Improvements in Saddles
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 8th July, 1890-Accepted, 9th Aug., 1890
I, JEAN CHRISTOPHE, of 21, Rue Nysten, Liege, Belgium, Coffee House Keeper, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to Improvements in Saddles.
A saddle embodying my improvements is illustrated in the annexed sheet of
drawings,
Fig. 1 being a side elevation of the framing or carcass of the saddle,
Fig. 2 a front elevation,
Fig. 3 a plan,
Fig. 4 a cross section on the line A-B,
Fig. 5 a cross section on the line C-D, and
Fig. 6 a cross section on the line E-F.
The frame or carcass of a saddle according to my invention is wholly of metal,
preferably of steel. As shown in the drawings the saddle is considerably longer than
ordinary saddles; the framing or carcass being prolonged to a considerable extent
behind the rider. The side pieces, which, when the saddle is in use, are situated at
either side of the spine of the horse, have a slight spring-action, and are bent in such
a manner that the portion under the rider comes into contact with the back of the
horse only when the rider is in the saddle; by this arrangement the ends of the saddle
bear the largest part of the weight of the rider part of whose weight is therefore
borne by the fore and rear parts of the horse.
The framing or carcass of the saddle is composed of a bent plate a which serves as
a seat for the rider; it is fastened in front by rivets or screws to a piece which is
formed in the shape of a U following the neck and shoulders of the horse.
The piece is connected with longitudinal steel plates ec, either directly, or by
means of intermediate pieces m (Fig. 2) which may have a slight spring action or may
be rigid.
The plates c c are inclined as shewn so as to lie flat upon the back of the horse, on
either side of the spine but without touching the latter. The plates c c are prolonged
considerably behind the seat of the rider in such a manner as to bear upon a con-
siderable length of the back of the horse, and their rear ends c are bent back (Figs. 1
and 3) and are riveted or screwed at n to the seat-plate a. The plate a is thus
suspended above the back of the horse.
When necessary each steel plate c is strengthened at its bent portion by a stee!
strip (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) riveted to c or by a flat spring or a coiled spring arranged
under the seat of the rider. Sufficient free space remains between the plates a and
even when the saddle is covered and the ends c¹ of the plates c act in the manner of a
spring so that an appreciable amount of elasticity is imparted to the seat-plate a.
C,
It is generally advantageous to provide the saddle with rubber springs i of the
form shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5; these are fixed upon one of the plates c or a under
the seat of the rider and come into contact with the opposite plate (a or c) only when
o are buckles for
a pressure, greater than the normal one, is applied to the saddle.
attachment of the stirrups are rings for fastening the straps for attaching the
covering of the saddle.
The arrangement of the plates a and c is such that no part of the plate a ever comes
into contact with the back of the horse, so that there is always room for a considerable
current of air to pass between the plate a and the horse's back.
Dated this 99th day of October 1889.
J. CHRISTOPHE,
Per L. W

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Saddles.
I, JEAN CHRISTOPHE, of 21, Rue Nyston, Liege, Belgium, Coffee House Keeper,
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 relates to Improvements in Saddles.
A saddle embodying my improvements is illustrated in the drawings filed with my
Provisional Specification. Referring to these drawings
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the framing or carcass of the saddle;
Fig. 2 a front elevation ;
Fig. 3 a plan;
Fig. 4 a cross section on the line A-B Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 a cross section on the line C-D; and
Fig. 6 a cross section on the line E-F.
The frame or carcass of a saddle according to my invention is wholly of metal,
preferably of steel. As shewn in the drawings the saddle is considerably longer than
ordinary saddles, the lower part of the framing or carcass being prolonged to a
considerable extent behind the rider. The side pieces, which, when the saddle is in
use, are situated at either side of the spine of the horse, have a slight spring-action,
and are bent in such a manner that the portion under the rider comes into contact
with the back of the horse only when the rider is in the saddle; by this arrangement
the ends of the saddle bear the largest part of the weight of the rider part of whose
weight is therefore borne by the fore and rear parts of the horse.
The framing or carcass of the saddle is composed of a bent plate a which serves as a
seat for the rider; it is fastened in front by rivets or screws to a piece b which is
formed approximately of U shape and so as to follow the contour of the neck and
shoulders of a horse. The piece is connected with longitudinal steel side plates cc,
either directly or by means of intermediate pieces m (Fig. 2) which may have a slight
spring action, or may be rigid.
b
The plates cc are inclined to each other as shewn, so as to lie flat upon the back of
a horse on either side of its spine but without touching the latter. The plates c c are
prolonged considerably behind the seat of the rider in such a manner as to bear upon
a considerable length of the back of the horse, and their rear ends c¹ are bent back
(Figs. 1 and 3) and are riveted or screwed at n to the seat plate a. The plate a is
thus suspended above the back of the horse.
When necessary each steel plate c is strengthened at its bent portion by a steel
strip (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) riveted to c, or by a flat spring, or a coiled spring, arranged
under the seat of the rider. A free space is thus left between the plates a and c even
when the saddle is covered, and the ends c¹ of the plates c act after the manner of a
spring, so that an appreciable amount of elasticity is imparted to the seat plate a.
It will usually be advantageous to provide the saddle with rubber springs of the
form shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 5; these can be fixed upon the plates c or to the under-
side of the seat plate a so as to come into contact with the opposite plate, a or c as the
case may be, only when a pressure, greater than the normal one, is applied to the
saddle. o are buckles for attachment of the stirrups ; s are rings for fastening
the straps for attaching the covering of the saddle.
The arrangement of the plates a and c is such that no part of the plate a ever comes
into contact with the back of the horse, so that there is always room for a current of
air to pass between the plate a and the horse's back.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1
A saddle constructed
L

page_text: comprising a seat-plate a and side plates cc, with or without springs i, the seat
plate being suspended so as to be above the back of a horse when in use and
connected to the plates c, c by a neck or shoulder piece b, with or without the
intermediate pieces m, and by the bent ends c¹ of the said plates c c substantially
as described and shewn.
2. In a saddle of the kind referred to in the preceding claim prolonging the
plates cc beyond the rear end of the seat plate a in such a manner that when
the saddle is in use, a considerable proportion of the weight of a rider will be
thrown upon the fore and rear parts of the horse.
3. In a saddle the hereinbefore described relative arrangement of the plate a
and side plates cc so that a large free air space will always remain throughout
the length of the saddle, between the plate a and the back of the horse.
Dated this 8th day of July 1890.
JEAN CHRISTOPHE,
By L. W, per F. B.