Improvements in Safety Saddle Bars or Suspenders for Stirrup Leathers.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 14th Jan, 1800 Accepted, 15th Feb., 1890
Complete opotitation LG1L, ITLII vall., 1000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Safety Saddle Bars or Suspenders for Stirrup
Leathers.
I GUSTAVE BIEBUYOK of Brussels in the Kingdom of Belgium Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
The improved safety saddle bars or suspenders for stirrup loathers according to this
invention enable the stirrup leather to be released automatically by either a backward
forward or upward pull.
This suspender which is attached to the saddle tree by a base plate in any suitable
manner is provided with two projections or plates arranged ono above the other the
upper edge of the lower projection plate being somewhat concave and recessed in the
middle and the lower edge of the upper projection or plate is preferably convex and
is provided with a spring preferably surrounding the upper plate with its extremities
facing the lower plate.
The stirrup leather is attached to a loop of suitable form on a plate or connecting
piece provided with a stud or pin having a head or enlargement at the end. The
stirrup leather is connected to the saddle by this stud or pin which is passed between
the adjacent edges of the aforesaid upper and lower projections and lies in the recess
in the upper edge of the lower projection being retained therein by the action of the
spring attached to the upper projection. The leather can swing backwards and
forwards on this pin as a centre and a pull in an.inclined horizontal or upward direction
has the effect of compressing the spring and drawing out the pin or stud from between
tho projections. By means of this arrangement in case of accident it is rendered
impossible for the rider to be dragged in whatever direction he may be thrown.
The opening or slot formed between the edges of the plates or projections may be
closed in front if preferred so that the stud is not released by a forward pull.
בד
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Safety Saddle Bars or Suspenders for Stirrup
Leathers.
1, GUSTAVE BIEBUYCK of Brussels in the Kingdom of Belgium Engineer 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 :—
The improved safety saddle bars or suspenders for stirrup leathers according to this
Invention cause the stirrup leather to be released automatically in case of accident so
as to rendor it impossible for the rider to be dragged owing to the foot becoming
entangled in the stirrup.
The saddle bars or suspenders for stirrup leathers in common use present serious
disadvantages. They are closed by means of a spring plate and if in falling the foot
of the rider catches in the stirrup this plate being rigid or stiff in the joint so as to be
turned down with difficulty the rider is liable to be dragged and receive fatal injuries.
It is true that the suspenders are sometimes left open but even in this case the stirrup
leathers are allowed so little room between the suspender bar and the saddle that they
do not slip off readily in case of accident and the fallen rider remains suspended from
the saddle. It also sometimes happens that the rider is thrown forwards over the
horse's head or that in dismounting his left foot catches in the stirrup. Under these
conditions he cannot free himself as the suspenders cannot open in front.
All these disadvantages are obviated in the improved safety saddlebar or suspender

page_text: according to my Invention. In fact whether the rider fall forwards or backwards the
shock given by the horse or the mere weight of the rider disengages the stirrup
leather and stirrup from the saddle automatically as hereinafter described.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings represent in elevation and transverse
section respectively an example of a complete safety suspender constructed according
to my Invention.
Figures 3 and 4 are side and end views of the part permanently attached to the
saddle and figures 5 and 6 are similar views of the part attached to the stirrup
leather.
The suspender is attached to the saddle tree by means of a base plate X of steel or
other suitable metal. To this plate are attached firstly a concave under plate A
formed with a recess or notch B in its upper edge or surface and secondly a top piece
or platė C surrounded by a spring D the two ends of which pass under the plate C
and are slightly bent upwards immediately above the notch B as indicated in
Figures 1 and 3.
The spring D is attached to the plate C by a screw with a head notched or nicked
in such a manner as to admit of being readily unscrewed.
The stirrup leather is attached directly to a connecting piece or plate E provided at
its lower part with a suitable opening or loop E¹ Figures 1 and 5 for the reception
of the stirrup leather, and at its upper part with a stud or pin F.formed with a large
or broad head G.
The stud or pin F lies in the notch B in the under plate A and is retained in
position by the two extremities of the legs of the spring D. The head G of the
stud or pin F turns and slides between the base plate X and the plates A and C
the stirrup leather being thus free to swing or oscillate in all directions the rider is
enabled to readily move the stirrup forwards or backwards to a convenient position
for putting the foot in the stirrup when mounting.
In case of accident the shock of the fall of the rider added to his weight tends to
pull the plate E which is directly attached to the stirrup leather forwards or back-
wards and causes the stud or pin F to slip out of the notch B the spring D yielding
sufficiently to allow it to pass and the stirrup leather being thus entirely disconnected
from the saddle the rider is automatically and instantly freed.
The suspender may evidently be closed in front if desired so that the stirrup leather is
freed by a backward pull only. With this object it is simply necessary to diminish
the space between the plates A and C sufficiently to prevent the loop plate E from
escaping forwards.
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 safety saddle bar or suspender for stirrup leathers herein before described
comprising an under plate A provided with a notch B. an upper plate C surrounded
by or carrying a spring D attached by means of a notched screw, the extremities of
this spring bearing on the pin F the connecting piece E provided with a loop E' and
a head or button G turning and sliding between the plate X rivetted to the saddle tree
and the upper plate C and under plate A all substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Second. The arrangements and combinations of parts constituting the improvements
in safety saddle bars or suspenders for stirrup leathers substantially as hereinhefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th day of January. One thousand eight hundred and ninety.