IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING SADDLE BARS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Fitz Roy Francis Somerset, known as Lord Fitz
Roy Somerset, of Badminton, in the County of Gloucester, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING SADDLE BARS."
Sealed the 19th March 1878, and dated the 6th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Fitz Roy Francis
Somerset at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th October
1877.
HENRY FITZ ROY FRANCIS SOMERSET, known as Lord Fitzroy Somerset, of
Badminton, in the County of Gloucester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING SADDLE
BARS."
My Invention refers to the bars employed to suspend the stirrup leathers on
riding saddles.
Hitherto those which have been known as safety saddle bars have been made so
that in case of a fall in certain positions only the bar, of which one portion is
governed by a spring, releases the stirrup leather, and thus prevents the rider from
being dragged.
By my improvements the position in which the rider falls is of no consequence,
as the bar is made to release the stirrup leather under all circumstances. This is
shewn in the annexed Drawings, elevation and plan of a spring bar, according to
my Invention, by which it will be seen that the parts (a) and (b) are made to
engage by a double joint (c), vertical and horizontal on the bar (a), allowing the
bar (a) to be held in the hook (d) on the arm (b), which arm (b) is pinned to
the frame (f), and is governed by a knife-back spring (g), as shewn in the strong
lines.
When the rider is thrown the parts (a) and (b) become disengaged, and assume
the positions seen in the plan and in the dotted lines in the elevation, thus throwing
the stirrup leather off the bar (a) and releasing the rider.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Fitz Roy Francis Somerset in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 5th April 1878.
HENRY FITZ ROY FRANCIS SOMERSET, known as Lord Fitz Roy Somerset, of
Badminton, in the County of Gloucester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING SADDLE
BARS."
My Invention refers to the bars employed to suspend the stirrup leathers on
riding saddles.
Hitherto those which have been known as safety saddle bars have been made so
that in case of a fall from the saddle in certain positions only the bar, of which
one portion is governed by a spring, releases the stirrup leather and thus prevents
the rider from being dragged.
By my improvements the position in which the rider falls is of no consequence,
as the bar is made to release the stirrup leather under all circumstances of accident.
This is shewn by the annexed Drawings, Figures 1 and 2 being elevations closed
and open, Figure 3 a top plan of a spring bar made according to my Invention,
by which it will be seen that the parts (A) and (B) are made to engage by a double
joint (C), vertical and horizontal, on the bar (A), allowing the bar (A) to be held in
the hook (D) on the arm (B), which arm (B) is pinned to the frame (F), and is
governed by a knife-back spring (G).
When the rider is thrown the parts (A) and (B) become disengaged by the pull
of the stirrup leather (H), and assume the positions seen in Figures 2 and 3, thus
throwing the stirrup leather (H) off the bar (A) and releasing the rider.
Figure 4 shews the bar opening upwards, so as to release any one hanging by the
leg on the opposite side of his horse.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I claim the improvements in spring saddle bars, by
which the stirrup leather is released upon the fall of the rider in any direction, as
herein more fully set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Fitz Roy Francis Somerset, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Second day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight bundred and seventy-eight.
HENRY FITZ ROY FRANCIS SOMERSET
7701