IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING SADDLE BARS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Curtis (trading under the name of James Heavens)
of 28, South Molton Street, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING SADDLE BARS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Curtis at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th August 1881.
GEORGE CURTIS (trading under the name of James Heavens), of 28, South
Molton Street, in the County of Middlesex, Saddler. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING
SADDLE BARS."
My Invention relates to an improved construction of spring saddle bar, and has
for its object the instantaneous release of a rider in the event of being thrown
from his or her horse, and at the same time giving additional strength to the
saddle tree.
In carrying my Invention into effect I proceed as follows:-To the saddle bar is
pivoted by a swivel pin a lever arm with a vertical and horizontal joint, which
catches into a shorter curved arm, which is governed by an internal spring in the
saddle bar.
The spring bar is so constructed as to materially strengthen the saddle tree, and
also renders it impossible for any one to be dragged along by the horse in whatever
position the rider may happen to be thrown.
I may make my improved saddle bar of polished steel or any other suitable
metal, and it is applicable to side, military, and every description of saddles.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Curtis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
February 1882.
GEORGE CURTIS (trading under the name of James Heavens), of 28, South
Molton Street, in the County of Middlesex, Saddler. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING
SADDLE BARS."
My Invention relates to an improved construction of spring saddle bar, and has
for its object the instantaneous release of a rider in the event of being thrown
from his or her horse, or falling out of the saddle, and at the same time to give
additional strength to the saddle tree.
In carrying my Invention into effect I proceed as follows:-To the saddle bar is
pivotted by a swivel pin a lever arm with a vertical and horizontal joint, which
catches into a shorter curved arm which is governed by an internal spring in the *
saddle bar.
The spring bar is so constructed as to materially, strengthen the saddle tree, and
also renders it impossible for any one to be dragged along by the horse in whatever
position the rider may happen to be thrown. I may make my improved spring
saddle bar of any suitable metal, preferably of polished steel, and it is applicable to
side, military, and every description of saddles.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to describe the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used, or carried out in practice, reference being had to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say,-
Figure 1 is a front view shewing my improved spring saddle bar closed.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, and
Figure 3 is a rear view partly in section shewing the internal arrangement and
mechanism.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the
Drawings.
A (Figure 1) represents the lever arm which supports the stirrup leather (not
shewn in the Drawings). This arm is pivotted to the frame plate B at a on which
it works and engages, and is held in the hook a¹ of the curved arm D by means of
a vertical and horizontal joint C.
This arm D with the hooked end a' is pivotted to the frame plate B at b, and is
governed by the internal spring E (shewn clearly in Figure 3), and maintains the
lever arm A firmly in position in the book a'. The dotted lines in Figure 1 shew
some of the positions the lever arm A and the curved arın D will assume when
they are disengaged by the pull of the stirrup leather when the rider is thrown
from a horse, thus instantly releasing the rider in whatever position the latter may
happen to be thrown, thereby rendering it impossible for a rider to be dragged
along by the horse. In this way and by these means the most frequent cause of
danger to life and limb to which equestrians are liable is averted.
In Figure 2 the curved arm D is shewn in side elevation with its attachment
at a to the frame plate B.
E (Figure 3) is the internal spring which is embedded in the frame plate B at d
and engages by its notched end e into the slotted cam f on top of the curved
arm D. The spring's strongest action is when the cam f is held by the notch e,
and any force operating to rotate the cam f acts first at an angle to the length of
the spring E at its greatest disadvantage therefrom, thus necessitating the greatest
force in its liberation; but when forced past this position the spring E looses its
power and the cam ✓ can be moved easily.

page_text: By means of this construction the spring E is preserved from dust and damp,
and is thereby rendered less liable to get out of order.
h, h, are countersunk screws, by means of which the frame plate B with its
connections is secured to the saddle tree, thus materially adding to the strength of
the latter.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be
protected by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The improved arrangement and construction of spring saddle bar sub-
stantially in the manner herein described and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
2nd. The internal spring D constructed, and arranged, and operating, sub-
stantially in the manner herein described and shewn in the accompanying
Drawings.
3rd. The improved construction of spring saddle bar and method of attachment
to the saddle tree, whereby the latter is strengthened and the whole rendered more
durable and compact, all as herein described and shewn in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Curtis, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness,
T. SEGGER,
135, Queen's Road,
Bayswater.
GEORGE CURTIS. (L.S.)