Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Mar., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 5th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 15th Jan., 1889
I, WILLIAM BOOKER, of 55, Caldmore Road, Walsall, Staffordshire, Bridle Bit
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of the improved safety stirrup hereinafter described.
In carrying out this invention the tread or bottom plate is hinged to one of the side
legs and the other side leg has a slot underneath into which the free end of the tread
fits when the stirrup is closed.
Fitting between the two legs of the stirrup is an inner bow which is pivotted to the
legs a short distance above the tread and extends a convenient distance above the
rider's foot. That side of the bow which is pivotted to the said leg in which the free
end of the tread fits extends below the tread and has a side slot which engages with
the tread and maintains the free end of the tread in the said slot in the leg of the
stirrup.
The safety stirrup above described operates as follows:-On the rider being thrown
the upper part of his or her foot comes into contact with the inner bow and turns it
on its hinged sides to an angle with the legs of the stirrup at the same time turning
the slotted side of the inner bow away from the tread. As the free or outer end of
the tread is now unsupported underneath, the tread is free to open out on its hinged
side and thus free the rider's foot.
That side of the tread which fits in the slot in the leg is preferably arranged to
project beyond the leg where it is enlarged so as the better to prevent the legs
springing further apart.
In order to add to the strength and appearance of the lower end of that leg which
is jointed to the tread, this leg is by preference recessed from the inside for the ear on
the tread through which the joint pin passes, but that recess does not pass right through
the leg.
Instead of the free end of the tread engaging in a slot in the leg as above described
the slot in the leg may be dispensed with and the tread finish off at the inside of that
leg, the slot in the bow alone holding the tread in its closed position; or instead of
the bow being slotted it may be otherwise formed so as to engage with and support
the free end of the tread.
Data hi h 1 CA1000

page_text: I, WILLIAM BOOKER, of 55, Caldmore Road, Walsall, Staffordshire, Bridle Bit
Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention has reference to that class of safety stirrups in which the troad is
hinged to one of the side legs so as to open from the other leg and is maintained closed
by an inner bow jointed to and between the side legs or left free to open when the
said inner bow is turned, and my said invention consist in the particular construction
and arrangement of the parts as hereinafter described whereby the stirrup is rendered
strong, certain in action and of a neat appearance.
For the purposes of this Invention the tread or bottom plate is hinged as usual to
one of the side legs and the other side leg has a slot underneath into which the free
end of the tread fits when the stirrup is closed. The inner bow is pivotted to the
legs a short distance above the tread and extends as usual a convenient distance
above the rider's foot. That side of the bow which is pivotted to the leg in which
the free end of the tread fits extends below the tread and has a side slot which
engages with the tread and maintains the free end of the tread in the said slot in the
leg of the stirrup.
That side of the tread which fits in the slot in the leg is preferably arranged to
project beyond the leg where it is enlarged so as the better to prevent the legs
springing further apart.
In order to add to the strength and appearance of the lower end of that leg which
is jointed to the tread, this leg is by preference recessed from the inside for the ear
on the tread through which the joint pin passes, but that recess does not pass right
through the leg.
The safety stirrup above described operates as follows:-On the rider being thrown
the upper part of his or her foot comes into contact with the inner bow and turns it
on its hinged sides to an angle with the legs of the stirrup at the same time turning
the slotted side of the inner bow away from the tread. As the free or outer end of
the tread is now unsupported underneath, the tread is free to open out on its hinged
side and thus free the rider's foot.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing are general views of an open stirrup
constructed according to this invention; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same
closed; Fig. 4 is an inverted plan of the same and Fig. 5 shews the inner bow of the
same separately.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the Figures.
al a² are the two side legs of the stirrup forming together the outer bow A, and B
is the tread which is hinged at one side to the leg a¹ and has a narrow neck b' near
its free end which takes into the upwardly extending slot c in the leg a² when the
stirrup is closed. The free end 63 of the tread B projects beyond the leg a² and is

page_text: enlarged so as the better to prevent the legs springing apart. The lower end of
the leg a is by preferonce recessed from the inside only and in this recess the car 6³
of the tread fits where it is secured by the usual joint pin d. The outside of this
part of the leg is thus left solid thereby strengthening the joint, and its appearance
and finish are improved by the projecting part a formed with the leg and corre-
sponding with the free end 2 of the tread. E is the inner bow which is jointed
between the logs a¹ a² by the joint pins f¹². One side e¹ of the inner bow extends
below the tread and has a side slot e which engages with the tread near the
neck 6' when the stirrup is closed and thus maintains the tread in that position. The
other side e² of the tread is by preference extended downwardly beyond its joint pin
and squared off to abut against the tread when closed and thus form a stop to prevent
the inner bow turning past its central position and the slot getting jammed
against the tread; or the said extension of the side e may be dispensed with.
When the stirrup above described is in use and the rider is thrown, the upper part
of the rider's foot comes into contact with the inner bow E and turns it on its
joints (see Figs. 1 and 2) thus leaving the outer end of the tread B free to fall
out of the slot c thus freeing the rider's foot from the stirrup..
I would havo it understood that I do not make any exclusive claim to a safety
stirrup in which the tread is hinged to one of the side legs so as to open from the
other leg and is maintained closed by an inner bow or left free to open when the said
inner bow is turned, as I am aware that stirrups operating in this way have been
used prior to my Invention; nor do I limit myself to the precise details shewn in the
drawing but,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1st. In a safety stirrup in which the tread is hinged to one of the side legs and
detachably connected to the other leg so as to open out therefrom, the employment
of an inner bow having ono side extended downwardly between the stirrup legs and
formed so as to engage with the free end of the tread for the purposes and substan-
tially as hercinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
2nd. The construction and combination of parts constituting the improved safety
stirrup hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
3rd. The inner bow E constructed as, and for the purposes, described.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1888.