Improvements in or applicable to Saddles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 12th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Saddles.
A communication from ALMOND PAUL WESTLAKE, Captain, 1st Madras Lancers,
Secunderabad, Deccan, India."
We, JOHN CHARLES TAITE, and THOMAS WILLIAM CARLTON, both of
63 Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention has reference to improvements in or applicable to saddles whereby
the same are rendered self fitting and more comfortable, both to rider and horse,
than saddles as heretofore usually constructed.
To this end the saddle is constructed with elastic or spring panels, each com-
prising a backing of suitable material as for example metal, between which and a
covering or envelope of flexible material such as leather are arranged a number
of coiled springs that may advantageously be each in the form of a double volute.
Each panel is provided with means such as pins or bolts whereby it can be readily
attached to the saddle-tree, and which may advantageously be such that the panel
can be readily removed from the saddle tree. For this purpose, according to one
arrangement, each panel is provided with slotted pins or eye bolts through which
passes a steel spring catch that is adapted to be readily engaged with and dis-
engaged from the saddle tree. A thin leather pocket adapted to be slipped over
the ends of the panel and to extend along the inner side thereof, serves to cover
the fastening devices employed and hide them from view.
'
Spring panels such as described can be applied to saddles of various patterns.
They are not liable to gall the back of the horse to which they are applied, and
when applied to a horse having a sore back, one or more of the springs can be
removed so as to relieve the sore from pressure of the saddle and permit it to
heal. For this purpose the sides of the flexible covering can be connected to the
backing in such a manner that the covering can be easily disconnected from the
backing when necessary to admit of the removal of one or more springs. Further-
more by the construction described the use of stuffing material such as hay is
dispensed with and the saddle thereby rendered cooler and lighter than ordinary
saddles.
Dated thin 10th day of A1 1900
JOHN CHARLES TAITE.
THOMAS WILLIAM CARLTON.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Saddles.
A communication from ALMOND PAUL WESTLAKE, Captain, 1st Madras Lancers,
formerly of Secunderabad, Deccan, but now of Harpur Remount Depôt,
Babughar, N.W.P., India.
1
We, JOHN CHARLES TAITE, and THOMAS WILLIAM CARLTON, both of
63 Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, Engineers, 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 has reference to improvements in or applicable to saddles whereby

page_text: the same are rendered self fitting and more comfortable, both to rider and horse,
than saddles as heretofore usually constructed.
To this end the saddle is constructed with elastic or spring panels each com-
prising a backing of suitable material as for example metal, between which and a
covering or envelope of flexible material such as leather are arranged a number of
coiled springs that may advantageously be each in the form of a double volute.
Each panel is provided with means such as pins or bolts whereby it can be readily
attached to the saddle-tree, and which may advantageously be such that the panel
can be readily removed from the saddle tree. For this purpose, according to one
arrangement, each panel is provided with slotted pins or eye bolts through which
passes a steel spring catch that is adapted to be readily engaged with and disengaged
from the saddle tree. A. thin leather pocket or envelope adapted to be slipped
over the ends of the panel and to extend along the inner side thereof, serves to
cover the fastening devices employed and hide them from view.
Spring panels such as described can be applied to saddles of various patterns.
They are not liable to gall the back of the horse to which they are applied, and
when applied to a horse having a sore back, one or more of the springs can be
removed so as to relieve the sore from pressure and permit it to heal. For this
purpose the sides of the flexible covering can be connected to the backing in such
a manner that the covering can be easily disconnected from the backing when
necessary, to admit of the removal of one or more springs. By the construction
described the use of stuffing material such as hay is dispensed with, and the saddle
thereby rendered cooler and lighter than ordinary saddles.
In the accompanying illustrative drawings
Fig. 1 is a cross section showing the application to a saddle of the kind known
as the universal military saddle and shown in dotted lines, of spring panels according
to this invention.
Fig. 2 is an elevation, as seen from the inner side of the saddle, shown in dotted
lines, of one of such spring panels.
"
The
Each of the spring panels consists in the example shown of a number of
separately detachable spring pads each comprising a metal backing plate 1 between
which and a covering 2 of material such as leather are arranged a number of
double volute springs 3. These springs are each held at one end, in any convenient
manner, to the plate 1, whilst its other end bears against the covering 2. To the
outer or inner side of the covering 2 so as to be between the ends of the springs
and the back of the horse to which the saddle is applied may advantageously be
secured a layer of felt (not shown) in order to impart a smooth, even and flexible
bearing surface to the spring panels. This will permit of the expensive felt saddle
cloths or "numnahs now worn by some horses being dispensed with.
covering 2 is secured near one edge, it may be by sewing or rivetting, to the
lower portion of the plate 1 and is wrapped as shown, over the springs and around
the back of the plate 1. 5, 5, are eye bolts that pass through the perforations 4
in the covering and thus secure the same in place. These eye bolts, which are fixed
to the plate 1 and to plates 1* carrying the springs 3, serve as a convenient means
of attaching the spring pads to the saddle tree 6. For this purpose the said
bolts are arranged in pairs with their eyes in line with each other and through
each pair is passed a steel spring pin 7 the ends of which are normally held in
suitable holders or catches 8 attached to the saddle tree. One end of each of
the pins 7 in the example illustrated, is bent and located within a holder 8 of
hollow form wherein it can be moved end-ways in order to permit of its other end,
which is pivoted and formed with a shoulder at 7*, being moved out of its holder 8,
after its shoulder 7 has been disengaged from such holder by pressure applied in
the direction of the arrow a (Fig. 1), for the purpose of releasing the corre
sponding spring pad. Although it is preferred to make the panel at each side of
the saddle of a number of separately detachable parts or pads as shown, because
either of such parts or pads can then be readily removed to relieve a sore on a
horse's back that would otherwise be subject to pressure, each panel may be

page_text: A leather
formed of a single plate 1 and covering 2 with interposed springs.
pocket or sheath partly indicated by dotted lines at 9, may be provided to cover
the spring pads which form each panel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A saddle constructed with detachable elastic or spring panels substantially
as herein described.
2. In a saddle, spring panels each comprising a backing between which and a
covering or envelope of flexible material such as leather are arranged springs,
and means whereby such spring panel or part or parts thereof can be readily
connected to and disconnected from the saddle tree substantially as described.
3. A saddle provided with spring panels constructed and applied as hereinbefore
described with reference to and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 12th day of January 1893.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.