a slot in the stirrup bar, and at the
back of this bar is acted upon by a spring D, as shewn; E is the upper part of
O the buckle at the top of the stirrup leather. The action of these parts will be fully
understood from the Drawing and from the explanation above given. A modifica-
tion combining the advantages of the arrangements shewn at Figure 12 and at
Figures 13, 14, and 15, is shewn at Figures 16 and 17. In these Figures, A. is the
flap hinged to a projection B standing out from the stirrup bar, and closing
5 against a cone point E; the upper edge of the flap is cut at angle, as described
with reference to the top of the hook, Figures 13, 14, and 15, and to effect the
same object; A' is an arm formed in one piece with the flap A. The upper end
of the arm is held by a hinged catch G from which an arm G³ extends downwards
so long as the rider is in the saddle, and the skirt flap which we render rigid by
0 inserting a piece of sheet steel consequently kept close down over this lever arm,
the arm cannot turn upwards, and consequently the stirrup leather cannot be set
free; but if the rider is no longer in the saddle, and the skirt flap is consequently
not kept pressed down against the lever arm, the catch G will no longer offer any
obstruction to the release of the stirrup leather, and any drag upon the stirrup
5 leather will cause it to be set free; as explained with reference to Figures 12, 13, 14,
and 15.
For ladies' saddles we make the near side head of ordinary construction, but

page_text: with its base formed with a D shaped shoulder or projection which rests in a D
socket (having a stop standing upwards on its flat side) in the fixing plate. The
base of the head is held down into the socket by a volute or spiral spring, the
downward pressure of this spring draws the D shoulder of the head tight against
the round edge of the D socket, and the stop on the flat side thereof prevents the
head giving to pressure in the direction of the leaping head. The action is as
follows:-
Upon the habit becoming caught the pressure overcomes the resistance of the
bottom spring, and the head folds down in the direction from which the pull comes
resting upon some point in the rounded side of the D, releasing the habit when it
springs up again into its place.
The leaping head we construct with a hinged or yielding end held rigid by a
controlling spring; the end we connect with a bolt which locks the joint, by which
the head is jointed to the base. Any pressure upon the end to move it inwards
lengthwise of the head, or to tilt it, moves the end and unlocks the bolt, the base
joint is then free to turn in an upward or backward manner.
Its action is as follows:-
The head resists any upward pressure upon the part prepared to receive it, but
upon the rider falling off and the habit catching upon the head the pull of the habit
comes upon the point, and the point yields, thereby moving the bolt and unlocking
the base joint.
Similar mechanism may be applied to the near side head.
In order that these improvements may be fully understood we have in the first
place shewn at Figures 18 and 19 a front view and side view of a ladies' saddle
as now ordinarily constructed. A is the near side head, and B the leaping head;
C is the stirrup bar, and D the leathern shirt covering over this bar; Figure 20
shews a front elevation, and Figure 21 a side elevation.
Figure 22 a front elevation, with the front cap or cover removed, and Figure 23
is a sectional side elevation of a near side head constructed and mounted in the
above manner.
A is the head, with a D shaped base A¹ held down into a corresponding socket B
by a strong spring C. The flat side of the socket projects upwards as shown, and
forms a stop which securely prevents the head from yielding to any pressure in
the direction of the leaping head; but if any pressure comes upon it in the opposite
direction tending to turn it downwards into the position shown by the dotted
lines in Figure 23, or at any angle on one or other side of this position the head
turns downwards, being then able to act as a lever to overcome the spring which
holds it in its seat. In this way if the habit gets caught over the point of the
head, and any pull comes upon it in the direction mentioned, the head turns
downwards, and the habit is at once set free; E is a cap for closing in the
spring C.
The rounded edge of the D shaped base of the head we make with small rounded
projections projecting downwards from it to enter corresponding recesses in the
socket B in order that if the head is turned downwards in either direction it may
not have any tendency to twist or turn in the socket and get out of place. In
place of this arrangement the head may as above stated be made with a yielding
end which when any upward or backward pull comes upon it shall as it
yields unlock a bolt by which the head is at other times locked and held in
position.
Figures 24 and 25 show one arrangement by which this may be effected, and
Figures 26 and 27 another arrangement.
In Figures 24 and 25 A is the head hinged at bottom to a short standard B,
which stands up from the base B'. When in position it is locked by a spring
bolt C entering a recess in its lower end, any pressure tending to turn the head in
the direction of the leaping head is sustained by the standard B¹; but if the bolt
is released and pressure comes upon the head tending to turn it in the opposite
direction the head can turn down freely. D is the yielding end; it is carried by a

page_text: disc E which lies within a cylindrical case F at the upper part of the head; pro-
jecting from the disc are four radial pins E¹ which pass through slots in the case.
Within the case is also a disc G pressed upwards by a spring H, and thereby
forced against the under side of the disc E which carries the yielding end. The
pins projecting from the disc E are thereby kept pressed up to the upper ends of
the slots in the case, and the yielding end is retained in the position shewn at
Figure 24. Projecting downwards from the centre of the disc G is a rod G'. This
rod projects through the bottom of the case, and has a pin G³ projecting from it;
the ends of the pin enter slots in a rod I which can slide to and fro lengthwise of
the head; the lower end of this rod comes above the top of the bolt C. Thus if
the yielding end is pressed inwards or tilted in the manner shewn at Figure 25
the bolt will be pressed backwards and the head will be set free to turn down-
wards on its hinge joint. As will be seen the head is formed to project upwards
above the top of the case F, so that the yielding end is protected from any pressure
coming upon it in the direction of the leaping head.
The arrangement shewn at Figures 26 and 27 differs from the arrangement
shown at Figures 24 and 25 in that the bolt C is carried by the head, and in that
the head is connected to the base B¹ by a universal joint, so that when not retained
by the bolt it can turn downwards in any direction. The upper end of the bolt
is coupled by a link to one arm of a lever I which turns on a centre at I¹; the
opposite arm of the lever is slotted to embrace the ends of a pin G2 projecting from
the rod G. By this arrangement it will be seen that when the yielding end is
pressed inwards or tilted in the manner shown at Figure 27 the bolt O is withdrawn,
and both parts or joints of the universal joint set free, so that the head can turn-
downwards in any direction.
Various ways of effecting the same object with the leaping head are shewn at
Figures 28 to 42.
Figures 28 to 32 shew one way in which it may be effected. Figure 28 is a
sectional side elevation of the head in its normal position; Figure 29, a similar
view of the head with the bolt released and the head set free; Figure 30 is a plan
view of the head, and Figure 31 a similar view with the bolt drawn back and the
head set free; Figure 32 is an underside view of the head. A is the leaping head;
B, the base, to which it is jointed by a universal joint; C is a bolt carried by the
head A, and pressed by a spring D in a direction to force the end of the bolt into
5 a recess in the base; E is the yielding end; it is jointed to the outer end of the⚫
head by a universal joint F; it has also passing through it a small rod G, formed
at its end into a ball G'; this ball is embraced by a socket on the bolt C. With
this arrangement it will be seen that if any pressure comes upon the yielding end
tending to turn it into the position shewn at Figure 29 the bolt is unlocked and
the head set free to turn in any direction. It will also be seen that the same
result is attained if the yielding end is turned in the direction shewn in
Figure 31.
Another way of effecting the same object is shewn at Figures 33 to 36.
Figure 33 shows a longitudinal section of the outer end of the head; Figure 34 is
a plan with the top or trigger plate removed; Figure 35 is a plan, and Figure 36
another plan showing how a backward or sideway pull upon the trigger plate
unlocks the bolt. A is the head; C, the stem of the bolt pressed upon by a
spring D to cause its end to enter a recess in the base, as in the arrangement
shown at Figures 28 to 32; E is the yielding end or trigger plate; pins E' carried
O by this plate pass through slots in a plate F, which is jointed by links F¹ to the
head, as shown; one of the links is part of a lever which couples the plate F with
the bolt. The upper yielding end or trigger plate E has also other pins E³ pro-
jecting from it, which rest against fulcrums or abutments on the head A. In this
way if the yielding end is forced back with a direct endway movement, or if
5 turned to one side or the other, as shewn at Figure 36, the bolt will be withdrawn
and the head set free.
Another way of effecting the same object is shewn at Figures 37 to 40. The

page_text: action is the same as described with reference to the arrangement shown at
Figures 26 and 27 for applying a yielding end to the near side head.
This way of mounting the yielding head and arranging it to unlock the bolt is
we believe the best of the arrangements shown for effecting our object. In place
also of the universal joint by which the head is jointed to the base, being formed in
the manner shown at Figures 28 to 32, it may be jointed to it by a universal joint,
formed as shown at Figures 41, 42, and 43. This way of forming the joint and
carrying the bolt through it is the same as described with reference to Figures 26
and 27.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, we would have it understood that we claim,-
First. The means of attaching stirrups to the stirrup leathers, substantially as
herein before described.
Second. The means of attaching stirrup leathers with the saddle, substantially as
herein 'before described with reference to Figure 12.
Third. The means of attaching stirrup leathers with the saddle, substantially as
herein before described with reference to Figures 13 to 17.
Fourth. Connecting the near side head of ladies' saddles to a plate or base on
the saddle, substantially in the manner herein before described with reference to
Figures 20 to 23.
Fifth. Forming the near side head and leaping head of ladies' saddles with
yielding ends acting when pressed upon to withdraw bolts by which the heads are
normally held in place, and so allowing the heads to turn downwards, substantially
as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Staines Wilton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.